02-18-2016, 05:32 AM
"That implies trust is something wholesale. Complete handover or complete retraction." Ned snorts. Maybe he doesn't mean to be so blunt with Nick, but this situation has him anxious and anxiety breeds...defensiveness. Or at least, a willingness to defend in earnest.
"Trust is a measure of degrees. I trust Margot enough to share information with her and interact with her, because she's going through the same thing. I trust the Doc to share my experiences with and believe what he has to say because...well-" He pauses. Uncertainty. "I honestly don't have any other options. But that's as equal a task as knowing he's shooting straight with me when he talks. Or as straight as he can."
"By the same token, I don't trust either of them to know enough to satisfy my own search for answers. Not entirely. Because their trek is different. Because searching and doubting ourselves seems to be part of the cure." An eye at Nick. "Unless I'm mistaking your meaning."
"So how did I decide to trust? I didn't. I just invest the time I have in the least possible chances of harm and detriment until I know better. Better enough to warrant further degrees of trust, but there is no absolute. That would be as silly as lacking doubt."
"Trust is a measure of degrees. I trust Margot enough to share information with her and interact with her, because she's going through the same thing. I trust the Doc to share my experiences with and believe what he has to say because...well-" He pauses. Uncertainty. "I honestly don't have any other options. But that's as equal a task as knowing he's shooting straight with me when he talks. Or as straight as he can."
"By the same token, I don't trust either of them to know enough to satisfy my own search for answers. Not entirely. Because their trek is different. Because searching and doubting ourselves seems to be part of the cure." An eye at Nick. "Unless I'm mistaking your meaning."
"So how did I decide to trust? I didn't. I just invest the time I have in the least possible chances of harm and detriment until I know better. Better enough to warrant further degrees of trust, but there is no absolute. That would be as silly as lacking doubt."