I designed a temporary solution. [Maketh narrows her eyes a little. He ought to be pleased. It means Sato can be contained.] What I did was entirely logical.
[He'll give her that much, but there's a fine tipping point there.]
But it doesn't seem to bother you either, and you have no trouble justifying your actions. He can surely do the same, and believes in those justifications just as strongly.
[This is the point where, in the FBI office and with Booth five feet away, he would normally keep needling; outbursts mean he's hitting upon some sort of nerve, and therefore important information.
But he's alone here, even if there might be someone somewhere else in the building, and he has zero interest in getting into a fight or being shot. And, considering the subject matter, he thinks those are distinct possibilities if she gets angry.
So he changes strategies for the moment, his point made, and tries a different approach.]
What? [Maketh shivers all over. She doesn't know why she said that, why she always says that. It just happens sometimes. But she can't look weak in front of him, he'll take advantage. Can't let that happen, have to do something about it before he gets ideas.] That I will do what is necessary. For these people. And not for myself. Why are you asking that?
It only means you have rules. [Of course those rules change, but you must follow them. Otherwise you're nothing. Maketh lifts her chin, daring him to comment.] And that you will do what is required. I will always perform my duty.
Morality is a useless gesture. [Maketh snorts. How naive can he possibly be?] An inconvenience your enemies will not share. If you cannot counter them with every possible means, then the people under your command will suffer for your abject failure to do what is necessary. You would have made a weak officer, Doctor Sweets. Your men would have killed you themselves.
Morality is what separates us from being the people whose crimes we're investigating.
[He could say more, but that's what it comes down to. They go into their jobs knowing they're adhering to a stricter code than the people they're dealing with and that puts them at a disadvantage, sometimes to a great extent. But that risk is necessary and worth it to not become the monsters they deal with.]
If your enemies have been gentle enough to allow this, then--then perhaps your world is---kinder than mine. You will not find it so in Hadriel. And if you intend to protect anyone, then you will step aside when the time comes and allow me to do what needs to be done. Someone must.
You're drawing a lot of conclusions with very little evidence.
[It's a mild way of saying 'you're wrong' without bothering to actually challenge her outright. He doesn't need--or want--to; the more she talks the more he learns.]
I'm not trying to prove you wrong. We're not in competition.
[And he's not going to bother with the FBI part; he's just one person and the FBI's been... Strange lately anyway, so he doesn't feel a great need to defend its integrity.]
There are lines I don't think should be crossed for any reason, and we're in disagreement on where those lines are.
[So yes, he disagrees with her methods and thinks she doesn't display proper conduct. But he's also aware that this isn't the FBI--it probably isn't even Earth--and so 'proper conduct' is a more grey area. The morality, though, he finds universal.]
[He doesn't answer the question, though not because he doesn't have an answer; no, he doesn't plan to challenge her for leadership, at least not to take the position. He hasn't learned enough about the situation to decide what--if anything--to do just yet.
Besides, he's a lot more interested in why that's the question she asked.]
You are fond of answers questions with questions, Doctor Sweets.
[The look she gives him is not especially gentle.]
But it is the reality of our situation. If you believe my conduct is unbecoming, therefore I am unfit to lead. In which case I would remind you that the guard operates under joint leadership. Henry Percy also holds command.
[It's a subtle warning as well. Challenge Maketh and in doing so, challenge Henry as well.]
[He ignores her first comment entirely, but at the second he raises his eyebrows slightly and sits back in his chair a bit.]
Good to know.
[It's mild but genuine, as the information is something he wasn't aware of and therefore useful. He'll have to find an opportunity to speak with Henry and see what he's like; if he tempers Maketh a bit then perhaps the situation is a little better than Lance thinks it might be.]
What was his opinion on how to handle the individual that attacked your headquarters?
You have been lax with your information gathering. I would think that rather important to know.
[She sees nothing wrong with pointing that out.]
Henry found the compromise acceptable. He would have preferred killing Sato outright, but that is not possible in this place. Thus he agreed that Sato would be allowed to move freely - so long as he didn't cause harm to anyone else. Given that Henry was one of those who met Sato in combat, I would consider it a generous allotment.
[So Henry seems at least a bit more reasonable, although the whole 'would've preferred to kill him' thing isn't great either. But he can't make many judgements just yet, especially not from only Maketh's word, so he'll definitely have to speak with Henry as soon as he can figure out the right approach.
And okay, the insults are finally getting a little irritating, and so he responds to this one. But it isn't entirely out of emotion; it also gives him a good excuse to see how she'll respond.]
This might surprise you, but you and the Guard aren't my highest priority right now.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 03:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 03:55 am (UTC)[Just pointing that out there.]
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Date: 2017-05-05 01:14 pm (UTC)[How dare he. Maketh twitches. Forces herself to smile.]
I--I do not cause harm to others for the sake of it.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 03:32 pm (UTC)[He'll give her that much, but there's a fine tipping point there.]
But it doesn't seem to bother you either, and you have no trouble justifying your actions. He can surely do the same, and believes in those justifications just as strongly.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 03:39 pm (UTC)[She doesn't mean to yell. It just comes out that way, rage boiling so close under the surface. Maketh shivers, clenching her fists.]
I am not weak like him. I will perform my duty with the u--utmost dedication and honor!
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 03:53 pm (UTC)But he's alone here, even if there might be someone somewhere else in the building, and he has zero interest in getting into a fight or being shot. And, considering the subject matter, he thinks those are distinct possibilities if she gets angry.
So he changes strategies for the moment, his point made, and tries a different approach.]
What is your definition of honor?
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 03:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 04:04 pm (UTC)[And her answer doesn't reassure him much.]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 04:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 04:20 pm (UTC)At its most basic level, yes, it means you have rules. But integrity and moral ideals are also part of honor, and those are what vary so wildly.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 04:46 pm (UTC)Morality is what separates us from being the people whose crimes we're investigating.
[He could say more, but that's what it comes down to. They go into their jobs knowing they're adhering to a stricter code than the people they're dealing with and that puts them at a disadvantage, sometimes to a great extent. But that risk is necessary and worth it to not become the monsters they deal with.]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 04:54 pm (UTC)[She says it quite simply.]
If your enemies have been gentle enough to allow this, then--then perhaps your world is---kinder than mine. You will not find it so in Hadriel. And if you intend to protect anyone, then you will step aside when the time comes and allow me to do what needs to be done. Someone must.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 05:05 pm (UTC)[It's a mild way of saying 'you're wrong' without bothering to actually challenge her outright. He doesn't need--or want--to; the more she talks the more he learns.]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 05:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 05:21 pm (UTC)[And he's not going to bother with the FBI part; he's just one person and the FBI's been... Strange lately anyway, so he doesn't feel a great need to defend its integrity.]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 05:32 pm (UTC)[That's been made perfectly clear. Maketh frowns at him.]
I do not display the proper conduct. Is that correct?
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 05:35 pm (UTC)[So yes, he disagrees with her methods and thinks she doesn't display proper conduct. But he's also aware that this isn't the FBI--it probably isn't even Earth--and so 'proper conduct' is a more grey area. The morality, though, he finds universal.]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 05:39 pm (UTC)[Maketh tips her head to the side, watching him.]
Do you intend to challenge my position in the Guard?
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 05:50 pm (UTC)[He doesn't answer the question, though not because he doesn't have an answer; no, he doesn't plan to challenge her for leadership, at least not to take the position. He hasn't learned enough about the situation to decide what--if anything--to do just yet.
Besides, he's a lot more interested in why that's the question she asked.]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 06:00 pm (UTC)[The look she gives him is not especially gentle.]
But it is the reality of our situation. If you believe my conduct is unbecoming, therefore I am unfit to lead. In which case I would remind you that the guard operates under joint leadership. Henry Percy also holds command.
[It's a subtle warning as well. Challenge Maketh and in doing so, challenge Henry as well.]
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 06:08 pm (UTC)Good to know.
[It's mild but genuine, as the information is something he wasn't aware of and therefore useful. He'll have to find an opportunity to speak with Henry and see what he's like; if he tempers Maketh a bit then perhaps the situation is a little better than Lance thinks it might be.]
What was his opinion on how to handle the individual that attacked your headquarters?
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 06:18 pm (UTC)[She sees nothing wrong with pointing that out.]
Henry found the compromise acceptable. He would have preferred killing Sato outright, but that is not possible in this place. Thus he agreed that Sato would be allowed to move freely - so long as he didn't cause harm to anyone else. Given that Henry was one of those who met Sato in combat, I would consider it a generous allotment.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 06:26 pm (UTC)And okay, the insults are finally getting a little irritating, and so he responds to this one. But it isn't entirely out of emotion; it also gives him a good excuse to see how she'll respond.]
This might surprise you, but you and the Guard aren't my highest priority right now.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-05 06:33 pm (UTC)Is that supposed to make a difference? It is your job to gather and analyze intelligence.
[She leans forward a little.]
Perhaps I was wrong to solicit your opinion. It seems your world has lower standards.
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