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[ A shake of his head. ]
Do they perceive that anything I'm doing here serves my own ends?
[ His gesture takes in his desk - cluttered not with charmingly nude bodies and decanters of fine brandy, but by dour paperwork. Still - ]
You don't have to respond to that. Paranoia need not be rooted in any sort of real evidence.
Do they perceive that anything I'm doing here serves my own ends?
[ His gesture takes in his desk - cluttered not with charmingly nude bodies and decanters of fine brandy, but by dour paperwork. Still - ]
You don't have to respond to that. Paranoia need not be rooted in any sort of real evidence.
[Though he opens his mouth to respond, Benedict concludes with a shrug-- he was just going to say 'I don't know', anyway.]
People are jumpy. I don't think anyone will be entirely trusted who doesn't come out in vocal support.
People are jumpy. I don't think anyone will be entirely trusted who doesn't come out in vocal support.
It's not that simple.
[He squares his shoulders uncomfortably.]
I think you'll do what it takes for Riftwatch to succeed. You've said as much-- and right now, mages being part of the effort is beneficial.
[He squares his shoulders uncomfortably.]
I think you'll do what it takes for Riftwatch to succeed. You've said as much-- and right now, mages being part of the effort is beneficial.
[With a bit of trepidation, but not as much as he might have had in previous, shakier conversations:]
...so it could go either way, from an outside perspective.
...so it could go either way, from an outside perspective.
[He glances downward uncertainly, then meets Byerly's eyes again-- his gaze is assertive in a way it often isn't, but still bears no particular judgment or accusation.]
It's true. You haven't come out in support of the mages' cause. All I can go by is what you've said to me in private.
...and I believe you, that you would support me, personally.
It's true. You haven't come out in support of the mages' cause. All I can go by is what you've said to me in private.
...and I believe you, that you would support me, personally.
This organization has a lot of members, some of whose agendas conflict.
How is it possible to be loyal to all of them, if they directly oppose one another?
All right.
[This is different from a usual spat-- he's not upset, and also not being made to feel small, which makes it far easier for Benedict to keep his head and continue the discussion.]
If the majority of Riftwatch sided with the Divine, and concluded that everyone would be safer with mages confined, what would 'protecting them' mean to you?
[This is different from a usual spat-- he's not upset, and also not being made to feel small, which makes it far easier for Benedict to keep his head and continue the discussion.]
If the majority of Riftwatch sided with the Divine, and concluded that everyone would be safer with mages confined, what would 'protecting them' mean to you?
But if it did? Or if Riftwatch's hand were forced?
That's not relevant. Would you support our freedom, or not?
I've thrown my lot in with you.
[The faintest of smirks.]
I'd rather not have been an idiot twice.
[The faintest of smirks.]
I'd rather not have been an idiot twice.
Sometimes it's just... nice to hear it spoken aloud.
[He twists in his chair, resting his chin atop folded hands along the back of it.]
To keep you from going mad speculating, if nothing else.
[He twists in his chair, resting his chin atop folded hands along the back of it.]
To keep you from going mad speculating, if nothing else.
[ By is quiet a moment. Then - ]
To be honest - I don't believe that mages should have unlimited freedom.
[ There's no pleasure as he says it, but: ]
An Abomination is fully capable of murdering hundreds of people. To pretend that's not a reality would be naive. To pretend that a mage is like any other person, that they do not need particular training - I cannot say that I support a world where magic is treated no differently from green eyes or left-handedness.
To be honest - I don't believe that mages should have unlimited freedom.
[ There's no pleasure as he says it, but: ]
An Abomination is fully capable of murdering hundreds of people. To pretend that's not a reality would be naive. To pretend that a mage is like any other person, that they do not need particular training - I cannot say that I support a world where magic is treated no differently from green eyes or left-handedness.
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