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[altusimperius]

tell him how pretty he is

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[altusimperius]

[Reluctantly,] you. Personally.

[bouchonne]

[ A frustrated breath. ]

Of course. Flint would make use of them, Stark only cares for Rifters, Yseult doesn't give a damn - but Rutyer, he has a villain's face, let's blame him.

[ A shake of his head - ]

Did they say why?

[altusimperius]

It's not that the others weren't mentioned. It's thought that Flint might use the rebellion as a smokescreen to achieve his own ends,

[he taps his index fingers together,] but I don't... know what those might be. And it was implied that you might protect me, but not others. If it doesn't serve you.

[bouchonne]

[ 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.

[altusimperius]

[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.

[bouchonne]

What do you think? Do you think I'd toss them over to the wolves?

[altusimperius]

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.

[bouchonne]

Mm-hm.

[ No help here; By just prompts him to continue. ]

[altusimperius]

[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.

[bouchonne]

I'm not asking for an outside perspective.

[altusimperius]

[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.

[bouchonne]

Ah.

[ Byerly's lips thin a little. ]

And my statements that I am loyal to the members of this organization - Those are not sufficient.

[altusimperius]

This organization has a lot of members, some of whose agendas conflict.

[bouchonne]

What does that have to do with what I've said?

[altusimperius]

How is it possible to be loyal to all of them, if they directly oppose one another?

[bouchonne]

Loyalty to the people doesn't mean loyalty to their every thought and desire. A desire to protect them doesn't mean a desire to see their will done.

[altusimperius]

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?

[bouchonne]

That hardly seems likely to happen with our current population. We would have to be a very different organization for that to be the consensus.

[altusimperius]

But if it did? Or if Riftwatch's hand were forced?

[bouchonne]

Much of a man's character is in who he chooses to serve. There is a reason I am with Riftwatch, and not another organization.

[ But, drumming his fingers on the desk: ]

Are you imagining that the move would be immediately confining them?

[altusimperius]

Not necessarily. But as an eventuality.

[bouchonne]

How much power do you think I have, Artemaeus?

[altusimperius]

That's not relevant. Would you support our freedom, or not?

[bouchonne]

Isn't it? Relevant? I can't do anything. Not after the war.

[altusimperius]

I've thrown my lot in with you.

[The faintest of smirks.]

I'd rather not have been an idiot twice.