hotel: jiji

[shaft]

Comments

[shaft]

[ He just smiles. ]

I'm not assessing you. I said it was a good answer because it made me reflect on some of my own choices in ways I haven't before.

[unsaid]

Is that so? May I ask how?

[shaft]

[ He nods, not minding the question. ]

The country where I was born has... some problems. I wanted for a long time to build something better, but thinking about how people deserve better never really factored into it.

At least, I never thought about people the way you just described.

[unsaid]

Ha ha ha...

Then I wonder if there shall be anything more that I could hope for in this hotel.

[he's joking but also kind of not. he does sound somewhat pleased.]

[shaft]

[ ? ]

What do you mean?

[unsaid]

If I might help inspire even the slightest expansion of the ways people think, then I am content.

[shaft]

[ He laughs. ]

I should hope so. It's quite the achievement.

[unsaid]

I believe so too... It is easy to become stagnant, to believe that what you know is all you must know...

Well, I don't think I'll have to worry too much about that with all of you.

[shaft]

If nothing else, we're learning about forensics and anatomy while we're here.

[unsaid]

I suppose the pursuit of knowledge is one that humans always find themselves hungry for.

[shaft]

[ he hums ]

You're not wrong. I mean... it is part of what makes living so exciting.

[unsaid]

Are you the curious sort, Claude?

[shaft]

Yes, but I'm going to ask you not to use this knowledge against me.

[unsaid]

Against you? How so?

[shaft]

For example, dangling a mystery in front of me and using that to coerce me into something.

[unsaid]

Oh. How mean.

[shaft]

There are some cruel people out there!

[unsaid]

I would say so.

[he seems thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head]

I have little interest in coercing anyone into anything. Not when I find the beauty of humanity lies in your ability to make choices.

[shaft]

That's a relief. I doubt it'd be difficult for you.

[unsaid]

[ ? ]

Where do these impressions of me come from, exactly?

[shaft]

Over a millennium's worth of combat experience?

[unsaid]

Ha ha ha. Oh, in the end, I am but an old man.

[ok]

[shaft]

[ unconvinced look ]