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Sure.

[He'd actually had a conversation about this topic relatively recently, and it's been on his mind.]

And it's pretty apparent that the factions' leaders think the Summoned in their nations are goin' to fight for them.

[But whether or not that's going to happen is a layered issue.]

[Oh, he wants to laugh.

People are all alike no matter the place he finds himself.]

So business as usual?

[The poor fight for the rich. The rich expect them to. It's the same between this world, Norman's and his own.]

It's predictable, at least.

[He's not quite as cynical overall, but on this particular subject he's very unimpressed.]

And presumptuous.

To a point.

[He is calm and considerate of any opposing debate after a brief pause.]

We are guests, after all. The state barely tolerates our presence unless we make ourselves useful.

I wouldn't say we're guests. We didn't ask to be here.

[So holding their presence against them would be more than slightly unfair, and although he doesn't think any of the factions' leadership necessarily cares about fairness, he doesn't exactly think they're looking at it the way Crane describes. However--]

But they might be wantin' us to think that way. Especially if they want us to be loyal to them if they get into a war.

Do you believe they only desire loyalty?

[Loyalty implies bonds and relationships. He expects nothing of either. People need strength to fight and some find it in others: he simply finds it in himself.]

Well, I think as much as they desire loyalty they expect betrayal. This tense atmosphere is begging for it, really. There's bound to be someone out there who'll knife another in the back for some reward.

[Financial or otherwise. He's not picky, just opportunistic.]

I don't think they're expectin' it, but it's most convenient for them.

[But he's not arguing with Crane's point, at least in regard to the faction leadership. In fact, he'd had a discussion with Matt about this at the gala, and it's a potential problem.]

It'd be pretty foolish to believe any of us'll just choose to fight for them though. They've probably got some sort of contingency plan.

[But what that plan might be is anyone's guess right now.]

[Crane stiffens and straightens his posture. There is something to be said for addressing unexpected events in the moment - he likes to think himself good at it.]

Well, my estimation is anybody who becomes a nuisance will be chucked into the well.

[That water they all arrived in.]

Perhaps we'll be naked when they do it. But apologies. I'm making light of a terrible situation.

[Humour is a valid coping mechanism!]

[Jayden does give him a slight side-eye at the joke, but everyone copes in different ways, and it's not like Jayden hasn't done the same and so he decides to just ignore it. Instead--]

D'you think it'd be that easy?

[It isn't challenging, just curious.]

Not entirely.

[Crane closes his eyes, inhales and breathes and sighs. He then looks seriously at Norman.]

But that's why people have contengieny plans, isn't it?

[His gaze flickers back to Crane when he feels his gaze on him, but then returns to the piano.]

Depends how far they're thinkin' ahead.

[And how overconfident they are, which often goes hand in hand.]

[One moment to listen to the sound of the piano. One second to think of a response.]

Given government planning? I'd wager twenty years. Not that it takes anything less than fifty to get anything done.

[Bureaucracy, hah.]

[Okay, that joke is funny.]

They have to physically sign and mail all their paperwork back and forth too.

[So add time for that! Emails are so much more convenient. He'd even be glad to see fax machines at this point, and he hates fax machines.]

[Crane wrinkles his nose at the thought.]

How intolerably backward.

[This coming from a man whose horizon is an old gothic manor, filled with journals and books.]

[Jayden was born in the early eighties and so clearly remembers life before the internet, but that doesn't mean those memories have to be fond. He's none too impressed with the current tech level.]

Too bad I didn't study engineerin' or something. Coulda' reinvented some technology here and set myself up for life.

[However long 'life' here is.]

[The comment is something he understands but cannot emphasise with. He watches with a calm, clinical stare. Why grumble when you can take action?]

You feel profiling is useless in this environment?

Profiling is a delicate matter.

[And so although he doesn't consider it useless here, it's certainly not like using it at home.]

You know how psychology and criminology are. So much depends on societal and cultural factors, and this isn't even the same world; applyin' what I know about modern day American serial killers isn't going to be appropriate here.

[At least not broadly. The methodology, perhaps--some of that is universal enough--but everything else depends on context he doesn't have, and it doesn't feel like much of a viable option. There are probably better ways he can apply himself here.]

No but I believe we've had this discussion before.

[About patterns of behaviour and how one can utelise them in this new world in which they find themselves. But his gaze turns intense - focusing on what he feels is a real issue that needs slicing to save the whole.]

You seem hesitant to take the first step. Reluctant to the point it strikes me as asocial.

[If he can't talk shop with a profiler when can he?]

[Jayden's about to acquiesce to the first point about having discussed this before, but then Crane goes and just calls him out and ugh, he knows it's what psychologists and psychiatrists do, but it doesn't mean he has to like it.

It also doesn't mean he has to go along with it, though he does stop playing the piano for a moment to turn his gaze fully on Crane. His is less intense than Crane's, but more so than it has been so far.]

You know I'm broke here, right? I can't pay for a counseling session.

[And he wouldn't, even if he could, but you know. That probably comes across clearly enough.]

[Crane leans back and relaxes in his chair. He lifts his chin and makes a precise gesture with his hand. Reluctance is easily handled. Reticence equally so.]

It's hardly a counselling session. More some friendly advice.

[Between friends? One never dares to presume.]

It was an observation.

[Crane's comment about Jayden's reluctance, he means. But although Jayden pushes back on that point, he doesn't do so any more aggressively than that. Instead--]

But if you've got advice, sure, I'm interested.

[Not because he intends to take it, but he's curious what Crane might say.]

Edited 2023-05-25 03:15 (UTC)

[The control he keeps on his emotions refuses to crack. His face is a calm and impassive facade that reveals no tells. It's the softness of his voice that reveals a considerate side. Advice? Sure, he can offer that.]

Oh? In that case, I can offer a few words.

[He leans forward in his chair.]

You need to lighten up. Be compassionate to yourself and accept that, no matter what happens, everything will turn out all right.

[Jayden watches Crane's reaction, waiting to see what he'll say, not sure what he's expecting. But although the sentiment is nice, it's also something he's heard many times before.

So he turns back to the piano again, returning to idly pressing the keys.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[But the chances he'll actually do that are very slim. It feels like a nice but ultimately naive way of looking at things, because while hoping for the best certainly has its place, there are times when it's just not pragmatic. He has very little confidence anything about being here is going to turn out alright.

He's not about to say any of that, however, and diverts the topic, though not far enough that it might seem overtly obvious that he's doing so.]

I've been workin' on a few different things, they just haven't all come together yet.

[Which is true, although it's likely he would've made more progress if he weren't also spending so much time playing around in the Horizon.]

[Crane reveals little emotion about being palmed off with words, excuses his patients tried time and time before. His face keeps its bright and pleasant inoffensiveness even as his ego bristles at the insult. His opinion being worthless. His time being wasted.

There were consequences for such behaviour back home after a month or three. Patients wheeled downstairs for additional therapy. The thought elicits a smile and lightens his face. All in good time.

He knows the difference between naivete and confidence, after all.]

That sounds like procrastination.

[Like he said, you're hesitant.]

[Jayden's gaze flickers Crane's direction again, both at the smile and the comment, feeling another flash of annoyance. He reminds himself again that Crane is probably just trying to help, and is likely purposefully ignoring the deflections rather than not getting the hints, and it's all probably out of good intentions.

But that isn't going to stop Jayden from giving increasingly unimpressed responses the more this goes on. Normally, despite his awkwardness, Jayden is quite empathetic and so tries his best not to make people feel bad, but he does have a limit and is rapidly approaching it with the turn this conversation has taken.]

I prefer to know what I'm doing before I do it, but if you want to call that procrastination, go ahead. I'm not stoppin' you.

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