[ That answers part of what he was probing around: that Geralt seems to be considering plans even if they aren't specific ones (or ones that'll remain hidden for now), and that whatever they are he's not planning to enact them himself. Claude hums, considering that while also considering the contents of his bowl for a moment before looking back up to Geralt when it feels like the conversation comes further into focus.
And what else isn't voiced doesn't need to be; Claude hears it quite clearly and immediately offers a smile. ]
This isn't quite like when I arrived to Fodlan where there was power and a title waiting for me as an eventuality and I still had my own experiences to build upon for that in the meantime. Figuring out the Free Cities' government takes a little more... studying, let's say, even if this isn't my first time doing so.
[ To say the least, though he idly taps a finger against the handle of his utensil while thinking about that a little longer. It might be something Geralt's already sensed from the course of this conversation if not their others, but it can't hurt to make that clear. The same goes for the unasked question beneath the rest. ]
As for plans, I can't say that I have any immediate ones. I did mean what I said in my speeches for being representative before about us working together when possible. The ideas I might have, partially formed as they are, would require as much. More importantly than that, I have no interest in putting anyone else at risk for them without agreement from all involved. And in the meantime, I see no reason to not give the appearance of aligning - to an extent - with the Free Cities for what we might learn or accomplish with what that offers. Especially if the Cities' end goal is to force us to be part of their war or worse, because I think we should be under no illusions our status here offers any sort of protections and that it was a truth long before recent enough events.
[ Because to be anything close to protection, Claude thinks, they'd have to create whatever that might mean themselves - and that's something else left to ring out in the words yet still unsaid. ]
no subject
And what else isn't voiced doesn't need to be; Claude hears it quite clearly and immediately offers a smile. ]
This isn't quite like when I arrived to Fodlan where there was power and a title waiting for me as an eventuality and I still had my own experiences to build upon for that in the meantime. Figuring out the Free Cities' government takes a little more... studying, let's say, even if this isn't my first time doing so.
[ To say the least, though he idly taps a finger against the handle of his utensil while thinking about that a little longer. It might be something Geralt's already sensed from the course of this conversation if not their others, but it can't hurt to make that clear. The same goes for the unasked question beneath the rest. ]
As for plans, I can't say that I have any immediate ones. I did mean what I said in my speeches for being representative before about us working together when possible. The ideas I might have, partially formed as they are, would require as much. More importantly than that, I have no interest in putting anyone else at risk for them without agreement from all involved. And in the meantime, I see no reason to not give the appearance of aligning - to an extent - with the Free Cities for what we might learn or accomplish with what that offers. Especially if the Cities' end goal is to force us to be part of their war or worse, because I think we should be under no illusions our status here offers any sort of protections and that it was a truth long before recent enough events.
[ Because to be anything close to protection, Claude thinks, they'd have to create whatever that might mean themselves - and that's something else left to ring out in the words yet still unsaid. ]