[ This is the part where Claude's reminded there's some level of preciseness with which he'll have to choose what to say yet again. There's multiple ways his ideas can be taken, but still worth it in the end. He hopes. Another few beats go by in which Claude takes another drink, considers his answer to make sure it's all in order, and then glances at Sylvain once more. ]

Influence through goodwill. Get involved with other causes and issues, and ones that will actually help the people here in the process which is just as important.

Before you and Petra arrived, a couple other Summoned put on an art walk with Libertas. We were able to go there whenever we wanted for about a week to see galleries, performances, just about anything to do with the arts. And some of those acts came here to Cadens, too, and it dialed back a lot of the pro-war with Thorne feelings I'd noticed citizens had before it. It almost certainly helped create more of a connection to help with Libertas after it was attacked, not that anyone was predicting that happening at the time.

Obviously, that kind of thing isn't in our reach now since I don't even know what kind of connections they had or have. But there are other smaller ways: help in Libertas when they start rebuilding, volunteer at the different organizations both here and there, and use that to build upon because that need for support isn't going away.

[ Now he'll flash a wry smile Sylvain's direction, because if it wasn't apparent before: ] I had more than one reason in mind for going on that supply run.