194

[impure_tale]

Although I know the answer, it serves a person well to consider what it is that drives a crowd of people -- even those who profess themselves relatively good, or even religious -- to relish the notion of hanging, shooting, or beheading a person in full public view.

[Private to Stildyne]

Dearheart, if you are not otherwise indisposed I would relish some proper company.

Comments

[impure_tale]

Toward you? Hardly. Involving you? Possibly. Do you want to talk about it?

[Private]

[doctor_j_crane]

Not directed at, but involving. I can't deny that that's rather clever, albeit in a way that I don't like.

I was a rather disturbing individual in the port, even by my standards. It's not pleasant to be such a zealot.

[Private]

[impure_tale]

Everyone is a zealot about something at some point in their lives.

That's not to limit what I'm certain you're feeling. Considering you met a rather unfortunate end, I'm more given to overlooking any less desirable traits you adopted while there.

[Private]

[doctor_j_crane]

Well, I can hardly deny that. The inmate population here is more or less proof of that.

The traits that I adopted there led to my death, so I suppose that's an example of Darwinism in practice. My port self appeared to be profoundly stupid.

[Private]

[impure_tale]

I have to admire him for his integrity, at least. He must have known a bullet might find his brain at any moment.

[Private]

[doctor_j_crane]

He didn't seem to mind the risk. Like I said, a zealot. It's probably my least favorite individual that I've been in any port, and that's counting the one where I spent the entire time singing with Capa.

[Private]

[impure_tale]

Zealots are generally in a position of power. He could be forgiven.

...Somewhat.

[Private]

[doctor_j_crane]

He'd killed an awful lot of people. I suppose that does make him different from most of the inmates here, though.