Novelux Downtown Novelux

[Jackie Cat]

Nolan grimaced a little at Odette's opening question. Even his ego didn't support the notion that he alone could perceive the contradiction – especially when he'd been so agonisingly slow to come around to even considering it seriously. Despite his embarrassment, he heard out the rest of what Odette had to say with fingers steepled. And then narrowed his eyes at the notion that Matthias was a divine error.

"If the Beacon can err so grievously, how then could we hold that the light's chosen are deserving of faith and support...?" he murmured.

And yet, he could no longer force himself to believe that Matthias was owed just that. The conflicting pressures roiled in him like a waterfall against rock, the tides against the shore, wearing him down.

He put a hand to his head and rubbed gingerly at his temple.

"To answer your question, it is not widely discussed, no... The society as a whole is content to delight in his inclusion and cheer his accomplishments. This matter is of greatest interest to my department, and I suppose to the council. When I first entered into a conflict with Matthias, the official position of the Sable Office was that the boy would eventually be one of us, and we needed only to persevere, win him over, prove ourselves worthy, explain to him that we were his natural allies... In a sense, we are now vindicated in that position. And yet... And yet, if his light-ordained journey necessitated years of conflict with us, does that not call into question why such a thing was necessary? Was there no candidate for his duty who could have obviated such a conflict? In all Creation?"

The Inteleon's voice rose, not so much in volume as pitch, until he sounded almost petulant. Still, the indignation in his voice was bitter and real. He'd been the one on the receiving end of Matthias' attacks all that time, after all. And they hadn't exactly reconciled...

"And why," he asked, tremulously, "have my my initial hopes not then come to pass? I did not become his mentor when I ceased to be his enemy. I do not even rightly know what he considers me, now. Perhaps only as a defeated opponent."

 

[Sinderella]

It was odd, listening to the normally hoity-toity and superior-sounding Nolan coming off so moody and testy. But, when your entire world philosophy was seemingly crumbling around you--or at least causing a severe level of high blood pressure--Odette supposed that would make even the most stick-in-ass ailed individuals want to crumple into the floor.

But now she was being faced with a dilemma, one that she had to tread on the tips of her toes around. Again, her suggestions about what was going on remained--Beacon was wrong, the Covenant was wrong, or Nolan himself was wrong--but she didn't have enough information in her own right to push herself, and subsequently Nolan, in any which direction. Not only would that be foolish on her part, that would put a substantial risk on whatever relationship she'd managed to build here. Somehow she'd presented herself in a light where Nolan was comfortable enough to let this much of his guard down, and she had no interest in fucking that up...without good reason, of course.

That made one thing certain. "I don't think I can give you those answers. At least, not at this point in time," she said. "But part of your strife over this might be because you're putting too much stock in this organization, and this one stupid greninja...because if this stuff even has room to be questioned this deeply, then neither half deserve blind support. In its falliability for you to even have this line of thought, its already proven to be, well...not the dogma it wants to be."

She casted her gaze off toward some painting hanging on a far-off wall, thumbing her lower lip with a pondering ease. "At least, not without the undeniable facts. If I'm looking to support something, no matter which direction its facing, I need the cold hard facts. And right now, in your case, there are none. Speaking as somebody who helped crack a worldwide conspiracy."

She was slow in glancing back at him, taking a moment to gauge his reaction to what she'd said.

 

[Jackie Cat]

Nolan sighed, and leaned back in his chair. He looked as if he were composing a reply... but it was then that a smartly-dressed Gumshoos finally arrived bearing their meals. The lizard untensed visibly, the smell of cooked fish apparently calming his nerves. He thanked the waiter politely, and waited for Odette to begin eating before he tucked in himself. Seeing the Inteleon deftly use actual silverware was strangely alien after months spent in the Soja', where even the Sun Stone had plenty of patrons who ate with bare extremities, or directly off a plate.

"I am an investigative auditor, as you know," he said, when he at last picked up the conversation. "I'm familiar with the value of factual evidence. It's... strange, to realise that my loyalties and guiding principles are based on faith, not facts. Disconcerting, even."

His gaze drifted off to the same painting Odette had lingered on – a Novelux-typical piece of bright colours and clean angles, depicting pokémon competing in street race. He swallowed a mouthful of salmon.

"How do you know what is right, and what must be done, Odette?" he asked, quietly.

Not 'how does one know', but 'you' – Odette specifically.

 

[Sinderella]

Her answer was almost instant. “Gut feelings and reckless abandon.”

Still true to her human heritage, she began to pick at her dish with a fork, a smug smirk playing on her lips. She took a bite, allowing Nolan to sit with her answer and try to decipher the exact amount of irony she’d laced it with.

“Well. That’s 1/4 of it, at least,” she said after she swallowed. She let her joking demeanor drain out of her and stabbed another bit of her meal on her fork.

“I’ve been told I have a very pronounced moral compass. Something innate, I guess. With that comes a desire to find what’s ‘right’ based on the parameters of that compass. But the funny thing about being ‘right’ is that half the time it’s not that black and white.” She bit down on the fork and dragged the morsel off, covering her mouth while she chewed. “So when that’s the case, it’s all an info hunt. Collect all the facts and go from there. That’s how I’ve always operated. Or, tried to.” With a hair trigger temper and a harsh reckless streak, sometimes that didn’t work out.

“But I definitely don’t follow things blindly. I aim to always think for myself, rather than go along with the masses. Helps keep my sight lines—physical and mental—in check,” she said.

She allowed another smile to tilt her lips. “So if you’re asking for my advice in that regard, you should do just that. Think for yourself. Go with your gut. Collect the hard facts, with your own thought processes, and go from there. You’re not feeling disconcerted for no reason.”

Not wanting to let her meal get cold, she took a few minutes to get a couple bites in, enjoying some more sips from her tea, which had already started to cool off. Although she was truly hungry, the break in her short dissertation gave her time to decide if she wanted to propose what was on her mind. If what she was thinking would have been a mistake.

Finishing off the last of her tea, she set the cup on the saucer and pushed it toward the end of the table for a waiter to pick up.

“If you’re not sure where to start…I’m happy to lend you my help.”