[Family didn't always mean best intentions. Alec was nobility, something he clearly hated and wanted to avoid association with. That didn't mean he hated his family, but that also didn't mean he trusted them.
These things kept his smile and tone pleasant but with some caution. He was no noble, he didn't know how to play this kind of game like Hawke would, but he knew how to lie and cheat and those things were close enough in the end.]
I'm sure. I can't imagine having family in a place like this. I also can't imagine it's easy talking to said family about a place like this. Is there something specific you were hoping to learn or ask?
His sister's daughter is here as well, my great-granddaughter. It's almost easier with her, because I haven't met her except here, as a young woman.
[ Also, Katherine seems a good deal more capable than Davey- Alec. And a good deal more trusting. ]
The last time I met him he was four, and had just thrown a very finely crafted figurine of a bird across the room to see if it would fly.
[ Diane's voice is touched by fondness, fondness that is entirely genuine. She appreciates in Alec the fact that he resists being controlled, it's an irritating trait in an enemy but a good one in family, especially family that might one day need to be the future of Tremontaine. ]
You wouldn't happen to know how old he is here, would you? It might help me think of him as the man he's grown into.
[More family he didn't know about, he made note of that tidbit as well. Again, he couldn't help wondering if this was by design or lack of care.
The image Diane painted sounded believable, he could picture a younger Alec, eyes impossibly larger and hair finer, tossing a fake bird to see what might happen. It put a small, gentle, smile on his face for the image.]
He's twenty-one, if I recall.
[It hadn't come up, but it was in their paperwork somewhere, along with Alec's real, full name, that he preferred not to go by. He'd looked over in curiosity, though the information meant little before now.
His smile faded into something more polite again as he considered his words.]
I won't pretend to know more about nobility than I do, but I would like to ask in return: if the reason he hasn't spoken much with you might have something to do with the reason he goes by a portion of his name instead of anything to do with a family name.
[ Twenty-one... Diane had been married for long enough to have settled into her relationship with William, had had her daughter and was still desperately trying to give William a son. ]
I honestly don't know. I never really cared for his father, but I can't tell you if it has to do with him, with my daughter, somehow with me. I do think...It's more than possible his parents tried to exert too firm a hand with his upbringing. Although they weren't-- [ She cuts herself off.] I'm sure he wouldn't want me sharing too much.
I just worry about him, particularly as I've only been able to speak to him across the network since my arrival.
[He considers a moment, his eyes falling to his desk before he looked back to her. He couldn't answer that question more than she could, though he knew a bit. He could certainly make a guess from that much.]
'Too firm a hand' may be right. If you didn't like his father and I know some of what his mother did, then I'm sure it's the association rather than anything personal to you.
[Unless she'd done something akin to Leandra: something unkind that she didn't recognize or even maybe thought was kind.
Still, Leandra loved her children even if some of the things she'd done had left their marks. With that association in mind, he could feel the caution he'd put up bend a little.]
I'm not sure he's taken my requests seriously. And of course, if he doesn't wish to meet with me, I've no right to demand it.
[ Diane's expression is serious, regretful. She neither wants to alienate Anders, nor drive a wedge between him and Alec if he could be of use to her. ]
I think it would help put my heart at ease, if I could speak to him other than over the network.
But I suppose that is a woman's private grief, nothing I would involve you in. I did...want to be sure you weren't hurting him.
[ Not that she can take Anders at his word on that, but they don't need to say that for it to be understood. ]
[There's a few things, small tells that feel like sharp edges, but nothing so sharp he feels it pressed to his back. Nothing intentional, though it could be and he's not sure he'd know the difference. She could be using him to get to Alec who's avoiding her or she could be genuine, it wasn't like Alec was...easy to get along with. Hawke got along with everyone and he and Alec butted heads horribly, family could be worse.
No, what nettled him more was the implication he might hurt Alec. He didn't blame her for that at all, if it were him, he'd won't some sort of proof as well and if he couldn't get it from the person in question..?]
I would be happy to try talking with him about it.
In the meantime, is there something I could offer to prove to you the very reason I made the contract was for Alec's safety and protection in this city?
I would rather he didn't...get angry with you for speaking with me, and I think that is a risk. If you do mean him well, I don't want to jeapordize that.
I don't know, if I'm being honest.
[ She offers him a smile that's as soft as it is apologetic. ]
I've learned too many times not to trust men just because they say the right words. Perhaps in time, if we got to know each other better... But of course I would not impose on you so.
[Those were both good points. He didn't fear Alec's ire, but there was no reason to stoke it either. On the other hand, he knew all too well people lied to get what they wanted, she said 'men' but it was no different than what he was expecting now of her.
The problem was he couldn't always tell and that's what she was claiming as well. He couldn't blame her for that.
No, maybe there was a simpler answer to this and, for the sake of getting back to work and putting her mind at ease, maybe he should take it.]
Would it help if you came by the place some time? I admit, we're intending to move from the public housing soon, so some things are in disarray, but perhaps after? I believe he intends to remain living in the new house full time rather than his current split time between the Up and the Down as well.
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I'm glad to hear that. I... I've been worried about him in this place, but he won't really speak to me about how he's doing.
[ Diane needs to play her role carefully, she knows that. ]
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These things kept his smile and tone pleasant but with some caution. He was no noble, he didn't know how to play this kind of game like Hawke would, but he knew how to lie and cheat and those things were close enough in the end.]
I'm sure. I can't imagine having family in a place like this. I also can't imagine it's easy talking to said family about a place like this. Is there something specific you were hoping to learn or ask?
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[ Also, Katherine seems a good deal more capable than Davey- Alec. And a good deal more trusting. ]
The last time I met him he was four, and had just thrown a very finely crafted figurine of a bird across the room to see if it would fly.
[ Diane's voice is touched by fondness, fondness that is entirely genuine. She appreciates in Alec the fact that he resists being controlled, it's an irritating trait in an enemy but a good one in family, especially family that might one day need to be the future of Tremontaine. ]
You wouldn't happen to know how old he is here, would you? It might help me think of him as the man he's grown into.
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The image Diane painted sounded believable, he could picture a younger Alec, eyes impossibly larger and hair finer, tossing a fake bird to see what might happen. It put a small, gentle, smile on his face for the image.]
He's twenty-one, if I recall.
[It hadn't come up, but it was in their paperwork somewhere, along with Alec's real, full name, that he preferred not to go by. He'd looked over in curiosity, though the information meant little before now.
His smile faded into something more polite again as he considered his words.]
I won't pretend to know more about nobility than I do, but I would like to ask in return: if the reason he hasn't spoken much with you might have something to do with the reason he goes by a portion of his name instead of anything to do with a family name.
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[ Twenty-one... Diane had been married for long enough to have settled into her relationship with William, had had her daughter and was still desperately trying to give William a son. ]
I honestly don't know. I never really cared for his father, but I can't tell you if it has to do with him, with my daughter, somehow with me. I do think...It's more than possible his parents tried to exert too firm a hand with his upbringing. Although they weren't-- [ She cuts herself off.] I'm sure he wouldn't want me sharing too much.
I just worry about him, particularly as I've only been able to speak to him across the network since my arrival.
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'Too firm a hand' may be right. If you didn't like his father and I know some of what his mother did, then I'm sure it's the association rather than anything personal to you.
[Unless she'd done something akin to Leandra: something unkind that she didn't recognize or even maybe thought was kind.
Still, Leandra loved her children even if some of the things she'd done had left their marks. With that association in mind, he could feel the caution he'd put up bend a little.]
Have you asked to meet with him?
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[ Diane's expression is serious, regretful. She neither wants to alienate Anders, nor drive a wedge between him and Alec if he could be of use to her. ]
I think it would help put my heart at ease, if I could speak to him other than over the network.
But I suppose that is a woman's private grief, nothing I would involve you in. I did...want to be sure you weren't hurting him.
[ Not that she can take Anders at his word on that, but they don't need to say that for it to be understood. ]
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No, what nettled him more was the implication he might hurt Alec. He didn't blame her for that at all, if it were him, he'd won't some sort of proof as well and if he couldn't get it from the person in question..?]
I would be happy to try talking with him about it.
In the meantime, is there something I could offer to prove to you the very reason I made the contract was for Alec's safety and protection in this city?
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I don't know, if I'm being honest.
[ She offers him a smile that's as soft as it is apologetic. ]
I've learned too many times not to trust men just because they say the right words. Perhaps in time, if we got to know each other better... But of course I would not impose on you so.
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The problem was he couldn't always tell and that's what she was claiming as well. He couldn't blame her for that.
No, maybe there was a simpler answer to this and, for the sake of getting back to work and putting her mind at ease, maybe he should take it.]
Would it help if you came by the place some time? I admit, we're intending to move from the public housing soon, so some things are in disarray, but perhaps after? I believe he intends to remain living in the new house full time rather than his current split time between the Up and the Down as well.