Plenty of laws were dumb, but, even to guy that usually didn't drink, charging somebody for being drunk in public sounded especially so. (The other charges sounded fine with him. The fraud was especially helpful for confirming a bias.) But. Still. Public intoxication. What was the worst thing anyone had done, while drunk in public? Punched a few people, maybe? Only seemed worth enforcing if children or little old people were hurt. (Ooh. Wait. Did this Quill do such a thing?
No. Hitters of the elderly and youth had a certain...air about them. Well, not exactly an air. More like a vibe. A certain kind of spirit. This Quill's soul did not give off such an impression.)] You had heard about me. The only crime they've got me for was attacking the Accuser's associates without the government's permission. [There's a hint of bitterness in that tone. A tone that pretty much insists you don't ask about the other crimes he didn't get charged for.
Well. Only felt fair to share that, since this Peter did. Time to see if he could change the subject!] Your charge of fraud. It was for taxes, or something more interesting?
[ He smirked despite himself, trying to hide it by pulling a hand down his face. ]
It was mostly letting a guy think I was someone I wasn't. And then letting him hand over a whole lot of cash that I had no business taking, but, hey, not my fault he never asked for ID, you know?
[ He shrugged his shoulders again, as if to say, What can you do? before he leaned forward on his elbows on the table. ]
But you-- I've gotta say. Some of the stuff I've heard about you has been-- interesting. That's putting aside all the stuff in the official records, even.
[ Tilting his head to one side, he regarded el Durante with a considering look. ]
You clearly don't like this Accuser guy. I would've thought you'd be the first on board with this whole "let's take him down" thing.
[Letting a guy think I was someone I wasn't...letting him hand over a whole lot of cash? Yes. This did sound like a very efficient con-man. One-hundred percent not an imbecile. This 'Peter Quill', whoever he truly was, would be useful, as an ally, against the Accuser. El Durante resettled himself and, without looking away, he explained himself as frankly as he was able.
Which, you know, was really, really frank. Dunno how you measure a thing like that accurately, but it'd be off the charts. In a manner of speaking. Not a literal one, of course. Unless they developed some sort of Geiger counter of abstract conce--oh, never mind.] It is a matter of principle. The only figure of authority that I've ever respected was my father. To continue doing what I was, before I was arrested, under the orders of people that I distrust is against my personal standards.
You must be getting something out of this. [Not a question. A very figuratively plain-faced assumption.] Something that would make it amendable to serve these bureaucratic, pencil-pushing fools. [A brief nod, to the two-way glass pane. You know. As if Quill needed clarification.] It is blackmail. Or information, perhaps.
[ Yeah, he understood. He nodded and settled back into his seat -- slouched, more like -- and tapped his fingers lightly on the table's top. The action was more idle than nervous -- as if Peter simply wanted something to do with his hands. The question was a fair one, which was why Peter didn't have any qualms answering. ]
They said they'd wipe our records. I'm hopin' for a slap on the wrist in exchange for my help. I meant it when I said I was in the wrong warehouse at the totally wrong time.
[ --Mostly true. That, and York had been tearing the continental US apart looking for Peter. He had sort of screwed York out of a deal, once upon a time, and York was most certainly looking to collect. Peter needed to be out of this place, like, five weeks ago. ]
So you're not interested in the cleaned records, I'm guessing?
[...pity, that his involvement was for something so petty. But, it was understandable. It would be conducive for a con-man to have a clean record, to have a new, ripe opportunity to act as he would.
The arms were lowered and his hands were folded in front of him, on the table.] I may change my name, sometimes, but I know who I am and I know what I've experienced and committed; I don't need a legal entity to forgive what I've done. [Utterly no hint of remorse, in that tone.It's not that he's forgiven himself. No. Not at all.] Peter Quill. Do you believe that there is good and evil?
[Yes. This was exactly what normal people small-talked about. Rap-sheets and morality. Aw yeah.]
[ Whether or not he intended to, the question managed to once again surprise Peter into silence. How many times had that been, today? El Durante seemed to be aiming for a personal best.
Despite himself, Peter glanced over to the one-way mirror, as if to say, "You guys heard that too, right?", as if to say, "When did this become Silence of the Lambs?", before giving the other man his attention again.
He got the feeling el Durante didn't really dabble in rhetorical questions, or at least that he was a very straightforward sort of person. He could be wrong, though. In any case, he figured it'd be safe to answer the question, and better that he do so honestly. (It was the "honestly" part that tripped him up, which explained the long pause before he finally spoke). ]
Not... really? [ The words were drawn out, thoughtful. ] I think there's what people think is right, and what people think is wrong, and being right doesn't always mean "good" and being in the wrong doesn't always mean "bad."
[ He shrugged, casting his gaze back down to the table. ] Dealing with shades of gray is kinda what I do.
[El Durante dabbled in whatever he needed to, to get what he wantedunless it got innocent people hurt and/or killed. Consider this question something of a means, to further his character-study. He listened without blinking, and then shared his piece.] I'd agree only partly. There is evil in this world. Undoubtedly, good must also exist, to balance the first. I think good often takes the form of belief, of people wishing to find heroes and worthwhile endeavors.
[His hands were separated and palms opened, as if to say, I have no hidden agendas here.] As you've opined, I also think that morality is relative. Two people can look at the same thing, and one can insist it's good while the other would disagree.
But I have a feeling we'd agree that the Accuser is undoubtedly evil, and, if we took him down, it would not make us anything definitely good. Only technically good. [A very cold statement of fact. Correct him if he was wrong.] This is not atonement; this is assassination that we're signing up for.
Edited (Wrong word. Haha. Kind of literally.) 2016-01-21 23:29 (UTC)
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no subject
Plenty of laws were dumb, but, even to guy that usually didn't drink, charging somebody for being drunk in public sounded especially so. (The other charges sounded fine with him. The fraud was especially helpful for confirming a bias.) But. Still. Public intoxication. What was the worst thing anyone had done, while drunk in public? Punched a few people, maybe? Only seemed worth enforcing if children or little old people were hurt. (Ooh. Wait. Did this Quill do such a thing?
No. Hitters of the elderly and youth had a certain...air about them. Well, not exactly an air. More like a vibe. A certain kind of spirit. This Quill's soul did not give off such an impression.)] You had heard about me. The only crime they've got me for was attacking the Accuser's associates without the government's permission. [There's a hint of bitterness in that tone.
A tone that pretty much insists you don't ask about the other crimes he didn't get charged for.Well. Only felt fair to share that, since this Peter did. Time to see if he could change the subject!] Your charge of fraud. It was for taxes, or something more interesting?
no subject
It was mostly letting a guy think I was someone I wasn't. And then letting him hand over a whole lot of cash that I had no business taking, but, hey, not my fault he never asked for ID, you know?
[ He shrugged his shoulders again, as if to say, What can you do? before he leaned forward on his elbows on the table. ]
But you-- I've gotta say. Some of the stuff I've heard about you has been-- interesting. That's putting aside all the stuff in the official records, even.
[ Tilting his head to one side, he regarded el Durante with a considering look. ]
You clearly don't like this Accuser guy. I would've thought you'd be the first on board with this whole "let's take him down" thing.
no subject
Which, you know, was really, really frank. Dunno how you measure a thing like that accurately, but it'd be off the charts. In a manner of speaking. Not a literal one, of course. Unless they developed some sort of Geiger counter of abstract conce--oh, never mind.] It is a matter of principle. The only figure of authority that I've ever respected was my father. To continue doing what I was, before I was arrested, under the orders of people that I distrust is against my personal standards.
You must be getting something out of this. [Not a question. A very figuratively plain-faced assumption.] Something that would make it amendable to serve these bureaucratic, pencil-pushing fools. [A brief nod, to the two-way glass pane. You know. As if Quill needed clarification.] It is blackmail. Or information, perhaps.
no subject
They said they'd wipe our records. I'm hopin' for a slap on the wrist in exchange for my help. I meant it when I said I was in the wrong warehouse at the totally wrong time.
[ --Mostly true. That, and York had been tearing the continental US apart looking for Peter. He had sort of screwed York out of a deal, once upon a time, and York was most certainly looking to collect. Peter needed to be out of this place, like, five weeks ago. ]
So you're not interested in the cleaned records, I'm guessing?
no subject
The arms were lowered and his hands were folded in front of him, on the table.] I may change my name, sometimes, but I know who I am and I know what I've experienced and committed; I don't need a legal entity to forgive what I've done. [Utterly no hint of remorse, in that tone.
It's not that he's forgiven himself. No. Not at all.] Peter Quill. Do you believe that there is good and evil?[Yes. This was exactly what normal people small-talked about. Rap-sheets and morality. Aw yeah.]
no subject
Despite himself, Peter glanced over to the one-way mirror, as if to say, "You guys heard that too, right?", as if to say, "When did this become Silence of the Lambs?", before giving the other man his attention again.
He got the feeling el Durante didn't really dabble in rhetorical questions, or at least that he was a very straightforward sort of person. He could be wrong, though. In any case, he figured it'd be safe to answer the question, and better that he do so honestly. (It was the "honestly" part that tripped him up, which explained the long pause before he finally spoke). ]
Not... really? [ The words were drawn out, thoughtful. ] I think there's what people think is right, and what people think is wrong, and being right doesn't always mean "good" and being in the wrong doesn't always mean "bad."
[ He shrugged, casting his gaze back down to the table. ] Dealing with shades of gray is kinda what I do.
no subject
unless it got innocent people hurt and/or killed. Consider this question something of a means, to further his character-study. He listened without blinking, and then shared his piece.] I'd agree only partly. There is evil in this world. Undoubtedly, good must also exist, to balance the first. I think good often takes the form of belief, of people wishing to find heroes and worthwhile endeavors.[His hands were separated and palms opened, as if to say, I have no hidden agendas here.] As you've opined, I also think that morality is relative. Two people can look at the same thing, and one can insist it's good while the other would disagree.
But I have a feeling we'd agree that the Accuser is undoubtedly evil, and, if we took him down, it would not make us anything definitely good. Only technically good. [A very cold statement of fact. Correct him if he was wrong.] This is not atonement; this is assassination that we're signing up for.