gildedlife: (23)
James Fitzjames ([personal profile] gildedlife) wrote in [community profile] singillatim 2024-11-25 09:58 pm (UTC)

James might've settled on the floor as well, not really intending to be looming over Raju, but getting up from the floor is still a bit more effort than he wants to commit to expending. So instead he leans a little against the nearest wall, posture relaxed but interested, listening closely when Raju begins.

He does indeed watch him, noting his tone and the distant gaze, as well as the brief displays of fire; those make him nervous, just as they had in the cave, but he tries to ignore them for now. What Raju's telling him in more than enough to focus on for now, and very concerning to hear.

On one hand, it isn't a huge surprise that people here may not want to take serious action against someone who, as Hickey is very much capable of, could explain their actions in a way that leaves some amount of doubt in their guilt. James is, after all, someone who tends to behave the same way; when in command of a ship he tended to lead by relying on the respect of his men, typically ignoring minor infractions to prevent resentment or fear from building up amongst his crew, and in turn he'd hardly ever had to deal with serious issues. Even during the Expedition that had held well enough, as himself and Dundy had managed Erebus alone for months without any serious incidents.

That had not only been for the best because it meant everything was calm, but because James truly has very little stomach for more serious punishments. He's much more likely to err on the side of being too lenient, and so he does understand why some here might be that way as well. Perhaps they truly hadn't wanted to do anything when the situation was complex and they only had Francis' word to go on that Hickey was always this way.

But just because he can understand it doesn't make it any less worrying. It certainly means that they can't rely on the other Interlopers to see through Hickey's behavior, but then again, James had never really expected that from them to begin with. They are, after all, just like anyone else; they'll listen to whoever they're most familiar with, and whoever has the most charm and the best story. No different than anyone or anywhere else, and more than one person can play at the same game.

James is silent for several seconds, considering all of this and what he does and doesn't want to say. He wants to know more details, particularly about the other deaths and who had been involved--he has a suspicion about one of them, based on other things he's heard--but he's also cautious about getting Raju too amped up considering the fire issue. So, finally, he settles on something simple enough, and the most important part of it all.

"Perhaps that is true, but such distractions won't work on me. I'm well aware of what he is, and what he's capable of." And as much as James has no desire for or interest in violence, there is still a line that can be crossed. He would very much prefer not to have to do anything, and let the threat that he will if necessary be deterrent enough, but unfortunately he's pretty sure Hickey doesn't take him seriously enough for that.

Ultimately, though, if it comes down to it, that would be his mistake.

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