When our fathers stood against enemy, they had no such resources as we have now; indeed, they abandoned even what they had, and then it was by wisdom rather than by good fortune, by daring rather than by material power, that they drove back the foreign invasion and made our city what it is today. We must live up to the standard they set: we must resist our enemies in any and every way, and try to leave it to those who come after us; an Athens that is as great as ever.
[He rubs his chin.]
Luckily, I think they took 'Athens' as a metaphor.
[Ethan sets a hand to his mouth to hide the smile and rests his weight on one foot as he watches Fitz 'perform'. When he's like this it feels rather special, and he isn't about to waste a moment of it on pretending he isn't amused and delighted. All professionalism is gone as he nods along.]
Is that from something? It actually was quite the heroic speech, Fitz.
I don't know if you noticed, but I don't really like public speaking. I'm not a leader, and I can accept that. I've got better things to offer than my words, usually.
[It's absolutely meant to be inappropriate. That's what the winking is for.]
It means it's not you spouting absolute rubbish. I don't think you'd like it for exactly the reasons I do, but it's like... you're sensible enough not to want to be a leader, but you get times when you got to get people to get their shit together. But it's not like you're just Ethan saying that. You're Navigator Ethan who knows how to fly things.
[He supposes he does put on a face for those kinds of announcements, finds the headstrong and confident person he had to be as a soldier and tries to wear that mask when he speaks.
Saying it as just himself, without the posturing for the hope that everyone will actually believe him would probably sound less convincing. And potentially embarrassing.]
Mm. Yeah, that makes sense. I'm not quite an actor, but I take comfort in a role I fit into. Or did...I think it's safe to say my career is over whether the war is done or not.
Do you have to say 'career'? I think I'm allergic to the very word. You'll find another role, and one you might fit even more easily. Since you're attached to being yourself, even though there are so many fun people to pretend to be.
What else am I supposed to call it? Its not like it was a part-time job... I thought I'd be there until I died.
[He rolls his eyes at Fitz and starts meandering again, though off in the distance he can see Foal running like a crazy dog around a fountain. He's enjoying his free walk.]
Ill have to think about it... I dont know what else I could see myself doing...
See? That's exactly the sort of depressing thing people say after they start talking about careers.
[He shrugs.]
You like flying and engineering. I don't know how to break this to you, but I'm pretty sure that at least the engineering bit means you have a lot of options. It's 'useful'. Not as useful to society as music, but probably at least third.
[He supposes the idea of getting into engineering as a career would be so incredibly normal, and useful. He might find deadlines, but its nothing like hanging the fate of the world on your success and his shoulders drop an inch as he considers it.]
I...yes, I suppose thats true.
I just didn't think I- [He frowns as he thinks about it.] I have my certification from the Academy... it isn't as solid as a degree, going through a program and getting a diploma. But I suppose I'm not so old that I couldnt get it either...
I don't know, you are pretty ancient. How could you ever get a degree now that you're in your dotage. I take it all back: the only option is that you open an illegal chop shop and use your experience for moderately dodgy jobs.
[He's sure Ethan can manage it, but that's no reason to let him get lost in it.]
That's why you have the right to remain silent. Besides, you wouldn't have to go around lying. Just give the proper amount of the truth. Anyone asks what you're up to you can tell 'em that you work fixing stuff up or whatever. Or tell them how engines work at excruciating length.
[He takes a moment yo imagine this and cant help the grin that comes to his face.]
Explaining how and why some engines are far superior than others and tell them all about my latest custome welded exhaust pipe for this bike I'm working on.
Exactly! Either they'll be inching away within moments or if they like that stuff they'll be too busy talking about proper motor oil and how something vehicles are faster than others, or whatever you type of people talk about.
Until the war is over, I don't know how far my certification will get me. There wasn't exactly veterans from the war coming back so as far as services, I think It might be a shit show for the first couple years, post...
"I was thinking more getting into advocacy work and not falling back on the life of crime, but we both know I'm shit at public speaking, and it's weird, advocating for yourself... I'm sure people would write all sorts of articles about how Mr. Lamaire is exactly like his father, self-absorbed and in it for the money." He rolls his eyes as he thinks about it, sure that no matter how he spun it, someone would have something nasty to say.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 03:50 am (UTC)[Maybe he'll feel inspired.]
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 03:57 am (UTC)When our fathers stood against enemy, they had no such resources as we have now; indeed, they abandoned even what they had, and then it was by wisdom rather than by good fortune, by daring rather than by material power, that they drove back the foreign invasion and made our city what it is today. We must live up to the standard they set: we must resist our enemies in any and every way, and try to leave it to those who come after us; an Athens that is as great as ever.
[He rubs his chin.]
Luckily, I think they took 'Athens' as a metaphor.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:01 am (UTC)Is that from something? It actually was quite the heroic speech, Fitz.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:05 am (UTC)[He shakes his head.]
What are they teaching you at military school these days? Oratory is a very important subject.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:07 am (UTC)I don't know if you noticed, but I don't really like public speaking. I'm not a leader, and I can accept that. I've got better things to offer than my words, usually.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:10 am (UTC)I bet you do.
[He waves a hand.]
Public speaking is fun when you're someone else.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:12 am (UTC)Why do you think that is? Because I feel like I agree with you, but can't put my finger on why.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:19 am (UTC)It means it's not you spouting absolute rubbish. I don't think you'd like it for exactly the reasons I do, but it's like... you're sensible enough not to want to be a leader, but you get times when you got to get people to get their shit together. But it's not like you're just Ethan saying that. You're Navigator Ethan who knows how to fly things.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:24 am (UTC)Saying it as just himself, without the posturing for the hope that everyone will actually believe him would probably sound less convincing. And potentially embarrassing.]
Mm. Yeah, that makes sense. I'm not quite an actor, but I take comfort in a role I fit into. Or did...I think it's safe to say my career is over whether the war is done or not.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:31 am (UTC)Do you have to say 'career'? I think I'm allergic to the very word. You'll find another role, and one you might fit even more easily. Since you're attached to being yourself, even though there are so many fun people to pretend to be.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:34 am (UTC)[He rolls his eyes at Fitz and starts meandering again, though off in the distance he can see Foal running like a crazy dog around a fountain. He's enjoying his free walk.]
Ill have to think about it... I dont know what else I could see myself doing...
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:38 am (UTC)[He shrugs.]
You like flying and engineering. I don't know how to break this to you, but I'm pretty sure that at least the engineering bit means you have a lot of options. It's 'useful'. Not as useful to society as music, but probably at least third.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:46 am (UTC)I...yes, I suppose thats true.
I just didn't think I- [He frowns as he thinks about it.] I have my certification from the Academy... it isn't as solid as a degree, going through a program and getting a diploma. But I suppose I'm not so old that I couldnt get it either...
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:52 am (UTC)[He grins.] That sounds like a lot more fun.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 04:54 am (UTC)Can you have a midlife crisis in your mid-twenties? Probably.]
Oh my god... I'd be the worst criminal. You know how bad i am at lying...
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 05:00 am (UTC)That's why you have the right to remain silent. Besides, you wouldn't have to go around lying. Just give the proper amount of the truth. Anyone asks what you're up to you can tell 'em that you work fixing stuff up or whatever. Or tell them how engines work at excruciating length.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 05:03 am (UTC)Explaining how and why some engines are far superior than others and tell them all about my latest custome welded exhaust pipe for this bike I'm working on.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 05:05 am (UTC)Not a single lie to be seen.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 05:07 am (UTC)But other than that it's brilliant.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-09 05:09 am (UTC)Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-13 06:46 pm (UTC)I'm not sure that would be the kind of life I want to continue even if I did steal a starfighter and crash it on Mars.
Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-13 06:55 pm (UTC)Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-13 07:51 pm (UTC)Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-13 07:54 pm (UTC)Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
Date: 2025-10-13 07:59 pm (UTC)Re: Back dated to a few days after Alexei graduates
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