[ It has been a long day. But at the end of it, Ozpin has a text to send. ]
James knows.
He received the information more gracefully here than on Remnant.
[ That is to say: there was a great deal of shouting, but no one was shot. ]
Still, it seems best that you be aware.
[ To keep an eye on him, he does not finish, because it is the sort of thing that has always been implied. Perhaps it is no longer a given, anymore. Perhaps Qrow is no longer his spy. In this moment, though, it feels as though that easy synergy is still between them: members of a team, allies on a battlefield, but now Qrow has all the intelligence on the board.
There is something rather freeing about being able to discuss his moves like this. Freeing or messy, but most likely both. ]
probably because he doesn't have an entire military he can sic on us this time but good to know we don't have to walk on eggshells with him anymore
[He says, as though he didn't literally punch James in the face on his first day. But look sometimes you gotta crack a couple of eggshells to be aware there are others not to touch okay.]
so uh what's next do we gotta start including him in our strategy meetings again
[He sounds....reluctant, but not as angry as he did back in the hotel in January. As much as he's loath to admit it, James has watched their backs pretty well here, having protected Ruby, then Oscar and himself...it's enough for a tiny bit of good grace, if not necessarily trust.]
[ He notes the difference, and it is... a relief. It is one less thing to manage. Ozpin is very tired, and to speak frankly with Qrow, rather than feeling he must keep two volatile personalities each on their own leash, is something of a weight lifted.
If even Qrow can tolerate sharing space with the man, perhaps there is hope for all of them yet. ]
I would rather have him as an ally than an enemy.
Salem has died a second death, now. He dealt the blow.
thing is being an ally and staying one are different things nobody is an ally he wouldn't betray if he thought it made sense what happens when the next thing freaks him out? salem's always been his enemy but we weren't until suddenly we were too inconvenient
[His main issue with Oz had been that he was a liar, but he's working on that here. He's given Qrow plenty of reason by now to believe in his sincerity.
James, on the other hand, began to justify his actions before he even knew there were actions to justify. I would if they did something to deserve it. It still stings, because he knows--he knows that in James' world there are allies and there are enemies, but there aren't really friends. Loyalty is only a one-way street.]
Then it is my job to convince him it does not make sense to turn.
James's loyalty is conditional, but in a way that readily aligns with our own purposes. He will always act as he believes as right. The tension arises when he values ideals over human lives.
It is nothing like Leonardo, who valued his own safety above all else.
In any case, I am attempting to establish safeguards. I am closely involved with the structure of TRUST, and I am working with Winter to keep an eye on the situation.
are we even sure we can trust winter? her only tie to us over atlas is her sister, and weiss isn't even here anymore
he might align with our purposes now but he's going to disagree with you eventually, he always does it's just a matter of how explosively he does if i have to work with him, i need to know the backup plan because i'm not letting him turn his gun on the girls again i'll fucking kill him first
I trust Winter. She has faced overwhelming odds in my defense, and she knows enough to worry for James's stability. She does not want to see him cross the line any more than we do.
I do not ask that you enjoy the man's company, only that you humor my efforts. Should he squander the chance, understand that I can and will personally intervene.
[ This is a very polite way of saying Not if I do first. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(4/14) text | un: beacon
James knows.
He received the information more gracefully here than on Remnant.
[ That is to say: there was a great deal of shouting, but no one was shot. ]
Still, it seems best that you be aware.
[ To keep an eye on him, he does not finish, because it is the sort of thing that has always been implied. Perhaps it is no longer a given, anymore. Perhaps Qrow is no longer his spy. In this moment, though, it feels as though that easy synergy is still between them: members of a team, allies on a battlefield, but now Qrow has all the intelligence on the board.
There is something rather freeing about being able to discuss his moves like this. Freeing or messy, but most likely both. ]
no subject
but good to know we don't have to walk on eggshells with him anymore
[He says, as though he didn't literally punch James in the face on his first day. But look sometimes you gotta crack a couple of eggshells to be aware there are others not to touch okay.]
so uh
what's next
do we gotta start including him in our strategy meetings again
[He sounds....reluctant, but not as angry as he did back in the hotel in January. As much as he's loath to admit it, James has watched their backs pretty well here, having protected Ruby, then Oscar and himself...it's enough for a tiny bit of good grace, if not necessarily trust.]
no subject
If even Qrow can tolerate sharing space with the man, perhaps there is hope for all of them yet. ]
I would rather have him as an ally than an enemy.
Salem has died a second death, now. He dealt the blow.
no subject
nobody is an ally he wouldn't betray if he thought it made sense
what happens when the next thing freaks him out?
salem's always been his enemy but we weren't
until suddenly we were too inconvenient
[His main issue with Oz had been that he was a liar, but he's working on that here. He's given Qrow plenty of reason by now to believe in his sincerity.
James, on the other hand, began to justify his actions before he even knew there were actions to justify. I would if they did something to deserve it. It still stings, because he knows--he knows that in James' world there are allies and there are enemies, but there aren't really friends. Loyalty is only a one-way street.]
what's your plan for if he turns on us again?
no subject
James's loyalty is conditional, but in a way that readily aligns with our own purposes. He will always act as he believes as right. The tension arises when he values ideals over human lives.
It is nothing like Leonardo, who valued his own safety above all else.
In any case, I am attempting to establish safeguards. I am closely involved with the structure of TRUST, and I am working with Winter to keep an eye on the situation.
no subject
her only tie to us over atlas is her sister, and weiss isn't even here anymore
he might align with our purposes now but he's going to disagree with you eventually, he always does
it's just a matter of how explosively he does
if i have to work with him, i need to know the backup plan
because i'm not letting him turn his gun on the girls again
i'll fucking kill him first
no subject
I do not ask that you enjoy the man's company, only that you humor my efforts. Should he squander the chance, understand that I can and will personally intervene.
[ This is a very polite way of saying Not if I do first. ]
no subject
i won't be holding my breath for either of them
but if he doesn't make trouble i won't go looking for it
[That's about as far as he's willing to compromise, anyway.]