Okay, [ He says it with a laugh, not anything that belittles the other man, but good-natured, soft, amused. He likes being challenged. He likes people pointing out the flaw in his picture, because most often that's the flaw in the system and they should work on that, they should definitely work on that. ] -- in this crazy moment when we're having this discussion in the Grand Ducal Palace's cafeteria, you and I, Monsieur Girard, I'll accept the very simple argument that like all people, legislators are ruled by fear and convenience. My solution would be to teach them to be ruled by various other, just as human emotions instead.

[ Eyes following the lines of Monsieur Girard's legs, slim, strong, muscular, immaculate trousers, shoes, they dress for this job like anyone else and maybe that needs to change, too, maybe it should be a normal people job, not a fancy suits job. No one ever said plaid and sailor shoes can't make good decisions. Least of all Claude, fuck, his apartment is all art deco.

Re-focusing his attention, he tilts his head to one side and nods towards the other man, emphasising his point, for some reason thinking he needs to specify which other emotions he's talking about. It's a mix of the yuppie appearances and the vegetarian meal, like this man can't quite decide what to believe in, so if he was left with the choice between all the emotions in basic psychology, he'd end up picking both anger and aestethic appreciation. Possibly at the same time.

So, Claude specifies: ]

My suggestions would be we started governing by empathy and interest in others. I'll happily arrange for a course. [ He's so used to being called naive by now, he's already smiling it off. Preemptively. ] You're invited, mr. Cynic. If you'll come.

[ The smile, at least, is genuine, big, teeth. ]