[ You and everyone else, Claude thinks when Monsieur Girard tells him he goes where the money is. It will always be Claude's greatest Achilles' heel, that no one wants to fund empathy and interest, openness, curiosity. Every single legislator might not actually be ruled by fear and convenience, but every single banker standing behind them with a hand on their shoulder certainly is. Greed, too.
Claude wants to think more highly about people in general, but bankers... Not much in the way of trust there. Maybe that's why he dislikes Luxembourg, as a principle. The land of the banks.
Then, the other man does something completely unexpected and everything Claude was about to say in response dies on his lips. Girard pulls out a cigarette, in this very EU-sanctioned indoor space in a very EU-friendly country, and catches it between his lips (mouth, again, oh), rummaging around his pocket for his lighter, presumably... Claude just stares. Then, a bit hesitantly, he glances around, but the guard across the room turns away like he doesn't want to be implicit in this utter crime and the rest of the room seems oblivious. Willfully, maybe.
It's just Claude. Looking on. Nursing a semi. He shifts a bit, pathetically. ]
From over here, I'm seeing fines in your future, Girard. Keep your fortune.
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Claude wants to think more highly about people in general, but bankers... Not much in the way of trust there. Maybe that's why he dislikes Luxembourg, as a principle. The land of the banks.
Then, the other man does something completely unexpected and everything Claude was about to say in response dies on his lips. Girard pulls out a cigarette, in this very EU-sanctioned indoor space in a very EU-friendly country, and catches it between his lips (mouth, again, oh), rummaging around his pocket for his lighter, presumably... Claude just stares. Then, a bit hesitantly, he glances around, but the guard across the room turns away like he doesn't want to be implicit in this utter crime and the rest of the room seems oblivious. Willfully, maybe.
It's just Claude. Looking on. Nursing a semi. He shifts a bit, pathetically. ]
From over here, I'm seeing fines in your future, Girard. Keep your fortune.