While irritating the slow-witted and morally antiquated among the general populace was a favourite pass time of his during his few moments of down-time, The Gentleman greatly preferred peace and quiet just before a job, particularly a job as important as this. He was always thinking, of course, and yet some things required a larger division of his attention than others, rarely more-so than today. While in such a state, savouring his pipe and his intellect in solitude, any interruptions would normally vex him greatly (though he would never show it). For Meredith, however, he'd let the transgression pass. Ever since he had first found her on the streets of Boomhower, there was something about the woman that The Gentleman found captivating. Her manner was hardly unique, and neither was her background. Nor was she some rare beauty, for what little that may have mattered. Perhaps, he mused, it was his desire to pin down, once and for all, precisely what it was about her that he found so interesting that kept him coming back.
"Sometimes I feel like the world's most deranged nanny."
"I suppose that would make me the distant and mysterious uncle, to the worlds most deranged family." he quipped, smiling at her. "Though, I try not to think too much in those terms, or else I'll reminisce myself into an early grave."
He paused for a moment, mulling things over some more, before continuing.
"There are two specific things that are standing out to me as anomalous in our current situation." He said, with the tone of a man reading out the options on a menu, unsure of what he should choose. "The Maribel's are a noble family in name and little else. The lady Elizabeth is sweet and demure enough, I suppose, but the Dio I know is, you'll pardon me, a man after my own heart. Practical, to the point of calculating. He would be the sole provider of such a match, receiving nothing of any significant value. Why then, would he consent to it?
Secondly, Dio's own household is more than powerful enough to come after you directly if he so chose, and yet, his response to your recent transgression has been somewhat... muted." He mused over how much he should tell Pixie of what he had learned. Until he could ascertain how many pieces were in play, and how they would move, it was probably best that he kept the information close, lest rash action close of his options. "Why is he not using his full capabilities? To safe face? That would be senseless. You are an outlaw, after all, and you attacked him. He wouldn't be losing face by going after you with everything he has, far from it. The other families would trip over themselves to give him their public support, even those who despise him; and it's not as if he can still keep what has happened a secret from said families by not acting openly... so why then?"
There was a pause, where neither spoke. Most likely, Pixie was trying to decide whether his questions were rhetorical. He could have that effect sometimes, he knew.
"One more thing," he said "before I close this conversation, and we can focus on the task at hand. I have eyes and ears everywhere, as you well know. Wherever Lilith and Axel choose to go after today, I will be watching. No direct intervention of course. Such would only draw unwanted attention to the both of them. However, there are always strings that can be pulled, behind the scenes, to ensure their safety."
The Gentleman stood up and checked his pocket-watch.
"Now," he announced, his manner far more animated. "We should be docking in around five minutes. I've arranged for one of my contacts to meet us there, someone who I think you'll be very pleased to meet."
"Sometimes I feel like the world's most deranged nanny."
"I suppose that would make me the distant and mysterious uncle, to the worlds most deranged family." he quipped, smiling at her. "Though, I try not to think too much in those terms, or else I'll reminisce myself into an early grave."
He paused for a moment, mulling things over some more, before continuing.
"There are two specific things that are standing out to me as anomalous in our current situation." He said, with the tone of a man reading out the options on a menu, unsure of what he should choose. "The Maribel's are a noble family in name and little else. The lady Elizabeth is sweet and demure enough, I suppose, but the Dio I know is, you'll pardon me, a man after my own heart. Practical, to the point of calculating. He would be the sole provider of such a match, receiving nothing of any significant value. Why then, would he consent to it?
Secondly, Dio's own household is more than powerful enough to come after you directly if he so chose, and yet, his response to your recent transgression has been somewhat... muted." He mused over how much he should tell Pixie of what he had learned. Until he could ascertain how many pieces were in play, and how they would move, it was probably best that he kept the information close, lest rash action close of his options. "Why is he not using his full capabilities? To safe face? That would be senseless. You are an outlaw, after all, and you attacked him. He wouldn't be losing face by going after you with everything he has, far from it. The other families would trip over themselves to give him their public support, even those who despise him; and it's not as if he can still keep what has happened a secret from said families by not acting openly... so why then?"
There was a pause, where neither spoke. Most likely, Pixie was trying to decide whether his questions were rhetorical. He could have that effect sometimes, he knew.
"One more thing," he said "before I close this conversation, and we can focus on the task at hand. I have eyes and ears everywhere, as you well know. Wherever Lilith and Axel choose to go after today, I will be watching. No direct intervention of course. Such would only draw unwanted attention to the both of them. However, there are always strings that can be pulled, behind the scenes, to ensure their safety."
The Gentleman stood up and checked his pocket-watch.
"Now," he announced, his manner far more animated. "We should be docking in around five minutes. I've arranged for one of my contacts to meet us there, someone who I think you'll be very pleased to meet."