IC Inbox

[vrdantwind]

"Hey, this is Claude! Pretty sure I'm doing this correctly. You can leave me a message here, and I'll get to it as soon as I can. Talk to you soon~."

Comments

[fingersandteeth]

It's fine. You can owe me a favor instead if that's easier?

[vrdantwind]

Hah! Easier, but riskier. What could a man like yourself want favor-wise from a charming and attractive individual like myself?

[The lighthearted tone and false arrogance are smokescreens for genuine caution. If it sounds enough like a joke, Claude can bring up a real concern without offending. It's the sort of nuance one has to be able to pull off with easily offended nobles. But Claude's aware he doesn't know this Steven guy much at all, so he's leery of promising anything without knowing what he might be asked.]

[fingersandteeth]

Honestly, I have no clue. I just figured it would be easier than getting me anything tangible.

[vrdantwind]

That's fair enough. Still, I don't want to promise a favor to someone who's still mostly a stranger to me without knowing what it might take the form of...would you accept an agreement to keep a particularly open mind to any favor requests coming from you?

I'm not trying to be suspicious of someone who's already done me a favor without any promise of reward, for the record. I've got no reason to suspect you of anything at all! I've just known too many people who would take advantage of loopholes and vague wording, so it makes me nervous to promise anything without defined terms. I hope you understand.

[Among the people who'd take advantage of that sort of thing is himself.]

[fingersandteeth]

Of course I understand. And it's fine. I don't mind that at all.