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[droppedstitch]

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[love_and_peace]

[ That's not true, Vash almost crows, but he bites back the impulse just in time. Istradez didn't always agree with Mikodez, and Istradez is the one who told him that! He died for his brother, didn't he? And at first, Mikodez had tried to talk him out of it.

So he could stand up to his brother, when it was something he thought important enough. ]

Oh really? Hey, that's really impressive then! He had to go to the Academy to learn how to be hexarch, but you're able to make the same decisions just by studying him! That's pretty remarkable, don't you think?

[droppedstitch]

He went to the Academy to learn how to be Shous.

I just know my brother.

[love_and_peace]

Don't sell yourself short, my friend! That's an incredible accomplishment, being able to analyze trade disputes and weigh resource allocations and whatever else a hexarch does. You did that! Take pride in your actions!

[droppedstitch]

Why are you like this?

[love_and_peace]

How else should I be? Sad and serious? No thank you.

[droppedstitch]

Be fucking normal.

[love_and_peace]

What's normal look like?

[droppedstitch]

The strange optimism is exhausting.

[love_and_peace]

You're not used to optimism? That explains a lot, actually.

[droppedstitch]

I am not used to unfounded optimism.

[love_and_peace]

It's unfounded to think you could be proud of your accomplishments?

[droppedstitch]

They aren't accomplishments.

[love_and_peace]

...Of course they are.

[droppedstitch]

Then what about your accomplishments?

[love_and_peace]

[ Nice try, jerk, but you don't get to redirect the conversation that easily! ]

Me? I speak passible French, I'm the best shot on the planet, and I make incredible spaghetti!

But we're talking about you. What are your accomplishments?

[droppedstitch]

How can you be the best shot on the planet?

Have you met the entire planet?

[love_and_peace]

Nuh-uh, you first. I answered your question, and now it's my turn. What's something you're proud of?

[droppedstitch]

You aren't doing anything but pissing me off right now.

[love_and_peace]

Can you really not think of anything?

[droppedstitch]

No, because you are making it very odd.

[love_and_peace]

...You don't get asked that question very much, do you? About what you're proud of?

[droppedstitch]

Well of course I do!

I do have periodic performance reviews.

[love_and_peace]

Well, next time you get called in for one of those, you can very proudly say that this past quarter, you've excelled at giving well-meaning busybodies the runaround.

[droppedstitch]

That is my new favorite hobby.

[love_and_peace]

[ A conversation that started with Istradez complaining that nothing on this Barge is consensual and refusing to admit to being good at anything, to have it end with him proclaiming that he's got a hobby that he genuinely enjoys?

It feels like a win. He's going to take it as a win. ]

I believe in you!