Armand tilts his head. Sam can respond so strangely to things. "I don't believe anyone could do that." He spent enough of his existence under those conditions and learned how to defend his mind. He's aware that that doesn't mean anything here, but he doesn't want to go back to thinking it could.
"Apparently the Admiral can," he replies easily. "An' it's worth givin' it a shot, right? Even if it only works while we're on the Barge right now, somethin's better than nothing."
"Yes, the Admiral can." If Sam can't see that's the inherent problem in asking for any 'protection'... he clearly doesn't understand the underlying hierarchy on the Barge.
"The Admiral could give me something to 'protect' my mind," again, unnecessary, "But it would be his gift. His power. What proof could there be that it would truly work?" It could never be anything but trust that could be violated, and, as he can be completely honest on this matter, he doesn't have that trust to offer.
"I suppose we could ask a couple folks if they'd be willing to take a moment to try it out, with yer permission," he muses. "But I can't blame y'all fer not bein' fond a' the whole concept."
"Yes, and it could 'work' in that moment, and not in another." Or they could say that it worked. He supposes it could get him a list of people who can read minds, but he can find that out in other ways. He considers it fundamentally useless, and therefore doesn't have to have any personal opinions on it.
"Alright, let's come back t'that one later, then," he says readily, happy to admit to himself that he can't think of something better at the moment. "I just worry about folks gettin' into yer head, it ain't pleasant t'have to worry about that when y'don't have to."
Armand is aware that there are people that feel that way, so he doesn't argue with Sam's description. "It can be useful to reach out to make a call," he says, as that's not the same as mind reading.
"Wait, why go fer psychic powers first rather than just talk to you?" He knows the obvious answer is 'distance', but he has an answer for that too. He just wants to hear Armand's perspective.
"All the world ain't actually a stage," he says, letting his confusion openly seep through. "So what that sounds like is yer sayin' he's usin' that to maintain appearances."
He frowns slightly, before picking up on the split. "Oh, no, my master rarely spoke within my mind when I was mortal. I meant that being able to speak so with other vampires can save a lot of trouble." And he had been most surrounded by other vampires at times that involved performance.
"Well, I can't deny my teacher does the same thing with me when I need help with a client." Less as he got more skilled, but unbelievably helpful regardless. "I thought you said yer master read yer mind before he turned you, though. So he wasn't talkin' to you like that, just... invadin' you?"
"It's different with mortals. They can't respond in the same way." He doesn't say with mortals it's more command than communication. It's not accurate, and would could give the wrong impression. "My master could read our hearts, yes. I saw it because I knew little Venetian when he brought me into his household."
"Armand, we're apex predators," he points out flatly. "Pretty much anythin' we do to mortals is us abusin' our power over 'em. An' readin' yer heart sounds a hell of a lot more invasive than just readin' yer mind."
He does smile slightly at that. Of the many new phrases that have come into fashion 'apex predators' is one of the ones he likes. He tilts his head. "There is no difference there between heart and mind." He wasn't trying to rephrase to make Marius sound better, as he doesn't think there's anything to excuse. He just has a touch of the romantic to him, despite his usual detached manner. "He understood what I meant, even though it took longer for me to learn the correct words."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
momijizukamori
Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-26 07:33 am (UTC)After all, what does it matter?
Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-26 07:36 am (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-26 07:37 am (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-26 07:39 am (UTC)"Can I ask what you ain't a fan of fer that?"
Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-26 07:44 am (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-26 07:50 am (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-26 07:53 am (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-30 10:42 pm (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-30 10:55 pm (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-30 10:56 pm (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-30 10:58 pm (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-30 10:59 pm (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-06-30 11:03 pm (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-07-01 12:30 am (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-07-01 12:34 am (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-07-01 12:41 am (UTC)Re: After Vash leaves
Date: 2025-07-01 12:47 am (UTC)