There are a few things to consider in your situation. But the most important is that I think you fundamentally misunderstand what direction Majima is coming from. You made your opinion on honor clear to me, but for him...it is a fundamental part of his existence. Imagine, if you would, what you would feel if someone came in and firmly stepped upon one of your life's tenets, and proceeded to deride it. I don't doubt that you intended this, but I also have no doubt that this happened somehow. You gravely insulted him without even knowing it.
I don't say this to chide you, but to let you gauge the sort of man he is. Prideful, yes, and difficult to back down, but you must accept this - this life is what he knows, what he lives and breathes. Coming in to voice grand plans like everyone getting along when historically they thrive on conflict...they do not think you're weak. They think you're a complete fool who has no idea of the sort of people he's trying to strike deals with, who doesn't understand the rules of the world he's in, who talks larger than his rank affords him.
[her hand goes up. no interruptions. all this, she had gathered from talking to Goro, to listening to what he did and did not say, from the lessons on how to behave she was involved in with others in the Alliance.]
These people place a lot more value than you do on status, on who is above who, on rank and obedience. No matter how you personally feel about this life, that is what Majima knows, and how this city appears to be running. Your way of doing things is new and subversive, so naturally you will run into opposition and a resistance to change. Beyond that, he cares about Izo as much as I do. Shooting him and spooking him badly enough to make him flee from all of us set his teeth on edge. Hence your debt, and frankly, how his collectors act is at their own discretion.
[folding her arms, she leans back some in her chair.]
Really, you're equally stubborn, come to think of it. He's simply...too tired to handle those he sees as foolish, Ryouma. Life hasn't been easy for him. [but she's biased, and they both know it. Emily will make no apologies for that.] I don't want you to go and grovel at his feet, now that you know. I only want you to understand something of why.
no subject
[she takes a breath, wondering where to start.]
There are a few things to consider in your situation. But the most important is that I think you fundamentally misunderstand what direction Majima is coming from. You made your opinion on honor clear to me, but for him...it is a fundamental part of his existence. Imagine, if you would, what you would feel if someone came in and firmly stepped upon one of your life's tenets, and proceeded to deride it. I don't doubt that you intended this, but I also have no doubt that this happened somehow. You gravely insulted him without even knowing it.
I don't say this to chide you, but to let you gauge the sort of man he is. Prideful, yes, and difficult to back down, but you must accept this - this life is what he knows, what he lives and breathes. Coming in to voice grand plans like everyone getting along when historically they thrive on conflict...they do not think you're weak. They think you're a complete fool who has no idea of the sort of people he's trying to strike deals with, who doesn't understand the rules of the world he's in, who talks larger than his rank affords him.
[her hand goes up. no interruptions. all this, she had gathered from talking to Goro, to listening to what he did and did not say, from the lessons on how to behave she was involved in with others in the Alliance.]
These people place a lot more value than you do on status, on who is above who, on rank and obedience. No matter how you personally feel about this life, that is what Majima knows, and how this city appears to be running. Your way of doing things is new and subversive, so naturally you will run into opposition and a resistance to change. Beyond that, he cares about Izo as much as I do. Shooting him and spooking him badly enough to make him flee from all of us set his teeth on edge. Hence your debt, and frankly, how his collectors act is at their own discretion.
[folding her arms, she leans back some in her chair.]
Really, you're equally stubborn, come to think of it. He's simply...too tired to handle those he sees as foolish, Ryouma. Life hasn't been easy for him. [but she's biased, and they both know it. Emily will make no apologies for that.] I don't want you to go and grovel at his feet, now that you know. I only want you to understand something of why.