[ Matt nods slowly, a flicker of warm amusement crossing his face at the phrase "wicked king." Maybe more than amusement. Either way, it's gone quickly, replaced by a more sober expression.
Like, he gets the deal-making paradigm in theory. But he doesn't like it. Slaves and masters seems like such a gross oversimplification of what the relationship between humans and spirits can be. Matt's asked plenty of them for help in his time, but he never saw it as commanding, or using them like mystical batteries. He'd sent out open, honest invitations, screening out those spirits with malign intent as best he could, and what resulted felt like genuine partnership. Like the partnerships he's had with humans: impermanent, but powerful. ]
To be fair, [ he notes, ] I wouldn't say that I don't fear you. But I don't know if I react to fear the way that I should.
no subject
Like, he gets the deal-making paradigm in theory. But he doesn't like it. Slaves and masters seems like such a gross oversimplification of what the relationship between humans and spirits can be. Matt's asked plenty of them for help in his time, but he never saw it as commanding, or using them like mystical batteries. He'd sent out open, honest invitations, screening out those spirits with malign intent as best he could, and what resulted felt like genuine partnership. Like the partnerships he's had with humans: impermanent, but powerful. ]
To be fair, [ he notes, ] I wouldn't say that I don't fear you. But I don't know if I react to fear the way that I should.