Lunch with your Immortal Enemy

Get rid of the horde? The thought was unthinkable to Charlie. It would be like cutting off a hand. They were an extension of him and, after all, and its not like they did any harm. There were undead there that had been with him for over a thousand years, repair after repair, battle after battle. Like a child would collect and treasure pretty stones, Charlie treasured his horde.

"Outside of my personal life, I will only use them to protect this island, and it's people." Said Charlie, hoping this would not infuriate Angelo further, before, more softly saying "And, well, it's... its... my horde. It's like you giving up your badge, or well it is to me. It's a part of me. I've put hours and days and sometimes even years into each member. I know each of them like a parent would know their children. I'll minimise peoples exposure to them... but they're like my family."

@Romi

Angelo was asking Charlie to give up his horde. And do what? The concept of giving up his horde was so alien to Charlie that it was like asking someone to cut off their own finger. Charlie had always thought of the horde as an extension of himself, and extension he would never give up. Each little group were memories, of the ottoman empire, of ancient rome, of wars won and wars lost, no matter what. They were concrete things Charlie could cling onto. Sure he treated them idly, but Charlie had spent days repairing the templars savaged by the chimera. Memories of constantinople.

"I'm sorry Angelo," said Charlie, still gripping the mug, as tiny black sparks flicked between his fingertips "but i'll never give up my horde. Them and my books are the most precious things I own. If it helps, if you take me out, the horde would deanimate. Can we try with something else i could change?"

@Romi

"Yeah, that... has been mentioned as an issue, that I speak without thinking, so I will try to temper that. I tend to be a little... dismissive of other's feelings. Which is an issue i need to address."

Charlie thought back. The appearance of Jason Chang, and everything that surrounded that event had... not been his finest moment. Threatening Jason, admitting planning omnicide... well, it was another black mark on people's opinion of him.

"As far as I know, that piece of information hasn't cropped up much, which is lucky. But hopefully, with real behavioiral change, people will, well not forget about it, but put it to the back of their mind. But still, i need to think before I say things like that. The correct thing, in hindsight, would probably have kept quiet until i was calmer, and then made a decision about what to do."

@Romi

"I'm fine, thank you" responded Charlie, as the waiter asked him. Charlie had already eaten and paid for his meal, a lovely grilled branzini, before Angelo had arrived. This restaurant was definitely going on his 'possible places to go for meals' list. Angelo definitely had a good taste in meeting places, if food was any factor to judge by.

"Thank you for your time Angelo. I know meeting me here wasn't... high on your priority list, but i think it's really helped. It's given me something concrete to focus on. Hopefully in the future, with some hard work, things can be better. Thank you."

Charlie extended his hand for a handshake, with a friendly smile on his face. Hopefully this would... improve things, both with his own attitude, and Angelo's perception of him, although that would only come with real behavioural change.

@Romi