Living money. [Matoba chuckles, just a quiet puff of a laugh, and mildly glances away with the corner of his sleeve to his lips. If he was being honest, that sounded like a much blunter term than an 'investment', but he likes it. It was quite literal, wasn't it?] ...You are ever the business man at heart, aren't you.
[An important part of business was being able to see ahead to the future. Future growth, future sustainability.... And in that, what Ryouma says next is fact.]
Whatever may have been the reputation before any of us arrived, the Night Parade incident did damage that none of us were yet prepared to handle. The next time will not be the same. I can promise you that on my part. [He inclines his head.] ...I may not understand all of the Boss's decisions regarding what happened then, but if they are entrusting the path of this clan's future to us, I am not concerned with questioning them.
[There had been a lot of questions then, when they had all sat in this very club in the wee hours of the night- and anger, and confusion. Many of their questions still haven't been answered. It was normal for the masses to challenge the actions of leadership that was not yet clear to them, nor in a place to trust.]
[He wonders how those sentiments have changed amongst their peers, or not, since then.]
You know better than anyone that war is just another kind of business. [Grinning, his bangs shift as he tilts his head towards the man. Matoba was no soldier, and he wasn't a politician, either. But heading up an exorcist clan was like heading an army: you chose which offenses were worth launching, you handled the supply lines, you weighed the cost of men's lives when you sent them to handle a job. They didn't always come back. In effect, battling ayakashi was not that different- even negotiations played a role when invoking the help of a spirit, here and there, or another clan of exorcists.] There are many Lost Souls that have been brought here who are civilians and normal humans, unaccustomed to combat or politicking of any kind. I'm not going to pretend that it pleases me that they have been entangled in this, but there are always efforts those on the 'homefront' can contribute to a war effort, and that remains true of those who cannot play a more active role in what we are going to need to do in order to take power.
But I can say for my part that I am comfortable with just about anything. [He smiles, resting his eye on Ryouma's. It holds.] All that matters to me is that I get a good result. So, Sakamoto-san, if you ever find that there is something that you or any other cannot bring themselves to do, leave it to me.
[Matoba liked to think that clarity was one of his strong suits.]
no subject
[An important part of business was being able to see ahead to the future. Future growth, future sustainability.... And in that, what Ryouma says next is fact.]
Whatever may have been the reputation before any of us arrived, the Night Parade incident did damage that none of us were yet prepared to handle. The next time will not be the same. I can promise you that on my part. [He inclines his head.] ...I may not understand all of the Boss's decisions regarding what happened then, but if they are entrusting the path of this clan's future to us, I am not concerned with questioning them.
[There had been a lot of questions then, when they had all sat in this very club in the wee hours of the night- and anger, and confusion. Many of their questions still haven't been answered. It was normal for the masses to challenge the actions of leadership that was not yet clear to them, nor in a place to trust.]
[He wonders how those sentiments have changed amongst their peers, or not, since then.]
You know better than anyone that war is just another kind of business. [Grinning, his bangs shift as he tilts his head towards the man. Matoba was no soldier, and he wasn't a politician, either. But heading up an exorcist clan was like heading an army: you chose which offenses were worth launching, you handled the supply lines, you weighed the cost of men's lives when you sent them to handle a job. They didn't always come back. In effect, battling ayakashi was not that different- even negotiations played a role when invoking the help of a spirit, here and there, or another clan of exorcists.] There are many Lost Souls that have been brought here who are civilians and normal humans, unaccustomed to combat or politicking of any kind. I'm not going to pretend that it pleases me that they have been entangled in this, but there are always efforts those on the 'homefront' can contribute to a war effort, and that remains true of those who cannot play a more active role in what we are going to need to do in order to take power.
But I can say for my part that I am comfortable with just about anything. [He smiles, resting his eye on Ryouma's. It holds.] All that matters to me is that I get a good result. So, Sakamoto-san, if you ever find that there is something that you or any other cannot bring themselves to do, leave it to me.
[Matoba liked to think that clarity was one of his strong suits.]