054. Honesty

[electroniccrane]

[audio // English]

When someone gives you a name, it doesn't necessarily follow they were telling the truth about it being their name, especially if they have reason to lie.

The principle can be generalized to a variety of conversational circumstances.

[Kusanagi's gone clear past exasperation and into resignation.]

Comments

[ecopiracy]

Without knowing they have reason to lie, though, at what point do you question the name they gave?

[ecopiracy]

[He would damn well hope it would be illegal.]

And are you with the police?

[electroniccrane]

I'm the field commander of a Public Security Section.

[The Section that gets big fucking guns and basically no accountability. Yay!]

[ecopiracy]

[The fact that she's with the police doesn't necessarily mean that she wouldn't abuse her authority, but for the time being he's willing to operate under the assumption that she generally upholds the law. He can revise this later if she gives him cause.]

Ahh. So you would be quite familiar with the matter of others withholding information. But without a cyberbrain to hack...

I imagine that might complicate things somewhat.

[electroniccrane]

I do know how to run an interrogation.

[She just makes other people do it 'cause it's boring.]

[ecopiracy]

[He's strongly tempted to toss in a quip about "interrogating" him and "getting to know him better," but... Something about the Major, something about her serious responses, tells him "maybe not right now."]

Hmm. That is good to know. You sound a most capable woman, Major. Your commanders must be lucky to count you in their ranks.

[He'll settle for honest flattery instead.]

[electroniccrane]

[The system call most likely to execute the subroutine that serves as Kusanagi's heart is made by her ego.]

Lucky? Maybe.

[In retrospect, it became obvious that she was being groomed as a soldier since childhood.]

[ecopiracy]

You do not consider yourself an asset? Or is it something else?

[electroniccrane]

In my experience, "luck" is usually the result of careful planning.

[ecopiracy]

Hmm. Fair enough.

Even so, I think my basic point stands.

[He won't reiterate it, but the repeated compliment is implied.]

As much as I am enjoying this conversation, I think I should be going now, Major. Good day to you.

[She's given him a lot to think about and mentally file away.]

[electroniccrane]

Good day.

[Click.

The Major's social graces. Let her show you them.]