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Fitzwilliam Darcy (mrdarcy_) wrote in spinningcompass,

Although it was a little strange to hear her referred to as the Older version, it perhaps didn't get quite the reaction she was looking for. It might have been different if the baby was right in front of him, but as it was, he understood basic arithmetic, he knew when Ashley had come from, and so he knew how old she was meant to be now. "Yes, the confused timelines must be enough to be strange to anyone. I would apologise for not feigning shock and awe at your youthful appearance. I may have had a little forewarning," he explained. Plus, he'd met her aunt Rachel.

Darcy thanked her as he took the whiskey from her. In his own time, he wasn't meant to drink a spirit in front of a lady, but Commander Shepard seemed to be acting very much the father in the situation. He had absolutely no idea how close to the truth he was getting with that fleeting thought. He nodded along as she spoke about the war room, and certainly felt the sting of irony that it was where they were sitting now. Hopefully it wouldn't get quite as heated. "It must be pleasing to have it here, with so many memories attached," he commented, catching the wistful look on her face.

For her permission, Darcy listened and was able to keep his expression mostly neutral. He exercised a little self control not to insist that she definitely didn't earn more than him in a year, because what the devil did it matter on a space station anyway, and he barely flinched at what seemed to be subtle little insults to his class thrown into the mix. Perhaps it was not her intention, but he would not rise to it and prove the point. Class was about a hell of a lot more than just having money.

He thought about what she had said for a moment, and then took a breath, deciding to be a little more open and a little less stiff.

"If you could ask anyone from my own circles about my manner of speech, they would tell you that I never say anything that I do not mean. I am not in the habit of pandering or flattering my way through a conversation. This is often misinterpreted as my being... rude, arrogant perhaps, among the society of which you speak," he explained.

"That being said... it is as difficult for me to drop the 'rules' as it would be for me to drop my accent. It is learned and corrected from infancy, and an intrinsic part of my native language," he tried his best to explain it. "I will not make you read between any lines. I will speak candidly. If there is anything that you feel unclear or confused by old-fashioned mannerisms, you can ask for clarification and I will give it. I will do you the same courtesy and not read into anything that is not there in black and white, so to speak. I hope that is agreeable enough?"