[Funnily enough, Eddie fit much of that checklist: poor, white trash, argumentative parents. But he kept his past close to his chest -- even his name, originally Edward Nashton, had been erased by his own hand. So he understood, quite deeply, when strangers knew something about him. He understood how alarming that could be.]
It isn't just the name, Doctor Hannibal Lecter. [Whispered, so as not to attract the attention of others.] Ask me not what's in your name, ask me how I've heard it before. Ask me what sort of world must I come from, if your name holds these associations. Associations that may not be applicable to you -- [He tilts his head a bit, his eyes still holding contact.] -- and I'm not saying that they are. But I'm telling you, people who have heard your name before won't be as open-minded about the matter.
[For indeed, Eddie was; he didn't care if the actual cannibalistic version walked these streets, as long as it wasn't a problem forced upon him. He understood how some people saw the world differently -- wasn't he culpable of similar thinking, when he wasn't reformed?]
Consider this a forewarning. Wouldn't it be tragic for such an innocent man -- [he quirked his eyebrow, an indication of unspoken skepticism.] -- to suffer discrimination because in some world, somewhere, someone born in the same country he was born in, with the same name he was born with, happened to be quite a violent man? How unfortunate, that you must be saddled with such a predicament.
[The sympathy eased out of his face, however -- Eddie took exception to being called insane. He was a bit touchy about it.]
Insensitive and inappropriate as it may be, I'm only trying to help you out. And if you were to argue my intention is far from altruistic, well, you'd be right. Because let's say that someone misguided decided to take action against you based on the misfortune of your name, well, then it really is my problem -- isn't it?
I'm sure a doctor such as yourself will be quick to establish that, like many others imported here from across the universe, you've got a doppelganger somewhere who has done things you haven't. And it isn't really fair, is it? But you've got to beat the public to the punch.
no subject
It isn't just the name, Doctor Hannibal Lecter. [Whispered, so as not to attract the attention of others.] Ask me not what's in your name, ask me how I've heard it before. Ask me what sort of world must I come from, if your name holds these associations. Associations that may not be applicable to you -- [He tilts his head a bit, his eyes still holding contact.] -- and I'm not saying that they are. But I'm telling you, people who have heard your name before won't be as open-minded about the matter.
[For indeed, Eddie was; he didn't care if the actual cannibalistic version walked these streets, as long as it wasn't a problem forced upon him. He understood how some people saw the world differently -- wasn't he culpable of similar thinking, when he wasn't reformed?]
Consider this a forewarning. Wouldn't it be tragic for such an innocent man -- [he quirked his eyebrow, an indication of unspoken skepticism.] -- to suffer discrimination because in some world, somewhere, someone born in the same country he was born in, with the same name he was born with, happened to be quite a violent man? How unfortunate, that you must be saddled with such a predicament.
[The sympathy eased out of his face, however -- Eddie took exception to being called insane. He was a bit touchy about it.]
Insensitive and inappropriate as it may be, I'm only trying to help you out. And if you were to argue my intention is far from altruistic, well, you'd be right. Because let's say that someone misguided decided to take action against you based on the misfortune of your name, well, then it really is my problem -- isn't it?
I'm sure a doctor such as yourself will be quick to establish that, like many others imported here from across the universe, you've got a doppelganger somewhere who has done things you haven't. And it isn't really fair, is it? But you've got to beat the public to the punch.