undergrounds | Tell me that I'll figure it out...

Jean-Claude opens the door at the invitation and lets himself in, moving to take a seat in the chair offered and yes, making note of the fact that Cooper has chosen to look down in him from where he sits in his chair.

"Mon ami," he greets him as he sits. "I have come because I think we have more than a few things we should discuss. There is a time and a place to discuss them, and I did not think that my club was one of them. I was thinking this might be the better venue..."

Cooper leans forward, folding his hands in front of him. Despite the chair, he still resembles a teenager in secondary school, just at a bigger desk. "Speak your mind, Jean-Claude. I'm a grown vampire, I can take it."

He thinks he knows what's coming. Nancy and Eames have already wanted to talk to him about the vote. Those conversations had been...well, interesting was a charitable word. JC was going to want to know just where he was standing on the political spectrum.

Of course Jean-Claude is going to want to know where Cooper stands on the matter of politics. When he had fought for the ability to put a vampire back on the council, he had made a point to allow a fair chance for that seat, rather than monopolizing all the power for himself. In part because he truthfully did not want it all, but also because he did not think it was healthy for the Nest. It is a decision he is hoping he will not live to regret.

He raises an eyebrow at the other vampire's words. Can he take it? They shall soon see. "Then I think we both know what I am here to speak to you about." Jean-Claude moves to cross his legs elegantly in front of him in his chair. "You are our legal representation in the eyes of the city, mon ami. Thus I want to know your stance on the matter of slavery. Especially in regards to your recent vote."

Well, here it was. Cooper has to stand by his decision or he'd be seen by a milksop by both sides. He wasn't going to apologize or make excuses. So he explains it in blunt terms. "I don't look at it that way. I see it as a lawful measure t'control a group that's had little to no rules in the past."

He braces himself, looking like he's waiting for harsh words at the best and an attack at the worst.

Jean-Claude tilts his head at the other vampire, raising his eyebrow at him as he does. "With respect, a lawful measure because you helped pass the vote to make it so, monsieur." He plays his fingers idly along the edge of his boot where he has it crossed in front of him as he talks.

"I seek to understand your reasoning," he continues. "I want to understand why it is that you would help hand power over to the witches. Not only power, but power at the expense of the freedom of another race." His dark blue eyes are steady as he regards Cooper in turn.

Cooper leans back in his chair, one hand running through his hair. He doesn't tear his gaze away from Jean-Claude, holding his gaze as well. JC hadn't been around for when the worst of his interactions with the fae had occurred.

"You want the truth, JC? I've got good reason to hate the fae. They've screwed me over in more ways than one. I had no reason to take their side on this position. There would valid points t'consider, so I was persuaded this was the best course of action."

Jean-Claude regards him steadily. Supposing that the reasoning is sound, but there are also holes in the logic. Cooper is not a young vampire, but Jean-Claude in this moment still feels his age beside him. Or perhaps it is simply the weight of his responsibilities and the decisions he has made to get himself where he is so far.

"You should be careful with such thoughts, mon ami," he replies, levelly. "If the rest of the city were allowed such reasoning, it's a wonder we vampires would be allowed anything at all."

Honestly, the calm nature of Jean-Claude puts Cooper more uneasy than anything else. He would have preferred it if the head of the Nest had been angry with him. This was more like quiet disappointment than anything else.

"If they want to end up on the top instead of the bottom, they can learn to play nice like we did." Cooper hadn't worked his tail off during the representative election, promoting that the vampires had changed for the better, for nothing. They had lost almost everything when Harris was in charge. It had been a miracle to gain most of it back.

It is easy to be angry. To yell at someone and cause a scene. A fight. But a fight serves no purpose. A learning experience does not stem from an argument. Jean-Claude is getting his point across in the best way that he knows how.

He takes in a long breath and lets it out slowly, regarding the other vampire carefully. "I would ask that you consider the ramifications of such a vote more closely, should such a one come about," he continues. "Not only have you given one group the permission to hold power directly over another, but you have given permissions to Circle Daybreak. The witches are powerful enough as it is, without enslaving fae cronies to do their bidding. I will remind you that vampires are still not permitted to use their own powers over others in turn. Mind control, for example, will still be illegal while these witches get their familiars."

He shifts in his seat, his expression softening. "I only ask because you are our representation on the Council, mon ami. It is a power even I do not have over them."

Cooper listens, really listening without the usual snark and attitude he has with others when they try to tell him what to do. As usual, Jean-Claude has a fair point here. "You're probably right." As usual. Cooper was doing the best he can, but he was still a work in progress.

Tell me that I'll figure it out...

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