The only thing more dangerous than a vampire crazed with blood lust is a vampire crazed with anything else. All the meticulous single-mindedness that goes into finding young women who sleep with their bedroom windows open is channelled into some other interest, with merciless and painstaking efficiency.

-Terry Pratchett, The Truth

Spoke with John. What worries me isn't that he sounds unsure (who ever knows what Raven is thinking, anyway?) but that he sounds worried. John, worried, worries me.

I never thought I'd think of him as a sort of mine canary. That's a sad sort of thought, too.

I wonder if Raven appreciates him enough. If I had someone like that, I certainly would.

It's not that I've been told I have feudal view of people and their responsibilities, exactly, but that is the way I feel. Does that make it easier to understand me? I don't know.

My people are mine, and it is more than just my job to take care of them. It's duty, honor, whatever you want to call it-- it reflects on the intrinsic nature of my self, just as how you take care of your people reflects on the intrinsic nature of you.

I'm not going to argue one way or the other, not really.

My people are mine until they're strong enough to go off on their own and find their own people to take care of.

Hopefully.