The truth that lies {J. Jenkins}

It was safe to say that Jasper was the man who was always on the opposite side of the fence, the side that fought back against wrong doings and misdeeds, whatever those might be. It was surprising for him to actually be invited to a function like this in general, much less as a speaker, as he was notorious for being especially outspoken and sometimes aggressive in his stances. He was a passionate young man, backing many causes and movements, but he fought back the hardest against Vishkar, and he was more than a little eager to have his voice heard tonight.

But just because he fought back against them, did not mean that he hated those that served the company. His connections and informants gave him the advantage of knowing that many of those who worked for them were groomed and brainwashed, and while many protesters saw the world in black and white, Jasper had always been the type to see all the grays in between.

And he would never turn down an opportunity to attempt to change a mind.

As the location and event was especially respectable, Jasper had dressed in an especially snappy vest and button up combo, hair kept in a neat bun, he looked like he belonged there, even if in some ways he really didn't. The only thing that marked him out were the smoky tinted glasses that perched on his nose, a relief for severe photophobia in the light of the pristine building.

He'd spotted Satya sitting a few tables away from him, and he knew her well, or at least he knew of her work. She was an endlessly intelligent woman, with a meticulous eyes, but tragically under the thumb of Vishkar, it was a shame to see such a gift used for such ill means. He half considered just leaving it, but she wasn't that far from his in age, still young enough to have a chance, and he was never the kind of person to miss an opportunity to help.

After pondering on it for a few moments, he slipped from his seat, making his way over to where she was sitting before calling a polite greeting, "evening lass." He drawled in his thick Scottish tongue, "I thought I'd come an' say hello, seein' as how I'm speakin' right after you." He gave her a polite bow, "I'm Jasper, Jasper Jenkins." He gave her a friendly smile, with green eyes sparkling behind his shades.

He was unsurprised and undeterred by the less than pleasant expression that crossed her face upon seeing him. He'd been at just about every rally and protest against Vishkar, and it was difficult to miss him in any crowd. He was mildly amused at how hard she seemed to be trying not to acknowledge him, however, and gave a polite nod when she finally addressed him, strained as the greeting was, he supposed it was better than being flat out ignored.

At her words though, he chuckled and tilted his head to the side, his expression wasn't overly arrogant, but he was confident, "don't need ta' prepare." He tapped the side of his head with a smile, "s'all up'ere." The gesture was a bit cheesy, but he put a hand over his heart next, "an' here. Where all my words come from." He cast a meaningful look her way, "I'm not anyone's mouthpiece." He wouldn't bother asking if he could join, knowing the answer, he was content to stand and chat, "I speak for people who wont be heard any other way." He mused, casting a glance at her, "I speak as their equal. Not their better." His words were distinctly pointed at her, "have you never thought to try and see through our eyes?"

He supposed not, and it wasn't like he entirely blamed her for this anyway, she was like many of the others who spoke for Vishkar, filled with thoughts and feelings not her own, "we're not the ones who are brainwashed, Satya." There was an edge to his tone that was almost sympathetic, because that was what he felt more than anything for her and the rest of the people groomed to work for them.

He sighed softly and shook his head, "I do not wish to be your enemy. I don't blame you. I blame the company who made you." He turned a sympathetic look on her, "it's not too late y'know...There's gotta be some part of ya that sees that..." He knew his words would likely fall of deaf ears, but he couldn't call himself human if he didn't try.

He seemed unfettered by her jab, it was expected, he'd dealt with a lot of people resistant to change, and he supposed that he was a little bit abrasive in his words and his tone. He looked down when she pointed to his chest, chuckling softly and shaking his head, "my heart does not make me weak. If ya don't speak from yer heart, then yer words hold no meaning." He recited this like a hymn, a motto that he lived by, "that's wot I believe." He looked up at her, "my emotions are not a hindrance, nor are they a sickness." He left it at that from here.

Though when she made an assumption about his own upbringing, there was a flash of emotion in his eyes, "do not presume to know me, Miss Satya." He gave an apologetic bow, sincere in his words, "and I offer my sincerest apologies for assuming your own origins." He looked at her, "but I walked among the people who's lives you seek to uproot. I had nothing, not even family to fall back on." He mused, looking to the side, "I built myself into someone. Same as you. But unlike you I chose to build up, rather than destroy." He sighed, "have you and your company ever thought to ask the people you have supposedly helped if they are happy?" He glanced up at her with a pleading expression.

"I will not balk at your attempts to wound me, Miss Satya." His voice dropped to a tone of soft sincerity, "I only wish ta' help. Ta' help you an' others." He glanced back up at her, "surely yew've doubted? It's human nature to doubt."

When he was given permission to do so, Jasper slid into the chair indicated by her, mildly surprised that she even offered the seat to him. He was glad for the modicum of manner, a sign that maybe he hadn't completely closed off the communication between them, he hadn't lost her or shut her down. Not that he thought she was one who could be shut down, but she could ask him to leave, and he would have, as doing otherwise would have been wrong.

He waved a hand and smiled, shaking his head, "it's nothin', I recognize that I'm not a man who looks like I've suffered..." His voice dropped a little and he chuckled softly, "but I have." He wouldn't go beyond that, this was neither the time or the place for such discussions, that was not how he chose to get his point across.

He was surprised again by her question, looking up at her, "I fought." He said simply, "when I began, not a single person listened ta' me." He looked thoughtful, "I was uneducated, with not a cent to my name." He shook his head, "But I was determined, and I had a voice, and eventually people wanted t'listen to my voice."

He glanced up at her, "even a person with it all can be unhappy, Miss Satya." His gaze lingered on her for a moment as he said this, "people crave freedom, love, affection, they cannot be shoved into a perfectly crafted box and expected to thrive." He looked up at her, "I wish to help people better themselves through themselves, humans are capable of wonderful things, they do not need to be controlled to do that." He gestured around them with a smile, "people need help helping themselves, give them the tools and they can do incredible things." He leaned in with a bright look in his eyes, "but if you squash their spirits and control them, then you might as well build a city of drones."

He couldn't help a soft laugh at the question, running a hand over his chin, "well, I did my share of that sort of fighting too." There had been plenty of street brawls that he'd been involved in, whether he'd fared well or not was suspect, but he'd fought in all definitions of the word, "I agree with you, though, I suppose sufferin' was poorly chosen. I have struggled, I have been beaten and bloodied by people I was meant to trust." He looked thoughtful, "it taught me to stand on my own, if nothing else."

He gave her a look that was serious when he answered her question, "No. I walk and talk like no one but myself. I made me. Built from nothin' into..." He chuckled softly, "well I suppose I'm still nothin' t'you, eh lass?" He shrugged it off, looking thoughtful, "I worked jobs that no one wanted to do, scraped and scrapped until I 'ad enough ta' get meself the tools t'be educated." He knew his answer would not satisfy, but it was the truth as plainly as he could put it, "I cannae be anymore truthful than that."

He shrugged and looked undeterred by her words, "perhaps. Though if they didn't want t'listen they woulda' told me." He chuckled, "the same way they try an' tell you at these rallies and protests." He folded his hands under his chin, looking thoughtful, "that's right. Anyone can be unhappy." He glanced her way, "an' that is where you fall short. You miss what it means t'be human, Satya."

He found her analogy a bit distasteful, and his face reflected that, "but humans are not bacteria, bacteria do as they do, humans think and feel." He glanced out over the other people sitting around the room, "you cannot control a human, and the more you push and try, the more they push back." He gave her a meaningful look, "and what will Vishkar do when people withing your set ups begin to push back?"

Jasper nodded, not even slightly put off by her less than impressed tone, "aye. People respect me because ah've earned it. I dinnae step on anyone ta get it." He hadn't meant for that to come off as a jab, but he supposed it could easily be construed that way, and he would accept whatever retaliation came as a result of the statement. He tilted his head however at he words, "I d'nae think anyone wants t'tear down your company, Satya, or that has never been my goal." He linked his fingers in front of him, looking genuine in his words, "I d'naw wish t'see your company fall. I only wish t'see some thought t'wot you're doin'...Wot you're really doin'..." There was an almost pleading tone to this.

He smirked at her comment, raising a brow, "emotional fools, hm?" He shrugged it off and rested his cheek in his hand, using his free one to gesture as he spoke, "humans are, by nature, emotional. Even you, Satya." He sat up again and looked at her with a dea serious expression, "if you cut yourself from your most basic human functions...Then how are you any different from a drone? Programmed t'fulfill a task." He shook his head, "drones dinnae care t'look at the big picture. They follow orders." He indicated to her with a meaningful look, "is that truly what you want to be, Satya? Vishkar's drone? For the rest of your life?" He looked around, "I have enemies, no doubt, but I'm not afraid."

He was about to offer his opinion on that, but he could tell by the abrupt subject change that perhaps she needed a moment to regroup, so he decided to back off for now, "Hmmmm?" He glanced up at the waiter and offered him a friendly sort of smile, "Ah Scotch plain'll do for me...An' uh..." He scratched at his head, glancing over the menu, "I cannae pronounce 'alf this..." He didn't seem concerned with making himself look bad by this admittance, instead throwing the waiter a kind smile, "aye jes' surprise me, thank 'ye!"