[h3]Erubesco Citadel[/h3]

It was with the sort of obedience that displayed itself in those freshly promoted that Madison returned to his seat, still quite visibly disturbed by what he had heard. Occasionally he would cast a careful glance at the Alchemist beside him, as if he half-expected the man to start bursting into laughter- or perhaps be caught sharpening a knife under the table. 

While Lulu’s reassurances of an “ethics committee” and her easy, everything-is-handled smile did do some to soothe Madison’s nerves, whatever effect they might have had was quickly dashed as the Alchemist spoke yet again. Just as before, he showed no sign of his words being a joke- if anything, they only reinforced their truth, the man speaking of his experimentations as a tragedy that he was forced into against his will. Madison couldn’t stop his jaw from dropping a moment before he managed to snap it back into place, quickly raising his hand to garner the attention of the rest of the room.

[color=#FF4500]“Pardon the interruption, Commanders,”[/color] Madison began, [color=#FF4500]“but I’m inclined to agree that Alchemist, ah, Aran’s words shouldn’t go without comment.”[/color] He folded his hands upon the meeting desk, not meeting the man’s eyes. [color=#FF4500]“If he is speaking the truth, then I highly doubt that what he is doing is...legal, by any means- let alone [i]ethical[/i].”[/color] He paused, swallowing. His mouth had gone dry. [color=#FF4500]“I sincerely hope that the practices he mentioned aren’t by any means common within the Citadel, but, ah, regardless, I can’t imagine why nobody has [i]said[/i] anything in regards to all this.”[/color]

His hands opened, splaying out in a silent, pleading sort of gesture. At the sound of his name from across the table, Madison turned, offering a somewhat weak smile in response. The comment was in poor taste, but at the moment, he was more focused on the man who had blatantly mentioned murdering serfs than a somewhat tactless joke.