The fact that Tony could respond to that without being defensive about what he had or hadn't done said a lot about him. He was young and too smart for his own good, and had a bug up his ass fatter than a pet bird, but he wasn't a bad kid.
Xuiyu pointed at him with her spare hand. "That's the message you need to be sending to people. Ask what you can do to help, instead of telling 'em what you should get. If some people say you can help by buggering off and leaving 'em alone, that's their prerogative." She grimaced and dropped her hand. "Just don't be stupid and go up and tell Zanru you're sorry; she'll get all pissy about the pity."
Given this contract, there was a large chance Zanru and Tony's paths would cross somewhere, and Zanru was sure to notice a change in Tony's behaviour. Xuiyu wasn't intending to keep the fact she'd spoken to him a secret. She just ... wasn't going to rush into getting punched.
"Be upfront," she said. "Tell her she's wrong when she's wrong, but don't be defensive or self-righteous about her mudslinging. It's all just talk, because she doesn't trust people who dress things up in pretty words. She blows more hot air than a smithy's bellows, but when the hammer hits forge she cares more about doing the job right than being petty, and if that means hiring a self-righteous idiot with the skills, then she'll do it."
Given how Tony had gone off on her, and the speed of his turnaround which indicated it wasn't all sincere, Xuiyu was surprised that Zanru had even offered the contract. It'd be good for the city, of course, and Zanru considered what was good for the city. But Tony had hurt Zanru personally in his ignorance and entitlement and in spite of the fact her words didn't prove her actions, offering the contract indicated a willingness to open herself to disappointment that Xuiyu hadn't expected. It worried her, a little.
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Xuiyu pointed at him with her spare hand. "That's the message you need to be sending to people. Ask what you can do to help, instead of telling 'em what you should get. If some people say you can help by buggering off and leaving 'em alone, that's their prerogative." She grimaced and dropped her hand. "Just don't be stupid and go up and tell Zanru you're sorry; she'll get all pissy about the pity."
Given this contract, there was a large chance Zanru and Tony's paths would cross somewhere, and Zanru was sure to notice a change in Tony's behaviour. Xuiyu wasn't intending to keep the fact she'd spoken to him a secret. She just ... wasn't going to rush into getting punched.
"Be upfront," she said. "Tell her she's wrong when she's wrong, but don't be defensive or self-righteous about her mudslinging. It's all just talk, because she doesn't trust people who dress things up in pretty words. She blows more hot air than a smithy's bellows, but when the hammer hits forge she cares more about doing the job right than being petty, and if that means hiring a self-righteous idiot with the skills, then she'll do it."
Given how Tony had gone off on her, and the speed of his turnaround which indicated it wasn't all sincere, Xuiyu was surprised that Zanru had even offered the contract. It'd be good for the city, of course, and Zanru considered what was good for the city. But Tony had hurt Zanru personally in his ignorance and entitlement and in spite of the fact her words didn't prove her actions, offering the contract indicated a willingness to open herself to disappointment that Xuiyu hadn't expected. It worried her, a little.