Ashitaka quietly accepts this nickname, thinking it could probably be worse. He's not going to split hairs about the assumption of his nationality either.
He's gotten used to that sort of teasing, and he picks up that it's not done in a malicious way. It actually reminds him of the banter and bickering of the men and women living in Irontown, so in a way he actually seems to bizarrely enjoy it.
Anyways. Having commonly conversed with Jon and Dany and learning about what they have been finding out, Ashitaka decides to use his rapport with the soldiers to begin to lay some groundwork for figuring some stuff out. Setting the royal locksmith aside for the moment, he recalls Dany mentioning one of the staff remarking others among them were acting "oddly," just like them. He doesn't ask any outward questions, but he tries to keep mental tabs on as many members of the guard as he can. Who seem the most integrated into the main host, complete with friends and habits and stories, who seem very at home in this environment and role? More importantly he keeps an eye out for those who don't fit this mold, who might've been new "odd" additions, just like himself. As of right now he's not asking any direct questions about it, he's just trying to get a rough idea to move forward with.
As for the locksmith, Ashitaka agrees strongly with the soldiers, saying that his patterns and mannerisms were very inconvenient to the point of rude. He asks them if they have any idea what he's being called here so often to accomplish, feigning lack of understanding of what his overall purpose is (which isn't really feigning, because he really isn't very sure what all a locksmith might do). He recalls from Jon's information that the locksmith ends up at the king's private study when he visits, and he keeps this information to himself, though he's very interested in figuring out what he's doing there.
(Also, not super involved with the plot, but when the conversation turns to the king, the queen, and the royal children, Ashitaka is interested in the men's emotional responses and asks them a few gently leading questions, trying to get them to explain their reasoning for how they feel. He genuinely seems interested, as he is—he's always interested in trying to understand conflicts, and the tension in the palace is palpable. He won't pry too much, just trying to get a feel for it all.)
no subject
He's gotten used to that sort of teasing, and he picks up that it's not done in a malicious way. It actually reminds him of the banter and bickering of the men and women living in Irontown, so in a way he actually seems to bizarrely enjoy it.
Anyways. Having commonly conversed with Jon and Dany and learning about what they have been finding out, Ashitaka decides to use his rapport with the soldiers to begin to lay some groundwork for figuring some stuff out. Setting the royal locksmith aside for the moment, he recalls Dany mentioning one of the staff remarking others among them were acting "oddly," just like them. He doesn't ask any outward questions, but he tries to keep mental tabs on as many members of the guard as he can. Who seem the most integrated into the main host, complete with friends and habits and stories, who seem very at home in this environment and role? More importantly he keeps an eye out for those who don't fit this mold, who might've been new "odd" additions, just like himself. As of right now he's not asking any direct questions about it, he's just trying to get a rough idea to move forward with.
As for the locksmith, Ashitaka agrees strongly with the soldiers, saying that his patterns and mannerisms were very inconvenient to the point of rude. He asks them if they have any idea what he's being called here so often to accomplish, feigning lack of understanding of what his overall purpose is (which isn't really feigning, because he really isn't very sure what all a locksmith might do). He recalls from Jon's information that the locksmith ends up at the king's private study when he visits, and he keeps this information to himself, though he's very interested in figuring out what he's doing there.
(Also, not super involved with the plot, but when the conversation turns to the king, the queen, and the royal children, Ashitaka is interested in the men's emotional responses and asks them a few gently leading questions, trying to get them to explain their reasoning for how they feel. He genuinely seems interested, as he is—he's always interested in trying to understand conflicts, and the tension in the palace is palpable. He won't pry too much, just trying to get a feel for it all.)