Miraculous, how such a sought after, high profile individual such as he manages to sanction off a bit of personal time. Celebrities are known for their leisure, however, he is royalty. Appreciating the notion of quiescence, though not being one to enjoy it all too much himself, Ignis drawls out a suggestion. "I've an unfortunate dinner planned," He begins with a meager shrug, "And I'd much rather not tackle it alone. You're welcome to join me, of course. I'd actually prefer you to, if at all possible, otherwise I wouldn't be mentioning it." 

She gave him the honor of listening to him thoroughly, though she felt the desire to interject. Still, she allowed him to fully speak his mind, waiting for the appropriate amount of silence to pass by before she gave him a piece of her own.

Her tongue darted out and wet painted lips as she thought of how to properly word what her heart desired to say. Arms crossed her torso, and she shifted her weight onto one hip.  "No one opens themselves to be attacked. Sure, people do get disappointed and hurt from time to time, but people open themselves up to draw in the positives. Friendships, understandings, even friendly acquaintances that are willing to lend an ear in good and bad times. Sometimes all of that is worth the risk of enduring pain.” She was more sad for him than anything, knowing this was his thought process. There might have been a time where she would have been so closed-off emotionally, that she would never have forged the bonds she held so dearly today. She would have been so distant and cold, so stubborn and unwilling to accept any amount of happiness just so she wouldn’t have to endure an ounce of hurt. "It isn’t irrelevant, and you know it. No person would think it worth the time to shut others out if they hadn’t gained emotional damage from something or someone.” She let her arms down and sighed. “Now, it’s not my business and I won’t pry it out of you, but don’t take me for a fool. You’re the one that’s acting foolish. Human beings are capable of terrible destruction just as much as they are capable of unconditional love and compassion. I’m sorry you haven’t met the right people yet but…you shouldn’t give up on us so easily.”

    "Emotional turmoil is a petty and pointless occupational hazard of maintaining the illusion that one can only be happy through the acceptance of another into their lives." It's far more than an unpleasant experience when gambling with hearts and minds alike, as the world is but a paper thin, superficial facade with it's sincerity buried deep beneath layers of expectation and darkness. Thus, taking into consideration the secrets and clandestine musings many hold so close to them, and the nature of it all, Ignis must only reveal the true aspects of himself that are wholly unsavory. Distancing himself from others happens by default, then, and it's only those that may somehow endure him that may truly reach out to him.

    "A masked vigilante," The strategist begins at a lilt, "Man by day and a hero by night, thwarting the nefarious and halting evil in it's tracks." A wry smile, now, as his middle digit pushes the frame of his glasses, sliding them higher upon the bridge of his nose. "Enemies are made in bulk, many of them quite serious about their work, finding themselves in malcontent however long this person exists. What do they do?" A dramatic example, but a familiar one nonetheless. "I'm sure you've seen at least a single superhero movie in your time, and for those that the hero in the tale are presently close to, or hold some sort of care for, their experience becomes less than pleasurable. They're used against the vigilante, thus hurting not only them, but the vigilante and his goals." Hands clasp at his back and he ambles this way and that. "A President and his most trusted men. Who does the enemy target? Not the President, not the men, but their loved ones. And everyone suffers because of it. It's a domino effect. It's irresponsible. And, ultimately, it hurts far more than it helps." 

          ❝—But natheless, people believe what they will and feel,

            attuned to their valued principles; change things about it             and you find a quantity of muddled ideas.❞

    "I'd much rather enlighten people as to the true nature of things, instead of allowing them to plod along unintelligibly."

"I fail to see how peace is considered dreadful. However, I’m not certain you would find my ideal recreational activities entertaining."

    "It's dreadful because it's uneventful, but I suppose conflict is an atmosphere enjoyed in only a niche capacity. There's nothing inherently wrong with the peaceful, but it doesn't typically suit my...pace. I enjoy reading -- it's intellectually stimulating, but I can only do it for so long before I become restless. And what, may I ask, are your recreational activities?"

"Such an awful mindset. Were you so hurt in your past to have become so cynical? Surely you must know that if you keep your distance, if you don’t experience these things which make us human, then you’ll never be able to learn and grow as a person. It’s so much easier to never have something rather than to lose it one day, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better.”

    "Is it truly so awful?" Ignis counters with a canted head, eyes narrowing in consideration for her words. "Think, for a moment." A concise request, almost implying that she hadn't been doing so before. "What purpose is their in opening one's self to attack? Allowing others to grow close to you is dangerous, especially for a man in my position, with my power. Emotions do strange things to people, and for those that truly understand them? Human beings are an instrument to be played." Of course, he'd suffered some level of emotional damage some time ago, and it's that assumption of her's which is correct. Saying it's irrelevant would be a blatant lie. "Whether or not I've been 'so hurt' in the past is irrelevant." A skillfully uttered lie, at that, which he holds no quarrel with committing. He doesn't know this woman, after all, they're but acquaintances whom see each other on a semi-frequent basis.