"Calm yourself, Mr. Nightray," said Eddie as he held up his hands in some pacifying surrender. The smile he wore was uneasy, but wholly focused on Gilbert. "It's not an insult implied. I have lots of friends--" he meant acquaintances "--of such a persuasion, and they're all quite lovely. Oh, I mean -- except the ones I don't like much, I suppose, but I don't dislike them for that reason."

He kept his hands upwards still, palms showing. People had glanced over, at Gilbert's distress, and Edward wanted to make it clear that he wasn't the irritating force here. The natural assumption should condemn Nelson.

"But I really must insist you follow though, Gilbert, as it's your civic duty and what not. Besides -- his value is more in terms of experience than anything else." Eddie glanced the older hero up and down, conjuring up that flamboyant and clearly militaristic kink costume. "Experience as a vigilante. Maybe a cautionary tale, you know."