[spoilers] Lucas and his tattoos

[Belle]

(23-11-2010 10:30 PM)binkie Wrote:  

(23-11-2010 10:18 PM)Byatil Wrote:  Purely phatic talk then? I think perhaps Harry feels duty-bound to offer Lucas some support, but on a personal level doesn't want to face the consequences of his actions, embodied in this man stood before him.

That's the one! And, sub-textually, one of the purposes of the scene is to illustrate the limitations of smalltalk. I suspect Harry and Lucas both know, even as the words are spoken, that they will never "talk properly". This is as good as it's ever going to get.

Isn't Harry somewhat obliged by being head of his team to give Lucas the needed support? I don't mean they would have to fall into each others arms, but I imagine that the moral guidance and support for his 'mignons' is inbeded in his jobdescription.
He must feel very guilty about Lucas' sacrifice, mustn't he? Or is his feeling of guilt so big that he's just affraid to face it? (which I personaly would find cowardly).
Or has the job made him so adamant that he doesn't want to get involved on a more personel level? (which apparantly doesn't count for Ruth)
But it's my thought that you can't divide the profesional and the personal level in this kind of job, because everything they do and go through has an effect on them as humans. Especially when you just 'waisted' 8 years of your life by being in prison for your job.
Or am I being naïve?