Mm. What exactly have the other versions of you done? I must confess, aside from hearing your name, I never paid much attention past that.

[After all, what would some sailor want with following the news so carefully? If he's coming across as just this side of simple, just slightly undereducated without being a complete dunce, then he's hitting his goal. Useful, pleasant to talk to, but not bright or ambitious or informed enough to be a threat. To what exact goal, he doesn't yet know other than just getting paid, but it's an opportunity and he'll take it. Being close to someone with political power could be remarkably interesting.]