Editing Valdez (section)

==Speech==

Valdez speaks in a controlled, authoritative manner, using short questions and commands to pressure his prisoners. He expects to be addressed as “sir” and reacts sharply when Meg fails to do so. His language is formal enough to reflect his rank, but it becomes blunt and threatening during interrogation.

He often repeats questions when he believes an answer is evasive, gradually narrowing the space in which the other person can respond. His threats are delivered without theatrical excitement; he speaks of punishment, pain and possession as though they are ordinary professional matters. This calmness makes him more frightening than an officer who simply loses his temper.

Valdez also uses calculated personal remarks. He comments on Meg’s hair, clothing and unusual appearance, allowing his interest to intrude into the interrogation. His tone can shift suddenly from official questioning to intimate menace, particularly when he suggests that he will claim Meg for himself.

When speaking to Jesenia, he becomes deferential and cautious, addressing her as “Domina” and accepting her authority even when he disagrees. With subordinates and prisoners, however, he is commanding and contemptuous. His speech therefore changes according to power: respectful upward, threatening downward, and always designed to establish control.