keeperofmagi | Fade Rift Inbox

[It was to his credit, at least, that he did so quietly enough that she didn't leap up out of her chair and dive for her sword. Instead, she just turned her head sharply and then winced - the comb having caught tight and pulled a few hairs from her scalp.]

I do have a door, Zevran. Come inside and close that window before you freeze us both to death.

Doors are for other people.

[ Zevran mutters, hovering for a moment on whether or not he should slip out and try again in an hour and chooses, ultimately, to slide in and deal with it. He's too tired otherwise. The window is shut, locked, and the tea poured out and offered. ]

[She turned her attention back to her hair as he busied himself, and then arched an eyebrow when she noticed the tea. Carefully putting her comb down, she took the cup while obviously looking him over to figure out exactly what he was playing at.]

Tea instead of knives, this time?

I am not here to threaten you. [ He waves a hand vaguely, leaning back against the window. ] I am here to discuss a serious matter, one concerning a charge of yours. Cade Harimann.

Cade?

[That got her attention, and she turned fully to face him, her hair still left down.]

What did he do? Did he hurt someone--

No, nothing like that. But the means by which he is watched- his punishment for attacking Beleth. I know punishments are to be endured and safeguards are to be made but this? Will not help him. If anything it will slowly drive him mad.

[She relaxed visibly, letting out a breath, before frowning and then nodding.]

... Yes. I know. But it is the only option we currently have. There is - no where safe to send him, and they were arguing for execution.

You do not need to send him anywhere. A solid, safe, switching seems to do him more good than being watched at all hours by a Tranquil.

A switching. [The word surprised her, and it took her a moment for her to catch up.]

... A flogging, you mean. Penance.

There is more than one kind but- yes. I feel as though he'd benefit from a more constant, structured life where deviations are dealt with by a firm hand. Held to a code not by observation but the promise of penance.

[She watched him for a long, hard moment, her piercing eyes surveying him as if they could see through him.

Judging him.

Finally she let out another hard breath and frowned at the floor as she raised her comb back to her hair.]

He already keeps penance. He has a flog that he keeps for just such a purpose. It is not - I am not comfortable, with the idea. It was not a practice we used at my circle, and I do not have enough experience to trust myself with such an endeavour. But I - do not think it is wise, to suggest it to the... current leaders of the Order.

Of wood and rope that scars his back due to his personal negligence after the flogging. It is sloppy- and it is dangerous. Should those become infected they would do far more harm than even he might understand.

[ He stands firm under her judgement, eyes steady and hard and even against her gaze. In this he does not falter. ]

Someone to petition to them that his care be given to someone that understands what he needs. That is all I require. I have no authority with the Templars, no weight with which to make them listen.

[She didn't reply right away, thinking deeply.]

... I do not think it would be wise, to petition them. I am - not wholly convinced that they fully comprehend his... condition. [She frowned.] I admit, neither do I, but they have given me authority over him, so I see no reason why you should have to petition higher than myself.

[She set the comb down and ran a hand through her hair.]

If his penance were discreet, and you had someone to recommend the treatment, and he agreed to it --

Edited (damn it programmers messing up my language skills) 2016-04-30 02:42 (UTC)

If yours is the only authority in this matter I must speak to, all the better. There are nuances here I am not at liberty to discuss but I understand him better than most.

[ The details of that are also something he does not wish to discuss. ]

Without coercion or intimidation. I offered, he accepted. He fled shortly thereafter and skipped our arranged meeting the next day where I might inspect his back and speak with him but I know what I saw. It worked. It helped him for the short while he permitted himself to accept it.

[She didn't like the sound of 'he fled and skipped the next meeting', and gave Zevran a sharp look to indicate that, but after he finished she nodded.]

... Very well. We shall speak with him, together. I see no reason that this should have to go beyond us. If I am satisfied that the penance is more effective than the observation, I shall relieve his current Tranquil companion of his duties.

But. [She looked up at Zevran, and her eyes were as hard as his had been.] If he has another incident, if he hurts someone while he was supposed to be under my care, I will take the public blame, but I will hold you personally responsible. I will not have him be executed for my mistake. I will expect you to give me another option. Do you understand?

It is not an easy thing to learn about oneself- especially with how such things are handled in the South.

[ Poorly. And then there is Cade's unique background to take into account and- Zevran cannot begrudge the man for being skittish. ]

Should this go the way I think I might- if we are able to impress upon him the weight and use of this method over the constant observation? I feel that he will be better able to recover rather than react. I have seen things like this before; the Crows have a way of handling such people- that is not what I intend to do.

[She watched him for a long moment, then drew in a breath from her nose and nodded - reaching for the now cold tea to take a sip.]

Very well. I will arrange it so that we can speak to him later. Privately. He has been... unwell. As many of us have been.

The Fade Fever has been going about, yes.

[ He leans back against the window, arms crossed. ]

He has been tense the past few times I've seen him at a distance. The sooner we see this sorted, the better.

[Nerva nodded with a sigh.] Yes, I agree. Very well, as soon as I am able to arrange it, I will inform you.

[She took another sip of the tea before setting the mug down and picking back up the comb. She ran it through her hair, catching on a tangle and then making a face before holding out the comb for Zevran.]

While you're here.

Good. I do not know how he would feel being approached by me on his own. He seemed quite shaken.

[ It is no easy thing, what they discussed, what they did. Zevran is not often one for hope but perhaps in this? His skills might find use. ]

Oh? You are trusting me with your hair now? [ He takes the comb all the same, drawing his fingers gently through her hair. ]

[She turns to face the little mirror, obviously well used and probably scavenged, with a sombre expression.]

He is always shaken. But in this case - he and I have an understanding about it, already. I believe he will allow me to speak to him about it. Whether or not he will reply, let alone agree to it, is impossible to say.

And there is nothing you can do to it, that it won't recover from, given time.

What it needs is a trim and a proper conditioning. Next time you go to the hotsprings to bathe stop by my room first- I've some warmed oil you can comb through that will take care of it for you.

[ He works at the ends carefully, tugging the snagged tangle loose with slow strokes of the comb. ]

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