A Cruel Twist of Fate [closed]

[wickedchase]

WHO: Twisted Fate, Nerva, Korrin, Zevran, Beleth, Cyril, Ruby, Sera, Katniss, and special sending crystal guest star, Sina!
WHAT: A companion quest and elven relations all wrapped up in one.
WHEN: Post-Illness plot. The band of merry travelers will be gone from Clouch 23 to Clouchreach 28.
WHERE: Traveling to and from the Serpentine River.
NOTES: The plotting post.

Comments

[samahl]

His Clan has earned their reputation for brutality. They torture the humans they capture, and they play the game called Fen'Harel's Teeth. Have you heard of it?

[ombranera]

Heard of it? The Crows of Antiva adopted it as a punishment for certain levels of failure. A similar leather suit with needles is used to train fledglings to fight without being touched.

[samahl]

[Cyril winces a bit and then settles his hand on Zevran's leg. Every time he implies about how he was raised Cyril feels like he should say or do something, but he thinks doing so might be pushing for too much. A gentle touch at least can be pushed away if Zevran doesn't want it.]

How am I supposed to defend people who would do such a thing?

[ombranera]

This is where most would say 'you aren't, clearly'. But this is me. [ Time for a moment of perspective. ] Were I to need your defense, would you do so?

[samahl]

Always. [He says it without hesitation]

Which, I suppose, is the point. I can easily defend you because I know you and care about you.

[ombranera]

This is a technique among the crows called the Spider's Kiss. It can be used as a slow, painful death or a means of torture for interrogation. You take a hollowed needle and slide it under the skin, attach the open end to a tube, and pump acid between skin and flesh. Depending upon the placement of the needle and the acid employed it can take hours and be agonizing.

This I have done, with and without the Crows. Would you defend me still?

[samahl]

[Cyril's eyes narrow a bit at the description but his hand doesn't pull away. If anything, he presses his hand softly into Zevran's leg.]

Yes.

[ombranera]

So. It matters not what they did- but why they did it. Then we judge whether or not they are worth defending.

[ He squeezes Cy's hand back, smiling gently. ]

[samahl]

[Cyril takes a deep breath and then nods.]

Good.

[Then, after a moment, he moves a little closer to Zevran and leans a bit against him.]

Thank you.

[ombranera]

My pleasure, Tesoro.

[ He lifts their hands to his lips and presses a kiss against Cyril's wrist. Relatively chaste as far as his usual means of displaying affection goes- but good enough none the less. ]