[OPEN] Be Careful Lest Your Sins Find You Out

[lifeofendurance]

WHO: Aleron Darton and Anyone in the Gallows
WHAT: Someone remembers the Seeker from days gone by. Not happy days.
WHEN: Early Justinian (backdated)
WHERE: Gallows
NOTES: None yet. Al is still a stick-in-the-mud. Although maybe no more than 4-5 tag ins so I don't leave folks hanging? Still open for any previous Kirkwall/Starkhaven mages who want to wtf at him.



It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Ever since receiving the news that the Inquisition was going to set up base in Kirkwall, Aleron has had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that his time in the city prior was going to rear its ugly head. He, of course, doesn't feel he was in any way wrong in his actions. But then making people uncomfortable is part and parcel of being a Seeker. He's used to it, in fact. And thus, the sudden outburst behind his head is not much of a surprise.

"You! What are you doing here?! How could you? How could you have brought us here and left us with that madwoman?"

The source: a woman with a thick Starkhaven accent, face red with rage and barrelling at Aleron as if to tackle him to the ground with her slight frame.

She stops short of tackling him. Barely.

Having his boots spit on? That does prove something of a surprise. And the slap she delivers across his face immediately thereafter.

Comments

[onlyhymns]

Cade is pacing like a captive animal, shaking with rage and barely taking his eyes off Rhona, though he at least has the restraint to not act out of turn with Aleron right here. He's ready to silence her, should try to cast, and the adrenaline surging through him is such that she likely couldn't even get half a spell out.
Periodically he glances to Aleron as if seeking permission, and then immediately returns his gaze to the mage. If he doesn't watch her, she might strike.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany would roll her eyes but honestly that would not help anything right now. Instead, she keeps her hands over Rhona's, and speaks to her, drawing the woman's attention back to her, "Rhona -- how many Seekers names do you remember? What about the Templars who died at blood mage hands, or protecting mages? Do you remember the name of the templar who died trying to bring the templars and mages together, against Meredith? I do. Many died, on both sides. Nothing is bringing them back. Nothing is bringing your friends back."

She nodded over to Cade, "And nothing is bringing Ser Harriman's friends back either. It is not bringing back the Seekers who died at the Conclave. Nothing is bringing my mother back from what happened to her at the necromancer's hands." She squeezed Rhona's. "But the one thing that can bring them back - is their stories. I want to hear about your friends. I want to leave my husband's actions, and Ser Harimann's, and mine and yours -- all where they belong, and I want to hear what made your friends so memorable that you would be brave enough to do this with No Magic At All."

She squeezed the woman's hands again, "You're so brave, and you look so tired despite it. Would you like me to fix you something to eat, while we talk?"

[lifeofendurance]

Every time Bethany mentions her mother, Aleron winces inside. It's a nasty mental circle he goes round and round with. He knew there was blood magic in Kirkwall. Meredith was harsh but dealing with it. As it turns out, there was more than anyone realized and the Knight-Commander who was supposed to be stamping it out was stark raving mad. It's a painful reminder that there was no easy solution and that dear people lost their lives for it.

Fortunately, Rhona's fury seems spent and has dissolved into hopelessness. She can tell she's being "handled" and doesn't have the will to fight it on three fronts. Not much more beyond shooting the men death glares and something closer to guarded suspicion at Bethany. "Fine," she concedes with a grudging tone. "But don't think I'll forgive this. Not ever."

Frankly, Aleron doesn't feel she ever should forgive him and would only feel worse if she did. It's a threat that he actually welcomes. He does, however, watch intently as Bethany leads her away. Concern for his wife's safety in the presence of an angry mage isn't going to leave him any time soon.

And then there's Cade. Still fuming, and frankly looking like he's about to come unglued himself.

"We need to speak. Now." Aleron points the direction of his research workspace so the conversation isn't had out for all the voyeurs and gossips to see. Public castigation is not his way.