[closed-ish] the price that we pay

[eolasemah]

WHO: Sina, Church, Atticus, Nari, Rifts & the Veil researchers, any Rifters who want to attend, several NPC (or PC!) Templars, any healers who wanna
WHAT: an alleged venatori will study an anchor shard, hilarity no doubt ensues
WHEN: early Harvestmere
WHERE: an empty room in the former mage tower
NOTES: The room will be closed to people not in the above-mentioned groups, just so it doesn't get too crowded, but feel free to eavesdrop and/or gossip.

The room is quiet and tense as it begins to fill with people, an assortment of benches and chairs set up for those viewing, in front of which are two chairs facing each other with a table beside them. One is for Church, who can arrive, prepare, and sit down at his leisure; the other is for Atticus, who is escorted in by a Templar on either side, with several more in attendance, and who is brought promptly to his chair and kept in shackles until the need arises for his hands to be free.

Just behind and slightly to the side of this tableau is yet another bench, this one for the healers and for the two representatives from Clan Dahlasanor. Sina, looking weary and just a little thinner than usual, leans against Nari with a wool blanket wrapped around herself. She's seated on the end, nearest to Church and ready to jump for him in the event that something should go wrong. Not that she's in any shape to do much jumping.

Once everyone is settled, most importantly the mage and his subject, the experiment begins.

Comments

[motherfucking_ghost]

"Hey, not to interrupt, but can we have this big bad dick measuring contest some other time? We're kind of not here for that, you know." Church shakes out his hand again, but whatever violent backlash of energy had shot out of it, the shard is docile again.

"No offense, Sina, but I'm glad I volunteered now. That wouldn't have been pleasant."

[eolasemah]

Shivering from the surprise and stress of it all, Sina shakes her head quickly. "None taken," she whispers, her voice trembling, "oh, lethallin." Whether Church wants it or not, he's being hugged tightly around the middle by the elf kneeling beside him. "I'm so sorry."

[motherfucking_ghost]

"Whoa--" Things he didn't expect today: most of this, honestly, but definitely this. He's hesitant to touch at first because...Sina is fragile, unfortunately, and also they haven't always gotten along? So this is...new.

But eventually he brushes a little hair away and settles his hands lightly between her shoulders, something like a hug back. "Hey, no, it's okay, I promise I'm fine. It'll take more than an unexpected pain laser to take me down. I'm the one that stupidly agreed to this, remember?"

[limier]

"Quite."

A gesture to Anders with her free hand. Sina’s voice isn’t well, and she’d prefer to get out of here before anyone begins crying —

"If you might support his head through the doorway."

She's already making her way out.

[justice_is_blond]

This.

This is what continued oppression is - Templars getting to ignore niceties while a mage is called out for being gentle about bringing them up. It's never the right time, and it's never the right place. He hadn't even been angry, but no, it's a dick-measuring competition.

He shakes his head once. The amount of work still to do if they're ever going to be equals is ridiculous, but he did agree to help so he'll continue that. Anders keeps Atticus' head from hitting the doorway before glancing back.

"If you feel any surprise pain, Church, let me know right away." Church is a Rifter. He doesn't get what shutting mages up does, so Anders can't hold it entirely against the man.

And with that, he follows the Templar out.

[eolasemah]

As the participants make their way out, Sina remains kneeled on the floor by Church's now-empty chair, on the seat of which she folds her arms and buries her face in them to cry. Likely only Nari and now Church know the real extent of her distress: there was, perhaps, some part of her which hoped this would go well, that there would be a miracle.
There wasn't.