((Eth arrives at Thoran's garrison and manages to be allowed in on the pretext of giving Thoran an update on what's going on. It's a chilly reception to say the least.))
9/11 21:31:55.112 Etharion stands before Thoran's desk--his tabard clean, his clothes changed, but he looks like someone who hasn't slept in 24 hours or more.
9/11 21:32:14.526 Etharion says: Oh....
9/11 21:32:34.934 Etharion winces when he sees Thoran still in his furs and armor from the night before.
9/11 21:33:21.927 Etharion says: How're you holding up? How is Essilte?
9/11 21:33:40.304 Thoran looks up, his eyes betraying how tired, exhausted and uncomfortable he is. "Ye said ya 'ad updates." His voice is quiet, but still raspy. "An' she's fine. Sleepin' I t'ink."
9/11 21:34:42.929 Etharion 's shoulders slump at the cold reaction. "Which do you want first? High Command or Wildhammers?"
9/11 21:36:34.490 Thoran flicks an ear. "'igh Command, as I've not 'eard from 'em directly yet." He does his best to keep things business like, strangely polite. If he can keep this up, he'll consider it a win.
9/11 21:37:40.178 Etharion says: Well. I got grilled in committee for twelve hours and the jist of it is, they won't come after us.
9/11 21:38:22.376 Thoran says: Define 'us' fer me if ye will.
9/11 21:38:55.575 Etharion says: We're not blacklisted. I took full responsibility, and the fiasco is on my shoulders. I'm shamed, but the Servitors will be allowed to continue as they are.
9/11 21:39:20.503 Etharion says: It helps that there are some in High Command who feel....
9/11 21:39:44.559 Thoran arched a brow and waited for Eth to continue.
9/11 21:39:52.718 Etharion says: I'm a lightweight, a pretty boy incompetent who's in over his head. I...played to that.
9/11 21:41:12.732 Etharion says: So...basically we've lost a lot of the goodwill we'd built up at AHC, but that just puts us back where we started before I became Commander.
9/11 21:42:15.418 Thoran bites his tongue and simply nods. He scribbles a note on a pad beside him, reminding himself to send gifts of appreciation to the appropriate people. Even if they weren't responsible for the outcome. "T'is a lucky break t'en."
9/11 21:42:47.896 Etharion says: As for the Wildhammers...
9/11 21:44:15.559 Etharion says: They're willing to be lenient. One year of exile from Wildhammer Keep, and after that she'd be allowed to return on probation until she's of age.
9/11 21:44:44.293 Etharion says: At least she could be home, Thoran.
9/11 21:45:30.032 Thoran nods. "Quite lenient, t'ose people. Wot of t'e Servitors?" The relief shows on his face, though his body remains rigid.
9/11 21:46:30.398 Etharion says: The Wildhammers...understand she's young, and young people do foolish things. There is no change of status with the Servitors.
9/11 21:47:14.969 Thoran says: I d'nae ask for change o'status. She embarrassed an' 'umiliated t'e lot o'ye. Ya cannae tell me t'ere's no 'ard feelin's.
9/11 21:48:27.471 Etharion takes a deep breath. "There's a lot of feelings, some of them hard, yes. M is still angry, but she's not going to lash out at Essilte, except verbally, maybe. But if Essilte's exiled, M won't even see her for a year."
9/11 21:50:05.866 Thoran nods. "I'll speak wit' 'er in t'e mornin', see wot she wants ta do. If she chooses ta go 'ome, I'll send fer ye ta come an' get 'er."
9/11 22:04:33.456 Etharion reaches into his tabard and pulls out a homemade "card".
9/11 22:04:42.772 Etharion says: I stopped at home before I got a portal here.
9/11 22:04:56.597 Etharion says: Izzy and Hunter made this for you.
9/11 22:05:20.494 Etharion slides the card over. It's colored parchment with childish crayon writing that says GET WELL SOON.
9/11 22:06:43.220 Thoran winces when he sees it, a look of sheer misery crossing his face. After a moment, he speaks softly. "Give 'em m'love, please. Tell 'em I'll see 'em when I can."
9/11 22:07:04.410 Etharion says: I will.
9/11 22:07:44.297 Etharion leans forward across the desk, reaching out to touch Thoran's hand.
9/11 22:08:15.866 Etharion says: Please...get yourself to the infirmary. I hate to think what you've done to your body, shifting like that.
9/11 22:08:36.234 Etharion 's expression is pure, miserable pleading.
9/11 22:09:36.087 Thoran shakes his head, pulling his hand away from Etharion's. He finds himself unable to speak. He wants to say 'don't touch me' and 'how could you?' and snarl and scream at Etharion, but he finds he doesn't have it in him. Instead he looks at the card.
9/11 22:10:06.164 Etharion draws away and stands up straight again, hurt.
9/11 22:10:24.246 Etharion says: One more thing...something that's been bothering me.
9/11 22:10:43.564 Thoran looks at him expectantly.
9/11 22:10:54.319 Etharion says: Essilte said she put a drug in the guards' mead.
9/11 22:11:09.817 Etharion says: Has she said where she got it?
9/11 22:11:43.961 Etharion says: I know Essilte's interested in potions, but it's not a passion with her, not like cooking or engineering.
9/11 22:12:13.505 Etharion says: I don't know if she could brew a sophisticated potion like that.
9/11 22:12:56.237 Thoran fixes his eyes on Etharion, lips almost pursed. "Yer suggestion where she got it?"
9/11 22:13:31.794 Etharion shakes his head. "No idea. I don't even know what the potion was. But if she's talking to you...could you ask her?"
9/11 22:15:02.281 Thoran nods. "Aye, I will." He keeps any other comments to himself.
9/11 22:17:08.842 Etharion stands there for half a minute, silent, swaying back and forth a bit. "Is there...anything else you need to know right now? Anything I've forgotten?"
9/11 22:19:50.858 Thoran gives the question some serious thought, then shakes his head with a sigh. "Not'in' I can t'ink of at t'e moment."
9/11 22:20:44.744 Etharion says: Right. Well.
9/11 22:20:56.227 Etharion jerks a little nod.
9/11 22:21:35.445 Etharion says: Tell Essilte I love her. And...
9/11 22:21:43.284 Etharion blurts it out fast.
9/11 22:22:10.243 Etharion says: I love you, Thoran. Please go to the infirmary.
9/11 22:22:42.943 Etharion backs up, his face and ears turning purple. He ducks his head shamefully.
9/11 22:24:08.215 Thoran closes his eyes and looks away, not trusting himself not to break into tears. Looking away doesn't help, the pain both physical and emotional proving too much. He grits his teeth and slams his clenched fist on the desk. "Ya love us? Do ye?"
9/11 22:24:23.588 Thoran says: T'en 'ow t'e 'ell didja let t'is 'appen?
9/11 22:24:32.467 Etharion stops backing up.
9/11 22:25:09.769 Thoran whispers his question, finally staring at Etharion. "Ye failed 'er Et'arion. Didja even know she was in t'e keep?"
9/11 22:25:19.463 Thoran says: Didja at least know t'at?
9/11 22:25:26.477 Etharion says: She's always in the Keep.
9/11 22:25:54.903 Thoran says: Ye let 'er t'ere knowing t'e man t'at killed Merri was in t'e same space?
9/11 22:26:01.757 Thoran says: Are ye outta yer fuckin' MIND?
9/11 22:26:21.155 Etharion says: I didn't know she wanted to kill him.
9/11 22:26:36.151 Etharion says: Did you?
9/11 22:26:51.298 Etharion says: She kept it a secret.
9/11 22:27:23.648 Thoran says: It don't take a genius ta figure out she shouldn't have been t'ere. T'e fact t'at ya see not'in' wrong wit' it worries me.
9/11 22:27:56.530 Etharion says: She was in the Keep, he was in a completely different building.
9/11 22:28:29.541 Etharion says: And she's always at the Keep, she messes around in the kitchen or studies in my office or talks to her friends.
9/11 22:28:38.941 Thoran facepalms.
9/11 22:28:47.735 Thoran says: Let's try t'is one more time.
9/11 22:28:51.280 Thoran says: I'll speak slower.
9/11 22:29:03.878 Thoran says: Mebbe t'en you'll un'nerstand wot I'm tryin' ta say.
9/11 22:29:13.501 Thoran says: T'e orc killed Merri.
9/11 22:29:17.614 Thoran says: Merri was precious ta 'er.
9/11 22:29:33.018 Thoran says: T'e orc was someplace near t'e Keep.
9/11 22:29:44.778 Thoran says: It was not right fer 'er ta be t'ere, even if she 'ad no ill will.
9/11 22:30:44.056 Thoran says: Wot if 'e'd gotten out?
9/11 22:30:57.116 Thoran says: Wot if some o'is cronies ad come callin'?
9/11 22:30:59.362 Thoran says: Wot t'en?
9/11 22:33:45.760 Etharion says: Are you saying she shouldn't have been in the Keep? And I was wrong to trust she wouldn't get into trouble there?
9/11 22:34:53.767 Etharion says: Maybe you're right.
9/11 22:34:57.932 Thoran snorts and shakes his head. "Ya got one part right."
9/11 22:35:17.065 Thoran says: She shouldn't 'ave been at t'e keep. Not till t'e orc was gone. An' not cos of what she might do.
9/11 22:35:55.696 Thoran says: T'at's like taking a child ta prison ta visit t'e man t'at killed 'er family.
9/11 22:36:09.024 Thoran says: An' if ya see not'in' wrong wit' t'at, ye'd best leave.
9/11 22:38:19.756 Etharion says: No. You're right, Thoran. She shouldn't have been there. But you knew she was there. Did you foresee this happening yourself?
9/11 22:38:51.386 Thoran blinks. "Are ye fuckin' serious? Didja jus' really ask me t'at?"
9/11 22:39:06.363 Thoran says: Wot 'appened ain't t'e point.
9/11 22:39:13.569 Thoran says: She. Should. Not. Have. Been. There!
9/11 22:39:18.590 Thoran says: Period.
9/11 22:39:21.149 Thoran says: End o'story!
9/11 22:39:37.452 Thoran says: I dun care if not'in' woulda 'appened.
9/11 22:39:41.177 Thoran says: She should NOT have been there.
9/11 22:40:17.894 Etharion says: You're right. You're absolutely right and I'm lashing out and asking stupid things in frustration.
9/11 22:45:14.978 Etharion waves a hand. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm angry and brokenhearted and tired, and I'm going to shut up before I say anything else that's even more stupid."
9/11 22:46:12.109 Etharion says: You don't have to believe me but I love you. I'll go now.
9/11 22:46:46.288 Etharion heads for the door, making good on his words.
9/11 22:47:05.261 Thoran grits his teeth, but eventually murmurs softly. "I'm sorry....I love ye too."
9/11 22:47:19.301 Thoran doubts he was heard and returns to his paperwork.