Iskaulit mingle

[lord_wizard]

Who: Anyone!
Broadcast: No
Action: Iskaulit
When: Feb. Drift Week (and beyond?)

[The fleet, more or less patched up after their battle, has once again left civilization behind for empty space. Maybe it's a good time to distract yourself and get away from the endless repairs and nothingness, though there might still be cleaning up that needs to be done here too.

Whether you're grabbing a broom or grabbing a drink, this is a fleetwide mingle for the Iskaulit.]

Comments

[axiomed]

That's an excuse. There is a place. You may not know it's the right place, but there is one.

[ He puts his glass down. ]

We all have to start somewhere. Even in terrible parts.

[noprophecies]

[she presses her lips together, eyes still firmly on the table. She could just get up and walk away. She could continue to avoid ever talking about it. It isn't a matter of not trusting Charles; no, it's one of those moments where she debates if she wants to measure her crimes against Charles again.

She lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding and when she finally talks, there's no emotion in her voice]

I tortured a possessed girl for information.

[axiomed]

[ Well. How does one process that? Beyond a stray thought of him wondering when he'll make friends with people that don't resort to something unsavory. Though that might be impossible. ]

Why?

[noprophecies]

[she crosses her arms tighter, practically hugging herself, but that's the only outward sign she gives that it really bothers her]

It was before we found out the prophecy was fake. We needed to find Maias before he was killed.

She - the thing inside her - knew where he was. [her shoulder shifts, barely a shrug] It had already killed five other men. No one wanted to go near it.

So I did it.

[axiomed]

. . . What happened to her?

[noprophecies]

I killed her.

[her expression cracks just a bit] . . . you have to understand - being possessed by one of those creatures is permanent. It is a death sentence the moment one gives permission. They take over a person's mind and body completely, and nothing can remove them.

So I did what I thought what was best, and freed whatever was left of that girl.

[axiomed]

I know what possession is like.

[ After all, he came pretty close to being possessed. Still he swallows. ]

Was it worth it?

[noprophecies]

[she glances up briefly, frown on her face, before he eyes return to the table]

We got to him in time.

[that isn't a yes or a no]

[axiomed]

You didn't answer my question.

[noprophecies]

[she finally unfolds her arms to pick up her glass, downing the rest of it]

Because I do not know how to answer it.

[axiomed]

I didn't think so.

[ It's the same with many people that he's met. They never know. There's no certainty. He sighs. ]

[noprophecies]

[she slams the glass down a little harder than necessary]

What would you have done in my position? Knowing what you do? Would you be able to decide if it was worth it or not?

[axiomed]

I'm certainly not going to tell you there's a miracle cure or way to fix things.

And that's fine too. There is no way of knowing. But it is worth asking. They need to be asked, it needs to be talked. Otherwise we fall into extreme camps: being right or being wrong to the point of self-blame.

[noprophecies]

[she makes a noise intended to be a laugh, but it's too weak]

I am quite good at self-blame.

[axiomed]

I know.

[ It's a trend. He huffs lightly. ]

[noprophecies]

[she echoes the huff, folding her hands on the table]

. . . I was told that it was necessary. That I should not blame myself for it.

But none of them were there when I did it. They did not see what I did.

[axiomed]

The problem with necessary is that it's true but it's also convenient. It's safe and dangerous. An easy word. But we've seen the games. We've used that word.

Possession takes away everything. That poor girl.

[noprophecies]

I know.

[she swallows, looking away again] She was tricked into giving her permission. I doubt she would have done so had she known her fate.

. . . I gave her as proper a burial as I could, after. They wanted to leave her there, but I - I couldn't.

[axiomed]

No. I doubt anyone would if they knew what it was like.

[ He sighs, reaching out to squeeze her hand. ]

[noprophecies]

[she startles, eyes darting to look from him down to his hand, before she cautiously curls her fingers around his]

[axiomed]

I am sorry you went through that. No one should be in that position.

[noprophecies]

No . . . they shouldn't.

[a huff] I am sorry you had to hear about it.

[axiomed]

Don't be. I prefer knowing than finding out in some other terrible fashion.

[noprophecies]

I suppose that makes sense.

[axiomed]

Mmm.

None of your sleeping aids have worked?