video

[selfloyalty]

[HERE'S MS. NO-NONSENSE THEIRIN PUTTING ON HER BEST MAC TIR FACE Maker it's scary how easily she can project her father sometimes addressing the camera with a rather serious expression. it's obvious this is directed at a specific someone...shame she doesn't know how to private conversations.]

With the monsters gone, I suppose I can finally ask something that has been needling my mind for a few weeks now.

[she leans forward, a demanding look in her eyes.]

When shall I be seeing my third roommate back in his rightful, assigned home, Bariyan? I have been told that he seemed awfully receptive to Alistair's invitation, so why is it that after he discussed it with you he suddenly became less inclined to return?

I certainly hope the boy hasn't been fed lies in an attempt to keep him in your possession, Bariyan.

Comments

[voice]

[stonefaith]

I am making no attempts to keep him in my possession. He is his own person. He will do as he likes.

I am only trying to protect him.

[voice]

[selfloyalty]

Then explain his sudden change of mind. I was told he seemed quite enthusiastic to return to mine and Alistair's flat.

[a pause, and in more demanding tone.]

From whom?

[stonefaith]

What do you want me to say? Of course I was against the suggestion. You are hardly fond of him.

[selfloyalty]

And what makes you say that?

I had not been fond of what had happened to him.

[stonefaith]

You called him an abomination. You all but called for his death. You were certainly quick to turn against him. And I understand why that is. [ he doesn't exactly sound accusing, or even angry; just tired. ] But you should understand why that makes me disinclined to entrust him to you. In any capacity.

[selfloyalty]

He had been beyond hope, and such is the way abominations are handled where I am from. A swift and merciful death. Had I seen an opportunity for him to get better, I would have said otherwise.

I am not of a weak heart, Bariyan, and there are always those who must make the difficult decisions that others cannot.

[WOOPS SHE'S CHANNELING HER FATHER but her voice is even and her mind sound.]

His death brought him release from that form, did it not? He is better now, or so I have been told both by him and others. And even still, I lack the ability to harm the boy as you so fear. He had posed a greater threat to me than I ever had to him.

I do not wish to harm him. It brought me no pleasure to have learned of his death.

[stonefaith]

I did say that I understood.

But you did wish him harm. You may again, in the future, under right or wrong circumstances. Your reasons may be good or they may be bad but your reasons do not matter. Whether or not you rejoiced in his death does not matter. All you have said is that you will not hesitate to call for his death again, should you deem it necessary.

Why would I want to allow him to return?

[selfloyalty]

Is this what you told Martin?

[stonefaith]

Something along those lines.

[ aka: he doesn't remember, oops ]

In the end, I simply think he is safer with me.

[selfloyalty]

[coldly:]

What did you tell him?

And how exactly is Martin safer with you? Tell me, Bariyan, would he have gotten sick had he been under your care initially?

[stonefaith]

[ and now he's starting to sound tetchy ]

That I did not want him to return to you, out of fear for him. As much as I've said here.

[ but that brief surge of irritation dies away just as quickly as it comes. his next words come flatter than ever. ]

Martin has always been under my care, from the very start. So yes, he would. He did.

[selfloyalty]

I am incapable of hurting Martin, and Alistair poses even less of a threat to the child.

[reasons why he would have sucked as a Templar.]

So remind me how he is safer with you as his guardian, when you clearly are fearful of a threat that does not exist and were incapable of preventing what was to happen to him?

Better yet, if you knew of this sickness, why did you not tell anyone else? We had a child in the midst of a breakdown living among us, spitting out his teeth in our bathroom sink.

Why did Alistair and I not learn of this until it was too late, Bariyan?

[stonefaith]

I did tell others. I told those who I thought could help him. Again, you were not among them.

I did not predict that he would turn violent. By the time it had come to pass, it was already too late. There is nothing that I could have done to warn you in advance. I am sorry.

[ he doesn't sound very sorry right now, though. ]

[selfloyalty]

He had been acting strange for weeks and we were concerned. And asking Martin himself gave us nothing. Even if we were unable to help, it was not information that should have been withheld from his housemates.

[she can tell and she's calling him out on his tone.]

Do not try to feed me false apologies. You are not sorry in the slightest.

[stonefaith]

Do you think I intentionally withheld information from you? What should I have said? What do you think I knew that you didn't?

[ if he'd been the type to breathe, this is where a deep breath would have gone ]

Never mind. I may have done wrong then, but I am not doing wrong now in mistrusting you. If he wants to return to you, then he will. I will not go out of my way to stop him. But I want him by my side.

[selfloyalty]

You knew enough to tell others. Obviously you knew something that I did not.

[there's an obvious noise of agitation]

Then let him know that he is welcomed to return home whenever he so wishes.

Video; poorly privated

[woahwoahawkward]

[Wow, okay, this argument has degenerated enough that even Alistair knows he should probably be trying to mediate it somehow ... he even tries to fiddle with the settings on the device to keep it filtered only to Bariyan.

It works ... just barely.

Have a vaguely frowny Alistair, Bariyan.]

...you should know, for the -- uh, record -- that Anora doesn't do things like this unless she cares about someone.

[Also, oh Maker is it awkward with just the two of them in the house, please send help]

[private / voice]

[stonefaith]

She drags private affairs into public for all to see because she cares. Of course. [ JUST THE FLATTEST ]

Nothing that she has said or done here convinces me of that. She barely speaks of him as a person.

Video; private

[woahwoahawkward]

[Where are these defensive feelings coming from, wow.]

She is a queen used to using leverage to her advantage. Showing her feelings is not her ... strongest suit.

[Okay Bariyan, at least look at Alistair's sad puppy eyes.]

I assure you that no harm would come to Martin, were he to return -- but it is his choice above all.

[Alistair just wants to awkwardly father him a little...]

[stonefaith]

At this point, I am not convinced that she has feelings. This seems less about Martin and more about her.

[ HE'S LOOKIN'. he... okay now he's lookin' away, geez ]

Regardless. You are right. I will speak to him again. But my stance remains unchanged.

[woahwoahawkward]

Yes, well, it would be nice if he would at least ... visit.

[Sensitive man feelings, Alistair has a lot of them.]

[stonefaith]

If Martin wants to, then he will. I will continue to discourage it.

[ grumble. he doesn't know alistair that well, and he's seemed all right from what few interactions they've had, but bariyan's still inclined to mistrust him solely based on his association with anora. ]

[woahwoahawkward]

[Ugh rude, Bariyan]

And I cannot dissuade you from that?

[stonefaith]

No.

[ sorry, alistair :'( ]

[woahwoahawkward]

[Okay well enjoy that sad face again, Bariyan, before the feed clicks off

;.;]