Office Hours - We Could Be

[shieldof]

[Faith's door remains closed, the brass "PRIVATE" plaque silent and unyielding. Trying to force the door yields no results, but- she said you could contact her here, so just go ahead and knock. Worst case scenario, you're no worse off than before, right?]

((OOC: Please tag your top-levels with the appropriate week and day.))

Comments

[shieldof]

[It takes a long moment for the door to open. Faith opens it herself, standing carefully with her hands folded in front of her.]

Sir Kinger.

[checkwhat]

...Hi. [He looks down at her with slightly wonky but concerned eyes.] Are you okay?

[How does she look after That Whole Thing at the motive?

Bawk.]

Please don't mind Karuna, I had to save her from Sunrise before.

[shieldof]

[She glances down at the chicken, frowning a little, but then glancing over her shoulder and making a small gesture- a spectral hand, flickering electric blue, moves around the office and dims the lights.]

I should be asking you that, I suppose. I- apologize. For my abrupt departure.

[Faith steps aside to offer him proper entrance.]

[Lucid as he currently is, as father to two young women and tolerant housemate of one deranged rabbit Kinger can probably spot someone who is the very specific kind of Put Together of someone who very recently had a crying breakdown and needs everyone else to not know about it.]

[checkwhat]

[Kinger cautiously enters her office and the darkness falls over him like a warm blanket. The vision had temporarily and violently knocked sense into him back in the dining hall so the gentler cloak of shadow here is vastly preferable.

Its the little details that catch his attention- the way she's standing, how she holds her hands, how she's speaking- that flag as familiar signs of someone hiding a breakdown. He doesn't sit down right away, instead reaching out with one floating hand to quietly close the door for Faith and watching her with eyes full of concern.]

You don't need to apologize for running away. All of that was...it was a lot. [He bends down to set Karuna on the floor. The chicken looks left then right then decides to sit instead of trying to maneuver the strange new room she's been brought to.]

And not just for us.

[He doesn't want to push her too hard about what happened, not right away, but tiptoeing around it won't do either of them any good.]

[shieldof]

It was- an intense experience.

[She's a little quiet, glancing down.]

I cannot stop this, Sir Kinger. Going against Solarinace's will- ...I can no longer claim to understand this, but stopping it will have to be up to those of you beholden to the rules of this exercise. I am sorry.

[checkwhat]

Faith.

[Not "Miss Dinara" right now. He starts to reach out, wanting to lay a hand on her shoulder or just do something to comfort her, then hesitates. If this is how Solarinace treats her when she's doing what she's told, what would they do to her if she disobeyed?]

Has your god done anything like that to you before? Forcing your magic.

[shieldof]

That was not my magic. Restorative spells, especially of that caliber, are beyond my ability.

[faith.]

And no, they have not. And- they wished to demonstrate that what they promised was possible, and asked for my aid as a conduit.

[checkwhat]

They might have asked but did they warn you it would be so...violent? [Hesitantly, gently, he rests his hand on her shoulder.] That looked like it was really scary for you.

[shieldof]

...it was. Quite intense, I must admit.

[She looks down for a moment.]

The power of a god moving through a mortal form- I am unharmed, I promise, nor did they intend harm-

[Looking back up at Kinger.]

It was- rather akin to very suddenly being swept up by a comet, I must admit.

[checkwhat]

I can only imagine. [Kinger wants to take her word for it that she wasn't harmed. It might be true physically but he's seen the damage emotional wounds can cause when left to fester.

He squeezes her shoulder softly.]

But not intending harm doesn't automatically negate it.

[shieldof]

...I appreciate your concern, Sir Kinger.

[She reaches up to pat the gloved hand on her shoulder.]

But this is between Solarinace and myself.

1/2

[checkwhat]

...Okay. I said it before but...if you need to talk about it, you know where to find me.

[He can't force her to accept his help he can still be here for her.]

2/2 (i didn't get distracted by death, wdym?)

[checkwhat]

But right now, you look like you could use a hot cup of tea.

[His eyes scrunch in a gentle smile and he reaches into the sleeve of his robe to pull something out: a dark blue knitted granny square a little larger than his hand. One side is decorated with golden yellow yarn in geometric patterns and there's a small white butterfly button sewn into one corner.]

It's been a long time since I picked up a pair of needles but with the arts and crafts room it felt right to pick up an old hobby. It's a mug cozy, to protect your hands.

[shieldof]

Oh-

[She looks over the cozy, and. Yeah, those are tears.]

You are- quite kind, Sir Kinger.

["more than I deserve" is the part that doesn't quite get said]

[checkwhat]

Everyone is worthy of a little kindness, Faith. [Both hands come to rest gently on her shoulders.] Even if all they can do is their best in the situation they're stuck in.

[Even if they make the mistake of trusting the wrong person- or god, in this case.]