Back in Justinian, I...I found someone to track down the Templar who, who did what he did to me. We took him to a court of law and he was found guilty. Thing is, they left his sentencing to the Templar order, who just expelled him. He’d already deserted anyway, so... I-I guess, though, the story has him on ice with his noble father. So it’s not great to be him right now, but...
He can still do what he wants. No one is keeping an eye on him.
Not right now. He probably wouldn’t go far. Wouldn’t be too hard to track him down.
So I’ve pissed him off and he’s going to take it out on someone along the way. And I...don’t know what to do. I could find him. But having him killed seems...seems like a place I couldn’t come back from.
You're not in a position to kill him, directly or indirectly.
[There's no hesitation in the response.]
It's an especially delicate moment, with the election and us splintering off from the Inquisition. Unless you want revenge badly enough nothing else matters, that's a dead end. For you, and for a lot of the other mages that are in the middle of trying to prove we can be trusted in society. Even if morals are on your side, the law isn't. And you'll be the first person they suspect if he meets with foul play.
I know I wouldn't want to hear as much in your position, but there isn't much more you can do right now. He won't be put back in the position he was in, and being without the shield of the templars and his family may scare him into better behavior. Those are both victories we wouldn't have expected 10 years ago. It's not enough, but we don't live in a world where we can kill every man who deserves it.
[There’s a long pause. Julius is right on both counts—this isn’t what he necessarily wants to hear, but it’s also the right thing to do. And truthfully, the prospect of assassination and responsibility for what may happen to other people was a heavy burden to bear. He lets out a long breath.]
I knew I could trust you to say what’s right. I just...had to hear it. Thank you.
You're welcome. And I'm sorry it wasn't what you were hoping for, but... I'm glad you got even as much justice as you did. Someone heard you and decided in your favor. That matters.
[A sign of progress, even if it truly is a matter of two steps forward and one back.]
Who was 'we', out of curiosity? Who took him to the court.
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crystal
[There's a sound of a few things being moved, a door closing.]
What's on your mind?
[His tone is cautious, neither particularly warm nor cool.]
tw: mention of past sexual abuse
[long story short.]
Back in Justinian, I...I found someone to track down the Templar who, who did what he did to me. We took him to a court of law and he was found guilty. Thing is, they left his sentencing to the Templar order, who just expelled him. He’d already deserted anyway, so... I-I guess, though, the story has him on ice with his noble father. So it’s not great to be him right now, but...
He can still do what he wants. No one is keeping an eye on him.
no subject
I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I imagine having effectively stripped him of his rank and his resources has some impact on his doing what he wants.
[The observation is quiet, though.]
Do you know roughly where he is now, or where he was heading?
no subject
So I’ve pissed him off and he’s going to take it out on someone along the way. And I...don’t know what to do. I could find him. But having him killed seems...seems like a place I couldn’t come back from.
no subject
[There's no hesitation in the response.]
It's an especially delicate moment, with the election and us splintering off from the Inquisition. Unless you want revenge badly enough nothing else matters, that's a dead end. For you, and for a lot of the other mages that are in the middle of trying to prove we can be trusted in society. Even if morals are on your side, the law isn't. And you'll be the first person they suspect if he meets with foul play.
I know I wouldn't want to hear as much in your position, but there isn't much more you can do right now. He won't be put back in the position he was in, and being without the shield of the templars and his family may scare him into better behavior. Those are both victories we wouldn't have expected 10 years ago. It's not enough, but we don't live in a world where we can kill every man who deserves it.
no subject
I knew I could trust you to say what’s right. I just...had to hear it. Thank you.
no subject
[A sign of progress, even if it truly is a matter of two steps forward and one back.]
Who was 'we', out of curiosity? Who took him to the court.
no subject
no subject
[A brief pause.]
How have you been?
[The tone is measured but not insincere.]