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He nods, grateful that she's able to pick up the tenor of what he hopes to discuss. As they start to go, he says, "Have you been well, since we've returned to Kirkwall?" It seems fair to ask, or at least friendly; they've seen one another in passing, but work keeps both of them busy.
That is fair to ask, but Abby has a low tolerance for small talk. Her reply is brusque. "D'you wanna get to the point?"
He's made her nervous. She's not gonna walk around with him and talk about how she is and how he is and pretend something isn't wrong.
He's made her nervous. She's not gonna walk around with him and talk about how she is and how he is and pretend something isn't wrong.
"Yes." As much as he's not looking forward to this, there's a relief in directness. "So. When we were at Dirthamen, trading memories. I received one of Ellie's. Joel's death. And I thought you should know that I did, under the circumstances." Since she was in it; since he saw that memory from 19-year-old Ellie's point of view.
After the briefest pause, he adds, "We do not have to ... You do not need to explain anything to me you do not wish to. I saw something that was not meant for me to see, something I did not have context for. But it felt unfair, that you shouldn't know."
After the briefest pause, he adds, "We do not have to ... You do not need to explain anything to me you do not wish to. I saw something that was not meant for me to see, something I did not have context for. But it felt unfair, that you shouldn't know."
[At the few minutes mark.]
Abby? Abby, are you there? Clarisse isn't responding, I just- want to check in. You guys okay?
Abby? Abby, are you there? Clarisse isn't responding, I just- want to check in. You guys okay?
Abby.
[This time it's barely more than a whisper.]
Abby. I'm on my way.
[Tell her that, she wants to say. Instead:]
Just let me know. Let me know you're okay.
[This time it's barely more than a whisper.]
Abby. I'm on my way.
[Tell her that, she wants to say. Instead:]
Just let me know. Let me know you're okay.
Abby, I fucking swear, if you let this kill you-
I'm not letting you go. I told you that, remember?
Abby?
Abby?
Abby had thought it might be something along those lines but that doesn't stop what he says from hitting her hard. Not just any old memory, huh. The memory. That fucking night...
She wonders, perversely, if he saw it all play out from her perspective. Pressed into the ground, a knee on her back, writhing and spitting and cursing and crying.
She's gone quiet and stiff. It takes her a moment to come back, from the cabin.
"Thanks for telling me," is brusque. He very easily could have kept it to himself and didn't necessarily have to tell her about any of it. After a moment she adds, "Does this change anything between us?"
The two of them, her and Vanya, aren't best friends or anything, but they are colleagues. They work together and Abby's always thought well of him. If he's decided he wants to avoid her from now on that's... It's something she wants to know now rather than finding out later on. She doesn't look especially happy about it. Her jaw is rigid.
She wonders, perversely, if he saw it all play out from her perspective. Pressed into the ground, a knee on her back, writhing and spitting and cursing and crying.
She's gone quiet and stiff. It takes her a moment to come back, from the cabin.
"Thanks for telling me," is brusque. He very easily could have kept it to himself and didn't necessarily have to tell her about any of it. After a moment she adds, "Does this change anything between us?"
The two of them, her and Vanya, aren't best friends or anything, but they are colleagues. They work together and Abby's always thought well of him. If he's decided he wants to avoid her from now on that's... It's something she wants to know now rather than finding out later on. She doesn't look especially happy about it. Her jaw is rigid.
"It doesn't," he says, instantly and without hesitation. "I think ... I don't know how many of my memories others among our number received. But I can think of more than one that I'd be sorry someone else experienced, especially without context." A pause, then quieter: "One moment in time does not define anyone, for good or ill. At least I think so."
He's not averse to hearing more from her, if she wants to talk about it. But it's nothing he thinks he's owed, and if she wants to leave it there, his answer to her question isn't contingent on them discussing it further.
He does add: "I would be sorry, if you felt you had to avoid me or act differently, now. We know one another today, in Kirkwall, and our pasts do not change that."
He's not averse to hearing more from her, if she wants to talk about it. But it's nothing he thinks he's owed, and if she wants to leave it there, his answer to her question isn't contingent on them discussing it further.
He does add: "I would be sorry, if you felt you had to avoid me or act differently, now. We know one another today, in Kirkwall, and our pasts do not change that."
She makes herself watch him, gauging any reaction, and seems to find it satisfactory judging by the way she relaxes by careful degrees. One hand comes up, fingers touching at her jaw where it hinges, pressing in gently, working on a lingering soreness.
"Thank you." It slips out. She looks awkward, clearly caught out by what he's saying. It's kind. Offering not to judge her, because he doesn't know all the details, probably the best reaction anybody has ever had to this situation.
Abby sighs. She adds quietly, "It's not like I would have wanted to avoid you or anything."
But she would have, if she had to, for any reason. The meaning is clear.
"Thank you." It slips out. She looks awkward, clearly caught out by what he's saying. It's kind. Offering not to judge her, because he doesn't know all the details, probably the best reaction anybody has ever had to this situation.
Abby sighs. She adds quietly, "It's not like I would have wanted to avoid you or anything."
But she would have, if she had to, for any reason. The meaning is clear.
His expression warms a little, almost imperceptible in its particulars, but clear enough for someone even as familiar with his demeanor as Abby. "I haven't so many friendly relationships in Riftwatch that I am inclined to be extravagant in throwing them away," is, in fact, a joke in delivery (if somewhat true in content). Less of a joke, though, when he adds: "I trust you. It is not something to be undone that way, in a moment."
He's known before now that being friendly with both Abby and Ellie has meant navigating the bad blood between them. If he knows a little more of why, now ... it's still only a little. For him, it doesn't truly change the situation much. He's as relieved as she is that this needn't shift how they interact.
He's known before now that being friendly with both Abby and Ellie has meant navigating the bad blood between them. If he knows a little more of why, now ... it's still only a little. For him, it doesn't truly change the situation much. He's as relieved as she is that this needn't shift how they interact.
She looks at him then and a smile flashes across her face for seconds, a quirk of her lips. Exhaling, releasing tension, she says, "Thanks. I trust you too."
Perhaps that's why it feels necessary to add a little more, not to excuse the action but rather to explain it. That same awkwardness from before has returned. Abby doesn't usually tell people this; she's choosing words carefully. "I wasn't trying to hurt her. She got caught in the middle of it. She wasn't supposed to be there."
But she was. Abby doesn't think she'll ever forget it.
Her brow furrows. "It's... complicated."
Perhaps that's why it feels necessary to add a little more, not to excuse the action but rather to explain it. That same awkwardness from before has returned. Abby doesn't usually tell people this; she's choosing words carefully. "I wasn't trying to hurt her. She got caught in the middle of it. She wasn't supposed to be there."
But she was. Abby doesn't think she'll ever forget it.
Her brow furrows. "It's... complicated."
"It seems like it must have been." It doesn't take more context than he has to gather at least that much. "She did not tell me many details, but it was clear that was not the beginning or the end of your stories. Yours or hers." He doesn't mind hearing more, if she feels moved to share it. But he's also sympathetic to the way one event can lead to another in a way that seems nearly inevitable at the time but disastrous in hindsight. And the world they come from seems especially unforgiving.
Abby shakes her head.
He's right in that the world they come from seems unforgiving. What happened between her and Ellie could have happened to anybody else, and probably has. A tale as old as time, right? Eye for an eye. Maybe it isn't that complicated after all.
"He killed one of mine," she says, "And I couldn't let it go. Had to get even. I did, but then she had to too."
And Vanya can undoubtedly imagine how hard it snowballed out of control.
He's right in that the world they come from seems unforgiving. What happened between her and Ellie could have happened to anybody else, and probably has. A tale as old as time, right? Eye for an eye. Maybe it isn't that complicated after all.
"He killed one of mine," she says, "And I couldn't let it go. Had to get even. I did, but then she had to too."
And Vanya can undoubtedly imagine how hard it snowballed out of control.
[An envelope appears in Abby's assigned pigeon hole in the main hall. The envelope itself is quite plain, though the wax sealing it has been stamped with an official mark of Riftwatch—a hand with a rune in its palm. The contents of the envelope, which consist of a single page with excellently looping handwriting, reads:]
Miss Anderson,
You are formally and immediately required to supply a full written account of your whereabouts on the 19th day of Kingsway, 9:49. Please include remarks regarding your assigned duties, any transit to and from the Gallows, and notable persons who might corroborate your account should it be required.
Please submit your account to my desk in the Research division offices directly.
Wysteria A.P. de Foncé
Mediation Officer
Miss Anderson,
You are formally and immediately required to supply a full written account of your whereabouts on the 19th day of Kingsway, 9:49. Please include remarks regarding your assigned duties, any transit to and from the Gallows, and notable persons who might corroborate your account should it be required.
Please submit your account to my desk in the Research division offices directly.
Wysteria A.P. de Foncé
Mediation Officer
(A note shows up on Wysteria's desk a few hours later, folded over in half to hide its message. The paper is clearly from the corner of a page, torn off and reused. There is some irrelevant scribbling on the other side of it.
The bit for Wysteria says:)
Why
Abby Anderson
Forces
The bit for Wysteria says:)
Why
Abby Anderson
Forces
[She considers this note. She considers for a few hours how she means to answer this note. And then, finally, because she is much better at doing so on paper than in person, she lies.
The next missive left in Abby's pigeon hole is written on the back of the original summons (there is, after all, still a paper shortage). It reads:]
Miss Anderson,
A suit has been filed against you by a member of this company. As Mediation Officer, it is my most unfortunate responsibility to give these matters a measure of due diligence so I may either
1. Dismiss the matter
2. Seek to reconcile the aggrieved parties with the minor liberties afforded my office
3. Pen a recommendation to the division heads responsible for the individuals in question
Your cooperation is most appreciated by myself and Division Heads, whose time I would dearly like not to waste with trivial inquiries.
Wysteria A.P de Foncé
Mediation Officer
Research Division
The next missive left in Abby's pigeon hole is written on the back of the original summons (there is, after all, still a paper shortage). It reads:]
Miss Anderson,
A suit has been filed against you by a member of this company. As Mediation Officer, it is my most unfortunate responsibility to give these matters a measure of due diligence so I may either
1. Dismiss the matter
2. Seek to reconcile the aggrieved parties with the minor liberties afforded my office
3. Pen a recommendation to the division heads responsible for the individuals in question
Your cooperation is most appreciated by myself and Division Heads, whose time I would dearly like not to waste with trivial inquiries.
Wysteria A.P de Foncé
Mediation Officer
Research Division
[She answers the blue flash of the crystal without thinking, and only after hearing Abby on the other side of it does she think to regret it.
Airily, breezily, perfectly normally:]
Is that you, Abby? What does what mean? [Stop there, good sense dictates. So naturally:] Oh! You must be referring to the note. Which part is unclear?
Airily, breezily, perfectly normally:]
Is that you, Abby? What does what mean? [Stop there, good sense dictates. So naturally:] Oh! You must be referring to the note. Which part is unclear?
(On the other end, Abby bristles, thinking. There's something weird going on here...
Her reply is careful.) Why did somebody file a suit against me?
(She gets to know that, right? All she can think of is that thing they say in old police procedural shows, you have the right to remain silent. Well she doesn't wanna do that, she wants to ask questions.)
Her reply is careful.) Why did somebody file a suit against me?
(She gets to know that, right? All she can think of is that thing they say in old police procedural shows, you have the right to remain silent. Well she doesn't wanna do that, she wants to ask questions.)
I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say. It would be— well if it is something then it would be imprudent of me to say too much. And if it is nothing, then I guarantee I will see to taking the other party to task as is fit.
I have every confidence the matter will be resolved if only— [Here, a pause. Then, as if she has remembered she has an unsatisfied request:] Is there a particular reason you're hesitant to share your whereabouts?
I have every confidence the matter will be resolved if only— [Here, a pause. Then, as if she has remembered she has an unsatisfied request:] Is there a particular reason you're hesitant to share your whereabouts?
[Suspicious.
Some of that airiness drops further from her tone.]
Obviously you will be permitted to defend yourself should the matter prove legitimate. In fact this account I have requested is the preliminary stages of doing just that—defending yourself.
Some of that airiness drops further from her tone.]
Obviously you will be permitted to defend yourself should the matter prove legitimate. In fact this account I have requested is the preliminary stages of doing just that—defending yourself.
(Under her breath,) —so stupid.
(But she doesn't know enough about the... judicial system of Riftwatch to debate this treatment. She has a little feeling that Wysteria is tripping on the scant amount of power 'mediation officer' grants her, though. This is probably about something so minor.
At normal volume,) I guess you actually want me to write down where I was instead of telling you right now.
(But she doesn't know enough about the... judicial system of Riftwatch to debate this treatment. She has a little feeling that Wysteria is tripping on the scant amount of power 'mediation officer' grants her, though. This is probably about something so minor.
At normal volume,) I guess you actually want me to write down where I was instead of telling you right now.
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