Illira walks away from the table, obviously expecting D'hein to follow as she does not look behind her, though she pauses at the doorway she'd come in from, waiting for him to catch up.
D'hein follows calmly, watching the surface of the tea to make sure it doesn't spill. It does anyway. Quite a bit. He's lost half the tea by the time he's caught up with Illira, and he looks rather disappointed in himself.
"We'll continue this at your office," Illira nearly spits out, she opens the door, letting herself out, not holding this at the door. "Don't expect good humor from me on our way there."
"That's why I brought the tea," D'hein said, looking down at the tea fondly. The door, as it swung shut behind Illira, collided with the cup and knocked it out of his hand, sending it to break loudly on the ground. Growling in frustration, D'hein tossed the door open, "And you wouldn't hold the door! Really! You are utterly without a single polite instinct! Like a tamed animal, kept in line only by promise of reward."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Those privileges were revoked when you crossed the line. You want them back? Don't be a backstabbing narcissist." Illira says bitingly over her shoulder.
"Delusional beast," D'hein muttered, pushing his way out the tavern. "Recall, if your beastkin brain is capable of it, that I'm under no obligation to answer to you, and fast losing my desire to weather your infantile fit."
She does turn at that, "-You- are the one who choose to meddle in my family's affairs for reasons still unclear to me, though I have already expressed some of my suspicions. Had you actually cared about Amaury's case, I, or Halone forbid, -he- would have known. I know much of the system, and a inmate such as him does not simply walk free one morning unless there is the same deviancy at work that put him there."
"Lack of faith in altruism is a sign of corruption," D'hein said, meeting Illira's gaze. His frown had given way to a neutral reaction, or perhaps even one of pity. "Corruption has a certain gravity to it. It's hard to look so long at it, see it's great many shapes, and not find it in yourself. Not learn how to adapt the very convenient, victimless cynicism for one's use. I'd hate to think you're leaning that direction, Illira."
The woman clenches her jaw, "It is not cynicism, especially considering your recent actions these past months. And still you dodge the questions. He was not cleared because of new evidence. He was released because you pulled strings and had him, I imagine, released essentialy into your custody for a long probationary period. He is -my- brother D'hein. Not yours." A tear, likely formed of bitterness, sadness, and anger all at once leaked from a grey eye.
"He was a person," D'hein said, somberly, "A man who stood against the syndicate and was punished by an abuse of power. I would have to be an evil man not to act, and your condemnation, selfish and delivered without grace, does not impress me. There is not even one single positive attribute to it. Even the pride with which it is delivered is sickly in color. It is hideous in every way."
"You've never even met him. Judged him for yourself. A tool for you to use and nothing more. -I- know he didn't poison that man. He's my brother! But what do you know? Nothing. You see only what you wish to, and seeing Amaury Carceri's name and record whilst digging where you shouldn't have been, and thought, well I'll just slap some bribes to see him out and Illira will love me. Thats not how things things go." She turns, striking a hand to her face to forcible wipe off the shed tear, grimacing.
"My motivations were to make you swoon?" D'hein laughed, briefly, with cold amusement. "Now who is the narcissist?"
"Why else would you try to curry favour? Giving out jewelry to your female co-workers, taking Antimony out to meals, stalking her. You have a long record of such things. If you had a better reason, then tell me. Its not like I haven't been asking you why and how you found out about Amaury since I first spoke with you. You've merely been to busy deflecting." She takes in a shuddering breath, and sits down heavily on the bench not far behind her. "Why? And why not tell me? Why let me find out from an missive from prison? I thought I'd forgotten his sentence was..." She shakes her head. "This is what you -do-. There is not a thing you do, that you do not believe will benefit you."
"I'd thought it would be a pleasant surprise," D'hein answered, his voice softer this time. "I did say I'd planned an additional gift for the Starlight Celebration. A bit late, but there it is."
Illira laughs hollowly, looking up and away, her eyes closing as a couple more tears streak their way down her pale cheeks. "So you arrange to have my brother, twenty-years behind bars, set free back out into the city that took him from me in the first place?"
"Yes. Tell me why that is wrong,†answers D’hein.
She looks back to D'hein, her eyes a little red-rimmed, "Because you didn't do it because you knew beyond a doubt that he was innocent. You did it because he was my brother."
"I do not know the meaning of the word 'doubt'," D'hein answered, his tail still behind him, his expression calm. He stood directly in front of her, arms at his sides, watching her face as he spoke, "You may call it naive if you wish, but all I needed to know was that he was your blood. I did not wonder then, for even an instant whether or not he was guilty. Without hesitation, I acted. Call it faith or foolishness, if you even believe there is a difference."
Illira shakes her head fervently, casting her gaze down at the patchy cobblestone beneath her. "I am not infallible D'hein, there are few that are. Blood is a terrible reason to believe in someone. Your actions concerning this had nothing to do with justice, but your own whims."
"What does justice have to do with it?" D'hein responded, voice and body-language relaxed, "All the better if he is guilty. Ul'dah was in such a state that the label of guilt from such a time is an honor. I wear such badges myself."
"Justice and the law have to do with everything, D'hein. Without it we are no better than wolves eating other alive as they starve to death. It is not the fault of the system if people seek to bend to their will. Such is corruption. And what you did, greasing the wheels of the jail, is the same that the Syndicate did in sending him there."
"I've rejected that," D'hein said, crossing his arms and pacing impatiently, "There's nothing immoral about networking. My influence is mine to utilize as I please; such is the privelege of the ruling class. The only thing I might have to apologize for is not letting you know ahead of time what I had done, and I find myself disinclined to apologize."
Illira's head snaps up, her gaze cold even as the evidence of fallen tears remain, "That is exactly what is wrong with this city, and your excuse is hollowly familiar to me. Are you sure that you do not work for the Syndicate as well? You've seemed awfully friendly to their ways while I've seen you work here in the city."
"You're too quick to condemn," D'hein said, smiling through his frustration, "Very much like the Elezen thralls of Gridanian primals. But I'm not uncouth enough to level accusations. As I've attempted to point out, you do not know my machinations. Your objections are to some fictional scenario, and your inability to take this at face value is not flattering."
"So I'm supposed to grovel at your feet and thank you for using your, "ruling class priviledge" in having released Amaury for a Starlight gift?", the woman laughs hollowly, "It goes against the very principles that my brother and I hold dear. I did not get to where I am today by simply nodding my head and considering such actions acceptable. Have you not considered how what you did only furthers the elite agenda? Oh. But you wouldn't care. You consider yourself one of them."
"Do not garb yourself in assumptions. They are the ornamentation of dullards. You cannot know what agenda I have furthered for you do not know how I accomplished what I did. You paint in generalities that suit you. Furthermore, I want nothing from you, except for you to perhaps exercise some grace."
"I've made no assumptions. The points that I have made, have come only from words that you have said yourself. And it seems that we are at an immobile impasse as of this time. Do not do this again. I am not apart of your network to be influenced."
His smirk turning a bit sly, D'hein said, "The situation will be as pleases you, then. Your brother remains free and you can feel haughtily better than I. Happy Starlight Celebration, Illira."
Finishing with a bow, D'hein said, "I look forward to meeting your brother and seeing which of us he is more like." he turned to walki away, then, back towards the Quicksand.
Illira does not dignify that with a response, merely turning her head away from D'hein as he walks away from her.
D'hein follows calmly, watching the surface of the tea to make sure it doesn't spill. It does anyway. Quite a bit. He's lost half the tea by the time he's caught up with Illira, and he looks rather disappointed in himself.
"We'll continue this at your office," Illira nearly spits out, she opens the door, letting herself out, not holding this at the door. "Don't expect good humor from me on our way there."
"That's why I brought the tea," D'hein said, looking down at the tea fondly. The door, as it swung shut behind Illira, collided with the cup and knocked it out of his hand, sending it to break loudly on the ground. Growling in frustration, D'hein tossed the door open, "And you wouldn't hold the door! Really! You are utterly without a single polite instinct! Like a tamed animal, kept in line only by promise of reward."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Those privileges were revoked when you crossed the line. You want them back? Don't be a backstabbing narcissist." Illira says bitingly over her shoulder.
"Delusional beast," D'hein muttered, pushing his way out the tavern. "Recall, if your beastkin brain is capable of it, that I'm under no obligation to answer to you, and fast losing my desire to weather your infantile fit."
She does turn at that, "-You- are the one who choose to meddle in my family's affairs for reasons still unclear to me, though I have already expressed some of my suspicions. Had you actually cared about Amaury's case, I, or Halone forbid, -he- would have known. I know much of the system, and a inmate such as him does not simply walk free one morning unless there is the same deviancy at work that put him there."
"Lack of faith in altruism is a sign of corruption," D'hein said, meeting Illira's gaze. His frown had given way to a neutral reaction, or perhaps even one of pity. "Corruption has a certain gravity to it. It's hard to look so long at it, see it's great many shapes, and not find it in yourself. Not learn how to adapt the very convenient, victimless cynicism for one's use. I'd hate to think you're leaning that direction, Illira."
The woman clenches her jaw, "It is not cynicism, especially considering your recent actions these past months. And still you dodge the questions. He was not cleared because of new evidence. He was released because you pulled strings and had him, I imagine, released essentialy into your custody for a long probationary period. He is -my- brother D'hein. Not yours." A tear, likely formed of bitterness, sadness, and anger all at once leaked from a grey eye.
"He was a person," D'hein said, somberly, "A man who stood against the syndicate and was punished by an abuse of power. I would have to be an evil man not to act, and your condemnation, selfish and delivered without grace, does not impress me. There is not even one single positive attribute to it. Even the pride with which it is delivered is sickly in color. It is hideous in every way."
"You've never even met him. Judged him for yourself. A tool for you to use and nothing more. -I- know he didn't poison that man. He's my brother! But what do you know? Nothing. You see only what you wish to, and seeing Amaury Carceri's name and record whilst digging where you shouldn't have been, and thought, well I'll just slap some bribes to see him out and Illira will love me. Thats not how things things go." She turns, striking a hand to her face to forcible wipe off the shed tear, grimacing.
"My motivations were to make you swoon?" D'hein laughed, briefly, with cold amusement. "Now who is the narcissist?"
"Why else would you try to curry favour? Giving out jewelry to your female co-workers, taking Antimony out to meals, stalking her. You have a long record of such things. If you had a better reason, then tell me. Its not like I haven't been asking you why and how you found out about Amaury since I first spoke with you. You've merely been to busy deflecting." She takes in a shuddering breath, and sits down heavily on the bench not far behind her. "Why? And why not tell me? Why let me find out from an missive from prison? I thought I'd forgotten his sentence was..." She shakes her head. "This is what you -do-. There is not a thing you do, that you do not believe will benefit you."
"I'd thought it would be a pleasant surprise," D'hein answered, his voice softer this time. "I did say I'd planned an additional gift for the Starlight Celebration. A bit late, but there it is."
Illira laughs hollowly, looking up and away, her eyes closing as a couple more tears streak their way down her pale cheeks. "So you arrange to have my brother, twenty-years behind bars, set free back out into the city that took him from me in the first place?"
"Yes. Tell me why that is wrong,†answers D’hein.
She looks back to D'hein, her eyes a little red-rimmed, "Because you didn't do it because you knew beyond a doubt that he was innocent. You did it because he was my brother."
"I do not know the meaning of the word 'doubt'," D'hein answered, his tail still behind him, his expression calm. He stood directly in front of her, arms at his sides, watching her face as he spoke, "You may call it naive if you wish, but all I needed to know was that he was your blood. I did not wonder then, for even an instant whether or not he was guilty. Without hesitation, I acted. Call it faith or foolishness, if you even believe there is a difference."
Illira shakes her head fervently, casting her gaze down at the patchy cobblestone beneath her. "I am not infallible D'hein, there are few that are. Blood is a terrible reason to believe in someone. Your actions concerning this had nothing to do with justice, but your own whims."
"What does justice have to do with it?" D'hein responded, voice and body-language relaxed, "All the better if he is guilty. Ul'dah was in such a state that the label of guilt from such a time is an honor. I wear such badges myself."
"Justice and the law have to do with everything, D'hein. Without it we are no better than wolves eating other alive as they starve to death. It is not the fault of the system if people seek to bend to their will. Such is corruption. And what you did, greasing the wheels of the jail, is the same that the Syndicate did in sending him there."
"I've rejected that," D'hein said, crossing his arms and pacing impatiently, "There's nothing immoral about networking. My influence is mine to utilize as I please; such is the privelege of the ruling class. The only thing I might have to apologize for is not letting you know ahead of time what I had done, and I find myself disinclined to apologize."
Illira's head snaps up, her gaze cold even as the evidence of fallen tears remain, "That is exactly what is wrong with this city, and your excuse is hollowly familiar to me. Are you sure that you do not work for the Syndicate as well? You've seemed awfully friendly to their ways while I've seen you work here in the city."
"You're too quick to condemn," D'hein said, smiling through his frustration, "Very much like the Elezen thralls of Gridanian primals. But I'm not uncouth enough to level accusations. As I've attempted to point out, you do not know my machinations. Your objections are to some fictional scenario, and your inability to take this at face value is not flattering."
"So I'm supposed to grovel at your feet and thank you for using your, "ruling class priviledge" in having released Amaury for a Starlight gift?", the woman laughs hollowly, "It goes against the very principles that my brother and I hold dear. I did not get to where I am today by simply nodding my head and considering such actions acceptable. Have you not considered how what you did only furthers the elite agenda? Oh. But you wouldn't care. You consider yourself one of them."
"Do not garb yourself in assumptions. They are the ornamentation of dullards. You cannot know what agenda I have furthered for you do not know how I accomplished what I did. You paint in generalities that suit you. Furthermore, I want nothing from you, except for you to perhaps exercise some grace."
"I've made no assumptions. The points that I have made, have come only from words that you have said yourself. And it seems that we are at an immobile impasse as of this time. Do not do this again. I am not apart of your network to be influenced."
His smirk turning a bit sly, D'hein said, "The situation will be as pleases you, then. Your brother remains free and you can feel haughtily better than I. Happy Starlight Celebration, Illira."
Finishing with a bow, D'hein said, "I look forward to meeting your brother and seeing which of us he is more like." he turned to walki away, then, back towards the Quicksand.
Illira does not dignify that with a response, merely turning her head away from D'hein as he walks away from her.
![[Image: 7gJtlcb.png]](http://i.imgur.com/7gJtlcb.png)
