Stone's Throw

[Andreas Amell]

"Not.. really? I mean, at the time. I couldn't focus or think well enough to realize how weird and wrong everything felt," Andreas explained with complete honesty. "Feels damn horrible now," he added in a dark mutter. "Never want to--" He broke off, something obvious occurring to him for the first time. "Oh Bright Gods. This is going to happen every year?"

[GamesMaster]

"Well, we don't know that for sure. Most catfolk have heats twice a year but merikos can be all over the place. I heard rumors of a merikos one time that had a small heat every month, like a human bleeds." Miki winces. "There are ways to prevent a heat, however. Did you have sex with that girl? The dancer?" The questions come out faster, a little harsher, as if to catch him off guard.

[Andreas Amell]

"Well, this sure wasn't small," Andreas muttered as Miki finished. "Sorry, what did- huh? Sex with-- oh. Umm. No? Almost but no, I think?" Was she involved in the later part? I'm not sure...

"I-- She asked me to watch her routine. For feedback? I, uh, I think I touched her? Or, um, reacted? You know..." He fumbled, not wanting to say 'I got a boner' in front of the two Keepers. "And she, uh, responded, uh, favorably. But... I think I panicked and ran." He finished in a mumble, heat colouring his cheeks.

[GamesMaster]

"And then you ran home?" asks Miki, tone back to being gentle. 

[Andreas Amell]

"I don't know," Andreas breathed out, slumping back in his chair. "That's about as far as I can make order out of things. After this... everything is like... like pages torn out of a book and scattered across the room. I have snippets but not much context. It's out of order and I don't even know if-- No. I'm almost positive there's chunks still missing."

[GamesMaster]

Miki waits a moment, but when no more is forthcoming, he sits back, frowning. "Well," he says, after a long moment. "The woman in question was able to give a very detailed account. And if you can't recall, I'm afraid I have to take her word for it. So, here's the situation: you're not officially a member of the Tribe. Your mother never joined, so you're not automatically in. If I handle this like you're a Light's grandson, I have to go to the guard, and tell them everything I know. I can't protect you, then."

A pause, watching Andreas carefully. "However, you could pledge to the Tribe. Put yourself in my hands. Then I'd be able to render a judgement and we could put this whole mess behind us. How does that sound?"

[Andreas Amell]

Turned in to the Guard? Render judgement? But I didn't do it! I didn't do it. This isn't-- this isn't-- I can't... I can't decide on my own, I need-- "I want to talk to my mom and--" He broke off as he remembers his mother and Grandpapa are at Raplin's Oak, doing something really important. "My d-- uncle and aunt. Umm. Uncle Carver and Aunt Aveline, I mean." Captain Aveline. Umm. "Or maybe Aunt Seli. Before I decide, I mean. I-- I can do that, right?"

[GamesMaster]

"Of course," he says kindly. "But they're likely to pressure you into going to the guard and having a civil trial. Your aunt Aveline doesn't... think much of the way we handle things in-house."

[Andreas Amell]

Well yeah, I'm not too fond of mutilation either! "I know," he said quietly. "But I... this is too much. I need my family," he finished in a whisper.

[GamesMaster]

"Alright, son. They're on their way. zi'Naodi went to fetch them while I talked to you, so they must be almost here."

And indeed, it's not long before Carver bursts into the room, looking around with a serious, grim expression. "Andreas," he says with relief, moving to scoop the boy up into a hug. "Are you hurt? What have they been telling you?!"

[Andreas Amell]

"Da-- Uncle Carver," he nearly sobbed, trembling as he clung to the older man. "I-- no, I'm o-o-k-- I'm not injured," he admitted, his words as good as saying he was pretty fucked up emotionally. "I-- I think I messed up really badly."

[Carver Amell]

"Shh, it's okay, son," he says gruffly but softly. "I've got you. Your auntie Aveline is with me. We'll keep you safe." Even if we have to lie to the guard, he adds silently. Aveline will forgive me, if it's to protect Andreas. 

[Aveline Vallen]

A hand, strong, calloused and yet so gentle, came to rest on Andreas's shoulder, triggering another burst of tears. "Let it out, son," Aveline murmured softly, embracing Carver with her other arm as she stands behind him. Being in a household with two mothers and two fathers for each child-- and being more comfortable with vulnerability than Carver, even if not half as much as Seli or even Lovan-- she's called Andreas 'son' more than a few times in the past. 

[Andreas Amell]

Another few minutes passed, then Andrea finally took a deeper, bracing, breath. "...thank you," he said hoarsely, pulling back. "I-- thank you." His thin body-- never heavy or built in his life but feeling particularly light today-- shook a little, but he stood on his own. "I... I need to tell you too. What-- what I remember, what I can, at least."

[GamesMaster]

"The incident in question happened here, in the zi'Naodi manor," says Miki quietly. "The boy's said he can't recall even being back here. There are whole days missing."