Stone's Throw

[Adonis Naodi]

Adonis hesitates a moment. Normally he'd be protecting the identity of the person who claimed harm but... in a case like this, once he gets some memory back he'll know right away. "Nyessia." Seeing the blank look, he adds, "My girlfriend."

[Andreas Amell]

What? Your-- what? Wait, Charon-- the fuck? No, the actual-- "Oh gods," Andreas mumbled in a daze, the full impact and meaning of... of all of this hitting him like a Heightened Confusion spell.

[Adonis Naodi]

Adonis walks past him without offering comfort or empathy, eyes fixed straight ahead. "Come," he says again, and it's a firm command. He makes his way to knock on his father's door, without bothering to watch if Andreas follows or not. 

[Andreas Amell]

Obedient if delayed, Andreas stumbled after him with a gaze still unfocused and distant. He didn't really register where they were going, truth be told, just followed meekly after.

As for Cadmus, he was having a rather mixed day. He was actually more alert than he normally was, but his body was aching double time as if to compensate. So when they enter, Cadmus was still abed, tucked under four layers of blankets, though he's sitting upright. "Son," he said in greeting. "Andreas."

[Adonis Naodi]

"Keeper," he replies -- the correct title despite Cadmus' retirement, and also one Adonis rarely uses. "I have come seeking your wisdom in a matter involving the Tribe."

[NPCs]

Cadmus turned his head a little to look more directly at his son. "Speak then, Lord zi'Naodi, and I will give what wisdom I may."

[Adonis Naodi]

Adonis sits on a stool, back straight, head high. "One of our merikos kits has allegedly committed a grievous crime during his heat. He claims he cannot remember the bulk of his heat, and so, has no knowledge of this crime. Is that a thing that happens, in your experience with merikosi?"

[NPCs]

"Hmmm." Cadmus was silent a moment, then two. "I can recall a few instances of such," he finally replied. "Though more than half of such merikos were under the influence of alcohol or stronger before their heat began."

[Adonis Naodi]

"Is there some way to counter the effects, assuming there was no alcohol involved? To make the kit truly responsible for himself?"

[NPCs]

"Experience, and training," Cadmus replied promptly, the phrase an almost painfully familiar one to his son. "Best to arrange things well in advance for the first handful."

[Adonis Naodi]

Adonis nods. "Thank you. Then, I will turn this matter over to the current Keeper along with your words. Perhaps he will show leniency due to the circumstances." I hope my son doesn't have to go through what I went through. Please don't let him. 

[Andreas Amell]

This can't be happening. This isn't happening. I didn't do anything! Andreas swayed on his feet, skin chalk white and fingertips numb. His breathing went shallow and quick and--

[NPCs]

"The boy!" Cadmus barked urgently, eyes no longer on Adonis but instead looking past him.

[Adonis Naodi]

Adonis is supporting him instantly, pinpricks of pain lancing his left arm as Adonis's claws slip out to give him a bit of a shock to snap him out of his cycle. "Deep breaths," he instructs. 

[Andreas Amell]

Instead of crumpling to the floor, Andreas crumpled against his father as he began to sob. Everything was just too much. The accusation, the shame and fury in his father's eyes, the shock of realizing what his twin did, the twisting, horrid shame and self-loathing of realizing what he and his twin did together, the heat itself and, to top everything off, the first stirrings of itching, distracting, gnawing withdraw. He didn't even notice the words of shame, apology and confusion slipping, broken, from his lips.