Blood from Stone [AU]

[NPCs]

"Bharnarol is our creator," Cadmus agrees, as if he had no idea of the fight that had occured behind him. "He is worthy of our respect, our worship and our praise. He is also not an short-sighted asshole. Putting the Tribe first does not mean we should hate those not of Tribe. Nor should we take of them a crumb or copper more than needed for our survival. But we were speaking of Don's travails. I think we were at... slow to act?"

[GamesMaster]

Don swallows. "I told myself it was just talk. That it'd go easier for us to keep our heads down and wait for it to blow over. I let it get out of hand by not acting. Even when it was clear violence would be done, I hid to let things play out. Only when violence was already occurring did I act to save the Tribe."

[NPCs]

"Patience is, in and of itself, more considered a virtue than a failing. In this case..." Cadmus frowns, mulling things over. "You spoke earlier of helping Feline Creations prepare itself. Was that truth or were you simply hiding?"

[GamesMaster]

"A little of each," he says, quietly. "I thought we had until sunset, when there'd be a Purge. I wanted Feline Creations to be a safe place to hide. But I heard the speeches and did not investigate. Curiosity is also a virtue."

[NPCs]

"It is. So in that, you were mixed. You allowed fear to dull you edge but channeled that fear into something that was at least helpful." Cadmus shrugs a little. "You are still young, despite what you might think of yourself. Not that age by itself brings wisdom... but it helps."

[GamesMaster]

"You are kind," he says, quietly. But I know my failures.

[NPCs]

"What was next..."

[Bethany]

"Buckling under pain, considering signing depending on what it was," Beth supplies quietly. 

[NPCs]

"Ah yes, thank you. Don?"

[GamesMaster]

"I failed," he whispers. "He took my claws, and the pain was... He asked if I was ready to comply and I said yes, I said I would behave, be a good pet. He said I needed to sign the document. I asked what it was. He asked if it mattered. I knew... I knew he wanted my fortune, my title. I knew I could help the Tribe with them, that I needed them to continue elevating the Tribe. But I didn't care. I'd sign them away. But he said Beth's name and... I wouldn't, couldn't, sign away Beth. So I asked what the document was. If it was just riches I'd have signed, but Beth... Then he gagged me again, and he started to cut me open, and I decided I would sign, even if it meant losing Beth."

[NPCs]

Cadmus hisses softly, his own claws flexing out and in a few times. "I see. That is... It would be... it would have been considered an act of incredible fortitude and bravery, to have resisted the... ministrations of a devil-summoner for-"

[Bethany]

"Possessed devil-summoner. And... and one with a very personal reason, motivation, to... be as cruel and hurtful as possible," Beth offers, tears dripping down her cheeks.  "He- he wanted... me. He... tried. A few times. He was... It was after we were together already and I knew we weren't- I mean, that you were with other people but I didn't want to do that. Especially not with him. He just... felt... off. And when I finally just told him he had no chance, that I had a better man than he could ever be already, he... he just... the look on his face was..." She shivers. "But then he stopped bothering me and I just... let myself forget."

[Carver Amell]

Carver swallows. "Beth," he whispers, knowing how she must feel. She brushed him off, then terrible things happened to her loved ones? I'd feel awful.

[GamesMaster]

Don flinches. "It's not... This is my failing, not yours."

[Bethany]

"If I had just said something..." Beth swallows, eyes closing as she rocks a little. "Maybe..." I could have stopped this. All of this. Without Pandias, would the devil have even been able to... "Oh gods," she moans suddenly, curling inwards and pressing a hand to her mouth.