The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Bethany]

"Lady Bethany will suffice," the human picks up smoothly when he glances over at her. "No need to stand on formality too much."

[Aveline Vallen]

Her right eyebrow rises, just a hair, but Aveline nods slightly. "Very well. Thank you for agreeing to speak with me, Carver. I know that you don't have a lot of reason to trust... nearly anyone, especially from Nyra."

[Carver Amell]

"No," he says, glancing up finally. "I don't."

[Aveline Vallen]

Aveline winces slightly. Honest kid. "Alright... I- no. Do you have any questions or statements you wish to make? I- I feel like you should be able to speak first."

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head, shredding his muffin in silence. Let her give her pitch again. Then all I have to do is say no.

[Bethany]

Before Aveline can do more than clear her throat, Beth cuts in. "I do actually- why you? Why not some of the Lantern Guard or even the Skysong Captain?"

[Aveline Vallen]

Vallen blinks, not having expected that question. "Three separate oracles received visions- Vangal's indicated that I be the one to come. Astea's indicated that I needed to go as well, but also alone. And Uryll gave us a direction."

[NPCs]

Frowning, Roland asks, "when, exactly, did these visions come?" Hearing the answer, he exhales sharply. "That... that was the night after you Dau fixed you up."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, swallowing. "Vangal for Vigile, Uryll for Raplin, and Astea for me."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Given what I know now, I suspect that They had their attention drawn in by Dau's actions, then got our attention to... finish correcting things. What was done to you was..." Aveline scowls darkly. "I will not speak ill of the dead," especially your dead in front of you, "but your childhoods were abusive and you are both owed a debt by Nyra."

[Carver Amell]

At this, Carver looks up, startled. "I-- we are?" he asks, his voice husky. "I mean-- I know it was-- but-- that's what I keep saying. None of them helped me, why should I go back to them?"

Because of honor, and family loyalty, and pride. Because it's the right thing to do. Because even though she was awful, Mother was my mother, and she worked too hard to get us this far for me to just let it all fall apart. Because if I had been born right, Mother wouldn't be dead.

Carver doesn't say any of this aloud. He just waits for Aveline's reply.

[Aveline Vallen]

"I'm sure the Lantern has their own reasons- the reason I agreed to this quest with such... ease of mind, despite having to walk away from my post, is because the zi'Amell family employees somewhere around a thousand people. And without someone keeping the companies running, they're failing. Some are just stagnating, others are being ripped apart by competitors. But they need leadership. I know you're not trained to it, but you're the only one that can hire someone to save them." She winces a little. "I'm sorry. That's just another burden to put on you, I know, but... those employees have burdens of their own. All I can do is offer to support you however I can so you can save them."

[Carver Amell]

Carver lowers his head, deep in thought. When it seems like he might not reply, he does, suddenly: "It's not a burden." 

He lifts his head a touch, and there's something new on his face, something like but not identical to the determination on his face when he attacked Aveline. "It's not a burden," he repeats, slower. "It's a responsibility. It's not something you're making me do. It's something-- someone I let down. Someone I should be taking care of and I'm not. Right? It's not about forcing me to come back. It's about.. I'm not sorry I came here, but I'm sorry it hurt people who had nothing to do with it."

[Bethany]

Bethany inhales sharply, the attitude and arrogance she'd wrapped around her like a familiar cloak fading as she stares at her brother. "Carver..." she whispers, reaching out to take his hand. There's sadness in her voice, and worry, but most of all... there's pride.

[Aveline Vallen]

And not just in her. Aveline's expression fills with surprise, then a sense of fierce agreement. "Yes. Exactly so. There... there is a school of thought among some Bright's that the suffering we go through comes from the Dark Gods. Very few disagree with that part. But this school of thought says that Vangal's gifts allow someone to take that suffering and make of it an armour and a weapon. Not to cause more suffering in others, but to protect them. By knowing pain yourself, by having faced it, survived it and pushed past it... you know the suffering of others. It's more real to you, more urgent, than it would be to a pampered dandy. You care." She shakes her head. "Sorry, I was never... skilled at explaining or discussing theology really."