The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Haliel Lightsong]

"Is this about that... Sparky, was it? Or is there... more?"

[Marian Hawke]

She looks away. "That was't his name, but yes. That was... they were the Knowledge of Perfection, a Zanonite gang."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"...an... interesting name," Haliel says evenly, nose wrinkling. "I saw that he was wearing a thunderbolt symbol but didn't realize he was part of a Zanon cult."

[Marian Hawke]

"I was thinking of joining," she points out. 

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel studies Marian for a moment, then shakes her head. "I can't really see it," she replies. "You as a Zanonite, I mean. Regardless, I am curious as to why?"

[Marian Hawke]

She shrugs a shoulder. "I didn't want to assume you were going to find a good hiding place -- the safest place to hide them would have been out of the city, and I'd slow you all down. Seemed as good a time as any to start planning for the future."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"But... you have so many others options why... Why make yourself into..." Haliel sighs. "Because you think you deserve it. Because you think yourself of no value or worth."

[Marian Hawke]

"Because a girl like me can't afford to assume peopel are going to give me options I didn't earn," she snaps. 

[Haliel Lightsong]

"How?" Haliel asks quietly. "Explain to me, exactly, how you can earn or prove that you deserve love and happiness?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I-- you're talking about something different again," she says, her hand twitching faintly. "I just mean, without a record or a letter of recommendation I can't just expect a job to fall into my lap. I have to make my own chances in life."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"But that doesn't mean you have to join a gang. Even if you couldn't trust me- and I can understand that, we had only known each other for a short time- then you could have gone to one of the temples for support. I know Bastion and Ciren would have given you at least some help, given your age and such. Long enough to get your feet and prove your worth in some trade or another."

[Marian Hawke]

She shakes her head. "I'm seventeen, now. Well, on paper my birthday is... I guess week after next, but my real birthday already passed."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"Yes, now, but you weren't at the time," Lightsong points out.

[Marian Hawke]

"I was almost. A week shy."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel starts to say something, then frowns. "Wait, you came of age and-" She stands abruptly. "Wait here."