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* Tarri is cleaning up after her most recent patient, putting various jars and boxes back in the cabinets while some water heats over the small stove. She hums tunelessly to herself as she straightens the chairs and picks up the toys she keeps for her patients' children (and her children patients). * Orlann walks in. He carries his dragon's tunic inside out and crumpled under one arm. He is not, technically, due off-shift until evening. * Tarri looks up as the bell on the door rings. "I'll be right wi- Orlann!" She stares at him in brief shock. "What's happened? Are you hurt? Sit down..." * Orlann nods, tossing his tunic on the floor - something he has never before done - and pulls the shade over the window glass. "Darling, c'n y'take a bit of time? Will anyone be lookin' for ya immediate-like?" <Tarri> ::bewildered:: No, I was just going to fix up my lunch... ::she puts a painted "Closed" sign in her window, and locks the door, then gingerly picks up the tunic and starts nervously smoothing out the wrinkles:: What happened? <Orlann> ::sighs:: Y'know I ain't... usually askin' about th' state of yer affairs, but... ::he looks at her directly:: Can we be affordin' things, iffen I wasn't to be havin' a job? For a while, at least? <Tarri> It'd... it'd be kind of tight, but we could manage, I guess... ::she takes his hands:: 'Lann, what *happened*? * Orlann squeezes her fingers. "I need t'do the right thing, darling. An' I will, I just... I reckon I needed t'know if I needed t'find a new job right away." <Tarri> ::frowns:: You're not making any sense, Orlann. Sit down and take a few deep breaths while I make us some tea, and then you're going to tell me the whole story. * Tarri takes a pair of mugs out of the cabinet, rummages in a box and selects a pair of sachets, and pours the boiling water over them. "Here. It's chamomile, I'm afraid. I don't keep your tar in the shop." She smiles briefly, then takes a seat beside him. * Orlann wrinkles his nose slightly at the "weed tea" then takes a sip. "Sorry, darling. I just reckon I got a bit of a shock." <Tarri> It certainly seems like it. Tell me. <Orlann> ::takes a deep breath:: I had a... y'remember me tellin' you about th' psionic girl? The contracted one, what I thought needed a few good meals? <Tarri> ::nods:: You never did say if you wanted me to make her some cookies or something... <Orlann> She come t'see me, today. Not but just an hour ago... Shakin' like a leaf, with a boy with her. Not more'n twelve years old... skinny and bruised up. He were shakin' just as bad as she. <Tarri> ::frowns:: <Orlann> She tells me tha' this boy - just a child, darling - was being held in our jails... for vagrancy! We don't hold *children* for that! <Tarri> ::looking confused:: I shouldn't think so. If he doesn't have a place to go... But what happened? <Orlann> He's her cousin, they grew up together, once his parents were kilt in a fire. She says there was some unpleasantness at home, when she came t'be using her abilities. ::he looks at her directly:: I reckon y're familiar with that sort o'thing. <Tarri> ::bites her lip and nods:: If their home town was anything like mine... Poor child. <Orlann> I know, I ain't tellin' it right... but... they're just kids.. she ain't but maybe jus' seventeen or eighteen. <Tarri> ::pats his arm:: You're telling it fine, love. Keep going. <Orlann> She come up here t'Miss Tyl's school an' all. An' she's doin' well. She took a ... ::he blanks for a minute:: An inter-job, workin' with that guild for psionics. Jus' to pay for her t'bring her cousin up here t'live. <Tarri> ::nods:: Vallie was telling me about that. I think it's a wonderful idea. <Orlann> So he comes up, an' while she's t'work, he goes and gets hisself arrested - and I ain't sure I reckon he really did *anythin'*. <Tarri> ::looks worried:: Someone up there has a grudge against psionics? <Orlann> I tole you, right, about Cap'n Vander, not havin' much good t'say about them, right? That they ain't right cooperative? Well, this girl, she tells me today... she tells me that Cap'n Vander's been askin' them to do awful, awful things. <Tarri> ::eyes widen:: But- But they *can't*! I mean, Val said- ::she looks horrified:: <Orlann> That two of 'em walked out on their contracts, cause she wanted them t'invade people's thoughts an' stuff. <Orlann> So, this girl, she takes Cap'n Vander's contract, an' Vander has this boy arrested. An' tells the girl that he'll stay there, in prison, 'less she does what Vander wants her t'do. <Tarri> ::puts her hands over her mouth, as if stifling a scream:: Oh, sweet gods! She didn't! <Orlann> She tells me that she don't... she tells me that Vander had her question this man - I reckon I tole you about him, this 'Angel'? What died last week? <Tarri> ::nods slowly, looking vaguely ill:: <Orlann> They questioned that man - what already had a head-wound from th'scuffle t'arrest him - they questioned him under *torture*, Tarri. And this wee bit of a girl, she's in there under duress, usin' her mind t'make his pain worse. <Tarri> Oh, no... ::she wipes her eyes quickly:: The poor thing. <Orlann> I don't reckon I *want* t'believe her. ::storms to his feet, nearly upsetting Tarri's cup of tea, pacing around:: That man *died*. He died. An' here's this girl cryin' her eyes out an' sayin' how it was her fault. <Tarri> ::bites her lip:: What... what're you going to do? <Orlann> I'm gonna do th' right thing, darling. ::he shakes his head:: That man mighta been a criminal. But that don't *matter*. If *we* can't be holdin' ourselves t'a higher standard than that, we ain't not one bit better. <Tarri> ::nods:: And to hold innocent *children*-! ::looks worried:: Who's helping her? <Orlann> ::sighs:: She's gonna go hide f'r a while... jus' in case. She left me a name where I c'n get a message t'her, if need be. I reckon I'll need her t'come give testimony. But I aim t'report it. An' I reckon I might lose m'job over it. <Tarri> We'll make do, if it happens. ::stubborn:: Someone's got to help them. <Orlann> ::nods slowly:: Aye... and I mean t'do it. <Tarri> ::kisses his cheek:: You're a good man, love. * Orlann puts his arms around her, burying his face in her hair. "I ain't. It was happin' right under my *nose* an' I didn't know. I didn't think t'look. It ain't the first time someone's died in that prison, and I didn't think t'even worry about it." <Tarri> ::hugs him:: Ignorance is not evil, Orlann. You were doing your job, and you trusted the others to do theirs. You can't keep an eye on *every*one, love. You'd never get anything done. <Orlann> ::sighs:: Could... could ya make her up a basket? Food'n some spare clothes, maybe. If she's gonna be hidin', for fear of Vander's comin' after her, she might well need it. <Tarri> Of course! I've got some things here that I was given in trade that might suit, even... ::she eyes Orlann, worried:: Are you going to be all right? <Orlann> ::sighs:: Doin' the right thing ain't easy... an' I don't know what's gonna happen. An' I *liked* Cap'n Vander... <Tarri> I know, love... ::she kisses him briefly:: Everything will turn out all right, though. <Orlann> I hope so. I really do... an' I know you ain't tendin' t'listen t'me about some stuff, but... darling, if this is even *half* what I think it might be, I ain't up t'lettin' you wander off alone. Not until it's over. I want y'to come with me, and talk with Lisl, for her to look after you, iffen I have to be gone. <Tarri> ::blinks:: Gone? Why would you be gone? <Orlann> ::shakes his head:: I need t'report this, an' I need to see what proofs I c'n get. She's *my* Captain. This ain't gonna be easy an' I can't be takin' you some of the places I might be needin' t'go. * Tarri looks like she's going to protest, then looks at Orlann's face and sighs. "All right, if it will make you feel better. But just for a couple of days! I'm sure Lisl doesn't want to cool her heels here in the clinic with me for *weeks*. <Orlann> ::touches her cheek:: I reckon she don't. But you don't want t'end up in a cell somewhere because o'me an' I don't want t'have to chose between love an' duty. <Tarri> You don't think they'd- ::she bites her lip:: All right. We'll go talk to her, and see what she says. <Orlann> ::nods:: Thank you. |
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