"Please, come in. Ah, my apologies for the mess around the table..."
The shrine is far less broken down than it had been when Xie Lian took residence, though it's still simple. One room, with the privacy screen hiding his bed. He's moved the couple of chairs usually set up at his altar/table to the side, one now holding the bowl of fruit, incense and small knickknacks that are usually on the table as it's now covered with pieces of paper.
"Please, feel free to take a seat." He can free the second chair by putting stuff on the ground, so he can sit too.
Florian will walk in as asked, and wherever it is that Xie Lian directs him, there shall he go. He can wait for the seat to be cleared off, and once it is, on it he sits, prim and proper as ever. He doesn't look recalcitrant or even terribly concerned. Certainly not guilty. Mostly, he seems curious, but he can be patient and wait for Xie Lian to say his piece first.
Xie Lian looks much as he always does, without any suggestion that he expects Florian to feel guilty or even concerned. He remembers to grab his ink before it spills, carefully covering the bottle before sitting down.
"Archer said you'd prefer that what happened with Henry not become a public matter?"
He doesn't doubt Archer, but that doesn't mean not double checking with Florian.
"It is my preference," he admits, "but I am well aware that you, as a warden, have a responsibility to the ship at large. As well as a responsibility to your fellow wardens. The knowledge is yours to use as you wish."
"It is. That's the balance of duty for you. After all, I have a responsibility to the ship as a whole and a responsibility to you, specifically." He sighs slightly. "There are long running debates here, which, I think, often boil down to that question. You might have seen some of them.
"Personally, I think there are quite a few overlaps. For example, advocating more for your own inmate doesn't mean dismissing harm they've caused. Because I don't think that's helpful to the individual. But that doesn't mean it's necessarily straightforward. I assume you have a reason for your preference."
He nods easily enough at that, hands folding lightly in his lap.
"A simple enough one: I am neither strong nor is my constitution particularly robust and my usual defenses are currently inactive due to the Admiral's restrictions. As someone who is small and physically vulnerable, my one means of defense relies primarily on surprise and trickery, if not preparation."
He turns one hand towards Xie Lian.
"Even fleeing an attack may rely on such a thing."
And folded back in again.
"I have hardly gone mad with what small abilities I have. My target was specific, I sought other means of conflict resolution beforehand and was dismissed, and my goal was only discomfort and displeasure, not true harm or death.
"A small revenge for all the work he has given me in my position at the library, the many times he chose to slaughter Johann before my eyes for no reason but his fit of pique at the Admiral, and the pain he caused me personally in the defense of my own life."
Xie Lian nods. He hadn't asked the 'why', because the answer seemed too obvious. He thinks it's the truth, but it's also what he'd expect anyone who was covering other reasons to say.
"You didn't have a warden yet, either."
He shrugs.
"Yeah, it seems unlikely that anyone would attack you over this, unless a person defines praise a certain way. But people who pay attention and remember that sort of thing would know."
He takes a moment to consider what he wants to say.
"I don't think there's anything 'wrong' with what you did, when it comes to Henry." It's not what he'd do, but his choices are his own and he doesn't see a reason to project them onto Florian. "Like you said, it was a specific revenge that didn't harm any innocents. If anyone was harmed, I'd say it was Archer. But I'm sure that he accepted responsibility for the fact that you could use what he's taught you to hurt someone before he made the offer. I can't speak for him. If he was one of the people you spoke to about conflict resolution, that's one thing. If he wasn't, that's the only part that I wouldn't say wasn't an entirely fair trade."
"A point of correction:" he offers, "only in that I did not use what he taught me for that very reason. I used a trick I have utilized before on a particularly difficult student in the boarding school I was sent to as a child."
A pause.
"It seemed appropriate."
A turn of his hand.
"And while I don't expect retribution for this action, it is still information that could be utilized against me at a later date: a fact I was aware of when I did it, but the idea that was told to me on the matter, that Herr Creel could not be revenged upon, that nothing done could bother him, bothered me on a rather personal level."
Something rather hard enters his eyes then, unhidden, but he'll leave it at that.
"He's still your teacher. So if there was any recording more long term than announcement, I think that should be in his hands."
Not that he's ever one to touch the inmate ledger.
"I believe it bothers a lot of people, even if they don't have your history layered on top of that." He doesn't think it would be fair to act as if he doesn't remember what Florian's told him about his history - or as if he hasn't considered how that could shape things.
"She has expressed discomfort with me, given my association with Johann and Johann's 'possessive' nature. As she is one of Dorian's previous inmates, she is concerned that he might turn violent, thus I thought it best to keep my distance. Herr Archer has insisted, however, that I assure Frau Kiryu that I have ceased my activities."
A pause.
"In truth, I would have done so within a day regardless. Given how little Herr Creel comes out in public, I couldn't properly gauge the effects and must err on the side of caution if I would not harm him."
Xie Lian doesn't know what could be considered 'possessive' about it, but he's aware that there are a range of opinions on the matter.
"Yeah." He considers for a moment. "It matters that he hurt you, and you've proven that you can hurt him in turn. Does it matter if he's bothered more, hm, 'emotionally' or not?"
"It matters that he harmed me and mine for no other reason but that he could and had the power to. And it does not matter that I can hurt him. It matters that it be proven no one is above paying for their harm, an opinion which he outright expressed to me before I ever took action."
He turns his hand.
"If he had offered to help clean up the library, to pick out a new suit for Johann, even to host tea and discuss it, I would have been satisfied. But no effort was offered, let alone made. So I took the matter of payment into my own hands."
"Yes, I suppose my question is whether this is payment. He hurt you, he hurt a person you care for, he claimed that there was no way of making him pay. I don't mean this as a question of whether you'll feel a need to do something more for payment. Simply whether it will offer satisfaction if it doesn't effect him on any level other than the physical."
He lets out a soft laugh, bell like and deceptively sweet, but he does nod.
"As I said: I would have stopped in a day. The fact that it got to other wardens, that his own warden was made aware at all, means he was affected. It also means he had to seek assistance from others."
"You could make a creative warden, if you'd like to get into fights with people."
He nods.
"I don't see that there's a need to say anything about this, publicly. If you hurt someone else, I wouldn't conceal that it's not the first time because I do have a responsibility to the ship. But I hope there will be people you can go to to help achieve a different sort of restitution before it gets to that point."
"A profession I am still considering, in truth," he admits to Xie Lian, an admission he has more than earned. The conclusion that he receives doesn't even factor into that equation but he is more than satisfied with that as well.
"Is there anything you'd care to have me do or work to perform for my actions?"
"I think it's a worthwhile question." Whether the answer is yes or no.
"Just that if there's any trouble during you talk with Trixie, please come to me." He doesn't think there will be, but there's always a chance and he does feel that he's here to be on Florian's side.
He considers for a moment. No, he's pretty sure that covers it all.
"Would you like to see my project? It's still in its early stages, but I think it's going well. I'm trying to recreate some spell arrays I saw when I was young."
Xie Lian gives him a bright smile, open and happy. He likes sharing with people who want to learn.
"It's a protection array. Actually, this will probably be useful for you to look over, because it's more, ah, straightforward than a lot of my magic..."
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Re: soon after Trixie's post
Mm. I generally prefer to talk in person, if you wouldn't mind. I'm working on something in my cabin, but I'm happy to meet elsewhere, too.
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"Please, come in. Ah, my apologies for the mess around the table..."
The shrine is far less broken down than it had been when Xie Lian took residence, though it's still simple. One room, with the privacy screen hiding his bed. He's moved the couple of chairs usually set up at his altar/table to the side, one now holding the bowl of fruit, incense and small knickknacks that are usually on the table as it's now covered with pieces of paper.
"Please, feel free to take a seat." He can free the second chair by putting stuff on the ground, so he can sit too.
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"Archer said you'd prefer that what happened with Henry not become a public matter?"
He doesn't doubt Archer, but that doesn't mean not double checking with Florian.
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"Personally, I think there are quite a few overlaps. For example, advocating more for your own inmate doesn't mean dismissing harm they've caused. Because I don't think that's helpful to the individual. But that doesn't mean it's necessarily straightforward. I assume you have a reason for your preference."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"A simple enough one: I am neither strong nor is my constitution particularly robust and my usual defenses are currently inactive due to the Admiral's restrictions. As someone who is small and physically vulnerable, my one means of defense relies primarily on surprise and trickery, if not preparation."
He turns one hand towards Xie Lian.
"Even fleeing an attack may rely on such a thing."
And folded back in again.
"I have hardly gone mad with what small abilities I have. My target was specific, I sought other means of conflict resolution beforehand and was dismissed, and my goal was only discomfort and displeasure, not true harm or death.
"A small revenge for all the work he has given me in my position at the library, the many times he chose to slaughter Johann before my eyes for no reason but his fit of pique at the Admiral, and the pain he caused me personally in the defense of my own life."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"You didn't have a warden yet, either."
He shrugs.
"Yeah, it seems unlikely that anyone would attack you over this, unless a person defines praise a certain way. But people who pay attention and remember that sort of thing would know."
He takes a moment to consider what he wants to say.
"I don't think there's anything 'wrong' with what you did, when it comes to Henry." It's not what he'd do, but his choices are his own and he doesn't see a reason to project them onto Florian. "Like you said, it was a specific revenge that didn't harm any innocents. If anyone was harmed, I'd say it was Archer. But I'm sure that he accepted responsibility for the fact that you could use what he's taught you to hurt someone before he made the offer. I can't speak for him. If he was one of the people you spoke to about conflict resolution, that's one thing. If he wasn't, that's the only part that I wouldn't say wasn't an entirely fair trade."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
A pause.
"It seemed appropriate."
A turn of his hand.
"And while I don't expect retribution for this action, it is still information that could be utilized against me at a later date: a fact I was aware of when I did it, but the idea that was told to me on the matter, that Herr Creel could not be revenged upon, that nothing done could bother him, bothered me on a rather personal level."
Something rather hard enters his eyes then, unhidden, but he'll leave it at that.
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Not that he's ever one to touch the inmate ledger.
"I believe it bothers a lot of people, even if they don't have your history layered on top of that." He doesn't think it would be fair to act as if he doesn't remember what Florian's told him about his history - or as if he hasn't considered how that could shape things.
"Have you spoken with Trixie?"
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"She has expressed discomfort with me, given my association with Johann and Johann's 'possessive' nature. As she is one of Dorian's previous inmates, she is concerned that he might turn violent, thus I thought it best to keep my distance. Herr Archer has insisted, however, that I assure Frau Kiryu that I have ceased my activities."
A pause.
"In truth, I would have done so within a day regardless. Given how little Herr Creel comes out in public, I couldn't properly gauge the effects and must err on the side of caution if I would not harm him."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"Yeah." He considers for a moment. "It matters that he hurt you, and you've proven that you can hurt him in turn. Does it matter if he's bothered more, hm, 'emotionally' or not?"
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"It matters that he harmed me and mine for no other reason but that he could and had the power to. And it does not matter that I can hurt him. It matters that it be proven no one is above paying for their harm, an opinion which he outright expressed to me before I ever took action."
He turns his hand.
"If he had offered to help clean up the library, to pick out a new suit for Johann, even to host tea and discuss it, I would have been satisfied. But no effort was offered, let alone made. So I took the matter of payment into my own hands."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"As I said: I would have stopped in a day. The fact that it got to other wardens, that his own warden was made aware at all, means he was affected. It also means he had to seek assistance from others."
He spreads both hands.
"I am more than satisfied."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"You could make a creative warden, if you'd like to get into fights with people."
He nods.
"I don't see that there's a need to say anything about this, publicly. If you hurt someone else, I wouldn't conceal that it's not the first time because I do have a responsibility to the ship. But I hope there will be people you can go to to help achieve a different sort of restitution before it gets to that point."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"Is there anything you'd care to have me do or work to perform for my actions?"
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"Just that if there's any trouble during you talk with Trixie, please come to me." He doesn't think there will be, but there's always a chance and he does feel that he's here to be on Florian's side.
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Re: soon after Trixie's post
He considers for a moment. No, he's pretty sure that covers it all.
"Would you like to see my project? It's still in its early stages, but I think it's going well. I'm trying to recreate some spell arrays I saw when I was young."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
He perks up immediately and his eyes shine.
"Yes, please."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
"It's a protection array. Actually, this will probably be useful for you to look over, because it's more, ah, straightforward than a lot of my magic..."
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Re: soon after Trixie's post
Re: soon after Trixie's post