Secrets of Redemption [Eitan]

[Tobias]

When Eitan had pushed the last book in, Tobias had written it down on his pad before he was startled for a moment. The bookcase, would lock itself into some kind of mechanism as a door opened in front of him. Eventually, Tobias stepped into the room which appeared to be some kind of armory collection. Name tags of the previous reconciliators on the variety of weapons, uniforms and other gear were presented like a museum. He stepped inside as he looked around in shock as he could not believe what he was seeing. He stood there and realised that there was another uniform, it appeared that this room belonged to Richard's father, a former reconciliator who had died for his country.

In the far corner beyond the emptiness, was the final resting place of Richard's Grandfather. Toby stepped up to the plaque and sighed "So, those weren't exactly bedtime stories he was telling me... It was the truth... Reginald Zorrothy was indeed a hero." He sighed as he looked at the other man. Tobias had missed the opportunity to look at the letter on his desk, which appeared to be addressed to Tobias. However, Tobias missed it completely as he looked around the room, staring and poking at various artifacts in there. Including the collection of Reginald's weapons. He sighed as he looked up at him for a moment "I've ruined a house that belonged to a great hero..." He said deadpan. He sighed as he sat down to take it all in "Why... What have I done, what is this. No... No, it can't be..." Tobias' anxiety and guilt rose up as he started to realise how serious the matter is. He had to get back the name of that once prestigious family that had fallen from grace.

"I'm an idiot..."

[Eitan Angevin]

Eitan stared as the bookcase revealed a doorway into who knew what. He grinned and then followed Tobias down the revealed room, looking around at the antique collection. The belongings of various Zorrothy Reconciliators were housed herein, and he had to wonder why they weren't on display in a more public room like any normal family would have a trophy room. Certainly, there were Angevin battle flags aplenty in his father's house. Different strokes for different folks, he supposed. But it almost felt like a cloister in here, all the more so when they found the remains of a Reginald Zorrothy, the dates of whose life would have made him Tobias' grandfather, perhaps.

When Toby sank to the ground, he looked down at him. The Aspirant was so theatrical sometimes, but he supposed the feelings were real and he just expressed them in a big way. Again, he supposed it was better that he was comfortable expressing them at all in front of Eitan. At least he didn't have to wonder what the man was thinking and feeling.

It was a shame that Richard Zorrothy had been put in such a bad place, and Tobias seemed to have been foolish but not seditious in his youth. Eitan understood the desire to be a hero; it was better than being a baseborn bastard any day, even if heroes died young. If it served the High City, he would burn brightly and burn out quickly.

His hand fell to rest atop Tobias' head, petting his hair. Perhaps it was the sudden height differential that made it seem appropriate.

"We are all idiots from time to time, Toby. What matters is how we rectify our mistakes. You solved the puzzle. Your investigation was a success. Your reward is knowing what you're fighting for, hey?"

[Tobias]

Tobias nodded at Eitan, the comforting ruffle of his hair he leant into only slightly, although he seemed a bit disheartened, perhaps because of the responsibility that now lied on his shoulders. He smiled fakely as he looked over at the Watcher for a moment, before standing up; he moved closer to him, before nodding at him "Well, I guess." He said with a hint of sorrow as he rubbed his bicep. He glanced to the side of the room and saw the note left on the table.

The silver haired male seemed to have taken a interest in it as he opened it out. It appeared to be a letter from his father before he had left for prison, dated on the 40th of Ash. Tobias began to read it out loud.

"Dear, Toby. I was hoping that you'd find this room; a cloister for my family. It was originally sealed off after the Graveplague struck, although it was returned to normal. One day, you'll understand the potential you have, Tobias. You are in grave danger still, and I could only protect you as much as I could. I'm afraid to say you are on you're own now. My life depends on you. Please don't do anything stupid and don't be a coward. Be strong..." He flashbacked to the moment of when he went to the cliffsides in fear that he was already done for. The trauma he had faced was still in the back of his mind, yet it would appear. He turned around for a moment as he looked at Eitan once more "Eitan... Can we talk? Theres something I need to get off of my mind." He said with a slight smile.

"Come, we'll go into the living room..." He said with a sigh "Henrietta! Could you fetch us some wine and other refreshments please!"He asked as the maid peered around the corner "Yes! Master Toby!"

[Eitan Angevin]

Eitan noticed how Tobias reacted to the simple touch; he must not have had much in the way of affection for some time, and his trauma did seem to be rooted in touch. Perhaps that was something else he could help his Aspirant with. Normalizing safety in actions attached to past trauma could help one move past it, reclaiming the good while dealing with the fallout of the bad. At least, that was what he had found. He was becoming quite aware that he couldn't fix anyone, he could only support them in fixing themselves. That could be an alarming realization, as he would have to be the one to fix himself as well.

Listening to the letter, he noted how some of Tobias' abruptness in communication might have been learned from Richard, who was more circumspect and urbane in person. Perhaps this was who he was when the masks were off.

"Of course," he said, and followed him toward the living room and refreshments. He wondered idly if Richard had trained Henrietta in spycraft; servants were often uniquely positioned to see and hear things, and certainly, if he was attempting to surveil Tobias, he would have looked to the woman as a possible informant, though she seemed quite loyal—as much as he could tell with so little experience of her.

He sat himself upon a loveseat, arm draped along the back and an ankle caught upon his knee. If Tobias sat with him, that would be fine, though he wasn't going to force any sort of physical intimacy on him. He wanted to help the man, not manipulate him. Sometimes that was a fine line, but Eitan saw it with regard to Tobias, anyway.

"I am, as they say, all ears." He smirked a little, mostly at himself. He wondered how his life would have turned out if his ears had remained pointed.

[Tobias]

Tobias eventually joined Eitan on the loveseat and sighed, knowing it was a interestingly sensitive matter for him to tell, he would figure he'd leave the other details for later on "Y'know... It reminded me of that day I was gonna jump" He remained quite for a moment as he wanted to process that for a moment as he let his thoughts wonder for a moment "Only, I didn't. I kept living, even though life is hard; At times I wished I would've jumped off that cliff, but then..." He made brief eye contact with Eitan for a moment before he sighed "What I wanna say Eitan is that, you're like the brother I never had. If I had took my own life, I wouldn't have met such an amazing mentor. I know I'm troubled, I know I've made mistakes that are unforgivable to the state, but practically without you, where would I be." He reminisced on the previous training sessions they had; the opportunities of bonding they have had together.

If so, it was both a developmental thing for the two reconciliators. Henrietta eventually brought in the wine fully uncorked along with two wine classes as she set them at the side table to the right of Tobias. Tobias smiled at Henrietta as he nodded "You're services are no longer required this evening" He smiled as he nodded "Have a good rest, Henrietta" He smiled as he gave her a friendly nod before she looked back at him "Are you sure, Master Toby?" She asked curiously as she was always unsure about Tobias, especially being left on his own without the true master of the house to contend with "Yes, of course. Feel free to take the night off." Henrietta smiled and nodded nervously "Thank you." She said as she left to get her belongings.

Tobias turned his attention to Eitan the moment Henrietta had left before he sighed "Forgive her, she's always been overprotective at times. It's endearing though, she just overworks herself sometimes." He grabs the bottle from the table at the side as he pours Eitan and himself a glass and hands him his glass "Anyway, it seems I lost my train of thought" He said with a chuckle.

[Eitan Angevin]

Eitan frowned at the mention of a close encounter with a cliff, but kept silent as Tobias was clearly struggling to open up and he didn't want to shut him down. Then there was wine and the quiet struggle between the man and the help, but eventually, she relented and left them to their own devices and the full bottle of wine.

"Thank you," he said for the wine, served by the master of the house's own hand, even if he was feeling less than masterful when it ought to have been Richard Zorrothy. Eitan could understand that. His arm was still draped along the back of the loveseat, so he carefully let his hand rest on Tobias' shoulder, giving it a squeeze and leaving it there. Sometimes a little human warmth was all the comfort someone needed.

"You were telling me how you bravely confronted your demons on a cliff and chose to keep fighting, and then I believe you were going to flatter me more." He took a sip of his wine to hide a smile, but it didn't disappear. "I apologize. I don't mean to make light of it all. I am glad we are developing a rapport, glad you have chosen the more difficult road. Family can be fraught, but often we find people along the way who make the road easier to travel. If I make yours easier, then that is all to the good. I look forward to seeing you step into your own, save your father, and go on to make your Zorrothy ancestors proud."

He raised his glass to toast Tobias.

"May it be so."

[Tobias]

He clinked his glass as he looked over at the other male "Here, I thought you were gonna be one of those, uptight, stiff upper lipped tight pants, up-their-own-ass, think-they-know-it-all politicians like Jophis was when he reprimanded me. Turned out, I was wrong; although I understand why the state is like that." He said with a sigh as he sighed "Maybe one day I'd have a story of how I fell from grace and gained my honor back." He made eye contact as he seemed earnest, meaningful as he held his wine as he was glad he was building a relationship with Eitan. It was something he needed, a strong mentor who would help him on that road to greatness.

However, there was a tender moment between the mentor and the mentee; it was obvious Tobias was shy about it. He had moments where he did think about the moments where they battled through everything together "Eitan... I..." He paused for a moment as he sighed through his nose, there was obviously something he wanted to share, but it appeared to stop him "I think, I need to share this with the person I trust the most, but... Theres one thing I need you to promise, don't share it with anyone else ok? Not even my father. If he found out about this, he would die inside..." He paused yet again as he wondered if Eitan would think bad of him for the events of his past. He knew the escape from the coven was the difficult part. He had to face it, if he was going to build a relationship with his mentor, then he would need to be as open as possible, even if it was difficult.

"I can tell you anything and it'll be between us right?"

[Eitan Angevin]

"What makes you think I don't know it all?" he asked archly, but quickly grinned. He didn't think it wise for Tobias to get into the habit of badmouthing Jophis, but at least they were in the privacy of his own home while he was doing it. His head canted to the side and he lazily swirled the wine around in his glass as Tobias became more serious, though.

Eitan listened.

"There are caveats, of course," he said slowly. "If you are about to admit to me that you are engaging in illegal activity, I will have to report you. But if you are sharing personal things, then, of course, I will keep them to myself." He could be Tobias' confidant, but the man had to know that there were limits to that, that he could put Eitan in precarious situations where keeping things a secret would be harmful to other people. But if he admitted something like that, Eitan would just try to persuade him to bring the information to the attention of the correct people.

It did seem like these were more personal things that he wanted to get off his chest, however. Eitan just didn't like making promises he couldn't keep, so he was up front about the limits to what he could do. Hopefully, Tobias would incorporate that into his way of thinking as well. There were many things Eitan hoped to teach him, some by rote and some by example.

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and swiveled his wine glass between his palms.

"What is it, Toby?" he asked gently. "Something's torturing you. Let me help." In that, he was in earnest.

[Tobias]

Tobias looked over at Eitan for a moment as he seemed nervous in telling him before downing his wine and settling the glass on the stand for a moment. It was clear he needed it to calm the nerves. However Tobias didn't know if he was putting his trust on the line or if he would be betrayed. So far, Eitan was trustworthy and loyal and wouldn't give away something personal. In regards for his own mental health it was best he looked at Eitan for advice. He sighed through his nose as he looked deeply into his eyes "Its not illegal, but if it got out... it could ruin my reputation. I mean like socially, I know what it's like in Zaichaer, people are very judgemental and it's scary"

"I wanted away from the coven, they forced me to do certain things, when I defied them once they would..." He paused for a moment as he leant into Eitan for a moment as if asking for comfort. Right now, he needed it. He was at his most vulnerable and that was ok. He was with someone he had complete trust in "Well they would brainwash me into their way of thinking" He said with a sigh. A tear rolled down his cheek as he looked up at Eitan "Then things, got darker, even more disgusting... They wanted me dead, but they... they took advantage of me and..." The information was too much for Tobias to handle. He stopped speaking for a moment as if in shock.

"They treated me like a common whore locked away that's what they did" He said as he clenched his fist "That's all I was to them, but... I escaped, but it wasn't clean. Am I a bad person for killing out of desperation, Eitan? Would you look down on me if I told you I murdered them, just to get away?" He said with a sigh.

"I get it sometimes, you have to but taking lives, I did not ask for that, yet it was the only solution.

He thought for a moment as Tobias looked up at Eitan for a moment "You don't think I'm a bad person do you?"

[Eitan Angevin]

Eitan's eyes were patient while Tobias drank, while he hemmed and hawed. His eyes were bright with interest when he began to tell his tale, then grew dark by the end. They weren't judgmental; at least, they weren't judging Tobias. If anything, they were black with anger and determination. There wasn't even pity in his gaze, though perhaps some compassion.

"No, Toby, I don't think you are a bad person. They took advantage of you with their witchcraft and their bodies, but you were their prisoner. They wanted to recruit you and when they couldn't break you, you broke them. They ought to have stood trial, but you were acting out of self-defense. They deserved justice before their deaths, but justice isn't always served perfectly, even in the High City."

He paused, trying not to grind his teeth though his jaw worked under his skin.

"We will investigate this Madame Alvare and we will give her justice. You and me. All right?"

Eitan transferred his glass to his left hand and offered Tobias his right. He wasn't an expert in people's feelings, but he could imagine not wanting too much human touch while reliving rape. All the same, he thought it was important to offer him something—a hand, a small touch so Tobias would know viscerally as well as intellectually that what had happened and what he had done didn't make him untouchable in Eitan's eyes.

"Thank you for sharing this with me. I know it must be difficult."