with everything going on, she didn't really have the chance to check up on him before the trial. and after it, many of them were so worn-down as to just... turn in for the night. now the execution is over, and ion's had a glimpse of what someone in the castle tried to sentence him to.
it's worrying enough that reyna feels the need to track him down and check up on him.]
Reyna may have to reevaluate her impression of Ion. She never thought badly of him - but he had seemed a little, well... weak. In the sink-or-swim world of Camp Jupiter, he probably would have sunk.
But that sort of quiet strength - the resolve not to dwell on it, to forgive in spite of the fright - is a rare quality.]
Well... you were the one most directly affected by it, so I suppose the rest of us ought not to dwell on it as well.
[This is bound to be an awkward conversation, but it's one they need to have nonetheless. After the trial comes to its conclusion, Reyna searches for Ion.
[She'll find him alone in his dorm, where his partner can no longer step foot into. It's going to be a long and lonely night. Still, he turns and smiles at the sound of her voice.]
How is he still able to smile? Reyna wishes she had even a fraction of the empathy he has for other people - maybe it would make figuring out how to help them easier.]
You don't... need to ask me that. [...] I owe you an apology.
[He remembers. And he still doesn't necessarily feel as if he need an apology, but it would be an insult to her to brush her off.]
I accept your apology.
[He smiles just slightly.]
I think most of the others would have been willing to overlook my preferences on the matter, in the end, anyway. So I'm glad they decided to listen to Sandalphon. Even if I die tomorrow I'm...
["I'm happy" is what he'd usually say. But how can he say that after what just happened? He turns around again, not trusting his own coping mechanisms not to fail him.]
...if we'd killed another person today, I couldn't have gone on.
[He would have blamed himself. It would have torn him apart.]
And I think if we fall victim to mob mentality, we'll truly have lost. As long as we can continue to listen to and believe in one another, there's still hope.
[He knows that saying this so cavalier is startling to people. That most don't, can't, understand, Ion's seemingly endless selflessness. His lack of survival instinct. It's all so complicated.]
Once we start, where will it end? Vengeance may very well beget nothing but more vengeance. The killings could escalate from there, week by week, until there's nothing left. In the end, this may happen no matter what we do to prevent it, but I think it's important to hold onto what peace we can for as long as we're able.
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toughchoices) wrote2018-06-02 01:57 am
prologue - sunday afternoon;
with everything going on, she didn't really have the chance to check up on him before the trial. and after it, many of them were so worn-down as to just... turn in for the night. now the execution is over, and ion's had a glimpse of what someone in the castle tried to sentence him to.
it's worrying enough that reyna feels the need to track him down and check up on him.]
Ion?
no subject
Oh, hello. How are you doing?
no subject
[as all right as anyone can be, which is probably a common sentiment this weekend]
What about you? You're the one that received a vote, aren't you?
no subject
[His smile becomes pained.]
It's a little frightening to think about...but there's no point in dwelling on it when no harm was meant. That's how I feel about it.
no subject
Reyna may have to reevaluate her impression of Ion. She never thought badly of him - but he had seemed a little, well... weak. In the sink-or-swim world of Camp Jupiter, he probably would have sunk.
But that sort of quiet strength - the resolve not to dwell on it, to forgive in spite of the fright - is a rare quality.]
Well... you were the one most directly affected by it, so I suppose the rest of us ought not to dwell on it as well.
no subject
[He leans his staff against his shoulder.]
It was a serious action that shouldn't be taken lightly, but just as serious was the choice everyone else made to vote for Lady Evans.
[Ion gets a bit of a far-away look as he keeps smiling, his eyes soft.]
We're all stuck in the same situation. Guilt or innocence, a life is a life.
chapter two - saturday;
Eventually she finds him, I assume.]
...Ion?
no subject
Hello, Lady Reyna. How are you feeling?
no subject
How is he still able to smile? Reyna wishes she had even a fraction of the empathy he has for other people - maybe it would make figuring out how to help them easier.]
You don't... need to ask me that. [...] I owe you an apology.
no subject
[He honestly can't see why she would. But...that's Ion for you.]
You haven't done anything wrong.
no subject
Yes, I did. It's as my partner said - I went ahead with making those suggestions, which could have affected your life, without consulting you first.
[...]
So. I'm sorry.
no subject
[He remembers. And he still doesn't necessarily feel as if he need an apology, but it would be an insult to her to brush her off.]
I accept your apology.
[He smiles just slightly.]
I think most of the others would have been willing to overlook my preferences on the matter, in the end, anyway. So I'm glad they decided to listen to Sandalphon. Even if I die tomorrow I'm...
["I'm happy" is what he'd usually say. But how can he say that after what just happened? He turns around again, not trusting his own coping mechanisms not to fail him.]
Relieved.
[It's a safer word. Less of a lie.]
no subject
[she doesn't see what he has to be relieved about]
...relieved? Why is that?
no subject
[He would have blamed himself. It would have torn him apart.]
And I think if we fall victim to mob mentality, we'll truly have lost. As long as we can continue to listen to and believe in one another, there's still hope.
no subject
[gods of rome, is this boy actually a saint or what???]
Fitzgerald was culpable in Natsuo's death, as well. But potentially losing your own life... that's really preferable to you?
no subject
[He knows that saying this so cavalier is startling to people. That most don't, can't, understand, Ion's seemingly endless selflessness. His lack of survival instinct. It's all so complicated.]
Once we start, where will it end? Vengeance may very well beget nothing but more vengeance. The killings could escalate from there, week by week, until there's nothing left. In the end, this may happen no matter what we do to prevent it, but I think it's important to hold onto what peace we can for as long as we're able.