Alric stared after Tiamaris as he abruptly turned away, climbed in his closet, and shut the door--and for a long several seconds afterward.
He'd really thought, for a little while, that he might actually be getting through to the fellow--he's listened quietly, at least, rather than openly scoffing or with the mockery of attentiveness he'd have reasonably expected from his brother. That had seemed luck such a good sign. But perhaps the subject had struck a little too close to home: Alric knew very well the kind of harm unreasoning rejection and resentment could cause, especially to a child, and he had far more anger than forgiveness for those who exhibited such behavior.
The sort of person who turns that resentment on children--on his own child--that was Alric's definition of a monster, not whatever Tiamaris had internalized, and to see such a victim so intent on accepting his tormentor's accusations...
It shouldn't have been a surprise, perhaps. Whenever he let his guard down, got emotionally invested, sloppy-... a leader of men, indeed. His brother would surely be gleeful, seeing this mess, for a dozen reasons.
Alric paced a moment longer to collect himself before cautiously approaching the closet. He didn't knock, but rather, cleared his throat, to draw Tiamaris' attention with the least jarring sound he could.
"...I apologize for speaking so....... fervently. It is not my place to... tell you how to feel about your family. I can only say that.. it seems to me that you have been done a great, lasting injustice... and it is perhaps a character flaw that I cannot simply turn away from that. ......however. ...as I seem to be doing more.. harm than good, here, I will go, if you wish."
no subject
He'd really thought, for a little while, that he might actually be getting through to the fellow--he's listened quietly, at least, rather than openly scoffing or with the mockery of attentiveness he'd have reasonably expected from his brother. That had seemed luck such a good sign. But perhaps the subject had struck a little too close to home: Alric knew very well the kind of harm unreasoning rejection and resentment could cause, especially to a child, and he had far more anger than forgiveness for those who exhibited such behavior.
The sort of person who turns that resentment on children--on his own child--that was Alric's definition of a monster, not whatever Tiamaris had internalized, and to see such a victim so intent on accepting his tormentor's accusations...
It shouldn't have been a surprise, perhaps. Whenever he let his guard down, got emotionally invested, sloppy-... a leader of men, indeed. His brother would surely be gleeful, seeing this mess, for a dozen reasons.
Alric paced a moment longer to collect himself before cautiously approaching the closet. He didn't knock, but rather, cleared his throat, to draw Tiamaris' attention with the least jarring sound he could.
"...I apologize for speaking so....... fervently. It is not my place to... tell you how to feel about your family. I can only say that.. it seems to me that you have been done a great, lasting injustice... and it is perhaps a character flaw that I cannot simply turn away from that. ......however. ...as I seem to be doing more.. harm than good, here, I will go, if you wish."