I10 - After the Debriefing

[Nailah Weaver]

After the meeting is over Nailah waits at the door for people to shuffle out of the room, specifically waiting for Roland, joining him as he passes her.

"<I can't say I've heard too many people speak this language.>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"And you won't, really.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<That seems a given. With some notable exceptions.>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"Not particularly,"> he said, continuing towards his office.

[Nailah Weaver]

"<Well, certainly less now. You two seemed to be... familiar with each other.>"

[Roland Sackville]

Roland sighed. <"Yes.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<What happened?>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"Something that should have been dead and buried thousands of years ago, but here we are.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<If you wish not to talk about it I understand. But most people don't react the way you did after striking someone down. I thought there might be something to let out that you didn't exactly want everyone to see...>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"What would you have me do?"> he said, exasperated. <"Nothing ever ends--he'll be back in a few decades, and we'll go through this same dance all over again. Doesn't even bother to mention anything anymore.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<Then what's the point of striking him down? How much revenge is enough?>" she takes a rough guess.

[Roland Sackville]

<"NO amount of revenge is enough. NONE. Not until he lies in his grave.">

[Nailah Weaver]

That sentiment Nailah can certainly understand. She's still struggling whether she condones this (towards herself more than anything) but it sounds oh so familiar. "<How often...?>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"Often enough.">

[Nailah Weaver]

She nods. "<What did he do to deserve this ire?>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"...

He was the ruler, in Egypt, a long time ago.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<I do believe that much is general knowledge.>" she jokes weakly.

[Roland Sackville]

<"I was but a boy then...just a boy...">

[Nailah Weaver]

She knows that tone only too well. Part of her admired him for admitting to it that freely, but then again he is thousands of years older than her and she's probably not the first person he's telling it to. "<I am sorry...>" is all she can muster, swallowing hard.

[Roland Sackville]

<"Do you know what it's like? To wait there, day after day, year after year, hoping the footsteps just continued on to the next room...and they never did. They never did.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<I know the desperation and helplesness and the...>" she breaks off as her voice threatens to fail.

"<Let's just say I do.>"

[Roland Sackville]

Roland straightened up, and nodded, once.

<"Anyway, yeah.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<I am sorry I brought it up. I didn't know...>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"Very few people do.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<I'd imagine. Thanks for your trust.>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"Mmm,"> Roland nodded, sighing. <"A long time ago.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<I suppose time doesn't heal all wounds afterall.>"

[Roland Sackville]

Roland looked down at his bandaged leg.

<"Some more than others.">

[Nailah Weaver]

She nods. "<I'd love to say something profound about it being time to let it go but I know it'd be bullshit.>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"Good.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<Want to grab something to drink? At least that seems to be my preferred method to dealing with this kind of stuff lately, regardless of how potentially unhealthy that may become...>"

[Roland Sackville]

<"...no, I'd better catch up on...some paperwork.">

[Nailah Weaver]

"<Fair enough. Take care, Roland.>"