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[major_rawne]

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[magician_king]

"Well, for one thing, Norton isn't dead?"

He may notice.

[major_rawne]

"Right. Does that mean revenge isn't as helpful?"

[magician_king]

"It means it's now doubly as unhelpful. She was confused when she got here because she'd come from a place where she was being attacked by reality warpers. She lashed out, then figured out where she was, then stopped. Now because you guys have decided to take vengeance on an honest mistake that was previously over, it's not over any more. She goes for Pagan, you go for her again, she comes for you- your endgame is what?"

[major_rawne]

He shrugs, uneasy. "It was to warn her away, as well as retaliation, but I don't think there's a point in trying again."

[magician_king]

As opposed to what a killer plan it was to begin with?

He bites hard on his tongue and doesn't say it.

"So what was the plan?"

[major_rawne]

"Pagan was supposed to lure her to someone's cabin and then we'd kill her there. I guess she was jumpier than we thought." Maybe she expected retaliation?

[magician_king]

"Just two on one, gang up on a woman and murder her out of nowhere?"

His tone is shifting rapidly away from worried on Rawne's behalf.

[major_rawne]

"Uh." He's picking up on the tone shift. "Yeah."

[magician_king]

"Jesus, Rawne. I get being upset on Norton's behalf, but seriously, long term, how did you think that was gonna go over?"

[major_rawne]

He ducks his head. "I, uh, didn't."

He hadn't been thinknig long term at all. He just knew Norton's death had to be avenged. And the only person to try and talk him down had been Larry.

[magician_king]

"I'm extremely glad you don't have her blood on your hands,"

Breathing out, leaning back.

"And I'm not totally sure what to do next, either."

[major_rawne]

He should punish you, a little voice says in the back of his head, you've been bad.

"Shouldn't there be, you know, consequences?"

[magician_king]

"Yes."

He says, breathing out, straightening up.

"I don't know what to do to convince you not to keep these secrets and act this impulsively. And I do want to point out that this has happened twice this month. What else are you not telling me?"

[major_rawne]

He thinks things over, carefully. "I think I'm doing this because I have no idea how my emotions work. I've just been... I think things are fine, and the something happens and I just react. No thinking."

[magician_king]

"Did you get as far as getting involved in the violence today? If you attacked her, I owe it to Quill to ask her opinion on what comes next."

He still doesn't have a clear picture of the blow by blow of the afternoon.

[major_rawne]

He shakes his head. "No, I hung back. Pagan had shot her before I could do anything."

[magician_king]

"Okay."

He gets up, realizing he's forgotten the coffee, and moving to go get it, to pour them both cups.

"Then for now, I'm not throwing you in zero. But I do have people whose input I need before I decide unilaterally what comes next. And I would be interested in hearing your feelings on it- if there's anything you think would be fair."

[major_rawne]

Beat me, kill me, put me in chains, make me clean the Barge with a sponge. But he shoves that aside. Not useful.

"I deserve something. Maybe... help Quill? Help her adjust so she's not freaked out?" It's the opposite of what he meant to do, maybe that's a good thing?

[magician_king]

"If she agrees, which she might very well not. As far as she's concerned, you just tried to kill her."

Setting their cups down on the table, sinking into a seat.

"Does Pagan have a job?"

[major_rawne]

She probably hates you. She should.

"He's in custodial, still. I don't think he actually does much work."

[magician_king]

"Then I think it would be a good idea to start by covering for him while he's recovering, don't you?"

Stirring milk into his coffee.

"Arthur could use the support.

[major_rawne]

"Ok." Extra work, as arduous as it is, seems right.

[magician_king]

"Ok. I'm going to let you let Pagan know you're covering him for the week. I'll talk to Arthur, and find out when we should report. I'll join you for some of it- my magical projects providing."

Cradling his coffee cup.

"I'll talk to Quill. When Pagan is back on his feet be ready to lend a day or two to the infirmary, if they need. I don't think today will put too big a strain on their resources but we can lend a hand if they need. Does that all scan?"

[major_rawne]

"Yeah. I'll tell Pagan." He nods and finally reaches for the coffee and takes a drink.

[magician_king]

"Okay. We'll call it- two weeks on doubles- make it three days a week, the Monday, Wednesday, Friday. And at the end of that we'll see if Quill wants to sit down and talk. If she does, we can approach that together, and if she doesn't, we can see where we are."

Searching Rawne's expression.

"You don't make it easy to know what to do, Rawne."