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*A j'har boy will approach Warrik. He's maybe Talim's age, and the heartbreak on his face is clear. He goes right to Warrik and falls into the man's arms*

Warrik: *HUGS the boy, voice soft, though Quin will hear* I know, son. I'm sorry. *a few tears slip down his own cheeks*

Quin: ................... *backs away as far as he can get, from them, from everyone, just...presses to a far wall, arms folded and head bowed - he's so spent from everything and then the LONG ride, he's exhausted and sore and numb...and grieving, for them and himself...just wants to disappear*

Vashti: *steps up to him, voice soft* Come with me, Harlequin.

Quin: *can't quite keep from shying from her, legs going a bit weak at her words - they're also SCREAMING in pain from the ride, so he's walking carefully at best . . . b-but he just n-nods and moves to follow*

Vashti: *leads him to a room on the ground floor. There are a number of empty beds in here and she'll motion for him to go sit on one. There's also an elderly amin* Rashek...

Rashek: *turns* Vashti. Oh, hello. *noticing Quin*

Vashti: This is Harlequin. He has had a long hard day of riding, something he is not used to doing. A little something to ease his pain to help him sleep, please.

Rashek: Certainly. Just sit there a moment, lad, while I get something together.

Quin: ........*looks up at her briefly at that - /ease/ his pain?...figured she was going to get his flogging over with...drops his gaze again, sitting quietly*

Rashek: *turns back to Quin with some tea and a little something for him to chew for a few minutes.* This will ease your pain and help the muscles relax.

Quin: Thank you, sir. *will accept what's given to him*

Rashek: *pats his shoulder* There's a good lad. *he turns to Vashti* I heard that Rai died today...?

Vashti: *nods* A tragic accident.

Quin: It's...why I'm here, sir.

Rashek: *gives Vashti a frown...and pats Quin's arm* An accident. I believe that it was just an accident. I'm sorry you're so far from home.

Quin: *shrugs* It's the law. Forty lashes and a year in slavery, either to the owner of the slave that was killed or whoever bought me from the market if she didn't want me.

Rashek: *doesn’t say it, but glances at Vashti again...she had the option of letting him go without consequence too...* At least you will be home soon.

Vashti: Half a year...

((Character List:
Terris
Ziomi
Wes
Mitham
Naijah
Khepri
Zera
Talim
Jerrica
Jimn
Nyri
Jendayi
Ilmari
Raizen
Daithi
Patch
Quin
Tam
Rihn
Optimus
Horses: Rory and Toby
Fox – Squeak
Goat – Crackers

Family Acquaintances - Lyria, Darien, Soren, and Dycus
Lunnaei, Kalan, Darden, Aren, Mairi, Klatu, and a few unnamed others...
Vashti, Warrik, Tyli, Rashek))

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Quin: ......... *n-nods, that's...what everyone keeps saying...this is all still sinking in to begin with, he's not sure /what/ to believe or expect to /actually/ prove to be his new reality*

Vashti: *since Rashek is done* Come. I will show you where dinner is served. I want you to eat and then find Warrik, he will show you to a room. Thank you, Rashek.

Quin: *gives the old amin a small nod/bow* Thank you, sir. *as he's following the noblewoman (and why /is/ she the one showing him around like this? isn't this a servant's work?)* Ah . . . l-lashes . . . my lady? *doesn't /want/ to ask about that, doesn't want to seem to be asking /for/ that, but...can't hold it any longer, just wants to get it over with*

Vashti: *stops and turns to him* Did you intend for Rai to die? *doesn't wait for him to answer, because he has already when telling her what happened* No. It was an accident, out of your control, and you did what you could to save him. Had you intended him harm, then I would have had the police flog you and left you to the markets like a murderous piece of trash deserves. But you are not that, Harlequin. I have no intention of beating you for this, and the only reason I have taken you with me is because the work I had Rai doing is important and cannot wait, and I cannot afford to pull others from their crafts. I anticipate the work being completed in six months, I chose to take your assistance for eight, just in case. I /will/ see you back to your family, and unless you truly give me reason to, I do /not/ intend to beat you. And /if/ you should earn yourself such punishment, I will not cause you harm. Punishment should teach, not injure.

Quin: *about /melts/ with relief, bowing low* T-thank you, my lady. I don't intend to be any trouble. You have my word.

Vashti: I appreciate that. Now come, it is past dinner time; we both need to eat. *will continue on down the hall.*

Quin: Yes, milady. *falls into step at her flank*

*Vashti take him to the dining hall. It is past dinner, so it's only Vashti, Warrik, Tyli, and Quin eating, but the j'har boy is there as well as a panda amin. It may surprise Quin the Warrik waves then over and will scoot over to make a space for Vashti beside him. He'll them put an arm around her. Tyli makes a spot beside her for Quin.* Come eat, hon.
Vashti: *leans into Warik, and for a moment she's clearly fighting tears, a quiver of her chin bettaying her emotions before she gets hold of them again. She's seemed almost cold and unfeeling since Quin first saw her, it must say a lot that she really is emotional over a amin boy who was a slave. She's just not one to let others see weaknesses.*
Boy: You must be Harlequin. I'm Skif. *offers his hand.*

Quin: *will settle as invited, looking around at everyone - a noble who clearly cares for a slave, sitting as an equal at a slaves' table, a j'har daring to wrap an arm around her like a lover...he's not sure what to make of things* Ah...yes. Pleased to meet you. *accepts the boy's hand*

Skif: *gives him a smile.* I'm sorry you have to be so far from your family for now. I hope you find our home to be a good one until you can go back to yours.
Panda: *when Skif releases Quin's hand, she'll offer hers.* Zasha, pleasure to meet you, Halequin.

Quin: Thank you. *to Skif - takes Zasha's hand* Pleased to meet you too. I'm...I'm so sorry for your loss. For what it's worth, I don't think he suffered. He was unconscious when my companions and I got to him. It's...it's still tragic. *looks away*

Zasha: *soft, sad, but said with a little smile.* He'd be happy that it didn't happen to anyone else. Thank you, though, for doing what you could to help him.

Quin: ....*nods* One of my troupe members is a trained healer. Thankfully, he had his healer's bag on him. He...he tried...

Tyli: *will put an arm around Quin, ready to pull back if he seems he'd rather not be touched.*
Skif: *sniffles, but can't entirely stop the tears.* Thank you. I'm glad he wasn't alone, and that someone kind was trying to help him. It helps. A lot.

Quin: *stiffens a bit but doesn't pull away...nods* He wasn't alone. *staring at his plate, hasn't really touched it yet, not hungry...if anything, a little sick to his stomach*

Vashti: *softly* Have a little bread, Harlequin. *it'll give him something on his belly that isn't likely to upset it more.*

Quin: *flinches* Yes, milady. *picks up the bread and forces himself to eat it*

Tyli: *will just softly rub his back while she eats.*
Skif: *uncomfortable in the silence. After a bit he'll start to sing a song. He's not a great singer, but he's noy terrible either. He keeps choking now and then as emotions him him too.*
Zasha: *wonmt take but a line or two for her to join. She /is/ a good singer, and manages to sing through the grief better. The song is one about a traveler who's far from home and telling of fond memories of friends and family and that he knows he'll see them again in this life or the next where they can share these fond memories again some day. Skif felt it just...fit. It's actually a happy song without being too upbeat.*

Quin: *would join too if he knew the song, but he doesn’t so he just listens with a small, sad smile on his face, gaze locked on the plate before him without seeing it . . . should complement them but…can’t bring himself to speak . . . and then he too is singing, eyes closed. The song is of a minstrel who “loses” his voice, loses his confidence, after meeting a woman in a tavern with a voice so beautiful that it could only be divine (“Amadea”) . . . and he’s a good singer too, /great/ in fact, voice rising and falling in expert modulations to evoke the maximum emotion and reaction at just the right times. It’s a song of loss without anyone dying, and it lets him grieve his own way, tears streaming down his face by the time he’s done. He’s quiet a moment, but not long enough for anyone to speak up before he stands, bowing to everyone at the table without looking at anyone* Excuse me. *if not stopped, he’ll…leave…just to get somewhere to be alone*

Tyli: *starts to call him back, but Warrik interrupts.*
Warrik: Give him so space. He's had a really hard day.

Quin: *leaves the dining hall and stumbles down another hall, finding an empty room he can hide in for a little bit and just…/cry/…trying to keep it quiet so as not to attract attention but otherwise finally letting go of everything that's been pent up all day*

*He'll get to cry for a bit before a small amin child, some kind of cat type slips up to him with a soft "prrt". Once she has his attention she'll snug to his side if allowed.*

Quin: …………….. *has pretty much spent himself so he quiets easily…and wraps an arm around her as easily, sitting there for a moment before huffing a sigh* I guess I should go find the lady again. Or Warrik…

Child: Prew. *will move when he does to let him up and then tuck to his side again. If he hesitates at the door she'll lightly tug his shirt then point him left.*

Quin: *will follow her directions*

Child: *will lead him to a small lounge room, where Warrik and Skif are aitring snuggled together* Prrt. Prrew.
Warrik: *looks up, and smiles* I see Bixby found you. Think you can sleep?
Skif: *already asleep.*

Quin: *small frown* I’m sorry if I kept you up. *no, not sure he can, but doesn’t want to make more of a deal of things than he already has* I’m sorry about earlier.

Warrik: You've nothing to apologize for. I'm willing to bet you've had a harder day than the rest of us. *will gently wake Skif.* Time for bed, son.
Skif: *sharp intake of breath as he wakes.* Hm? Oh! Am I late?! *looks around* Huh?
Warrik: *chuckles* Still night, son. Time for bed.
Skif: *melts a bit* Oh good. *will drag himself to his feet, bleary eyed and ready to fall asleep again*
Warrik: Let me get him to bed, then I'll show you our room.

Quin: *…”our” room?...so he’s sharing…okay - nods* Yes, of course. *will settle uncomfortably on one of the lounge sofas*

Bixby: *will climb up into his lap.* Prrew.
Warrik: *will lead Skiff out.*

Quin: ………………. *does he treat her like a person or stroke her like a pet* Bixby? Is that what Warrik called you? Are you an amin? *since she’s not actually spoken…maybe she’s something else, like the opposite of an Inriomai, looks like a member of a speech-capable species but isn’t*

Bixby: *grins at him and nods.* Prrt!

Quin: …can you speak? You’re obviously not mute, not like Rihn…

Bixby: *headtilt, purrpurrpurr.*
Warrik: *stepping back in at that.* She is in a sense. She's never said a word, though as far as we can tell she's healthy, and clearly /able/ to produce sounds. She seems happy. I will give you warning now, though, she falls asleep in the strangest places and at the strangest times.

Quin: ………….. *small frown, looking down at her* That doesn’t sound healthy…

Warrik: I know, and I can't deny that it worries us often, but as far as we've been able to find, she's fine. It's thought there's something not working quite right in her brain. *little shrug.*

Quin: I see… *will stand to follow Warrik, gently shifting Bixby off his lap to do so*

Bixby: *will easily shift, then stand to follow.*
Warrik: *smiles* She seems to like you. She'll probably try to cuddle with you tonight. If you rather she didn't, let me know.

Quin: …………I don’t mind. *he’s grown used to having so /many/ around him…*

Warrik: *nods* If you change your mind, don't hesitate to say so. *leads Quin to his room. The room is nice, decent sized without being too big or too small. The two beds are nice, with a chest at the end of end of each, and a dog is curled up on one.* That bed is open. We'll get you changes of clothes and toiletries tomorrow.

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