Too Much (Open)

[David B.]

David brought both brows up.

"I just want to know more about him. He's strong, and capable. Driven. But he's controlled by this idea instilled from birth that he's nothing but a weapon, meant to serve his people and destroy his enemies. For someone so young, that's quite the weight to carry on your shoulders. What happened, when he left?"

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey's eyes narrowed as David continued to explain his thoughts. They sounded too much like the worries she had for him.

"He went home to talk to his people. Beyond that, it's not my place to say." She did not like this. Not. One. Bit.

[David B.]

He tilted his head to the side a little.

"Not your place....but it is."

He let out a breath, scratching his head.

"You see, I'd like to save him."

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey tilted her head to the side, the gesture mirroring his without meaning to.

"Is it?" Then he mentioned saving Blake. She wanted to believe him, could feel that flutter of hope in her chest. A way to help him, to deter him from the path of wanton destruction. Because her partner did see himself as a weapon, had told her more than once in his eloquent metaphors. An arrow that destroys the target their master aims at. But now, there was no master. Blake would be his own master. So what happened when an arrow was drawn with no real aim of direction?

"I really would like to believe you mean that, Mr. Blaze."

[David B.]

He would offer a small shrug.

"I'm sure you would. After what just happened though, I know you have no reason to."

He'd think for a moment.

"We as supervisors push you all day to day, testing you against one another and helping you to strive to be more. If you worry you can't rely on me, then take matters into your own hands. Test me as we have tested you. I am willing to prove that, if there is anyone in the building in a position of power that you can lean on and trust, it is me."

He'd keep his eyes focused on her.

[Bailey Oleander]

She kept the gaze with her own, silence passing for several seconds after David's explanation. Finally, Bailey offered a single nod.

"What did you have in mind?" Truth be told, she already had plans of her own, but if she could actually trust someone here...she hoped she could. Though she was vaguely reminded of her mother's saying of "Never trust a guy that says 'trust me.'"

[David B.]

"That depends on what happened. Based on that information....I'd ask what you feel would be an appropriate way to approach him. You know him better, and have likely been thinking about it more than myself."

He'd lean back in his chair again, settling in as nurses opened the door and bought in platters with some food. Sandwiches, apple slices, carrots and celery.

Once they left, David would continue to watch her, waiting.

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey weighed her options, remaining silent as the nurses brought in food trays. She thanked them with a small smile and waited until they left before turning her attention back to David. She'd seen one of them before, the last time she'd come to visit Arianna.

"He was unable to stay. We disagreed on what to do from there and parted ways when I was unable to convince him to come back. He's a very focused person." To put it mildly. She rubbed her temples at the memory, fighting the twist of her lips as she thought of how they parted ways. She coudln't let watch him self destruct, so she'd turned away.

"I have an idea that may work to let me speak with him and see how he is doing, but that is my doing, not Cabal's. I made a promise to him that I intend to keep." She dropped her hands in her lap, looking at him again. The bark-like glove and gem could be seen now as a glove on her hand since it was no longer hidden by the blanket.

"What do you mean by 'saving him'? Cuffing him, like you are? You and I both know he'd hate it." You didn't have to know Blake well to figure that out. And that he would refuse.

[David B.]

He'd chew his lip.

"That's not...I'm not saved. I'm restrained. I mean to rescue him from the lie of his life. That he's nothing if not a sword, or an arrow. Life is so much more nuanced....and I'd like to find a way to show him that. I have no intention to collar him, or kill him, if that is what you're driving at. Blake is a son of his tribe. But I consider him one of us, and I want to protect him as I would any of you."

He'd furrow his brow a little.

"You say it's your deal, not Cabals. But...why can those not be one in the same?"

[Bailey Oleander]

She paused again, worrying at her bottom lip as she tried to collect her thoughts. To explain that nuance that made a world of difference to both members of Squad One.

"You have to know he hates us, right? All of us, even me. Just because of what we are. Which means he probably hates himself, too, but this place? This is a place full of qi users. People he has seen as monsters. I've tried to speak to him, to let him know we are more than just our powers, just as he can be more than just an arrow, but he doesn't take much stock in words, and I didn't know at the time what action to take. Even this could end in failure because of my actions and choice to come back." She reached up and brushed some of the hair from her eyes, momentarily hiding her face.

"It is mine and not Cabal's because it is an offer I made from my people and our resources to his, nothing at all to do with Cabal other than we met each other here. An offer to help his people if possible, and to find resources for their territory and the ones they war with. But I can't do that from here. I need to collect people - not qi users if at all possible. So whatever else Cabal may decide to do may need to come from someone else, or be an offer on the back burner. A 'break in case of emergency' type of thing.

"We may have the same goal, but the methods are different."

[David B.]

He let out a hum.

"Maybe he needs to be shown that, rather than told."

He watched her silently for a moment.

"And what are our methods, exactly?"

[Bailey Oleander]

"Exactly." He understood. Good. Of course, then he had to ask what she thought Cabal's methods were, as if they hadn't just talked about how far it could go.

"I don't know, you tell me. Given what I've told you, what would you consider doing?"

[David B.]

He responded promptly.

"I'd consider putting you on administrative leave, so you could go to him and help him in all ways you deem appropriate without clear directions from me. To try and guide him down other paths of thought. To help make him more than he is."

He'd offer another small shrug.

[Bailey Oleander]

It was much simpler than she expected, and with far fewer restraints. After a moment, she nodded.

"Then I will." They weren't demanding she drag him back, just asking her to do what she was already hoping to. The difference is now she would have administrative leave, approval rather than requesting an indefinite amount of personal time.

"I assume you'll want me to report in somehow?"

[David B.]

He thought a moment, then shook his head.

"No, I don't think I do."

He'd stand, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Rather than try to make him believe that you were suspended, or put on leave, I think I'd rather actually do it. You'll be welcome back any time, of course, if you need help. But the only orders I have for you is to try your best to change him. He doesn't have to come back here. But he can't burn the world for not believing as he does."

He'd start for the door, but stop and turn back.

"I should warn you...Blake believes he is strong, and rightly so. But if he does consider Cabal, 259, and other territories a threat and decides to act on that, I won't be able to stop our response. I know that...puts you in a difficult position, and may someday force you to choose. But whatever happens, know that I will always try to choose the path that leads to his survival, but not over 259's or the innocent Qi users he and his people seem to hate."

He searched her eyes.

"Good lucky, Bailey."