westfallcorndog | Friendship, Hardship (Tagging Viatorus)

Days have passed since the last time he saw Viatorus, and when they'd parted it was on such unfortunate terms. He'd threatened violence against a family member, threatened violence against Viatorus's body. His meeting with Doctor Hill had been a difficult if enlightening experience. Confessing all of the things he'd done wrong, explaining out loud the way he'd mistreated his friend, coming to conclusions about himself, his own flaws... It was difficult, emotional work, but somehow he felt better for it all. More pure, more honest. But explaining himself to a psychologist and apologizing to his friend were two entirely different matters.

And Viatorus is his friend. Or so he hopes. He needs to know, but more importantly, he needs to try to set things right.

As impersonal as it feels, he starts with a text.

[Viatorus. I know you may not want to see a message from me but I want to talk to you about everything that happened. I want to say what is on my mind but most importantly I want you to have a chance to say what is on yours.]

[You are a man and you have the right as a man to say you do not want to meet me and I respect that. But if you do want to meet I will be on the steps of the downtown library with the gryphon statues outside all day. If you don't want to reply and don't show up I will understand what that means.]

And, just as he said, he's waiting on the steps of the library. Now and then he checks his phone, but otherwise he seems content to watch the crowds and feed the strange variety of birds with bits of bread he'd brought along.

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Harrowheart tries not to look too terribly relieved at what he hears. It's made marginally easier by how understanding and knowledgeable Viatorus is being.

"I don't know what to say, except... Thank you." Normally admitting something he's at a loss for words comes with an expression of guilt or hesitance, but on the contrary Harrowheart is smiling. He's lost his words in the best of ways, and every hint of regret that darkened his eyes is gone, leaving only honest relief and a touch of hopeful worry.

"Y'know? I feel like you got as many lessons for me as I got for you." He shakes his head, smiling at the thought "I'm relieved to hear you say everything you said, but I'm humbled, too. I will do better. I'll do good with the lessons I learn, Viatorus. I'll be good, and we'll help each other learn, and we'll have a good future together, you and me as pals."

Harrow rubs his hands together absently and shakes his head once more. With a forced little laugh he says, "Now I gotta figure out how to explain this all to Isidor. You said she doesn't want you near me, and I wanna respect her wishes 'cause she's your family and she loves you, but that means I gotta change her opinion. Again. Does she know you're here now? You think she'd be mad if she found out?"

Even with the events of their last meeting, Viatorus can't help but smile slightly when he sees Harrowheart brighten. It's an honest gratitude that he sees, one that Viatorus simply doesn't have the energy or inclination to be sceptical about.

"I hope so," he says quietly. "I would hate to be unable to return anything."

At the mention of Isidor, his brow knits again and he looks over to Lyall. The guard has been keeping a closer eye on Harrowheart than their surroundings, unlike last time. The reminder of his sister's opinion gets a small, worried exhale. "She's going to know, and she's going to be angry." Viatorus looks at Harrowheart again. "She was scared too. She could have handled Steve or the Necromancer, but... what you did scared her so much. She's furious. At you, at herself... I can try to talk to her, but I don't know if she'll listen."

Harrow looks to Lyall too, and though his first inclination is to frown at the way he's being watched, he keeps his wits about him and instead offers a smile, half-hearted and guilty though it may be. He waves, but otherwise remembers that Lyall's meant to be ignored, and so he quickly returns his attention to Viatortus.

"I ain't gonna make you talk to her and get on her bad side like that. For better or worse, I'll talk to her myself. If not, I could always take my own advice and write a letter, huh? I could write it up quick and give it to you before you go home tonight? Then meet her later and talk it out face to face."

He rubs at his chin then, feels the shape of his jaw, and as he thinks his eyes narrow. "Would it be underhanded to apologize in y'all's mansion? She'd have to... Y'know... Obey Xena? Xenia? Hospitality? She'd have to be gracious, right? But shoot, that seems so unfair... What do you think, man?"

"It would be easier to be in one of my apartments. Then, yes, she would have to obey xenia, as a guest if not a host." Viatorus goes quiet as he considers the options before them. "I would rather speak face to face with Isidor, always. You can see her emotion, you can see... her. With a letter... she might carefully tear you apart word by word. And you're harder to ignore in person. Harder to dismiss. And it's easier for you to apologise. Easier for her to see how genuine you are."

After another moment, he sighs and shrugs. "I can only give my opinion. You should do what you think is best."

Harrowheart rubs his chin and feels the shape of his jawline as he squints in thought at all he's been told.

"I'll talk to her face to face," he says determinedly. "I ain't afraid, even though I probably oughta be, and I think you and I both agree it's right. I'll apologize to her like I did to you. I'll be honest, and I won't fight with her, but I'll try and make her see things differently."

A few more seconds' thought and he asks, "Are there rules for keepin' with xenia when you make an apology?" He glances over his shoulder at the library behind them, then returns his attention to Viatorus. "You think maybe I should read up on it?"

"I'll help you however I can, but I don't think it will be easy," Viatorus warns gently.

"Xenia is about being a good host and a polite guest. The main rules are that a host should be courteous and provide their guest with food, drink and anything they need, within reason of course. A guest should not overburden their host and not be rude." He follows Harrowheart's gaze back to the library. "It's not necessary to research it, but... it might help. Old rules carry sway with old families."

Friendship, Hardship (Tagging Viatorus)

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Sounds like Harrowheart's having a Scrooge moment

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