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Aegir wasn't really cut out for the 'torturing' gig. He'd agreed to helping mostly because he knew the information they might get could be invaluable...and because he hoped that they might convince some of the captives to swap sides. He'd been less than thrilled but also fluttery-excited to hear that there had been captives he knew (like Amphitrite and Titan)...but not so much when he saw how some of their number were treating them.

Still, he had useful magic for interrogation...as long as one didn't mind waiting for the inability to speak to wear off - it could be quite effective. He just...didn't want to use it.

Which was why he would try his best to talk to as many as he could, see if gentle reason could work. Supposing they didn't rile him up and get his temper going, make him say or do something he might regret.

The blond stopped in front of a cell that contained someone he'd never seen before and he took a moment to open it and step in, a water bottle in one hand and a straw in the other. "Hi. I'm Aegir...I brought you water, if you're thirsty." He wasn't afraid, the officer was bound and couldn't hurt him as long as he was careful; not afraid, but sad and also interested. "Not going to untie you, but that's what the straw is for." Aegir waggled the water a bit, it was sealed and he wouldn't open it unless the red headed officer actually wanted it.

"Actually, I'd rather you guys were able to move around some, being bound like that sucks, but..." Ever since Schörl had her flatlion bind him still for abuse, he'd gotten a bit more sensitive to things like that. It was one thing to have your freedom taken...quite another to be utterly helpless. Aegir was supposed to remember that the Negaverse had done this and worse before, but he couldn't help empathizing.

Still. It wasn't safe. "So...water?"

Aegir knew it wasn't a comfortable position to be in and the pale, sweating face of the frightened man before him spoke volumes. He sympathized, but still - he couldn't let the officer roam free. Maybe he could free his legs, let him walk around a bit while they talked...if they talked.

The fear response from Cerussite didn't make the senshi hopeful.

"Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you." Aegir sighed and crouched down so he wasn't looming, though he didn't move much closer. "I'm here to talk...and to make sure you guys get food and water." Gloved hands twisted the bottle to remove the cap, taking a sip himself to prove that it was totally safe before sticking the straw in. "You're dehydrated and scared...I can help if you'll let me."

Clearly, the officer cowering before him didn't believe that Aegir wasn't interested in harming him - which was unfortunate (and perhaps a bit funny, since he was quite possibly one of the least violent people around).

"Please," It hurt to see fear like that in another's eyes just because he was there...especially when he'd always tried so hard to be fair and talk with the Negaverse officers he'd met. It wasn't like the redhead had any reason to believe he wasn't planning some horrible trick...trust would come hard won in their situation. "I really do want to help you."

"Because I almost joined the Negaverse once and because I don't believe that you're evil just 'cause you work for them." Aegir offered the water again, holding it close so that all the redhead had to do was lean forward to sip from the straw. "And if I can trust you, I'll untie your legs so you can move around some. I know you can't be comfortable."

If the situation hadn’t been so serious, Aegir might have found Cerussite’s behaviorisms amusing - in present circumstances, it was just sad and made him feel like an absolute shitheel for participating. Only remembering what he knew of the Negaverse’s treatment of captive Order members kept him from freeing everyone and to hell with the consequences. But they weren’t the Negaverse…and they weren’t ‘evil’…so treating the captives the way the Negaverse treated theirs reeked. We should be showing them we’re not the same, not willing to torture or break people…we should be treated them as humans, not animals.

Aegir didn’t move when Cerussite lunged, but held steady and still until he started choking and coughing.

“Are you alright? You can go slow with it, I’m not going to take it away until you’re done.” Aegir frowned just a little, then made up his mind. “Give me your ankles, please.” If he’s to trust I won’t hurt him, I’ve got to prove it.

Being in another's thrall was dehumanizing, demeaning. Aegir could still remember how it had felt to be so neatly hobbled by Schörl and her youma, the ghost of weight and fear and yes, shame still present in his thoughts and actions. It didn't go away - part of you even once released, being a captive just once must leave an indelible mark on your soul , changing you forever in so many ways.

This is not the way. Not our way

From his crouch the senshi folded down into a kneeling position, reaching out to unbind Cerussite's ankles only after the lieutenant had edged them closer; the knots weren't impossible, but extremely difficult if you didn't have full use of both hands - and then some - but Aegir managed and gently unwound the binding from the officer's ankles, coiling it neatly but otherwise not moving.

"We won't put that back on. If I untie your hands, I'll have to tie them again before I leave." His expression wasn't unkind when he added one bit more, "And I'd need your word. That you'll not attack me." Being kind was one thing, being stupid another.