Welcome to Gaia! ::

Axinite had been quite comfortably settled at his desk when Cavansite first came in but he smiled when she entered. She immediately had his attention and he laced his fingers together and folded them neatly atop the desk.

"Of course, come in," he said easily. "Come, have a seat." He gestured at the chair across from him.

As per usual, he seemed like he was keeping busy; there were stacks of paper on either side of his desk and a fresh plate of cookies resting on the edge closest to her.

"I'm all ears. Is everything all right?"

He watched her with a curious, albeit slightly concerned expression. To his knowledge, she still bore the youmaglia he'd given her a while ago--and she'd seemed to be the perfect soldier. Honestly, he was more worried about her taking the very public death of her subordinate harder, but she didn't seem particularly melancholy.

To say the least, his interest was piqued.

Axinite watched her with a curious expression, nodding every now and then to indicate that she had his full attention. His expression was fairly unreadable once she began speaking; not once did he reveal any thoughts or emotions as he let her speak.

Still, he seemed pleased when she took a cookie, and he laced his fingers together and nodded. "Yes, I think that can be arranged. You've had time to clear your head, to be free of all those thoughts and emotions that were burdening you. You've had the opportunity to look at things from a new perspective--and I'm proud of you. And your subordinates. I'm glad to hear you're making bonds with them. And memories? Hessonite would be delighted."

He shifted positions to sit up a little straighter.

"I hope you understand that Amesite's death does not reflect poorly upon you. I understand there were other factors." He shrugged. "I am sorry for your loss." He intended to ask for the contents of the letter, but this was not about Amesite, this was about her. "...Better off dead than a traiter," he agreed, "But not a burden you must carry. If there is anything I can do, I hope you will let me know."

He'd sent a card to her when he'd found out; losing a subordinate was heart wrenching. He swallowed the lump in his throat and had to look down to collect himself before he met her gaze again. He did so with a smile. "But I can tell you will take care of your others. I will remove it for you. I think you've earned that."

“You will always feel like you could have done more,” he murmured, eyes sliding to the far corner of his desk. It was empty, sans a stack of paper. There was nothing worthwhile, but his gaze had wandered from hers as he spoke.

For a long moment, he seemed almost distracted, and then something clicked in him and he returned his attention to her. He had s**t something out, shoved something away. “It is simply something you must not allow to fester. It will eat you alive.”

He stood promptly and moved from behind his desk. His bones creaked loudly, indication enough that he had been sitting there, working, for too long already.

“Come, stand. This is the easy part. It will take no time. I think, if you are aware enough to recognize that you could be better off without it, perhaps it is time to give you that chance. I trust you, Cavansite. You know I only want the best for you. I think, perhaps, you are ready to be the best that you can be. Unhindered, unburdened, unbridled. Trust me, and I will trust you.”

“I know,” he said simply; he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder at first, clasping reassuringly, and then he drew his hand upwards to rest on her temple. He did not give her any warning before he pushed a gentle pulse of Chaos into her.

It started small and then surged stronger; any decent attack could have destroyed the youmaglia but it seemed that Cavansite had been too effective in maintaining its well being. The Chaos, however, was enough to disrupt its grip on her.

He did not worry about saving it, did not even consider that he should mind. The Chaos was enough to fry it out of her, burning it away from her conscience and returning her to who she could have been.

Who she should have been.

A loyal agent of the Negaverse, whose future was open to everything.

When he was finished, he gently pat her cheek. He did not retract his arm, trying to gauge if she was all right. “How are you feeling?” he asked gently; he hadn’t ever had one in him, but he had heard that experiences could vary. This was, by far, a different experience than any corruption or upgrade, but he seemed ready to get her a drink, or offer her a seat.

The effort had taken next to no toll on Axinite, who just smiled softly and lowered his hand. “Likewise, your loyalty means the world to me.” And, perhaps, the praise; he was eager to share his cookies, to know they were serving their function. To know that he had succeeded in helping her, in at least some way.

In at least some small comfort.

It was the least he could do if she was going to prove loyalty to their ranks.

There had been no resistance, no reason for him to be concerned.

He made sure she had taken a seat before he returned to his behind the desk. “Stay here and rest all that you need. If you need to take a nap, I can help. If you want to borrow a room in the barracks, or if you’d like a ride home.” He smiled kindly at her. “I’ll pack you up some cookies and a drink to go, if you like.”