Ikkaku - The Judgement of Pasis (5/24)

[18:18] The cell door would open, untouched by human hands, almost as if some invisible force was opening it. The sky blue eyes stare towards Pasis.

"Come. We'll speak in the Fortress."

Their gaze then turned to Edge. "Someone wanted to try rehabilitating him. It failed. The same mistake will not happen twice."
(Ikkaku Ukitake)
[18:18] Pasis says, "So it goes."
[18:18] Pasis says, "So it goes."
[18:18] Edge says, "I only want to know why SOMEONE wanted to rehabilitate a murderer..."
[18:18] Edge says, "One who threw the same note he left you all at me... while i sat in prison.."
[18:20] Ikkaku Ukitake asks, "Speak to Nerzan about it. And same note?"
[18:32] Ikkaku Ukitake says, "We're going to go by the facts and make this descion as simple as possible."
[18:32] Ikkaku Ukitake asks, "Pasis; Did you evacuate Kogarashi before you began to destroy the buildings?"
[18:33] Pasis asks, "Th'facts only?"
[18:34] Pasis says, "I made a large magical display. I made many noises, and the process was not quick. Did I intentionally alert them? No. I can't say I did. Did I gun t'kill? Do I imagine I killed any? No, I don't believe so. But if y'strictly askin' if I warned them verbally, th'answer is no."
[18:35] Ikkaku Ukitake asks, "You do not imagine you killed any while burning down a town, yet did not make any attempt to warn beforehand. Kogarashi was a rather big area.. It's hard to imagine that without a warning everyone made it out alive. What magical display did you make?"
[18:36] Pasis says, "There was no fire. There ain't no torches. I summoned a rather large ball o'water, 'n I began rocking it against th'towers. They don't fall quickly. I imagine it took halfa day before they collapsed. "
[18:36] Pasis says, "Imagine if one of them Archons began bashin' against a watchtower. Probably gonna fall, but if y'savvy the worst y'get is a bonk of debris if y'not quick."
[18:37] Ikkaku Ukitake asks, "I see; And you did all this simply because of reports of demons in the area?"
[18:38] Pasis says, "No reports. My own eyes. I can give it t'ya from th'top if time's made the reports difficult to read."
[18:41] Ikkaku Ukitake asks, "Can you describe which ones you saw?"
[18:41] Akkako asks, "Want me to stay or want me to go?"
[18:41] Ikkaku Ukitake says, "You may go Akkako."
[18:47] The Siren nods, his hands folded in front of him.

"'course. Now, I first saw an undead. Had a bit of a green glow, 'n was paired with an older Jianghese woman. He held..." To the best he could, Pasis begins to recite a ragged description of an undead that, if Ikkaku was keen on the creature, matched 'Peacekeeper' head to to.

"Now, havin' run him off--after hearin' that Geese had given him free reign over th'area, I took a walkin' down around the snows--just west o'Silver Lake. Ran into a small Acolyte--" Again, Pasis begins noting the head-to-toe outfit of a rather young 'Ishmael' if Ikkako knew of the acolytes of Gaiar.

"--who, in his mightiest wisdom as he was exiting Silver Lake, tried t'preach to me the might of Illaron the Archon.

I didn't take kindly t'that, either, 'n ran him off.

That's when it started wearin' on me and I went on my crusade against the village. I was stopped by Vaj'rin Toriya, late as he may be, and as he captured me I saw another Archon watchin' from the snowy walls jus' west of Silver Lake. A great, purple-horned daemon that..."

The description continues, and it seemed to be none other then the Archon Zaruma. "...'n he was jus' fuckin' watchin. Not even t'mention th'armor 'n weapons of Archons I found in Silver Lake before.

Th'place was bad, 'n I took action. Word on th'grapevine is that a few of their kin were sentenced to death recently, who were born 'n raised in Silver Lake. I won't comment on that, but it's interestin' to me."
(Pasis)
[18:58] The sky blue eyes of the Regent stare towards Pasis as Ikkaku remains quiet. There is a frequent tapping of their gloved left index finger against the desk. Slowly a breath exits the mask and Ikkaku gives a nod of their head.

"Undead have been banned within Ardent. In the future, when you see them, I want you to report them to an Officer or above. Geese shouldn't have bartered with the walking dead..

And having those who preach of Archons in such areas is also troubling. I can understand where your ire stems from. However, destroying houses is not the right action.." There is a pause, considering.

"Indeed, there were executions of those in Silver Lake who fought for the cause of Gaiar. Those who fight and raise a blade against the government of Ardent must be stopped. Innocent do not fight. Innocent do not raise weapons. If they had been among those, the executions wouldn't have happened. But they chose steel and blade..

Pasis, byyour report, you haven't likely killed people within Kogarashi, and you've seen people within that area for Gaiar. This is taken into mind. But you have also committed grand Arson against Ardent, and left several without homes.

I will give you a choice befitting of such actions.

What I offer you is this; Your hands will be branded for the destruction of Kogarashi, and you will join the Fourfold for at least twenty years. During this time, you will have a chance to fight against the forces that corrupted silver lake, such as Zaruma and the undead. I also want any further findings you make to be reported. In exchange, you will be forgiven, and perhaps even the shard returned at the end of the period, as you have been imprisoned for an unjust amount of time.

Or you can pick execution. Adapting to the outside world after two years may be difficult, or you may not wish to be branded, or perhaps your urge to fight against them has died.

Actions have consequence. But I will let you decide yours."
(Ikkaku Ukitake)
[19:08] Pasis mood drops considerably. The single living eye narrows; the mechanical conveys no emotion. "Twenty years...?" His voice rings out in almost a half-whine.

For a moment the Siren seems to almost try to glance back, as if anyone could assist, but it was a fools errand from when he began.

Finally, the man's eyes close fully as he takes a deep breath in, then a deep breath out. "I do not mind fighting for you. I hate daemons. I do not mind slaughtering them wholesale.

I want my things back. If you want me to fight, I need the strength to fight. If you want me to serve, I need my weapons to serve. Two large weapons were taken, two gems removed from me. Give me this, and I will give you everything you wish.

I'm more valuable to you alive then dead, but I need everything to fight for you."

Pasis would love to slip in something like 'hey also maybe don't brand my hands', but such luxuries were too far removed from what the criminal wanted.

"...I was there when the Accursed tried to flee. I watched her break the bars--the bars to the cell that we shared. I watched her sneak around the guards--past those who were kept tight to prevent her.

I did not follow, nor did I aid. I mean, mostly I didn't wanna help the daemon-spawn, but it's also because I wasn't leaving my things behind. I need them."
(Pasis)
[19:16] Ikkaku nods. "Twenty years. I want you at every fight, at every scuffle." The Regent said, nodding and watching the Siren.

"We are going to defeat the forces of Gaiar. And I expect your partipcation and help with that at every turn. You want your things back? Tell me each and everything from you that was taken; I know that the umbral shard will not be returned until the end of the twenty years, but perhaps the rest can be returned over time.

I've noticed your good behavior. You haven't complained. You haven't attempted a break out or assisted in one. It's for that reason that you are offered the choice instead of sentenced to execution. Make no mistake, this was a bad crime. But.. You have an option to be so much more.

For now, I will allow a weapon to be returned. In five years, the second. ten, a gem. fifteen the other. You will earn back your strength, and you will report to me, the Commander, and the War captains.

You are better alive then dead. But we have laws, and I have no intention to break them. Do we understand each other?"
(Ikkaku Ukitake)
[19:22] It's difficult to trace the conflux of emotion that wracks the Siren. At first, it's rage. The blushing of the bluish scales, the flustering and flaring of scales that quickly falls to confusion and, then finally, despair.

Eyes cease to fall upon Ikkaku's own, dashed to the side with an admixture of fear and loathing. Twenty years...? He wouldn't get everything back for twenty years? Why wouldn't he just abandon it all and run on his own?

A question that, likely, sits deep in the regent's mind as well.

Pasis' lip curls, his eyes closing softly as it almost seems as if he's going to cry. "I need them back..." He whispers, ever so softly to almost defy being heard.

Giving a harsh intake of breath and a shaky exhaling, Pasis finally turns back to Ikkaku with a light quivering lip. "F-Fine. You have me. Twenty years. I just--I. Twenty years. I'll have itback.

I lost a greatsword, empowered with occult. A weapon of Macha the Archon, taken from Silver Lake. Before--before the burning.

I lost grand Dao, the blade of Xao Huan. It was blessed with the waters and was carried in a golden scabbard.

I lost the gem of power.

I lost the glimmering green gem that was told to me to be a Linkshard.

That is all.

I..."

Another shaky breath comes from Pasis as he nods.

"...I understand."
(Pasis)
[19:28] The sky blue eyes of the Regent stare towards Pasis with a calmness. No change of expression, nary a blink. Gloved hands come together, holding one another before there is an exhale from the Regent.

"Good. We will do the branding in the prison. Afterwords, we will be in contact. You will have a week, maybe more for you to adjust to Ardent. And then one of the blades will be returned to you. Pick the weapon of Macha or Grand Dao. For now, for your cooperation, that will be returned to you. The rest will be so over time."

Ikkaku stands from the chair. A single gloved hand extends towards the Siren to shake.

"Say it as an oath; That you will serve Ardent and Fourfold for twenty years, your name beforehand. And let's head forwards, Pasis."
(Ikkaku Ukitake)
[19:32] A branding.

It's never the wound that kills but the anticipation. Pasis was a wreck of wounds and tears, of scars and burns. Yet never did they have a lead-up. A harsh rending of a blade, a sudden burst of flame. They came sudden, they came quick.

A brand? It lingered over the Siren as if it were a stormcloud, the thought of the oncoming burn seemingly shaking the once-teen as his hand reluctantly extends forward.

"...I, Pasis, swear that I will serve Ardent and Fourfold for twenty years."

His mouth twitches as if to continue, but pauses with a small sigh as he follows behind Ikkaku. "The Dao, if y'can. And..."

The lightest hesitation comes from his lip. "Don't 'spose I can get one of them stall permits. As 'homecoming'."
(Pasis)
[19:38] Ikkaku would walk towards the Jail, the Siren in tow once the hand shake had been completed. There is a nod of the Regent's head at Pasis' words as they enter the portion near the cells. One of Ikkaku's hands moves to the other, removing the glove that overs the right hand before they turn to look towards Pasis.

"You will be given a stall permit. Be aware of the regulations. No lust potions, genderbend potions, things of that sort. Prove to be a good soilder and perhaps even your sentencing can be shortened.

The Dao will be delivered to you in a week once we finish this. Please remove all coverings of your hands and place them forwards on the desk."
(Ikkaku Ukitake)
[19:40] "Yeah..."

Slowly comes the Siren, each step heavier then the next. Why couldn't Ikkaku just crash him across the head and do it quick? Why did it have to be such a ceremony?

To make it hold more of an impact?

Fingers quake as bandages are slowly unraveled, unwrapping the hands as if they were a present before Ikkaku. Over and under the bandages rise and fall until both hands, oily and scaled with multiple cerulean-gray flakes, are exposed.

"...I guess I'm no longer exempt from Qi Lan's rules..."

Taking a deep breath, Pasis' gaze looks away as his shaking hands fall upon the desk--twitching in an almost unconscious want of escape.
(Pasis)
[19:50] Sky blue eyes look downwards towards the hands, a small exhale from the mask. As the oily, scaled, flakiness is revealed, the ungloved hand moves to Ikkaku's belt. A vial of reddish, blackish liquid is removed, swirled in said vial, before it is uncapped.

"You will indeed not be immune to the rules, nor to law. You will do your best to uphold them."

The black red liquid slowly rises out of the bottle in the form of a tendril. Had Eleena ever bled within the cells, perhaps Pasis would have seen this type of thing before. If not.. In the air, the black red liquid turns into a miasma before descending downwards upon Pasis' hands. For a brief moment it is warm..

And then it burns.

The Miasma takes on an acidic-like quality, rotting against the skin to create patterns upon it in small runeline consistencies. They melt and warp the flesh while the sky blue eyes stare and watch, making sure not to blur likes and instead make them legiable. Itwould be painful, yet would last only ten seconds before the Miasma gathers up and rises into the air, a black red blob once more.

"It is done."

A hand then reaches across the table, picking up a paper and starting to write upon it.
(Ikkaku Ukitake)
[19:53] Eleena's life and death was but a ephemeral flutter within the eyes of the Siren. Never had she bled in his sight, and never had she taken a wound.

Not that Pasis was even looking. He could never bear to watch his own maiming.

To say that Pasis handled the brand with grace and dignity befitting an officer of Ardent is to tell a grand lie; Pasis screams. Pasis wails. Blood seeps not from the cauterized wound but from the lips of the Siren as teeth thrash into lip.

It doesn't stop even as the brand is removed--only the retraction of Pasis' hands from the desk to his person once more.

It was, indeed, done.

Yet it takes still more time for the Siren to calm--and even longer to tend to his wounds. Longer to accept them.
(Pasis)
[20:00] A motion is made. Water forms in the air, seeping across the Sirenian's fingers. Unlike the maleific blood, this instead words to heal Pasis' fingers, make the searing pain of the branding go away. It would bestow a slight numbing to the pain but.. It would be a lie to say it was instant.

The Regent of Ardent stares towards Pasis, inhaling calmly. "We must protect the goodwill and kindness of humanity. And I know that you think that this branding likely isn't kind. But I am a soilder, and I am an occultist. Even if I hold back that hatred, I know that we need to do some cruel things to make the world a better place.

This begins the trial that will set right what you did wrong. Do better then your mistakes form yesterday, Pasis. Redeem yourself."

The blood in the air slowly oozes back into a vial before Ikkaku caps it, placing the glove back onto their hand.

"Take a moment. Ease yourself." The stall permit is finished writing and sky blue eyes watch Pasis calmly.
(Ikkaku Ukitake)
[20:03] Far easier said then done!

Each flexing of Pasis' fingers seems to carry the sting of pain; Ikkaku's own blessing takes time and even once the physical trauma has subsided does the mental one still take a heavy, heavy toll.

What Pasis grasps from Ikkaku's own words is difficult to discern, but he makes no outwards attempts to lash out or otherwise disobey--seemingly beaten into submission through both the brand and the ransoming of his belongings.

"I..." He slowly croaks out, his voice hoarse. "I understand..."

Fingers slowly explore the brand as it tries to heal, oiled fingers running along the inflamed and sheen burn marks. "I understand..."
(Pasis)
[20:05] {Item} You drop Market Stall Permit.
[20:08] There is a nod from the Regent, the market stall permit extended towards Pasis. "Talk to Nerzan. He will return Dao to you. Should more be attempted to be retrieved, I will know. So long as you follow orders and follow well, there will be no further pain."

The water continues to labor and wash over the fingers as the Regent calmly watched. Their gloved hands came together, fingers tapping one another before they would give a final nod.

"You may depart, Pasis. Make sure not to break the law again or the punishment will be equally or more severe."
(Ikkaku Ukitake)
[20:08] There's silence as Pasis takes the permit.

"I know." He speaks, his voice soft as he turns away. "If I try to break the agreement, I'll see none of it. I know."

Another harsh turn away from Ikkaku, Pasis biting down on his lower lip.

"...I'll get my affairs in order.

See you soon."
(Pasis)