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[altusimperius]

tell him how pretty he is

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[bouchonne]

Mm-hm.

[ No help here; By just prompts him to continue. ]

[altusimperius]

[With a bit of trepidation, but not as much as he might have had in previous, shakier conversations:]

...so it could go either way, from an outside perspective.

[bouchonne]

I'm not asking for an outside perspective.

[altusimperius]

[He glances downward uncertainly, then meets Byerly's eyes again-- his gaze is assertive in a way it often isn't, but still bears no particular judgment or accusation.]

It's true. You haven't come out in support of the mages' cause. All I can go by is what you've said to me in private.

...and I believe you, that you would support me, personally.

[bouchonne]

Ah.

[ Byerly's lips thin a little. ]

And my statements that I am loyal to the members of this organization - Those are not sufficient.

[altusimperius]

This organization has a lot of members, some of whose agendas conflict.

[bouchonne]

What does that have to do with what I've said?

[altusimperius]

How is it possible to be loyal to all of them, if they directly oppose one another?

[bouchonne]

Loyalty to the people doesn't mean loyalty to their every thought and desire. A desire to protect them doesn't mean a desire to see their will done.

[altusimperius]

All right.

[This is different from a usual spat-- he's not upset, and also not being made to feel small, which makes it far easier for Benedict to keep his head and continue the discussion.]

If the majority of Riftwatch sided with the Divine, and concluded that everyone would be safer with mages confined, what would 'protecting them' mean to you?

[bouchonne]

That hardly seems likely to happen with our current population. We would have to be a very different organization for that to be the consensus.

[altusimperius]

But if it did? Or if Riftwatch's hand were forced?

[bouchonne]

Much of a man's character is in who he chooses to serve. There is a reason I am with Riftwatch, and not another organization.

[ But, drumming his fingers on the desk: ]

Are you imagining that the move would be immediately confining them?

[altusimperius]

Not necessarily. But as an eventuality.

[bouchonne]

How much power do you think I have, Artemaeus?

[altusimperius]

That's not relevant. Would you support our freedom, or not?

[bouchonne]

Isn't it? Relevant? I can't do anything. Not after the war.

[altusimperius]

I've thrown my lot in with you.

[The faintest of smirks.]

I'd rather not have been an idiot twice.

[bouchonne]

Well.

[ By gestures slightly. Doesn't smile back. ]

I wish that my will would have any effect upon the fate of the mages. But it wouldn't. The areas in which I have any power at all - are small indeed.

[altusimperius]

Sometimes it's just... nice to hear it spoken aloud.

[He twists in his chair, resting his chin atop folded hands along the back of it.]

To keep you from going mad speculating, if nothing else.

[bouchonne]

[ By is quiet a moment. Then - ]

To be honest - I don't believe that mages should have unlimited freedom.

[ There's no pleasure as he says it, but: ]

An Abomination is fully capable of murdering hundreds of people. To pretend that's not a reality would be naive. To pretend that a mage is like any other person, that they do not need particular training - I cannot say that I support a world where magic is treated no differently from green eyes or left-handedness.

[altusimperius]

Well...

[There's a flash of disappointment in Bene's eyes, but he recovers.]

...sure. Training is important. People ought to know what they have. [His gaze flits to the floor as he thinks.]

But it doesn't have to be a shameful, hidden thing. In Tevinter we see it as a gift, a privilege. People are educated accordingly. Some people abuse it, but. People abuse weapons training, too.

[bouchonne]

No. It doesn't.

[ Byerly lifts his shoulder in a small shrug. ]

The current way of doing things is, without question, cruel. Circles are monstrously corrupt.

[altusimperius]

[Benedict nods lightly atop his hands, still looking at a point on the floor somewhere between them.]

If I hadn't fucked my chances of returning to Minrathous after the war, I might not think on it so much. But my fate is with the Southern mages now.

[He purses his lips, his mind briefly drifting elsewhere.]

...and I don't have the excuse of ignorance anymore, even if I could go back. I can never unlearn what I know about Circles. [thanks Colin]

[bouchonne]

Indeed. But one must pursue, whenever one can, the greater good.