Tough Love [Thieves]|Haven, Ilyamen

[Northen Light36]

"You can," Acqua said. "But stay away from the guild and any guild members you see there. I won't keep you from your family, Virgo. That is the only reason I'm not confining you to Humontis and Raxen to Talen'sul. So you can both be greatful for that. Raxen, you can leave now. Virgo, remain for a moment."

[Kender Bard]

Raxen glanced at Virgo and the two shared a moment of silent exchange, though their faces remained blank. After that, Raxen turned and left.

"Yes my Lady?" Virgo asked, her voice barely above a whisper. This could have been so much worse, she reminded herself. Don't feel like this. You got lucky...

[Northen Light36]

"I just wanted to tell you, Raxen isn't responsible for what happened to your father," Acqua told her. "That's been proven to my satisfaction, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten off so lightly. Which means, I have no idea who hurt your father and thought you should be warned to watch your back."

[Kender Bard]

"What?!"

Virgo's mouth dropped open a bit. Someone... but who? Why?

Whoever it was... She would find out. And make them pay. Nobody hurt her family...

She swallowed and gave a curt nod. "Thank you, Lady Acqua... I'm sorry." She blinked, her eyes hot. "For everything. I never meant for things to get so out of hand. I just wanted..."

She glanced back. Raxen was gone. "M'lady, did you ever want something you could never have?"

[Northen Light36]

Acqua sighed softly and nodded. "Yes," she replied simply, then raised an eyebrow a little. "Is that the problem you're having, Vi?"

[Kender Bard]

Virgo gave a little nod but she didn't feel like explaining it all. "That's why I did it," she said simply, instead. "It won't happen again though." It wasn't as though she'd be around the guild men anyway.

"I'm... going to go." She gave a bow to Acqua, respectfully. "To go speak with Roni before I leave." And she didn't really want to leave. The guild was her second home. Especially now that her own was in pieces. But... Such was punishment.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua simply nodded. "All right."

---

Roni was waiting for Vi when she came out. "How'd it go?" he asked at once, looking worriedly at her.

[Kender Bard]

"Raxen's getting kicked off to another guild for the next six months," Virgo told Roni. "And I've got double fines, can't visit the other guilds, and if I stay here I have to stay with the children." She made a face at that. Maybe I can stay at Garrick's until I get a new mattress. "All in all, I got off better than I should have."

She lowered her voice, "And she said that Raxen didn't do it. She's certain."

[Northen Light36]

"How long are you stuck with the kids for?" Roni asks, adding more quietly, "We'll just have to find out who did do it then, won't we?"

[Kender Bard]

"Six months," she sighed noisily. "I'm not even going to bother showing up, except to pay my dues and maybe scope out a place to rob if work runs too dry for me. Well, I might for a while; I'm going to need to start putting my house back together..." She closed her eyes. "What can be replaced..."

[Northen Light36]

"I've got a spare room," Roni offers. "It's a bit of a mess and the bed's not great, but it's kid free at least. And I can help you with fixing up your house while your father's at the healer's. Between the two of us I bet we could get it fixed up pretty well by the time he's ready to come home."

[Kender Bard]

Virgo smiled brightly and snatched Roni into a tight hug. "Oh, Roni, you're the best. I'd appreciate that a lot. I don't know how I'll be able to repay you for all of your help..."

[Northen Light36]

"We're friends Vi," Roni replies with a laugh. "This is the sort of thing friends do. You don't need to repay me for that. Now come on, let's see how your father is doing and then I'll buy - or steal, depending on my mood - us something for lunch."