Keeping The Peace

[Orion]

Baird eyed the man a bit longer after his assurance it was not magic. He had never much cared one way or another but he did consider himself a patriot. He had chosen to be a guard after all. After Ansleigh was killed by mystic however...suffice to say he was not a fan of magic. Or at least how people who possessed it seemed to think they could do as they pleased which included killing little girls. His little little girl.

He understood his feelings for the captain quite well. But it wasn't something to be drawn attention to and he was already aware he failed at that sometimes.

"I could say the same. My sewing isn't pretty lookin'." He smiled slightly. He wouldn't call himself a healer either. The guard tucked his thumbs into his belt as Amir explained, nodding slightly as if that all made sense. Hidden injuries, helping minds.

At the mention of parents grieving over children he too recalled the words that had been spoken just before Amir intervened. Whether the stranger was calling him out or not, it certainly hit home. Was he, in fact injured? Baird had never stopped to think about it. He had been busy mourning his loss and explaining to his other children that they wouldn't see their big sister again and trying and failing to help his wife make sense of it before even he had made sense of what happened.

He didn't hear much else Amir said after that, not until he was pulled back to the moment by the direct question. "I-" and then he caught the unsanctioned word tumbling from his lips and closed his mouth. He couldn't hide it certainly but...did it make him less of a man to talk about it with a stranger? If Amir really could help...

He had talked to Sebastian about it. A lot. Hell, he was the only person Baird had really tried to talk to. He sure as hell couldn't appear so broken about it at work or shit like this happened. Or at home in front of Anders and Adaira. Or even Blake. Sebastian had helped in some areas and made others worse.

For a moment, he tried to collect his thoughts, studying the man and his owl. He glanced over his shoulder at the captain who had clearly ended up in the mud a few times and now was actually making the woman work to apply what she had learned. It wasn't going well for her.

"Say...say there was...how..." he spoke haltingly, turning his attention back to Beau instead of Amir directly. "How exactly do you help people?"

[Amir Barteau]

It seemed there was indeed something Amir could help him with. The way he hesitated at his speech, the troubled look on his face, to familiar with other men he'd helped. Men who were too scared to talk about their own emotions because they felt it made them less masculine in some way. Still, he stayed quiet as he let the man collect his thoughts. Of course if he wasn't ready or willing to talk there was nothing he could do. It wasn't as if he could force people to talk about their problems. Even if he could he wouldn't.

When asked how exactly he helped others Amir paused and thought for a short moment. Trying to pull together exactly how he helped others. "Well...to those who have problems I...talk with them." That was a deep over simplification of things but it was a start.

"People hold guilt, resentment, confusion, emotions that eat away at them. I help them work through those emotions." He gave the man a softer gaze with a warm smile before pulling some treats from his pocket for Beau.

"Each case is different. There are some things that will always hurt but I'm here to close the wound and ease the pain." Once the treats were gone Amir brushed his hand off on his coat and turned his attention back to the other man. "However, I can only help those that are ready to be helped."

[Orion]

Talk to them? He had already said there wasn't any magic but the guard didn't quite see how just talking wpuld help so much. Well, no, that wasn't true. He had felt a little better after talking to Sebastian. Just being able to say things and know he was being heard and not judged and that nothing he said would be shared with anyone else. That was at least one good thing about the taciturn captain.

The deeper explanation helped him understand but he was still clearly skeptical. "You can do all that hust talkin' to someone?" And listening, he supposed. Baird put a hand to the back of his neck awkwardly. Guilt and resentment and confusion were words he wpuld use, he supposed. Big words, but they applied.

He grimaced at the notion of being ready to be helped. He wasn't sure he was ready exactly but he did want to feel...like himself again. "I don't suppose that sort of thing is cheap," he said, still avoiding a direct commitment.

[Amir Barteau]

"Sometimes it's talking. Sometimes people need a safe place to cry, scream, get out their emotions without judgment or fear. That's what I provide." There had been a couple of times people he had been helping had wound up hitting him. While he tried to avoid physical altercations as best he could they did happen and he was at least ready to accept that.

The comment on his helping not being cheap made Amir sigh softly and shake his head. "I don't help people for coin." It wasn't the first time he'd had to say it and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Though he understood how that could be confusing for people. "I help people because..." Because he didn't want anyone to end up like his mother? Because he couldn't stand seeing another child go through what he went through. "It just feels like my calling." While he'd never ask for money for his services he'd never say no to an offer of food or a place to stay.

[Orion]

He could see, after talking to Amir in passing, how people seemed to find...something about him that made him easy to talk to. Easy to listen to. From the sound of it, the man did this sort of thing a lot. Baird wondered how he handled the emotions of so many other people.

His calling. He smiled softly. "I know that feeling." He of course liked getting paid. More than liked it. Kids were expensive and a family had to eat. "I like to think bein' a guard, I get to help people too."

He glanced back at the soldiers. "Um...scuse me for a minute?" He took a half step back, slightly anxious but firmly committing to his decision once assured Amir wasn't going anywhere.

Baird moved purposefully to where Sebastian was watching the woman take a turn at beating the shit out of her original sparring partner. There was a lot of pride hidden in the captain's look but no one was allowed to see it.

The pair exchanged a few words, Baord hardly making eye contact and finally Sebastian nodded once and that was a clear dismissal. The guard returned to the owl bearer and rubbed his hands together awkwardly. "Would ya be willing ta talk to me? Over a walk and maybe dinner? We're almost done for the evenin'"

"Do...people usually talk to you alone?" Baird honestly would feel better having someone else around. Not because Amir made him nervous, in fact he found him quite easy to talk to. But...well...he had no idea how this was supposed to work and as much as he teased Sebastian he found him comforting too.

[Amir Barteau]

For Amir it was easy not to be paid. He didn't have a family to care for other than Beau who had no qualms about hunting down his own food. The two of them had also spent more than enough nights simply sleeping on the ground under the sky. It was nice really. To be free to go where he wanted without being tied down to any one place. When the man excused himself he nodded with a sweet smile and went to showing his feathered companion some affection.

As he came back Amir turned to him curiously then nodded. "Of course." The idea of someone else being around while talking was uncommon but happened sometimes. With s shrug of his shoulders that seemed to upset the owl a bit. "Most people find it more comfortable to talk to me alone but if you'd like someone with you feel free to invite them." Though he had a feeling he knew who the man was inviting.

Amir stood to the side and waited while the soldiers trained. There were a few that came up to him to have passing conversation. Still he waited patiently as Beau flew off again to chase after something he'd seen in the tall grass. Idly he pulled out a lute he kept on his back and toyed with the cords as he hummed softly to himself.

[Orion]

Baird wasn't sure Sebastian would join him. He hadn't seemed to like Amir very much but then again, he didn't think Sebastian liked anyone very much. The guard had implied he wanted company if he did in fact invite Amir to his home. The kids would love Beau after all.

Hilariously, the invitation to dinner with Baird's family had been more off putting to the captain than following him and Amir around. But he tried to be a good friend. And that meant helping his friend. If he wanted company when introducing a stranger to his kids, then Sebastian would be there. Adaira was his goddaughter too, not that he actively remembered a lot of the time.

"I'm...comfortable with him." His wife not so much. His wife and Sebastian? Not at all. There wasn't any concern of Sebastian talking, at least.

Baird returned more to make a point that he was participating but clearly his head wasn't in the right space. After a short while, the captain called everyone together and dismissed them. He wasn't a public speaker. Not because he was nervous with groups. He was the opposite of of nervous. Sebastian was a hands on instructor. He showed individuals he was paying attention by showing them how to be better, rather than talking about it.

The captain followed with heavy steps as Baird lead hin toward the sounds of the lute being strummed. He was half covered in mud and not at all happy about taking a walk but he couldn't find the mental energy to care. "...Blake will be alright with this?" He was asking Baird.

"She whines bout more company all the time."

Sebastian frowned. That wasn't at all what he meant. But he didn't rephrase, instead looking over Amir again impressively in silence.

[Amir Barteau]

As the men walked back towards him Beau also flew back and landed calmly on his shoulder. "I take training was good today?" He asked mostly teasingly, given the site of them covered in mud. Beaus eyes trained in on Sebastian hard as if trying to see through him. The mention of someone named Blake made Amir tilt his head slightly to the side. "Will your spouse be joining us as well?"

While he may not have noticed or particularly cared how the captain stared at him it didn't seem to sit right with his owl. The bird fluttered his wings in annoyance and flexed his talons only to earn a calming pat from his human. "Easy boy, they're friendly." Did Amir know that for sure? Not really. Though he didn't really seem to care either way. Logan seemed nice and whether or not Sebastian liked him wasn't entirely his concern.

After putting away his lute and gathering his bag over his free shoulder he turned back to the men. "Lead the way."

[Logan Baird]

The captain nodded, not really understanding. He was tired mentally and physically and covered in mud. He decidedly did not want to accompany Logan and his new friend but he had been promised food and drinks.

That didn't really beat the idea of a sorely needed bath but he was trying to be a good friend.

Logan shook his head. "No, she won't. Least not at first," he trailed off and glanced at Sebastian. "For dinner though!" He added with a smile. "Blake makes great pies," he added. Savory and sweet. She probably could have been a been a chef at the castle. The fancy sort of chef.

The guard seemed amused by the owl more than anything. He decided it might be best to not make any needling jokes on Arcturis' behalf. He was already covered in mud after all and they had plenty of time before dinner.

"Drinks first," he suggested and gestured to both to follow him. They were in a quite large city and there was never a inn very far off. He led then to an inn and Arcturis negotiated drinks while Logan negotiated a room.

The captain made to sit at one of the tables but Logan didn't. He stood at the table and looked from Amir to Arcturis and back and pulled himself up. "Look, I won't blindside you with anythin', sir. Amir offered to help me talk over...things. And-"

"Okay," Arcturis said quietly. "I will be here if you need me." He understood. Sort of. Not at all what Amir had to do with it but he understood Logan had asked him to be here for a reason.

Logan smiled, relieved. He hadn't thought the captain would storm out, but he never quite knew what to expect with the man. "You don't have to talk," he added unnecessarily. Arcturis shrugged and settled down with his drink while the other two moved to the side room.

[Amir Barteau]

Amir followed the men to an inn that he'd been to before. Not that he'd stayed at it but most people seemed more comfortable talking about things at a more neutral setting. Their homes were too personal or not private enough. Outdoors also tended to pose a privacy problem as well as unpredictable weather. As the captain sat at a table Amir watched quietly as Baird looked between the other man and himself. It didn't seem that the captain was terribly bothered by his friend needing to talk. Though he wasn't sure why the man would be.

It didn't particularly matter. Amir let Beau fly outside as to not scare any patrons and let him go hunting for his own meal as he followed the man to a room. Once there he waited for Logan to take a seat before sitting down himself. He set his bag on the floor next to his feet before turning his full attention to the man. "I'd like to say if there's anything you are adamant to not talk about let me know and we can drop the subject. Also if you find you need a break we can take one at any time."

Amir wasn't sure how each person would react to talking about their pains. While it sometimes seemed silly to others that he make note of taking breaks or dropping subjects he'd found it was better to say it before hand to avoid unnecessary complications.

[Logan Baird]

Logan nodded as Amir set out a few ground rules. He wasn't sure how this was supposed to work exactly, but he appreciated the notion of avoiding topics that were too sensitive or taking a breather. He supposed that meant this could take a while?

He sat quietly for a moment, trying to put at least a few of his thoughts together. It might have been almost a year ago now, but it still hurt. While he managed to hold himself together most of the time now, there were some times, like kissing his children good night or visiting Ainsleigh's grave or Nephin Peak that still got to him.

After a moment, he cleared his throat. "Bout a year ago, my wife and I lost our oldest child. Ainsleigh." He only barely stumbled over her name. "My wife and children were visitin' family in the country and were attacked. By mystics. They all survived 'cept...'cept her." He swallowed and then wasn't sure where to go after that. IT was the largest topic that bothered him.

Why her? Why then? Why hadn't he been there? Why had those people done that to his family? To other families? Why hadn't they paid for it? Why hadn't he been there for his wife afterward or she for him? Did his seeking out of comfort make him a bad person?