Event Private Finished Bracelet Buddies

"There are legal considerations," Valli said. "I had an easy time of it. I could say whatever I wanted, because it was all a matter of public record and the odds she was going to get out anytime soon were slim. But you don't have that luxury."

Valli leaned back in his chair, taking a small sip of his drink.

"Have you considered what will happen if he stands up and denies it? How far you're willing to go with it?"

In that moment, Valli was particularly happy for the small bracelet he wore, warding him from the effects of Alma's aura. He knew the effects, and was far better with his mind clear.

"Think it through. Consider what you will and won't do. If he denies it, what will you do? If he tries to go the legal route to make you be quiet, what then? It's almost inevitable that you'll face down people who will say you should have handled things with them. That you should have sat down and worked it out."

Valli was fairly obviously speaking from experience on the matter.

She was leaping in headfirst, and Valli's eyes wandered down to the stressball in her hand. Affected by her own aura--a bit of a cruel twist of fate.

"I'm sure you will," Valli said. "I just wanted to... to give you notice. To draw attention to the possibility of what might happen. People tend to get caught off guard when they start telling their story. It feels so hard to say, and then they get a good response and it feels worth it, and then someone says something cruel and ignorant and it hurts all over again. You spoke well, and I have no doubt that most people will side with you, but every person who doesn't will be like a knife in your side."

Valli's smile looked strained. Maybe it was a bit too close to home, a bit too informal.

Valli hadn't realized his hands were clenching, but they were anyway, and when he noticed he forced himself to relax, his hands returning to their usual posture on his lap. He would have wanted to talk to her about it more. He'd have wanted to warn her, rather than having to tell her the way he had. But it was too late for that. Some people would doubt her. Some people would blame her. That was the nature of things, and a larger part of what he'd tried to stop.

But with so many people from so many cultures, and so many people coming in from the outside, it was fighting an uphill battle.

"I don't mean to scare you," Valli said. "You spoke well. Just... be aware. Be cautious. And try not to let it get to you."

For once, Valli wasn't entirely sure if he'd done the right thing. After years of practice, he'd gotten pretty good at not second guessing his decisions, only the entire discussion with Alma had come so out of the blue that he couldn't help himself. Maybe he shouldn't have warned her. Maybe he should have simply dealt with the whole thing at a normal session.

Valli let out a tired sounding sigh and retrieved his cup of tea, looking far more tired than he normally did.

"Of course, Alma. You can handle that like normal - and I'll see you at the normal time, unless you're too busy campaigning?"

He sure hoped not. Skipping therapy for hobbies was almost never a good sign, and he was fairly sure Alma had a better handle on herself than that.