oldhound | ( inbox. ) deer country.

[ It's strange, still, being on the other side of it all. He's had many a person who cares about him try and intervene for his sake over the years. Admittedly, that was mainly when he was a much younger man with significantly less control to be had. The point still stands. The way Varian carries himself is reminiscent of those times and the tired aura that clung to those that he can recognize now.

He remembers his own very similar frustrations with Gaz, not that those mattered much in the end. His tongue clicks as he sees where the boy's gaze lands and nods. ]

Happened during. Assuming he came to you with help fixing them? Sorry.

[ He actually is. He hadn't meant for it to go that far, it'd been desperation, really. That and an overload of a new ability coupled with the boost of power from The Reckoning. During the fight, he'd been lucky that his Patron kept the corruption at bay. It's the rumination after that's proving difficult.

His fingers are still darkening at the tips and a few shifting into grey-black claws. He has a moment fussing with the kettle and he's glad he thought to fill it up before the shop opened. ]

Come over here, old son. Let us have a look at you, eh?

Yeah, he did. I helped him with them, but chewed him out for his troubles.

[Because he was so tired and angry. He's a month shy of eighteen and he's babysitting a fully grown man and having to explain to him time and time again the proper way to behave- only for those instructions to be tossed aside every time Maul loses his temper.

He almost apologises to John for the injury but bites it down. Maul isn't his responsbility, he needs to remember this. He comes closer, eyes widening as he notices John's hands, and instantly, just jumps in his priorities. ]

...You're dealing with corruption too? I- do you need help? To- to ease it?

Well, he's got a better chance of listening to you rather than me, I suppose.

[ John understands. He and Herc didn't exactly have the best conversation surrounding all this to start. It's been a rough deal all around. The mage is exhausted in so many ways.

He's actually glad not to get an apology over it. Any injuries were down to himself and Maul and goodness knows John took it farther than he ever intended. No taking that back now. Looking down at his hands, he gives a soft ah and nods. ]

Yeah, my Patron kept the worst of it at bay during the fight this is just lingering stuff knocking around in this old head after the fact. Got a brew I was going to put together to see how it helped, meditation, but I'm open to other ideas.

Don't hold your breath. I've told him over and over again where he's going wrong and he still keeps doing it. I- it's not sinking in at all, I've finally realised that.

[This is worrying, Varian doesn't like to see people he cares about suffering. He supposes if there's one good thing about his own corruption is that he can help other people with theirs now. He comes closer to look at it. ]

Honestly, talking to people is what helped me in the end. Like...talking about that lingering stuff knocking about in your old head. Because all the tea and mediation in the world doesn't really help if you keep what's bothering you inside.

I'm not. [ Unfortunately. ] I don't know that it helps at all after everything but---I thought he was getting better.

[ Suffering is an old friend. It's something he's used to shouldering quietly, though he's found himself trying more often as of late to let other people help him with it. That burden. It's hard after all these years on his own to remind himself that there are people genuinely willing to carry these things with him.

So, he holds out his good hand so that Varian can take a look. ]

Talking, yeah. I think the plants would prefer if I keep meditation out of it for a little while. Put the classes on hold for a few days. [ But that still doesn't address what Varian is saying. ] It got out of hand, the fight.

I never meant to take it that far.

...It helps a little. I just wish he'd let it stick, but at this point, I think he's so - so scared of changing that he undoes it all the second he realises he has to still keep making an effort in being better. When- when being a jackass is easier than not being one, he takes it. Every time.

[And until Maul learns to stop taking the easy route...well, there's nothing that can be done for him.

Varian looks the hand over, frowning softly. ]

Yeah, the uh- meditation takes you so far, but for me what made me better was the talking. Once I actually opened up to people about how rough it was and had someone listen the symptoms disappeared very quickly. So if you ever need that...the uh, listening, I can help. I don't mind.

[And now he knows how to deal with it in the future- and more importantly, how to help his friends out when they need it. He shrugs at the comment about the fight. ]

It's- don't worry about it. I fixed him, it didn't kill him and honestly, I think he needed the solid reminder that he's not unbeatable.

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