:I, um, need some advice: Hesitation. :Rolan did the - thing, with the Shadowgod avatar. And showed up. And wants to talk to me. Help. What do I do: 

:- well, how do you feel about - that, about him -:

:Seems like taking him back is the right thing to do, here, it'll mean less fuss about whether I'm a legitimate heir. But I guess I'm still pretty mad at him: 

:I mean, is there really any hurry, you could insist on time to think or on an apology or whatever would make you feel settled about it:

:I do want an apology but he might be offended if I just ask for one:

:If that offends him that might be, uh, useful information on how you want to proceed? I don't really know a lot about what your Companionship was like:

:He was - a good teacher, in a lot of ways, but honestly, looking back, he was kind of an asshole. And patronizing: Pause. :I think I want to tell him that if I take him back, he needs to not do that anymore: 

:Makes sense to me. He might need a while too? He's just undergone one major revision and it could take a bit before he's willing to commit to more changes. But you have time, I'm immortal, you can talk it out:

Silent acknowledgement. :Can you - come be moral support while I talk to him? I, um, know that's probably really awkward, you don't have to...: 

:I don't mind if you want me. Where are you?:

Dara flashes a mental image of her location, in the new-planted and rather sad grassy area near where the Palace is being rebuilt. 

Belrun heads over. Pats Dara on the shoulder.

Dara takes a deep breath, braces herself, and Mindspeaks Rolan. :I can talk now: 

And thirty seconds later Rolan is ambling down the path. If he's surprised to see Belrun there as well, he doesn't show it. :Yes, Dara?: 

Dara gulps, gives Belrun a slightly desperate look. 

:Do you want me to just, like, have a conversation with him and try to segue into it, or - feed you lines -:

:No, I can do this: She takes a few deep breaths, and turns back to Rolan. 

:Rolan. I want to hear what you have to say, but I want an apology first: 

Ponderous nod. 

:I - am sorry that events happened which led to your being hurt: Rolan sends, after a long pause. :I would not have chosen those events to happen: 

Dara's eyes flash to Belrun. :Is it just me: she sends, privately, :or is that the most cop-out apology ever?: 

:It's not a very good apology at all!:

:...Um, can you help me with a script to ask for a better one? I'm kind of mad! ...Is that reasonable, should I be mad...?: 

:That's super reasonable! He ripped a bond out of your head for thinking thoughts! I'm - I really don't know what your relationship was like and if Amshalan did this to me I'd - well, the whole history's different so it isn't a good comparison - uh - I don't know, I'm kind of curious if he considers himself responsible on any level but I don't know if that'll actually elicit the best attitude:

Dara takes another few deep breaths, and reaches to grip Belrun's hand very hard. :Rolan, I - I'm still very upset, and, I, I want...:

He bows his head. :It is not unreasonable to be upset: 

:You hurt me. I don't know if you could've known not to, I know it - was something that was done to you, too - but I need to hear you say, to my face, that it wasn't right or fair to me, and that whatever Power made you that way, you. are the one who did it: