the past influences the future

[Derrick]

Klara

Being one of the biggest grounder cities and a hub for her people, the law wasn't always adhered too. Thieves tended to try their luck stealing from the markets, with punishment being either jail or a hand cut off - not under Lexa's rule. The jail part she could dish no problem but to take a hand seemed a bit excessive unless the thief was unrepentent. Most cases it was usually benign though stealing was still stealing and punishment had to be enforced when they were found. Some managed to escape detection and escape capture thought not everyone was so lucky.

Today was one such day that she was going to be dealing with a thief. She'd already been informed that a thief had been located in Polis and then one of her guards had come in to tell her the thief had been found. Speaking in Trigedasleng, she told one of the guards to bring the thief in. That guard disappeared to relay the message and she only had to wait a few moments before the doors reopened and the guards re-entered with the thief in hand. Lexa watched them approach, her eyes not on the guards but the girl and she forced to keep any expression from reaching her face.

It was hard to believe she was dealing with the girl she had left behind several years ago. She'd met Klara before she was whisked away for training. Lexa had viewed the other grounder as a friend and it had pained her to leave her behind yet she knew what her duty was. Even so, she couldn't let emotion rule today, it was going to be her head and not her heart. "You are here because you have stolen things that do not belong to you. Do you deny this?" Lexa asked, sitting on the Commander's throne as she watched Klara flanked by the guards.

Lexa had a fair idea on how she was going to handle this situation. Blood would not be spilled and she wouldn't spend the rest of her days rotting in the cells. Lexa was going to have her put that energy, that spark and intuition, to something that would benefit them all. Provided she answer correctly.

[Klara]

Klara had been a thief for years, not that she enjoyed stealing, she was only trying to survive, she was on her own since her mother's death after her father's one. She had already stolen in several places, especially in markets where there usually were lots of people which made the escape easier. This day she was in Polis market, she had located an easy target, a stand held by an old, tired grounder. She waited for an opportunity to steal what she had found interesting and as the shopkeeper turned around to go search something, Klara just walked next to the stand, took what she needed and went away. Unfortunately, she had been located and even the crowd didn't help her this time so she got caught by some guards.

The guards brought her to Polis tower to take her to Heda for her punishment. She didn't try to defend herself or to escape, she knew this day would come. But as they entered in the throne room, Klara felt ashamed, looking down, she could feel Lexa's eyes following her. Klara couldn't even think of what her friend could think about her right now but she didn't have another choice.

As Lexa spoke, Klara looked up to her for the first time since she entered and answered "How could I deny? We both know I'm a thief for years, I had been lucky not to get caught before but apparently chance turned...". She didn't expect Lexa to be clement with her, she was more than aware of the punishment reserved to thieves, especially to the recidivists. The only thing she worried about was what would happen to the orphans while she will be in jail.

Derrick

[Derrick]

Klara

Though she could never condone stealing, now that she was Heda she had to make a good example, she had also hoped Klara would never get caught. Still, they were here now and Lexa was going to deal with this. She looked towards the guards first as they explained how and where she was caught and who she stole from. The old stall-keeper was someone she knew well, buying wares off him when she could. All he did he did for his family. "What is done is done. You will apologize and give back what you stole if possible." Hopefully that was still possible otherwise she would have to find some other way to appease the stall keeper.

Lexa inhaled sharply before making a snap decision in dismissing the guards. They didn't want to leave, as evident by their expressions but they had no choice. Once they left the room, shutting the worn doors behind them, Lexa stood from the throne. She padded towards Klara, her jawline clenched. She angered because her friend had put herself in danger for stealing and she was lucky it had been the old grounder and not someone who thirsted for blood. "Your punishment does not end here, Klara." Lexa kept her voice neutral, her eyes never wavering from the other grounder girl. "By rights I should have you locked up for the crimes you've committed. However, this time I won't be."

Klara was a theif but she wasn't evil or cruel. And her plan of action was something she believed in, believed to be the right thing to do. "I'm going to make you a scout. To begin with, you'll be my scout until the debt is paid. This will ensure your protection." Because if they attacked her scouts, they were attacking the Heda and they wouldn't want the threat of her retaliation.

[Klara]

Klara listened carefully to the guards as they were explaining to Lexa what happened, how they caught her, ready to make an objection if something they said was wrong. However, even if she was focused on what the guards were saying, she didn't look at them, she was looking her friend hoping that she hadn't ruined their friendship even if she would totally understand that the Commander couldn't be close to a thief like her. As Lexa gave her judgement, Klara nodded and told "Of course, Heda. I will.".

When Lexa ordered the guards to leave, Klara was quite surprised, she didn't expect that and apparently the guards either but knowing they didn't have the choice, they finally went out of the room. Klara watched them leave and as soon as the door was shut, her eyes came back to Lexa. Obviously she was angry and Klara could understand that and she felt like she needed to apologise but before she could, Lexa spoke about her punishment not ending there. Of course it didn't, Klara didn't expected it to end there, she was aware of what they did to thieves. Then, her friend said she won't have her locked and Klara was so surprised by this decision that she couldn't hold back her astonishment "What?!" she said. "Lexa, you can't do that... You know that I deserve to be locked up for everything I have done...", Klara worried about what people would think if they learnt that the Commander hadn't lock up a thief who was her friend.

"A scout?" Klara repeated, of course she knew what was a scout, that wasn't the problem, she just didn't see herself as a scout, "But I've never been trained to become a scout..." she added knowing that Lexa was already aware of that so if she had decided to make her a scout that meant that she probably believed that Klara was able to do it. "I appreciate what you're ready to do for me but I don't know if I can do that...", her words were true, Lexa was offering her protection and she was really thankful for that but she couldn't be a scout for her, she had no skills to be a scout, at least it was what she thought.

Derrick

[Derrick]

@klara

Lexa wasn't just thinking one or two steps ahead but several. By putting Klara in the cells, that would mean the orphans she took care of would have no-one to watch over them. Without a guardian they could get hurt or in trouble and Lexa would have solved nothing. But by putting Klara as a scout, that meant she would still be able to protect and take care of the kids, it would mean the rest would see her doing some good for the grounders. If she had word that she stole again after this, Lexa wasn't entirely sure what she would do but that was a worry for another time. Her main concern was the conversation at hand and one that Lexa felt strongly about.

"I can and I will." Lexa spoke with authority. No amount of words would sway her decision. "And your kids? Do they deserve their guardian and mentor to be locked away?" Lexa shook her head every so slightly. "You've done good in this life as well. Don't forget it. Without you those kids probably wouldn't be here today."

"That may be true but it's never too late to learn. You have the knack for learning, Klara. You will do this. I'm afraid you don't have the choice in the matter." She didn't always enjoy commanding those around her, especially her friends. It was one of those good/bad things of being Heda. "You will be trained by one of the experienced scouts under my command. Should you need someone to look after the kids we can arrange something. They will be protected regardless, you have my word." This would allow Klara to train with those under her care being looked after carefully.

And everyone knew what happened if someone hurt those under her protection.

[Klara]

Klara couldn't believe this, of course she didn't say Lexa was doing crazy thing without having thought about the consequences, she must have thought about it and weight up the pros and cons but when the thief was doing so, she couldn't see a consequence which worth the risk to let her free. If Lexa didn't lock her up or have her executed, Klara prefered not to imagine what her people will thought. They would think that Lexa isn't a great Heda because when the thief was someone she knew since her childhood she let her feels take the control.

"But Lexa, think about what people will think if you do that... They will protest against your decision... I don't want to get you in trouble." Klara said to the Commander even if as the way she told Klara that she could and will the thief understood that the decision was made. But then Lexa used a very good and serious argument, the orphans. She was right, the orphans needed to have someone to take care of them but maybe they deserved someone better than her. "Do they deserved to have a thief as a guardian and mentor?" Klara answered to Lexa's question by another one. No, the orphans deserved a better person and maybe if she got locked away, this person would take her place. "Without me, these kids might be alive, they would just live in better conditions and have a better mentor than me which can't be difficult to find... I'm not a good person, I'm a thief and whatever my motivation is, it doesn't make me someone better...".

"If you say so and as I have no other choice..." Klara finally agreed even if she wasn't enjoying the idea and she added "Just tell me two things Lexa, would you have done this for another person? And why do you do this?". As the Commander asked her if she needed someone to look after the kids after saying that the thief would be trained by one of the best scout, Klara answered "Yeah, I'm gonna need someone to take care of them but I will need to go see them with that person otherwise they will never trust this stranger...".

Derrick

[Derrick]

Klara

"If thet do, then let them. I will not be swayed by doing what I feel is right for my people" Lexa was trouble on a daily basis if anyone could believe that. Her in trouble with her own people wasn't something new and it would happen again, so long as she was doing what she felt was right for them. As leader, she had to think of everything, not just one thing and often the rest were blinded because they didn't have experience or understand. It was something she learned early on in her training - that not everyone was going to agree and not everyone had the mind of a leader.

Lexa merely looked at her and wished she could counter with what was truly in her mind. Do their people deserve to be lead by a murderer? Murder far outstriped stealing yet she couldn't speak of the conclave in that manner. "Being a thief doesn't have to define you." Lexa added, giving a slight pause before she continued. "They might live in better conditions and they might not. Right now they are alive and they are cared for. Which goes a long way, much more than what you think."

A difficult question for certain. "Yes and no. It would have depended on the person. Someone who would benefit from this, and someone our people would benefit from as well. As for why? You have skills. And we need those skills." Lexa inclined her head and began to walk back to the commander's throne yet she didn't sit down, not yet. "Of course. And you have permission to do so." Lexa wasn't blind or stupid. Klara needed to go with the person so that they would all feel better. Yet if Klara thought she could escape her new duties then Lexa was going to have to dash those hopes.

[Klara]

Klara didn't see how making a scout of her was the right thing to do for their people but she wasn't going to argue with Lexa about that, she will just obey and trust her on this decision. Plus, Lexa was nice enough to let her free so Klara owe her one. But she was still annoyed by the idea she could cause troubles to the Commander and knowing that she didn't mind it didn't make her more comfortable with it. "You know that I can't do that... If someone cause you trouble because of me, I won't stay quiet and let it happen..." Klara told Lexa explaining her what she felt about this. She had always been protective, so she couldn't let things like that happen to her friends or to anybody close to her.

"Maybe you're right and it doesn't have to define me but it's still a part of who I am, it's how people see me and it's not going to change whatever I do." Klara said as Lexa told her that being a thief didn't have to define her. Then as Lexa spoke about the orphans and how what Klara did for them was important, she answered "I just do what I can to make their lives easier than mine was at their age. It would have been selfish to let them on their own knowing how hard it is to grow up alone." she strongly believed they deserved so much better than her life but life was unfair and nobody could do something about that.

Klara listened carefully to Lexa's answers to her questions before saying "With all due respect, Lexa, I think you overestimate me... I can't really see which skills I have that you can need... But if you think I can be useful as a scout then I believe you." Her words were true, she didn't see how her thief skills could be useful for a scout but it didn't matter, she will probably find it out soon enough. Then when Lexa gave her the permission to go to TonDC with the person who will take care of the orphans while she will be away training, Klara smiled at her and thanked her.

Derrick