The Substitute Senior Steward-Summoner (Closed)

Ethan passively listened to the woman's beaming praise, still as taciturn as ever while she spoke. It was not until she mentioned the coming months that his expression flickered into life, spurred to a faint scowl at the thought that they would need to fix the myriad issues arrayed before them by others. For as much as he enjoyed his position, the fact that so many seemed to like nothing more than making it nearly impossible for him was not something he particularly envied about his profession.

So be it, I fear the world would crumble were it not for our actions. He thought, a rueful look distorting his face for a moment. His attention refocused on his superior as he was asked to relinquish the choker. He turned his hand over and dropped it into hers, finally tipping his own hood back to give her his ever present stony stare.

"I have already done the dismissal paperwork, Senior Steward. I trust that you will be more diligent in your admissions work from here on out." Ethan explained, the batch of papers quickly finding their way from his case to be held out to her. While there was no inflection to indicate that this chiding was meant in jest, he had intended it as such.

He knew, however, that he was awful at jokes. He also would have to remember to discipline himself later for losing focus while being addressed by his boss. Much to do, yet without the time in which to do it all.

As Tybresa's hood was raised, Ethan saw fit to throw his up again as he deposited the papers upon the table as he had been instructed by Tybresa. It seemed she was acting out, something that most certainly did not settle well with Ethan. They had worked closely and while she tended not to be a particularly emotive woman, he hadn't ever seen anything quite like this before. Still, her tone did not offend him, there were Diamond ranked Summoners far more coarse than she whom Ethan had served under.

"Each of us require a rest, from time to time. We are mortal, like it or not, and so we can break if we push ourselves there. To err is human, and we are nothing more than that." Ethan mused, subtle hints of amusement sinking into his tone as he took long strides to catch up to his superior, continuing in a hushed tone when he had fallen in stride with her, "You mustn't blame yourself. Grief is natural. I have seen you work, you were ripe for an extended vacation. The circumstances and timing may have been unfortunate but that does not allow anyone the right to demonize you. Yourself included."

But with that, he had nothing more to say and did not even know if that bore mentioning. The truly interpersonal level of speaking eluded his grasp. Yet were he placed before a crowd, he could wow them effortlessly. Strange the way scope managed to change everything he understood about his only real strength. He realized the thought had made him frown slightly and corrected the oversight immediately, returning to non-expression without any particular expenditure of effort.