"An orphanage?" Hirem repeated, unsure of what the Common word meant. He turned to Sezkero and furrowed his brow, waiting for some kind of an explanation. Despite his unfamiliarity with the concept, as the woman introduced him to the idea of what an orphanage was - "It's a place for the children to stay. A community home for the children." - he quickly grew enthused by the prospect. The fact there is a word in Common for such a thing means... means that it has been done before! Kero must have found one in another city, how else would she come to know what it meant? Turning his gaze back to the street, a slow smile brewing on his features, Hirem folded his arms and tried to imagine exactly what Sezkero was suggesting. But what is a community home for children? What does it look like? How does one run it? In this respect, he was crippled by his Benshira heritage; in Yahebah, there simply was no real 'community home' that was established for parentless children. Ziborah's Palm, a charity house, had catered to the widowed and the orphaned, but children did not actually stay there for any period of time - they stayed with their cousins, their neighbours, their friends. The idea that someone would be unwanted and cast off into the streets was laughable in Yahebah.
But this wasn't Yahebah, and Hirem couldn't rely on the attitudes of his people to survive in this foreign society. If he wanted to provide a home for children in need, then the Rivarians would expect that he would create the foundation for one to be established. Anything else would be cowardly.
Sezkero's enthusiasm for the idea died quickly, and she immediately started to retract her words. "I-I mean, of courssse it isss unrealissstic. The councccil wouldn't go through with it." Frowning, Hirem glanced up the cliff face behind them, staring up at the towering city of the Akalak. Wouldn't they? They are opposed to these orphans wandering the streets, and would rather see them evicted from the streets... but if an alternative was presented to them? If they could be presented with a more hopeful, a more prosperous solution? Trying to convince the Council to support this idea - for there didn't seem to be anyone else that would fund this plan of theirs - seemed impossible, but Hirem wasn't willing to call it a lost cause just yet. They are not possessed with malice. If they see a way to keep the peace as well as bring happiness to their streets, they will take it... I'm sure of it. Noticing that his friend was now heading out of the alley, Hirem redirected his steps to follow alongside her, tucking his cold fingers into his armpits for warmth. All the while, he considered what she had said, weighed the potential risks of this plan with the benefits, and tried to envision a future where it was possible. It will be tough, yes - but if we can make it work? If we can make it succeed? While he had been trying to work through this issue for the past season by himself, and hadn't tried reaching out to any of his friends for support, he was grateful to rely upon Sezkero as a source of aid.
"You are right, it is an expensive prospect. But how expensive would it really be for a city of this magnitude? How much would it cost to feed and clothe a - a dozen or so children? How much would it cost once those children can support themselves, can work and provide for the city on their own terms? And what would we be able to give back to Riverfall for its contribution? I think," he declared proudly, "that the Council would be all too happy to support the education of more skilled workers that can assist the city in its various industries. Throwing these children away is just wasting an opportunity... we can make them see that." Reaching out, he placed a firm hand on Sezkero's shoulder, squeezing it gently to give her encouragement. "And these children... they are unwilling to take risks, but they understand the danger they are in. If we can only show them the safety that we can provide, they will be eager to come under our protection. Anything is better than facing the wrath of the Kuvay'Nas. They will be unwilling to trust us, but we can change their minds. All we need is do is," and here he gave her a knowing wink, "show them the truth of our hearts."
Stopping in the middle of the alley, Hirem faced Sezkero and gave her a firm nod. "Here's what I propose. I have not seen a Kuvan brand on your wrist yet, and as you can see, I don't possess one myself. The Council would never listen to guests of the city claiming they know how to run it. We must work towards gaining those brands." That was the first step, and by far, the easiest. "Next, we must work towards gaining an audience with them. I do not know how yet, but I will find a way. To persuade them, we'll need to explain the situation and give them our plan on how we'll transform these wayward children into proper citizens of Riverfall. If we can get a few of the boys to speak out for themselves, that will aid our cause tremendously. To that end," he gestured back in the direction of where they had come, "we should maintain these little visits. Every ten days or so, we can meet here and talk to the children that will arrive, cultivating their trust. Once we feel that they have grown adjusted to us, we will reveal to them our plan. We'll ease them into the idea of moving to an orphanage."
By the time he was finished speaking, he was beaming, his smile wide despite the growing chill. He stuck his hand out to Sezkero, an offer to shake and cement the pact that he had formed between them. "My friend, what do you say?"
But this wasn't Yahebah, and Hirem couldn't rely on the attitudes of his people to survive in this foreign society. If he wanted to provide a home for children in need, then the Rivarians would expect that he would create the foundation for one to be established. Anything else would be cowardly.
Sezkero's enthusiasm for the idea died quickly, and she immediately started to retract her words. "I-I mean, of courssse it isss unrealissstic. The councccil wouldn't go through with it." Frowning, Hirem glanced up the cliff face behind them, staring up at the towering city of the Akalak. Wouldn't they? They are opposed to these orphans wandering the streets, and would rather see them evicted from the streets... but if an alternative was presented to them? If they could be presented with a more hopeful, a more prosperous solution? Trying to convince the Council to support this idea - for there didn't seem to be anyone else that would fund this plan of theirs - seemed impossible, but Hirem wasn't willing to call it a lost cause just yet. They are not possessed with malice. If they see a way to keep the peace as well as bring happiness to their streets, they will take it... I'm sure of it. Noticing that his friend was now heading out of the alley, Hirem redirected his steps to follow alongside her, tucking his cold fingers into his armpits for warmth. All the while, he considered what she had said, weighed the potential risks of this plan with the benefits, and tried to envision a future where it was possible. It will be tough, yes - but if we can make it work? If we can make it succeed? While he had been trying to work through this issue for the past season by himself, and hadn't tried reaching out to any of his friends for support, he was grateful to rely upon Sezkero as a source of aid.
"You are right, it is an expensive prospect. But how expensive would it really be for a city of this magnitude? How much would it cost to feed and clothe a - a dozen or so children? How much would it cost once those children can support themselves, can work and provide for the city on their own terms? And what would we be able to give back to Riverfall for its contribution? I think," he declared proudly, "that the Council would be all too happy to support the education of more skilled workers that can assist the city in its various industries. Throwing these children away is just wasting an opportunity... we can make them see that." Reaching out, he placed a firm hand on Sezkero's shoulder, squeezing it gently to give her encouragement. "And these children... they are unwilling to take risks, but they understand the danger they are in. If we can only show them the safety that we can provide, they will be eager to come under our protection. Anything is better than facing the wrath of the Kuvay'Nas. They will be unwilling to trust us, but we can change their minds. All we need is do is," and here he gave her a knowing wink, "show them the truth of our hearts."
Stopping in the middle of the alley, Hirem faced Sezkero and gave her a firm nod. "Here's what I propose. I have not seen a Kuvan brand on your wrist yet, and as you can see, I don't possess one myself. The Council would never listen to guests of the city claiming they know how to run it. We must work towards gaining those brands." That was the first step, and by far, the easiest. "Next, we must work towards gaining an audience with them. I do not know how yet, but I will find a way. To persuade them, we'll need to explain the situation and give them our plan on how we'll transform these wayward children into proper citizens of Riverfall. If we can get a few of the boys to speak out for themselves, that will aid our cause tremendously. To that end," he gestured back in the direction of where they had come, "we should maintain these little visits. Every ten days or so, we can meet here and talk to the children that will arrive, cultivating their trust. Once we feel that they have grown adjusted to us, we will reveal to them our plan. We'll ease them into the idea of moving to an orphanage."
By the time he was finished speaking, he was beaming, his smile wide despite the growing chill. He stuck his hand out to Sezkero, an offer to shake and cement the pact that he had formed between them. "My friend, what do you say?"
