He absolutely deserved it. And he took it like a man. But just in case she was actually upset, he added, rubbing his arm where she'd struck him. "Nina. If I were in need of someone to avenge my death, I could think of no better person than you."
That was basically an Astartes marriage proposal. If they did things like marriage.
"Now?" Yeah well. Wow. That was the question. He pushed to his feet, returning to where he'd lain his armor. Time to get dressed and buy some time.
Deep sigh. "It is clear no one here wants my aid. And they are not under the protection of the Emperor, so I am not obligated to help them in any way." In other words, get rekt, Calderans. "Simply try to return home."
Aww. "That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." Not true, but it was definitely one of the best things someone like her could hear.
Nina remained where she was lounging on the ground. "I don't think that's true — the people that summoned us want our help." But fair, she guessed. "And how do you plan to do that? Walk?"
"It was meant as a compliment." So, yes, she coud take it as such. It was about the highest compliment he could think of.
He began the slightly less time consuming process of redonning his armor. This time it was simply a matter of putting the armor pieces on, and letting the communion commence through the connection. He paused, looking over at her, face hardened. "And what loyalty do we owe them? They kidnap us, strip us of all that makes us ourselves, humiliate us, expect us to perform for the privilege of getting to be more like ourselves...and in any of this did they ASK for our help?"
Here is where they differed, though perhaps unsurprisingly.
"What did they take from you?" She asked. "I guess I don't have the same... need, like you and a lot of others might? So being asked to help is just a normal day for me, different world or otherwise. I'm sorry, for whatever it's worth."
He started putting on his armor more hastily now, almost angry. It stung a bit when you drove the connectors home, instead of letting them self-initiate, but that didn't matter right now.
"Everything. I am pathetic as I am right now. No better than a mortal." There might be some contempt in the word. For all the time and effort and pain he spent becoming an Astartes, having it all yanked away and returned to some...lesser state was a betrayal of all he had hoped to escape. It was why he had no idea why people found him so threatening. To him, he's...pathetic. Empty. Useless.
Pffff. He was as harmless as a kitten. He didn't even have a SMALL boltgun.
It was an offense to his pride, but the whole day monitoring Maedhros's comms (why does NO ONE lock their comms) it was almost small by comparison. Besides, an offer of help from a Sister of Battle was different from a normal offer. "I may take you up on that. But I would owe you a debt."
"That does not count." He tried to think about what he could offer. "If I get my chainsword back, I could teach you to wield it." Yes, Nina, he was offering to let you touch his sword.
She figured it wouldn't. Nina laughed. "I'm not really a... melee weapon girl, but sure. Why not." Couldn't hurt to broaden her horizons?
"I think I know a guy that'll help me show you that move, too. I'll ask him when I get home." She pushed herself to her feet finally, brushing herself off. "Just tell me when you want to do it."
Gadriel pushed the last pauldron into place, giving a final shrug to settle the armor in place. "It may convert you." Chainswords are very gratifying to wield.
"Take time to heal first." See, he was very considerate. He held out a hand in an offer of gratitude--a handshake, a forearm clasp--whatever she was used to. "Thank you for this." He meant it.
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thecodexabides) wrote2025-01-01 01:22 pm
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She shrugged. Whatever. She offered. Nina leaned back on her palms with a sigh. "Whats your plan now?"
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That was basically an Astartes marriage proposal. If they did things like marriage.
"Now?" Yeah well. Wow. That was the question. He pushed to his feet, returning to where he'd lain his armor. Time to get dressed and buy some time.
Deep sigh. "It is clear no one here wants my aid. And they are not under the protection of the Emperor, so I am not obligated to help them in any way." In other words, get rekt, Calderans. "Simply try to return home."
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Nina remained where she was lounging on the ground. "I don't think that's true — the people that summoned us want our help." But fair, she guessed. "And how do you plan to do that? Walk?"
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He began the slightly less time consuming process of redonning his armor. This time it was simply a matter of putting the armor pieces on, and letting the communion commence through the connection. He paused, looking over at her, face hardened. "And what loyalty do we owe them? They kidnap us, strip us of all that makes us ourselves, humiliate us, expect us to perform for the privilege of getting to be more like ourselves...and in any of this did they ASK for our help?"
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"What did they take from you?" She asked. "I guess I don't have the same... need, like you and a lot of others might? So being asked to help is just a normal day for me, different world or otherwise. I'm sorry, for whatever it's worth."
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"Everything. I am pathetic as I am right now. No better than a mortal." There might be some contempt in the word. For all the time and effort and pain he spent becoming an Astartes, having it all yanked away and returned to some...lesser state was a betrayal of all he had hoped to escape.
It was why he had no idea why people found him so threatening. To him, he's...pathetic. Empty. Useless.
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"I can help you get it back, if that's not some offense to your pride."
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It was an offense to his pride, but the whole day monitoring Maedhros's comms (why does NO ONE lock their comms) it was almost small by comparison. Besides, an offer of help from a Sister of Battle was different from a normal offer. "I may take you up on that. But I would owe you a debt."
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"Lucky for you, if I asked for you to make good on a debt, it would just be to back me up in a fight."
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"I think I know a guy that'll help me show you that move, too. I'll ask him when I get home." She pushed herself to her feet finally, brushing herself off. "Just tell me when you want to do it."
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"Take time to heal first." See, he was very considerate. He held out a hand in an offer of gratitude--a handshake, a forearm clasp--whatever she was used to. "Thank you for this." He meant it.
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Nina, unsurprisingly, clasped his forearm tightly and squeezed. "No problem, brother. I'll be around. Don't get into anymore trouble without me."