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Of course. There is no point in presentation unless it's to be enjoyed.

[ His gaze flits in her direction, and then his smiling visage drops back toward the box in his hand. He can tell that what is within is something soft, based on its (lack of) sound, but he still takes a somewhat gentler tack in opening the box itself. One of his claws hooks beneath the lid and casually upends it, sending it flipping to the table in front of him.

As for what's within... He draws the sweater from the box with arched eyebrows, and his lack of comprehension at the sight of it feels entirely like a hundred different moments of the Great Crusade. Human iconography, rendered as foreign as any xenos culture by millennia and light-years of separation—and yet, this thing in particular is eye-straining enough that it would fit in on any former III Legion ship without meriting question. ]

Annie, I haven't the slightest idea what this is, and I adore it.

This is going to sound weird. It's called an Ugly Christmas sweater.

[ Her mouth is curved up into a delighted grin. Even her face pricks with a healthy color as she beams at him. ]

Christmas is the name of a winter holiday that spans a few days towards the last month of the year. It's a celebration of the birth of the son of a god. Lots of traditions ended up getting borrowed or co-opted from others faiths, religions, and regions over the centuries.

Ugly Christmas sweaters are just a fashion that comes in and out of favor. I think they're fun. Some people hold contests and parties in the weeks leading up to Christmas itself. I... I honestly love them. They're fun and crazy looking. This was the best one I could find without making a bargain with Mana.

[ She shrugs happily before taking a big bite of her pie. ]

I needed a fun project. This was perfect.

[ Lucius' eyes drop back to the garment in his hand, and as she explains, he hums and clicks his tongue in sudden understanding. Just as he thought, a cultural relic—and of the very sort the Imperium had turned him to stamp out, too, before the III Legion learned just what a lie the Imperial Truth had been. ]

No wonder I know nothing of it, then. If such things existed on any colony world the III Legion visited, they would have been razed by the end of it. [ And without seeing the word in writing, he doesn't make the connection between "Christmas" and Margaret's Jesus Christ, either. He doesn't elaborate on the thought, and instead says, ] I can see why you enjoy them so much. I've never seen anything else quite like it.

[ He turns the sweater over; with his newly-grown wings it will need to be altered to fit him if it hasn't been already. But, no matter. It should be simple enough, if need be. ]

That's... a bit sad. There's so many different kinds of like, temples, churches and the like all over Earth. I know humanity has like, a serious love of participating in their favorite hobby. Conquering each other.

But the idea of loosing it all just kind of feels sad. There's all kinds of things that shouldn't be lost just because you don't believe in them. It can still be beautiful.

[ Annie would get in so much trouble, but she is still a fairly innocent young woman in spite of her growing comfort with death and murder. She cares about the beauty of things. ]

I'm glad you like it. I had a tailor fix the back.

[ There are buttons sewn in so that the back can be opened up. The tailor had understood the sweater was supposed to be a bit tacky and used gold little bells to act as buttons. It looks silly but also weirdly fitting with the theme of the sweater. ]

I don't disagree with you, my dear. The Imperium of Man would rather see humankind strangled on its leash than flourish free of its collar. How could I not have come to loathe the tyranny of its law?

[ And yet, even as he says as much, the tone his voice holds is one of humor, rather than any guilt for the atrocities he had carried out in the Imperium's name. He loathes it, true enough, but not for any moral objection he happens to have to genocide. ]

In any case, [ he says, and only now does he slide into the seat across from Annie, ] I must thank you once again for this gift. I cannot wait to wear it.

[ Eridanus is going to loathe it, and that makes him even more excited to try it on at home. ]

Considering you're into personal choice?

[ She quirks an eyebrow at him playfully. How could he be anything but bored with it? Of course, she wasn't about to point out tyranny would stifle the kind of creativity he seems to prefer. ]

You're welcome. [ Her smile comes back so strongly that Annie can feel her dimples. She had needed this. Needed him.

God. He was so important to her. ]

I probably shouldn't love so easily anymore but you're... you're on that short list of people I'm okay loving. You're pretty darn amazing.

[ It's probably a dad idea loving him the way she does but Lucius is special to her. Annie loves easily still. That would be hard to change. ]

[ Lucius is fond of Annie. More so than most would believe him to have the capacity for, in fact. And yet, when she admits that she cares for him so strongly, an amused bark escapes him. His eyebrows arc, turning his smile incredulous.

Lucius, for all his self-delusion, knows what he is: an immaculate killer, capricious and dangerous to all without exception, with the blood of millions soaking the blade of his sword alone. For such a sweet girl to look at him and see a person who has earned the depth of her affection—well, either she is a fool beyond compare, or there is something within her truly worthy of being treasured.

Lucius doesn't see his little scholar as foolish. ]

Well, I can't say I would recommend it — but you wouldn't be the first person to feel so in spite of their better judgment, either. I am fairly incredible, aren't I? [ Another laugh winds from him, and this one takes on the melody of a low, fond chuckle. ] You are dear to me as well, and that is something few can say. Take pride in having earned the affection of the Eternal, young scholar.

[ He will get to see more of her violent streak come out. Annie is a killer. It used to be just about survival, but she is starting to get a taste for it. She also craves a chance to truly gain the kind of power that might banish away the nightmares she has.

Sadly the only way to do that is to find a way to punch her way through the Sea of Stars. To know that there is no true limit and that the lost souls of those she loves so dearly can be snatched back and given a final rest. That kind of power won't come cheaply.

She knows that. ]

I can admit it was a... calculation deciding to let my guard down around you. You'd be able to see around most ploys, so I decided that I was never going to lie to you.

Or like, you know, try and manipulate you. You're ten thousand years old, Lucius. I couldn't out think you. It helped me just act like myself without any fronts. Most other people I'm trying to think of if I need to be several steps ahead. I think my favorite people here are the ones I don't have the need to manipulate.

No, you couldn't — but you wouldn't have been the first to make such a grave miscalculation, either. [ His smile remains broad across his face, but as he watches her from his side of the table, it doesn't quite reach his eyes. ] I don't know if they believe me to be nothing more than an empty-headed glutton, or if they think themselves far cleverer than they are, but the galaxy has no shortage of fools who believe themselves sharp enough to outwit a man who has survived countless centuries by the trust of nothing but his own blade and his own wits.

[ He always appreciates those with wits to recognize that he poses just as much danger with his sword sheathed as he does with it drawn—but, in truth, that is not where his thoughts linger now. ]

You would think being our Primarch's chosen Champion would lend me some manner of my brothers' loyalty and respect — but, of course, that would be a foolish thing to assume. [ A low laugh hums from his throat, and he shakes his head. ] After all, we were a legion of men possessed by only our own selfish desires. Why should any who have come to serve beneath my banner since bear loyalty to anything but their own advancement? If any one of them believed he could depose me without consequence, he wouldn't hesitate to drive his blade deep into my hearts himself.

It is tiresome, that need to perpetually anticipate and distrust even what seems benign. We are both lucky, to be able to speak to one another without it.

That's their mistake. It takes real intelligence to be top anything. I was a cheer leading captain.
[ Annie realizes he knows nothing of this. She flicks some hair back before explaining a bit. ]

What that basically meant is pretty much being in charge of morale boosting and getting crowds of people hyped up at sporting events. We would do athletic and gymnastics tricks to get people excited and focused for the main event. Most people think it's just about like, being pretty. But I had to be able to toss girls my weight up in the air or catch them in a way that looked artistic. Without hurting them.

That may be not as tough as sword fighting but hey, I was damn good. People tend to see girls in short uniforms that make them look cute and think that we're just silly little girls.

[ It gets her thinking. ]

You worked your ass off to get to your position. You had every right to be proud. Like I was. I thought it was great when I got picked as team captain. I admit I may have bragged a bunch to my friends. I mean, I bet you had a bit of swagger too. You know how awesome you are. It's hard to deny being great.

[ Annie is right, that Lucius has no idea what cheerleading is. But her given explanation makes sense enough, both in the function she describes and in what it entails. There is a sense in which he might even compare it to the carnivalia that would precede Fulgrim's appearances, filled with cavorting, living works of human art.

When she makes the comparison to how she had felt when she had been promoted to captain, however, he chuckles—not with any disrespect, but with amusement for how similar she sounds to himself when he had first achieved the rank of Captain himself. ]

A bit may be something of an understatement. Frankly, if you think me arrogant now, you would have hated to see me when I was first promoted to Captain of the 13th Company. [ Idly, he leans his jaw against his knuckles, mirth creasing the corners of his eyes. ] It's a rather innocent sort of pride you speak of, but I know precisely the feeling. I bragged, as well.

[ Some people would probably find it disrespectful to compare what she speaks of to promotion among the ranks of the Emperor's great Astartes, but it is so apt the Lucius can't help but find if funny. ]

[ Annie wishes she could show him. She misses the hard work and training. Exercise kept her from getting too stuck in her own thoughts. She gets the feeling that maybe she needs a hobby so that she doesn't try to hide away again. ]

Well it's earned arrogance. I can't stand people who act as if they're great without having earned it. I put in so much time. Not just the physical training. I kept on top of what the others needed to do.

Sometimes they hated me for it, but we won competitions between different squads based on how good our routines were. I hate losing.

[ She tries to picture him back then. Annie tilts her head a bit studying him with her bright green eyes. Soon she is giggling looking a bit younger than she actually is. ]

God, the others must have wanted to take you down a peg or two. There was this guy who used to be the Captain of one of the sports teams like that. He made the mistake of annoying the defensive linebacker.

[ Annie wonders if she should explain football to Lucius. Will he understand that no one should upset the big strong wall of muscle?

Yeah, that barely requires an explanation. ]

Let's just say you shouldn't annoy someone who can easily hold you upside down out a window two stories up. Not the best plan for getting the team to follow your lead.

[ She misses her dumb football friends so much. Some of them were great. In hindsight, Duncan would have been a much better boyfriend than Dylan. He hated seeing sad girls. Oh well, too late now! ]

[ Though it's hardly an uncommon sentiment, his smile grows broader at the words, I hate losing. ]

Better to hate it than to love it, I suppose. If one enjoys defeat too much, it removes that drive to better oneself.

[ Some masochistic pleasure in it is fine, but nevertheless. Not that he would know anything about it, seeing as— ]

Oh, they certainly did. Unfortunately for them, their ambitions surpassed their talents by by far. [ His smile turns vicious on his lips. ] Even in my youth, my superiority in the art of single combat was uncontested. Even some of the Lord Commanders looked jealously upon my ascendant star. [ Okay, mostly Eidolon, but he's bragging here. ] I suppose they must have felt threatened by the attention I commanded.

[ Anyway, ten-thousand years later, Lucius absolutely does not count that time Loken punched him as a loss. They agreed to a duel of swords, not fisticuffs. ]

In any case, the Emperor's Children were a disciplined bunch at the time, and those within Squad Nasicae fell in line in deference to my skill. Not a single one of them could say a word against my ability to lead from the front.

[ A leadership philosophy highly valued within the III Legion, when it still valued rank and organization at all. ]

Besides. After a point isn't it a little sad? Or.... I guess it could lean kinky and I don't want to go there.

[ Annie pulls a face. While she has started noticing boys again Annie isn't one easily swayed by "needs of the flesh" to put it delicately. ]

I really want to watch you fight someone. I saw my father in a few friendly matches but that was pretty rare. So few people loved swords the way he did. I think.... while he wouldn't be as good as you he would still enjoy himself.

[ Annie smiled as brightly as she was capable of. She is an expressive girl so really it is a truly bright look. ]

Well yeah. I can see that. When you... Whenever you've taken to instructing me you have a very personal touch. I can't see you benching yourself.

[ Lucius laughs, because that's true. All one would need to do is find those torrid missives he and Eridanus had exchanged to see how "kinky" the pleasure in defeat could be. ]

And I would love to show you just how good I really am. Unfortunately, even with a whole wide galaxy's worth of opponents, finding those good enough to provide entertaining sport is something of a challenge. Few of the fighters here are worth my time, and those that might truly be called swordsmen have proven... elusive.

[ By which he means the few that have openly identified themselves as such have been reluctant to agree to a contest of blades. Well, nevertheless, ]

The only man here who has actually taken me up on a duel is Eridanus, and... [ And it's good that Annie hadn't been there. But he refuses to allow any darkness to tinge his thoughts on the matter, and he turns the truth into another implication entirely as a grin spreads across his lips, vicious and toothy. ] Well, let's just say it's good that you weren't there to see the end result. The two of us can get rather heated.

[ It's not an entirely deceptive implication, anyway. ]

I can't show off my.... skills like this. I almost wonder if it's worth saving up to bribe Mana. Of course. First I want something delightful I've been plotting I told Eridanus about.

[ Her eyes spark with the kind of devilsh glee one might see if they saw a young murderer standing over a fresh kill. ]

Oh.

[ The smile fades and Annie actually blushes. ]

I once playfully teased him about you two being like a pair of unhinged demons. I had no idea a fight could do uh, that.

[ That's really gay Lucius. But also sweet like writing each other murderous love letters.

Annie is rooting for you two. ]

I'm going to be in so much trouble some day. One of you will give me so much shit when some guy has me acting uh.... I honestly have no idea. I was only ever entangled with the asshole I had to kill. I suppose I was very sweet. I don't like, swoon. That's embarrassing.

Oh, Annie. [ The smile stays broad across his lips, something wry prickling at its edges. ] I'd say more, but I'd hate to ruin that sweet innocence of yours.

[ There are things more interesting to discuss, anyway—or, at the least, things he only has the opportunity to discuss now. Against the booth, his three-pronged tail lifts and swings downward again, stingers thumping against the seat like the end of a comfortable cat's tail. ]

You have no need to worry about that from me, dear one. Eridanus... Well, if he ever gives you too much trouble, you can tell me, you know. At least one of us understands that a bird doesn't learn to fly without stretching its wings a bit.

[ What he is saying is that he'll make like a jock and shove that nerd into a locker if she needs some space. And then he cocks his head at her, an eyebrow arcing as his own eyes glint with mischief. ]

But I must admit, seeing that look on your face as me curious. I can only begin to imagine what diabolical plan lurks behind such eyes. Surely if you've let Eridanus in on your plan, you can do the same for me?

Oh my God. [ Her face goes red but Annie is also laughing so it's hard to tell if she is actually embarrassed.]

I'm not really that bad. I can talk about sex. I'm just not about to fall into bed with the first cute guy who makes me feel ready. I just also don't need to worry about Eridanus getting annoyed and eating my possible dates.

Maybe keep him tied up.

[ Take that how you will. Annie's face splits into a delighted grin. ]

Imagine this.

Either summoning a swarm of scorpions equal to my weight or transforming into that many. Imagine how horrified someone would be.

You are cruel, Annie. [ It won't embarrass her to say what he isn't into, will it? Eh, it's probably fine. Glittering with mirth, his eyes crinkle at their edges. ] Such things aren't my usual preference. You've handed me such a perfect opening, and I can't even say that I am already on it!

[ But when she describes the plot she has in mind, his own eyes light with something aside from humor. ]

It seems that your machinations are devious indeed. [ And that she has taken quite well to her current shape. And why shouldn't she? As inferior as it is to his true flesh, it must be quite the improvement for a mortal girl. Lucius leans back in his seat, inclining his head to regard her with some pride. ] For a great many mortals, that would be an incredible torture, yes. And something a bit outside the norm, too.

[ That many scorpions is not part of the average torturer's toolkit, after all. ]

There's like, a couple ways you could take that. [ Annie is trying not to think on it too much. There is only so far she can go without it being a bit gross given her relationship with Eridanus. ]

I know. I'm amazing.

[ Annie preens happily. She can picture just how truly terrified someone would be.

She wants to laugh. The look of joy is right there plain on her face. ]

I love both ideas. I just can't decide which would be better to lean into. It's funny but I never realized how much fun I could have with this. It used to be just about surviving whatever this place was throwing at me.

I believe that is the point, my dear. So much as I have my own complaints about Her methods, I cannot fault the ends the Fog God turns Her powers toward. People like you and Eridanus — you both simply needed a little nudge to embrace the freedom that has rested at your fingertips this whole time.

[ Hence while Lucius can't wholly resent Her. It's not so different from Slaanesh leading his Legion toward their epiphany. ]

Oh, but if you ask me, transforming into them yourself will be far more terrifying. It leaves your poor victims with nothing to strike back against.

I knew I was always... a bit different. I don't think it makes me bad. I still choose my victims and targets carefully. If someone ends up in my webs or at my feet it's a deliberate choice.

This spell was never supposed to be more than another way to deal with problems.

[ Annie picks up her mug with a frown. ]

I know we could end up with people like the poachers again. I don't know how to fight. I do understand how fear works though. Setting the stage is important. If they want to terrorize me I can always teach them a thing or two I've learned about being scared.

[ That's his girl. ]

And just think, Annie — so many little scorpions will be harder to catch than one scorpion-shaped girl. [ It makes him wonder what might happen if a few pieces of her get crunched in the process, but... It's probably fine, no worse than a few bangs in a struggle. ] If you're worried that you cannot protect yourself, that sounds like quite the bonus, wouldn't you say?

True.

[ She considers the spell and gives a girlish smile. ]

I just thought of it in terms of how to quickly instill fear. People make mistakes when they're scared or angry. They don't think past striking in like, one direction or just running away.

Very true! That is why my kin and I have been reprogrammed not to feel such cumbersome emotions.

[ He drops this piece of information as casually as anything else he has said throughout their conversation. As if it is worth no comment at all, his thoughts remain clearly on Annie and no other, the angle of his cheek shifting where it is still propped against his knuckles. ]

But just in case you find yourself the target of one who is not so easily intimidated, those other tactical advantages are worth your consideration as well.

IC Contact | ryslig

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cw: many bugs

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