"not here right now.
leave a message. will get back to you soon.
probably."
TEXT
CALL
VIDEO
NOTE: As of 12/2016, Rey has adopted the alias "Fiona Stransky" when working with the Guard. Something to keep in mind, as Rey maintains a low profile with her involvement in the group. Other than what is mentioned in the Guard records, there is no trace of a "Fiona" identified on the network.
[Fortunately for Rey, Henry's not, for the most part, much interested in interpersonal gossip. It only gains his notice when it concerns those he cares for.]
If it gives Maketh no umbrage, then it matters not to me.
[He's perfectly willing to cut this line off there, unless it's a cause of actual contention between her and Maketh.
Which he doubts. Maketh did not seem troubled when they spoke of her relationship with Rey.]
[Rey wondered if that might be the case, but she doesn't know Henry enough to predict how he'd react to these things. Moreover, she is beyond inexperienced with these things to know what's normal and what's not. Everything has just been instinctual.]
Don't think so, no.
[Since Maketh was the one who sought Rey out. She's sure it would have been obvious by now if there were any doubts.
[After a moment, she bites her tongue.] So, was there something you wanted to talk about?
[What he has to say is somewhat... convoluted, but necessary, he feels, to emphasise his point. Rey is another person of the future, which means that as far as Henry is concerned she does not have the same understanding of honour and vows as relics like himself and Saber, whose word is their life.]
Whence I come, there is a famous tale of two sworn brothers, Amis and Amiloun. Fear not; I will recount no more than a part. It begins with Belisaunt, the beautiful daughter of the Duke whom they serve, seducing Amis. The Duke's hateful steward, desiring the downfall of Amis and Amiloun, chances upon their affair and wastes not his chance. He betrays Amis to their lord.
The Duke calls Amis to him, ready to put him to death for the offence. Amis claims innocence and begs the Duke for a trial by battle to clear his name. The Duke allows it. Yet Amis cannot swear that he has not lain with Belisaunt, for he has, and should he fight he faces God's judgement, aware of his own guilt. So Amiloun decides to take Amis' place, for their resemblance is perfectly matched. On his way to the trial Amiloun is visited by an angel, who informs him that should he proceed then he shall suffer God's wrath and be afflicted with leprosy, the living death.
[Henry shudders at the thought.]
For the sake of his sworn brother, Amiloun nonetheless fights the trial by battle as Amis. He slays the steward and so spares Amis' life and honour. But as the angel promised, he is stricken with leprosy for his act.
[He pauses there, to let Rey absorb the story, before he ties it to his ultimate purpose for this visit.]
I tell you that so that you might grasp the true weight of an oath of brotherhood.
[Henry turns to directly face Rey, setting both hands on the bar. He holds her gaze with his own, bold and unwavering.]
Should you break Maketh's heart, or use my sister ill, I swear to you that you shall learn by experience why I am named Hotspur.
[Depending on the situation and individual, Rey has varying degrees of patience. If she didn't see this relevant or going anywhere, she might have blown Henry off within a matter of seconds. But she doesn't, and she listens. She can be pretty good at that, too.
[While the yarn he spins might seem random coming from a random stranger, she knows that Henry isn't one. He's close to Maketh. It's just... strange, to be hearing this talk, after everything. Not just Bianca, but Maketh as well. Isn't this oath he speaks of a given?]
You don't have to worry about that. Have no plans on giving anyone leprosy. [She pauses, a more serious comment following:] Or hurting Maketh. I care about her.
["You are important," she kept telling Rey. That sentiment was such a conundrum to her for the longest time, but she gets it now. This should sound like a threat, but Rey has no reason to feel threatened when she has no intention of doing Maketh harm.]
[He replies, leaving the rest implicit. Or I will keep mine. There is no compromise for the sake of family. All done, his demeanour eases.]
I do wish you well.
[He's sincere about that — Rey makes Maketh happy, and love makes Maketh a better person. Also the more Rey occupies Maketh's time, the less time she spends in Hux's company. In fact, it will be nice to think that Maketh's absence is a sign that she's holed up with her lover rather than intentionally avoiding him.]
Wait, that's not it, is it? The only reason you came in for?
[For as long as she had been in the Guard, Maketh and Henry have been close, yet Rey barely knows this guy. It seems odd for him to come in for the sole purpose of giving her a story and the stink eye.]
[It seems strange to him to come to this establishment for those — and he had no idea what sodas are. Fortunately, being medieval, there is an eternally appropriate choice for when one intends to work the rest of the day.]
[An ale it is. Rey couldn't tell if Henry was the type to drink, and she hasn't exactly been at this long enough to guess just by taking a look at someone, if that's even a thing.
[Either way, she has some stored away in a cooler. Henry might not be used to "cold ones" by the time he's from, but that's what he's about to have.]
Here. Still working on the brewing part of this whole thing. [She's got wine and liquor down just fine, but not quite beer. Should be fine, though.]
[Of all the things she expected to hear, honoring an age old "tradition" isn't one of them. It's a good thing she wasn't in the middle of taking a drink, or it'd have been spat clear across the counter.
[Instead, Rey just chokes out a laugh, half anticipating Henry to consider it a joke, and then not...]
Probably the only custom...
[She snorts as she starts to pour herself a dark drink of her own.] Besides, Firo helps, too. [He might be girly, but he'd probably have a heart attack if he heard what Henry just said.]
Apparently. [Rey might have a type, but hell if she has any idea what it would be.] And no, don't think that many people would have that assumption.
[Rey doesn't exactly exude femininity. That doesn't mean she finds it inherently a bad thing. In fact, she finds herself rather attracted to it, hence her own tastes.]
He's a pretty good guy. We apparently knew each other in some other world -- not that either of us remember that. Guess he was something of a brother there as well, though.
Sort of. Don't remember it, because it happened to another... Well, guess you could call it another version of myself.
[That's the only way she can describe it, as the concept isn't new to her, having been various different people before. But those lives she can remember. Living a life on a spaceship that crashed into an alien planet, having survived there long enough to have made a family for herself? That's new.]
[He's encountered two different versions of the same person in Hadriel before, so it's not an entirely new concept to Henry. He did his best to sever that connection in his mind, but that was as an observer. He would despise having to compete for ownership of his own identity, personally.]
...You do not consider it entirely separate from yourself?
Yes and no. It isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened. Just the first time it's been... interdimensional or whatever. And just because you can't remember something doesn't make what happened any less real to those people who do.
I have known her since the day she was dragged here. The armoury's offerings were relics to her, and she wished to know how they were used in warfare. None were better suited to the task than me. When she was transforming into a wendigo, she asked that I mercy kill her. After that we became friends.
[Henry gives a shrug of his shoulders to suggest that there wasn't really a single moment when it happened; it was the culmination of a myriad of shared experiences.]
Rely upon and keep the company of another for long enough and they grow dear to you. We have been through much together. I trust her as I trust no other.
[Henry gives Rey a half-smile, then downs the rest of his ale. A stray thought nags at the back of his mind: what does it mean that Maketh has been distant in recent months and regards him as a source of guilt?
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If it gives Maketh no umbrage, then it matters not to me.
[He's perfectly willing to cut this line off there, unless it's a cause of actual contention between her and Maketh.
Which he doubts. Maketh did not seem troubled when they spoke of her relationship with Rey.]
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Don't think so, no.
[Since Maketh was the one who sought Rey out. She's sure it would have been obvious by now if there were any doubts.
[After a moment, she bites her tongue.] So, was there something you wanted to talk about?
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[What he has to say is somewhat... convoluted, but necessary, he feels, to emphasise his point. Rey is another person of the future, which means that as far as Henry is concerned she does not have the same understanding of honour and vows as relics like himself and Saber, whose word is their life.]
Whence I come, there is a famous tale of two sworn brothers, Amis and Amiloun. Fear not; I will recount no more than a part. It begins with Belisaunt, the beautiful daughter of the Duke whom they serve, seducing Amis. The Duke's hateful steward, desiring the downfall of Amis and Amiloun, chances upon their affair and wastes not his chance. He betrays Amis to their lord.
The Duke calls Amis to him, ready to put him to death for the offence. Amis claims innocence and begs the Duke for a trial by battle to clear his name. The Duke allows it. Yet Amis cannot swear that he has not lain with Belisaunt, for he has, and should he fight he faces God's judgement, aware of his own guilt. So Amiloun decides to take Amis' place, for their resemblance is perfectly matched. On his way to the trial Amiloun is visited by an angel, who informs him that should he proceed then he shall suffer God's wrath and be afflicted with leprosy, the living death.
[Henry shudders at the thought.]
For the sake of his sworn brother, Amiloun nonetheless fights the trial by battle as Amis. He slays the steward and so spares Amis' life and honour. But as the angel promised, he is stricken with leprosy for his act.
[He pauses there, to let Rey absorb the story, before he ties it to his ultimate purpose for this visit.]
I tell you that so that you might grasp the true weight of an oath of brotherhood.
[Henry turns to directly face Rey, setting both hands on the bar. He holds her gaze with his own, bold and unwavering.]
Should you break Maketh's heart, or use my sister ill, I swear to you that you shall learn by experience why I am named Hotspur.
no subject
[While the yarn he spins might seem random coming from a random stranger, she knows that Henry isn't one. He's close to Maketh. It's just... strange, to be hearing this talk, after everything. Not just Bianca, but Maketh as well. Isn't this oath he speaks of a given?]
You don't have to worry about that. Have no plans on giving anyone leprosy. [She pauses, a more serious comment following:] Or hurting Maketh. I care about her.
["You are important," she kept telling Rey. That sentiment was such a conundrum to her for the longest time, but she gets it now. This should sound like a threat, but Rey has no reason to feel threatened when she has no intention of doing Maketh harm.]
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See that you keep your word.
[He replies, leaving the rest implicit. Or I will keep mine. There is no compromise for the sake of family. All done, his demeanour eases.]
I do wish you well.
[He's sincere about that — Rey makes Maketh happy, and love makes Maketh a better person. Also the more Rey occupies Maketh's time, the less time she spends in Hux's company. In fact, it will be nice to think that Maketh's absence is a sign that she's holed up with her lover rather than intentionally avoiding him.]
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[She stops, then blinks.]
Wait, that's not it, is it? The only reason you came in for?
[For as long as she had been in the Guard, Maketh and Henry have been close, yet Rey barely knows this guy. It seems odd for him to come in for the sole purpose of giving her a story and the stink eye.]
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[Why else, naturally?]
As such, I will take my leave of you.
[And unless Rey has something to say, then he's just going to go ahead and do that.
Nice socialising, Henry.]
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DAMMIT HENRY, YOU COME INTO MY BARHOUSE, THREATEN ME, AND THEN WALK OUT. WHAT KINDA MAN ARE YOU]So, what? That's all you planned to say? Just storytime and go?
[She raises a brow as he starts to leave.]
The least you could do is drink something. Not everything here is alcohol, if that's not your thing.
Or just -- sit down and have a proper conversation. Whatever. [Yes, that's Rey giving criticism on socializing. What a hypocrite.]
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He prefers the kind of socialising where you hit each other with swords and lances. But he supposes he ought to know Maketh's lover better.
But he does turn back and take a seat at the bar.]
Fine. [He folds his arm on the bar.] What do you have?
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Well, what do you like? Have a selected variety of sodas and juices, as well as tea or coffee, if that's more your thing.
[Not everyone who comes in here is looking to get smashed, and coffee goes pretty good with some liquor.]
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An ale will do.
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[Either way, she has some stored away in a cooler. Henry might not be used to "cold ones" by the time he's from, but that's what he's about to have.]
Here. Still working on the brewing part of this whole thing. [She's got wine and liquor down just fine, but not quite beer. Should be fine, though.]
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A touch of amusement graces his brown eyes, and he half-smiles.]
Back home brewing, by tradition, is a woman's profession. You continue an old custom.
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[Instead, Rey just chokes out a laugh, half anticipating Henry to consider it a joke, and then not...]
Probably the only custom...
[She snorts as she starts to pour herself a dark drink of her own.] Besides, Firo helps, too. [He might be girly, but he'd probably have a heart attack if he heard what Henry just said.]
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[Rey's not exactly the most feminine of women. Between her and Lilith, he's worked out that Maketh likes her women rough.
In fairness to his sister, he's never much cared for meekness either.]
I do not believe that I have met your Firo.
[Which is probably for the best, given how morally upright Henry is.]
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[Rey doesn't exactly exude femininity. That doesn't mean she finds it inherently a bad thing. In fact, she finds herself rather attracted to it, hence her own tastes.]
He's a pretty good guy. We apparently knew each other in some other world -- not that either of us remember that. Guess he was something of a brother there as well, though.
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You— Wait. You have suffered this.... circumstance afore?
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Sort of. Don't remember it, because it happened to another... Well, guess you could call it another version of myself.
[That's the only way she can describe it, as the concept isn't new to her, having been various different people before. But those lives she can remember. Living a life on a spaceship that crashed into an alien planet, having survived there long enough to have made a family for herself? That's new.]
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...You do not consider it entirely separate from yourself?
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[Rey learned that the hard way.]
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I am relieved 'tis no concern of mine.
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Lucky you. [She takes a drink, eyes on Henry over the brim of the glass.] So how did you and Maketh come to be like-family?
[Because she's hazarding a guess that they don't even share the same world, let alone the same gene pool.]
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[Henry gives a shrug of his shoulders to suggest that there wasn't really a single moment when it happened; it was the culmination of a myriad of shared experiences.]
Rely upon and keep the company of another for long enough and they grow dear to you. We have been through much together. I trust her as I trust no other.
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That is... a lot like how things have gotten between me and Nick.
[Who she is sure Henry knows, given Nick's status in the Guard.]
It's good to have someone like that.
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[Henry gives Rey a half-smile, then downs the rest of his ale. A stray thought nags at the back of his mind: what does it mean that Maketh has been distant in recent months and regards him as a source of guilt?
He pushes it away.]
What of you and Maketh?
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