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[ Even if it’s meant as a warning, it gets Hugo to smile fondly. How gallant! Not that he expects anything else from Heinrix at this point, but it’s still… Well. He’s weak to sentiments like this, even if he (hypocritically, notably) wouldn’t be inclined to listen if the time ever came. ]

Well, then it’s a good thing I have a natural(ish) resistance to the cold, isn’t it~? I really worried about my chill being off-putting when we first got together, but as it turns out, it was a good match!

[ He has to be playful first, naturally. It’s how he deflects when there’s an actual feeling underneath, which Heinrix is sure to have picked up as a quirk of his by now. But he at least does continue. ]

I do promise, though.

[ And he does, because he understands the concern nowadays. Part of why he’d wanted Heinrix to come stay with him was because of how the imprint kept his worst Spectral tendencies quiet. It’s not exactly a lie when he’d just change his mind in the moment… ]

But I’d also hope it wouldn’t get to that point, because it doesn’t *quite* answer my question, I’ll note. I assume this is something to do with your natural powers rather than our Souls, but still. All the more reason to offer my help if I can, right?

It is. My powers are not naturally controlled. If anything, Psykers are generally out of control. It is rare for us to live long enough to have the opportunity to learn control. Even rarer for us to even have it. One member of the retinue I was on before arrival was one such unsanctioned psyker, and her lack of control caused nearly as many problems as the xenos on board did.

[ Heinrix likes to distract himself from the serious moments by being petty. Bitchy. By thinking about the things that he hates.

After all, that's what they teach, isn't it? ]

My soul is not the greatest danger I face. It is my powers.

I appreciate it, all the same. It is only one thing that keeps me up at night, but it does so all the same.

I see… If you’ll allow me to give you some sympathy, that does sound difficult. I can’t fully grasp what it means to carry that burden, I’m sure, but I think I understand you a little better.

[ He’d assumed that Heinrix’s stern and chilly temperament was purely because of his job, but that’s only part of it, he realizes. If his powers are that dangerous and destructive… No wonder, he thinks. Having to keep such a strict watch over yourself would make anyone colder, surely. ]

Out of (morbid?) curiosity… What kind of problems did she cause?

[ Well, you know, understanding the reality of what fate you escaped due to your power and control also has a big part of it.

#gratitude ]

The warp responds to a lack of control. She is a diviner, and an uncontrolled one at that. She has manifested her fears and desires, and it was dangerous enough that we struggled to put the apparitions down.

[ Hugo can read between the lines here. He wanted to put her down. ]

[ LMFAO HELP yeah congrats on not getting fed into the psyker mulcher... ]

[ But boy he sure can, and he feels... Less complicated about that than Heinrix might expect. ]

I see... That is dangerous, yes. Similar phenomena can occur in the Hollows, but that's at least expected, in a sense. It comes from the location rather than a person, rather. That poor woman, though. I can't imagine that's easy for her either...

[ It wouldn't be easy for anyone, surely. Not even Heinrix, so he can understand why the control is so important if that's one manifestation of its consequences. ]

Is it common to have people who aren't able to control it?

[ "poor woman", he thinks sourly, is not what he would say about Idira Tlass.

Then again, Heinrix would interrogate her in a heartbeat. Just like most of the Rogue Trader's retinue. Should she wish it, Heinrix would happily leave them with the Tech Priest, the sister, and the Space Wolf. ]

Oh, not particularly common, nor uncommon. The scale of my worlds is vastly different to the scale of this one. This is small, even for a single farmworld.

Most psykers do not... live particularly long. They die early.

Those that live are generally Sanctioned, like I am.

The ones that are not picked up by the Black Ships are generally wild, mad, and out of control. Most serve the forces of chaos, and are heretics by nature. They eventually burn out, or become...something else. The few that don't generally... come with side effects. They have survived only by barely skirting the temptation of the warp.

Goodness, is it really? Then you would feel positively stifled in my world, considering it's just one city! A large one, to be sure, but still...!

[ at least until season 3 then maybe the new zone is a whole new city instead of a district who KNOWS ]

But the more I learn about where (figuratively speaking) you're from, the more I realize just how difficult it must be.

[ It's not the first time he's had that thought about someone else's world, but usually he'd follow up with asking if they preferred it here instead. For Heinrix, though? He knows the answer. It’s been plainly obvious from early in getting to know him, and it’s a small part of why Hugo felt comfortable in their arrangement. The fact that they both hated this world and its circumstances was an important understanding.

There’s another question he could ask in its stead, a what if, but it’s little more than a fleeting thought. It’s too optimistic for Hugo, but more importantly, he knows that answer too. Heinrix isn’t the sort of man that would abandon his sense of duty and especially not for a relationship of convenience.

…Canines, he swears. So, swiftly moving on from that thought— ]

Is that why you’ve tried to cut things off? Because of becoming something else?

We have many worlds that are cities in their entirety. I can't imagine being so restrained.

[ Like Heinrix is both restrained and not restrained. He has infinite freedom to move. Go where he wants. Where he needs. However, he is merely a dog with a long leash, in the end. He can travel as far as he wishes, but were the High Inquisitor to tug his leash...

He would return. Immediately. ]

Yes.

I can grow it back. I've lost parts before. As imperfect as my early attempts at regrowing my body were, they were more successful than my attempts now.

I imagine not! Considering just *how* far you can travel, I'd almost feel like being stuck on any world must feel like that, no matter what sort it is...

[ As for the rest, well. Heinrix you're making it very hard for him to not care??? ]

I understand why you do much better now, certainly. Though it still worries me what you would, even if that might sound odd to you. I don't like you hurting yourself, you know?

Hah, Hugo, that's very kind.

My very profession causes harm to me, as a part of the daily routine.

Besides, I can grow it back. That's hardly the danger one would think it is. It only hurts temporarily, before I shut the nerve endings off.

[ Y E A H ]

[ ?!?!?! ]

...Admittedly, I didn't realize you had that fine of a control. I'm impressed and a little scared of what else you can do! (Which is a joke, of course--I'm not actually scared of you, my dear.) But I do suppose I wish you didn't feel like you had to. Or that your profession didn't cause you harm, for that matter... So nerve endings or no, I'm still going to worry about you. You can't escape it, sorry! ♥

I'm not a member of the holy ordos xenos because of my good looks, you know.

[ He's a fairly powerful psyker. Perhaps not in Idira's level, but...

Well. He's powerful enough to be useful without losing control. ]

I'm a warrior, of a sort. As much as I would rather the galaxy be at peace, I'm afraid that simply won't happen. Thus, I am willing to take that duty on myself to fight for the Emperor and peace, eventually.

[ It will literally never happen ]

I know. I'm not saying that I worry about you or that I care because I doubt you. If anything, it's because I'm so sure of your loyalty to that duty that I do.

[ It’s also why he can’t open his heart any further. That loyalty and duty is a personality trait he finds intensely attractive, but… He’s already experienced how it goes when you’re secondary to it. He doesn’t begrudge it of Heinrix at least, because it’s not like they have a long, intensely emotional history that makes that fact sting. It’s just a simple fact that even if he gave all his heart away, Hugo still wouldn’t be as important as that duty. He can’t be someone’s second place ever again.

So, he changes the subject a little. This isn’t something they’re making any headway on today, he’s sure. ]

Though on a lighter note, actually… I’d like to train with you together sometime if you’re up for that, Mr. Warrior~ I’d been keeping my skills sharp with Set and his “tutelage” [ mostly getting his ass kicked because set is a bully ] But since he’s gone now, I do need another!

Ah, well, I have held my duty for a long time. There is nothing to worry about.

[ It's so true. Heinrix would always put the Emperor and the Empire above all else. (Until he does not.)

But Hugo changes the subject, blissfully. Thankfully.

He smiles, on the other side of the device. ]

I would be happy to. Training is best when there is an opponent, after all. Sharpening oneself against another competent warrior is the best way to become more adept.

[ And boy, he is happy for where they will lead. ]

[ he will STILL WORRY!! but he'll just do it on the dl... ]

And that's what Set and I had been working on, in fact! The only things I ever (seriously) fought back home was Ethereals, and it turns out that it's a larger gap than I thought. I was very adept with dealing with even dangerous Ethereals, but when it comes to things here, well...

[ Normally, he would elaborate and say that it's how he died, but this is his attempt to lighten the mood, so! He can just share that little fact another time. ]

All to say, I'd appreciate your help~. And it would probably be fun, besides.

I should hope so. You would be an enjoyable sparring partner, considering the options I have had before.

[ THERE WEREN'T ANY HE IS NOT SPARRING WITH MARAZHAI ]

I'll look forward to your... payment. I think we can arrange some exchange.

[ jesus ]

[ oho ]

You wouldn't tutor me just out of the kindness of your heart...? How cruel~ Why don't we work up a sweat the first time and see what strikes your fancy?

[ but secretly, he is amused that heinrix is the one that brought it up, because really... he figured things would go that way just because of his own predilections. it's fun that he and heinrix are so often on the same page! ]

Oh I certainly would, Hugo! We should all be stronger, by working together.

But... I can't say that I wouldn't be interested in recompense from you. It makes it all the more enjoyable in the end.

[ Yeah it's fun!! It keeps him from thinking about the horrors as he continues to transform. Dodging depression via sex is the right way to go. ]

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these two YEARNERS

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that crew set is the nightmare blunt rotation

for the emperor /lights blunt

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i almost sent this with silco's journal lskadjlkxcoi

LMAOOOOO kyaa mr silco 😖

silco voice: let's arrange an exchange