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[Nick is grateful Rome seems to be willing to work with him on this, though there's no telling just yet on what he wants to do and what he feels he has to do. Loyalty to a cause -- or to a person, or to any singular goal -- is tough like that. It can as damning a quality as it is good, especially when that allegiance is taken to an extreme... or willfully abused, as it seems was the case with Maketh and her pet soldier, one she knew she could use against the very Guard she'd established if she needed to.
And ultimately, she did. That's something that will never sit well with Nick, but he's just going to have to learn to live with it. There's no changing what happened, no taking back how she nearly destroyed the credibility of the Guard she'd once worked so hard to build. Maybe all the good they do will be her eventual legacy, and not what happened in the end.
Nick straightens up just a bit, giving Rome a nod.]
Yeah. Let's handle that first, and maybe on the way, you can fill me in on what would work best for you when it comes to your place with us.
[He's still not sure about this handler business, but when Nick said he wanted to help Rome, he meant it. While he has yet to see just how far Rome can be trusted, especially in terms of what else he might still be doing under Maketh's orders, Nick isn't ready to give up on someone who frankly seems like he'd be better with the Guard than without it. They need all the hands they can get, and Rome needs order: it's a good trade-off for the most part, even with Rome's odd needs. Nick doesn't know much about Rome aside from what's in his file, but he's not the only one on the Guard with some unusual accommodations.]
And ultimately, she did. That's something that will never sit well with Nick, but he's just going to have to learn to live with it. There's no changing what happened, no taking back how she nearly destroyed the credibility of the Guard she'd once worked so hard to build. Maybe all the good they do will be her eventual legacy, and not what happened in the end.
Nick straightens up just a bit, giving Rome a nod.]
Yeah. Let's handle that first, and maybe on the way, you can fill me in on what would work best for you when it comes to your place with us.
[He's still not sure about this handler business, but when Nick said he wanted to help Rome, he meant it. While he has yet to see just how far Rome can be trusted, especially in terms of what else he might still be doing under Maketh's orders, Nick isn't ready to give up on someone who frankly seems like he'd be better with the Guard than without it. They need all the hands they can get, and Rome needs order: it's a good trade-off for the most part, even with Rome's odd needs. Nick doesn't know much about Rome aside from what's in his file, but he's not the only one on the Guard with some unusual accommodations.]
[Nick.]
And she just happened to decide that trying to massacre the populace wasn't worth it?
[There is abject confusion, there, mixed with something not dissimilar to awe. Nate never pegged Nick for the overtly persuasive type, but the guy does have a simple and pragmatic - humanist - way about him.]
What did you tell her?
And she just happened to decide that trying to massacre the populace wasn't worth it?
[There is abject confusion, there, mixed with something not dissimilar to awe. Nate never pegged Nick for the overtly persuasive type, but the guy does have a simple and pragmatic - humanist - way about him.]
What did you tell her?
[Nick isn't about to deny the fact that he was pretty sure he might end up in pieces; he's not about to cop to it, either.]
That she was wasting her time, for one. That she wasn't the first person to try this. That Sharon da Silva left more of an impression.
That she was wasting her time, for one. That she wasn't the first person to try this. That Sharon da Silva left more of an impression.
Oh, okay, so you have a death wish.
[Nate responds lightly, as if he should have known better than to ask - never mind the fact that the statement is hypocritical. For someone who probably wasn't built to have balls, Nick's sure are huge.]
So she sucked all her monsters back into the void and went home?
[Nate responds lightly, as if he should have known better than to ask - never mind the fact that the statement is hypocritical. For someone who probably wasn't built to have balls, Nick's sure are huge.]
So she sucked all her monsters back into the void and went home?
[It's a man's voice, deep and heavily accented.]
Lord Valentine. Are you called that? My name is Jon Snow.
[It seems very unlikely that Nick Valentine is called Lord Valentine, but best not give offense where he can avoid it.]
Lord Valentine. Are you called that? My name is Jon Snow.
[It seems very unlikely that Nick Valentine is called Lord Valentine, but best not give offense where he can avoid it.]
video (backdated to 4/16, just after the meeting of the Save Name Squad)
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so_dark_a_road
2018-05-09 10:17 am (UTC)(link)
Nick? May I speak to you in person? It is important.
I drew up those architectural plans you asked me for. For a modification of the east wall of Guard HQ to allow a secondary staircase up to the tower. I'd like to show them to you in person, and you can decide if this is feasible.
[ Nick didn't ask Curufin for any such plans, of course. This is camouflage in case of god monitoring. ]
I drew up those architectural plans you asked me for. For a modification of the east wall of Guard HQ to allow a secondary staircase up to the tower. I'd like to show them to you in person, and you can decide if this is feasible.
[ Nick didn't ask Curufin for any such plans, of course. This is camouflage in case of god monitoring. ]
Edited 2018-05-11 02:23 (UTC)
[Nick has been called a lot of things -- some kinder than others -- but Lord is a new one.]
Just Valentine will do. There something I can help you with?
Just Valentine will do. There something I can help you with?
I'm told you're one of the men in command of the Guard.
I thought I could help, if you're in need of it. I have experience, and my own blade. I was lately in a guardian brotherhood for a number of years; my fellows chose me as their Lord Commander.
[That might also go some way to explaining why he just attempted to assign the title to Nick.]
If you know of Sansa Stark, she's my sister.
I thought I could help, if you're in need of it. I have experience, and my own blade. I was lately in a guardian brotherhood for a number of years; my fellows chose me as their Lord Commander.
[That might also go some way to explaining why he just attempted to assign the title to Nick.]
If you know of Sansa Stark, she's my sister.
[Nick doesn't pick up on this being a covert way of getting his attention, but he gets the message from Curufin wanting to speak in person.]
Sure, sure. I'm on my patrol right now, but I'll swing back by the headquarters.
Sure, sure. I'm on my patrol right now, but I'll swing back by the headquarters.
[He hasn't spoken to Sansa himself, but as the guy on the Guard who keeps tabs and records on the network, he's aware of who she is. It does explain some things, as does Jon's own words.]
Lord Commander, huh? You're probably the one who oughtta have a title rather than me. We're always in need of hands on the Guard, so if you want to stop by the headquarters, I'll be glad to get you set up.
[And for good measure, have the coordinates of the Guard HQ.]
Lord Commander, huh? You're probably the one who oughtta have a title rather than me. We're always in need of hands on the Guard, so if you want to stop by the headquarters, I'll be glad to get you set up.
[And for good measure, have the coordinates of the Guard HQ.]
Oh, I don't think so -- about the title. [He sounds a little bit rueful, a little bit humorous.] You protect your people differently here, and when I was chosen, it was by my brothers in the Watch, for my deeds. Most of the way you live is new to me.
[Most of it, and yet... he's already beginning to feel that many people must be the same everywhere. Much as the Wildlings are just people like anyone else, some better than others, the same seems to be true of people from other worlds.]
But I thank you for the map. Is there a good time to come by? Even the hours are named differently than I'm used to.
[Most of it, and yet... he's already beginning to feel that many people must be the same everywhere. Much as the Wildlings are just people like anyone else, some better than others, the same seems to be true of people from other worlds.]
But I thank you for the map. Is there a good time to come by? Even the hours are named differently than I'm used to.
[People are indeed the same everywhere, and in every time; Nick has found that to be more than true time and time again.]
I'm down here now, actually. Just got done with my patrol, so I'll be in for a while.
[He has a lot of paperwork to do, as well as people he needs to check in on. Co-commander of the Guard is just one of the many pots his hands are in these days.]
I'm down here now, actually. Just got done with my patrol, so I'll be in for a while.
[He has a lot of paperwork to do, as well as people he needs to check in on. Co-commander of the Guard is just one of the many pots his hands are in these days.]
I'll be waiting there for you.
[ ACTION ]
[ Curufin crosses the fields and the roads quickly, and comes to the new Guard HQ. He waits outside, not too close to the building, standing on the grass, taking a sip from his water flask, looking nonchalant in case of bystanders. ]
Hello, Nick. Sorry to interrupt your patrol, but I needed to talk to you. We should stay out here instead of going inside. [ Because they'll be talking of matters their fellow Guards probably aren't aware of. ] It's about the discussion we just had at the Lab.
[ ACTION ]
[ Curufin crosses the fields and the roads quickly, and comes to the new Guard HQ. He waits outside, not too close to the building, standing on the grass, taking a sip from his water flask, looking nonchalant in case of bystanders. ]
Hello, Nick. Sorry to interrupt your patrol, but I needed to talk to you. We should stay out here instead of going inside. [ Because they'll be talking of matters their fellow Guards probably aren't aware of. ] It's about the discussion we just had at the Lab.
[Curufin is much faster than the old bot, so he makes it to the HQ must faster than Nick. His pace is quick --- Curufin did say it was important -- but there's only so fast his rusted joints are willing to move. He tucks his hands into his pockets as he approaches his fellow Guardsman.]
No need to apologize, Curufin. What is it you wanted to talk about?
[Because there's a lot that was discussed at that meeting, and a lot he's still trying to process.]
No need to apologize, Curufin. What is it you wanted to talk about?
[Because there's a lot that was discussed at that meeting, and a lot he's still trying to process.]
I have a couple of things I'd like to discuss, and I'll keep it brief if I can, because I know your time is valuable. I'll start with who knows what. Does Henry know what we're up to?
[ Curufin's still trying to process all that happened in the meeting, as well. ]
[ Curufin's still trying to process all that happened in the meeting, as well. ]
Not yet.
[He knows he's going to have to broach the subject at some point.]
[He knows he's going to have to broach the subject at some point.]
You plan to tell him? I'm not against it.
[ But look out for exploding shrapnel if too much time goes by and Henry finds his Guardsmen have been keeping something from him! ]
[ But look out for exploding shrapnel if too much time goes by and Henry finds his Guardsmen have been keeping something from him! ]
Keeping secrets from one another is one reason we booted Maketh.
[Especially when those secrets could jeopardize them all.]
[Especially when those secrets could jeopardize them all.]
Yes. . . there is that. No one wants to repeat old history.
[ Totally! ]
All right, on to item #2. The parley in the Lab? I have to wonder if Fear sneaked in and spiked the coffee with a dose of that paranoia virus he infected us with last month. Were Alphys and I the only ones who didn't drink it? [ Metaphorical coffee, not literal. ]
[ Totally! ]
All right, on to item #2. The parley in the Lab? I have to wonder if Fear sneaked in and spiked the coffee with a dose of that paranoia virus he infected us with last month. Were Alphys and I the only ones who didn't drink it? [ Metaphorical coffee, not literal. ]
They had a point, Curufin.
[Something about his tone says he wasn't very impressed with much of what he saw back there.]
[Something about his tone says he wasn't very impressed with much of what he saw back there.]
[That gets a dry chuckle from Nick. He doesn't get to talk anymore, Nate.]
She went home, but not before the Guard made short work of her crew. That might've had something to do with why she left.
[Like he tried telling her, she was wasting her time and energy.]
... Though if she'd known one of the gods was gonna rein in her powers, she might have done otherwise.
She went home, but not before the Guard made short work of her crew. That might've had something to do with why she left.
[Like he tried telling her, she was wasting her time and energy.]
... Though if she'd known one of the gods was gonna rein in her powers, she might have done otherwise.
[Flatly, though his expression is impassive:]
You know what I'm talking about.
You know what I'm talking about.
[A sigh rattles out of the back of his throat through his chassis. The pretense is unbecoming.]
Look, I get what you and the doctor were saying back there. But if the gods find out, we'll leave who we plead our case to to someone else. And don't go calling people paranoid when they have plenty of reason to avoid getting the gods involved in this.
[Because the last thing they need is for people to believe they're squarely on the side of the gods.]
Look, I get what you and the doctor were saying back there. But if the gods find out, we'll leave who we plead our case to to someone else. And don't go calling people paranoid when they have plenty of reason to avoid getting the gods involved in this.
[Because the last thing they need is for people to believe they're squarely on the side of the gods.]
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