The Four Companions:
Arlissa
I let out a
long yawn as I sauntered my way into the kitchen of the warehouse, one hand
reaching up to lazily rub at one of my stubble-covered cheeks as I went along.
I didn’t have to sleep, but I chose to… A little bit of normalcy everyone now
and then helped keep me sane and, as Lina didn’t sleep, it was best that she
thought I was asleep more often than not. Could only imagine what might happen
if she realized I didn’t have to… Would have to not only lock my door, but soundproof
it.
“Morning,
everyone… Did I miss anything?” I asked as I stepped into the kitchen and
dropped down into the closest seat at the dining table that I could personally
find. Everyone seemed to be present at the least. Cierra was making breakfast,
Lina appeared to be writing something, Fia was helping Lina with whatever they
happened to be working on, and Celestian was currently cleaning her bolter… At
the table. Eh, I would honestly do the same thing if I was her.
To pass the
time, I simply set my head down on the table and dosed off a hint, resting
until breakfast as everyone seemed too busy for a conversation… or so I thought
until Celestian reached over to give me a poke on the top of the head and get
my attention. “Wake up, Mr. Pezrin… Once you’re up, you shouldn’t go back to
sleep.” With a little huff, I raised my head up, instead setting it down on a
hand that I propped up with my elbow on the table. “You sound like my father.
Well, mind telling me a story then to keep me awake? I don’t mean to be rude,
but… What about the scar that you carry?”
Everyone
dropped what they were doing when I spoke, except for Cierra who simply turned
a little so that she could look over toward the table. Celestian smiled just a
hint, as she wasn’t one for extreme… or sometimes even minor… displays of
emotion. Lina suddenly piped in, leaning over the table as she spoke. “Oh, I
love this story! Come on, come on. Tell him!” She stated before setting her
head down on both of her hands, completely forgetting about what she was doing
prior to this. Fia was currently trying to actually pull the work out from
underneath the copper-haired medic, so… Eh.
“Ah, yes…
My scar. I gained this trophy and lost my sight in a bloody, planet-wide war
with the Tyranid filth prior to the planet being bathed in the holy fire of
Exterminatus. During the battle I had been arrogant and careless… Resulting in
a rather close encounter with the xenos that we call Hormogaunts. A merciless
swarm had found my team, a cascading wave of gnashing teeth and bloodied
scythes. The Emperor was merciful that day, for all that was lost was my
sight.” She explained, the story having grabbed my attention at first… before
it suddenly ended and I simply gave her a little look. “Is… Is that the full
story?”
The other
women seemed to have enjoyed it, but honestly a short story is either false… or
the memories aren’t that intense. Granted, considering war is a constant thing
within that universe, it wasn’t too odd that such things might have been lost
to time and other battles. “It is. All that I can remember. Years later an Orc
was given the chance for a lucky shot and had took it, striking my skull with
club that caused brain damage and erased most of the story.” Everyone else
seemed to accept that excuse and I was personally too lazy to follow my gut
feeling that there might be a bit more to the story.
After
breakfast, I stepped out and went for a walk, managing to drag Celestian from
her constant work so that we could talk. I got the chance to spend some time with
everyone else, I might as well do the same for their leader… Besides, I rarely
got to spend any time with Celestian that wasn’t related to business. It was
honestly bad enough that the last time we spoke in private it was because we
had to file taxes… In a world that can’t really keep track of us and we aren’t
truly a part of… In fact, I don’t even work because of the money we have every
single jump.
I led her
off toward a diner that I knew of that served good coffee, a cigarette wedged
between my lips the entire time. “There is a bit more to that story you told,
isn’t there? If you don’t mind me asking.” I stated as we walked, one of my
hands adjusting to help keep an umbrella held up as the weather was slowly
turning into a mix of rain, wind, rain… and more rain. Celestian, who was
staying close by for the moment simply gave me a small glance as she spoke. “A
capable one, aren’t you? You can spot that I withheld information, yet you are
blind to those who pursue you with warm hearts. I have to wonder if you have
trained yourself not to notice those who don’t put their heart on their sleeve
for you to see.”
Her voice
was as calm as ever, my head turning for just a moment to show that I was
listening to what she had to say. “It is amazing what one can accomplish with
enough willpower and even a hint of thought into how the mind works… In other
words, I am not an empathic person and I simply don’t take things a certain way
on purpose as to avoid certain situations.” She hummed softly, one of her hands
reaching up to take her monical down so that she could clean it of any moisture
that happened to cling to the lens.
After a
moment, she set her monical back on her eye and spoke. “Noted. Perhaps I should
inform them of this so that they may take it as motivation to be open about
their feelings toward you. Everyone’s infatuation with you, for whatever
possible reason may come to mind, is quite distracting. However, I will leave
it to them to make their own decisions. It is important that they learn how to
be direct with what they desire.” As we stepped into the diner and took our
seats, I let out a small huff. “I simply do not react for the betterment of the
group and my own personal conscious. The longer this goes on, the worse it will
be… but, I do not want anyone to hate the other.”
I let out a
small huff, setting the dripping umbrella down on the far side of the table
with a few napkins laid out so that it didn’t get the table too wet… Honestly,
it still did. “Well, you could always take the obvious route and simply give me
the honors. They already know of my thoughts and I have told them. I would
rather avoid having them fight amongst themselves or even get involved, if I
must.” Celestian took a moment to offer me a very slight grin and her hand, as
if she was offering me the chance to propose or something.
Instead of
doing what she suggested, I simply waved her hand off. “Put your hand away…
They don’t allow people to smoke in here, so I won’t be giving you one of my
smokes.” I stated with a wide, smartass grin that earned me a frown and an
annoyed huff from my friend. “You’re insufferable at times. I don’t understand
what their reasoning is for being attracted to you… I have my own, but your
willingness to speak in such a manner is unbecoming of someone who could become
a proper, dignified individual.”
I feigned being hurt, but quickly
‘recovered’ and spoke just as the waitress was stepping up. “Says the one who lost
her cool when we were moving everything into the apartment and not letting you
tell us what to do.” To show that I didn’t mean any harm, I offered her a grin
while she simply rolled her eyes. “A leader should be in charge of anything
their unit takes part in. While I consider you to be a part of my unit, you
truly do not seem to understand that.” After that final comment, we got coffee
and simply enjoyed the remainder of the day. Simple.
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