NPCSolomorne, his weapon lying beside him, stares silently at the dying flames and at what until recently symbolised the triumph of the Lex Imperialis. His eyes are as dark and fathomless as the ocean.
YOU"What are you doing here?"
NPC"Watching justice burn. My justice." Solomorne watches the fire, his expression more contemplative than mournful.
YOU"What are you doing here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Can we say that justice was done today if we blew up the court and overthrew the judge in the process?"
NPCSolomorne huffs a laugh. "Witty. But tragic."
YOU"What are you doing here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Can we say that justice was done today if we blew up the court and overthrew the judge in the process?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look very much like a normal person right now."
NPCSmiling wryly, he replies, "Hard as it is to believe, I am very much a normal person."
YOU"What are you doing here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Can we say that justice was done today if we blew up the court and overthrew the judge in the process?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look very much like a normal person right now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Watch the fire with him in silence]
NPCSolomorne casually shifts so that he is leaning against you. He is big, warm, strong... and so, so sad.
YOU"What are you doing here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Can we say that justice was done today if we blew up the court and overthrew the judge in the process?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look very much like a normal person right now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Watch the fire with him in silence]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You defended me at the trial."
NPC"I'm tired of being used as a weapon. Not a weapon of the Lex Imperialis, but of specific people. They have used me against you time and time again, and I'm sick of it."
NPCHe turns to you. "Look... I'm sorry. I know I've apologised before, but this is different. Before, I felt ashamed and disgusted with myself — for lying to you, for hurting you — I wanted you to punish me. But now I'm just sorry and very sad that I did all that."
YOU"I told you so."
NPC"And you were bloody right. But I've always been told I have an especially thick skull. As it turns out, that isn't necessarily a good thing."
YOU"I told you so."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Return Solomorne's request for removal] "I refuse to accept it."
NPCSolomorne takes the letter tentatively, touching it only with his fingertips. His eyes are full of warmth. "Thank you for keeping it. This... admission of guilt meant a great deal to me. I spent a whole night agonising over these paltry couple of sentences."
NPCHe shifts his gaze to you. "Thank you for your refusal."
YOU"I told you so."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Return Solomorne's request for removal] "I refuse to accept it."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kiss him] "I forgive you."
NPCSolomorne does not pull away. His touch is gentle and full of hidden strength. "Thank you."
NPCStaring into the flames, he suddenly lets out a laugh. "You know, you made a poor first impression on me. Terrible, in fact! I thought you were arrogant, behaving as if you were above every law. An upstart wearing another's regalia, and not a very clever one either..." Solomorne's gaze turns distant. "How could I have been so blind..."
NPC"It took a while for me to realise that some people — the rare few — are rightly above all laws. People like you." He pauses thoughtfully. "Had we met sooner, I think I would have dedicated my life to serving you, and not the Lex Imperialis."
YOU"To what do I owe my elevation in your regard?"
NPC"That... stamp of grandeur on your face. Time after time, you saw right through people — even me. You read their motives. You accomplished incredible feats, won victory after victory. And everything in your words and deeds raised you up above ordinary people, as if the pedestal sprung up spontaneously beneath your feet. To look at many Rogue Traders, you can tell the breed is not what it once was, but you..."
NPC"It is because of individuals like you that the Emperor granted the sacred Warrants to the Imperium's dynasties."
YOU"To what do I owe my elevation in your regard?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It is not too late. Be my consort, Solomorne."
NPCSolomorne turns to you, the flames from the fire dancing in his pupils. "If you're not joking... If you're not afraid you'll regret those words... If you really need me... Then I agree." He takes your hand in his. "I agree to be yours. Forever and in all ways."
NPCSolomorne unhurriedly draws himself to his feet and extends his hand to you. "I have a debt from Thassera to repay. I believe I owe you a dance."
YOU"What dance?"
NPC"When we were on Thassera, I should have thought less about what the people around me thought and more about how to avoid stamping on your toes. I am trying to make up for it now."
YOU"What dance?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What, now?"
NPC"Fire, tragedy, the collapse of convictions and hierarchies, and we're in the middle of it all... It's all very romantic, isn't it?" Solomorne snorts. "I'll have to add that to my data-slate."
YOU"What dance?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What, now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Place your hand in his] "Dancing in the midst of smouldering ruins is just my style."
NPCSolomorne pulls you toward him, his hands as hard as stone but his touch full of trepidation and tenderness. As you stare into each other's eyes, the flames blur, turning into glowing streaks, and soon it is just you and him in a whirling vortex of fire.
NPCWith a slight smile, he whispers, "I've never come close to saying anything as crazy as this in all my life, but... I think I'm head over heels in love with you."
end of branch
YOU"We don't need to dance. Just sit with me."
NPC"Of course." Smiling softly, Solomorne wraps his arm around your shoulders.
end of branch
YOU[Place your hand in his] "Dancing in the midst of smouldering ruins is just my style."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We don't need to dance. Just sit with me."continues where this line first appears above
NPC"When we were on Thassera, I shouldn't have been so standoffish. I should have asked you to dance. I am trying to make up for it now."
YOU"What dance?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What, now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Place your hand in his] "Dancing in the midst of smouldering ruins is just my style."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We don't need to dance. Just sit with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What, now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Place your hand in his] "Dancing in the midst of smouldering ruins is just my style."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We don't need to dance. Just sit with me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"But, alas, we have already made our choice."
NPCSolomorne nods sadly. "The unvarnished truth."
NPCSolomorne unhurriedly draws himself to his feet and extends his hand to you. "I have a debt from Thassera to repay. I believe I owe you a dance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It is not too late. Be my consort, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"But, alas, we have already made our choice."continues where this line first appears above
NPCSolomorne unhurriedly draws himself to his feet and extends his hand to you. "I have a debt from Thassera to repay. I believe I owe you a dance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I don't think I can forgive you."
NPCSolomorne sighs. "I understand. Let's sit a little longer, and then we'll go." He takes your hand in his and is still for a long while.
end of branch
YOU[Kiss him] "I forgive you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I don't think I can forgive you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Return Solomorne's request for removal] "I refuse to accept it."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kiss him] "I forgive you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I don't think I can forgive you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You defended me at the trial."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Watch the fire with him in silence]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You defended me at the trial."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look very much like a normal person right now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Watch the fire with him in silence]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You defended me at the trial."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Can we say that justice was done today if we blew up the court and overthrew the judge in the process?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You look very much like a normal person right now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Watch the fire with him in silence]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You defended me at the trial."continues where this line first appears above