VentWhen you arrive, Heinrix stands up from his chair with a smile. "You came."
YOU"What's this? A dinner for two?"
Vent"Obviously. What else would it be...?" The Interrogator lapses into an embarrassed silence. "I suppose the format of the invitation was slightly... incongruous."
YOU"One day you will master this art."
VentHeinrix shakes his head. "I need the practice. So... If you'll join me..." He holds out his hand to you.
VentThe meal passes in a silence that is more comfortable than awkward. At last, after topping up your glasses once more, Heinrix falls back in his chair and looks at you — his gaze is calm, relaxed. "Time slips by imperceptibly in your company."
YOU[Raise your glass] "Let's drink to tonight. And to us."
VentHeinrix raises his own glass. "To us, [Name]." A strange, uneasy expression steals across his face before vanishing.
YOU[Raise your glass] "Let's drink to tonight. And to us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gesture at the table] "Where did you get all this?"
VentHeinrix smirks. "I have my methods." A moment later, the smile drops away and he hastily adds, "I didn't mean my working methods. No member of your crew has been harmed."
YOU[Raise your glass] "Let's drink to tonight. And to us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gesture at the table] "Where did you get all this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you learn from the Lord Inquisitor?"
Vent"I simply asked a few questions that have been troubling me for some time. Don't worry about it."
YOU[Raise your glass] "Let's drink to tonight. And to us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gesture at the table] "Where did you get all this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you learn from the Lord Inquisitor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your behaviour recently has concerned me."
VentThe Interrogator's eyes tighten slightly as he maintains his impassive expression. "What are you talking about?"
VentAfter a long pause, Heinrix sighs. "Fine, you may have a point. It's possible — just possible — that lately I have been acting... slightly differently. The strain of our current circumstances and recent events have clearly taken their toll on me as well. I will try to pull myself together and to show greater forbearance."
YOU[Raise your glass] "Let's drink to tonight. And to us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gesture at the table] "Where did you get all this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you learn from the Lord Inquisitor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your behaviour recently has concerned me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What would you like to do once we have dealt with all the calamities around us?"
VentUneasy, the Interrogator bites his lip. "It is not for me to decide how the Inquisition will next employ my abilities..."
YOU"What are you talking about? What about us?"
VentHeinrix leans toward you. "The two of us — that's here and now. Let's not mar this time by thinking about a future that neither of us can predict. Please."
YOU[Raise your glass] "Let's drink to tonight. And to us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gesture at the table] "Where did you get all this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you learn from the Lord Inquisitor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your behaviour recently has concerned me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What would you like to do once we have dealt with all the calamities around us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Touch Heinrix's hand] "Something is weighing on you. Tell me."
VentPreoccupied, Heinrix recoils from your touch. "I... don't know what to say to you. You want me to unburden my soul? I don't think you really want that." After a pause, he adds quietly, "It wouldn't do any good."
Vent"We are good together — don't get me wrong. Every day that I spend with you makes me happy. Especially... after Commorragh. That you are alive is a blessing from the God-Emperor, and I don't see the point in wasting a moment of the time He has granted to us on anything... upsetting. Such as discussing our non-existent future. So let's not do that."
YOU"Our non-existent future?"
VentHeinrix releases a breath. "While the Lord Inquisitor's order remains in effect, I will be at your side. But as soon as the Holy Inquisition makes a different decision..." He gestures vaguely. "That is the nature of my service. What I want doesn't come into it."
YOU"Our non-existent future?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are still a closed book to me. And that preys on my mind."
VentHeinrix smiles sadly. "Decades in the Inquisition haven't just made me a poor conversationalist, it seems, but a paranoid one as well. I keep silent even when I could say something without risking harm to you or me. I... just wish..." He trails off.
VentHe rises from his seat and comes over to take you in his arms. "Sometimes I stay silent to avoid causing pain. When things are self-evident, but I can't bring myself to say them aloud."
Vent"The truth is simple. You are a Rogue Trader. I am an agent of the Golden Throne. We serve the Imperium, but sooner or later, our duty will come between us."
YOU"We have one life. I don't want to give all of mine to the Imperium with nothing left for myself. Do you? Do you actually want it?"
Vent"Do I want it?" Heinrix freezes as though his heart just skipped a beat.
Vent(sequence)
Vent"Damn it!" Heinrix swears bitterly. "You once rebuked me for never directly saying what I meant... You're right. I can pontificate about the Creed and duty, but when it comes to saying what I think or feel..."
end of branch
Vent"I want to serve the God-Emperor, yes. But in the Dark City, for the first time ever, my mind turned to thinking about how I have suffered more injuries and mutilations at the hands of humans than in the clutches of the enemies of Humanity... The very notion is heretical..."
end of branch
Vent"The situation on Footfall, with the Lord Inquisitor's guard... What possessed me? Could the sanctioning... be starting to fail? If that's it, then I don't have much time left... No, that's ridiculous!"
end of branch
VentHeinrix finally falls silent, then closes his eyes, a tortured expression on his face. "Zugzwang. Like in regicide. Whatever move... or even thought... follows will only make matters worse."
YOU"I do not mean to distress you. But you will have to make a choice sooner or later."
VentHeinrix sighs. "No, [Name]. I'm not the one who has a choice to make."
YOU"Let's finish the evening in my quarters. I want to forget this conversation."
VentHeinrix grasps your chin and bends down for a kiss. "I can help you do that."
end of branch
YOU"I rather spoiled the evening, didn't I?"
Vent"No, it's entirely my fault." Heinrix grasps your chin and bends down for a kiss. "I will do my best to make it up to you in private."
end of branch
YOU"I don't know what to say to you. I suppose I should just go."
VentHeinrix slowly releases you. "Yes. Of course. I'm sorry. I hope tomorrow things will look brighter to both of us."
end of branch
YOU"I love you."
VentHeinrix looks at you, his eyes full of tenderness. But a strange, almost wounded smile appears on his face. "You are too merciful and generous to someone like me."
YOU"Let's finish the evening in my quarters. I want to forget this conversation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I rather spoiled the evening, didn't I?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I don't know what to say to you. I suppose I should just go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Draw back] "I won't keep fighting for you against the Emperor Himself."
VentHeinrix does not release you, but only pulls you tighter into his embrace. "Stop. Don't talk like that. We have time. That, at least... is something we both can fight for."
YOU"Let's finish the evening in my quarters. I want to forget this conversation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I rather spoiled the evening, didn't I?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I don't know what to say to you. I suppose I should just go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Fine. What will be, will be."
VentHeinrix nods and repeats your words. "What will be, will be."
YOU"Let's finish the evening in my quarters. I want to forget this conversation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I rather spoiled the evening, didn't I?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I don't know what to say to you. I suppose I should just go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to accept that, Heinrix. Don't expect me to."
VentHeinrix shakes his head with a sad smile. "Such obstinacy should be put to better use, [Name]."
YOU"Let's finish the evening in my quarters. I want to forget this conversation."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I rather spoiled the evening, didn't I?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I don't know what to say to you. I suppose I should just go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I see no point in continuing a relationship that has no future. Let's just end things right now."
VentHeinrix slowly draws away. "I suppose... I suppose that would be best for both of us. I don't want to continue to be together if it causes you pain. Thank you for your candour."
end of branch
YOU"I like you better when you lose your temper. Do I have to say something heretical to bring you to life?"
VentHeinrix laughs coldly. "Right, and I'll immediately start reprimanding you like in the good old days, and we'll forget what was said... I'm afraid it's too late to hide behind jokes."
VentHe rises from his seat and comes over to take you in his arms. "Sometimes I stay silent to avoid causing pain. When things are self-evident, but I can't bring myself to say them aloud."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Say nothing]
VentHeinrix gets to his feet with a sigh and draws close to you. "Please, don't do this... You are punishing me for saying aloud what you didn't want to hear."
Vent"The truth is simple. You are a Rogue Trader. I am an agent of the Golden Throne. We serve the Imperium, but sooner or later, our duty will come between us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Void. Take. You."
VentHeinrix looks at you in shock. "[Name]?"
YOU"I cannot be with someone who values his precious duty more than me."
VentHeinrix leaps to his feet and rushes toward you. "No, [Name], wait! Don't say that! I didn't mean that... I..."
Vent"I love you."
VentHeinrix freezes, looking dumbstruck for a moment, and then takes a breath and continues, vehemently, his words coming out in a rush, "I love you, [Name] — never doubt that, I beg you. And if you think what I said before was born of indifference or fear... no. No! I just have no illusions about what is at stake."
VentHe hugs you, tenderly stroking his hand down your back. "There are a lot of things I don't talk about — my life has enough secrets already. I can drag confessions out of anyone, except myself, it seems. But the only reason I stayed silent about what the future holds for us is because I knew that it would hurt you. I... I thought that an unspoken understanding between us would be... better. I was wrong."
Vent"The truth is simple. You are a Rogue Trader. I am an agent of the Golden Throne. We serve the Imperium, but sooner or later, our duty will come between us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How can I trust you when you go and say things like that? You don't even want to try!"
VentHeinrix leaps to his feet and rushes toward you. "No, [Name], wait! Don't say that! I didn't mean that... I..."
Vent"I love you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Stand up] "I'm going. I don't want to see you anymore."
VentHeinrix leaps to his feet and rushes toward you. "No, [Name], wait! Don't say that! I didn't mean that... I..."
Vent"I love you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are still a closed book to me. And that preys on my mind."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I like you better when you lose your temper. Do I have to say something heretical to bring you to life?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Say nothing]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Void. Take. You."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I imagining it, or are you deliberately avoiding talking about the future?"
Vent"I'm not... avoiding it. I just don't want to say out loud what has been obvious from the very beginning."
Vent"We are good together — don't get me wrong. Every day that I spend with you makes me happy. Especially... after Commorragh. That you are alive is a blessing from the God-Emperor, and I don't see the point in wasting a moment of the time He has granted to us on anything... upsetting. Such as discussing our non-existent future. So let's not do that."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's talk about something else."
Vent"Thank you." With affected nonchalance, Heinrix rubs at his brow.
YOU[Raise your glass] "Let's drink to tonight. And to us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gesture at the table] "Where did you get all this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you learn from the Lord Inquisitor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your behaviour recently has concerned me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What would you like to do once we have dealt with all the calamities around us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Touch Heinrix's hand] "Something is weighing on you. Tell me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I imagining it, or are you deliberately avoiding talking about the future?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know how I want to employ your abilities."
VentHeinrix's expression twists. "There is no need for that. You know what I meant."
YOU[Raise your glass] "Let's drink to tonight. And to us."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gesture at the table] "Where did you get all this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you learn from the Lord Inquisitor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your behaviour recently has concerned me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What would you like to do once we have dealt with all the calamities around us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Touch Heinrix's hand] "Something is weighing on you. Tell me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I imagining it, or are you deliberately avoiding talking about the future?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Touch Heinrix's hand] "Something is weighing on you. Tell me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I imagining it, or are you deliberately avoiding talking about the future?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What would you like to do once we have dealt with all the calamities around us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Touch Heinrix's hand] "Something is weighing on you. Tell me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I imagining it, or are you deliberately avoiding talking about the future?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your behaviour recently has concerned me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What would you like to do once we have dealt with all the calamities around us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Touch Heinrix's hand] "Something is weighing on you. Tell me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I imagining it, or are you deliberately avoiding talking about the future?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you learn from the Lord Inquisitor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your behaviour recently has concerned me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What would you like to do once we have dealt with all the calamities around us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Touch Heinrix's hand] "Something is weighing on you. Tell me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I imagining it, or are you deliberately avoiding talking about the future?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gesture at the table] "Where did you get all this?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did you learn from the Lord Inquisitor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Your behaviour recently has concerned me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What would you like to do once we have dealt with all the calamities around us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Touch Heinrix's hand] "Something is weighing on you. Tell me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I imagining it, or are you deliberately avoiding talking about the future?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It has turned out to be a pleasant surprise, at the very least!"
VentHeinrix laughs quietly. "At the very least, yes. So... If you'll join me..." He holds out his hand to you.
VentThe meal passes in a silence that is more comfortable than awkward. At last, after topping up your glasses once more, Heinrix falls back in his chair and looks at you — his gaze is calm, relaxed. "Time slips by imperceptibly in your company."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I wouldn't dare defy the Inquisition."
Vent"What? But I meant..." The Interrogator lapses into an embarrassed silence. "I truly only wanted to spend time with you. I suppose I could have phrased my invitation differently."
YOU"One day you will master this art."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It has turned out to be a pleasant surprise, at the very least!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Based on your tone, I thought I was in for an interrogation, not a candlelit dinner."
VentHeinrix looks crestfallen. "I apologise. The truth is that I have had a lot more experience summoning people to interrogations. Extending personal invitations is new territory."
YOU"One day you will master this art."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It has turned out to be a pleasant surprise, at the very least!"continues where this line first appears above