“Ah, I see...” The Primarch raised his eyes from the book, unsettled he slid it back over the counter to the demon clerk. He had heard the word ‘Persona’ pop up more than a few times during the course of the party, enough to spark some interest in his search for exactly what this crisis was surrounding. The answer he had received was more than he had bargained for, and only seemed to raise further questions however. 

The angel met eyes with the skeletal figure behind the counter, stonefaced he spoke. “This, ‘encounter’ the book speaks of”. He made a cautious gesture, “Is it required for the recipient to be in active danger? Is that the only way?” The demon shrugged without care and looked questioningly at the book.  A spark of rage blazed behind his calm exterior, and he gave the skeleton a dismissive wave. 

It smiled perpetually as it took the book in its bony fingers, slipping through a pair of beaded blinds. As soon as it was out of view he shuddered. It was still unsettling him how inhuman the servitors where on this plane, a mark of old teachings he supposed, but it was a teaching he had held to since his earliest beginnings. “I can never get used to speaking to them.” The angel  muttered, certain he was the only one in the store.  Two arms crossed, eyes narrowing, soon realising that there was a person waiting to cash out in line behind. He coughed, trying to hide his discomfort by ignoring them. 

... Oh dear he can’t. Better think of something to say quick!

“The veil it’s called apparently... The snowstorm that is.” 

Sanguinius nodded, draining half of his wine in a small sip. “I see, no familiarity there then.” The primarch stuck his fork into the fresh goose and began to consume it in small, treasured bites. “Follow up question, where are you from then? I have found little indication that any of these people herald from my civilization, it intrigues me what kind of people have been chosen for this particular task.”

He hadn’t seen the light of imperial heraldry or of any indication this was a planet at all, for all he knew, this could be limbo. The thought had begun to bite at him, but upon prying it had been revealed that the others were in a similar spot. One thing was shared between every guest: they were all here willingly. 

Despite his temperate way of eating, his hunger fueled eagerness, and soon the portion was gone. It was hard to treat a human sized portion like more than an appetizer for any primarch. After clearing his plate, the Angel met his eyes again and shone him a confident smile. “From your robes I took you as a scholar.” 

A malcontent sigh left his lips. “I suppose, there’s a lot of questions that I require answers for still, but for what this occassion is worth I better take part in the celebration.”

There was a pause as he took an outdrawn sip of his wine, it tasted good, a smirk settling on his lips as he shook the liquids around inside. “Strange inventions?” The primarch glanced up at the man, scanning his appearance. “Are you a feudal worlder perhaps?” 

A malcontent sigh left his lips. “I suppose, there’s a lot of questions that I require answers for still, but for what this occassion is worth I better take part in the celebration.”

There was a pause as he took an outdrawn sip of his wine, it tasted good, a smirk settling on his lips as he shook the liquids around inside. “Strange inventions?” The primarch glanced up at the man, scanning his appearance. “Are you a feudal worlder perhaps?” 

“Just because they have a chair that compensates for my stature doesn’t mean I have to like the fact that I am being served food by Xenos” he gave the waiter a dour look as it placed down a second large serving of foie gras, and kept his stare as the demon retreated timidly into the crowd. 

Sanguinius sighed and returned to his food. He knew that keeping the hostile approach up was unfruitful, but he had ideals to maintain, and these creatures were not to be trusted. 

It had been a strange day all together, he thought, poking irritably at the small amount of food on his plate. The days events blended together in a haze and he seemed to drown out the other bits of conversation held at the table. 

The Angel looked up at the other participants at the table, some known, others entirely new faces. At the very least he had to keep up appearances, so he met eyes with the person seated across from him. 

“Enjoying the dinner?” 

“Just because they have a chair that compensates for my stature doesn’t mean I have to like the fact that I am being served food by Xenos” he gave the waiter a dour look as it placed down a second large serving of foie gras, and kept his stare as the demon retreated timidly into the crowd. 

Sanguinius sighed and returned to his food. He knew that keeping the hostile approach up was unfruitful, but he had ideals to maintain, and these creatures were not to be trusted. 

It had been a strange day all together, he thought, poking irritably at the small amount of food on his plate. The days events blended together in a haze and he seemed to drown out the other bits of conversation held at the table. 

The Angel looked up at the other participants at the table, some known, others entirely new faces. At the very least he had to keep up appearances, so he met eyes with the person seated across from him. 

“Enjoying the dinner?” 

The primarch had affixed his eyes at the street he wandered in from, and was beginning to plan out a route back when the girl interrupted his train of thought. “Cold?” He grinned at her naivety, happiness welling up inside of him from her simplicity. “No my child, I am unfazed by climates like these, it would take much more than this to even begin to give me discomfort.”

Stopping his bragging however, he noted that she was shivering, and realized the question’s origin. “Ah, I see what you mean.” he pursed his lips, unhooking the ornamental leopard fur hung from his left pauldron, before draping it around her shoulders. The size of the garnment weighing her down, and spreading out over the ground. “Is this better?” He asked, tying it around her into a neat cloak. 

“No not like a- Oh nevermind.” He smiled again, standing back up causing the snow to rain off his armor. “You shouldn’t apologize for being scared, girl. It’s perfectly natural for someone of your age, especially in this situation.” 

The primarch glanced around at the darkened rooftops and the dim lights covering the neighborhood, and instantly drew the conclusion that they were far from the building he had emerged at. Presumably at the edge of the town.

“…No, not exactly. But I do know where the lodge is that houses the other people.” He assured, wiping some snow from his hair, quite pleased with himself.  “I guess that is where you live as well? Am I right?” 

“No not like a- Oh nevermind.” He smiled again, standing back up causing the snow to rain off his armor. “You shouldn’t apologize for being scared, girl. It’s perfectly natural for someone of your age, especially in this situation.” 

The primarch glanced around at the darkened rooftops and the dim lights covering the neighborhood, and instantly drew the conclusion that they were far from the building he had emerged at. Presumably at the edge of the town.

“...No, not exactly. But I do know where the lodge is that houses the other people.” He assured, wiping some snow from his hair, quite pleased with himself.  “I guess that is where you live as well? Am I right?” 

Sanguinius connected the dots and began to realize the strange nature of his approach. He cursed internally that he hadn’t just called out from a distance. The girl seemed to struggle to understand him as well, it may be the high-gothic direct translations, perhaps trying a coarser dialect would help? 

“A mortal-” He began, slowly gesturing as he spoke. “-Is a norman human like yourself. Someone who is capable of dying by mundande means.” Which is something she really shouldn’t have to think of right now, the afterthought came. 

“Though it doesn’t matter right now! I must apologize again, for scaring you. I am deeply sorry.” He bowed his head for a moment, letting the gesture show before raising it again. “My name is Sanguinius. I heard your cries while walking down the street. May I ask for your name?” 

Blue hair, he thought. A strange sight to be sure. He tried to hide his surprise to no avail, the angel smiled widely and chuckled before answering. “Yes, quite so. I’m not exactly sure what I’ve gotten myself into, through some cosmic catastrophe I find myself here.” His thoughts briefly returned to his duties in the Imperium, and he forced himself back to the conversation. “Aqua? Fitting name. I didn’t quite understand what purpose has brought me here, would you happen to know more?”

【 @wayfoundwarrior 】

“Oh!” The primarch flinched back, narrowly avoiding a collision with her as he turned a corner in the corridors. “My apologies, it is hard to make up for size accomodations when turning corners. Are you alright?” He asked in a hushed tone, looking inquisitively at her.  

Sanguinius connected the dots and began to realize the strange nature of his approach. He cursed internally that he hadn’t just called out from a distance. The girl seemed to struggle to understand him as well, it may be the high-gothic direct translations, perhaps trying a coarser dialect would help? 

“A mortal-” He began, slowly gesturing as he spoke. “-Is a norman human like yourself. Someone who is capable of dying by mundande means.” Which is something she really shouldn’t have to think of right now, the afterthought came. 

“Though it doesn’t matter right now! I must apologize again, for scaring you. I am deeply sorry.” He bowed his head for a moment, letting the gesture show before raising it again. “My name is Sanguinius. I heard your cries while walking down the street. May I ask for your name?” 

Oh no I’ve startled her even more. 

The primarch tried to minimize his imposing presence by dropping to his knees, pulling his wings tighter towards his back. An anxious stare, his lip shaking slightly as he spoke. 

“No no no, I was asking if you were alright! Do not fear me mortal, I am of your kind.” He exhaled sharply and lowered his hands to his lap, palms turned up. “It may not be my place to pry, but if something is upsetting you, I can at the very least lend my ear.” He smiled brightly at her, eyes glittering with the remnants of his own tears as he beckoned her over.

Oh no I’ve startled her even more. 

The primarch tried to minimize his imposing presence by dropping to his knees, pulling his wings tighter towards his back. An anxious stare, his lip shaking slightly as he spoke. 

“No no no, I was asking if you were alright! Do not fear me mortal, I am of your kind.” He exhaled sharply and lowered his hands to his lap, palms turned up. “It may not be my place to pry, but if something is upsetting you, I can at the very least lend my ear.” He smiled brightly at her, eyes glittering with the remnants of his own tears as he beckoned her over.

The Angel peered at the girl through misty eyes of his own. Oh dear. 

He didn’t try to hide his approach, he couldn’t after all. The audible heavy footfall against half a foot of snow crunched its way closer towards the crying thing before him. He hesitated, reaching a hand out only to have it hover over her shoulder.

 This was a strange scene for a primarch, his mind struggled to find words…

“Are you in need of assistance?” He settled on in a shaky tone, as he laid his oversized hand on her head.

The Angel peered at the girl through misty eyes of his own. Oh dear. 

He didn’t try to hide his approach, he couldn’t after all. The audible heavy footfall against half a foot of snow crunched its way closer towards the crying thing before him. He hesitated, reaching a hand out only to have it hover over her shoulder.

 This was a strange scene for a primarch, his mind struggled to find words...

“Are you in need of assistance?” He settled on in a shaky tone, as he laid his oversized hand on her head.

It hadn’t been long before Nanako was alone again, the city was so big and unfamiliar and where was her dad? His disappearance was already making her scared, or maybe he was there but somewhere else and how worried he would be if he got home and she wasn’t there.

Everything was so big and confusing now and it was already putting her into a really stressed mood. But she found herself lost. Without a clue where to go or where anything was, and she instantly regretted ever leaving the house. It was such a terrible day and tears were already spilling rather fiercely.

She was trying not to make too much sound while crying, but she was scared, and lost, and didn’t have her dad. And well- who could blame her for crying?

【 @wayfoundwarrior 】

“Oh!” The primarch flinched back, narrowly avoiding a collision with her as he turned a corner in the corridors. “My apologies, it is hard to make up for size accomodations when turning corners. Are you alright?” He asked in a hushed tone, looking inquisitively at her.  

The air surge was cool and temperate, despite the raging snowbattered winds cropped against the horizon beyond the range. It was a nice change of pace since Ullanor, especially in its modest size. He had missed small feudal civilized worlds like these... Though he had hoped for this one to be distinctly more human.  The Angel hovered over the lodge just outside his room window. Taking in the surrounding scenery. Of the creatures milling about on the street below, not a single one struck him as distinctly human, even in some twisted aberrated form. It was as if he had been fooled, the scope of the contract and the assignment had seemed dire enough to accept, even with the absurdity of the situation, though he had in the flash of the moment forgotten that the universe probably entailed more than the expansive Imperium of Man. 

“Well that’s a problem. I can’t just leave now, can I?” He fidgeted nervously, biting his nails as he saw an amorphous blob crawl across the street. “Should I perhaps, try to talk to one?”