A slightly smaller Mess

Laurence: "Puritans believe that all heretics, Xenos and daemons must burn. No matter what. Radicals are more... flexible."

"Right..."

"For example... I retain some more... exotic operatives, in my retinue."

"Exotic?"

"It might be easier to show you."

"Alright..."

Laurence: "I do warn you though, some of them are... volatile."

"How so?"

Laurence: "well, some are xenos, some are chaos worshippers... a daemon."

"oh. Fan tucking fastic"

"Contained of course. Hexagramic wards, sedation, suspension tanks. And all are simply too useful to kill."

"Riiiiiiight"

Laurence: "Actually, there is one who's quite docile."

"Right"

*laurence brushes flour off the front of his shirt* "Yes, he was an artist, and is mostly content to keep painting or playing music. He's very good actually."

Laurence: "So. I don't suppose you'd like to meet the man? He might put things... into perspective."

*sighs* "Nothing else to do"

*laurence leads her to the heavy steel door, that the pariah told her leads to the bunker system beneath the house.*

she follows behind

*he waves a hand across the access panel, and the door slides open. It's a good half a foot of solid steel. Behind it is a stairway down. He decends it in silence, waving through the door at the other end, they step out into the garage floor. Directly in front of them is a wide door, wide enough for a truck, or a tank, with a hand drawn label, stuck to the brushed steel with tape. "Salamander"*

*eyebrow raise*

Laurence: "Well that's a security risk..."

"Explain?"

Laurence: "I suppose that's where Tyren is. Sleeping I assume."

"...Why?"

Laurence: "He's a dreadnought. They have to sleep, or the pain drives them mad."

"um.... he's not..."

Laurence: "Uh... he is..."

"...they didn't tell you?"

"Didn't tell me what...?"

"....*sighs* Lyanna grew a body for him and modified the dreadnought so he could just pilot it."

Laurence: "... I will have to talk to your mother, and tyren... I'll have to make some arrangements."

she shrugs

Laurence: "Perfect... now I have to protect them from the mechanicus... idiots."

"Finally we agree on something"

"That everyone but me need to start going along with my damn plans? Yes we agree."

"More that those two are idiots"

"Besides being the most experienced warrior and tactician, most likely in the sector."

"Competence and idiocy can exist together"

"Don't ever forget it. Idiots are everywhere."

"You do't say"

"Everything would be fine if people all just did what I say. But unfortunately I was born a biomancer, not a telepath."

she shrugs

*he shrugs as well* "on to deeper levels?"

"Please don't tell me we're going to run into a bunch of those lobotomised babies with wings you imperials love so much"

"Cherubim? No they're pointless as far as I'm concerned."

"They're fucking creepy"

"It's an ecclesiarchy thing. Servo skulls on the other hand. There are those."

"Less creepy"

"Might see worse things downstairs. Last chance to wuss out."

"i'm coming. Creeped out doesn't mean I can't stand to be around em."