Empires of Ashes Reboot

Justin: Every time... every single time we failed, every time we couldn't rescue the people who needed us... the thoughts of what they were going through... how they were suffering... they got worse every time. *Diana gets the impression he means someone specific by 'they'*

Mordred: “A necessary precaution”

theresa: Aye, fair enough then.

"Justinian... look at me." *she unhooks her veil and lets it drop* "Its okay.. Its over now."

Mord: “If I may, what’s with the teardrop?” *Gestures beneath his eye*

Justin: I...I know but... It's still there. Still vivid, as though it was still happening before my eyes. There was one... four years ago now, near the height of summer. Sakhmet. Somehow the immortals got warning we were coming, assembled in full outside the city walls. Met us head on. We gave as good as we got, left them bloodied as we were, but in the heat we had to pull back for the sake of the wounded. By the time we were ready again, they'd dug in. We never got another chance. My... my rage got so great, and the visions so vivid that I beat my hands bloody on the training stump in camp, broke fingers in both my hands.

Theresa suddenly pauses, clearly a little uncomfortable.
"You really don't know?"

Mordred: “Most of my interactions with the Thengul are on the sea, so I don’t know much about the culture beyond your sailing prowess”

Theresa: It aint fuckin thengul. It's a slave brand.

Mordred: “...You were a slave?”

she nods
"Teardrop means prostitute"

Mordred: “...........Fuck” *A rather disgusted look adorns his face* “Kelthro did it?”

theresa: aye. Took me alive during a battle. Did that to me for a few years. IVth legion busted me out again.

Diana gets up from her chair and walks around the table, standing behind him she wraps her arms around his chest and hugs him tight. "You don't have to think about it anymore."

he holds her close, his voice starting to crack a little
"I'm.. sorry... I'm so so sorry"

Mordred: *nods* “Good to hear the 4th got you out atleast”

Theresa: thanks.

Diana: "Shh... I know... i know."

Justin just holds her, quietly, for a few moments more. Without his armour on, Diana can feel his scars through his tunica, all across his body, the largest being on his right shoulder.

Mordred: “I’m guessing that’s how you ended up an Auxiliary”

Theresa: not quite. Was in the army before they captured me. Re enlisted when I got free again.

Mordred: “So what does being in the Auxilia entail?”

Theresa: Depends what sort you are. We basically do everything the legionaries can't with all their fancy armour n tight formations n shite.

Mordred: “Hmm, what do you get out of it?”

Diana: "We've all got scars. Its how we carry them that defines us. You dont have to carry anyone else's."

Justin: I'm... I'm just so happy you're alright

Theresa: other than the whole loyalty to the empire shite? Same as the rest of 'em. Pay. That and we get to be proper citizens n that if we make it to the end.

Mordred: “How long do they make you serve for?”

"25 years"

Diana: "Me too... I... Seeing you again..."

Justin: are...are you alright? *she can hear concern in his voice now, replacing his own distress*

Mordred: “That’s a long time, what happens if you have children or a family?”

Theresa: you get to see em from time to time. Most of your pay gets sent back to them so they can survive.

Mordred: “Ahh, that’s good”

"I'm... its nothing." *its not nothing. Her voice is wavering.*

Justin: No. No it isn't. *he holds her a little tighter, his own distress almost all gone the moment he could hear something is wrong with her* You can tell me, Diana. I'm here for you.

Theresa: Ye really interested in all this logistical crap?

Diana: "I... I... Sahkmet... Thats where i was."

Justin goes silent for a few, long moments.
Justin: I... g-gods.. Diana I... I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry *the distress is returning already*

Mordred: “I am to be king, it’s worth knowing”

Diana: "Shhhh... Its okay." She hugs him again. "I was... used to it. By then... And... Hakon came to the place a few days after."

Theresa: if you say so.

Justinian: I... n-no... Diana... I...I failed you.

Mordred: “So what kind of auxiliary are you?”

Diana: "No... no you didn't. It's complicated... but... I... I had to do it myself."

Theresa: Excursor. think scout, skirmisher type.

Justin: Should have... been faster... fought harder...

Mordred: “And they give you wolves?”

theresa: aye, some of us. *the wolf comes over to her, and she scratches behind its' ears*

Diana: "Justinian, listen to me. I needed to do it myself."

Justin: I... I... *he's lost almost all composure now.*

Mordred: “Our scouts have dogs”

Diana: "Listen... Listen. Justinian. I had to do it myself. I had to give those whoring bastards justice with my own hands..."

Justin doesn't reply. he sits there, putting his head in his hands, trembling in silence for what feels like an eternity.

Theresa: Aye. And what's a wolf, cept a better dog eh?

*she crouches next to him, and lays a hand on his shoulder as long as it takes*