#bridge event

[primarchslut]

What's your opinion on owlcat using gen ai :((

(also, sorry if you've answered this before)

my second largest criticism of them as a whole come from them using generative ai. the first is their treatment of their LGBTQ+ characters, but if people ask me if rogue trader is good, i have the complicated stance of:

“the company that made it is full of morons, but it is also a game i’ve dumped 1k+ hours into, and wrote a huge guide for.” which is… awkward.

as a whole, i am extremely critical of them for it.

to reject the joy of searching for things creatively during the research phase, to not want to organically search and define things via your own interpretation, to be unable to make a fucking mood board or mind map, something i was doing as a middle schooler, so you have to turn to ai to do this? fucking what?

it is genuinely moronic, and use of ai shows a fundamental rot of the soul. it’s partly why I won’t be doing any portrait/art analysis, and have been much harsher on dark heresy, even in its alpha state. i even fucking hate the idea that latter dlcs for rogue trader could have potentially been influenced or produced via dogshit neural networks that exist to feed the egos of sycophants and mentally dim morons, which is their only user base.

before you come and try to go “but some ai is good! blanket hating ai is awful!” yes, no shit, but i hate generative ai, which the controversy started from:

“neural networks and machine learning.” so you just want to steal, and be lazy? your games already launch as broken, buggy messes, and now you want to be even lazier? you want to take the artistically slop way of doing things? you want to kowtow and use ai in the cRPG genre, a genre that is built off tabletop role playing games, a creative form of human connection?

it’s fucking revolting.

i try to be positive on this blog, because i love warhammer, in all its forms! but warhammer is such a creative hobby, in general. the whole point is doing things with your hands, to create and to build, to view and analyze and put your own spin on your little grey dudes, so the fact that it runs rampant on the subreddits and nexusmods via god awful “ai generated portrait packs.” is so disgusting, and is partly why i avoid browsing either (amongst other reasons)

there is so much visual history, and love, and care put into warhammer as well. we have so many beautiful and talented artists that have contributed to the artistic history of this fandom/community/capitalistic venture, so i simply don’t see the use of ai as needed. so much of it is there, waiting to be found and analyzed and to help contribute itself to a project… why is it suddenly so difficult that you can’t do basic research for a game? why would i trust you to launch a working product if you can’t do something literal mentally ill middle schoolers do on tumblr? or, hell, what i do, as a severely mentally ill woman doing this as a side hobby from her 9-5?

i talked about laarthyrs portrait being unfinished, and i find it cute in relation to him, but why is it unfinished? if you are “speeding up internal processes” surely that must mean you are completing more and more and being able to give content to your commissioned artists faster? aren’t you saving money? doesn’t this mean you can commission more art for the game?

why did saros have generic art from rogue trader in the alpha? why are so many npcs, even prominent ones, lacking even basic portraits?

i want an exact breakdown of how this is speeding up internal processes, and what this means we should expect from the game. surely you’re tracking productivity increases?

i am equally harsh on other games that use it, this isn’t me “punching down” on the little guys. Owlcat, Larian, Sandfall, whoever the fuck made Arc Raiders, all of them have lost major amounts of respect from me, and i simply don’t want to recommend their games to anyone because of the use of generative ai, and i will be much more harsher discussing their games, because these had better be 10/10 experiences.

simply put, it is disgusting, and shows they have the backbone of tissue paper. generative ai is fucking beloathed on this blog, and there is a statement on the increments guide that generative ai was never used, and for any guide, or post, or anything, no “neural networks” or “machine learning” or generative ai will ever be used by me. block me, and get the fuck off my blog if you like it, i don’t want you reading or interacting with my shit.

“why do you produce content for it if you have such a strong stance against it?” because… well, i love warhammer, and i know not everyone at owlcat can be slop loving morons, and i have to hope they’re being honest about none of the content in game being created by generative ai.

i don’t know, it’s something i’ve wrestled with, and i didn’t even know if I was going to buy dark heresy because of the ai use, i was honestly going to pirate it. it’s tempting to be an ass, and paste that tweet and job description on the increments guide for dark heresy, but… i don’t know. it sucks, lmao!

[primarchslut]

imagine heinrix proposing to the rogue trader but he gets so nervous all he manages to say his "please" or something

heinrix kneeling, chokes on his words, and only manages a far too forceful please while holding his now melted-into-a-ring rosette.

or maybe even a sorry.

[primarchslut]

I don't suppose you have a compilation of Abelard's introductions... do you?

abelard, introduce me! and do things! ↓

Abelard, teach this riffraff the proper way of addressing her sovereign. ⮛ Abelard glares at the woman, his brow furrowing. "Officer, the person before you is [NAME] von Valancius, a Rogue Trader. Although you are, from what I gather, a subject of another dynasty, you would do well to introduce yourself with the proper decorum. "

Abelard, introduce us. ⮛ The Seneschal takes a deep breath. "Before you stands His/Her/The Lordship/Ladyship/Liege Rogue Trader [NAME] von Valancius, heir to the greatest protectorate in the Koronus Expanse and bearer of the sacred Warrant of Trade. Allow me to point out that Nobilite custom requires the Lord Navigator to introduce himself first, but given the, ahem, unusual circumstances on the station, His Lordship/Her Ladyship/The Liege the Rogue Trader is willing to turn a blind eye to your hostility. But just this once." OR "His/Her/The Lordship/Ladyship/Liege Rogue Trader [NAME] von Valancius, heir to the greatest protectorate in the Koronus Expanse and bearer of the sacred Warrant of Trade, extends his/her/their greetings."

Abelard, announce the purpose of our visit to these provincials. ⮛ Abelard clears his throat. "His/Her/The Lordship/Ladyship/Liege Rogue Trader [NAME] von Valancius, inheritor of the greatest protectorate of the Koronus Expanse and bearer of the sacred Warrant, has graced Thassera with his/her/their presence in order to discuss matters pertaining to this planet's tithe—"

Abelard, what makes this man think he can demand anything of me? ⮛ "His being a member of the Adeptus Arbites, I presume. One might say such a tone is… an attribute of their occupation, Your Lordship/Ladyship/Liege." Abelard furrows his brows. "Proctor, before you stands Rogue Trader [NAME] von Valancius, the Emperor's anointed and bearer of the sacred Warrant. As for His/Her/The Lordship/Ladyship/Liege's business on this planet, I'm afraid you do not have the authority to demand an answer. I would ask that you treat the Lord Captain with the same respect that you gave Lady Theodora… the late Lady Theodora."

Abelard, explain to this man at once how he will address me. ⮛ Abelard assumes a most stern expression and proclaims vociferously: "Guardsman, before you stands Rogue Trader [NAME] von Valancius, by the will of the Emperor the ruler of millions of subjects and the sovereign of many planets, Leethus included! From now on, you will show His/Her/The Lordship/Ladyship/Liege proper deference and obey any order without question."

Abelard, tell this scribbler what I am here for. ⮛ The Seneschal's booming voice causes a small avalanche of grain in one of the opened containers. "His/Her/The Lordship/Ladyship/Liege Rogue Trader [NAME] von Valancius, bearer of the sacred Warrant, has come to collect the inventory of the tithe shipment."

Abelard, answer the charges. ⮛ Barely containing his seething rage, Abelard thunders, "[NAME] von Valancius, bearer of the sacred Warrant, the God-Emperor's anointed and sovereign of this protectorate, denies these false accusations. The Administratum and Adeptus Arbites will not get away with this flagrant attempt to sully the Rogue Trader's good name and plunder his/her/their dynasty's coffers, make no mistake!"

Abelard, under no circumstances will I speak to this rabble. ⮛ "Collect yourselves, commoners! [NAME] von Valancius, the Rogue Trader himself/herself/themself is standing before you! Now prove that your lives were worth saving."

Abelard, kindly pluck a leaf for me. ⮛ "But of course. This is a task for the Seneschal."

Abelard, this is no time to lose your composure. Present me. ⮛ Clenching his teeth, the Seneschal grits out, "Rogue Trader [NAME] von Valancius greets you, honoured Tech-Priest, and graciously grants you permission to remain in his/her/their presence."

Abelard, enlighten this rabble about the proper manner of greeting the God-Emperor's chosen. ⮛ Abelard clears his throat. "You stand before Rogue Trader von Valancius, you ignorant worm! Snap to attention this instant and give His/Her/The Lordship/Ladyship/Liege a formal report!"

Abelard, would you kindly inform this bandit vermin that we've come to execute him. ⮛ Abelard glowers menacingly and says in his best "officer" voice, "By the order of the head of the von Valancius dynasty, a fully recognised Rogue Trader with all the attendant rights and privileges, including authority on Footfall, you riffraff are hereby sentenced to death! May the Emperor have mercy on your souls, for we will show none."

Abelard, there is a vile creature sitting on my throne. Get rid of it. ⮛ The Seneschal adjusts his grip on his weapon and growls, "Only one man/woman/person may sit on the throne of the Rogue Trader, and that is [NAME] von Valancius. Wretched pretenders, craven xenos, enemies of Humanity — their only rightful place is in a pool of blood at the lord/lady/liege of the dynasty's feet!"

Abelard, help these wretches realise the full extent of their unenviable position. ⮛ "Before you stands Lord Captain [NAME] von Valancius, master/mistress/ruler of this vessel and everything on it, including those goods you are pawing at with your unwashed hands, and your miserable lives as well."

Abelard, do something! ⮛ Abelard barks out, "In the name of the dynasty, I command you to step away from the edge and explain the misdeed you were about to commit!"

[primarchslut]

If the RT turned into their childhood self through some warp shenanigans for a while, how do you think each companion would react to having to take care of them? Who would volunteer to do it?

d'aww, this is cute, lol. i actually thought about it way back when the game first came out.

obviously, abelard is volunteering to take care of them. he already does that, really, and he has experience with kids. so, yes, he's ready and willing to pick up the lord captain when they raise their arms up to him in a clear pick me up motion.

i also think argenta is really enamored with them, especially if the rogue trader is a bit shy. argenta is really kind to children in game, right? if the rt asks for a bedtime story, argenta is more than happy to dump dozens of stories of saints into their eager mind. she volunteers.

cassia is… struggling. children are so delicate, and often say rude things, though, that’s dependent on the rogue trader. and what it they stare at her like she’s some freak? or scream and run away? oh, but, cassia sitting and painting while the child rt (depending on their age) fingerpaints/uses crayons or markers at her feet, both of them quiet and serene? so cute! not volunteering, but, she’ll suffer through it.

heinrix is awkward. not bad! but he doesn’t really grasp the idea of playing anymore, and probably just sits the rt under his watchful eye with an age appropriate novel or object to occupy their attention. definitely cringes from giving them a hug if they start crying, because, well, i only think he becomes a good, if overprotective, parent when he has kids with the rt. doesn’t volunteer, and really doesn’t want to do it.

idira is fun, but a little risky. not intentionally! she doesn’t want anything bad to happen to the little rt at all, and would be beside herself with guilt if something happened, but she is cheeky. she might tell them they can order all the sweets they want, and the adults have to listen. or maybe she answers “adult” questions with a bit too much honesty (not, like, a gross way) and teasing. doesn’t volunteer, but rises to the challenge.

jae is pleased as punch. such a cutiepie, and she can charm children like it’s nothing. why yes, she is a princess! and she has so many fun stories to tell them about beautiful princesses, daring rogues, and the treasures they both claim. it probably ends with the rt asleep in their bed, jae utterly assured that she has just scored major bonus points. boo-yeah! volunteers eagerly.

kibellah is bad. not hurtful, or mean, but she’s scary as hell, man. she keeps the domin very close, and refuses to let them play anywhere dangerous. total helicopter guardian, way worse than abelard and his grumbling and strictness. they probably go to pick up a stuffed animal and she sticks a needle through it to be sure it isn’t trapped with something. also, doesn’t know how to soothe them if they cry, because nobody did that for her. she doesn’t need to volunteer, she will bully and threaten her way into being their guardian.

marazhai- no.

pasqal is okay! he probably hands them a puzzle box, and sits them in his workshop with explicit orders not to touch anything. he’s probably one of the only members of the crew who can deal with the annoying way kids constantly go “why?” and how they ask questions about literally everything, and he answers while adjusting something incredibly dangerous, and that he should be focusing his full attention on-! might volunteer if he has no experience with the rts age group, for the quest of knowledge after all.

solomorne is great with kids. he canonly adopts three, so he clearly wants to be a dad (at least, when he’s romanced, but, let’s assume those parental instincts activate now) so he lets them hold his hand while he guides them very carefully through the ship. it’s pretty scary, and loud, huh? don’t worry, nothing bad will ever happen with him and his trusty companion by your side, don’t worry one bit. the rt gets a very important lesson about doing what’s right, too, even if they are a little angel. gotta start them young. he might not volunteer, because he would defer guardianship to abelard, but will perform is requested.

ulfar is dumb fun. he gets to scare them with spooky tales of ghosts on fenris, of monsters that snatch little girls with hoods off beaten trails before they’re rescued by wolves, of giant krakens sinking ships, and the icy wonders of his homeworld. he probably enjoys getting to tell so many sagas, and watching them try and draw some of the monsters he’s describing. he volunteers, chuffed at the chance.

yrliet doesn’t volunteer? human children are so… sticky, and bad with boundaries. no.

[primarchslut]

who do you think in the RT cast can or cannot cook?

I think heinrix absolutely blows in the kitchen but makes a passable recaf

everyone on this ship is dying of food poisoning.

abelard can cook, and cook well, but if only because he wasn’t always noble. i do not think he cooks often now, mind you, as he is now in a position of extremely elevated status aboard the flagship, but if the rogue trader and him were stranded, i think he can make something above serviceable.

argenta can cook the basics. perfectly average. although, sisters are also used to gruel:

I endure the journey by meeting with my remaining Sisters. First I take repast with Joti in the refectory halls after morning prayer. We sit together at a long table eating gruel from shallow dishes, accompanied by dry, heavy pieces of grey meal-loaf. The food reminds me of my time in the convents. Of early rises and howling gales, and hours spent at prayer, or at lesson. [Mark of Faith, 2020]

m... maybe she can't cook. maybe she just makes gruel...

calligos can cook meat really well, and generally a lot of “roughing” foods (think campfire foods) but he is also an extraordinarily rich dude who can buy, or steal, the best chef in the koronus expanse, or buy whole restaurants (if not the whole planet the restaurant is located on) and he is that much of a braggart to do so.

cassia cannot cook, will never cook, and has zero interest in it. i think she believes she can cook after reading a cookbook, finds out she cannot, and is so embarrassed she doesn’t try again. she is a snobby noble princess with a fragile body, she needs a very specific quality and diet, and i dunno if she has the skills to make it. and she's... spoiled, in that regard, which isn't me saying she never suffered, she was undoubtedly heavily abused, but, she is noble.

i like eogunn being good at cooking, that imagery amuses me greatly. i think he picks it up and enjoys the tactile act of experimenting in the kitchen. i can see him making outrageous combos no one wants to try, though. so he probably eats a lot and chatters to nuncius about how nobody has any taste anymore.

einrich can cook very well. arguably, since he’s blended in with humans, he probably has to eat around them, and i can only imagine he eventually got good at it to make friends. it’s an easy way to endear yourself to others.

heinrix could, in theory, probably be a great cook since he has a methodical mind, and is a details oriented person. but, well… why would he? he’s both a biomancer that can surpress his hunger, and an extraordinarily privileged inquisition brat who has an expensive coat.

The tall, dark-haired man sizes you up with a quick glance; a supernatural chill is making the air around him crackle softly. The expensive fabric of his jacket is stitched with gold thread and marked by several reddish brown stains. A force sword and a vox hang from his belt, and the emblem of the Holy Inquisition glitters on his chest.

if he can’t intimidate his way into a nice meal, he’ll begrudgingly hand over money from his papa the lord inquisitor for it. i think he sucks, because he needs to suck at more things past "being an honest person" and "emotional regulation."

i like idira cooking, but i don’t think she should be allowed in a kitchen due to the whole… instability. can she cook? maybe, depending on the day. but since she was, well, not noble, and even now doesn’t have an extremely elevated or fancy position on the ship, she even describes her shower as ‘rusty’:

Idira takes a draw from her hookah. She playfully blows a few smoke rings as she lounges lazily nearby. "This is nice! Five of my cabins could fit in here, and don't get me started on that rusty nook I call a shower. But I'm pretty sure you didn't call me in here just so I'd die of envy, did you?"

i think she does have, like, an average amount of skills?

incendia cannot cook. she canonly has some pretty bad nerve damage in her fingers, and i think the act of failing at something “simple” due to a disability caused by her ancestor would send her spiralling. so she just bullies calligos for the best chefs in the expanse.

jae is also someone i bet can cook, and actually cook pretty well as she had to build herself up from NOTHING, but i don’t think she cooks often. it helps her image if she orders out and eats out a lot, and i think she now savours the ability to do so with her newfound wealth, and takes the chance whenever she can. plus, she could see octy more if she does, or hang out with idira!

kibellah likes fruit, but you know she’s eating raw rats in the bays (that’s a joke) she’s canonly described as malnourished, though by pasqal:

"A pale, lanky woman, quantity: one. Multiple signs of battery, evidence of malnourishment. Best category fit: Servants. Subcategory: Idlers."

so, i don’t even think kibellah eats often.

marazhais idea of “cooking” is snorting a rail off a table versus genitalia. drukhari canonly do eat regular food as well:

El’Uriaq’s gastronomic advice at least seemed excellent; the blood-soaked meat nicely offset the jellied echinoderms he’d dined on earlier. [Path of the Dark Eldar omnibus, 2015, pg. 271]

but he’s a bratty princeling. he’s never had to cook regular food at all.

i think noct can cook, but he gains enjoyment out of watching the rts face turn several shades of white and green if he serves them something horrible, rather than serving them something good. he’s putting drugs in their food anyways, lol~

pasqal should be a great fucking cook if only because he was curious about it and learned, but he doesn’t cook for anyone or himself because he doesn’t care. plus, the whole, uh, mouth and respirator situation.

solomorne should be able to cook the basics, and cook them well, like argenta, but i dunno if i can see sol “enjoying” food that much to learn how to cook anything advanced. he likes amasec, canonly, he even bargains for some during his bath event, but… i just see him being a ration bar kind of guy, which is kind of depressing…

i like ulfar cooking, especially campfire ish foods, but he's also an astartes. they have people doing many "simple" tasks for them, even if the space wolves do treat their kaerls (serfs) well... ish:

The hall was filled with several hundred kaerls dressed in Fenrisian gear, sat at scribing stands with quills scraping and scratching. The sound alone gave him shivers of recollection from a tour of the scribe-works on Terra. But here there were no overseers, no alertness-inducing incense burners, no maul-armed watchfolk. The kaerls seemed – and this disturbed Mudire more than anything – happy at their labours. + ‘Why would we waste a good kaerl sat at a desk for their whole life? They all learn to cook, to fight, to scribe, to keep our Aett, to drive and fly, to assist the Iron Priests in the armoury and the Wolf Priests in the bludhalle. Sometimes vylkar come here and take an hour or two, to practice their Gothic lettering.’ [both from The Wolftime, 2021]

this is not to say i don't think he can cook, but he probably doesn't have to that often when he's home, and obviously, space wolves throw huge feasts often. and when they're on missions, it's very easy to bully your way into good food by being an 8ft tall angel of the emperor, isn't it?

[primarchslut]

Hi! Thank you so much for your bridge events. I love Sol, but his romance is really bare-bones, "fill in the blanks yourself" compared to Heinrix. Your headcanons fit so nicely that one can almost forget how little we actually got with LI

i’ve been struggling with how to word my response to this ask for like twenty minutes.

overall, i absolutely agree with you that solomorne is criminally underloved by the developers, which repeats an awful trend of them neglecting their characters of color, i will never deny that, but this ask comes off as a bit dismissive of solomornes actual, and very little, yes!, romantic content that his did receive. perhaps it’s the lack of tone on the internet, as well?

so, i do appreciate the compliment, but, i think heinrix sometimes gets gassed up as being far more romantic than he actually is, something i am even guilty of.

solomorne has less romantic content than heinrix, absolutely, but what little content he gets (which is little) is far more romantic, intentionally so. this does not excuse the lack of content, however.

straight up, solomorne, and his romance, is more romantic, his maturity and lack of a suicide attempt just makes it less “overt.”

solomorne has:

all the flirting on the heartless.

his post heartless sex scene.

glaitos prize, which could honestly be broken up to two events but that’s just quibbling.

his ptsd attack post thassera, which is optional but fails the romance if skipped.

his dance on thassera, which is optional + has a line on the bridge about it.

his alcohol kiss on thassera, which is missable + optional.

his act 3 break up, which, i will admit, is shitty. it hurts a lot, and is very fucked up for him to do, i won’t deny it.

his act 4 wise word.

his act 4 flame dance, which is honestly just as dramatic but less fucked up than the suicide attempt.

heinrix has:

the elucidator flirt.

his footfall dock re-recruitment.

the inquisition shipwreck, which is completely missable + does not fail the romance.

the janus event, which is completely missable unlike the thassera events because you have to bring solomorne to the planet + does not fail the romance.

his act 4 date in which heinrix admits to withholding information and being prepared for the relationship to end, which hurts.

his post kiava gamma conversation.

his act 3 event, which can actually be skipped if you do the inquisition shipwreck event.

his magnae accessio event + the bridge conversation afterwards.

his suicide attempt, which is framed in a romantic context, but is also extremely fucked up for him to do.

this is all sourced from my romance guide, which i write and actively maintain.

i do agree with what you’re saying in terms of it receiving less attention, and i don't think your criticisms of it being "fill in the blanks yourself" is wrong... but it has a clear characterization and builds on its little content well. this is not praise for owlcat, or trying to say solomorne received an equal amount of attention or love, he didn’t, straight up, and his content is bare bones.

do i think the writing of solomornes romance is a bit more rail-roady than heinrix? yes, one of my criticisms of his romance is that it feels built to go in either a far too teasing, or far too cold manner, neither of which I enjoy.

do i think his romance got less attention put into it because he’s a black, LGBTQ+ male romance? absolutely, the fact that both of the white male romances have two “true ending” routes and solomorne only has one for his romance sucks shit. jae also only has one, and she is a woman of color. that’s fucking pathetic.

do i think he receives less attention than other white love base game interests because he’s a dlc companion, and, again, black + LGBTQ+? for fucking sure. this is also reflected on how jae gets demonized by many people for being “obnoxious” when marazhai making you kill people is fetishized, and i say this as a huge marazhai fan.

but, heinrix is, as a character, not more traditionally romantic than solomorne, and much of his more romantic moments i write about is me softening heinrix.

he’s just not very romantic, that is an intentional part of heinrixs romance. heinrix is a repressed, neurotic freak that struggles with romance and his romance has his big dramatic breakdown, which makes it feel more romantic, but, honestly?

solomorne is far more traditionally romantic. he can dance with you twice, kisses you in public far earlier in game, plays music for you which is a direct call back to amour courtis (literal courtly love and commonly displayed between knights and nobles, which ties into his knight theming), thinks about dates with you (which i have discussed as being genuine here), actively communicates that he’s sorry and fucked up when he does, is far more comfortable and willing to “play ball” with flirty comments (unlike heinrix who clams up unless pushed on a devil romance, which he’s clearly uncomfortable with as someone who fears losing control, which i have discussed here) and is actively called your consort, which has synonyms of spouse, wife/husband.

he also gets an ending where he has children with the rogue trader regardless of gender, unlike kibellah who will only have them with a male rogue trader, and heinrix, who never has children at all.

so i think his content is not bare bones in terms of it actually being romantic, but there is a criminal lack of it, yes. i assume thats what you meant?

i want to make that very clear on this ask: everyone should be upset with the amount of content, and how some of the content was written, that solomorne got, especially compared to heinrix.

i am upset about it, and i will never claim solomorne is as loved as heinrix, or that solomorne fans are complaining for no reason. their complaints (and mine! i love solomorne!) should be heard because they are born from legitimate and well founded criticisms.

heinrix is absolutely a favorite of the developers, as is a character like cassia, and the fact that both the conventionally attractive, white, and straight romances and used as bait romances are favorites should be discussed and criticized.

i fucking wish any of the LGBTQ+ romances got as much love as the two straight ones did, jae doesn't even have a bridge event where you can start a romance! you literally have to go up to her and start it via a bridge discussion. that sucks!

[primarchslut]

Heinrix makes several comments about how he's used to people being uncomfortable around him so the idea of a RT telling him he makes them feel safe and him having to process that makes me feel a little crazy

mmmm, it is so cute, isn’t it?

or even the idea of the rt viewing heinrix as a protective force without saying anything… moving behind him, and him moving forward without even thinking when it looks like something is about to get violent, letting heinrix take point on exploring something/touching something at his insistence and just clutching at the edge of his sleeve, or resting a hand on his shoulder so they can just peer over him if he’s crouching.

heinrix jerking forward to cover the rt with his cape if there was some shrapnel/flames/etc, nervously patting them down after a particularly brutal battle because he wants to make sure they’re unharmed, straight up just taking a hit/bullet meant for the rt.

a part of it is heinrix thinking it’s better to die for the emperors chosen/my superior. but also so much of it is genuine, protective attachment.

use me, abuse me, i will take whatever damage i can for you.

it’s sort of… i’ve talked so much about despite displaying many positive qualities, heinrix thinks quite poorly of himself due to his flaws (psykerism, failing as a knight pilot because of that, etc) so i think if the rt praised him for his protectiveness, he would almost glitch out a bit. because he doesn’t view was he’s doing as protectiveness, but as repayment.

to die ensuring the imperiums chosen lives, so the imperium can continue expanding, so the might and will of the god-emperor is spread farther, is another form of atonement (for being born a psyker) yes, of course, but then heinrix has to grapple with the fact that he also… doesn’t want the rt to die, oh so badly.

and it’s not (solely) out of duty to the imperium, he just… loves them. he wants them safe, and he has a body that can take heaps of punishment. why wouldn’t he take being brutalized, he can handle it, he’s handled it before, and the rt doesn’t deserve to go through that.

but if the rt just smiled up, or just at him, and said they feel safe with him, his brain just starts listing a million different reasons why they shouldn’t feel like that at all. he’s a rotten, cursed psyker. he is capable of ensuring and dishing out mountains of cruelty. his fate is to either implode into a warp gate, and/or have his psykers soul devoured by demons.

unless compared to marazhai (or yrliet in his opinion), heinrix is probably the most dangerous person to fall in love with. because there is so no happy ending with him, his life course has been set from the start. the rt shouldn’t feel safe, they should be uncomfortable and stay away from him.

but his brain, and his heart, would just crumble if that ever did happen. he’s got such a puppy love crush on the rt, so even if his brain is screeching at him to stay away, the abused animal part of him seeks love, and also the further torment that being with the rt brings up. it’s such a conflicting set of emotions.

oh, heinrix…

[primarchslut]

The funny thing about the "doting/protective" thing is you just know that outside the inner circle most people would probably still find heinrix pretty intimidating even without the inquisition rosette, so the kid could be talking to some aristocrat like "yeah my dad is great he sneaks me sweets sometimes and rubs my back when I can't sleep :)" and the aristocrat is just like "uh ok" while cutting their eyes over at heinrix, who is standing ominously in front of a window while lightning flashes behind him

AHAHAHAHAHA absolutely!!

i have pictured conversations between even the inner circle where the rt gushes to jae or idira about how "sweet" and "lovely" and "gentlemanly" and dare they say "cute" heinrix is and all jae and idira can remember is two watches ago when heinrix gripped a man by the throat and boiled him alive from the inside out without even an eyebrow twitch.

and they go "you sure about that, shereen?" / "uh, yeah, whatever you say, lord captain." but they also don't see when heinrix presses his face into the rts chest, and then looks up at them with a pleading sort of puppy dog eyes when they suggest that they really do have to get back to the bridge...

he is very gap moe...