#neunehoff

[asktheraggededges]

So the Kriegers aren't known for their interest in settling down and retiring, but they've brought up a lover or two. How's that shake down? Short-term romances or stands? Or something a little more durable?

Transient, ephemeral pleasures are the best in this world. Anything else will always just disappoint you in the end. Get while the getting’s good.

Someone once said that they would not join any club that would allow them to be a member.

Doubtless they said it as a joke.

But it is still very wise.

[asktheraggededges]

There's a Krieger in our retinue who's unusually protective of us, good damn medic, but doesn't really do much. Should I get them something?

Their privacy

The worst beer you have. Just put it near them and walk away.

[asktheraggededges]

I completely missed the chance to ask this question to members of a Krieg regiment that we were stationed with us, but I've been rather curious about something. What if, out of nowhere, The Emperor himself had forgiven all of Krieg for its crimes? How much of a paradigm shift would it have for Kriegans across the Imperium?

Unthinkable. 

An eternity of repentance is just that. It’s not an afternoon of repentance. It’s not a fortnight of repentance. An eternity.

Only forever.

Not long at all.

[asktheraggededges]

Would anyone in the Ragged Edges choose to undergo the same hypno-indoctrination Myers subjected himself to to improve combat performance?

I would not.

A vast majority of Myer’s skill in combat is his own. He has built the muscle, done the combat drills and target practice to have the skills he has. All the hypno indoctrination really does is remove his emotions, fears and any part of his thought process that has nothing to do with combat.

I appreciate that when said out loud, that does actually sound very useful - and I suppose it is. It might give him an edge others don’t. I’m just not certain it’s worth it. Like him, I would do it if I had to. For the sake of my planet and imperium.

But only if I had to.

[subject smacks her lips]

Don’t do it if you don’y have to. His brain scans are...hm..

Well...better than when he first got here..

I would undergo it if anyone offered.

And we would all pretend to notice the difference.

[asktheraggededges]

Angela has your sister always radiated an aura of what I can only call “warm reassuring menace” or is it something she developed at over time? Not many people can remind you that people are capable of anything in a way that is galvanizing instead of merely terrifying.

Eva is amazing and can do anything. Even though she is a proper, serious Krieger, she still makes those around her feel good or at least more confident about their victory.

[asktheraggededges]

So Lara, who did you get with in between joining and Zoya?

Hm. I’m not going to go into huge amounts of detail here. I mean, this is a question about Lara Minhelm - not Sergeant Minhelm. If you see what I mean.

When i first joined the Ragged Edges I was coming off the second time in three years that my squad had been all but destroyed. I felt like a failure. I felt stressed. I didn’t know what I wanted but I know I wanted it a lot - if that makes sense.

A refuge. A place or person I could relax with. Get something back that I lost.

[subject sighs]

With...few exceptions..I’ve never really been good at getting to know people or have them get to know me. So, I mean...I just played the field. Saw what was out there among this crew.  I would make my intentions know and see what worked. Nothing crass, but I wasn’t ashamed either.

In the end, none of them worked out . I didn’t know what I wanted or couldn’t offer them what they wanted. I don’t regret it and I hope they don’t.

To answer your question before I met Zoya, I had relations with Evangeline, Ikram and uh..Verity.

[asktheraggededges]

Who gets the worst helmet hair?

Probably me. My hair is a little greasier than Angies so it’s more effected by the amount of time we leave our helmets on. 

I know Zune is absolutely dead last. Seems like no matter how long she’s been wearing her helmet, all she has to do is give her hair a quick flick and it springs back into shape.

[asktheraggededges]

So, we saw Angela smiling (and that was nice to see). But what about laughing? At least, outside of laughing to heretics as they die under artillery shells and stuff, I mean an honest, spontaneous, serene laugh about something funny. When? About what? How is Angela when she laughs?

It’s my new years resolution and I stand by it. I am struggling to find what works. She lacks the sense schadenfreude that is often the sole form of levity we Kriegers tend to have. But I am experimenting.

The other day, that big Vostroyan woman had returned from a mission, and the skinny little Mordian girl had come marching up to the shuttle bay in full uniform and after several false starts, gave the Vostroyan a crisp salute and said, neat as you please “I am glad you returned safely, Yaroslava. You’re an important asset to this team”

And, for whatever reason, I turned to Angie, and said in the dumbest voice I could muster:

“OH, THEY FUHCKIN!”

And I saw her face distort and her eyes bug and she gave out the faintest “pFFCk” noise as she tried not to laugh before hurriedly putting her mask on. I didn’t get to see or hear the rest of her reaction, but I’m gonna. It might even be that the stupider my attempt the more successful it will be.