Angevin glanced at his subordinate, then back to the horizon. Of course, he could see physicians making Albrecht's routine visits uncomfortable, but if he started getting complaints from the powers that be, he would have to insist, lest the complaints reach Captain Merovech's desk or, worse, Vigilant Richter's. He would shield the Lysanrin from what he could, but there were rules and ways that things were done that couldn't be circumvented without repercussions.
Anyway, if the nurse was comely and had small hands, the rectal probe could even feel rather nice.
"Indeed, no death, please."
He glanced once more to the private when tears began to fall. Looking on glumly, he shrugged and returned to piloting the stealth ship.
"Emotions are messy," he offered without judgment. Angevin had been present for quite a few messy emotions where Albrecht was concerned, and if he didn't always understand, he tried to be understanding. It was always uncomfortable, but he still wanted to be there for the man, both as his superior and his friend. Lives were, by and large, messy. There was nothing to be done about that, though. The people that mattered were the ones who would trudge through the muck alongside the people they cared about.
After a moment, he launched into something else entirely. It was connected, of course, but might have seemed disjointed in their conversation.
"Obviously, I'm invincible," he began with comically hyped bravado, "but if something should happen to me while we are in the Warrens or... ever... I want you to trust in the chain of command. Captain Merovech knows you've been a model airman. Vigilant Richter knows you have been compliant and invaluable. But also... though you may not like or trust them, the Dornkirks have sway as well. Brenner with the military, Stefan with academics and intelligentsia, both of them with the affluent and influential. Orator Beeman might speak on your behalf to the Order, as well. All the people here who will see you being your heroic self will be part of the network that supports you. They know you can be trusted with classified missions, you know? And I've known the Dornkirks since we were boys. I will make sure you are taken care of if something happens to me. Not that anything will."
He paused, checking in again. "All right?"
Anyway, if the nurse was comely and had small hands, the rectal probe could even feel rather nice.
"Indeed, no death, please."
He glanced once more to the private when tears began to fall. Looking on glumly, he shrugged and returned to piloting the stealth ship.
"Emotions are messy," he offered without judgment. Angevin had been present for quite a few messy emotions where Albrecht was concerned, and if he didn't always understand, he tried to be understanding. It was always uncomfortable, but he still wanted to be there for the man, both as his superior and his friend. Lives were, by and large, messy. There was nothing to be done about that, though. The people that mattered were the ones who would trudge through the muck alongside the people they cared about.
After a moment, he launched into something else entirely. It was connected, of course, but might have seemed disjointed in their conversation.
"Obviously, I'm invincible," he began with comically hyped bravado, "but if something should happen to me while we are in the Warrens or... ever... I want you to trust in the chain of command. Captain Merovech knows you've been a model airman. Vigilant Richter knows you have been compliant and invaluable. But also... though you may not like or trust them, the Dornkirks have sway as well. Brenner with the military, Stefan with academics and intelligentsia, both of them with the affluent and influential. Orator Beeman might speak on your behalf to the Order, as well. All the people here who will see you being your heroic self will be part of the network that supports you. They know you can be trusted with classified missions, you know? And I've known the Dornkirks since we were boys. I will make sure you are taken care of if something happens to me. Not that anything will."
He paused, checking in again. "All right?"