THE EMPEROR PROTECTS [OPEN]

[greatlyexaggerated]

Who: Cain and OPEN!
What: Technology mishaps, general socializing opportunities, chainsword!
Where: Around the rig. Specifically Training Halls and outside the communal bathrooms.
When: Before the upcoming corporate drone event.
Warnings/Notes: None in particular, but check Cain's permissions. Will match format!



[training area]

[Cain is in the training area holding a ridiculous weapon. It's a sword, if a sword was actually a chainsaw on a stick, and had a mechanical belt of metal teeth running down one side of it. And had a stylized eagle's wing embossed on the side. As well as a small wax seal and strip of parchment...? It looks like it's got significant heft to it, but Cain handles it easily, like an extension of his own arm.]

[He examines every inch of it discretely, not really trusting Jorgmund to have done something funny, but finally thumbs the activation rune when it passes muster. He's in no less conscious danger than he really was a moment ago, of course, but having his trusty weapon in his hand again is a balm to his paranoia.]

[It immediately roars to life and Cain starts running through the complex patterns of attack and defence with his chainsword, years of familiarity meaning that his movements fall into fluid instinct like he's run through the drills a thousand times before. It's almost meditative, the familiar reverberations running up his arm as he thrusts and swipes at thin air. He doesn't quite trust the training droids, and leaves them well alone.]

[Sorry if you're peacefully minding your own business on the other side of the massive hall, it does sound like somebody's just rip-started a lawnmower in here.]


[technology troubles]

[It's 7:50am. Cain is standing close to the entrance to the communal bathrooms, towel slung over his shoulders, sweaty as an ork and just a pale shade away from losing his temper like one. The reason he isn't inside yet is because at some point, his communicator was set to hover in the air and follow him around, and he can't seem to figure out how to make it stop following him.]

[Understandably, he doesn't want to walk into the showers with his communicator and give people the entirely wrong idea. If he can't figure it out soon, he's going to be odoriferous as Jurgen until tomorrow.]

[There's ten minutes until the allotted time to shower is up.]

[Cain, out of desperation, quickly closes his eyes, mutters the Catechism of Activation, and performs the Canticle of Appeasement. In a poor imitation of the tech-priests he'd seen do this, he hammers his fist three times on the same spot.]


[Wildcard!]

[Feel free to catch Cain around the rig, doing whatever! Lemme know if you want to plot out something alternate.]

Comments

[greyerrant]

Anyone entrusted with a chainsword clearly knows how to use it. They're not exactly trooper-issue kit. [ He nods at the ceramite comment, not knowing Cain wouldn't look out of place in a comic opera were his real uniform to arrive. ] I assume we both have enough control to avoid cutting each other? I'd hate to give Doctor Grey more work. She's having enough trouble putting limbs back on the feral worlders.

[ Was that a joke? ]

[greatlyexaggerated]

[Cain is polite enough to pretend he finds the joke amusing, despite obviously lacking some inside context for why it might be funny. He smiles briefly, then nods.]

Then we'll do our best to avoid inconveniencing her.

[He straightens up slightly, and tries not to think too hard about what he's about to do. Overthinking has its advantages, but against a blindingly-fast astartes, instinct was the best way to handle it.]

When you're ready. [he says, the image of calm and confidence.]

[greyerrant]

[ Loken nods, and steps in with an overhand chop, obviously looking to test Cain's defenses, controlled enough that it won't eviscerate him should it move too fast, but swift enough that it's clear he isn't holding back out of contempt or misplaced condescension towards the unexpectedly masterful Commissar. ]

Let's practice, in the Emperor's name.

[greatlyexaggerated]

By the Emperor's grace.

[Cain parries the blow without a second's hesitation. His chainsword shrieks and throws up sparks at the contact, but otherwise holds up admirably. Simple enough to deflect at this stage, and he appreciates the warm up. A rather considerate sort, he's finding Loken to be.]

[Now becoming more certain that this spar contains relatively little risk of grievous injury, it emboldens him to try for a disciplined swipe of his own, cautiously testing Loken's defences without overextending himself.]

[greyerrant]

[ The swipe is met by a firm parry, the blades teeth grinding against each other for a moment before Loken steps back to disengage, switching to a two-handed grip on the chainsword for maximum control, and he begins to slowly circle Cain, feinting occasionally to see if he'll shift or reveal an obvious weakness. ]

[greatlyexaggerated]

[Cain seems to have an excellent dueler's instinct - as well as an exceedingly pragmatic style, although perhaps with a bit of garnishing flair - refusing to fall for Loken’s feints. He recognises the probes at his defenses for what they are as he turns to face the astartes encircling him.]

[Until the moment he appears to fall for it. He finally folds to a feint, pretending to leave his side unguarded for a split second, feeling like he's dangling bait in front of the carnifax.]

[greyerrant]

[ Loken takes the bait, lunging for the unprotected side with chainsword screaming, the mechanically unusual action of thrusting instead of swinging with the chainsword. Cain has no doubt seen it, as an experienced duelist, but someone who is new to fighting with chainswords rarely thrusts, if only because they're more build for ripping and tearing then neat little jabs. ]

[greatlyexaggerated]

[The carnifex - admittedly not the most flattering metaphor - takes the bait. Cain, prepared for the possibility of pretty much everything except for an ork dropping screaming from the ceiling, is surprised by the tactic but not unduly so.]

[Loken is blindingly fast, but Cain trusts his reflexes to parry the unusual approach with a shriek of protests and sparks where they briefly meet, and takes advantage of his risky position to score the smallest sliver of a scratch across Loken's breastplate before he backpedals again.]

You almost had me there, [he compliments, voice pitched lower than usual so it doesn't come out as a breathless squeak. It's a fairly superflous comment, but it works to slow down the pace of the spar. Neat little jabs from the end of a chainsword still tend to be horribly effective.]

[greyerrant]

First touch to you, well done.

[ Loken falls into a defensive stance now, curious just how skilled his opponent is with a blade, and sensing he might well be able to learn something both about the man and blade technique from his companion. ]