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Who: Giovanni Rammsteiner (

rhygret)
What: Picking up a dog from the pound
When: When Rhys is no longer too sick to get up
Where: Wyver
Warning(s): None that I can think of

[When all is said and done, he supposes he can't really complain. That whole unfortunate episode with the carriage, his fugitive status and subsequent capture-- the interlude had ended in a way he couldn't have predicted, but one that is, for the most part, largely favourable for him. He'd been neither tortured nor executed, not even imprisoned for a particularly long stretch of time and they'd treated him relatively well, compared with his past experiences in captivity.

As such, he shouldn't begrudge the new parameters of his existence here too heavily-- he may be tagged in order to track his movements, may have been paired off with the unpleasant individual who caught and incarcerated him in the first place in order to ensure that he's carefully watched, may have most of his time taken up with community service of late, but he's been reinstated, more or less. Has been given back his previous job, much to his surprise. And whilst he found the command posed as a suggestion that he stay with a small group of the Guard who'd decided to set up a barracks of sorts in one of the Wyvern dwellings for the duration of his stay here a little stifling, it isn't the worst set up he could have asked for. If anything, there's a sense of the familiar in being so closely guarded, something almost grounding in the restrictions currently placed upon him.

Strangely, twistedly perhaps, it only heightens his sense of belonging amongst the Olympians. Makes him more certain that his loyalty lies with them.

Still. It comes as a surprise when, one evening, one of the Guard comes to retrieve him from the room he's been assigned to, saying that someone is here 'to collect him', that an 'upstanding citizen' has taken it upon themselves to offer to keep an eye on him and ensure he stays 'on the right track'. He can't quite think who it would be, feels immediately suspicious, and it isn't until he sets eyes on Rhys that his guarded expression gives out onto one of wry incredulity instead.]

An upstanding citizen, indeed. Lucky me.

[What he means is, 'hello, it's nice to see you,' of course.]

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I could always leave you here you know.

[ THANK you mister guard. No one understands the hardships he goes through???? It's nice to have some back-up on an (admittedly empty) threat for a change, and even if he is scowling at Giovanni he's still looking at him like he expects the man to follow along with him. ]

And I've been sick so...cut me some slack. Pretty sure I maybe almost died so you should be like...extra grateful I'm out here while I'm still recovering to come pick you up.

I've been doing just fine without your intervention.

[He says, and yet he exits the make-shift barracks with the other Guard still watching narrow-eyed behind him, and follows at Rhys' heels as expected. Hands shoved casually into the pockets of his suit trousers, languid and loose as you like, but following nonetheless.]

And you'd like me to grovel at your feet I suppose, shower you with thanks and laud your generosity. You do seem the type, desperate for any scrap of attention.

[Pot, kettle.]

Wow, okay. A simple "thanks Rhys!" was all I was looking for there, way to make me sound like an asshole after coming all this way to pick you up. Do you know how much paperwork I had to do to get you out of there?

[ ....Like, virtually none but there was an exchange of information okay?? It felt like he did a lot and anyway, he's still sick. Giovanni should be all humbled and grateful and stuff, not this?? The mental stage play in his head was filled with so much more appreciation than this.

Rude. ]

[Does he strike you as the type to show gratitude and appreciation? Really, now. Still--]

Thank you, Rhys.

[He says the words in that sly Germanic drawl of his, then bares his teeth at the other man in something that could only be described as a grateful smile if one possessed the strongest of imaginations. But look, he's coming along relatively quietly, even if he isn't entirely sure which situation would suit him better. Yes the other members of the Guard had been watching his every move and yes they'd been treating him with thinly veiled suspicion and disdain since the moment he'd been released into their less than tender care, but in truth that isn't so very different from the kind of treatment he'd received back there, with Her.

It's something expected, almost known, whilst the truth is he has no idea of Rhys' motivations. Something he isn't beyond expressing.]

Though really, if it was so much trouble I'm not sure why you bothered. What, exactly, do you think you stand to gain from this?

[Surely you didn't do it out of the kindness of your heart...]

What, you mean like besides a headache?

[ Rhys decidedly doesn't look when Giovanni smiles and bears his teeth. It just creeps him out, the way he flashes them like he could bite his face off or something at any moment. He very much doubts Giovanni is grateful at all which makes him wonder why he did it in the first place.

He lets out a sigh of exasperation and rubs the bridge of his nose. ]

It's what people who don't hate each other do alright?? I doubt it was super-fun living with those guys. I figured you'd be happy to be let out of their weird detention prison thing.

....hmm.

[Is all he says to that, before falling momentarily - uncharacteristically - silent. Walks quietly two steps behind the taller man whilst observing him with narrowed intensity, unseen, from behind the mirrored sheen of his glasses. trying to work out some kind of ulterior motive, coming up short. What people who don't hate each other do... it's a little hard to fathom, seems somehow unlikely to be true, but the words do seem to vaguely imply that Rhys chose to do this because...what?

That he's doing it as some kind of act of not-quite friendship is a difficult thing to grasp.]

[ It's okay Gio, not!friendship is hard and takes time ]

...Do you have to walk behind me and stare like that?

[ Rhys breaks the silence after a couple of minutes of walking, unable keep from glancing back. He's not entirely certain Giovanni won't just decide he's not worth the trouble and wander off on his own. That would be less than ideal to have to report.

He probably should've thought of that beforehand. ]

[It's a fair enough assumption to make. There's nothing to stop him just wandering off and doing whatever he likes (aside from the tracking device he's currently wearing, the fact that, should it be noticed that he's alone and unwatched for too long, someone would no doubt be sent to check up on him), but there are factors at play here that Rhys is unlikely to have discerned, would possibly not comprehend.

The fact is, Giovanni doesn't especially like being left to his own devices, finds that too much time spent on his own opens up the hollows inside his head where the worst of his memories reside, allows them to spill through. And besides all that, having never had anything approaching freedom prior to his arrival on this world, having too much of it now leaves him at a loss, confused and unmoored and unsettled right down to the centre of himself.

Having someone to follow about at least gives him focus. Grounds him back into himself. For the moment, at least, he isn't going anywhere.]

I'm not staring.

[He was totally staring.]

There are more interesting things to observe around here than the back of your over-styled head.

[But look...he'll move to match Rhys' pace instead, falls into step along side him. Better?]

[ Yes, actually. The last time someone followed him around from behind it was at gunpoint, so he'd like to keep someone capable of just as much damage where he can see them, if possible. He's not paranoid. It just keeps the hairs on the back of his neck from standing up on end.

It's also easier to carry out a conversation and not feel like he's talking to himself. ]

I think you mean perfectly styled. It really speaks to my ability to look great that I can pull this off even after being sick for a month and almost dying.

[Which is fair, really-- who would realistically want a genetically engineered hound of war slinking along behind them, facing their vulnerable and exposed back? Not that having him where one can see him would make a blind bit of difference should he decided he wants to tear you apart, but still.

Luckily for Rhys, it isn't something he's currently considering doing.

Instead, he makes a scoffing sound in response to Rhys assertions, shakes his head.]

If you call that looking great I'd hate to see what your version of poorly turned out looks like.

[But he shrugs then, changes the subject quite without warning.]

Where are we going, anyway?

Back to my place. You know, get you all sorted out and stuff? Did you get to keep anything when you made a break for it and they caught you?

[ Because that will determine how much charity Rhys needs to decide to dole out here. He didn't exact have the mental or physical facilities to bring much with him on account of being near-comatose for that whole bit, but he's been able to scrounge up some stuff and has a few outfits now. Food too, but he's never seen Giovanni do anything but drink the one time they...uh...did that.

Yeah. ]

[A good question. I mean, he assumes they didn't confiscate any of his belongings during his arrest and incarceration. His guns had been removed from his person, yes, but they'd given them back upon his release (a confusing choice on their part as far as Giovanni is concerned, but he certainly isn't about to question it and risk having them taken away again), but he'd only had the opportunity to grab a change of clothes (or three) before hastily finding himself evacuated.

(And not for the first time, a little anxiously, he wonders if his plants are all right, back in Olympia with no-one to water them :{)]

I don't know. I didn't have much time to check on my personal effects before being whisked away to this hellhole. I don't have much here with me, if that's what you're asking. But luckily for you, I'm a low maintenance kind of dog. Hahah.

[Which...both is and isn't true. I mean sure he doesn't really need to eat or even sleep all that much, he'd been accustomed to residing in what equates to little more than a cell back there...but there's also the small matter of his startlingly expensive taste in clothes. His taste for which leaving him frequently short on funds >.>]

[ They are probably dead unless they're outside Gio )8 sorry ]

Haaaa... It's not like most people do, really. But you've got some stuff right? Underwear, clothes... Toothbrush? That sort of thing.

[ Otherwise they'll need to swing by some shops on the way home and Rhys would really not dole out more change than he has to in that department. ]

Don't want any uh, dog breath? Hah. Ha...

[He'll be devastated :{]

I have the basics. I ought to be able to get by until we're able to return to Olympia.

[Which makes his standpoint clear in that regard, at least. He intends to return. Of course he does-- his loyalty, if anything, has only solidified in the wake of his capture and incarceration. He feels, if anything, more at home than he had done before.

The tightening of the leash, their careful watch on him. It feels familiar. He doesn't dislike it.]

[ It's okay, Rhys will buy you a bunch of new sad plants that are much hardier ]

Wait, you're really going back there? After you got in trouble??

[ Rhys looks surprised (but not displeased) by this new tidbit of information as he turns to glance at the other man, brows lifted. It's almost comical considering how worn out he looks, but Rhys's face is dumb on the best of days anyway.

The point is that he'd have thought Giovanni would want anything to do with the people who'd locked him up after that whole fiasco. He had run from them after all. ]

[Yes pls ;u;

Anyway, Giovanni nods, just once. Perfunctory and sharp and clear, no hesitation in the action, no sign of indecision.]

Of course. Where else would I go? I have a job to get back to. A city I've started to get to know. And what's the alternative? I can't stay here.

[Said with a small modicum of distaste designed to mask his underlying fear.]

I dunno, I just figured since you were so keen on getting away from them before that you'd maybe stay here? It's not like they can police you if you don't go back to Olympia with them when they eventually pull out.

[ Rhys shrugs and turns to look back ahead of them, gaze directed out towards the thicker crowds. The streets have gradually started to fill up again with the virus gone and the cure distributed. People are recovering and getting their lives back on track. ]

[How to answer that? He's not sure he has the words for it, or whether he'd even want to express them honestly to Rhys even if he did. As such there's a lasting moment of silence, and the other man could be forgiven for thinking that Giovanni has no interest in answering at all. Eyes turned ahead, concealed as they are behind orange lenses, he too observes the milling crowds, the dusty streets with their traces of encroaching nature. Their seeming lack of order.

It's disconcerting.

Finally, he shakes his head.]

Olympia took us in during our hour of need. They chose to pardon me for my fault despite that I killed a man who was not their enemy.

[He shrugs, sharp. Quick.]

I know the value of loyalty.

[It's only a partial truth, perhaps. But a truth nonetheless.]

[ It's passable enough that Rhys doesn't think to question it too intently. The logic seems a little flimsy to him personally but if Giovanni wants to go back that's his prerogative. He won't judge too much considering he's intent on going back as well.

The pair of them might not necessarily get along all that well but it still...nice, knowing that familiar faces will be there. Even if it's Giovanni's derisive sneer. ]

So you gonna keep your job at the guard then? Will they let you?

[And oddly enough his thoughts on the matter aren't too dissimilar. Even here, even now, whilst suspicion still edges through him as to Rhys' motives for taking him in like this. The man is an irritation, he's so weak as to seem pathetic and strange to a creature created and raised for violence (his own weaknesses stamped down and locked tight, carefully hidden from view), but there's a lot to be said for familiarity and Giovanni will take what he can get.

He casts a quick glance up at the man walking beside him now, manufactures as smile.]

Yes. I suppose they think they can keep a closer eye on me, from there. Hahah.

Oh. That doesn't bother you or anything? I hate it when people watch me work. Makes me feel like some sort of...lab rat, or something. Like they're judging me and waiting for me to mess up.

[ Don't mind him, he's just having some Hyperion flashbacks is all. It may suck that he crashed all of Helios into a planet and killed hundreds of thousands of people, but at least he's was his own boss. ]

[He tosses the taller man one of his knifey grins, the kind that's all angles and doesn't, in all honesty, have all that much in common with a regular smile. The sort that leaves it all rather up in the air in regard to his intentions-- is he attempting to be friendly, or is he considering how it'd feel to bury those sharp-edged teeth of his in your throat?]

I was created in a lab, you realise. You could say I'm accustomed to being observed.

[He's never been his own boss. Likely never will be.]

[ Rhys would put money on those teeth winding up in his throat, given the choice. He doesn't trust Giovanni not to kill him if he decides to, but oddly enough he trusts him not do it "just because." It feels like if it did happen he'd probably deserve it.

Bodily harm however remains free game and could happen anytime, anywhere. He still remembers the VR simulation. ]

...Oh. Duh, right. You know you don't really act like how I pictured a lab experiment would? You're all...civilized. Is that insensitive? That's probably insensitive right?

[And if he knew, perhaps Giovanni would be mildly put out by the fact that Rhys has him pegged already, at least in that regard. He may not need much of a reason to rip out a man's throat, but he does need a reason regardless. Isn't, contrary to appearances, given to mindless violence merely for the sake of it.

But he isn't aware, and so for the moment he only cocks his head in that starkly dog-like gesture of his, raises one thin blond brow above the rim of his sunglasses.]

You think me civilised?

[He sounds a little pleased, actually. He does strive toward a touch of refinement along with his savagery. Mother always was keen on elegance.]

[ If it helps it's not because Rhys is a master at reading the inner workings of Giovanni. It's just the sense he gets from most people on Pandora and he's been on the receiving end of it enough to know what it looks like when someone wants you dead, like, all the time. Gio doesn't usually have that look. ]

Yeah? You dress pretty sharp for one thing, and appearance is ninety percent of any impression you're going to make in this world. Actions...ehh, you could use a little work. Beheading people isn't a very good hobby to have. Might want to work on that one.

[Well. He does dress sharp-- that's something they can both agree on, something he feels perfectly confident in. As to the rest...well. He laughs his quick, barking laugh. Shrugs those hard, narrow shoulders of his.]

I won't go making any promises, now, but I certainly intend to give it a go. Only government sanctioned violence from here on out. For the moment.

[Until Mother awakens, at least. Then he'll be dancing to a different tune, entirely.]

See? That's the spirit. As long as the higher-ups say it's okay then anything goes.

[ That is the Hyperion Way^TM.

...Oh ew yuck, Rhys realizes that as soon as he's thought that and his expression narrows a little, unhappily. He's trying not to be them. Right. ]

S-sort of. Anyway, yeah. You're pretty alright. Back when Hyperion was around they apparently had all sorts of weird bioweapons that were pretty much just horrifying monsters. You're a step up from that.

[He glances up at his companion then, one brow archly raised, expression all wry amusement.]

Oh, I don't know. I can be quite the horrifying monster, when the mood takes me.

[And he flashes those inhuman teeth again, just for you.]

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