There is. [ But is it enough to remove the stain on his soul? He never gave much thought to God but it clamours for his attention now. ]
I must not dwell. That is all I tell myself. [ But of course, that's his default. He is, thankfully it seems, saved from saving more by the door of their Rover whooshing open and Henri appearing in a whirr of excitement. He'd known d'Artagnan had been given charge of him but he hadn't expected him to appear in Athos' own place. Still, he smiles. ] Monsieur Athos, où est le vin?
Ah. [ He has the decency to look sheepish. The thing he created with d'Artagnan must be a little uncouth to Nikolai who makes everything and knows just what he's doing. Still, Athos shrugs his shoulders with a smile and glances up. ]
Henri. Sturmhond. [ He says the other man's chosen name because he's not entirely sure the Haroomba will understand the concept of a secret. The reaction from his feet is immediate however. ] En garde, Monsieur
[ Athos places his boot between Henri and Nikolai so the other man doesn't get his feet run over and sighs. ] I blame d'Artagnan for this.
[ Henri decides to keep advancing, bumping into Nikolai's foot before he moves back towards Athos. ]
No. [ He offers a wry smile. ] He just ended up like that. It's either the fight or he asks for wine. Equal parts. [ And Athos sounds so very pleased by that. He might have pretended otherwise but here is one of his closest friends, someone he cares the most about in this whole godforsaken place. ] I don't know how we managed it. But I'm glad d'Artagnan got to keep him.
D'Artagnan did? The robot seems rather more fond of you.
[ Or perhaps it's the other way around, and Athos has sought after Henri. They make for a strange partnership, but it's somewhat nice to see Athos growing more accustomed to technology. ]
He did. I believe it is because they thought our rover was already dealt with. [ He smiles a little. ] You are far more better than we were at creating something of Henri's kind.
[ Still, Athos is more than a little fond at the thing at his feet. ] He does. Even if one doesn't want him to.
[ Henri by now has somehow managed to find Athos' dwindling stash. It means he has to gross the room to pluck the bottle up and place it higher. He knows the robot can't really drink it but he doesn't want it knocked over and spilled. ]
You want me to be proud? [ His mouth twitches slightly in amusement. ] I do not think there is enough room in this rover. [ This town's not big enough for the two of us, bro.
Or Athos doesn't really take pride in anything beyond his friends. ]
[ Henri's reaction is immediate, he seems to bristle at the introduction of a new Haroomba - for all that a small robot creature can bristle - flailing his limbs and letting his voice go higher. ] En garde, Monsieur.
Henri. [ Athos' voice is aiming for clipped but ends up more amused than anything else. He knows that he can't hurt anything. ] He's a friend.
Es-tu mon ami? Yes. Now try to be nice. [ Glancing back at Sturmhond. ] I should never have let d'Artagnan drag me to Noh-Varr's class. Ten of these things and we still have him.
[ The teal haroomba (nicknamed Herbert, because someone had thought to call their rover Herbie) seems alarmed, and immediately backpedals to hide behind Sturmhond’s legs. Of course, he can ably speak French – Sturmhond had ensured he could speak the native languages of everyone in the rover, as well as English – so he’s quick to respond. ]
Oui, Monsieur! Je suis votre ami!
[ Sturmhond rolls his eyes. ]
Yes. So stop hiding, and come out. He won’t hurt you. Will you, Henri?
[ Herbert peeps out warily, clearly not convinced. Sturmhond’s attention has diverted back to Athos, though. ]
Did you say ten? I didn’t realise you found such enjoyment in overachieving. We only needed to make the one, you know.
[ Henri seems disappointed by the lack of a good fight and it's that which startles a small chuckle out of Athos. He knows he's programmed to be this way but it's so alarmingly alike his friends that he can't help the fondness that creeps up on him. Henri, in response to Nikolai's question, moves away and over to Athos' bunk where he immediately starts disappearing scraps of paper and the feather from a hat. The laughter in his eyes quickly turns into a sigh before he hears the last statement. ]
The integrity of the Musketeers was called in to question. [ He lifts one shoulder in a lazy shrug, every bit the gentleman prone to fits of violence. ] We couldn't let an accusation like that lie. And so we merely proved that we go above and beyond the call of duty in all situations.
[ Glancing his way. ] You understand how these things can be.
[ Sturmhond can't help laughing. He knows how Athos can be, and his friend.
Standing, he goes over to put his hand on his friend's shoulder, while Herbert rolls over to help Henri with cleaning.
Well, one says 'clean'. It's really more like Herbert is trying his best to scoop the rubbish up faster than Henri. It's possible he took the threat rather personally. ]
You certainly did that. I'd say you defied expectations. To quite comical effect, actually. I'm proud of you.
Do you think they're aware that we need some of those items? [ He says this while looking at the Haroombas, but his gaze returns when Sturmhond touches him. He tilts his head almost mockingly. ]
Often have I sought to prove myself to royalty as you must know. [ He is a terrible person and prodding his friends is a great past time. ]
[ Like not to let anything they need stay on the floor. ]
No doubt we'll find them tidied away somewhere, in a month or two's time. And stop calling my royalty, for the love of every Saint. I should have let you keep thinking I was a pirate.
Better habits? Many have tried and failed. [ Aramis, particularly. And sometimes Porthos but he's far more likely to be as ill-mannered as Athos. ] I think you mean privateer.
[ His mouth twitches slightly. ] You're entirely too clean to be a pirate.
Pirates rarely preen. [ Athos' face remains impassive, there's no smile across his mouth and his tone is dull and flat and has no room for argument. But there's just the right kind of twinkle to his eyes that means he's poking fun for the sake of it. Athos and dad jokes 4 lyfe. ]
And Alina. Honestly, there's just no accounting for some people's manners. I can't imagine how I got to like her.
[ Actually, her lack of respect was one of the things that delighted him about her. It still does. And of course, she calls him a Privateer now, too. ]
Women possess many strange skills. Perhaps it was that. [ Shrugging his shoulders as if to roll away the thought. He doesn't care about women and their magic. ]
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I must not dwell. That is all I tell myself. [ But of course, that's his default. He is, thankfully it seems, saved from saving more by the door of their Rover whooshing open and Henri appearing in a whirr of excitement. He'd known d'Artagnan had been given charge of him but he hadn't expected him to appear in Athos' own place. Still, he smiles. ] Monsieur Athos, où est le vin?
Not here, Henri. Unfortunately.
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Never mind their previous conversation. ]
Athos?
I don't believe we've been introduced.
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Henri. Sturmhond. [ He says the other man's chosen name because he's not entirely sure the Haroomba will understand the concept of a secret. The reaction from his feet is immediate however. ] En garde, Monsieur
[ Athos places his boot between Henri and Nikolai so the other man doesn't get his feet run over and sighs. ] I blame d'Artagnan for this.
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I mean no harm.
[ His eyes lift back to Athos. He's definitely smiling. ]
He's spirited. I'm not sure how much of that is d'Artagnan, and how much is you. That's fascinating, Athos. Did you teach him how to fight?
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No. [ He offers a wry smile. ] He just ended up like that. It's either the fight or he asks for wine. Equal parts. [ And Athos sounds so very pleased by that. He might have pretended otherwise but here is one of his closest friends, someone he cares the most about in this whole godforsaken place. ] I don't know how we managed it. But I'm glad d'Artagnan got to keep him.
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[ Or perhaps it's the other way around, and Athos has sought after Henri. They make for a strange partnership, but it's somewhat nice to see Athos growing more accustomed to technology. ]
He still cleans properly, I take it?
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[ Still, Athos is more than a little fond at the thing at his feet. ] He does. Even if one doesn't want him to.
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I was no more used to building them before we came here than you were, Athos. You could do it just as well, and in fact it seems that you have.
Don't be modest, it's unflattering. Really.
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You want me to be proud? [ His mouth twitches slightly in amusement. ] I do not think there is enough room in this rover. [ This town's not big enough for the two of us, bro.
Or Athos doesn't really take pride in anything beyond his friends. ]
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[ Sturmhond shakes his head, amused.
Then he takes Rover 12's own haroomba, the teal and gold creation that speaks all of their languages, and he sets it on the floor. ]
Henri. Come play with a friend.
[ Because whether the haroomba can actually drink the alcohol or not, Sturmhond wants him far away from it. ]
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Henri. [ Athos' voice is aiming for clipped but ends up more amused than anything else. He knows that he can't hurt anything. ] He's a friend.
Es-tu mon ami? Yes. Now try to be nice. [ Glancing back at Sturmhond. ] I should never have let d'Artagnan drag me to Noh-Varr's class. Ten of these things and we still have him.
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Oui, Monsieur! Je suis votre ami!
[ Sturmhond rolls his eyes. ]
Yes. So stop hiding, and come out. He won’t hurt you. Will you, Henri?
[ Herbert peeps out warily, clearly not convinced. Sturmhond’s attention has diverted back to Athos, though. ]
Did you say ten? I didn’t realise you found such enjoyment in overachieving. We only needed to make the one, you know.
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The integrity of the Musketeers was called in to question. [ He lifts one shoulder in a lazy shrug, every bit the gentleman prone to fits of violence. ] We couldn't let an accusation like that lie. And so we merely proved that we go above and beyond the call of duty in all situations.
[ Glancing his way. ] You understand how these things can be.
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Standing, he goes over to put his hand on his friend's shoulder, while Herbert rolls over to help Henri with cleaning.
Well, one says 'clean'. It's really more like Herbert is trying his best to scoop the rubbish up faster than Henri. It's possible he took the threat rather personally. ]
You certainly did that. I'd say you defied expectations. To quite comical effect, actually. I'm proud of you.
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Often have I sought to prove myself to royalty as you must know. [ He is a terrible person and prodding his friends is a great past time. ]
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[ Like not to let anything they need stay on the floor. ]
No doubt we'll find them tidied away somewhere, in a month or two's time. And stop calling my royalty, for the love of every Saint. I should have let you keep thinking I was a pirate.
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Better habits? Many have tried and failed. [ Aramis, particularly. And sometimes Porthos but he's far more likely to be as ill-mannered as Athos. ] I think you mean privateer.
[ His mouth twitches slightly. ] You're entirely too clean to be a pirate.
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I see no reason not to be presentable. Even a pirate has no excuse for scruffiness.
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And that's entirely the reason why you could never be one.
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[ A little pause. ]
I suppose you're right. It's not a title I gave myself, anyway.
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Who did? The blind and uneducated?
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[ A little pause. ]
And Alina. Honestly, there's just no accounting for some people's manners. I can't imagine how I got to like her.
[ Actually, her lack of respect was one of the things that delighted him about her. It still does. And of course, she calls him a Privateer now, too. ]
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Women possess many strange skills. Perhaps it was that. [ Shrugging his shoulders as if to roll away the thought. He doesn't care about women and their magic. ]