Week four

[letsplayamod]

Two more of your fellow gods, your companions, your friends, have met their end together. As you turn in for the night, and a new week dawns upon you, it's starting to be a bitter experience. Just how much of this will you be forced to take?

But all isn't just despair. The morning is brighter than the last. The storm clouds that previously plagued almost every day have dissipated, and this week brings plenty of sun and a friendlier breeze. Not to mention, another floor of this strange temple has revealed itself. Whatever lies within is your domain, not Typhon's. Keep it tight in your grasp, because you never know when you'll lose it.

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Quark's Bar

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[markofnobility]

Only two...

[ he thinks on the Battle of Gareg Mach. His fellow students running screaming dying for a war they had no right to be involved in. Kids. Like he was. He starts fiddling with his riding jacket cuffs almost franticly]

[latinumsbetter]

Yeah. [Quark is definitely noting the fiddling, eyes flicking towards his hands, and then up for Ferdinand's face, though his body and face stay turned towards the statues ]

See, originally it was him and his best friend Jake. They were in a runabout--that's a ship built for a small amount of people for smaller missions--on a diplomatic mission to Ferenginar. Wasn't even supposed to be anything dangerous, but their ship got attacked by an enemy ship.

[...he huffs, turning to step in front of Ferdinand and reach for his cuffs himself, taking his left hand and starting to turn the cuff down, adjusting the measure of it and smoothing it, hands moving in a way that might be considered fussing if it wasn't so business-like.]

They weren't able to outrun it, but they were rescued on the way. It was the strangest thing, though, who they got rescued by.

[markofnobility]

[ the fussing is shockingly familiar, bringing to mind a life time of nannies and matrons and tutors with it's mix of fondness and business crispness. It's enough to bring his mind back from it's wandering, some of the doe-eyed blankness fading from his face and replaced with it's original curiosity.

He allows the cuff straightening to continue with a warm passivity]

Who was it?

[latinumsbetter]

There was this ship named the Valiant. It was originally manned by seven officers and thirty-five cadets on a three-month training mission, which is pretty standard, except that the cadets were members of a group called the Red Squad--exceptional among their peers and all that. They were given a real nice ship and everything. But during that mission, the war broke out, and the Valiant was considered lost in the initial Dominion attack.

And wouldn't you know it? That was the ship that rescued them. [he glances up at Ferdinand, tilting his head a bit as if to emphasize the incredulity of it as he finishes fixing the cuff of his left sleeve and moves on to the right]

[markofnobility]

[ his eyes widen at that]

Saints, what are the odds? Saved by others assumed dead. If I was still properly devout I would probably call it providence.

[latinumsbetter]

Providence. That's a word for it.

[he rolls down that cuff, gently, before folding it again shifting it slightly]

Turns out the ship had been attacked and all the officers killed. The captain had made one of the cadets the commanding officer before he died, and that cadet had promoted the other cadets. But instead of returning home, they had remained behind enemy lines for the eight months they had been presumed missing, fighting the Dominion.

Nog was an engineering ensign by then, so of course they were happy to have him. Promoted him to Chief Engineer on the spot.

[markofnobility]

Brave... but cadets should not have been doing such things alone! Nog... how old was he at the time?

[latinumsbetter]

Nog...I'd say he was about a year or two older than Alex, or the equivalent of that. Most of the cadets on that ship were between his age and yours, I'd say.

[he tilts his head towards Alex to indicate who he means by "his."]

But they were the elite from the academy. They were treated as such; Nog wanted to be a part of them so badly when he was there. And their commanding officer...that kid was very charismatic. In several more years, with more training and experience, he might've made a good captain.

[Quark huffs, shaking his head]

Long story short, the ship intercepted an enemy transmission. Instead of taking it to base, the commanding officer decided to attempt to act on it. He attacked an enemy ship that they had no chance of defeating.

[he's finishing up with those cuffs]

All the commanding officers died during the attack until Nog was the highest ranking officer. He called for an evacuation. His was the only escape pod that made it.

[markofnobility]

He made the only sensible call.

[But he can see why he joined. A yearning to be Part of Something. Something bigger and more important than you alone could ever be. Purpose.]

But it was too late... A foolish waste.

[latinumsbetter]

Yeah. [Quark looks up from Ferdinand's sleeve, fixing him with the entirety of his focus, still holding onto his cuff for a moment]

It was a waste. You can see how it happened, and understand it, but it was still a tragic waste.

[markofnobility]

...

[he looks away under the weight of Quark's focus. Even he can not deny where this is going. The story is too detailed and too earnest to not be true. But that doesn't mean Quark didn't tell it to him, specifically, for a reason.

But he can't make himself try to refute it either, even if he knows he should]

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark's fingers close around Ferdinand's wrist, now]

Ferdinand.

[It's not...exactly gentle. It's firm, as he usually is. But it is, perhaps, a smidge softer than he'd normally be.]

[markofnobility]

[ just looking away is not enough under that grip. Instead he squeezes his eyes shut, shaking his head violently.

He could pull his hand away easily, but he does not]

[latinumsbetter]

Ferdinand. [Now his voice does go softer, edging gentle, but still firm.] Look at me.

[markofnobility]

[his eyes squint open a bit, like looking into a too bright light. They are already drenched.]

I have already lost the honor of my name, my people, my life... and now you wish to take my pride too? When my purse is otherwise empty? I... did not take you as a cruel man, Quark.

[latinumsbetter]

[He looks almost confused, and a bit hurt at that, drawing himself up somewhat]

I'm not.

[Quark's eyes narrow, searching Ferdinand's face, clearly looking for something, trying to put the pieces together. After a moment:] ...what, do you think I'm comparing you to that commanding officer or something?

[markofnobility]

Ha, if only. To be remembered as a foolish but brave commander would at least be something.

You wish me to admit my death was a waste. That the war I gave it for was a fool's errand and not worth returning to. Is that not it?

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark huffs out a harsh breath at that]

I'm not comparing you to any of those kids that died that day.

[that is decidedly not gentle--it's annoyed, edging frustrated]

I'm comparing you to my nephew.

[markofnobility]

[ and that takes what little fight he managed to scrounge up out of him, his face collapsing in grief]

... that is... a kind thought. But Nog is a starstruck young man who tried to save who he could. I am a imperial warhound with delusions of grandeur at best. I would not wish to insult through the comparison.

[ his own later words to Omega echo back: do not think for a moment that a cause makes one any less of a killer.]

[latinumsbetter]

It's not kind. [snapped, insulted] I'm not saying this out of kindess.

Nog was the only one on that ship who was an ensign. Even if the former Captain had made that other guy the Commanding Officer, by all accounts he had rank over those kids--several of whom were his age. He could have been the voice of reason. But he wasn't. Jake was, and they threw him in the Brig for it. He was a non-combatant. A journalist.

[he blows out another breath]

And if we're talking delusions of grandeur, Nog was made chief engineer. That'll go to anyone's head, just as much as being made a general would be.

[markofnobility]

[ he curls in on himself a bit, looking the part of a scolded child somehow regardless of his size advantage on Quark]

I... do not know what you want from me.

1/2

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark sighs, some of the fight going out of him at that]

Look. I'm comparing you to Nog because you're similar in that way that you both got caught up in something that nearly killed you. [it's not the only similarity, but that's not importantright now.] Nog got lucky enough that he managed to get out. You were lucky enough to have Athena make you an offer.

[it's his turn to quiet now, fingers loosening around Ferdinand's wrist]

When he got back, instead of getting out of Starfleet, Nog just went right back into it. With even more dedication.

2/2

[latinumsbetter]

[he looks uncomfortable, finally looking away himself, down at Ferdinand's cuff]

You don't have to. Just because you're alive again, doesn't mean you have to go back there, alright? You've proven your loyalty enough.

[markofnobility]

Have I? I wonder... if perhaps my loyalty is a poisoned thing already. There is... something about my war I have not told you.

[latinumsbetter]

[Alright that will get him to look back up at him]

What's that?

[slightly wary because that's not ominous at all]