GET AWAY FROM THE INTERNET

[has_a_hardline]

Who ; has_a_hardline and arbitrating
What ; Grounded from the internet, diplomacy lessons, tiny pants and manly names.
When ; After this.
Where ; A teleporter near Arbiter's place, and then somewhere that isn't there.
Warning(s) ; What is this I don't even...

Comments

suddenly 'horn of gondor' has new meaning

[arbitrating]

[ Oh uncomfortable subject. ]

...I was punished for failing to stop the destruction of a Halo ring. I cannot profess regret for that action now, since the rings were revealed to be weapons that should have remained lost forever, but that venture also saw the outbreak of the Flood. For that I deserve harsher punishment yet.

Nevertheless, the rank of Arbiter affords opportunity for penance. Even a shamed creature such as myself can set some things to rights.

[ He speaks with his eyes on Junior's, apparently unable to tear them away. It's been longer than he cares to admit since he's seen his own hatchlings or held their small weight in his arms. Even the expected duty of training his nephews had been superseded by his career. Junior is the first hatchling he has seen in person since before the attack on Reach. ]

It would be my great honor to perform the naming ceremony and formally adopt him into my clan. It will give him the right to bear arms and undergo sword training, and all Sangheili will know him as a valued son of the Vadam lineage.

And, if they do not wish to acknowledge him as such, due to his background or his associations, I am given leave by our laws to kill them for the insult.

Ohohohoho :3c

[has_a_hardline]

Oh. [There's not really much she has to say to that, seeing as the Flood was never really an issue for her. Being boxed up made sure of that. She rubs the back of her neck awkwardly while Junior totally freezes under Arbiter's gaze, giving him a look like a deer caught in headlights. Tucker kneels down to reassure him then decides she likes it better on the floor and crosses her legs, arm moving to offer her kid a comforting half hug. Junior takes the opportunity to scoot a little closer to her and make small awkward growling noises; stunted and unsure.

She tilts her head at him and rumbles something that is definitely not English but it sounds clipped and not exactly proper, like any sort of dialect Arbiter would be used to. It's actually rather rudimentary, but manages to Comfort Junior enough so that he can look back at Arbiter without feeling too nervous.] Fuckin' terrible at reassuring you like that, geez.

I doubt there's anyone here to argue that, in case you're wondering. [So fucking casual. She even shrugs a little.] Someone fucks with my kids self-esteem, I will jack their shit up six ways to Sunday.

So what does this ceremony even include? Is there some kind of like, elaborate... thing? [She knows words okay.]

:>>>>>

[arbitrating]

[ :ccc At least Tucker isn't inclined to make a big deal of it. These are terrible burdens to him either way, but it helps that she isn't busting out with the ALL OF MY BUDDIES WERE KILLED BY THE FLOOD AND IT'S YOUR FAULT.

Also good god woman what is that awful gutter dialect. ]

It will no longer be your burden alone. He will be as a sister's son to me, and insult offered to him will be insult offered to the clan Vadam.

[ He shakes his head, rising to his feet again. ]

On Sanghelios the ceremony would be elaborate and widely attended, but here a battlefield adoption will do. You the guardian must give him leave to pledge himself to another clan, so that his loyalty will not be divided between the family that bore him and the family that would adopt him. [Not that it really mattered here, since Tucker didn't have a clan, much less one that might suddenly try to make demands on a son that had been adopted into a more powerful family.]

I will offer him a proper name, he must speak the words of acceptance, and then mingled blood will seal the pledge. A small cut between clasped hands.

> Picture Arbiter making that face. GO.

[has_a_hardline]

[She'd be more inclined to if she even had buddies that weren't stuck in the same fucking boat she was. She didn't even hear anything from Freelancer about that kind of bullshit, not that Freelancer was inclined to tell her shit about shit.

Herp derp she doesn't know what you're talking about. Gutter what now?]

So he's like your nephew now? [She is okay with this. The last thing she needs is explaining fathers do Junior. Though now that Arbiter's here, he can cover some of that shit.]

There's nor going to be any issue with clans here dude, unless you consider York, Red and me to be one.

[She is just going to calmly raise an eyebrow now though.] Mingled blood... Well. Alright then.

[This almost sounds like a gang initiation ceremony...]

lfmsldfksjf

[arbitrating]

Yes, a nephew. If he were my own son and I had the knowledge of it, it would not be appropriate for me to conduct his training. Favoritism must be avoided. As a nephew he is valued equally among other nephews, to rise or fall by his own merit during the training.

[ l-lol no, no he doesn't. A cooperative cross-species mishmash of strays, yes, a united clan that functions in any way like a Sangheili clan, no. Which is for the best, really.

Also hesitate hesitate hesitate. ]

...I have debated a name for him for some time. I wish to submit Fal 'Vadam for your consideration, to honor a great figure from our history. Fal 'Chavam was the last Arbiter to stand for a free Sanghelios, against the Covenant, before the Hierarchs turned the rank into their personal weapon.

[has_a_hardline]

[She's about to make a joke about hoe Junior is definitely not his son, and then she realises ho disgustingly unfunny it is and crams it down into the deepest recesses of her mind forever.]

Nephew it is then. I'm pretty much totally okay with that. [Because at least you aren't trying to be his dad, which would probably make her want to kill you, Arbiter.]

[She thinks on the name for a bit before before leaning next to Junior and tapping him on the head affectionately. He looks up at her, growls that he 'has been paying attention okay?' and sifts awkwardly in place before nodding. Content with his opinion, Tucker smirks behind her visor because no one should really see her being this fond with her weird as fuck kid, and nods at Arbiter.]

Yeah, that's alright. Might as well be a name with some kind of meaning to it. Something he can hold onto at least. [Not that she isn't going to call him Junior every chance she gets. But at least the kid can have on name he isn't mildly annoyed to be called and that doesn't make Arbiter pull a face.]