~*follow for more soft gangrene*~

not because i think their interest in each other fades, but because heinrix ends it. immediately, as soon as he clocks it, he doesn't... he's not spurning solomornes affections, he is actually still quite attached, in their awkward, dancing around deeper feelings developing way.

and, actually, if we look at heinrixs jealousy voicelines, he can be quite jealous and possessive.

but only to other retinue members, hmmm? the rogue trader... that is a person of high status, one that he can override the authority of on behalf of the inquisition. so if the rogue trader has decided on solomorne, then that's that.

and yet, using a rosette for commanding them to back off of solomorne, that's so frivolous. emotional frippery. no, he simply shuts his heart off again, with an immense amount of difficulty. i think there is a few months of heinrix essentially being as emotive as a corpse, with somehow duller eyes.

it's also, ah, if he fights for solomorne, or tells the rogue trader to back off (not saying he would) then that means he has to admit that there is something deeper going on with each other, and that is terrifying. that is wrong, that is not why he was on the ship. it was a mistake, a shame. not because solomorne is any of those things, but it is heinrixs fault, his mistake, his weakness, his slip up.

i also think sol is now in an awkward position of, well. okay. out of the two of them, we (the players) know solomorne is being manipulated by the vultur for the duration of the relationship, and solomorne is loyal to the arbites, until the very end. so if he is told to prioritize and exploit (the length of this exploitation is subjective to each person, of course - some find what he did horrible, some don't care, some probably don't even consider it exploitation, etc)

i like to headcanon that solomorne is stuck about what to do about reporting his and heinrixs relationship. because 1). what they do is purely physical (right?) so there is nothing to gain from reporting on anything heinrix reveals. 2). heinrix doesn't reveal anything about the inquisition (even to the rogue trader, really, unless they witness it themselves, and even then, he's quite tight lipped) at all, neither of them talk about their jobs, as this "relationship" is pure escapism.

they aren't an interrogator, or an arbitrator, they are just two men that are attracted and gain selfish comfort from each other, a comfort they will not acknowledge while this relationship lasts. i'm not saying they don't think about their positions during these moments of quiet, i actually think they obsessively do, but they don't bring it up. it's like a teacup hovering on the edge of a table, seconds away from shattering, or continuing to stay upright, locked in that limbo.

so i like the idea of him not even mentioning the relationship to his superiors, because it's nothing (right?) it's hilarious to think he reports everyone he sleeps with to his superiors, but i also think he knows that he isn't going to get anything out of heinrix + that heinrix will be able to tell if solomorne is fishing, so it wouldn't work anyways. solomorne is good at reading people, i think he understands more than he lets on (and he intentionally doesn't reveal everything he notices or thinks, as he doesn't want people to try and stifle reactions around him)

but the rogue trader, of course, is up to player interpretation. coupled with how... it's a pretty public relationship, isn't it? they can literally dance together on thassera, lol, and kiss in public! he can hide heinrix, but he can't hide the rogue trader.

i don't think solomorne is so cruel, or heartless (at least in matters of love - this is also not me saying nobody else in the retinue is cruel, because, lmfao) as to string both of them along, even if he does long for heinrix, but solomorne also is loyal to his superiors, just as heinrix is loyal to the inquisition. if they say to continue the relationship with the rogue trader, he will, even with a broken heart. a heart that, really, shouldn't be broken.

it was just escapism. just a way to blow off steam. only physical. just "exchanging interrogation techniques." it ended, like it always would. just perhaps a bit earlier than either man wanted expected.