“Lord Captain, if I may… admiring a Knight from afar is one thing, but riding one is an entirely different experience.” “I'm not admiring y-” Her frown vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and she stared at him with wide eyes. “…riding?” “Yes, that is one of the more… common expressions for it. I apologise if I am being overly forward or if I have misread a certain… interest on your part. Should you not object to spending a little more time with me, I would be honoured to offer you what I believe will be an exciting and unforgettable experience.” “You can't be… you're not…” He had hoped to delight her and expected a certain awe, but not this level of nervousness. Perhaps it was wiser to temper her expectations - without bonding to the Throne Mechanicum, there was only so much she could do. “I should explain. There are restrictions. A deeper connection will not be possible, of course… but you can still make it move with your touch.” “My… touch…?” she echoed with an unsteady voice. “There is no need to be anxious,” he said softly. “While it is remarkably sensitive, just be gentle and let it respond to you. I will guide your hands until you find the right feel for it.” “That… sounds rather… intimate.” She responded with a breathy murmur, while her eyes were fixed on his. “It is. You would be the first… in a very long time. It is not merely a rare privilege - it is a gesture of respect and trust. And I believe you have more than earned it.” “How generous. And so altruistic.” “Not entirely. I am, of course, grateful for your assistance, but I genuinely believe you would enjoy seeing The Spear of Dawn up close. And I am also not opposed to pleasant company.” “You named it?” “Oh no, it was named by others, a long time ago. Since then, whole generations have been riding it.” A brief silence stretched between them, and in it he noticed her uneven, heavy breathing. Her gaze was now unfocused, fixed somewhere on the ground. His smile faltered, and the warm, ceremonial tone he had used before faded, replaced now by genuine concern. “Lord Captain, are you feeling well?” She responded with a small dismissive wave of her hand. “All right, that’s enough. You've had your fun - you can stop teasing me now.” “By the Throne, why would you think that? Is it really so hard to believe that I am inviting you into my Knight?” “Your Knight? Your... machine? The giant metal war machine?” “Yes, of course - what else could I possibly mean?” “But aren't you a Knight?” “Knight Scion. Oh… Emperor… You thought I meant-” “Never mind. Let's pretend this conversation never happened.” “Forgive me. I truly believed you understood. It was never my intention… I would never dream of-” “Of course,” she said quietly, cutting him off quickly. She straightened, tugging her jacket into place. Whatever ease had been just a moment ago had vanished, replaced by a tension he couldn’t quite place. “I am sure you have… other standards. If you'll excuse me.” “Exactly… wait - what?”