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[protective_logic]

Anything is welcome. Just let me know if you want him as an AI or person in the first post

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[depthlesslock]

'I'd be happy to teach you,' he agrees. Weapons use and swimming. An interesting combination.

[protective_logic]

And perhaps a decent way to build up some trust. Obedience in stressful situations too.

With that in mind Delta goes into his room to retrieve some clothes. He changes quickly and returns, looking around for better shoes to go outside. "Are you okay with going to see the pool house now?"

[depthlesslock]

He might need to think through how to teach weapon handling. Swimming is a fairly obvious progression, but weapons will take more planning.

But that can wait until after they've visited the house. 'Yes.'

[protective_logic]

Alright then. Delta takes a deep breathe and considers. He doesn't have anything for them to protect themselves with.

"You... should message Phi. She might have a gun you can have for now.">

[depthlesslock]

'Good plan.' He switches over to the private link he and Phi had set up the night before. Was it so recently?

'Hey, Phi. Don't suppose you have any guns I could borrow? Or know where I could acquire some?'

[protective_logic]

"Gun? Well... I can get you one. You heading out? I don't suggest it. The mansion area is still safer than out in the city."

[depthlesslock]

'Thank you. Should I come meet you for it? We're going to the Pool house.'

[protective_logic]

"I can meet you both out there," she offers instead. Beta's pretty much settled for the day.

[depthlesslock]

'One moment.'

'Phi's offering to meet us with weapons at the house,' he tells Delta once he's switched back to the main comms.

[protective_logic]

"If that's okay with you," Delta says. Really, trusting York is about all he can do. Easy? No. But his life hasn't been easy since he was first told he was getting a Hawk. "You should have a weapon. And those I don't have the clout to overnight."

[depthlesslock]

'It's okay with me. Would you prefer she met us at the house or your rooms?' He'll feel more secure once he can provide Delta ranged defence, especially as most Hawks will themselves carry guns.

[protective_logic]

"How about here, in my room," Delta suggests. Makes them more secure the whole way through, doesn't it? "In fact, you could go with her to look over the armory if you want. I can stay here."

[depthlesslock]

'I'll ask her to come here.' He's loathe to leave Delta alone, even if he says his room is safe against his father's Hawks.

[protective_logic]

No guarantee the room is safe from his father. After all, he has Merlins. Delta nods his agreement. He can and will wait. He is more than willing to wait.

"Thank you. For taking this seriously so soon. You're... not what I'd imagined I would get. And I'm thankful for that."

[depthlesslock]

'Could you bring them to Delta's room? We'd rather be kitted before heading out,' he says to Psi.

'Most decent Hawks with prior experience would be taking this seriously, but I'll agree I'm not exactly par of the course. I'm... glad that it works with you.'

[protective_logic]

Roger.

"Would most Hawks with prior experience care so much about how to account for my feelings in all of this?" Delta counters. They would do the job, but Delta just knows they wouldn't have York's heart.

[depthlesslock]

He considers for a moment. 'No,' he replies eventually. 'Some would, I'm not unique in that way. But after so short a time as we've had, most wouldn't.'

[protective_logic]

“I also think many might take my aversion to your... profession poorly.”

But Delta is adjusting to living with his situation. York has bren... enlightening.

[depthlesslock]

He winces. 'Probably,' he agrees. 'Though if you got them from the same place you got me... they'd be more likely to understand.'

[protective_logic]

“Why should they?” Delta counters. Those injured people deserved ones who would care more for them than others had. Perhaps in the future he should look to their number. 

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[depthlesslock]

'Because they will have all seen the more ugly side of Falconry.' A dull, phantom pain throbs in his eye. 'They'd probably be as surprised a Falconer would hate the system as I was, but they would understand.'

[protective_logic]

Perhaps he should look into acquiring more men and women like that. Protection of them, giving them hope and a new sort of home.  “York... the people you knew there. Would they accept someone like me?”

[depthlesslock]

He shifts a little awkwardly. '"Knew" is a strong word. We... didn't get to socialise much, even seeing each other was rare. But going off what little I gathered, some of them probably would. Others wouldn't.'

[protective_logic]

“Would they answer questions if posed to them?” Delta asks. He’s clearly do it quietly. 

[depthlesslock]

'Yes,' he says slowly. 'But they'd get in trouble if they didn't, and you might not get complete honesty.'