Chapter Text
Tye sighed as the vibration on his lower back increased for a second. It didn’t bother him per se, but previous times when his rear was getting this treatment, he had gritted his teeth a time or two when a nerve cluster or nerve port was being worked around. Given that the ports on his lower back were done first this round, now it was just the vibrations that were in a manner relaxing him into a near meditative mindset.
“Don’t fall asleep,” Logynn said, and that made Tye groan.
“Had a late night, can you blame me right now?” Tye said back.
“Yes, I told you before I’d not be able to help last night, due to one of the higher ranks seeking my services to touch up their ink. And it was in great need of it, too. I was even allowed to improve it, believe it or not.” Logynn said.
“I can believe it, but he didn’t attempt anything right?” Tye asked.
“You truly think I’d let anyone have me like that? Seriously Westain. It may have been the legendary Cato Sicarius’ tattoo I was touching up, but I wasn’t going to let him have his way with me. Even though he did get hard while I was touching up his ink. We both know I don’t swing that way, and I have a partner and two kids with Klarissa already, and one on the way, which you are very aware of, Westian.” Logynn said in a firm, humorless tone.
“Yeah, well, you're very pretty, and I’m worried and all, OW! Hey! Not the ports, damn it!” Tye snapped.
“Just making sure you’re not projecting and not going to fall asleep,” Logynn said in a near-playful manner now.
“I should bend you over this table,” Tye growled in a near mock threatening manner.
“But then I’d waste the ink, and you and I both know how hard it is to get gold ink with a proper report filed,” Logynn said before leaning back over and into his work, ignoring how He was partly growling at him then.
“I’ll show you hard later, you little prick," Tye grumbled, both empty threats, and they both knew it, but still it was the point of the matter, and Logynn chuckled at that as he went back to apply said needle to Tye’s skin.
Of course, then a throat cleared, making Logynn pause in his work as he leaned back, only to then scoot back and off Tye’s lower legs from where he had been perched before.
Tye turned his head in a near lazy manner to look at who interrupted, only to stiffen and look concerned then.
“I hate to interrupt your lover, spat?” Ortan Cassius said from where he was at the door.
“Lord Cassius,” both Tye and Logynn said in unison then, but were waved off. “Settle, I do not wish to ruin the hard work of one of our few and best ink master remembrancer’s,” he said, and Logynn looked down a bit ashamed and flattered, but mostly ashamed for getting caught poking fun at Tye.
Especially while he was working on possibly his best masterpiece he’d ever make in hsi life that’s put on any Marine’s skin, it was damned careless of him to do.
“I didn’t mean any disrespect to Chaplain Westain, Lord Cassius,” Logynn said repentantly.
“Enough of that, I’ve known you two since you both came into my service, a little banter as long as it does not disrupt your tasks and good work is acceptable. I am aware of your vow bond.” He says while glancing at Tye's upper right arm and Logynn’s upper left arm, which were near mirrored tattoos, with the exception of each other’s names on them.
“It's not that kind of bond…he’s my vow brother,” Tye said, glancing away, his jaw tightening for a second, before meeting his superior's gaze calmly.
“I know, I had a few myself, at one time, and a few, still,” Ortan said, a hint of mild fondness and sadness in his tone, recalling many of his vow brothers that were now gone since he outlived many of them many years ago.
“That and if I were unsure of your vow bond, I would have questioned you both a long time ago. As it stands, I know the kind of bond you truly have. A rarity, given one of you shall outlive the other.” He said in a knowing tone.
Both nod at this; Tye and Logynn both came to that understanding long ago that he’d outlive him and were reconciled to it.
“I see. Which reminds me, congratulations are in order, Mr. Strider. Hopefully, your son will be able to join the ranks when they come of age, yes?” he said then.
“Yes, I hope so, my Lord, but that is if all goes well and they come out healthy enough,” Logynn said, remembering his own failure to join the ranks of the Astartes of Ultramar. “And I hope they do not carry my flaw.”
Ortan nodded at this.
The fact was that Logynn was an oddity, but not a bad one; in fact, many liked Logynn and respected him for his skills as an ink master.
Even more so, the one that was given the gene seed that Logynn’s own body rejected and was saved, then reused in another was good, it in turn earned them a new powerful Librarian into their ranks, a great blessing considering they were low on gene seed at the time, due to a previously demanded tithe to Mars.
He stepped closer, then glanced over the large tattoo on Tye’s back and raised an eyebrow at how big it was. It was also honor-bearing and bound-ment tattoo to clearly honor the Ultramainres and Emperor at the same time, and was very impressive.
Not all went to such lengths, or had such tattoos, and one that had so little script on it, unlike many other works he had seen in his long life.
Given the huge, already elaborate eagle wings from previous work on them showed clearly, and the notable script of the oath, along with the Ultramar crest between the wings, and a laurel wreath.
“Planning on gliding the leaves?” He asked them, his tone even half stern and curious.
“No,” both said at the same time, Logynn going quiet; it was for Tye to explain, not him, despite it all being his work.
Ortan had to keep himself from smirking at them then.
“I’ve not earned them, my lord, if I ever do, I’ll see that Logynn, or someone he’s taught to do them, then and not before,” Tye said, knowing that could be a long time off and Logynn may not be around by then.
“Good, but you’ll have your chance soon, I think. The second company requires a new Chaplain for their ranks. So I’m re-assigning you to there,” he said then.
Tye’s eyes widened a bit at this before nodding from where he was still on the table. Logynn’s mouth twitched partly as if to smile, but seemed to hide it. He knew Tye could be denied him coming with him, despite what Lord Cassius said; he was an ink master and thus was more tied to the First Company than anywhere else.
“You’ll have your choice of serfs and assistants to come with you. Choose wisely and fairly, but not too many, you're not a Head Chaplain yet.” Ortan said.
“Yes, Lord Cassius,” Tye said and was going to salute him, only for him to stop when Logynn smacked his rear and glared.
Ortan chuckled at this, making both look embarrassed. “I expect this to be finished next time I see you after the transfer, when I visit for an inspection. The requests for inks will be given freely for this kind of art. But the golden ink, it goes without saying to be careful and mindful of how much you request, it's always harder to procure, and I’m sure you all know the reason for that and why it's not used as much.” Ortan said, giving them both a knowing look, and they nodded.
“Yes, Lord Cassius,” both say.
The reason the golden ink was very limited was due to the past and that of a traitor Primarch using that type of ink solely on their skin. It was only ever used like that in very rare cases.
Logynn’s request was a damned ordeal, and also convincing Tye to accept his idea before evening doing this.
Plus, it was a very lengthy but careful and sound process for just some ink, let alone one small vial.
“Other than that, make sure you have all requests for it sent to me only, and I'll consider all requests with proof of its progress before I accept sending more. So until it is finished, I strongly advise you not to waste any of it on anything else.” Ortan said firmly, and both nodded at this once more.
“Good, you have three days to prepare. The Captain will want you fully informed before your arrival, too. The files will be sent to your rooms,” he said before glancing over Tye's back once more and nodding.
“A pity I’ll not be able to wear a work of yours, Master Ink Remembrancer Logynn. But I’m far too old for this now for it to matter much. Still good work,” he said before leaving, making Logynn feel proud.
Ortan had overheard a talk once of Logynn’s wants before his body rejected the gene seed and had high hopes of training him as a Chaplain, but as it wasn’t to be, he had kept a subtle eye on him and Tye when he had time since then.
Once gone, Tye scoffed a little in amusement. “You're blushing back there,” Tye said.
“Shut up. I have two more vials to use up, and I’ll only be able to finish your hips tonight.” Logynn said, then got back to work.
“I’m damn glad that didn’t happen while you were working on my bum, that would be fucking weird,” Tye said and chuckled when Logynn snerked at this.
“Stop it and just relax, I don’t want to mess up,” Logynn said with a sigh.
“As if you ever could with your skill and abilities, and those steady hands.”
“You like my steady hand a bit too much right now. Calm down, please,” Logynn said mildly, knowing there was no true implication in Tye’s nearly purred words.
“Heh, I’ve seen what you can do with those hands, too, and long before they were ever stained in ink,” Tye said, knowing Logynn could and would be just as deadly as him, if he had to be.
“I remember, put any more thought into what I shall do with your freckles?” Logynn asked.
“Not really, still wanting to gild them too, or?” Tye said, hoping Logynn had an idea in mind.
“Maybe, at least partly, I’ll sketch it out after I finish this,” Logynn said.
“Just thinking of improvements as you work, must be so frustrating when working with such a good canvas, right?” Tye teased and earned a tired huff at this from Logynn.
“Just memorize the rules to go by for a new transfer, please,” Logynn said as he continued, knowing Tye was fishing for a few lude compliments.
Tye sighed as he didn’t get what he wanted, so he did as his vow brother suggested, to then verbally list off what needed to be done when one gets transferred to a new company.
-
Tye sighed as he got into his rooms, tired still from the other late night but thankfully not sore from Logynn’s work. After all, his vow brother had a special skill to make sure of that, and he was damned grateful for it too.
He let out a tired sigh knowing he should read it, but damn it he was fucking tired, but then again he was a bit soft from having a steady sleep secdule, he use to go nearly two weeks of no sleep in his younger years, but then again he had Logynn to cheer him on or at times tell him to suck it up and push harder.
A tiny ache came to his chest, remembering those days, before the Logynn’s gene seed didn’t take, it wasn’t by sheer luck he kept it as long as he had, Tye knew this.
But thankfully, nothing bad happened to Logynn, and the gene seed was able to be recovered and for another to make use of it so it wasn’t wasted.
Of who got it, Tye never knew it wasn’t for him to know either, at least at the time, given he didn’t have the time or heart later to find out, since he was concerned Logynn would be tossed aside or worse.
Nevermind the fact that one of Tye’s own gene seeds had been recently harvested for some of the new recruits within the first’s chapter, which he was informed was taken well for them if not smoothly, for which he was glad.
He pushed that thought aside and sat on his bunk in a lazy manner as he picked up the file pad and began to read it.
-
Soon enough, Tye had finished going through the file and the side notes from Lord Cassius, and it was quite…the read, considering the things that had happened to the previous Chaplain, Leandros Quintus, of the second company while being within the First Company’s ranks temporarily at that.
Clearly, the news of what happened had shaken the trust of the second company in its remaining Chaplains.
Thus were now being silently condemned by their fellow brothers due to the former Chaplain Quintus’ current failings and actions. Thus, many were now wary of the remaining Chaplains within the second company and where quitely avioding them.
Which to Tye speak of alot of troubles having been seeded and are growing within the second company, which should not be happening, so he was being sent to go prune or carefully remove this problem without tearing apart the trust and bonds within the second company’s fellow battle brothers.
“What a fucked up mess, you left me with to fix Leandros,” Tye said, running his hand over his face. It seems it will be a trial by fire once he’s in the second company.
That much he picked up now after reading the file, and now knew his transfer was a means to not only take Leandros’ place, but raise morale and restore the faith of others within the second company too.
By being there to ensure that none of the other remaining Chaplains, including the Head Chaplain, hadn’t been affected by Leandros Quintus’ recent actions.
Tye sighed once more at this, the other fact being that he had once met the younger Chaplain just before he and they both had been about to go through with the Calgarisian Rites and hopefully be successful in crossing the Rubicon.
Hell, remembering how concerned Logynn had been the day before, when he told him about going through with it, was nerve-racking already.
But Tye could acutely recall back then that day, when he was sitting across from Leandros as they waited for their turn, and the attempt at conversation to pass the time.
To which Leandros only replied by hand sign to him. Which Leandros explained by hand sign that he was doing a hundred-year vow of silence.
Tye figured it was a personal want back then, and respected his chioce an hand signed back to him out of respect that day instead of speaking.
Also, back then, it felt like Leandros was more than nervous to go through with the surgery, like he had something to prove, and he would have possibly broken down if not for him talking to him, which had seemed to calm the younger Chaplain back then.
Tye didn’t know back then that the hundred-year vow of silence was a punishment and a chosen one at that.
And after reading the report in full and side notes, Tye knew that Leandros’ vow of silence was an optional punishment given to him to choose from, and it seems Leandros picked a softer punishment, or maybe not so much, given how it all sounded and of how Tye had seen Leandros at that time personally.
It also turned out that the alternate choice given, had been; was to serve on the Death Watch until he was allowed to come back.
So yes, Tye concluded that the vow of silence was possibly the softer punishment.
Then again, he also figured the ridicule for what he did to the former Captain Titus, which could have made the vow of silence be nearly as bad as serving on the Death Watch with fellow battle brothers, due to them judging him heavily every day since then for what he did.
Tye shook his head from those thoughts speculating on it would do him no good; he had to focus on what he needed before his transfer. First of which was to pick a few serfs to come along with him.
He knew he’d pick Logynn to come along, which meant Klarissa would come as well.
He smirked at this; he knew on some level his friend and vow brother had a thing for redheads beforehand.
After all, he was one too, or at least in part now, the gene seed had done its work of altering Tye just enough to be seen as a son of Roboute Guilliman physically, with his now partly streaked strawberry blond strands in his still rich red hair.
Plus, his once violet eyes have become more indigo now due to the blue eye color that commonly shows up after the gene seed was added into the body, not always, but enough to be noted even with brown eye colors.
Before his eyes gave away his Cadian descent, before becoming what he was now.
A few were wary of this until he proved that he was not cursed or a bad omen to be added to the ranks.
Though the one fact remained, he’d not be a Chaplain if not for Logynn, nor as good a one without him.
He didn’t regret being A Chaplain and hadn’t not once!
Sure, he could have moved up the ranks normally as others and maybe could have become a Lieutenant or possibly a Captain at some point later, to some Company, possibly, but no, he was fine in his rank and role now.
That and he’d not leave his vow brother’s side or behind if he could help it, he loved the man, but not in the manner most thought and assumed he did. Given that he got teased with the implication in harmless jesting about having such a close bond with Logynn a few times.
Their bond, though, was a very close platonic relationship they shared, and he’d never want it otherwise.
Plus, the very man’s daughters called him uncle when in private with them all, and that was a damned gift.
That and he swore long ago to keep Logynn safe and help him hide his secret even after death, of either himself or Logynn, and look after his children as best as he could, too.