{oOo}

"Why are there potted plants in the palace?' Konrad asked, slightly alarmed as he looked around. This... was not in his visions.

"Didn't Fulgrim tell you?" the Emperor asked him.

Konrad's response was a blank stare and blink, then an incremental shake of the head.

The Emperor clarified. "I married. You shall meet her soon."

For a fraction of a second all of Konrad's mental processes stopped utterly, "What entity? I was not aware that there was a need for an alliance marriage."

"Terra in human body," the Emperor responded, in a tone that indicated personifciations of planets were common place.

Again his mind stopped, he faintly wished he could enjoy it more. "I see," Konrad responded, in a tone that indicated that he sorely wanted to.

"...Why?"

"Because it was necessary," the Emperor replied. He considered something for a moment, silent, then added. "It is not as much of a sacrifice as I thought it would be."

"If I ask why you are unlikely to tell me," It was strangely soothing to not know-he had no visions of this, it didn't feel like he was treading towards his doom. "How is irrelevant, it happened. Thus, why am I here? You could have sent a comm." He blinked suddenly, "and when was the marriage, it wasn't broadcasted."

"Because I wanted to inform you in person," the Emperor replied. He paused then. "The official marriage hasn't taken place yet. DON'T ASK." He did not need another Roboute and more trauma caused by simple biological functions.

"We're also working on getting my sanity up to par so I'm not a complete little savage on live broadcast," a darkhaired woman said as she came around a corner, her knees muddy and feet bare.

The Emperor wrapped his arm around her shoulders as soon as she was in his reach. The movement seemed almost unconscious. "This is Terra."

The Emperor was being... affectionate? Konrad's eyebrows rose up as he bowed slightly. There were no formalities or protocols yet for this. "Greetings," not mother, "Empress." He straightened and his eyes went back to the Emperor, "We are not close, why tell me in person?"

"You are my son," the Emperor replied. "You may not accept it, but it will not change."

"I know this, Father," things don't change. "I saw it very clearly," blindingly.

"Do you? Is this why you want to run away even now?"The Emperor asked him, gaze piercing.

This was... strange. He did not know what was happening, the Emperor was acting outside of the profile he had constructed for him and, he was, upset? "Do you wish me to speak frankly?" Not permission, the Emperor did as he willed and damn the consequences to others.

"It would be very kind of you." That would allow him to act, instead of standing at the side and waiting.

"I don't like you. The only bonds between us are of blood and loyalty," and pain, but even still, he did not say that. "Your will is absolute, I acknowledge that, previously that and my service is all you required." What changed? "I don't like you," he stated again, for good measure

"I know." It was not that hard to notice.

Konrad was taken aback. He was not expecting that quiet sort of acknowledgement.

"The world that tried to eat you was not I."

...Crazy woman.

"Your sire," odd emphasis on that word, but fitting-he was only a genetic donar to Konrad, "has his flaws." She smiled with bloody teeth, "I am attempting to train him out of them, it seems to be working"

"Do you wish to tell me anything else?"

"I have duties to attend to and I will leave now."

The Emperor shook his head and placed his hand on Konrad's shoulder. "You do not understand. You are my child and I can tell there is more troubling you. If you chose not tell me, I cannot help."

Konrad looked at the Emperor's hand, trying to process it. Very distinctly there was almost the same sense the Emperor had felt from small male children; "ew, cooties."

The Emperor felt momentarily uncomfortable. "Please stop that. I feel an urge to give you a teddy bear and cookies and milk."

And it was Roboute all over again, at least it wasn't due to biological processes.

{oOo}