<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=69278.msg3055248#msg3055248">Quote from: Sanai on 20-05-2010, 17:28:10</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">CORPORAL JOHN MORDEN, CALLSIGN REAPER, FIRE TEAM LEADER.<br/><br/><br/><strong>"Rome, the synthetic has things to do. I doubt it is interested in such...activities at this time."</strong></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>He looked towards Reaper with a mock look of surprise and then stretched out his arms, presenting himself as evidence.<strong>“What better thing is there for her to do, Reaper? She might have all kinds of fancy programs and infinite knowledge databases but none of that shit can hold a fuckin' candle to the fuckin' 'Roman Empire', baby! Ya know?”</strong>He let his arms drop to his side after a few moments and chuckled as he moved to take a seat.<strong>“Fuck, Reaper! I’m just fuckin’ around, man! She’s just a fucking synth anyway, shit! Truth is *I’VE* got better things to do!”</strong>He chuckled and shook his head as moved to find a seat.<br/><br/>Rome moved to the table where Gizmo was sitting, came around behind him and leaned over to speak where only Gizmo could hear him.<strong>“She does have a sexy fuckin’ ass though, don’t she Giz?”</strong>He gave Gizmo a slap on the back and a chuckle as he took a seat across from him.<strong>“Now, you gotta ask yourself why those crazy fucks at  MegaTech would create a synth with an ass like that. Fuckin' nerd herd can’t  ‘em some real pussy so they just make their own. You know what I’m talkin’ about, don’t you Giz?”</strong>Rome shifted and scooted his chair in just the right spot and glanced up at Gizmo with a stone cold, featureless expression and sat statue still for a good 30 seconds before flashing him a big toothy grin and laughing again. He reached across the table and gave Gizmo a firm slap on the side of his shoulder.<strong>“Shit, I’m just fuckin’ witcha, Giz!”</strong><br/><br/>‘I’m just fuckin’ witcha!’ That was Rome’s response whenever he thought someone was taking him too seriously and apparently he thought people took him too seriously quiet often.  It was his way to scale things back a bit and avoid getting yelled at by the Sarge, though it didn’t always work.<br/><br/>He finally tore his icey gaze away from Gizmo and shoveled a heaping spoon of military goop in his mouth, chewing several times before he glanced back up to Gizmo and spoke, his mouth still mostly full.<strong>“Hey Giz, stop by my locker when you’re done stuffin’ your face, would ya?”</strong>He glanced back up to Gizmo and chuckled before he had a chance to answer.<strong>“Relax Giz, baby! I’m not gonna eat you or anything like that. We’re on the same team, my man!”</strong>That big, crazy, toothy grin returned, this time covered with Marine slop. He started shoving food into his mouth again, talking as he hurriedly devoured his chow.<strong>“I want ya to see about mounting a motion tracker view screen on the ‘Sexy Beast’ before we deploy”</strong><br/><br/>He knew that he intimidated Gizmo and he played the part with more enjoyment than he should, especially considering that Gizmo was a fellow squad mate who had saved his sorry ass on more than one occasion since he joined Kilo platoon. But, Rome wasn't exactly adept at social interactions which is why he could count his friends on one hand and still have fingers left over. Also, he figured that there were things worse than himself that Gizmo should be afraid and, though it was not his place to do, he felt that perhaps forcing him to confront his fears would make him a better Marine, or at least more of what Rome considered made a good Marine. Tough. Fearless. So, perhaps in some small way, his behavior towards Gizmo was his subconscious' way of trying to help Gizmo grow as a Marine as well as a way to say 'thanks' and to repay him for the times Gizmo had helped him. As for the others in the squad, they had saved his ass on many occasions as well, but he had saved theirs too. That's what Marines do. Besides, he didn't know of anything he could do to 'help' them like he could 'help' Gizmo.<br/><br/>He finished his chow and lifted the tray to his face, licking the remnants before standing and taking the tray to the disposal bin. He glanced back at Gizmo one last time as he left the mess hall.<strong>“Hey Sarge! Permission to eat Gizmo’s liver if we run out of MRE’s planet side?” </strong>He grinned stupidly and started jogging to the ship's barracks to prep his gear.<br/>