What followed was an implicit show of trust, as Damien reached down and produced a laser pistol that had been safely secured in a concealed holster. This he then handed to Julian. "[May I ask that you secure this for me? I'll retrieve it personally when I leave.]" It was a humble request since Damien truly wasn't aware if they had facilities to secure weapons or not on the estate, and even if not then it was certainly safer with a member of her family than on his person. "[That was the only weapon I brought with me, just in case something went wrong on our way here.]" Ironically, it was evident to him now that the only time things might actually go wrong was when they arrived here. There was still the matter of Fiorella's father to deal with, and his tendency to be entirely unpredictable hadn't gone without consideration - especially when Damien was of a similar disposition.
For a moment his instincts were running on overdrive and were causing him to feel something not so dissimilar from pre-combat anxiety. His hands were cold, mouth dry, and the air feeding through his nose and down into his lungs felt heavy. But his mind, the real ruler of this body reminded itself of everything it had ever seen. Fire and flak across veritable war-machines, death in such dread abundance that it would prove sickening to any sane person, and every time he had personally inflicted this upon countless enemies over his years of service.
The man that was no doubt already on approach was fearsome, yes. But he was by no means any more or less lethal than a guided missile, a wall of flak, super-heated plasma, particle, laser, neutron, and tachyon cannons. The risk was all par for the course and the sole novelty was that it was in person now rather than in a ship careening through the black. It didn't make any practical difference, and this realization steeled his nerves. "[I'm ready to see him.]" The tone of these words was quiet and hardly evocative of boldness and bravery, but readiness and resolve was there - though perhaps only something Fiorella could pick up on.
