Maxima Priscus

“I’m interested. But,” he moves closer, “that tells me what you’re doing, not why.”

Reaches for Estinien’s hand, turns it over gently in his own hand, trailing his fingertips up his wrist.

“I can see. Why do you need that?” Fights a little grin, enjoying the pink the scorches his lover’s cheeks and ears.

“Is that the peanut butter jar, Estinien?”

“You spoil me! Thank you so much darling!” Gently grabs his chin and returns the kiss, on the delicate crevice of the corner of his mouth. “I’m planning on making a Garlean pizza for supper.”

“I would love some, honey.” Smiles tiredly.

“You know you can ask me anything.” Scoops his hands into his own, rubbing his thumbs in circles on his knuckles.

“Hey sweetheart!” Takes him gently by the jaw and kisses his nose, smiling.

“Hugging my daughter extra tight today.”

His face falls. “Who would do such a thing? They seemed to be really trying to harm you!”

“Oh she really has. It worked to convince you to buy those labubus for her, didn’t it?”

Another little kiss to his nose. How it made him so happy to see that little nose scrunch. He had the cutest face!

— back, pinning his arms down.

“You are sorely mistaken! The insult to Garlemald is the lies that you bought into, and the violence that your ilk continues to perpetuate. You speak for an empire that no longer exists, so you either reconcile and change or face banishment. Those are your choices.”

— vengeance absolutely unnecessary. The patience exited Maxima’s body like the wheeze Nerva let out, and with a swiftness seemingly unbefitting a man of his stature, he grabbed his arms and swept his legs out from beneath him, taking him to the ground.

He drove his knee into the small of his —

His blood boiled, being subjugated to this tirade from a madman. Yet he waited and listened in earnest, his gaze fixated on him throughout the entire thing.

Then he witnessed him approach the man who was already down and hanging on to life by a thin thread, delivering a kick to him with a —

“As am I. You focus on feeling better, and don’t do anything too strenuous in the meantime!”

He grabs Estinien by the cheek and kisses the side of his head in return, chuckling. “I know this is going to sound unbelievable, but I have been influenced by our daughter.”

“Wonderful! I’ve got a whole stash of this stuff, so you’re welcome to keep this. A little gift from me.”

He flashes a smile as he places the little glass bottle in her hand.

— rundown of the situation and asking for backup to be sent.

After he hung up, he took a few steps toward the Senator, noting how he appeared to be looking tough. “Care to try that again, Senator?”

— amused him if he wasn’t so steamed. “Pests. You mean like the ones that scuttled behind you after someone rattled their place of hiding? That’s not an answer I will readily accept.”

He brought his hand up to his ear to activate his Linkpearl, speaking into it at Lucia, giving her a brief —

A scowl set his features and he leaned down a little closer to Nerva. “If you can hear me, Nerva, you just hang in there while I call for help.” Worry flooded through him but he steeled his resolve, slowly rising to his full height.

Watching the others scurry behind their leader would have —

— course, anytime Meteor.”

Hearing those words sprung a tear to his eyes, and he lowered them, bringing a hand up to his cheek to dab it away with his finger before it fell. Even when his parents were no longer around, here he was, continuing to spread their love and honor the peace and friendship they sought after.

“Of —

“Of course you can!” He fixes his posture, patting his lap with a delighted grin.

“Mine as well,” and he returns the bow proper. “What kind of things do you study, if you have the time? Maybe we can go grab some coffee and talk it over?”

“Here, smell some of this. It’s a lighter scent, but still potent enough to ensnare the men.” He giggles as he said that, pulling something out from his front pouch and reaching for her wrist. He gives a little spritz. “See if that hurts your nose.”

The happiness he felt as he watched him relax into the mug it seemed. Nothing brought him more joy than helping those he cared about the most. “Glad am I that it’s helping you! My mother used to make this for me all the time. I was sick a lot as a boy.”

Bringing his hands up to his nose, he gives a whiff. It doesn’t seem to have a smell. “Doesn’t smell toxic, at the very least. I would guess the essence of poison ivy.”

He glances sidelong at Estinien with a smile as he held up his hand, showing off his nails. “You like that? I can do yours too, if you want.”

— a hand on him, snapping his infuriated gaze up at the Senator.

“Speak,” he commanded.

— Nerva and he didn’t think before rushing around the building and barreling through the door.

“What in the hells is the meaning of this?!” The fog that had a chokehold on him suddenly vaporized. His eyes lowered to the ground where Nerva laid, and he rushed over, crouching beside him.

He laid —

— believe they were real at first, and he sought to tune them out, until it twisted his stomach until he was forced to walk over to the source and investigate. He passed by a busted window, happened to peer inside, and noticed a scene most alarming before him.

He witnessed the final blow hit —