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Caelum Lex Pt. 3 Chapter 15: Dinner Parties

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Cyrus came to a halt at the end of the long winding path and squeezed his daughter's hand. "You ready?" he asked with a sly smile, and Kalli nodded eagerly. She tended to be nervous when meeting someone new. Not out of shyness, of course, for Kalli was hardly shy, but he and Addy had told her this morning in no uncertain terms that Eriaas Argoatan was very important and that she would need to be on her best behavior during their visit. It wasn't easy reining in a girl with so much energy.

"Are you ready?" Addy asked him knowingly, hovering her hand over the COMM beside the door leading into Argoatan's house — well, mansion, more like. It was a gorgeous place, he had to admit. An expansive, sleek building built into a hill, overlooking an ocean. Salty wind had blown at their faces as they'd made the trek up the path lined with little twinkling lights just starting to flicker on as the suns made their slow descent to the horizon, painting the sky in orange and pink. Cyrus could hardly imagine what one had to pay to get this kind of view every day.

"Of course I'm ready."

Addy flashed him a look of amusement, then said, "Adrasteia Atelier and Cyrus Soliveré here to see Mr. Argoatan," into the receiver.

A proper male voice responded, "One moment, ma'am," and Cyrus snorted. He couldn't imagine how much one had to pay to get a live-in door-answerer either.

"It's a little ridiculous," Addy muttered in agreement. "Let's just grin and bear this, okay? Endure his charm for an hour or two and we'll get the help we need."

Cyrus grumbled noncommittally, because Addy was right: Eriaas Argoatan's money was vital to rebuilding. A healthy donation from him meant New Genisi could keep expanding on schedule. Homes could be built, infrastructure could be laid, the city could come together. Without a donation? They could be stalled for months…

"Addy!" proclaimed a bright face as the door swung open. The man flashed his shiny white teeth as he spread out his arms in excitement. For as long as Cyrus had known him, Eriaas had always been a handsome man, in the strictest sense of the word. He had a firm jaw, smooth dark skin surrounding eyes that shimmered under the right light and he was always dressed as impeccably as his income suggested. Cyrus wasn't entirely sure what he did to achieve that income. Maybe he just convinced people to hand him piles of credits with his neverending charm.

Frankly, he made Cyrus want to gag a little.

"Cy," Eriaas went on, pointing at him with a wink and speaking with a sly tone that seemed to imply an inside joke between them that Cyrus had never heard. He smiled back. Tightly.

Finally, his eyes fell to Kalli who was now squeezing Cyrus' hand even tighter. "And this must be the little tornado I've heard so much about." Eriaas leaned down, his hands on his knees to get a better look at her. "It's very nice to finally meet you, Kalli," he said seriously, extending a hand for her to shake. Kalli took it gingerly, a little thrown off, but when he overdramatically shook it up and down, she giggled and bounced on her feet.

Eriaas laughed in return and looked back at Addy. "Clearly gets her looks from her mother I see," he chimed and Addy waved him off, but pink flushed her neck. Cyrus wasn't sure whether to be more offended by the fact that he was hitting on her (as usual) or the fact that he'd implied Cyrus bore their daughter the ugly genes…

"Anyway, come in, come in," he insisted, stepping back inside and sweeping his arm for them to follow. "I've got my chef making the final preparations for dinner right now, should be ready any minute. Adrasteia, my dear, can I get your coat?" Before Addy could even respond, he was helping her out of it. A little too eagerly, Cyrus couldn't help but note as he saw Eriaas' hands stay at her hips longer than was necessary.

Cyrus fell into step beside Addy as they followed their host towards the dining room. "Remind me why we're here again," he muttered bitterly and Addy laughed.

"Just play the game, Cyrus."

The dinner, as it always was when they visited Eriaas, was spectacular. Cyrus was by no means a connoisseur of fine food, but when he sat down at the long table beside the seamless glass windows and was presented with a feast on shining platters, he knew what he was looking at was expensive at the very least. The fact that it tasted good seemed to be an added bonus.

The conversation was much less palpable.

" — and I spent most of last month in Ordenon," Eriaas was saying halfway through the meal, after catching them up on his travels through the Ellegian wilderness, fighting off wild animals and nature. Or something. "It was a nice break from roughing it." He laughed. Addy laughed with him. "You've been to Ordenon, haven't you?"

"Ah, no, actually," Addy admitted, twirling pasta around her fork.

"I have," said Kalli at once, her small voice proud and confident. Cyrus snickered and nudged her elbow.

Addy went on to Eriaas, "I've spent some time in Tarin proper, but never Ordenon. Pretty sure we wouldn't be that welcome there…"

Eriaas waved her off, shaking his hand. "Nonsense! Visit with me and no one would dare make you feel unwelcome," he beamed, and Cyrus felt a bristle of irritation. By the way Eriaas was looking at her, he doubted the invitation was for the entire family.

"Though they might be a bit of a bore for you," he went on. "It's all parties and politics, really. Even I can barely stand the place for long. I picture you as more of the adventurous sort, am I right? Trekking the mountains of Uora, paddling down the Lassan river, sleeping under the stars?"

"Under the stars?" Kalli piped up, her voice puzzled. She looked from Cyrus to her mother. "Why?"

"It's called camping, honey," Addy explained, smiling at her. "Like in tents, outside. We'll take you someday."

"Of course we will," said Eriaas grandly, beaming across the table.

Cyrus repressed a snort. He forced his eyes to his plate, stabbing at his food with his fork. Of course Eriaas loved camping and nature and all of the things Addy liked but Cyrus hated. Of course.

Kalli went back to her plate, gingerly taking bites out of each piece, chewing carefully, a look of deep thought on her face, before putting it back down and apparently trying to decide whether she liked it or not.

Well at least one of his girls wasn't impressed by this guy.

"Speaking of uncharted terraform," Addy said suddenly, "I suppose I should talk about why we're here."

"Ah yes." Eriaas leaned back in his chair, lifting his glass of perfectly vinted wine to his lips. "The Archeti project, yes? You're still on that?"

Was that supposed to be a slight? Even if it was, Addy remained unphased. Frankly, she was better at this than he thought. Her willingness to 'play the game' and her cajoling charm was reminding him unpleasantly of his brother.

" — and we've got the infrastructure of New Genisi nearly ready to go," she was saying to him, her voice smooth and light like she could think of no better way to spend her evening. "We're starting to build at last."

"That's fantastic!" Eliaas cried, lifting his wine glass to them. "I'm glad to hear it." He leaned forward on the table and lifted a brow at her. "Don't need my money anymore then, huh?"

Addy opened her mouth, then closed it. "Well — " but Eliaas cut her off with a laugh.

"I jest, I jest, my dear. You know I'm more than happy to help you out."

Cyrus caught Addy's eye briefly as she grinned at him, relieved.

"What happened to that poor planet is awful," Eliaas sighed. "As long as a remarkable mind like yours is on the job, I'm more than happy to assist in any way I can." And then — Cyrus watched it, as though in slow motion — he caught Addy's hand in his.

Cyrus stared fixedly, unable to help himself, as Eliaas' thumb ran over the back of Addy's hand. He probably shouldn't have been mad. He had no legitimate claim on Addy. They had a daughter together, they lived together, they worked together, they were 'together' in the very broad sense of the word, but if she wanted a handsome rich guy to squeeze her palm like that, something that was, in effect, harmless, that was her choice. Right?

And yet when he glanced down at Kalli who, surprisingly, was staring at them too with her usual wide-eyed wonder, he couldn't help himself.

"It might assist if you'd actually visit the planet for once," he said suddenly, breaking the awkward silence. Everyone turned to Cyrus, awed. Addy's hand was freed now and holding the stem of her wine glass. Her eyes narrowed with warning.

Cyrus felt a rush of embarrassment, but he went on strongly, "I don't know, having an actual investor on the ground could help a lot. Help morale, help order, help get things done…"

His voice trailed off as everyone else in the room continued to stare at him blankly. Addy pursed her lips and gave him a stern look that he recognized without question: he was in trouble.

But fortunately, it was Eliaas who broke the silence at last. "Maybe," he said lightly, and then added, "But I'm afraid my schedule is booked for quite some time. I'm a busy man, you understand. Can't just be making visits to all of my benefactors." He grinned his sparkling grin and refilled his wine glass.

The gesture made Cyrus want to punch that stupid grin right off his face.

But before he had the chance, the attention was gone. Eliaas lifted Addy's hand to his lips, said, "Perhaps one day, you'll visit me for a reason other than investments?" and kissed it.

Cyrus suppressed a groan. It was going to be a long night.

-----------------

"We smoked 'em. Smoked 'em good. Cap'n had the whole place locked down in minutes, shoulda seen it." Rhys described the event with all the tenacity of a man a few drinks deep, his hands making grand gestures in the air and his eyes lit with inspiration. "Shoulda been there, Lena."

"Leta," Leta corrected, amused.

Eve, seated at her side, scoffed a laugh. "Don't think our doc woulda cared for it much, Rhys. Not a lot of raids I cared for myself…" She shook her head and took a long sip from her glass. "Good work though. We're doin' good work. Believe that with all my heart." She nodded firmly and Leta smiled.

"That base was turned into a refugee camp. Its housing hundreds of displaced families now, so I've heard. It is good work." Whether or not it would remain good in the long run, she couldn't be sure, but after the past week, Leta was tired of dwelling on politics. For now, she was much more interested in hearing about the heroics of old friends.

"Know what though, doc, cap'n ever tell ya 'bout the first land on Ascendia?" Eve asked suddenly. Leta raised her brows and shook her head. Eve's eyes lit up, she cast a glance at Rhys who squirmed in his chair with excitement, and started to tell the tale.

It was strange, Leta thought, being back on the Dionysian again, lounging around the mess hall as the ship plummeted across the Span, chatting with its permanent fixtures. A lot had changed since her time aboard. Without Cyrus, Corra, Nikkolai, Amora…It was quieter. The crew was small. The air was a little harsher than it used to be, more serious. This ship had seen a lot, Leta knew, in the past five years. Things it wouldn't soon recover from.

But there was still Rhys with his ill-advised drinking. Still Eve, ever vigilant. Richelle, who had blossomed into a capable engineer, was helping Maya who had, of all things, taken cooking lessons from Fiearius in his few spare moments. It was easy to tell, Leta thought as the woman laid a plate in front of her on the table, given just how spicy it smelled.

Leta hadn't realized how much she had missed this place.

"Are you telling the Ascendia story again?" Maya asked as she sat down across the table. "We've heard it a thousand times."

"Leta hasn't," defended Eve.

"They snuck around for a few days and then took over city hall, just her and the cap'n and a couple Carthians, it was very impressive," Maya spoiled with her usual dosage of snark.

Eve growled, "Better when I tell it…"

It was then that the faint sound of approaching footsteps met Leta's ears. None of the others at the table looked up from their meals, this was such a clockwork occurrence to them, but she couldn't stop herself from glancing at the door as the ship's captain and his assistant entered the room.

Javier, as always, was busy reading off messages. "Admiral Gates would like you to put in a word to the Ellegian News Network about the Vescentian riots."

"He wouldn't like the word I'd use. Ignore," said Fiearius abruptly as he crossed the room. His loyal crew gave him a chorus of grunts as greeting and Maya said, "Extras in the kitchen, cap'n."

Leta had found that Fiearius was hardly present on the Dionysian's lower decks anymore. Instead, he was constantly occupied in the bridge, sending out orders to his fleet scattered across the Span. But he did make a point of sharing meals with them whenever he could. She'd been here all of a week and hardly seen him save for breakfasts, dinners and an occasional late night drink before he got back to work.

Still, few as those moments had been, Leta couldn't deny she'd appreciated them.

Unintentionally, she met his eyes as he passed towards the kitchen and he smirked. She returned it with a tilt of her head before going back to her food.

Meanwhile, Javier went on. "Parés is asking for more ships again."

"Ignore."

"Arsen requests you pull your people out of the eastern front on Ascendia."

"Ignore."

"Commander Lirien wants to know if he can see you again."

"Ignore."

"Quin's got a status update on the west Ascendia operation."

Leta heard Fiearius heave a deep sigh. "Alright, hit me."

"Area acquired, ten lost, thirty wounded."

Beside Leta, Richelle sucked in a breath through her teeth and shared a solemn glance with Maya over the table.

"She's awaiting further instructions," Javier finished as Fiearius exited the kitchen and took his place at the end of the table. Leta observed him quietly as he brandished his fork without touching the food. He looked tired, but he always looked tired these days. Now, it was almost as if he was so tired, it didn't phase him anymore.

And in fact, he sounded appropriately numb when he said, "Send a message to the Carthian lead in Ascendia proper, get shuttles out there for the injured. Tell Quin to take a break and head back to the CORS. I'll meet her there when I can."

Javier nodded and made a note on his tablet dutifully before finally sitting down himself and placing the thing aside, face down. An important part of the daily ritual, Leta had noticed. No messages, no contact, no disasters. Just for an hour.

"So," Fiearius began suddenly, his tone a lot lighter, though perhaps forcedly so. "How's my dear crew doing? Being nice to our guest?" He gestured towards Leta.

"Leta's not a guest," Javier flared up at once. "She's family."

Fiearius glanced over at her and upon catching his eye, she raised her brows expectantly. Yeah, she thought, what do you have to say about that?

But Fiearius just grinned and amended, "Of course, sorry. Being nice to our estranged cousin? Distant aunt? Prodigal daughter?"

Leta noticed Maya rolled her eyes, but Richelle was the one who answered, "Just fine, cap'n."

"You forget your crew doesn't have the detriments of your sparkling personality," put in Leta to which he grunted a laugh.

On the other side of the table, Eve was all business. "So we're headed for Ascendia, cap'n?" she asked.

"Not quite," Fiearius answered. "Ascendian cluster, but not Ascendia itself. Got a very important target to take care of." He caught Leta's eye briefly, as though to ensure she didn't elaborate on that any further. Apparently he didn't even trust his mission to assassinate the Society Councillors to his crew.

Though Eve might have not taken that hint. "What's the target?" she asked. "When can you brief me?"

Leta saw Fiearius' awkward grimace before he brushed it aside and told her patiently, "Actually, you won't be coming with me. Sorry, Harper. This one's a little different."

But if he wasn't taking Eve, Leta realized –

"You're going in alone on this?" she demanded.

To her surprise, he made the same expression as before, as though caught in a compromising position. "Not…exactly," he admitted.

Before Leta could question him, a voice rang out behind her that made her jump. "Is this the kind of right moment you told me to wait for?"

She knew who it was before she even turned around to find the bulky shape of Desophyles Cordova leaning in the doorway. Leta wasn't even the only one surprised.

"Where the hell did he come from?" Maya demanded, her eyes wide.

"Boarded when you dropped off the cute little family yesterday," Dez answered. "Your captain didn't think anyone else needed to know, though." He looked back to Fiearius. "So was this it? The right moment?"

Fiearius had his head in his hand looking rather uncomfortable. "Maybe?" He ventured a glance at Leta, perhaps expecting her to explode at him, but Leta didn't explode. She didn't yell. She didn't even feel a particularly strong urge to get up and leave the room.

Instead, all she could manage was a groan. "Are you kidding me?"
Caelum Lex, the sci-fi, adventure, action, romance, space pirate serial! Chapter 15 of Part 3! In which people have dinner.

First: Caelum Lex Chapter 1: Medical Attention
Previous: Caelum Lex Pt. 3 Chapter 14: Interrogation
Next: Caelum Lex Pt. 3 Chapter 16: Still Here
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MimmiMeArt's avatar
He's taking DEZ?! Of all people?!

And poor Cy... I feel you, man...