[sandbox]

[furiousmaximus]

Antillar Maximus stands at the far end of the Elinarch. He is the ranking officer out with the cohort on guard for a surprise attack from the Canes. They'd be beaten back, but there were a lot of them out there, and they might come again. Tavi would have been the ranking officer, but Max had finally convinced him to get some real sleep four hours before. Without furies to draw on, the commander couldn't push himself as hard as his troops could. Besides, Max knew his business.

His eyes scan across the terrain in front of him taking in the still-smoldering ruins where the firetrap had done less than they had hoped. Behind him he hears the steady rhythm of the Legion's engineers improving the fortifications along the bridge.

For one long moment, Max closes his eyes as he thinks about all the men they lost. But they had held. They had held.

Comments

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

Still shaking her head, this time in bemusement, Kitai answers, "You are often right about these sorts of things, maybe it is because you yourself share the same sort of craziness."

Her tone and stance shift suddenly, "And what are you doing out here anyway?"

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

He slings his thumb towards Max.

"I was getting a status report and about to go looking for you. Why?"

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"Because," she reaches out to poke him squarely in the chest, "You should be asleep."

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

He doesn't stumble back. Privately, he's proud of himself for that considering how close to falling over he feels.

"I slept. You can ask Max. I slept."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"Not enough, Aleran," she says. "I know." She was there for part of it...

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

"I know you know," he admits, not even attempting to deny it.

"Why aren't you in bed then?" he counters.

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"Because," she smiles slowly, leaning in close, "You weren't there."

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

The rest of his ears joined the tips in their colorchange.

"Oh."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

Kitai's hand rises up to grip the back of his neck and she rises slightly on her toes to kiss him, then leans back a bit. "Yes. Oh."

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

Amazing how his face was joining the act.

"I suppose... I could go to bed again. Since I've just given out a few orders and checked on things."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"You suppose?" Kitai arches an eyebrow. She leans in and kisses him again, then repeats, "You suppose?"

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

"I should."

He nods. Very emphatically.

"It is, in fact, my sacred right. And duty. That as well."

[chala-alera.livejournal.com]

"At least your not stupid all the time," she says with a slight grin.

[calderon-crow.livejournal.com]

He holds out his arm.

"To bed?"

[furiousmaximus.livejournal.com]

Max is trying not to laugh as he watches Kitai reach out and take Tavi's hand. "Hey, don't forget to get some actual sleep, Captain."