Welcome to Gaia! ::

The smell had his stomach starting to growl more and more until he heard the sound of the creaking stairs as his fiancé came up them. He smiled wider as he caught them wondering if he was awake and offered a slight nod. “Yes it is darling, I see you went overboard again but I could use that after last night.”

Leaning up so they could set the tray down without anything spilling, the smell of that light and floral tea caught his attention first. Aloysius’s eyes drifted closed as he held the warm teacup and sipped from it slowly. “Wonderful as always darling, you always make the most amazing breakfast.”

A content sigh passed his lips before he started with the egg whites. They were an acquired taste at first when Liam had started making them but they’d been one of the few things to sit well in his stomach that first month when he’d been going through withdrawal. Now he quite enjoyed them and how light they were and he wasted no time in starting to eat as he watched Liam head back down.

The only complaints he had were how stuffed they wanted him to be. Eating so much more than he had in so many years, it still was something he was working on. At least they didn’t rush him on it because sometimes it was still hard to eat a lot in one sitting. But this morning, after the work he’d done last night, the pile of food didn’t seem all that intimidating.

By the time Liam was back, he’d rolled one of the pancakes up with whipped cream inside and had started eating it similarly to how one ate a crepe from the food trucks that sometimes pulled up in the university’s parking lot. But with his mouth full, he couldn’t really respond other than a nod until he finished the sweet mouthful of food. It was really good, that texture he knew was in things from whatever Liam added to his food wasn’t as bad with the berries added in. It wasn’t exactly that he didn’t know what was in it, it was more that there were so many things Liam had purchased to support going to the gym that ended up in his food to help keep weight on him.

Sipping more of his tea, still avoiding the orange juice because he wasn’t as big a fan of it as Liam was, he sighed again contentedly. “Yes darling, very good. I feel much better after resting and breakfast so far.” He still had one pancake and a little bit of eggs but those wouldn’t be forgotten.

“I brought a couple in, a very motivated young woman who was immediately interested after I mentioned youma and a more cautious man who seems to go along with whatever she says to make sure she is alright. Maybe a bit of mother henning almost on his part but you can understand why I thought it would be best to offer it to them both considering they had been attacked by a youma last night.” Setting his cup down, he polished off the rest of the pancake cream wrap he’d made while he let them think about what he said.

“Yes, he had decided to pick up a pipe to fight the thing before I stepped in. There was promise there and it should work out. At least they can train together as well.” There was also another reason, one he didn’t voice but the idea did linger in his mind. It kept them together on the same side of things, not wanting to risk what they would lose if they purified just as one of his team had done. If he could manage it, there wouldn’t be a second mistake.

Eating the second pancake with a fork and knife instead, taking the time to cut it up the same way as always, he nodded. “I do enjoy that realm of yours, something I am glad you decided to bring me to. It would be a shame if things had been different, while you being a corrupt would be far from bad, I like knowing you have a neutral place to go.” It was as safe as one could get, even if he knew mirrorspace had its fits. Reaching over, he squeezed their hand gently.

“You also have that one senshi of yours to help too. At least you have the sense to go one at a time.” Finishing up a bit more of his pancake, he then leaned his head on theirs. It was good they shared, that they talked with him just as he brought up most things to them. It wasn’t everything though, not anymore but he didn’t need to worry them about how he’d been talking with knights. Ghosting his lips over their cheek he smiled knowing that that little secret was there to keep them from harm.

“I almost have ten under me with these two and Ako. At least with her I just stood by for the process…” If only he could do it himself, do things with more care and efficiency but there was a limit to things for a reason even if it nudged at something in him the wrong way.

“Yes and I have a feeling they will continue to do well now that they have a bit of a power boost from things.” It would work out, more than likely exactly how he wanted it to. That was the best outcome in his mind and with Liam in agreement, he was sure that he was still making good choices. The questioning of it all had died down with each new team member and each interaction that went off without a hitch. Liam would see it as him being confident but it was more that he had that assurance of his choices now that he could think clearly without the alcohol.

“I can handle it darling, you know I can, but I do want you to be able to rely on them as well in an emergency or a mission. I have a firm stance on how the mirror should be treated and I am fully intending to pass that on to my team.” Trailing his fingers over their cheek as he brushed some of the loose blonde strands away from their face, he couldn’t help but smile a bit more.

“Fiance now, husband in the new year.” It was something he looked forward to, wanting to give them the ring he’d worked so hard on. With one more kiss, letting it linger on their cheek, he picked up his glass of orange juice and clinked it lightly against theirs before sipping at it. He still didn’t like it, it was too acidic, but he knew listening to them when it came to food and health had always panned out so he intended to try a bit more of what they cooked.

“Desiree has told me much about the nouveau riche, among many complaints, but I trust you both and I know not everyone has the same mentality over all this.” He’d had a very different approach in the beginning before everything had happened but things hadn’t worked out back then as they were working out now.

Wrapping his arm around them, keeping them close, he finished off his breakfast and juice. “This can be an easy day for us, I doubt you have any complaints on that?” Eyeing Liam as he gathered all the empty plates together and put them into a stack on his tray.

“Of course I agree, I know there was that one… what was her name?” Closing his eyes for a moment as he went through his mental notes of all the mirror senshi he’d encountered. “Amytis I believe? Though it was so very long ago, that scar behind me ear was from her heel.” Reaching up to feel it, there was barely any difference anymore between it and the skin around it. But he still remembered and hadn’t been pleased with the events of that night at all back where he was a lieutenant.

But the sour thoughts were brushed away as Liam smiled and a smile came across his face as well in response. “It will be wonderful darling, absolutely wonderful.” There were some plans that were already put together thanks to Melody but he still had others to get prepared as well. There was plenty of time for it and with Liam making sure he got the rest he needed there were very few worries that he had about the event.

Getting up off the bed with his tray and dishes, Aloysius leaned into them and chuckled. “Would you prefer I call him the alcoholic? I think nouveau riche is at least a bit nicer.” It had its own opinions tied to it because he and Melody came from old money and the difference was apparent.

“I look forward to a nice slow day with you darling.” He’d done good work the night before so today he’d rest while he could before getting back to all his projects.