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A light hearted chuckle.

It didnt seem like much, but for Max to be lighthearted was something of a feat. Sure he could act it, play it, seem it, but to truly be it was rare.

Simply put Teira looked positively adorable all half asleep and slowly sliding back in from lucid visions to reality. He could have just reached over and pinched her cheek, if he could reach. That would be rather awkward moving in their current pose.

No instead, he wriggled to accommodate the moving elf, and brought the book to angle they both could read. Did she remember elven? Was Walter slipping that into her classes? He didnt know. But he started where he left off.

Then rose high his shield and proclaimed...

And stopped again. He squinted...despite the black framed glasses he was clearly wearing.

....Ai...jhyli...o?

He said it slowly, trying to phonetically interpret it, he even went so far as to c**k his head, and the book to the side, as if a new angle would help. A smirk cracked on his face, and he said, bluntly, and yet trying not to laugh from it.

I dont know! I honestly dont know, this doesnt translate right at all!

Now that was impressive. He had been sparring with Teira for weeks now and she'd never floored him so easily.

Thankfully for Maximos, he was laying down, or else he would infact have fallen flat on his rump.

Instead, his eyes opened rather wide, and his hands moved to close the book. Knights and Princesses were one thing, but the answer to that question did not lie in that book, and he set it down.

Love...

He said the word softly, as if he was entering it into a database to find the proper definition. But there was no right wording for love. Love is love. Love is so many things, it makes someone do so many things.

His hands came up, moving around her on either side, his fingers interlocked and he rested his arms on her stomach, and half on his, hands placed in the middle. In the months that'd passed that twitchy fear of being touched seemed to have faded, as Max seemed quite comfortable with Teira nestled so very close. His eyes rolled up to look at the ceiling, as he fondly recalled the feeling and bled it into the moment, and the feeling he felt right then and there.

Love is when you care for someone so strongly that it makes you very happy. Especially when your around them, and makes your very sad when your not. There are different types of love, but one feeling so we lump it all under one word.

Max chuckled. Love. He had almost forgotten it.

Was that really it? Was that what he was feeling? It was like a warm torch in a very dark, very deep, very well decorated cave. A twinkling of something that he couldnt put words to no matter how deep he searched. But what words he did find, found themselves spoken without even a thought.

Then you never will.

He said, rather confidently. It was foolishness to say, or even think, but he did not care. Nay saying thoughts were silenced before they reached the surface, and left Maximos looking rather content, with something of a bright smile on his face.

A bright smile, and a hue of pinkish red blush, which he did try his best to hide only managing to make it look like his eyes were chasing a fly as they moved left and right, and then finally, settled back on Teira with a smile and a laugh. Defeated, and yet he couldnt be happier about it.

And he was snuggle pounced. Sadly, on a later date, if asked about a snuggle pounce Maximos would have no clue that what it truly was. Only that it made him smile, it made him blush. And, my did Teira have long hair. And red too!

Shadow Island had no real light, and everything in Dark Vision seemed darker, it looked blood red. And beau--

--And she was off. Max could not help but laugh. Not mocking laughter....

...

...Not entirely mocking laughter...


...


He wasnt mean with it! His words were half laughed, half spoken.

Are you..hehahahaa...are you okay?

Of course she was okay. And she gave the couch such a mean look, that as Maximos sat up, he slapped it and said.

Mean couch. Be nice.

And smiled childishly. Now that she had mentioned it, and was holding a teas set, Maximos did feel a bit thirsty and he opened his mouth and said.

Yes, I'd love some...

Only to have his sentence finished, suddenly, there was Walter. Tea set in hand, already steaming and ready to serve.

Tea, sir, m'lady?

At which point he set the tea down, in the place where the one Teira had picked up sat, and scooped the drained set right out of her hands. Dropping an "Enjoy" before, walking off. And leaving Maximos looking entirely stunned for a good moment.

There was really only one response Maximos could give, as he took his mug and thanked Teira. And he gave it.

He's magic.

He said, as easily as one might say "Its raining." It wasnt sarcasm, he just, in his compendium of book knowledge had no other way to explain it. He took a sip, held it for a moment and then drank it down with a satisfied nod, and blank eyes that still hadnt recovered. That was his answer.

Walter was just that good.

Teira's question hung in the air.

Everything seemed normal when asked it, and when it escaped her soft crimson lips it was normal volume. But as she finished it, was as if it was so loud, or so powerful, that the entire room fell completely silent in its wake.

The fire didnt even roar! Granted the fire was not actual flame, but regardless!

Behind her, Maximos had a grin the size and proportions necessary to make a certain purple striped cat seemed like a sour puss. The fire reflected off his glasses blanking out his eyes beneath the sheen, leaving only his grin and lenses visible. It'd exist for a moment before Maximos briskly stood up. Not so much as to bowl her over, but enough make a person wonder, what was so urgent.

Books.

Maximos said, as he stood up, rising to his feet with an odd sort of flair standing and whipping a hand out to pick up a book and open it before him. His hand moving up to adjust his glasses and then scan down a page.

Great tales come from books. No. Seriously? Like she didnt know that.

He suddenly slammed the book shut with a start and held it under his arm only the book shut and as it did something echoed across the room...was that a violin?

A book is a artwork penned by most creative of souls~

Max did not say that.

Well it did escape his mouth, but it was not said. It was sung.

Yes. Sung. Quite in que with the violin.

Eager men and women with a story to be toooooold~

He slid in front of the fireplace, one hand in the air, one on his chest as he held the note, then let it slowly fade with the verse. The fire cascading violets and indigo shades around his triumphant form.

Was that a piano? It was playing some sort of intro!

A place for our --

Max dashed forward, racing past Teira and diving over the couch, as the piano sped and rose in perfect timing. There as a tumble but his voice never broke, even as he leapt out from behind a pile of books already in a run toward another set of hapazard towers. But, with an overturned garbage on his head, a large book held to his right fore arm, and a discarded fire poker. Clearly a helm, a shield, and a sword.

Heroes -

He said, leaping forwards slashing his sword as he passed behind another book stack and emerged sans his shield and helm, and instead with a book open and floating behind his head like some sort of ominous set of papery wings, his hair touseled and dark, and a sheet of black covering him like a cloak.

-For our villians!

He dove behind another stack, rolling out....in a dress. Yes a dress. It looked like something fluffy, gothic, and easily stolen from Teira's closet. And with it, Max's spiked hair drooped down in black curls, as he said in quick sucession.

- for our Damsels in Distress! Oh my!

He scurried up to Teira, his hand slipping into hers, a fake look of fear on his pale face with its very violet blush pressing against hers for a moment before he hopped back.

Where a knight is always ready to save the princess with big b--

Max moved to grope his chest, of course finding it male and lacking. And then immediately looked at Teira. His pale face turning a bright red. There was an audible clash as the symbals and the piano suddenly hit off key and the music paused.

And then immediately continued as Max said flatly.

You get it.

And then smoothly recovered as he sung.

As she lies trapped in that tower to the weeeeeeeest!

And he of course he dramatically pointed to the west side of the library and in full damsel fashion fainted. To the west immediately a loud rumbling could be heard as bookshelves parted revealing a stack of boots easily 30ft tall and 8ft around...a tower.

Shadow swirled around the tower, and violet bluish lights flickered in puffs of black made to look like shadow clouds and lightning. Of course by looking over there she turned away from her brother, who, not dressed in drag place a hand on both her shoulders, his face just over her left shoulder, while his right arm leaned over her right and pointed forward at the dark tower.

From deep inside we pull our fears, monsters great and old.

He sung as he pointed left of the tower. A dragon. It was just a sillouhette but it was black and vicious looking with glowing purple eyes and large wings. Quickly he switched sides, moving his head over her right shoulder and thrusting dramatically forward his left hand at the opposite side of the tower where a single brave dark knight stood on noble steed. Life sized too. He wore black full plate, with a helm covering his face.

Then from our hearts we pull our hopes, a hero great and bold! Ha ha!

And he was gone! The visage of Max behind her literally unraveled as the knight pulled back his face guard, revealing himself to be Maximos who picked up the stanza without missing a beat.

A beat, in que with the orchestra now playing.

To slay the beast! To save the day! To bring warmth to the cold!

He charged the dragon! The dragon roared breathing black harmless shadow flame before tearing forward.

We tell a tale to bring us joy, to let us see the light! To show the heroes we wish to be! To give us strength to fight!

The two met and there was an explosion of indigo light and black flames lashing over each other as he sung. He ducked a bite, dodged a tale, and thrust. It deflected with a wing, breathed a powerful breath. And then, as the line came to a close he thrust his sword, the dragon lunged with jaws agape,and suddenly the scene was overtook by a tuft of black smoke. The smoke slowly faded to reveal nothing, but the tower, and the sillouhette of a knight kissing a maiden in the tower window.

Maximos burst from the side of the scene, his foot braced on the bottom shelf of a bookshelf, his hand looped around the top as it slid along its track sliding a closing curtain over the tower scene.

From Aria, to Zeroda, from Earth to Eloking!

He dramatically waved his arm, like stirring up an orchestra, and by his command books flew from the shelf at Teira in cue with the music. Not in attack, but rather guided by a myriad of black wispy hands.

We pen the tales that give us faith! 'That make us love! That make our hearts sing!

With a drum beat and a slam the bookshelf locked shut, and Maximos lept off of it, kicking off of another shelf, and onto the mantle of the fireplace.

And that my dear no nothing else -

He flipped off the mantle landing directly behind her, and arm flinging over her shoulder, a book in his right arm called "Chronicles of Aria: Age of the Dark Lord" which he lovingly offered her.

...Is the birth of great writings.

And the music drew to a dramatic, swooping, and somewhat sudden close. Maximos grinning from ear to ear! And leaving the room with the realization that yes...yes that just happened.

She could sing!

By Nocturne was it beautiful! In the silent room it echoed out in a way that made Maximos' heart jump. It was only then he realized that he could sing. And wondered very greatly when that happened. Next time, most definitely would have to be a duet.

She sank to the floor, and Maximos followed, his arm still draped over hers, a hand gently on her shoulder as they rest comfortably on the floor.

He saw the swirl of emotions twirling in delicate yet wholly gorgeous dance inside her, the sight stirred something inside him that mixed with the sort of excited high the entire routine had given him. And Maximos decided to make it worse.

He leaned in, and proceeded to deliver a kiss straight to the cheek of the lovely young elf in his arms. Now that might seem small, or even nothing to most. But for Maximos to touch anyone so familiarly and so honestly was a big thing.

Then he'd lean back, and said, in a sort of comment on the question which started this all, and his own answer.

At least thats how Walter told it to me.

She froze! But he did his best not to let it sway his opinion on the kiss. Beside, she seemed to warm up fast! So much so that she was turning red! And then she seemed to melt against him.

Maximos in a rare display was warm to it all. His arms wrapped around her as she nestled closer, holding her tight so she wouldnt melt out of his grasp. Her head slipped under his and he maneuvered his chin so that it wouldnt grind into the top of her head oddly.

She laughed. It was really beautiful to watch her smile. He grinned from ear to ear, chuckling a bit until her laughter turned to words.

"Perform it too?"

Maximos paused, a hand rising to tap his chin as if he needed to find the answer someone in the darkness of the room. Specifically over by where the tower had been. And he said, with a sort of grin.

The dragon was bigger.

A chuckle, which rolled into a laugh as his hand dropped and pinched the corner of Teira's dress, as if to call attention to the subject of "dress wearing" without being obvious as he added.

And Walter was really--

You called sir?

Maximos nearly leapt straight up to the ceiling. But thankfully Teira held him in place. He stood his ground, but hadnt a clue what to say, fishing around for words, until he finally spotted Teira's cup. A lash of shadow whipping it up and into his hand.

Erm. Ehm....may we have some more tea?

Walter bowed as formally and as gracefully as always, taking the cup from Maximos' hand, and the tray from the ground saying.

Of course sir.

And Walter began to move for the door, Maximos breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders loosening his head hanging. He was gone. Only to hear Walter stop, just short of where the door was and look back over his shoulder. His monocle glimmering in the light, in the exact say way Maximos' glasses had at the start of the performance with a shadow cast over the rest of his face as he said.

My dress was more conservative as well.

His hand moved to adjust his tie, as if solely to bring attention to the chest area. And then he turned and vanished through the doorway. This left Maximos with a look on his face somewhere between horror and surprise, and laughter.