Janius stood up and bared his teeth, sucking in a breath. "Oh, I know," he responded to Kaleeth, before breathing out. "After all of this planning, I'm perhaps unfairly trying not to think about it at all. Or at least not more than I absolutely have to." His hand took Kaleeth's on his arm and squeezed it appreciatively. He retook a seat to receive his tea like everyone else.

At first, Aurana didn't seem enthusiastic to Julan's request. After a few moments of Jatinha passing cups out, Aurana managed a nod. "I wouldn't mind. Maybe it will take my mind off talking my parents."

The time at which Janius and his family arrived was fortunate, as the gathering was not given long to relax before there were sounds from the front door. Barely half an hour more had been given. Enough for a few stories for Aurana, though there was no mistaking who had come home. Janius' ears prickled at the sound of familiar voices from downstairs.

Harald spoke up. "I shall receive the master and mistress Aetius. Would you prefer to see them here, Janius and Aurana, or would the sitting room suit you better?"

Aurana breathed in and halted. Janius was doing the same. They looked at each other, waiting for one to speak. Aurana gave Janius a small gesture.

"The sitting room, I think, Harald," Janius said. "If we come to them, we can do so on our own terms."

Harald bowed his head. "I shall see that they remain there. I trust you will not leave them waiting too long."

"Of course."

With a turn on his heel, Harald left the bedroom and his footsteps faded away on the wood.

Janius turned his eyes to Aurana. "You ready, sister?"

Aurana exhaled and looked away. "No," she said with enough petulance to be sarcastic.

"Come along. No use putting it off."

A few moments later and the family was treading to the stairs in a reluctantly slow line. Janius was leading the way. He stopped at the top of the stairs. The faint sound of Aeramina's quaint and oblivious voice conversed something too quiet to hear out of sight. Janius breathed in deep. His breath came out slowly as he stared straight ahead. "I am okay," he breathed to pre-empt the concern of those behind him. "My heart is racing, that's all."

[hr]
"You never asked [i]me[/i], Meesei," Pircalmo mentioned. He still held the mischievous smirk. "I saw Artaeum from a distance, granted. They would not let me set foot on it any more than the next man. But, I still remember the day clearly. Lunise was barely three years old, I had to hold her hand. We both travelled with Nytala to see her off at the port closest to the island at the time. But that is another story. The tea yes..."

Pircalmo finished his own cup and placed it down. He then reached a hand over to lift the glossed clay lid from the tea pot. The steam poured upwards and spread a sickly-sweet smell up their noses.

"The reason that it tastes of Khajiit drinks is that it is a Khajiit drink. Well, my own blend, without moon sugar, but based on a Khajiiti-farmed plant." He nodded to Lunise. "It was the only drink that Lunise would take medicine with as a child. Hmph, years of botanical research leaves one with a few tricks up one's sleeve. This was so successful that Lunise had to move to Elsweyr to sate her habit of the stuff."

"I had assignments there, father," Lunise clarified. Her tone was not amused. "Your tea was a reason to come back to visit, if nothing else. I cannot find it in Anequina."

The light conversation rolled on for the rest of the afternoon. Lunise and Pircalmo had several decades to catch up on. Though Pircalmo was often blunt to the point of annoying Lunise and Lunise was much more serious and lacking in humour, they never raised their voices to one another. Whatever differences they had was obviously resolved to peace in another lifetime. Perhaps even before Meesei was born.

Reminiscing ages past was one aspect where Meesei's short lifespan was truly driven home. Even as far as her historical knowledge extended, the way that Pircalmo would describe things to her was unavoidably patronising, even if Pircalmo spoke as such subconsciously. Lunise did rein in his tone, though even the most toneless recount was from first-hand experience that Meesei would never have.

Nevertheless, the afternoon remained pleasant overall. The sun was reflecting bright orange from nearby buildings into the windows and the tea set was long empty and cold by the time their conversation began to run dry. Pircalmo had just finished explaining the article he had mentioned when they had first walked in, followed by a short discussion thereof, and then a half-minute of silence.

"Father," Lunise said, suddenly lowering her voice. She avoided eye contact. "We should be going soon, but...I want to tell you one last thing." Lunise wrung her hands. "I learned something yesterday. I cannot tell you what it is. It should be enough to say that I will be acting upon this knowledge and...it may prove especially dangerous."

Pircalmo leaned forward on his elbow, listening intently.

Lunise swallowed hard and clenched her teeth. Her frown pressed down. "It may also put me afoul of my usual ethics and motives. I would like you to know that if you should hear misgivings about me in the near future, it is because I am trying my hardest to do the right thing and nothing more. And I apologise in advance."

There were no words from Pircalmo. Not immediately. He lowered his eyes, leaned back, and looked to one side. He frowned and gave the words thought. His wandering eyes held uncertainty. In silence, he placed his fingers on the table in front of him and stood up. His chair sang back behind him along the ground. He took a step out. He took a step towards Lunise. He gently laid his hands on her shoulders and drew her head into a hug against his torso.

"I trust you to do the right thing always, my daughter. And I trust you to do what you must." Pircalmo's solemn words caused Lunise's eyes to hold tightly shut.

Meesei could see Lunise beginning to redden around the eyes. Contrary to the pure release of emotion in Meesei's arms, Lunise wept silently against her father. They stayed in their embrace for some time. Pircalmo smiled softly, occasionally returning Meesei's glances. They both were quiet.

Pircalmo eventually let Lunise go. "Come now," he said. "If you have work to do, I shan't fetter you here."

Lunise sniffed deeply and wiped her eyes. "Thank you." She stood up. Unceremoniously, she started for the door. "I will be back in a moment." She had reverted to her usual voice abruptly, albeit with a blocked nose. "I need to use the facilities."

With clasped hands, Pircalmo watched Lunise leave. He turned his smile to Meesei. "I apologise for our rudeness. Family matters are not normally what we share with guests." One of his eyebrows lowered. "Although, Lunise is normally stoic to a fault in front of others. Especially political figures such as yourself." Pircalmo waved one hand up. "Far be it from me to probe such matters, but have you two forged something of an emotional trust?"