[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/231117/4397e947d9496e89a02a516a94d678c6.png[/img][/center][hr]Maya was a little disappointed that Edmund didn’t take her bait, but not surprised; what [i]did[/i] surprise her was that he actually tried to crack a joke, although it fell flat when he stumbled over his own unfailing fealty to her. She got a hint of satisfaction from that, as she always did, but if Maya didn’t know better - which, at this point, she wasn’t sure if she did - she’d think Edmund was [i]showing off.[/i] Not that wearing his knightly honour like a medal was out of the ordinary for him, but he normally saved those underhanded little jabs for her. It was refreshing enough to see Edmund’s judgemental gaze fixed on different targets that Maya decided to let him off the hook for being so mopey. For now. 

At any rate, that was more of a rise than she’d gotten out of him in quite some time, and she’d take what she could get. Besides, she supposed it wouldn’t do to have her Templar casting a shroud over the night’s proceedings - her followers were astute observers, and they always pointed out when something in her photos was off, no matter how heavy the filter. That, and it would probably bum the other Scions out, but Maya cared somewhat less about that. A lot of them seemed like they were in Edmund’s boat anyway, if the glowing orange twink sulking in the corner was any indication. 

Edmund wandered off, and with his oppressive presence gone, Kasper approached, bringing the best possible tribute with him - a compliment. 

[color=7041A5]“Kasper, you’re sly with your flattery,”[/color] Maya gently teased, stretching up to kiss his cheek in a customary Doumercène greeting he’d be familiar with. She slipped into her genial persona like a well-fitting glove, smiling warmly at Kasper. [color=7041A5]“But you’re going to upstage all of us. Truly stunning - I’d expect nothing less.”[/color] She winked. 

She eagerly agreed to the photo, clinging playfully to Kasper’s arm for the shot. By the time the night was done, she expected a photo with every one of the other Scions - with the possible exception of Princess Rosemary, whose growling dog might keep her away - and Kasper was the ideal place to start. He was rapidly becoming one of her favourite contemporaries: agreeable, popular with the masses, but importantly, [i]stayed in his lane.[/i] Better still, he didn’t stick around to chat; truly ideal, in Maya’s opinion. Hi, bye, don’t forget a selfie. Incredible. Why couldn’t all the other Scions be like him?

Edmund returned as Kasper departed, having procured a cookie in his absence. Maya eyed the proffered half incredulously. Did someone replace Edmund while she wasn’t looking? She didn’t realize he even knew what sweets were, let alone that he was bold enough to eat one in the innermost sanctum of the Cathedra Incepta. What was it he’d called it? The [i]bosom of the Goddess?[/i] Maya nearly laughed as she wondered if Incepta appreciated her Templars getting crumbs in her cleavage.  

Damn, if Edmund was like this all the time, maybe she’d like him better. Sweet-sneaking Templar was a much more pleasant vibe than stern Sunday School teacher. Still, the secondhand embarrassment wafting off the Templar who brought the cookies was too strong for Maya, and she declined, albeit more politely than Edmund was used to; he had earned that, at least, if his little peace offering indicated that he was going to chill the fuck out for the evening. 

Just then, Sir Tyler approached with familiar greetings for her, and Maya had to quickly rack her brain for exactly how she and the Templar of Time knew each other. They’d definitely met, but was it more than just in passing? There’d been a few blessing ceremonies, a funeral - oh! Right! Duh, Theodore had invited her to his estate early in her Scionhood to discuss the Larme Incident at length, and they’d met a few times since to discuss his plans for peace with Kaudus. Maya had always thought he was a bit of an idealistic idiot on that front, both for seeking peace with a nation of godless savages and for thinking she’d have anything more sophisticated than that to say on the matter, but Tyler had always been pretty pleasant. More notably, he was the one responsible for a lot of unflattering pictures of Theodore on social media, and that was definitely worth entertaining him for. 

[color=7041A5]“Far too long, Tyler,”[/color] Maya agreed excitedly. Her mischievous streak, which had so recently been quelled, flared up again when she saw Tyler’s offer of a hug, and she took it, glancing provocatively at Edmund before disengaging. 

At the mention of a picture, her smile brightened, but her eyes took on a dangerous glint. [color=7041A5]“Oh my goodness, we’ll have to fix that! [i]Edmund,”[/i][/color] she called sweetly, producing her phone from a fold in her dress and offering it to her Templar. She took Tyler’s arm, looking to Edmund expectantly. [color=7041A5]“Would you take a picture of us, please?”[/color] 
[hr][right][@Olive Fontaine] [@Scribe of Thoth] [@webboysurf][/right]