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Now that systems were reasonably restored across Attilan important things were functioning for their survival:
- Defensive/cloaking shield
- Agricultural systems
- Thermal controls
- Doors
- Sanitation systems
- illumination & electricity
- the coffee maker
There was an assassination attempt, posters, and a swathe of mixed feelings. Utopia was attacked and the price for it was civil unity and almost the life of one mutant. Max's mutant. The guards have since tightened security around the palace while still assisting with quelling unrest. Gneiss had returned to his family and has been quiet for the last day, though the man was likely exhausted or something happened or he was discussing the opportunity with his family. Accepting favours from Maximus Boltagon was always a double edged sword. One needed to be certain that sword was pointed int eh right direction and not at them.
Kaleb, after a close brush with death in an epic case of mistaken identity, was patched as good as new which was startling and still fascinating him. In Attilan it was the expectation and the medics even were concerned that it was 'slow'. the Mutant healed like a human though and lacked the Inhuman propensity to be amazingly durable. Still he looked sharp in Attilan attire. He always did have a habit to wear the hell out of a style. He drank his coffee which was closer to Turkish than South American and he was quite alright with this.
*
Its true…the life Max offered to Gneiss was certainly a beneficial one, but not without its costs on morales and sanity. And though Max would remember the slight, if Gneiss never replied to him at all, he'd only be reminded of it if he ever saw the man again. Stay down, Gneiss, stay down!
Maximus sat at the same table as Kaleb, an arrogant air about him as he openly defied death-dealers by taking such a breakfast near one of the windows of his quarters. The door to the patio was open, even, practically /inviting/. And anyone with any sense would know that its probably trapped or shielded all to hell. He's baiting. He's challenging. He's being a dick. He lifts his own cup and inhales the steam wafting from it. His eyes rove from across the cup, up and down Kaleb's attilan-attired form. "Delicious." His tone rang highly predatory. Then he sipped. "I am more than pleased that you managed to /not die/."
*
Kaleb was back to is calculated and aloof self for better or worse. At Maximus' sentiment the mutant arched an eyebrow curiously. Almost bewildered he insisted, "We have things to do. Besides…" Oh yes the haughtyness returns, "Some asshole coward sniper was not given permission by me to break my promise to you so… that wasn't happening. Still, it sounds like the people didn't appreciate someone breaking the system and catching them up in the crossfire. Maybe, just maybe, they can even miraculously learn appreciation while they have free time here. That said, I heard from the attendants that rumor is word was received back? Since I'm here I can see what intel I can find for you to follow up on if that helps." He went to sip his coffee and his face broke into a curious, impish grin as he paused, "Still doesn't count as me working for anyone." Kaleb Miller didn't do employment! Kaleb was still answerable to Kaleb.
*
Maximus presses his lips together. "You heard? Why do these idiot servants never tell me anything. UGH." Maximus stood up and then chucked his coffee mug over the edge of the balcony and it saaaaaiiiiled into the morning, beautiful, trailing brown liquid in its wake, before it landed in the terraced garden a couple floors down.
*
Kaleb gave Maximus a sympathetic look and gestured vaguely behind him. "Well because they're still gathering data and they're not here yet." He blinked and followed the arc of the mug. "I overheard them Max… You can have some of my coffee, but you're not allowed to throw it." He blinked waiting, and slid the mug an inch towards the disgruntled despot with two fingers. "You're riddled with anxiety because someone's ignoring the meritousness of your efforts and trying to cause unplanned chaos that is slowing down other efforts by making us consider them instead of the other way around. I've met you. You're giving them too much power right now. Sit. Enjoy breakfast. It tastes like a terrific blend of spite, victory, and 'they missed'."
*
Maximus turns his head with a bob of his curls and stares at Kaleb with a piercing gaze. He lifts his chin, then and settles down hard into his chair a few steps away. "I hate feeling like I do not have all the information. Where are the Kree? What is /actually/ trying to harm us? Do you know what I suspect? I think its that AI that Nexus insisted on bringing back from an old Kree ruin."
*
Kaleb reached over and set his hand on Max's and let him get out his 'wants'…more a statute of demands for the world. Hullo world answers, chop chop! Kaleb didn't interrupt, and he didn't bother trying to patronize him either. Wasn't even on the horizon. "Max, I say this because you know I care. Eat fruit. Aaaand if they don't bring answers, we'll justmake em tell us." Like they do. If Max would't push he would. "So these Kree, brief rundown? We like em? We don't like em? They owe us money? Do you wnat me to call someone to have fingers broken?" He was probably joking. Okay, likely not.
*
Maximus wet his lips and squinted his eyes, then turned his hand over so that fingers touched palm. "Its complicated. A long time ago, I did actually have some dealings with them. They are…our creators, in a way. Their experiments were what caused us all to become Inhuman. But they abandoned us, and came back only many centuries later. We were too exposed at the time. I made a deal to give them some of our people in order to leave the rest alone. Black Bolt caught me doing it. Things did not go well. Sometimes, though, a leader has to make choices like that." Max finishes darkly. "I made the shields not long after recovering from what /he/ did to me. So…they have visited us before. They may be trying to visit us again, or…simply attack our city's functioning before bringing in their forces. This is why it is vital to regain control of those systems ourselves."
*
Kaleb let his fingertips draw idly on Max's upturned palm. It was a rough story but Kale's face showed no compassion on the situation, though it did grow thoughtful. "Sort of situation where one can't make an omelette without breaking eggs." His brow furrowed and he offered, "We had to give one of ours up to the government. human… fucking government." He considered this looking out the window that kept the dead mug's vigil, "Could have fought it. Didn't. Had to keep the rest of our people safe in the long game. Is your brother aware life's messy?" He glanced to Maximus apparently wrapping his brain around this. "That's scary though. We know why they did the expierements to make their own evolved strain? So the people are scared their return is some sort of new deal? Makes sense I guess."
*
Maximus nods. "Their…issue does not come from a void. But, it is also../naive/. Heroes are not Kings. That is not how this works. And when /you/ decide to lead /your people/…when you feel ready, you will already be prepared for it, because you know there is not some…white ideal, but rather…a gray compromise of safety. My brother lives in his /own world/, full of ideals and power that the rest of us do not enjoy." He spreads his fingers and then looks at their intimate hands. "who did you give to the human government?"
*
Kaleb nodded slowly. He wasn't a politician, he was a liberator. Maybe the Che Guevara of Mutants someday. He was no politician but slowly he found this was something that he knew could be pushed. Hey, he was trying to be patient and use the tools that were handed to them. His fingers kept the at contact which was not generally something he did, but Maximus proved to be exception to this too. "His name… is Live. We're looking for his partner. He has the ability to super surge someone's genetic potential, I believe specifically the expression of the mutant genome. He could have said thank you for helping him get out of Iceland. He /could// have possibly helped you with what you are currently working on." He arched an eyebrow and looked to Maximus… oh god that was fury in that composed expression, "He could have saved a lot of people but instead he tried to detonate my driver and nearly killed three of us in that room and then that stupid girl- know what. " Deep breath. "Not important. There's a government agency that apaprently works with powered persons to help deal with 'big scale criminals'" He sighed and dropped his hand into Max's and squeezed. "I should have executed him. Now the government has a volatile weapon aaaaaand I willingly helped inprison one of my own people. To be fair, he did try to kill me. Still, I think death would have been preferable."
*
Maximus listens to the situation that Kaleb has gone through, with interest. This is what /almost/ happened to him, and the choice he would have made, too, if he had been allowed to finish it. He curls his fingers and then finally draws them away and presses both palms against the table. "Government has someone who can enhance mutant powers? Now I know why you understand that I cannot let them have the terrigen too." He seems to understand the delimma. "Why do you think the man was…against you?"
*
Kaleb let his eyes slip from the window to his now empty hand to Max's expression and said plainly as the matter was never without signifigance to him, "Oh I got that immediately. Now i'm wondering if we still have blood samples you might be able to use to analyze it to see if there's anything that may helpyou out. Especially if his skills aren't limited necessarily to jsut the mutant genome but potentially catalyzing Inhumans pre-metamorphesis. I'm reaching but if your people don't have to live with their future shackled? Why should they?"
The other question Echo considered thoughtfully and finally his careful preservation of emotion was broken and he admitted, "I dunno, Max. Maybe it's a biproduct of a world set up in strict systems wher eyou force a creature to live in restricted confines for so long he goes from biting the hand that imprisoned and feeds him to just biting everyone. I mean I honestly do not blame the guy… but I'll be honest, people have questioned our mental stability," A finger gestured from himself to max and back. Echo shook his head, "This kid's a straight up sadist. He jsut gets of fon the power cruelty affords him and he's got no plan than to drag the world down with him."
*
Maximus ahhhs and leans back in his chair. "So…there's something wrong with him, as a person. I understand. It makes sense that death would have been…merciful. I can tell you that sometimes there are those among us who…have gifts that threaten Attilan and others so much that they are…bound, in one fashion or another. Either they take a suppressor, or…there are special clothing articles made. But, it is not unheard of in our history to have had them…exiled." The way Max says 'exiled', he probably means that they told people it was exile, and the bones of that Inhuman are somewhere under the city.
*
Kaleb nodded looking… not disturbed but disappointed. "I blame them for making us need to be what we are. Heave is the head and all that." He popped a grabe into his mouth and tapped to toe of Max's show with his own and offered comisseration, "What we are necessitates what we must be. Reminds me of that other talk we had." It was then he listed three fingers and his expression turned curious. He was hearing things. His brow furrowed more. "Okay I can hear people talking but I don't speak the language. We may want to work on that part. I can't grab enough of the sound to amplify it to not be a mess. If it helps I heard your name though twice in a not-unfavourable connotation…and they are coming this way."
*
Maximus arches his brows at Kaleb's revelation, and that disappointed look seems to draw him in. He leans forwards again, slides his foot up Kaleb's leg. "How are you at learning languages? I also keep meaning to ask you something, personal, but….you and your brother have completely different powers, but…you are twins? Are you not the most fascinating to the doctors at your school? I keep meaning to talk to you about that. If you were Inhuman, your powers would also be identical, since it is all contained in our genetics."
*
Kaleb was trying to parse the language and could pick out tones and context, but conversational is different than higher end discussion. "All I understood was the word for going or went and something …water but It could be, I dunno." The gesture though met a break in the stress of it.a nd Max's eyebrow was matched with his own. "My fluency in French is equal to my English and I could probably teach Latin if I wanted to. I'm not Doug but… who would ever be Doug?"
The personal question got many a blink. "You know I started taking a class this year in genetic sicences just so I can keep up on these personal conversations we have here. I was going to say yeah you can keep a toothbrush at my place but if you want to talk genetic sequencing I'll indulge you." It actually got him to smile. There was actual warth when he broke downand stopped being so serious or detached about every little detail. "Well in a sense we do? Twins are either identical, or identical mirror , or fraternal or dissimilar. Of the three Kellana nd I are mirror twins. Like He's right handed and I'm left. He refracts himself, I refract sound. He can throw sound interior t o the braina nd I do it exterior. What I'm curious about, since they expieremented on me and my gifts went sideways and I picked up all… this withthe echolocation and improved my sound tamping skills if he can't do that on a telepathic level. Brain wave vs. sound wave. Our powers are contained from how it seens in the mutant genome. The biggest difference I'm seeing and you'll correct me, I know it's fine, but could be environmental factoring too. I dunno."
*
Maximus cannot trust his genetic council, but..he might do some digging of his own. That's not exactly his skill set, though. He leans forwards again, draping his arm on the table and stares at Kaleb, "Lets go back to the /toothbrush/ thought, Kaleb. Are you subtly asking me to stay over? I find that so peculiar since, /recently/, I noticed a few sales transacting in the building that I live in. I cannot help shake the feeling that your company must be responsible for this. Why should I bring my toothbrush over to your place when you clearly own half of mine." He grins slllyyly and emits a totally 'busted you' amusement.
*
Kaleb fell quiet trying to reconsider thoughts and the words from the other room he didn't yet understand. Wanting something right now and not having it made him a bit allergic. Instead of fretting it out he looked back to Max trying to figure out where the train of thought was headed. Aaaaaaaand Maximus called him out on his financial shadow work. Oh there was so much snug manifested in a slight leaning back in his chair, slight tilt of the head and faint glint in his eye as his expression kept reserved. "You disappeared. I had to do something do I used the trust to push forward the purchase of the property…to make sure your things were where you left them." He couldn't not do something. He found his own way to help apparently and look after him.
*
Maximus cuts his eyes to the side, looking at the door. "Are they coming to me? To us?" he asks in a rush, then slows down again with an affectionate air, apparently enjoying the back and forth of cramming in conversation before the messengers get here. "I like that you are confident to do your own things without talking to me first."
*
Kaleb aws listening judging for an answer. Going thorugh the solid doors and many halls, factor distance? It took him a few moments to gauge given there were random open spaces that swallowed some of the reverb. "Inbound, slowly. Guards?" He squint stairing off at nothing in the room focusing on deconstructing the arrival. He nodded. Guards. His eyes drift behind him at the wall where further down they wer making their way this way, that at least Max might be able to track them too. "To, not for."
Echo's expression was a study of the incoming data, singularly focused. Well… almost singularly. He wasn't expressive, but in place of emotions that were tangible to humans was effort and a dedication of his personal resources. Someday he'd be a fine architect, of what though remained to be seen. The response came as easily as a basic math answer, "I never liked answering to anyone and I take care of what is mine, Maximus." Taking initiative on Max's behalf when he wasn't there wasn't even a question, it was what he did; expectations not needed. It just was the way it was because he deemed it so. That it was so matter of fact in nature might be the larger compliment there. "They're here for you." His eyes stopped at the outer door.
*
"Be ready." Max warns, ominously, since the phrase 'they're here for you' doesn't usually end well, for him. Still, he keeps his composure there at the small table, with his empty napkin, and half a scone. He picks at the flakes and then looks over when the door opens, ready to attack if they are here to try and arrest him.
*
Kaleb ran his tongue over one eyetooth thoughtfully and projected out a sound before htey got to teh door, «Enter». He faintly grianned to Maximus. Let them know we know he master of the chamber had ways of being aware at the very least. He wasn't going to stomach people making Max feel like a dirt sucking mushroom. Even if unintentional or by his delusions.
There were two dressed oficially and they looked… extra reserved; the guard didn't do nervous. Not in a conventional sense. "My…Lord we bring you news on the…issue that happened in the square." A hesitation on the form of address indicated the guard himself was uncertain if this was perhaps another coup or what the form of address is, or was, or was again. This is what happens when you're a guard in Attilan for 13 years. Further evidenced perhaps supported by not knowing what to call the attempted assasination either. What fun.
*
Maximus stands up. "News. On the issue. You mean…where Attilan's citizens were fired upon by a traitor. Well then." His lips pressed into a firm line and he very much looked the part of 'guy you don't want to make angry right now', for maximum awkwardness. He does NOTHING to clarify things.
*
Kaleb didn't have to look at anyone. He could hear where they were, what they were doing, their hearts beating in a cadence that might sound of 'please let it be a good day'. His elbows rest on the table and fingers folded against his lips. Echo made some promises to himself watching the address. This was brilliant.
"My Lord." was given in affirmation. The guard that led the address watched Maximus and confirred withthe slightly taller gent with him that really didn't want to be the one resporting, and finally used to the life threatening brevity was out with it. "We caught someone hanging posters. We detained them to be spoken with."
*
"Ohhhhhh, excellent. I will do that at once. Bring them…to my lab." Maximus ordered, then glanced back to Kaleb. He flashed the man a smile, then brought a grim look back to the guards. "I will meet you there, shortly." He brought his hands together and smiiiiiiled devilishly. Oh he knew just how he was going to do this to that fucking little traitor!
*
To the guards' merit they might have already discussed this as a possibility, or they knew better, but they didn't question him. There was a bow of their head, a steb backwards and an abrupt leaving back the way they came. It was progress, but about to be a long orning for someone.
Kaleb went back to eating his scone. He might have been making a point in being the only casual presence in the room. Let them know even subliminally that there was a distinction here.
*
Maximus waited until the guards exited the room and then just stood there. He folded his arms behind his back. "It…depends on how soon the others return, or if they do, but, it is possible that I am attempt." He took another deep breath, "I am not asking your permission…but…I do want to know the consequences…should I attempt such a thing, as it relates between us. Kaleb." The chillest way of asking if the mutant is down for a true hot mess.
*
Kaleb waited until the guards left. The nice thing with dating a sound controller is your conversations are always private. He rose slowly out of his seat and paced idly enough to close the doors, and walked over to Maximus, though his eyes were on the horizon out of the window. "Attempt… what?" He wasn't going to mince things about. They were standing in a turning point in history. Too-blue eyes blinked at Maximus concerned.
*
"There may be an opportunity. To sieze control again, to /reclaim/ my rightful place. If there is no challenge, soon, then I know that I am the one that should be there." Maximus explains, a little fancifully.
*
Kaleb nodded slowly. Two hands were planted, one on the arm of Max's chair and one on the table. He didn't have to lean so close. He could be heard where and when he wanted to… with limitations sure. This was superfulous gesture to the conveying of the message. "Max, be careful. Don't rush. Don't…get yourself hurt. What consequences as it relates between us?" He blinked and waited, as was his habit, for all the information to come pouring in.
*
Maximus leaned in to Kaleb's looming and slid an arm around his waist. "Not rushing is good advice. But…what would you do…if I were /King/?" He lids his eyes and as he's asking these serious questions, he's kinda seducing at the same time, right there in front of the window. "Would you…lounge around in some skimpy pants, perhaps?" LIKELY NOT, MAX, KEEP DREAMING. He slid his hand up Kaleb's side.
*
Kaleb took a deep breath and put a lot of thought into that. There were 80 things off the top of his head, most of which were troubling. Max wanted to wear a target. He asked the one question he did and didn't want he answer to. "Would you… send me away?" This he was… was he afraid of the answer? The expression was subtle, demanding and… that was fearful. Anger was just over that horizon being held back by will. His fingers tightened into knotted fists on the chair and table where his fingers pressed until his weight was balanced by knuckles and he became very still.
*
Maximus moved behind the other man, and tried to slide his hand into Kaleb's morning pants, to give him a reason to move more as he answered, "Would I send you away?" He leaned in and tried to kiss Kaleb on the neck. "Now…why would I do that? No, not at all. You'd have to /escape/ me, Kaleb, if you ever wanted to be free of me. But, you are right…patience, slowness…careful plotting."
*
Kaleb squint his eyes shut and held his breath. Yes, he accepted the answer and he believed Maximus because he wanted to believe him. He couldn't argue with max, not while he was being like this. He stood up slowly and combed his fingers into the curls of Max's hair and sighed, "Then I guess I would love a king and figure out how to make college work…and tell you a lot of things you don't… want to hear…" This wasn't his world, he ran by Max's barometer of social etiquette. He didn't care much about the window. "but you need to hear. And… ya know i forgot where I was going with that…"
*
Maximus hears it. Kaleb may not have even realized he said it, and even though Max isn't the sonic, he still heard it. Ohhhhhhh did he. "Would you?" he whispers, then gives Kaleb time to think about what he's said while he slides his hand over the man's groin, all trapped there in his pants. At least it doesn't tend to be too binding around here for the men, and there are a lot of flaps and folds in the tunic things, too. "So many things I need to hear…like…your voice at the height of pleasure. What about that?"
*
Kaleb had it slowly occur to him what he said, and what it meant or might mean, and what it did that he already knew. He already bought out Max's apartment to help him like unhastled anonomously. What was said odds were fair that he hasn't said to his own family. Maybe Kellan. Maaaaaybe his mother for formality's sake. That doesn't idly happen. "Well… that can be arranged. I like this plan though; making them wait." He fell thoughtful losing himself to a hundred better sensations than being shot and repaired. His voice hovered around them like a drone hovering nearby, "If you're asking what happens to us -left- bcause you're concerned for me being a target? I think we covered that." His voice dropped to a faint level if irked, "If we're going to go talk to the person that is slandering your name you're going to need to get your hand out of my pants so we can proceed because I'm not walking around like this. I have a certain amount of 'un-fun' I must have out in the world at all times or the plants will die." He was really taking to this whole humor thing well.
*
Honestly, its as if Maximus had totally forgot there was a prisoner at all. Prisoner? What prisoner? The would-be King makes a long groaning sound. "Dammit…and I wanted to take you in my mouth and make you feel…properly taken care of." Slowly, he slides his hand out and kisses the side of his neck. "Already you help keep me focused on what /must/ be done."
*
Kaleb hung his head and siiiiiged deeply. "I'm my own worst enemy, you know that? They aren't going…anywhere…" He relented at the kiss to the side of his neck and bemoaned "I'm already disliking public office." That was the deal breaker, not even the assault, the ruining of a really good breakfast on the veranda. "Fine. We can go talk to this asshole in your workshop..lab… room and if this all goes ass backwards and you get arrested I get rights to conjugal visitation because this twit just ruining my morning. Possibly twice. We know if this is the same guy that shot you…me…whatever?"
*
"I have no idea. Lets go find out. They would be that dumb, though. And no, there is nothing to arrest me /for/." Maximus smiles and pats Kaleb on the rump before straightening and…ahem…adjusting himself a little. Apparently he has NO problem going into the room with a little semi going on, because he knows how much that makes men uncomfortable. The guy will spill everything and anything!
*
Kaleb sighed and eyes the vaulted ceiling above the room murmuring bitterly, "I hate this guy already. Do we… have a plan?" A thought occuddred oto him and his hand snatched up Max's arm fast pulling him back around more seriously. "Hey, they may try to goad you. I know you care and a lot has been done. Don't take the bait. I know you're not stupid. You know this… I hate seeing you miserable. We're not giving them that power today." So it starts. He leaned in a stole a kiss from him, paused and stole a second with a nod. Better.
*
Maximus walks along with Kaleb to the lab, where all the scary equipment is. "We'll see how the person reacts, first. I am not…miserable. Not right now. I'm angry." Blue eyes flash at Kaleb, getting angry, but not at the mutant…at the ungrateful peasant!