Maika wanted to think that with the years she had gained experience, patience and wisdom. She was more calm, level headed when it came to endure certain people or situations if compared with her younger self but that didn’t mean that she would agree to put up with everything,
And she wasn’t going to deal with touchy bastards, she hadn’t done that as a young crow and she wasn’t going to start doing it now. She grabbed his hand and hissed “Wandering hands? Missing fingers, estúpido.”
The man got angry and demanded to see her boss, to tell him about her manners. She shrugged and called Lustara “So, I told him that I’d cut his fingers if he didn’t stop touching my ass and now he wants to speak with you, anything to add to the discussion boss?”
Lustara, lounging comfortably in a corner booth, looked up from his drink with an amused smile curling his lips. His eyes sparkled with that familiar mix of mischief and curiosity, the kind that always kept people guessing whether he was about to grant a favor or unleash hell. He wasn’t like Bastien, who ruled through fear and intimidation. No, Lustara preferred a more elegant touch—playing with people’s desires and secrets, guiding them into making choices they thought were their own.
He took a leisurely sip from his glass, savoring the taste, before setting it down and rising to his feet. Every movement was smooth, almost feline, as he crossed the room to where Maika stood with the unfortunate man. Lustara’s gaze flicked from Maika to the man, taking in the scene with a bemused expression.
Oh, Maika, darling, Lustara began, his voice a velvet purr, you know how much I love your fiery spirit, but really, threatening to cut off a man’s fingers? How dreadfully common. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering the man before him for the first time. Although, I must admit, this particular fellow does seem to be asking for it.
The man, still bristling with anger, opened his mouth to protest, but Lustara held up a hand, silencing him with a single, elegantly raised eyebrow. Now, now, let’s not be hasty. I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding. He turned his full attention to the man, his tone shifting to one of mock concern. You see, Maika isn’t the type to let little things like, oh, personal boundaries slide. And between us, neither am I.
Lustara stepped closer to the man, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly, though the smile never left his lips. But I’m a reasonable person, he continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. Perhaps you’d like to make this little incident disappear? A simple apology should suffice, don’t you think?
The man hesitated, clearly caught off guard by Lustara’s unexpected charm. He glanced at Maika, then back at Lustara, who was waiting patiently, as if they were discussing the weather rather than the consequences of his actions.
Lustara’s smile widened, showing just a hint of teeth. I’d hate for this to escalate into something… unpleasant. You see, while Maika might be inclined to simply cut off your fingers, I tend to be a bit more creative. And trust me, you wouldn’t enjoy my version of consequences.
The man paled, the bravado draining from his face. He stammered out an apology, his voice shaking. Lustara listened, nodding slightly, his expression one of satisfaction.
Good man, Lustara said, clapping him on the shoulder with just a little too much force to be comforting. Now, why don’t you run along and be a little more careful with where you place your hands in the future, hmm?
The man didn’t need to be told twice. He backed away, eyes wide, before turning and practically fleeing from the establishment. Lustara watched him go, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. He turned back to Maika, his expression one of playful exasperation.
Honestly, Maika, you really do know how to stir up a scene, he teased, though there was no real criticism in his tone. But I suppose that’s why I keep you around. Life would be dreadfully dull without a little excitement, after all.
"You might be the second best boss I ever had" said Maika with a smile" Maika really enjoyed Lustara's company and playfulness, it reminded her of a past life, a man that he loved (and still loves) dearly and a life that was taken from her. "You can't live the way we do without excitement, it's part of the deal I fear" said the brunette with a smile.
She stretched, it was quite late and she only had one hour left from her current shift "So, now that the idiot is gone and the place is under control; how are you? You have been away lately, I don't remember the last time that we could catch up properly" despite of the fact that her relationship with Lustara was wildly different than the one that she used to have with her boss but they were close, mainly because Lustara had read between the lines when she had hidden under the counter when she once spotted fellow former crows entering the place, covering her ass instead of asking for explanations.
Lustara chuckled at Maika's comment, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Second best? My, my, I’ll have to work harder to claim the top spot, won’t I? His tone was light, but there was a subtle note of curiosity beneath it. Lustara was always interested in what made people tick, and Maika was no exception.
He took a moment to study her, noting the way she stretched and the tired edge to her smile. Maika had always been a mystery wrapped in layers of strength and secrets, and Lustara appreciated that about her. She reminded him of himself in many ways—a survivor with a sharp wit and a past that refused to stay buried.
Ah, excitement. Yes, it’s part of the deal, isn’t it? Life would be unbearably dull without a little chaos to keep us on our toes, he agreed, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. Lustara was no stranger to excitement, but he knew all too well the toll it could take, especially on those who carried heavy burdens.
When Maika mentioned his recent absences, Lustara’s playful expression softened just a touch. He slid back into the booth, gesturing for her to join him. You’ve caught me out, Maika. I have been a bit... preoccupied lately. Business, you know. Things to arrange, people to persuade. The usual. He waved a hand dismissively, though there was something more behind his words.
He leaned back, his gaze meeting hers with a hint of genuine interest. But enough about that. How about you, darling? You’ve been here, holding down the fort. How are things on your end? Any more ghosts from the past paying unexpected visits?
Lustara’s voice was casual, but his eyes were sharp, watching for any sign that Maika might be hiding something. He hadn’t forgotten the day she’d hidden under the counter, nor the way she’d reacted to seeing those former Crows. He’d never pushed her for details—he believed in giving people their space—but he hadn’t stopped wondering, either.
And if you ever feel like you need to disappear for a bit—take a break from the excitement—just say the word. I can arrange something. After all, even the most thrilling lives need a bit of downtime now and then. His offer was genuine, a rare glimpse of the softer side he so carefully kept hidden beneath layers of charm and mischief.
Lustara wasn’t one to let his guard down easily, but for those he cared about, he was willing to make exceptions. And Maika, with all her fire and mystery, was someone he considered worth the effort.
“My previous boss saved my life, that’s hard to beat; sorry Lustara” she said with a slightly sad smile. “But second prize is good too, you can’t win at everything, that would make life boring wouldn’t it?” there was an unspoken boundary, that tonight she wouldn’t share her story, but perhaps someday with a drink or two she would. Despite of how better she had gotten at accepting what happened, the topic still stung.
“I have to say that I have lived the quiet life in the past too and it has it’s perks” she admitted with a chuckle “Or perhaps it lasted too little and I didn’t have enough time to get bored”. Perhaps she would have craved some adventuring eventually once her daughter was old enough, that was one of the maybes that would never happen.
“Well hit me if you need anything, you know that I have many talents and a bunch of them are more useful than serving drinks” usually she wouldn’t have offered herself for trouble, but she would do it for Lustara.
“Ah so you heard about my run against Zevran Aranai” she said hesitating for a moment, of course Lustara knew, it had been in front of the Lux, but she had not expected the topic to be mentioned “He’s…an old acquaintance, you must have heard of him I assume.”
“Zevran would never hurt me, you don’t have to worry. He wanted to discuss something private, nothing serious” she said with a small smile.
Lustara listened with his characteristic smirk, though there was a glint of something deeper in his eyes as Maika mentioned her old boss. He didn’t press, didn’t pry—he knew when to let things lie, when to let secrets simmer until they were ready to be revealed. But he filed away the slight sadness in her smile for later. Perhaps one day, she’d be ready to share, and when that day came, Lustara would be there, ready to listen.
At her mention of the quiet life, Lustara chuckled softly, his tone teasing yet tinged with sincerity. Ah, the quiet life... I suppose it has its charms. Though, I can’t imagine you ever truly settling for it, darling. You’re far too full of fire, and fires are meant to burn bright, not smolder under a pile of ash.
When Maika offered her services beyond bartending, Lustara’s smile widened. He appreciated her loyalty, even if it came wrapped in layers of complexity. Oh, I have no doubt about your many talents, Maika. You’re a woman of many surprises, and I do love surprises. I’ll keep that in mind if any... delicate matters arise that require a particular set of skills.
As Maika hesitated before mentioning Zevran, Lustara’s interest piqued. His eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression remained one of casual amusement. Zevran Arainai... now there’s a name that carries quite a reputation. I’ve heard of him, of course. Assassin, rogue, charmer—he’s a man who knows how to make an impression, much like yourself. Lustara’s tone was light, but there was a subtle edge to his words, as if he were gauging Maika’s reaction.
When she assured him that Zevran wouldn’t hurt her, Lustara tilted his head slightly, studying her with a curious intensity. I’m glad to hear that, darling. But just know, if he ever does step out of line... well, let’s just say I have a rather creative way of dealing with problems, as you’ve seen.
He leaned back, his demeanor relaxing as he gave her a knowing smile. But if it’s nothing serious, then I won’t worry my pretty little head over it. Just remember, Maika, you’ve got me in your corner, should you ever need an extra pair of hands—or a well-placed threat.
Lustara’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at her, a rare moment of unguarded sincerity crossing his features. We’ve all got our ghosts, Maika, but sometimes it helps to have someone else carry the candle for a while. So if you ever need to talk, or just need someone to distract you with tales of my latest escapades, you know where to find me.
He gave her a wink, the playful charm back in full force. But for now, I believe you’ve got an hour left on your shift, and I’ve got a bottle of the good stuff waiting for me. Care to join me once you’re done, or do you have more mischief to stir up before the night’s through?
“And for you I might even charge an special fee” said the brunette before winking at the man. She was being playful, if there was someone she would do something for without asking for anything in return it would be Lustara. He gave her the chance to continue with her life after leaving the marches, when staying back there had been too painful to cope with it.
“And former acquaintance of mine. We…were close” she didn’t go into specifics but she knew that Lustara would be able to read between lines. “Zev won’t step out of the line because if he does I will kick his ass by myself, I know his weak spots, or at the least I used to know them” in the same way that Zevran knew that while fast she had the vestiges of an sprained ankle that made sprinting harder after a while.
“I know, that’s why you are my favourite friend, who doesn’t love a handsome person that can scare the living shit out of the enemies?” she said before giving a friendly peck on the cheek to Lustara.
“I know. Same goes to you my friend, I am sure of that you have burdens of your own” she said with a knowing smile, Lustara’s position was a complicated one, sitting in the throne of power could be a burden too.
“Well you are my boss if you give me a break I will happily take it” she said with a chuckle. “I’ll follow you”
Lustara grinned, clearly entertained by her playful retort. A special fee, hmm? Well, darling, if anyone deserves to set their own price, it’s you. He tapped a finger to his chin thoughtfully, his eyes sparkling with the kind of mischievous humor that seemed to make everything he said sound like both a jest and a promise.
When she mentioned her history with Zevran, Lustara’s gaze shifted, softening in the faintest, barely noticeable way as he watched her. Lustara, more than anyone, understood the gravity of people from one’s past reappearing in their present. He was as perceptive as he was charming, and he nodded, a glint of recognition in his expression, though he didn’t press for more details.
I’ve no doubt you’d manage him beautifully, Maika, he replied, his voice rich with approval. In fact, I wouldn’t mind watching you teach him a lesson in humility if it ever comes to that. Zevran may be skilled, but we both know he’s got a certain... flair for trouble. Reminds me of someone else I know. He smirked, the comparison clearly aimed at Maika herself.
As she planted a quick peck on his cheek, Lustara chuckled, clearly amused but pleased by the familiarity of the gesture. Ah, favorite friend? You’re spoiling me now, he said, giving her an exaggerated look of feigned innocence. Though I’m certain there are far more handsome men than myself around here. They just don’t wear it quite so well, do they?
Lustara listened as she offered her friendship and understanding in return, something rare and genuine. His eyes softened a touch, a brief but sincere expression of gratitude crossing his face. A rare friend indeed, Maika. If I ever find myself in need of counsel—or simply a partner in crime—I’ll be certain to look no further.
With a gracious, sweeping gesture, he motioned toward the back room. Well, consider this a reprieve, then. Take that well-deserved break and join me. He gave her an elegant bow, a devilish smile still playing on his lips as he led the way to the back, his gait smooth and assured. Tonight’s on the house, darling. After all, what’s the point of a little power if you can’t use it to spoil the ones who make life just a little more… entertaining?
He shot her a wink over his shoulder as he disappeared into the back, already reaching for the bottle of the good stuff with an invitation to unwind and let the world—and its troubles—fade into the shadows beyond.
