06-22-2014, 02:30 PM
Nikolai turned at the sound of the door. The young man of image and video entered. He was calmer than expected and somehow managed to fill the room with his presence, but a spindle of a staircase drew only the eyes of children where iconic columns of the temple loomed.
Silence held between them: the dead of night, the void between the drums of war. Yet solemnity turned to amusement. Nikolai rounded a pair of flanked chairs and approached, undeterred. The power of gods remained ever close, their order gave him confidence.
He offered a handshake. "You are Michael Vellas."
They clasped hands. Michael held himself stiffly, but Nikolai assuaged the posture to be one of more than military formality. Intriguing. Nik's gaze lightened somewhat. Vellas was in for a surprise.
He stepped away, personal space not withstanding. "Please?"
He gestured at the seats. There was a sense of honored humility at the invitation. "Thank you for coming."
As though declining were an option. The corners of his mouth quirked, gratified.
"I'm going to commend you tonight, Michael, for your bravery and selflessness in the Operation at Jeddah."
He toyed with saying the young man's first name rather than his rank, such as it was. Though they were seemingly near of age, antiquity crimped Nikolai's gaze as it held onto his companion.
He laced his hands together in his lap, relaxed, and crossed one leg despite the sharp line steamed into the crease.
"Before then, I think it wise we discuss your display on the battlefield. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Silence held between them: the dead of night, the void between the drums of war. Yet solemnity turned to amusement. Nikolai rounded a pair of flanked chairs and approached, undeterred. The power of gods remained ever close, their order gave him confidence.
He offered a handshake. "You are Michael Vellas."
They clasped hands. Michael held himself stiffly, but Nikolai assuaged the posture to be one of more than military formality. Intriguing. Nik's gaze lightened somewhat. Vellas was in for a surprise.
He stepped away, personal space not withstanding. "Please?"
He gestured at the seats. There was a sense of honored humility at the invitation. "Thank you for coming."
As though declining were an option. The corners of his mouth quirked, gratified.
"I'm going to commend you tonight, Michael, for your bravery and selflessness in the Operation at Jeddah."
He toyed with saying the young man's first name rather than his rank, such as it was. Though they were seemingly near of age, antiquity crimped Nikolai's gaze as it held onto his companion.
He laced his hands together in his lap, relaxed, and crossed one leg despite the sharp line steamed into the crease.
"Before then, I think it wise we discuss your display on the battlefield. What do you have to say for yourself?"