A Familiar Feeling [Lux]

[CICERO TORQUATUS]

The setting of the sun over the lake was always a beautiful view. For several reasons – first, it signaled the conclusion of another productive day at Camp Jupiter. Second, Cero could usually enjoy the quiet time alone, since most Romans avoided water wherever possible. And finally, because it provided the perfect backdrop to contemplate the heavy issues that Cero could avoid during the mayhem of the day. Some quiet introspection, or sometimes strumming his guitar, was a calming way of tackling the big issues in life.

He didn’t always do it alone, however. Cicero had grown up thinking of Lux as a big brother – a mentor, someone to confide in. Cero was close with his family, but…there were some things he didn’t feel comfortable discussing with them. And Lux had never treated him like a child – he’d always given Cero nothing but respect and guidance, and he valued that. Since Lux had become Augur, Cero had had to share him with the rest of the legion, but…that was fine, as long as nothing of their dynamic had to change. Cicero had never coped well with change.

Unsurprisingly, he’d beaten Lux to their usual spot, so Cero sat and watched the sun touch the water on the horizon. He felt loose and relaxed (which was unusual, since he was usually quite stressed as he oversaw his cohort settle down for the night). Cero exhaled slowly and closed his eyes as he waited for his friend to join him.

Lux Aurelius Morgenstern

[Lux Aurelius Morgenstern]

There were few in the Legion that could say they regularly showed up before Lux in meetings, especially those of casual nature. Lux showed up early most of the time, at times even excessively so. Still Cicero held some form of the same quality that made him equally proficient in being punctual to a fault. Lux liked that about him. He saw Cicero as a younger brother of sorts, and he enjoyed the company of the younger man quite a lot. Now that he had more duties, the two didn't get to spend as much time together as prior to his appointment as Augur and while a part of Lux found this sad, he knew they both understood it was due to their duties to the Legion. Cicero seemed to understand that, making the two even more compatible.

Yet despite everything, Cicero wasn't the type to mistake duty and loyalty with blindly following. He had a sharp mind and while his questioning was usually done with respectful silence, the two were able to openly discuss matters that some might view as treason rather than sharp witted and much required criticism of the Legion. Blind followers of an ideal often caused too much trouble and kept an institution from growing and improving.

So as he arrived at the spot in clothes that were highly casual for him, he sat down next to Cicero with a relaxed smile. The two were practically brothers. It had been odd for a while when Lux had dated one of Cero's sisters but that hadn't lasted very long and they had split amicably. He looked at Cero with a slight frown on his face. "It's been too long since we had time to hang out properly." He observed before leaning back, enjoying the feeling of the sun for a moment. His father was with him, he could feel that. "How have you been? Any interesting developments that didn't find a place into reports? I have to extend my compliments, as yours are always very useful to my job." He said. It was always partially about work for Lux, but Cero knew that. Lux didn't have too many other things he was invested in up to such a degree they commanded such a big part of his life. It was just the legion so far.

CICERO TORQUATUS