“If I were licking this off of a bela’s dick, I’d be disappointed to get to the dick,” Remin said. “This is delicious. It’s so much richer than what we normally have.”
“I got it from a difficult location,” Kudorin said. “And don’t be silly, Remin. You’ve never been disappointed to have your tongue on a dick in your life.”
Desin, I am so glad you are at one with all parts of your body:
“I love it,” Desin said. “Besides Norisa, it’s my best friend. It relaxes me when I’m tense, it cheers me up when I’m frustrated, it’s helped me to make hundreds of new friends. Having a dick means always having something to do.”
And Bade, really, it should have occured to you earlier:
“You,” Kudorin said, pointing at him, “are a cialex.”
Rini snorted. “He’s been a cialex.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being a cialex,” Anikira was quick to reassure him. “Kudorin’s always been one.”
“It’s one of my most attractive qualities,” Kudorin added with a smile.
Wait. They couldn’t… This had to be a trap.
I thought that Xio Voe was fantastic with the young girl. I don't know why I was surprised by that, but I kind of was. And I was so hurt for him at this:
“The… The Heir can’t commit treason, can he?”
“He certainly can,” Xio Voe said.
“But you wouldn’t!” she insisted, eyes widening with anxiety. “You’d never!”
“Myself, personally? I would rather die than betray the Eternal Empire.”
“Is it… Is…” Hesitating, she swallowed, looking up at him. “My mother said that marrying the pharaoh is tantamount to treason, and that if it were anyone but you, she and everyone else would be rioting in the streets. Daddy said to give you a chance, that you knew what you were doing, but Mom said that your marriage was a death sentence for the Empire. But it can’t be, can it? You wouldn’t…” As she paled, her words trailed off.
It's okay, Voe. You'll show 'em. But I'm glad Kudorin cheered you up:
“If it makes you feel any better,” Kudorin said, “people think that I’m fucking up all of the time. Everything I do, or don’t do, is criticized, questioned, and held up for inspection and ridicule. It’s just in the nature of leadership.”
“Much more without the country than within.”
“Anorians used to question me much more,” Kudorin said. “But they’re getting used to me. I mean, wander the hallways barefoot and shirtless, eat with your fingers, and see if people don’t start to give you funny looks. No matter what my politics, I come across as a little silly, personally.”
“Oh?” Xio Voe asked blandly. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Kudorin burst into laughter.
And look, more humor! With someone who isn't Kudorin! And it's not just a dry zinger of a one-liner, it's actual banter! With EXTRA, of all people!
“No problem.” An irritated sigh, a mumbled, “Yeah, yeah.” Another sigh. “We all miss you and we’re looking forward to you coming home again and it’ll be cool to have you here. And I’m not saying that just because Kudorin’s making me.”
“I’m sure that you’re not,” Xio Voe said dryly.
“Tell Rini that you miss him,” Anosukinom prodded.
“I don’t,” Xio Voe said. “I do, however, miss you a great deal.”
“Eh, take what you can get,” the royal gift said.
Ah, “The mindset of a champion.”
“Okay, now you’re picking at me again.”
“Perhaps you could make less of a target of yourself.”
“Perhaps you could be less of an ass.”
“True,” Xio Voe conceded, “but is that likely?”
