Felix Caelus

"And I really can't say anything about cold knees if my betrothed likes it," Felix adds. He squeezes Jim's arm back, quietly grateful for the support. His father may not know and even his uncle may only have enough of a glimmer to watch this all play out with a hint of caution in his eyes. But his brother knows - and Jim understands, better than any of them. Jim knows everything Felix isn't saying to his father.

"It's a shame that you'll have so little time together," Nereus observes wistfully, "if the captain is away with his expeditions and you on duty..."

"Actually," Felix clears his throat, "that's something I meant to tell you, father. After the wedding I'll be joining Jim and his team."

Stratos steps in smoothly, before Nereus can ask the obvious questions. "It's fortunate that Felix reports to me. But in any case the Legion has an interest in mapping the province better- and in my opinion, we could stand to have a less... obvious presence in the area, at times."

The layers of meaning beneath those words he leaves for his father to think over for a minute.