The 'Big Easy' Bonding Co. [Maksim Family] ●

[Diana Maksim]

Business was booming at the Big Easy since the God's decided to make the area their toy box. It seemed there were just two types of people any more. Those that complained about their new circumstances, and those that worshiped the ground the new Gods walked on. Diana was in the latter category. Well, perhaps worship was not the correct word for someone like Diana who bowed to no one. But Diana definitely liked her new lease on life. She was given what she'd always wanted. An edge over the competition. So she was grateful. The cards were stacked in her favor as she quickly landed what she found to be her dream job.

She'd chosen to become a bounty hunter. A very dangerous occupation indeed. There was nothing more dangerous than a criminal desperate to get away.  Desperate people would do anything.  Di's family balked at first, but had no choice in the matter. Diana was well into her 20's and in charge of her own destiny. Everyone knew that once her mind was made up, neither hell nor high water would change it.

At first glance it appeared to be an honest living. The "Big Easy" Bonding Co. had a long history in the area providing bail bonds to those eligible. The owner, Robin Lord, lives by her Motto "Service without Judgement" and cheerfully handles business with anyone who walks in from the courthouse which is conveniently located across the street. The boss firmly believed in people being innocent until proven guilty.

However, a bail bonds company would quickly go bankrupt if the people out on bail decided to skip out on their court dates. For that Robin turned to her husband who ran the agency's insurance policy. "Boba Fett's fugitive recovery service". Fancy words for what everyone knew were Bounty Hunters. Officially, they were akin to law enforcement. They went after fugitives of the law and those who had warrants out for their arrest. Unofficially, they were hired guns who would "Hunt" a person under contract. Tracking him or her down and delivering their prize to their client for a fee, or "Bounty". Not quite illegal, as long as no laws were broken while capturing said person alive. There was a fine line in what self defense or "justified" killing was in contrast to murder, however.

Diana was the newest of the four person team. The boss was at the courthouse today, and Bubba "Boba Fett" Lord and the other two hunters were out earning their pay. It was Diana's turn at desk duty while everyone was out, and while she hatted it, she knew it was necessary. Still, she hoped no one else would come. Diana really didn't feel like dealing with any sob stories from someone's mother or relative about how their little snowflake didn't deserve to be in jail. Diana found it annoyingly irritating. 'Take some responsibility people!' She thought after dealing with her one and only customer that morning. 'If your brat was such "a good boy" he wouldn't be in the gray bar hotel. A crime is a crime, even if it's just parking tickets not being paid. And there's no way he simply forgot to pay 138 of them over two years and was driving on the revoked list' She mentally ranted a thought before returning her attention to the book in her hand.

Diana was leaning back in the surprisingly comfortable high backed chair. Her black booted feet were up on the desk and crossed at the ankles. Blue "skinny" jeans and a dark sweater over a black underarmor long sleeved tee completed her ensemble. Her signature trench coat was neatly draped over the back of the chair. She was just getting into what promised to be a really good part in her novel and resolved to finish the chapter no matter what.   Soft clasical music played softly from her ear phones.   She loved listening while reading.

A sigh escaped her lips soon after at the door chime sounding as the door opened. Her eyes never left her book. Whoever it was, If they were smart, they'd have a seat and wait.

[Nikolai Maksim]

The one who stepped through the door was not a regular customer. It was not someone coming in to cry or whine about the expensiveness of bail but instead a man Diana would know readily. Dressed in a black suit with a simple blue and black pin striped dress shirt completed with starry night themed tie, Nikolai Maksim made his way inside. The black sun glasses that shielded his eyes would rather quickly be set atop his carefully tamed hair in one fell swoop as he took a second step inside easily moving in with the force of one confident in himself if not comfortable in his surroundings.

Intense blue eyes had fixated on their target almost instantly upon Nik’s entrance, and it was clear from the way in which he moved that he was about to meet her. He had given no warning he would be there today neither in text or verbally, yet it was Nik’s way in some things. He dropped in to view things in their natural setting, not primed and perfect as they could be made to appear if warning was given. There was possibly a general warning in the way in which the season changed reminding Nik’s siblings it was the season he favored the most and took extra lengths to make the best. Up to Christmas, he left work early, took extended lunch breaks, and did things that often left his assistants scratching their heads had they not known him for a year or more. It was for his family, however, that Nikolai went to such measures. They were the most important to him at the end of the day, and he took winter to cherish them all the more.

At the crook of Nikolai’s right arm was a large paper bag whose contents appeared impossible to guess without staring down through the opening, but he carried it with care as those feet drew him right up to Diana’s desk. Stopping but a step in front of said desk, he set the bag down there snug amongst papers. “Good afternoon, Diana,” Nik smiled softly. “Do you have a chance to stop for lunch?” So that was what was in the bag now was it? Yes, if one opened her senses and smelled the aroma of a home cooked meal made perfect by minor OCD, it was obvious what lay within the bag.

[Diana Maksim]

His approach did not go unnoticed. Diana was skilled enough to make good use of her peripheral vision and without moving her eyes from her book, or stopping her reading, was able to determine by the size of him that a man in a suit had walked in with a rather large bag in hand. He did not, however, "have a seat" as the sign on the desk asked of visitors. The bag was placed before her, and she guessed it was whatever percentage of cash that was requested of him to facilitate for a friend or family member to be bonded out of jail.

Her brow creased slighly as she prepared a sarcastic remark about the person's lack of reading skills. She might also have insulted his intelligence, depending on what his reply would be. Or she could simply ignore him outright and wait till he sat down. The woman that came into the office before him asked for her attention not once, but twice, to which Diana had replied "You don't have to repeat yourself. I ignored you just fine the first time" Her expression was priceless.

All Diana wanted was ten lousy minutes to finish the chapter. The hero was about to dish out some serious hurt to the bad guys, and she wanted to experience the whole battle in one reading. Diana took a breath but the words she would have spoken died in her throat as the most familiar voice reached her ears.

Her blue orbs, which were a perfect match to her older brother, flicked up to focus on him. Time seemed to stop. Her vision adjusted and she took her brother in. She looked him over and came to the same conclusion as always. There was only one Maksim who could make a suit look that good. He was perfection, down to his professionally tailored sleeves. Her eyes stopped when they met his and a second ticked by before she accepted what her eyes were seeing.

"Nik-kolai?..." She breathed in tone of disbelief.

The book in her hand snapped shut with not a thought given to a bookmark to hold her place in its pages. Her legs swung off the table and in one fluid motion, her boots hit the floor and Diana leaned forward and stood gracefully without stopping her progress. If there was to have been anyone else in the room, they would have been rather surprised at Diana if they'd known her for a bit. She was around the desk and in his arms before the novel hit the floor. Diana's arms embraced the man in a hug, and the rare smile was on her lips as she closed her eyes to let the embrace linger and soak him in.
"What a surprise, dear brother. Yes, of course. Lunch would be lovely" She answered his question gingerly. That other person would probably be in shock. Probably questioning whether the woman was really Diana or not. Dian's Work/Street persona was much different than what she was like at home or with family. Diana never gave that a thought though.

After a moment she kissed him on the cheek and eased back, her arms gliding on his shoulders until he was at arms length and her hands remained clasped together around his neck. Her eyes met his and lingered. A genuine smile that reached her eyes on her features. The two were equal in height and some would swear they were twins. But the white hair and blue eyes were something that ran in the Maksim family. Her height, however, was unique to Diana.

"It feels like its been years." She said honestly. In reality it was just shy of a month prior at Thanksgiving.

[Nikolai Maksim]

As those eyes so similar to his own rose to meet him, Nikolai offered a soft smile. Diana’s features held surprise, uncertainty, as if she didn’t believe that he was there, yet it didn’t hinder Nik’s expression any. He waited to be acknowledged, and when that voice so familiar reverberated his name, a simple nod was given. It was him, who else would it be? A question almost formed on Nik’s lips before the urgency with which Diana had stood and crossed the desk to hug him put these thoughts away. As arms wrapped around him, Nik returned the gesture holding Diana close. Blue eyes closed, and for a moment, he allowed his cheek to rest lightly on her shoulder. It had been far too long. Nik realized that now more than ever.

He righted himself again as she spoke allowing his shoulders to roll a little in the process. “Good,” was the simple muse back before a small head gesture was given to the bag. “I’ve prepared some of our favorites.” Nikolai knew what he liked, knew what Diana liked, knew what all their family liked, and knew how to prepare it all well. The kitchen had been a large part of his world growing up, and the recipes he once struggled with had become second nature in age. Though he had money to eat out whenever he wanted, Nik never stopped cooking, and he never would.

An eye shut as lips met his cheek, but the smile remained as opened again thereafter. Holding her there, he met her gaze easily. A soft exhale escaped from Nik as Diana spoke of the time. “It has been too long,” he agreed. “Though Christmas is coming soon and a small break with it.” It was a simple unnecessary reminder before a warmer smile crossed Nik’s lips. “You seem to have been keeping busy,” he noted glancing to the fallen book and allowing his features to fall as well.

For Diana’s safety, Nik hadn’t approved of her desire to run with such a rough crowd. They were not trained police, did not always follow the rules in the way the police did, and even then, Nik wouldn’t have wanted her in harm’s way that came with the police. He wished she’d chosen a different job, something safer. However, demanding Diana to follow a path that was not her own was not something Nik could bring himself to do. He adored her too much, adored their family too much. He wanted nothing but the best for each and every one of them, and that came with the price tag of letting them do what they want. Even if, in the end, he didn’t approve, Nikolai would still stand by his siblings. Blood came before all else.

[Diana Maksim]

Her brother's arms around her made her feel like that little girl from years passed that adored her brother. That feeling never changed. It was always there and that made her want that hug to last forever. But she wasn't that little girl any more. And lingering too long would just be awkward for him, and for her, if he was forced to initiate the end of the embrace. Yet he leaned his cheek lightly on her shoulder making it that much more difficult for her to want to let go.

The nod and mention of the treasures contained within that mysterious paper bag facilitated what she needed to let go willingly. "You always know how to make these reunions special" She complimented him for his thoughtfulness. Diana always believed her brother should have been a chef and not a lawyer. Nothing compared to what Nikolai cooked. Diana would choose the contents of that paper bag over anything from any restaurant, no matter how fancy or how many stars.

His agreement to her saying it had been too long since they last saw each other was not intended to imply the two were estranged somehow. The siblings were but a phone call, text, or email away. If at anytime any had a need of the other, they could count on help arriving as soon as it was possible to run, drive, or otherwise facilitate a way to reach their destination. It was simply that the Maksim family was that closely knitted together. A single day was too long. Luckily in this day and age there was Facebook and such social sites to keep tabs on the day's "going ons". Surprisingly, even Nik who was the busiest of them all found time for frequent updates.

None of that could replace a personal encounter however, and Nikolai was the least accessible of the family for obvious reasons. She was grateful he made special allowances for the holidays, and though he reminded her of this, it was still a surprise. She really did not expect him to just show up at her job like that. Their encounters were usually planed so that all involved Maksim's could clear their schedules.

Diana blushed slightly at his observation of her work ethic. She didn't have to follow his gaze to know what he was looking at and what his words implied. He really had caught her at her worst. Diana was never happy with the mundane. She needed to be challenged to put her best foot forward. Babysitting a desk was just an insult she could not quietly bare. It was necessary, however. The shop had to be manned 24 hours, and that meant everyone got a shot at the chair. She got that. It's why she even tolerated it. But her displeasure was apparent in her behavior earlier. If it was anyone else that had caught her like that, she wouldn't have cared. Even her younger siblings, but Nik was always the exception. The one person who's approval she always sought. Who's opinion of her meant more than anything.

Diana's hands let go of each other and slid off his neck and shoulders as she turned to the desk. "Robin is at the courthouse bailing out a few clients. I'm just keeping her seat warm." She said while picking up her book. "The crew is out doing the real work. I drew the short straw and all" She divulged in an effort to downplay the situation. Which was a blessing in disguise since she wouldn't have been here otherwise with the abundance of bad guys to round up as of late. She thought as she set the novel down and reached for that paper bag and opened it to peer inside. Diana closed her eyes as she deeply inhaled the aromas that wafted from the bag.

Her stomach picked that time to express its displeasure at being kept waiting for a meal. One of the downsides of her gift was that her metabolism was super high and she needed to eat every couple of hours. A giggle would be heard thereafter. She blushed, but it wasn't something she was ashamed of, really. "Nikolai Ilya Maksim Esquire, I could kiss you! and I don't mean on the cheek. How did you even find the time?" She gushed, even using the unofficial title of respect used in law circles. Nothing smelled like her favorite dish. And not even the aroma of the other dishes could hide what she knew to be among them. Diana was Russian, but she had a soft spot for French cuisine. Her all time favorite was a dish she tried at a family outing as a child called Coq Au Vin. It was not a common dish found just anywhere. Only the finest of French restaurants offered it. It was time consuming, requiring a number of reductions and the chicken itself had to be braised for the 1 to 2 days.

[Nikolai Maksim]

Nikolai was a sentimental soul. Memories well-crafted with thoughtfulness were his specialty, and he relished being a provider more than any would know. Each of his siblings was a prince or princess that deserved nothing but the best, and he would see to it that was exactly what they got. This was one of his more minor endeavors for closeness, yet it was nice to see Diana smile like that. It made it all worthwhile to him.

A touch of a smile rested on Nik’s features as Diana blushed over his observation. Truthfully, he was happier to find her behind the desk than in the fire of a potential bounty capture. If she had simply remained working behind the desk, he would have been pleased. However, her choices were her choices, and all he would do was support her as best he could. As she slid away from him and turned to the desk, Nik shifted stance to something a bit more relaxed as he watched her. As Diana explained why she was behind the desk that day, Nik gave a small nod before allowing his gaze to flow through the room again. It was quiet at least, was it not?

The crunch of the bag drew Nik’s attention back, and he watched with amusement as Diana peered inside of it. The giggle earned a brief grin. He adored her excitement over it. As those words hit the air, his features settled into something softer still, and minor color came and went from him. He loved caring for their siblings but had to admit their reactions were what he truly lived for. They made him feel happier than anything else, and Diana’s words softened him into mush. Even if it had taken a while to prepare, Nikolai was a patient person; once he had set out to do something, it mattered little how long it took to actually get done. Even with his busy work schedule, he got it done, no iffs, ands, or buts.

“I’m glad you like it,” he mused softly back drawing to her and embracing her briefly again. “There’s plenty of it too for later,” he noted a brief wink being given thereafter. He knew of her metabolic needs and had cooked quite a lot for that reason alone. If he was going to go to the trouble, he wanted it to be enough. It was Nik’s way, after all. “Shall we have something to eat then?” he asked thereafter.

[Diana Maksim]

The words and short embrace from her brother were welcomed by the tallest of the Maksim girls. The insistence that there was plenty for later would only get a smirk from her in return. She doubted it. This was a treat that she had no intention of letting get cold and reheating in a microwave. She was a firm believer in the theory that microwaves destroyed the flavor of foods and should only be used to thaw meats and pop corn. Diana was going to make sure that her favorite dish got the attention it deserved. The other dishes would get tasted, of course, but her attention would be on her favorite.

"One does not simply 'warm up' such a meal later" She said and winked back at him. She was already clearing the desk of the clutter and paperwork as he asked to start their lunch. Robbin would doc her pay for the day if she got even a drop of food on anything Robin needed to put before a judge. Some saw it as an insult or sorts. It wasn't good for business or their rapport with them. And Diana could ill afford a cut. She had Christmas presents to buy, and bills to pay. She was probably the lowest paid Maksim, but Diana didn't care. It wasn't about the money. It was about loving what she did. She'd probably do it for free if she didn't have obligations. Her family was well off, but Diana wanted to make her own way in the world, not live off of family money.

With everything away she pulled out the "Country China" and set out two place setting of disposables. "Pull up a chair, Nikole." She said without thinking. She stopped on her way to get drinks and turned her head and smiled at him. "Old habit." She offered in explanation.

[Nikolai Maksim]

Nik’s face twitched. He knew that reference, that parallel, that allusion to one of his favorite book turned movies, and while he had not seen it in some time, Nikolai also knew the internet had had a field day with such verbiage. While he was thirty years old and rather conservative in all his views, Nikolai Maksim was not blind to society’s shifts in infrastructure. He knew the world of the internet, and while he didn’t support the growing trend towards terrible spelling, grammar, and memes, he supposed there was some good in it. Getting to see play on words written as well as spoken aloud was probably one of the rare pros of it all. To Nik, though, that particular reference was… almost funny, perhaps? He knew not why, but he found himself quickly choking down a laugh. Lips pressed together, and instead, he smiled a bit brighter than was necessary. “I suppose not,” he mused back a soft exhale concealing a rack of laughs.

Smoothly, Nikolai helped move things elsewhere as well. As a man that wouldn’t even eat at his own desk at work for reasons of documentation defiling, Nikolai understood the desire to keep every paper clean and pristine. As everything was cleared, he began to unload the containers that rested within the bag setting each carefully in a spot of its own. With various labels and multicolored pens, each was marked carefully and with a steady hand. The same steady hand was now assuring that each was opened cautiously to avoid spilling. Only thereafter would Nik glance up to Diana and give a nod to her words. The hint of a smile came when she assured him it was old habit that she used such a nickname, and a soft hum escaped from him thereafter. “Old habits die hard,” he commented simply. He hadn’t minded being called such a thing back then and certainly didn’t mind now.

Nikolai wouldn’t have to walk far to get a chair, and smoothly, he elevated it back over to the desk wherein he sat down once more across from the main char. He waited for Diana to return with the drinks before giving her a gesture to have at the various food first before beginning to fill his own plate with a few selective dishes of his own desire. “Not too bad, hm?” Nikolai asked a small tease coming to his tone.

[Diana Maksim]

His recognition of the famous quote from the book turned movie delighted her almost as much as the fact that he found it humorous. He tried to hide it, as he always did, but Diana knew he would have laughed otherwise. His reply earned him a light laugh of her own as she went about her business. His visit was such a treat. She didn't realize how much she really needed that break from the routine. Diana felt light and refreshed, and her dear brother had barely been there five minutes.

Blurting out her pet name for him was also well received, and she knew he did not mind it in private, but she really needed to watch herself. She did not want to embarrass her brother in front of any business associates. Diana knew he would never be angry with her over it, but maybe it was more of her being angry with herself.

Her search for refreshments was disappointing at first. Other than bottled water, gatorade, and flat soda, there was not much in the fridge. Then she remembered something and dashed into the next room to her locker. Within was her homecoming gift from when she moved into her apartment a while back. A bottle of of Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2004 Masseto Merlot. Nikolai had given it to her and had boasted about its flavor. If she recalled correctly, it was from a tiny clay soil vineyard in Bolgheri Italy's Toscana region. $250 buck a bottle, if she remembered correctly. She was saving it for a special occasion, and really, she couldn't think of a more special one than this. It should still be good. The locker room was cool and the inside of her locker was dark most of the time.

Diana returned to find the meal laid out for serving. She smiled, even as her stomach voiced its own appreciation of the fare offered. She set two bottles of water out, and the wine bottle with the corkscrew and a tray of ice cubes. Yeah, pouring good wine over ice was a bit tacky, but she had no way to chill it quickly otherwise. And yes, the wine was Italian. Everyone knows Russian's suck at winemaking.

Her brother asked what she thought about the spread.

"It all looks wonderful" She replied. "And look at what I found to go with it" She said with obvious reference to the wine. She made herself bussy by serving herself generous portions, and then snatched the plate from in front of Nik and served him as well. Ice plinked into glassess and she sat down across from him. A hand pushed unruly bangs behind her ears and her eyes were on his.

"You're not going to insist on saying grace, are you?" She asked with a brow arching for effect. "Lets move on to how you've been and what new and exciting things have happened since Thanksgiving." She offered with fork in hand. Another growl of her stomach had her blushing. Stupid thing! So impatient.

[Nikolai Maksim]

Deep blue eyes turned at the sound of feet returning, and Nikolai regarded Diana briefly as she drew closer. He hadn’t had a chance to view her in full, but now that he had, he couldn’t help worrying she was thinning. Already, they were both on the skinnier end of any scale, but it worried him when he was well aware of what the ‘problem’ was. Since the event, her metabolism had started running in over drive. He hoped she was at least eating close to enough to maintain herself. Resisting a sigh, Nik looked back to what he’d plated, assuring himself it was enough for now. Ironically, he’d missed what she was holding altogether.

Nik glanced back again when the water was set down though this time he would catch the special drink that she’d brought out as well. He remembered the bottle well enough. It had been the least he could do in helping her settle in— aside from looking over her apartment paperwork carefully and perhaps haggling the land owner to lower the price down a hundred bucks per month. The latter was kept in the confines of a business room never to be discussed again, so yes, the wine was the least he could do. She still had it though, it seemed. How long ago had that been? As Diana spoke, Nikolai smiled softly. “I’m surprised you haven’t opened it already,” he commented lightly. “Though it would seem a fitting addition.” While he didn’t drink to intoxication, Nikolai could appreciate a light drink with a meal.

He let her stack up his pate when she made to grab it and just watched as she finally sat down. At one time he may have, in fact, insisted on saying grace, but with his theology warped by the appearance of three gods, Nikolai was waning in his older sense of belief. It sucked, really, but he conceded giving a small shake of head before Diana went on to ask what he’d been up to and what was new and exciting. “How about we eat a bit first,” he replied back. Nikolai wasn’t oblivious to Diana’s stomach and wouldn’t feign it either. He took a few bites and focus don eating for a little before starting again.

“It’s been rather busy,” Nik admitted after a little. “There are quite a few court cases that have been pended for numerous reasons… What of you?” he asked simply thereafter.

[Diana Maksim]

His eyes were on her on her return. Diana knew him too well to not notice the worry that crept onto his features. Nik wanted to say something, she could see that even in the brief moment her regarded her. His reason for not asking the question would remain unknown since she would not ask. She trusted that if it was something important, he would have or would address it with her at a time of his choosing. Diana could only guess that it had something to do with her job, but they'd had that conversation in the past. As far as she was concerned, it was settled.

His words about the wine made her smile anew. "I was saving it for just the right time" She admitted. "It's going to be perfect with this meal." She agreed. "Just don't tell Robbin" She whispered with a wink. It was actually not an issue. Diana would burn through the small amount of alcohol in minutes, and neither of them would have more than a glass or two at the most. It was simply a compliment to the meal. Not surprisingly, Diana preferred Russian Vodka based drinks and German beer. America's Sam Adams was palatable, but she didn't care much for any of the other watered down brands. Wine, however, was the only drink befitting the meal.

Once again, her brother showed that his deductive skills were top notch when he suggested they eat first. Diana was trying so hard to be polite, but the fact of the matter was that she was starving. Her commitment to finishing her book had kept her from her usual routine of nourishment. She nodded and took her first bite normally. "Mmmm...Its just like I remember" She complimented and then she lost it. She wolfed down several forkfulls before washing it down with a swig of wine. She glanced up at her brother apologetically and obviously embarrassed. He went on to talk about work, allowing for her to continue eating quickly, but not as frantic as she began.

When he queued her to speak, she took another sip of wine, dabbed her lips with her napkin, and smiled.
"Rather busy as well." She mirrored his words. "With all the enhancements everyone has, there has been an uptick in crimes. The locals are simply overwhelmed and look to the fugitive recovery services like ours to take the lion share of the warrants to have more 'boots on the ground' so to speak." She divulged, not sure if he already knew that, being assistant DA and all. Her eyes glanced at the cheddar biscuit on the table before them. It was also a favorite. Nik had very easily cloned the Red Lobster recipe for them with little effort. "Did you want that?" And again she blushed. It couldn't be helped. This was the new Diana.

[Nikolai Maksim]

Nikolai couldn’t help but agree with Diana on the topic of the wine. It would indeed go very well with the meal. However, as she spoke, Nikolai became aware of the repercussions of having wine ‘on the job’ especially for Diana. While he could get away with a glass out of ceremonial habit, it was not as simple for her. Ever still, he trusted her not to drink to intoxication— if it was even possible now. Nik’s lips smoothed a bit, a simple smile resting there. “Perhaps you should have a glass of water with it,” he suggested after a moment. It was a simple gesture, a small suggestion, that could be waved away easier than an order.

He paid attention as she ate those first few bites, trying to gauge if the meal was up to par even if he had tasted all the food while making it prior to bringing it. As she complimented him, Nikolai relaxed a bit. “Good,” he mused softly. The seconds thereafter, however, had him blinking a little surprised. At the speeds with which she was eating, he wondered if she could even taste the food properly, but a press of lips would keep him from voicing such things. As Diana glanced up again, however, he forgave her silently before moving on to the discussion already decided a few moments ago.

Fluidly, Nik would shift the conversation to Diana before listening to her explanation. He resisted the urge to sigh at her words knowing very well the influx of crime. Gifts, powers, insignias, whatever they were, were causing such a headache for law enforcement on all levels- his prosecution included. “Ah,” he spoke quietly as she explained how it transferred down to her ‘department’ of sorts. “The situation is altogether unfortunate,” he mused mildly disdainfully before Diana spoke. Blue eyes shifted to the cheddar biscuit she’d glanced at prior before smiling a little. “You may have it,” he replied gently making a small gesture to it before taking a bit of his own food and eating carefully.

Chewing the inside of his mouth about as much as the food he was eating, Nik tried and failed to keep his mind off the situation at hand; he hated people sometimes. Was it that difficult to just follow the law and live quietly? Apparently to some it was.

[Diana Maksim]

Diana grabbed for the biscuits and took a big bite of one. "MMMMmm!" She said while chewing. It was silly, really. The biscuit was the least complicated item, yet it really was one of her very favorites. Di smiled at Nik in appreciation. She'd not enjoyed her fare so much since Thanksgiving. Everything was perfect, and she slowed and finally settled into a normal eating pattern having sated that burning hunger.

As she ate, she knew that whatever was on her brother's mind earlier was still there. There was something he wanted to talk to her about, and she was sure it had nothing to do with the meal. It was just too convenient that it was just the two of them for once. Thanksgiving had been a family affair, after all. She was also sure that it was coincidence and not planed. She did finally take a sip of water as he suggested, after which she picked up her wine glass and swirled it to test the body and density. She brought the glass up to her nose and sniffed to further test and judge. Finally she took a sip. She let the crimson liquid sit on her tongue for a moment. Swished it gently for a proper tasting, and finally swallowed. She did it perfectly as he'd taught her. She savored and reflected for a moment before finally.. "Nikolai, this is probably one of the best vintages I've ever had. It amazes me that your know how to pick these" She divulged in a pleased and playful sing-song voice. She was having fun, but she was also serious about her evaluation.

She set the glass down. Both her elbows were placed on the table with her now empty plate between them. She intertwined her fingers and leaned forward to rest her chin on her hands. She smiled, and it was almost mischievous as she looked into the eyes that so closely resembled her own. She batted her eyelashes at him for effect before speaking softly. "Now, Nikole. You have my undivided attention, and I know there is something you need to say" She said playfully in an almost seductive tone. "It's not nice to keep a lady waiting, you know." She teased. "Though I think we've already ruled out marriage as too much of a PR issue."
She was having too much fun. For all she knew it was something really important. She winked then and giggled putting an end to her joking. She glanced away and leaned her heard on one hand and with the other she reached up and twirled a stray lock of hair before she eased it behind her ear and out of the way.
"So... whats up, Big brother?." She finished in a more Diana like fashion. Her gaze returned to him.

[Nikolai Maksim]

A small briefly heightened smile came and went from Nikolai’s features as Diana spoke. Though he felt no need to divulge where he had learned such acute sense towards such a drink right then and there, he himself was aware it had come second-handed and later in life. During his undergraduates and law school, he was much too busy to drink, but as it became a part of formality among clients and coworkers, he had picked up a careful sense of drink.

Now a days, it was a necessary practice in the social settings that delegated conversation be made over a carefully chosen food and drink. While he would have been content with much simpler things in life, Nikolai actually preferred the extra level of formality with others more often than not. It was yet another barrier between himself and the bulk of the world that caused him disdain. Subtle as it was, it nice under the right conditions. Right then and there, however, sharing such a thing was less of formality and more of affection, and Nikolai knew it.

Watching as Diana set her elbows down on the table, Nikolai took one more simple bite before setting down his own fork thereafter. While he couldn’t read her mind, he knew the subtleness of her gestures well, the glint in her eye. Either she was about to attempt a Cheshire Cat maneuver or divulge an underlying secret of the situation. Nik’s features remained neutral in the face of it, though the softest shifts of his lips assured he was paying attention with a mild but questioning interest.

As she spoke, he leaned back simply, blue eyes keeping with blue eyes, and a soft chuckle escaped from him before a small shake of head was given. “With my job as it is,” he finished her comment simply thereafter. There was no proposal up his sleeve that day even if he had hit his thirtieth birthday - the birthday he argued was the only ‘fit age’ for one of his precious siblings to truly be married- already. Technically, in a few more months, he would be thirty-one, but that was not something he was particularly looking forward to right then and there.

The wink and giggle had him smiling bemusedly for a few seconds before the question was asked. ‘What was up?’ Nikolai took a cool breath in. While he had not intended to bring up his own worries that day, as it was simply supposed to be a nice lunch, Nikolai understood Diana to be too intuitive for the both of them. She knew his worries for her, however, and voicing them again was not the smartest move. Nikolai knew that and knew it well. A small apologetic smile finally filled his features in. “Honestly, I’d come to check in,” he replied simply enough. “And perhaps meet more of your coworkers.” While he had come face to face with two of her ‘bosses’ of sorts, and had very brief if respectful encounters with both, Nikolai had still yet to formulate his opinions towards those that were considered “equals” with Diana (as if his sister could have an equal unto herself!).

[Diana Maksim]

Everything that was good about herself, even if just partially, could be accredited to her brother. He'd been a mentor and role model to her since birth. Diana was always looking to gain his approval for everything in her youth. She was a better person because of him and also her younger siblings. Its not to say she thought she was better than anyone. Diana had many flaws, and her shortcomings in life were of her own creation. Diana knew she was not perfect. Far from it. But it was who she was. And she was human, after all. She'd made many mistakes that she would always regret.

Still, she always had her family to steer her back onto the right paths in life, even if the path had to be remade to accommodate her wild nature. Sure, she'd made a mess of her stint in high school, but she had good reasons. In the end she still managed to graduate at the top of her class. And she had her shot at college. It just wasn't for her. Its not that she'd failed, she was at the top of her class there too. It was a personal choice not to finish. She simply could not find a career path that interested her. Diana was the only thing holding Diana back.

It was weird that she found herself looking back at her life at this time. Her eyes were on her brother as she studied him after her questions. She could read a person by their body language. It was not an exact science, and she was not adept by a long shot. Not like Nikolai. But he'd taught her the basics, and she'd assimilated the skill into her normal routines. She was not trying to use it against him. It was just a part of who she was now.

She came to realize that while she was being playful and joking, that the old saying that 'many a truth are spoken in jest' was not so far fetched after all. There was a reason she'd selected the words she used. Diana was gauging him. Testing the waters, so to speak. It was not planned, it just kinda happened.

Nikolai was the standard by which she judged all other men. He was her equal. The only man she'd given that tittle to in all the years. She'd yet to meet someone she can give similar tittle to, well, single men, anyway. All the good contenders always ended up being spoken for, go figure. She'd deny it if asked, but she was hoping her words would have nudged him somehow. She was sure he had something really important to speak to her about. Once Nik finally got to saying he was hoping to meet her co-workers, it was hard for her to hide the disappointment behind her smile. It would never be noticed by anyone else, but she was sure he would. On the other hand, she was not able to get anything from him except a feeling that he was not being straightforward with her about something.

"They all come through the office at some point during the course of the day. If you could hang out here with me for the duration, you could meet them. Your best bet would be first thing in the morning though. We all check in and then go about business." She said as she laid down the schedules. She leaned forward onto her hands again, placing her chin on them. "Be ready to be abused though. They're a rough bunch at times. And kinda moody." She said to give him fair warning. The smile disappeared and she gazed upon her brother with all seriousness. "But I trust them, Nikolai. There has not been the need, but I am certain that they would have my back, as I would protect theirs." She stated honestly. "They're like the little brothers I never had" she teased going back to being playful. "Jealous?" She asked with a mischievous smile.

Nikolai Maksim