Calixtus was quickly reaching a breaking point.

Aster could tell as much and he hadn’t even known the man that long. It was particularly impressive, given that the day had barely begun. Granted, it was already looking to be a rather eventful one.

“So this is a friend of yours who’s visiting?” he asked, not having been able to make much sense of Calixtus’ panicked muttering after Annie—the lovely older woman who worked for Calixtus along with two of her children—had informed them they had a visitor.

“A very old friend,” Calixtus confirmed, straightening his clothes as he prepared to meet with this friend of his. He had the look of a man marching to his death. A tad dramatic, Aster thought. “Known him since we were children. Didn’t know he was back in town.”

“And now he’s come to congratulate you on your marriage. How kind of him.” The sentiment was truly touching. It also promised to be very amusing. Especially since Aster would, of course, have to make an appearance. Wouldn’t do to not show his face when Calixtus’ friend was being so considerate.

“It would be a lot nicer if he’d given prior notice of his visit,” Calixtus grumbled, grabbing his cane.

“But that would ruin the surprise,” Aster pointed out with a little half smile. He stepped forward, linking their arms and relishing in the pink tinge coloring Calixtus’ face. He was quickly growing fond of throwing the man off with the smallest gestures. “Think of this as practice for when dear mother-in-law arrives.”

Calixtus huffed but did nothing to shake Aster off. He was doing better at dealing with Aster’s whims. A real shame, that.

“Fine, just let me deal with him? I think it’d be best if we want to convince him this isn’t all a farce.” The way he looked at Aster was practically begging for him to behave for however long this friend of his was there. Aster supposed he could do that much.

At least he could attempt it.

They walked into the sitting room, arms still linked and the very picture of newly wedded bliss. Or so Aster hoped. He truly was trying to sell the idea. Aster wasn’t joking when he said this visit from Calixtus’ friend would be good practice for when Calixtus' mother arrived.

Their visitor was sitting when they entered the room but promptly stood to greet them. Aster didn’t miss the way his eyes—a warm amber that turned to molten gold in the light of the sun—quickly moved from Calixtus and onto Aster. The man’s brow rose almost imperceptibly, a sign of disbelief that most might have missed. Aster, however, was used to looking for the intricate subtleties in body language when dealing with people who had hidden agendas. To him, the littlest gestures could be like clear declarations of a person's intentions. Such was the case with this friend of Calixtus. Aster was just glad to see no sign of hostility.

“The rumors were true, I see,” was the first thing their guest said with a lopsided grin on his face. When Aster peered at Calixtus, he found that his husband wore a strange mix that could only be called exasperated fondness as they made their way inside and to where their guest stood.

“Is that why you’re here? Just wanted to see what the rumors were about?” Calixtus asked. “Or maybe you want to join in on all the gossiping.”

“Is it so hard to believe that I would want to congratulate my dear childhood friend?”

Calixtus huffed but couldn’t keep from smiling as he finally reached his friend. Aster watched as they greeted each other with a brief embrace, a gesture that made him feel a little more at ease as he readied himself to properly meet their guest. When Calixtus turned to him, Aster was ready with his most polite smile—the one he usually wore when he absolutely had to interact with people who weren’t from the Magic Tower.

“Aster, this is Oscar Bishop, an old friend of mine. Oscar, this is Aster, my spouse,” Calixtus introduced, and Aster had a vague sense that he’d heard the name before.

“Aster?” Oscar said as soon as he’d heard the name. His brow furrowed and he looked like he was searching his mind for any knowledge of the name. “You wouldn’t happen to be Aster Vespertine, would you?” Aster’s brow rose, not really having expected to be recognized.

“You’ve heard of me?” he asked, curious in spite of himself. He supposed it would be good to figure out what Oscar knew of him before he tried to sell him on the lie of his and Calixtus’ marriage.

“You’re one of the top mages in the country. Of course I’ve heard of you,” Oscar said with a grin. “How did you manage to get him to marry you?” Oscar said, turning back to Calixtus, who sent a small glare at his friend.

Aster had to fight to keep from laughing. If only Oscar knew.

He might someday, he thought to himself. When I’m gone, Calixtus will be free to speak the truth.

“I’m afraid my skills might have been exaggerated,” Aster said with a little smile, genuinely amused at the turn introductions had taken. “Have you worked with the mages of the tower before? Your name sounds familiar.”

“I haven't, no. Maybe you’ve heard of my father, Thomas Bishop? He was in charge of the knights that served in the tower as guards until recently.”

That was certainly a possibility. Aster was vaguely aware of the knights that patrolled the tower, but he’d never paid them much mind. He’d always been more concerned with his own work and what knowledge his dreams may have imparted upon him. Still, it wasn’t so difficult to imagine he’d heard the name in passing.

“Yes, that might be it,” Aster agreed, making a note to look into Thomas Bishop at a later date.

“I didn’t know you were so well known,” Calixtus said, looking at Aster, who simply smiled at his pretend husband.

“Well, you’ve never asked, dearest.”

Calixtus huffed, but didn’t seem bothered by the pet name. Aster was almost proud of him for managing not to blush.

“I’m not sure what it says about you that you didn’t know who it is you married, but it’s very much like you, now I think about it,” Oscar said, shaking his head fondly as he looked at Calixtus.

“Well, I didn’t marry him for his status,” Calixtus said.

Aster supposed that was true enough. After all, he’d been rejected after offering all of his wealth. Truly, he still had his doubts about why Calixtus accepted his offer. He tried not to think too much about it. What really mattered was that he’d gotten what he needed.

“No, I'm sure you didn’t,” Oscar agreed. “Well, congratulations on your marriage. I truly hope you two will be happy. And please make sure he gets out every now and then. He’s been shut inside for far too long,” he went on, the last part directed at Aster.

“I’ll certainly try.” Aster actually might, if only to convince people of the lie. Besides, they would have to leave the small town eventually. There were things Aster could only take care of back home. But that would come later, preferably when Calixtus was more comfortable in his company and in their pretend marriage. The Magic Tower, after all, was filled with eyes and ears that could be hard to fool.

Oscar remained for a while longer, settling down on one of the rather comfortable couches that furnished the sitting room. Annie’s daughter—Rose—served them tea and a nice assortment of sandwiches and scones, freshly baked by her mother and paired with some of the jam Aster had grown rather fond of.

For the most part, Aster merely listened to the banter and reminiscing between the other two men while he sipped on his tea and slathered jam on a couple of scones. It was nice, he thought, to have such an affable visitor. He was starting to think his father might have been right about socializing not being so bad. Aster was willing to give it a try at some point.

He’d count it as something he had to try before dying.

“And how are you feeling lately?” Oscar asked after some time, when the tea was nearly finished, and Aster had eaten more scones than he really should have.

Calixtus paused as he was ready to take a drink, blue eyes settling on his friend. Aster’s keen gaze saw the minute tensing of his frame. This was clearly not a topic he wanted to discuss.

“Fine,” he answered shortly before taking a drink. Oscar opened his mouth to comment further, most likely to keep probing for Calixtus’ true condition. For some reason, Aster found himself jumping into the conversation.

“He’s been more active than ever, trying to prepare for dear mother’s return home,” Aster said, doing his best to make the comment sound casual and not at all like he was trying to divert Oscar’s attention. Of course, Calixtus could tell right away. Fortunately for them, Oscar immediately latched onto the morsel of information Aster had thrown his way.

“Your mother is returning?” he asked Calixtus, who looked more at ease with the change of subject.

“Yes, she says uncle is doing well enough and she’s excited to meet Aster.” Calixtus looked at Aster then, with a little smile that was so grateful Aster was taken aback.

The conversation carried on for a while longer before Oscar had to take his leave. Calixtus’ wounds weren’t brought up again, though Aster would be glad to intervene again if the possibility of it arose.

“Thank you,” Calixtus said as they stood outside in the late morning sun and watched Oscar leave. He turned to Aster with a smile that softened his features into something almost fond. He didn’t have to say what he was thanking Aster for.

“Well, I’d like to be a good husband, so I really should do my best to support you, shouldn’t I?”

Calixtus laughed a small thing that just bubbled out of him and warmed the look in his eyes. Not for the first time, Aster found himself thinking that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to spend his last days with Calixtus.