#analese

Ana was expected to know exactly how he'd want his office decorated. That was what her teachers had said to her when Julian was learning the history of his lineage. Ana was told to "Watch his every move, every preference, every feeling. As a prima serva, you are part of your master, you need to know his whims and wants as intimately as he does." That made an impression on a seven-year-old.

At or before the age of five, all noble children receive a prima serva. The prima serva--or ‘first servant’--is another child of a similar age who is raised side-by-side with the nobility. They serve as partners, friends, confidants, and personal assistants. In a untrustworthy political climate, a prima serva is considered their noble’s other half. Relationships with prima serva are intimate, but highly variable. 

Analese

Ana didn't imagine it would have been possible to spend every day of her life with someone and not know he preferred warm colors to cool, even if he'd not noticed himself. Her entire life was devoted to knowing Julian better than anyone else.

"A successful prima serva accurately predicts everything their master wants and provides it at just the moment they need it," her trainers had said to her.

The other half of the king--the better half, some would argue--Ana operates the palace with the dignity of a royal but twice the efficiency. Ana is part of a legacy, a long line of prima serva who have served the royal family. Her father was the prima serva of Julian’s father, and her daughter is the prince’s. The importance of serving Julian was pressed into Ana from the day she was born, and any ideas of independence were discouraged. Calmer, more rational, and more liberal than Julian, Ana knows him better than anyone else, but can’t bring herself to be candid about his flaws. 

Age: 35

Burt

“Burt, what do I want?" She asked. He stood at her elbow, hands in the pockets of his slacks.

"Why would I know?"

"I thought you knew everything about me. Isn't that a prima serva's job?"

He laughed, "If I were Analese maybe."

While Julian’s reliance on Analese is practical, Rosanna’s reliance on Burt is more emotional. In their youth, their relationship was allowed to developed organically, without the strict influences of tutors. Burt is a shy man, but a massive one. His sheer size and musculature often cause people to confuse his awkwardness with unfriendliness. Rosa is one of the few who understands him, and his loyalty to her is more sincere than Analese’s sense of obligation to the king. 

Age: 30

Quinn

Quinn handed Kaya her leather book and climbed out of the car first, then helped her out. His demeanor changed as soon as they were in public. His back was straighter, and his expression was cooler. Like Kaya herself, he evolved into someone else under the public eye. She’d trained him well, she thought, as she took her prima serva’s hand and carefully stepped out of the black car. 

When Quinn was seven-years-old, Kaya dropped a notebook in his lap and demanded he learn it. It was a full dictionary of a language she’d made up, including grammar. It was that moment Quinn knew his life with this woman would be wild. Raised with Burt, Quinn was dwarfed by Burt’s physical size their whole life but was also accustomed to covering for his social anxiety. As an adult, Quinn has a huge presence that matches the intensity of Kaya’s cunning. Quinn is her partner-in-crime in all things, and his approval of her plans are necessary to her. 

Age: 28

John

“More ghosts?” Salvus chuckled. He leaned closer and his right hand slipped off John’s shoulder and down the front of his shirt, forcing a few buttons undone.

 “The truth is out there, Sal,” John replied flippantly.

 “Next you’ll be telling me you believe in aliens.”

 “I’ll have you know I was once abducted by aliens. You slept through it like you do everything else.”

John has the same easy, charming nature as Salvus. He is a quick wit and quick flirt, whose happy manners endear him to others. He and Analese were both raised in the palace, but John had the opposite reaction to their tutoring. The more his tutors worked to impress upon him the great value of his service to Salvus, the more irreverent John became. His status as a prima serva means little to him, but his personal relationship with Salvus is his motivator. They have been lovers since their teens, and Sal’s marriage to Kaya did not interfere with their personal relationship. John thinks of himself as Salvus’ comrade and best friend, not his servant. 

"I've always admired my Aunt Ana. She's been there for me all my life, never let me down once. When I didn't know if I wanted a normal life or, well, this... She was there. Nothing keeps her down. I mean, literally. Not even dying. And look at her now, leading this whole thing. I could only ever try to live up to her." @gunpowderandana

But life moved on. The last thing she thought she'd ever be doing was running the Institute (or 'Institute 2.0' as she insisted on calling it. They were going to be different this time). Life underground wasn't so bad either. They were safe enough and could still fight. Although, the last 6 months had been hell. The loss of Karen...

Anyway. When Ana was alerted to the presence of Kristin Montgomery in Havensdale, she had her agents bring her down to the underground bunker right away. Her heart was in her throat waiting. Maybe it had been too long now... And there was still so much Ana hadn't shared with her. Maybe she wouldn't love her anymore.

Hearing a commotion, Ana turned on her heel and forgot to breathe.

"Hi." @illsaveyouisweariwillsaveyou