Gracia set the pie down on the table and started slicing while Maes followed behind with the dessert plates. He set them down next to her and made his way back to his chair. However, instead of sitting, he moved over behind Roy, who was too busy sipping from his wine glass to pay any mind, and leaned down over his shoulder.
Maes' chin brushed his cheek, and he rested his hands over Roy's shoulders, rubbing the backs of them with his thumbs. Roy abruptly stiffened and set his glass down.
"How was dinner?" Maes asked quietly.
"It was excellent. What are you doing?"
Maes looked up at his wife, who had frozen mid-slice and was watching them with wide eyes. Maes smiled at her, then addressed Roy again. "What? You looked tense. Can't a guy help his friend out?"
"I'm fine, thank you."
Maes started kneading the muscles the stretched up from Roy's shoulders into his neck, and nosed the hair above Roy's ear. "Is that shampoo? It smells really nice."
"Do you know how acrid hair smells when it catches fire?"
"What does that-"
"I'm getting out my ignition gloves."
Maes laughed loudly and squeezed his shoulder as he stood up. He slide into his own chair and winked at his wife, who was still stuck cutting the same slice of pie.