[hr][center][h1][color=FF69B4]Carmen Comfort[/color] & [color=lightblue]Cassandra Voss[/color][/h1][/center][center]Collab between [@beyond visions] and [@Heretic][hr][/center]
[indent]Her white lace-gloved curled as her fingers wrapped around another glass of champagne. At this point Carmen was feeling slightly tipsy. The waiting of the bride and groom to finally appear at their reception has prolonged for over half an hour now, and well the attendees have gotten impatient enough to proceed to feast without them. Although the meals served there in Colony Square were beyond what any prisoners of this colony could imagine tasting, Carmen was not interested. Well, she perhaps would be interested in trying cow, an animal once devoured by old-earthers, yet because she was such a gossip, she was much more intrigued by what could have possibly happened between Theo and Isabel. 

Between the muses and the vanguards, Carmen was far more nosy to know the perspective of the vanguards, since they were most repulsed by their Spartan King's actions. Although eavesdropping on the muses meant it were more likely that Carmen would discover what happened when the two visited the Painting Room to have their portraits painted, she still wished to know any juicy rumors from the vanguards before knowing the truth. Carmen always believed that the truth is what made life worth living, yet rumors kept it from being boring.

In her deep blue Victorian gown, Carmen grasped the fabric of her dress upwards in order that she does not trip as she skipped her way curiously to the crowd of vanguards. The English flag that was her cape swung with each bounce, making it obvious that she was indeed the Victorian of the masterminds. But Carmen did not care that with each step, she emerged deeper into a crowd of mostly unhappy men and women of the colony's military. But among them all, Cassandra Voss's opinion mattered the most to Carmen, she was Theo's second-in-command after all.

From what Carmen knew of Cassandra was firstly, the two women were not friends, nor were they even close to be acquaintances. Carmen has always had this suspicion that Cassandra took great romantic interest in Theo just by the way she reacts and responses in care to the man, thus Carmen has tested this theory by asking intrusive questions to Cassandra about Theo and her, or by flirting with Theo in front of Cassandra. Although from the way it appears, the flirtations are not made because she feels any seriousness for Theo, but simply to get an irritated response out of Cassandra. Usually the way Theo reacts to Carmen's flirting is by either ignoring her or nervous, uncomfortable laughter. However, there was no Theo in sight, but no matter, she still wish to know how Cassandra felt about all of this. 

[color=FF69B4]"So... Theo Callahan, your dream-man, on his knees for another woman, the prudish Isebal MacGilios. I wonder... Cassandra, [i]friend[/i], how does that bode with you?"[/color] Carmen shot Cassandra a smug smirk before waving up her glass of champagne for another sip.

Cassie turned around, a sigh escaping her lips as it was confirmed that it was in fact Carmen who had approached her. [color=lightblue]"Oh I'm perfectly fine with their union. In fact,"[/color] Cassie broke Carmen's personal space by getting close enough to whisper in her ear, [color=lightblue]"it is such a relief that he's now married because that means he'll be pestering poor Isabel all day instead of me."[/color] She then backed off, returning Carmen's smirk with one of her own before she took a sip from her glass of champagne. [color=lightblue]"And you've got to admit, the food is to die for, am I right?"[/color]

Cassie pulled on one side of her [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bc/31/aa/bc31aa61e81affab38796f99bae39bbb.jpg]dress[/url] purely out of habit; it was extremely rare for her to dress up and she wasn't used to it anymore. After downing whatever was left of the champagne on her tall glass, Cassie eye the serving of beef on the table. [color=lightblue]"Come on little one, you need some meat on your bones if you're going to continue pretending to be intimidating."[/color] 

As Cassie walked by Carmen, she patted her on the head, laughing at her as she went. She knew she was reaching her limit, which wasn't very high to begin with due to the fact that she never liked getting sloppy drunk in public, and it was easy to deal with Carmen and even easier to mess with her.*

Did Cassie not know? It has been over thirty minutes and neither Theo, nor his newly wedded wife has shown up since their vows. Or perhaps, Cass was just pretending to be so calm.  Carmen did not necessarily ask Cass about Theo's whereabouts, though she likely would not tell her anyways. [color=FF69B4]"Me, pretending?"[/color] Carmen scoffed, shooting Cassie a glare while the woman walked her distance. [color=FF69B4]"You seem awfully relaxed for a faction who grovels to the muses. I mean, am I wrong? After all, a faction does follow in the footsteps of their leader, so have fun bowing your knees to the muses."[/color] Carmen was quite brave to say such surrounded by a crowd of vanguards. In fact, after the Victorian finished speaking not only did Cassie turn around, but so did all of the vanguards around her. Carmen was now at the center of some rather pissed-off faces, yet she giggled as they frowned and their brows furrowed. They only turned around because they feared that she could be right, and Carmen enjoyed every second it. 

As soon as Carmen finished speaking, Cassie stopped dead in her tracks. The girl actually had the guts to speak to her in such manner, and to make things worse, she was showing total disregard towards the rest of the vanguards around them. Cassie's immediate reaction was to attempt to contain the growing anger within her, but she failed when she made a fist and crushed her empty glass, the shards painfully cutting into her hand. That was all it took to finally send her over the edge.

Within a couple of seconds, Cassie turned around threw a punch aimed at Carmen's jaw. The impact knocked the small girl off of her feet, and even though Cassie also lost her footing for a moment, she was able to remain standing. 

[color=lightblue]"You better watch what you fucking say to me next time!"[/color] she screamed at Carmen, one bloodied finger pointing accusingly at the girl lying on the ground. It was then Cassie felt a tug from behind as one of her fellow vanguards pulled her away from Carmen's immediate surroundings.

Dazed by the impact, Carmen slowly opened her eyes with head swaying as she pushed herself from off of the dirt. And while blood seeped from the corner of her lips, she formed a crooked smile. It has been since her days in the business of arsonry that she has tasted that type of action. 

While climbing back to her feet, she whipped her head around to the right, feeling the presence of another. [color=9400D3]"Carmen-- No, I don't care what you say your strategy was-- [i]this[/i]--- this was reckless!"[/color] In her ear she could hear Everett Netherwood, her mentor and the colony's former Victorian, scold her. 

Carmen's next words were mumbled, Everett pulled out the blue velvet handkerchief from his suit jacket, wiping away the blood from her lips. [color=9400D3]"Now, what was that?"[/color] Carmen tugged at his bow tie, pulling him closer to listen to her whisper,  [color=FF69B4]"Everett...,"[/color] she called his name strictly for the purposes of stressing the seriousness of her next words,  [color=FF69B4]"say it with me, long live Queen Cass..."[/color] Everett tilted his head confused,  [color=9400D3]"You're not talking straight-- how many times did she hit you?"[/color] With his arm around her shoulders, Everett started escorting her out of Colony Square and towards her quarters. [color=FF69B4]"You don't get do you? It is because she [i]hit[/i] me that this vanguard-muse alliance will crumble... They will never accept Isabel as their queen, not when they have Cass, someone they see strength in. And if Theo stands by his wife, then we're talking civil war between muses and vanguards... unless Cass prevents that civil war from happening by--"[/color]

 [color=9400D3]"Overthrowing Theo-- Carm, you're talking about a vanguard challenging another vanguard-- Cass killing Theo... That's... that's just... cruel..."[/color] 

[color=FF69B4]"It's strategy... thought you said I was being reckless."[/color][/indent]