[hr][center][h1][color=B8860B]Theo Callahan[/color], [color=lightblue]Cassandra Voss[/color], & [color=FFD700]Rylan Kane[/color][/h1][/center] [center]Collab between [@beyond visions] & [@Heretic][/center][hr]
[indent]His hands were permanently stitched into the offense of two fists, shards of broken fingernails punctured pass the bandaged palm till those fingers sank into thick skin. The only flesh felt against the cloth-wrapped knuckles was his opponent's rib-cage

crumbling.

Sweeping from his teeth and cake against his lips, the blood of this opponent, cannoned in cough from out of the bleeding cavity that was now his mouth. He collapsed against the dirt of the fighting pit, in presence before the king that bruised and bloodied him there. Yet, that was all a facade. It was an illusion for a man becoming disillusioned. In reality, there was no glory, nor victory, nor even an opponent. For, that night in the dueling pit there was truly no enemy of his but himself. There was nothing but the self-destruction found when a hurt soul throws jabs at punching bag till his body fails and falls dehydrated. 

Like Theo, Cap'n did not sleep that night. Instead he kept his one good eye in constant watch of Theo, he was his king and Spartan after all. Even after shoving him off the cliff of the Crater and causing him to rolling down the hills to the bottom, Cap'n was near close to giving up hope in Theo, but not yet. [color=FFD700][i]Wit' th' [i]right[/i] queen by his side, he be sure t' live up be worthy o' his title once again. Either that or by solo rule will he retain the strength he had... once he be freed from his wife,[/i][/color] is what Cap'n often thought while observing his miserable king.  

Once Theo collapsed, Cap'n grabbed his own canteen. At first he tried nudging Theo with his foot, the king remained unresponsive. So, Cap'n uncapped his canteen, though just as he was about to let the chilling water fall in out pour against Theo's face Cass returned. Without asking about her whereabouts since it was no business of his, and he would just assume she was attending the wedding feast, Cap'n went straight to explaining what happened to Theo,  [color=FFD700]"He never slept last night. He's been here, not saying a word t' anyone, beatin' his knuckles o'er this bag."[/color] Cap'n laid his hook on Theo's punching bag, leaning on it.  [color=FFD700]"When upset or angry, most men indulge in rum or wenches-- well, I guess since he's married now he can't do th' second-- but does our king here get himself drunk? No, he gets dehydrated."[/color] Cap'n stuck out his hand, offering Cass his canteen,  [color=FFD700]"Already tried nudging him awake. Cass, would you like to do the honors of splashing this in his face instead?"[/color] Abruptly before Cass grabbed the cateen Cap'n laid out a few last remarks, [color=FFD700]"I don't believe he's angry at the Vanguards for the blacklashed earned during the wedding ceremony. If so, he would have been yellin' and cursin' at all of us till he was blue in the face. Cass, she-- Isabel-- is destroyin' him."[/color]

Cassie grabbed the canteen from Cap'n, shaking her head as she usually did when she was disappointed. [color=lightblue]"It's only been  a day!"[/color] she replied, suddenly becoming angry at the situation and not really anyone in particular. She splashed some water on Theo's face, waited, and then did it again. After a few moments, she stood up straight to stare at Cap'n. [color=lightblue]"He should have known better. I mean for goodness sake neither of them blindly went into this marriage, so why is he so torn up?"[/color]

Cassie placed a hand on Cap'n's arm, gently pulling him away from a seemingly lifeless Theo just to be out of hearing distance for the sake of it.

[color=lightblue]"Do you personally know what's going on between the two of them? Because we can't allow this man to be destroyed by his wife...not when he's our leader."[/color]

[color=FFD700]"I be not one fer gossip, but..."[/color] Cap'n released long sigh before a honest claim to a concern of his. [color=FFD700]"I was really worried about 'im. So, I sent a few initiates t' eavesdrop durin' th' reception, 'n it turns out despite th' way he honored her, Isabel was not happy about wha' he did fer her. When they were gettin' thar weddin' portrait painted, she walked out on 'im."[/color] At first, like many of the Vanguards, Cap'n believed Theo weak to bow to Isabel in pathetic submission, yet to see the man damaged now. It makes sense that the wedding was never meant to be political, at least definitely not for Theo. He wanted their wedding day to be about him and Isabel, especially after the interruption of the Overseers, he made the effort to show a more sensitive side to Isabel in the gallery, and then to ultimately humble himself before her, not caring what backlash he may face. Though even after Theo's most gallant endeavors his wife walks away from him, leaving him confused and without a clear answer. [color=FFD700]"You know th' term, 'destroyed', perhaps ain't th' best choice o' word. No, [i]hardened[/i] be a better way t' describe 'im."[/color] Cap'n no longer believed Theo weak, no, because not even dehydration could stop from turning to his compulsive violent habits. [color=FFD700] "No, he ain't destroyed... but everythin' 'n everyone in his way will be."[/color] Cap'n grasped Cass by both shoulders in the seriousness of the moment, [color=FFD700]"Cass, we know Theo can have his pissy fits, but if that man's heart hardens-- all of his passions 'n even his dreams will be replaced by nothing but bloodlust. Likely he will never stoop to killin' innocents, but does he deserve t' be forsaken by us while developing into a soulless warmonger? I'm not giving up on 'im, but I've given up on Isabel being his wife. Cass, if you don't want this dark future fer Theo and you don't want t' challenge him since it will result in death fer one of you, 
then you need t' seriously consider being queen."[/color] 

The expression on Cassie's face turned into one of disbelief. 

[color=lightblue]"Cap'n, that'd be doing exactly the opposite of how I intended to handle their union. As much as we all would have liked for this marriage to have been legitimate, it was nothing but a political stunt."[/color] Cassie stopped for a moment, thinking about her own newly-formed relationship with Reno, if she could call it that. But Cap'n had a good point. Love could do horrible things to people if it was used against them. [color=lightblue]"I'll talk to Isabel, see what the problem is. She wanted a more thoughtful and emotional man, didn't she? Her rejection and outright disrespect towards Theo shows she's not taking their marriage seriously, and that is something I will [i]not[/i] tolerate. A change of heart doesn't relieve her of her responsibilities to uphold her vows, and if the Muses want this union to work, then I suggest they school her on how a wife should behave around her husband, otherwise I'm pulling rank to reverse this ill-fated marriage and get this done and over with."[/color]

Cassie crossed her arms in a defensive posture. [color=lightblue]"That's my plan for now anyway, we'll have to figure out the rest as we go along."[/color]

[color=FFD700]"Very well, Cass, I do believe-- Oh, he's wakin' up now."[/color]  Cap'n stepped forward towards Theo after grabbing his canteen from Cass's hand. [color=FFD700]"If you remain dehydrated, you're going t' kill yourself."[/color] Theo did not move sluggishly, instead, even as he was dizzy, Theo seemed skittish. He moved quickly, suddenly, and without any grace as he lifted himself off of the ground. [color=B8860B]"Nothing's going to kill me...,"[/color] Theo mumbled returning to his boxing pose as threw punches at the bag. 

[color=lightblue]"You're not immortal, now stop it."[/color] Cassie walked forward to grab Theo's wrist and prevent him from further exhausting himself until he became unconscious again. [color=lightblue]"You may not like me for this, but later today I'm gonna go talk to Isabel. I'm going to figure out what the hell is her problem and why she's treating you like dirt."[/color]

Cassie looked at Cap'n, hoping he'd back her up if Theo disagreed with her.

As he glared, his eyes narrowed down instantly to her hand as she put a grip on his wrist. Theo did not jerk his arm away, but instead he awkwardly stared down at her hand until she let go. He did not want to be touched right now, not when locked in a mindset of defense. If anything, he just wanted to be alone. Though he knew as Spartan, he could never be alone unless he looked occupied with his own feats of strengthening his physical body, it is why he stubbornly continued to box even after Cass told him to stop.[color=B8860B]"What happened to you wanting to go back on the fields with the combatants? I shouldn't be so controlling with your life, so I was going to say yes. If it is your plan to get involved in [i]my[/i] marriage. Then you should have not even told me, you know I'm going to say no."[/color] Upon his last word in that sentence, Theo struck the bag with all the might in his brawny body. [color=B8860B]"You will just make things worse."[/color] 

[color=lightblue]"Oh, [i]you[/I] think [I]I[/I] am going to make things worse?"[/color] she scoffed, deliberately taking a step closer to Theo although leaving enough space between the two of them as to not be in the way of his boxing. [color=lightblue]"I hate to break it to you but you've done that all on your own. This marriage doesn't just affect you, you know, and as the current highest-ranking [i]sane[/i] member of the Vanguards, I do fully intend to interfere. And don't worry, I'm still keeping my word on going back out into the field, but first I must make sure my people are well taken care of right now because apparently their current leader isn't doing a very good job of it."[/color]

Finally, he stopped in his boxing, allowing his arms to fall by his waist. He then turned to Cass, [color=B8860B]"Want to question me as a leader? Want to question my sanity?"[/color] Theo leaned over by her ear and whispered, [color=B8860B]"Cassandra, if I really was insane, you'd be knocked the fuck out."[/color] Theo spewed his words straight into her ear, yet he hissed in such quietness that only she could hear his biting menace so clearly. 

[color=lightblue]"But that wouldn't be the case if I were to challenge you,"[/color] she replied with a hint of bitterness in her voice. Sometimes the man just drove her to the brink, and she had no choice but to go along for the ride like every other time. [color=lightblue]"Now I suggest you let me move forward with my plan before this gets nasty."[/color] 

Cassie then motioned for Cap'n to follow her, deciding  that she had had enough of Theo for the moment.

[color=B8860B]"Alright, fine go and piss off, but I'm going to need the First Combatant for important business that benefits the colony and involves the Overseers. You know, if I had the time or the care, I would ring that bell over there myself,"[/color] once the Crater's bell was rang, a duel or fight would then be offically commenced. [color=B8860B]"Then it would be [i]me[/i] challenging [i]you[/i], not the other way around. The only purpose for a fight like that would be to finally put you in your place!"[/color] It was extremely tempting, yet the Overseer laid more of a priority to him rather than Cass. 

[color=lightblue]"Finally, some work on your behalf. It only took shouting and threats being made to force you to snap out of that pathetic, self-pity state you were just in. Cap'n, keep an eye out for him please, I need to go talk to someone and I'll meet you again soon."[/color] Cassie then left both men to deal with the Overseers. She wanted to take care of a couple of things first before she went out into the field. 

[color=B8860B]"And yet she defies me, there will be consequences..."[/color] After speaking Theo took Cap'n's canteen, finally quenching his thirst. Just because he told her to piss off, did not mean that Theo gave her any permission to continue on with her plan. He just decided not to put in the effort to stop her, not after he warned her. 

[color=FFD700]"'Tis better t' hear you say 'consequences' 'n not revenge."[/color] With Theo, there was a difference, and Cap'n knew that. [color=FFD700]"But th' Overseers, I do believe that be your concern, at least fer now."[/color] 

[color=B8860B]"Yes, I would much rather focus my mind on something other than the horrid drama of my marriage."[/color] And with that Cap'n and Theo walked their way towards the cell rooms. [/indent]