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[color=c4c4c4]While the aftermath of their skirmish had left many with physical wounds, Octavio had managed to survive with nothing but mental exhaustion. That´s not to say that he was in a healthy condition, just that he didn´t have to deal with blood being where blood shouldn´t be. He had spent most of the time afterwards massaging his eyelids in an effort to restore his aching mind back to its typical state. 

He reached forward and delicately spread a layer of jam onto a hunk of bread. It was just one of his many refined mannerisms that had become a habit from his adventures in infiltrating the spaces of the wealthy. Sugar was the best fuel for the imagination, and Octavio was surely going to need a lot of it if he wanted to get out of this mess alive. It wasn't restricted to combat either. His tongue would have to be as tactical as ever if he hoped to get out of the guard duty that his unlikely allies had been proposing.  

Chres had finished preparing a stew for them to eat, warning everyone present not to raise their expectations too much. It had managed to make Octavio chuckle, although not for the reasons anyone would've assumed. Octavio had always had a horrendous sense of smell, and because it was so closely related to taste, both of the senses suffered. As a result, most scents and foods registered as "adequate" to him with little to no distinction. He stared at the stew with hunger, aware that it would taste the same as any other stew from any other part of the world. He ate the rest of his bread with jam with his body splayed out in a manner that was both full of confidence and exhaustion. The rest of his meal could wait for now.

[color=#dde0c7]"I dislike Gin and his theatrics, but I wouldn´t consider him a priority."[/color] he said, in between bites. Even the way that he ate had a bravado to it. [color=#dde0c7] "If Gin were to wake up one morning and decide to kill us, then we'd simply just die. He had confidential background information on all of us, as well as powerful magic and no qualms with using it capriciously while angering and ordering around a group of powerful people."[/color] He began to spread jam onto another hunk of bread after looking around the room to confirm that most of them had processed his words.  

[color=#dde0c7]"We´re alive because he wants us to be, so we should focus on other things for now."[/color] 

He was a man who had frequently been on both ends of manipulation and spoke in a way that was more earnest than their previous exchanges and a departure from his usual and more jovial attitude. To him it was obvious that he was going to be stuck around the party for a lot longer than he had bargained for, so this sort of gradual opening up was no longer a mistake but a begrudging necessity. And, although he would never admit it, he was definitely envious at the man and his power. It was the first time in a long time he had actually respected someone. His mind had recalled the events of their first and only encounter and that condescending little attitude of his. Despite having told an entire room of people to put him in the back burner, Octavio was perhaps the most motivated to find a way to kill him. Meeting someone with so much power over him felt infuriating.

He waited for some moments for conversations to unfold around the room, mulling over his next course of action. It seemed as if most of his companions had suffered various physical injuries, and even with the presence of a healer it would be hard to say if they were well equipped to engage in combat for the time being. With this in mind, his next move felt like the only one he could perform without ruining their trust in him. 

[color=#dde0c7]"I was dextrous enough with my illusions to avoid taking any damage outside of a handful of scrapes and bruises. I can't possibly promise the same amount of prowess if I were to fight again tonight, but it would be for the best if someone who was in better condition were to play the role of a guard. Please, rest for now while Chres and I protect you." [/color]

It left a weird taste in his mouth, having told something so truthful. Lynx, who was thankfully napping on the floor, would have definitely given him quite a mouthful of snark had he heard him just now.[/color]