[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/JpUjJ6z.png[/img]
[sup][b][color=a57e67]Caspian[/color][/b] & [b][color=676FA5]Cael[/color][/b]
[@LovelyComplex] & [@GhostMami][/sup]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/kvbFfdR.png[/img][/center]
[indent][indent]The colors around him were intensely vibrant and strikingly bright. Caspian stood hidden in plain sight with his muted suit on, as his peers got increasingly more intoxicated and let the rhythm of the night take over their bodies. There was something about the shadows and the dark corners of the party that soothed him. He would go unnoticed and avoid the chaos that comes with being a teenager. This was something he always found comfort in. In darkness, his heart could speak up and nobody would care to notice. Nobody would listen. 

Yet, standing here watching them laugh and have a good time, made him desire something he wouldn’t have, if Callie was here. Holding this light saber a strange and unique personality gave to him, Caspian found himself imagining how his sister would light up this party, every fibre of her thin frame craving maximum attention. She enjoyed herself so naturally, without a care in the world. No reputation, no fame, and no money would stop her from having fun and being young. 

Her absence only made him realize how much he took for granted and how much he used her as a crutch. People would be distracted by Calypso that they wouldn’t see the boy standing a little behind, silently making moves in the dark. He wished these chains that held him back loosened. He wished he could freely fly, without thinking it would backfire. What was he so afraid of? 

His dark gaze scanned the crowd to see a furious Billie Grey making her way to him or trying to at least. Raising an eyebrow, relieved he wasn’t completely invisible but still not in the mood to get interrogated, he handed the sword to some random drunk person and did what he does best. [i]Disappear.[/i] Disguised by the flashing lights and the jubilant crowd, losing his sister’s best friend was [i]easy[/i]. He found himself inches away from her and yet, she was focused on people at a distance. His heart sank when she got down from the chair and defeatingly muttered, [b][color=93E9BE]“Cas… you absolute fool, you complete and utter ass…”[/color][/b]

When someone walked into her, Billie walked away in fierce rage and there Cas was again, alone in a crowd. Shortly after, he was back to people watching. His attention was grabbed for a second by someone that gave him introverted vibes (Jaxton), similar to him, but found it in himself to dance among the high and drunk. The kid’s dance wasn’t elegant and fluid, but he was enjoying himself. Just letting go of the pressure to live in the moment. Cas considered himself in that position. Would he look like that if he indulged a little and let go of his worries? 

Caspian’s mind was immediately pulled from one boy to the next. Although his expression was nothing but apathetic, he was bewildered and surprised that this boy, his barista, appeared out of nowhere and caught him off guard. Not only did… Cael… see him in a crowd of disgustingly close, sweaty teens, he [i]approached[/i] him with no hesitation. “The Vampire King” locked his focus with the mythical, magical, and multicolored boy’s mischievous gaze and whether he knew it or not, Caspian Grey was entranced. The way those heterochromia eyes captured him, staring right through his soul — Cas couldn’t help but feel like Cael was reading him like an open book.

[color=676FA5][b]“Hey kitten, how goes it? You look bored.”[/b][/color]

[color=a57e67][i]Did he… did he just call me kitten?[/i][/color] Clearing his throat, doing his due diligence to not lose face, uneasy at the thought that this empathetic stranger could see beyond his walls, Caspian was immediately betrayed by his voice. A chuckle slipped out of lips after hearing the mention of his coffee order and internally he could only reprimand his weak will. Clearly, Cael wasn’t going to take a no for an answer. [color=a57e67][b]“It might be best if you surprise me. I’m old fashioned with my… poison.”[/b][/color] Subtly, Cas hinted at his old-school drinking taste with no muddled fruit. 

Being lured to follow, Caspian nervously gulped and let his legs take him deeper into this new encounter. To hide his anxiety, he decided to let the boy’s voice fill the atmosphere and hopefully take lead in this aimless conversation, [color=a57e67][b]“Enjoying the party?”[/b][/color] He glanced over, watching for any signs of negative emotion, just as a precaution,  [color=a57e67][b]“I don’t come to these things, usually.”[/b][/color]  [color=a57e67][i]Without my sister.[/i][/color]

[color=676FA5][b]“Of course I am, I helped plan it!”[/b][/color] Cael beamed excitedly. [color=676FA5][b]“Well… I helped decorate it, it was Christian’s planning, really. Our first of hopefully many successful Liberose collaboration events!”[/b][/color] As the pair made their way to the drink station, it became increasingly obvious that not [i]all[/i] Liberose interactions were going as swimmingly as Cael had just mentioned.

Disgruntled but not dissuaded from his course of action to test the romantic waters with this dark, mysterious acquaintance, Cael pushed his way through the altercation. Jesus, Melissa was back on her ‘queen’ bullshit again and the simps were peacocking in full HD technicolor for her. [color=676FA5][b]“ExCUSE me. [i]Some[/i] of us are [i]trying[/i] to [i]ENJOY[/i] this party, and you all are blocking the drinks!”[/b][/color] He said sassily, annunciating his words very intentionally.

Finally making his way to the drink table, Cael tapped his chin in thought. [color=676FA5][b]“So like, [i]how[/i] old fashioned are we talking?”[/b][/color] He asked, turning to face Caspian again. [color=676FA5][b]“Like, dry gin and tonic with a side of Bengay to rub on your arthritic joints or… are you trusting me to have a little fun with the surprise?”[/b][/color] The freshly green-haired boy teased with a half smirk.

Cas once thought the dance floor was chaotic, but when he saw what was happening around the drinks, he was proven wrong. The problem this merge gave birth to was glaring at him. An obstacle he would have to deal with when he inevitably joins the student council. While Cael was unbothered, Caspian flinched at the sight of DeShawn bulldozing into Jackson. Right when his eyes were going to glaze over, he was gently nudged out of the way, as a tiny girl shimmied past him. [b][color=15603A]“Sorry, Caspian!”[/color][/b] Trixie was here? 

Briefly, Caspian watched her run away, giving her drink to some rando. Well, at least she wasn’t going to get mixed in this. Marcos wouldn’t like that at all. Okay, what was he doing again? Ah yes. Barista boy. [color=a57e67][b]“Aren’t you here to show me a good time?”[/b][/color] Caspian stepped forward, beside Cael, to examine the alcohol selection, and nonchalantly shrugged,  [color=a57e67][b]“Be my guest and hit me with something [i]strong.[/i]”[/b][/color] 

[i]Bingo.[/i] Caspian’s comment about a ‘good time’ set off confirmation alarms on Cael’s internal gaydar. Confident in the reciprocated flirting, Cael went about his task of making Caspian a drink. [color=676FA5][b]“As you wish,”[/b][/color] he said before testing the cocktail cherries by taking a sensual bite of one, plucking the stem off while the juicy red fruit was held between his teeth. Cael settled on making Cas a manhattan. A classy beverage with a touch of fruit — a perfect combination to represent the pair. And, as requested, he was a bit heavy handed with the whiskey. [color=676FA5][b]“Order up.”[/b][/color] He joked and passed the beverage to Caspian, turning his attention briefly to the [i]royal rumble[/i] taking place before them. 

Good mannered and poised on the surface, Caspian deliberately examined each gesture, every quirk, and all the oddly intoxicating thoughts racing through his mind. His breathing was shallow, yet rhythmic as he traded class for thirst. One thing he took pride in was his self control but being in the presence of this boy he barely knew, well, he felt an insatiable hunger. A lustful greed he had never felt before. After feasting his eyes on Cael biting a cherry off it’s stem, the distance closing in between them, the introverted, pale student of Liberty High, the dark enigma, studied the talented, mixology abilities of this exuberant, energetic peer of his. Almost fervently, he peeled the manhattan out of Cael’s grasp once it was ready to be tasted. 

Not responding right away, Cas took a sip of the drink, taking in both bitter and herbal undertones. A light sweetness, but for the most part dry. Just how he liked it. After turning his angle to face the fight, Cas whispered to his companion,  [color=a57e67][b]“Thank you for this.”[/b][/color] 
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