[h1][center][color=0072bc]Calbert[/color] & [color=LightSteelBlue]Cassius[/color][/center][/h1]

[color=LightSteelBlue]Location[/color]: Outside the Damien Estate


[hr]

At first, Calbert had no idea why the young man had started to sing. He felt awkward for a half second before the song began to sound familiar. The words unlocked within the depths of his brain. His vision seemed to change as he saw a blurry image of a dark-haired woman reaching her hand across a bed to his cheek. The male voice became a female’s. The silky feel of the sheets. Her blue nightgown. The way her streaks of silver lit up under the moonlight came in from the window.  It was an ethereal memory. For a moment,  he felt like he had traveled back in time. 

Calbert’s expression softened as he listened. [color=0072bc][i]If he’s here… Then what of Meredith?[/i][/color] He was silent in his thoughts as he met his son’s eyes. 

[color=0072bc] “Cassius.”[/color]

[color=0072bc]“My  [i]son.[/i]”[/color] He put a hand on his shoulder. [color=0072bc] “You are my blood… My family. “[/color] He said with conviction. [color=0072bc]“I do not care to see you any other way… “[/color]He paused, his heart racing as he began the dreaded question, [color=0072bc]“What..”[/color] His eyes narrowed, and his gaze slightly lowered, [color=0072bc] “What of your mother?”[/color]

The seconds between Cas’s question and his father’s response felt like an eternity. There was a part of him that felt so awkward having just sung to a stranger. Another piece of him hoped the man did not recognize the song at all, as to prove Cassius right in assuming that this man never loved his mother and could never have been a father to him. He was torn…Silently ripped apart by what could be a better future for him and the very idea that there was a father here all along that could have helped fill the voids he and his mother knew throughout their lives. 

Why were they not together? What had happened between them? Had he hurt her? Had she…hurt him? Cassius wanted to blame it all on this man in front of him. He wanted to ball up a fist and break his father's teeth down his throat for the pain of losing his mother. Though…he did not. Instead, he listened to the man’s response and was surprisingly moved by the words despite not trusting a single thing he said on the surface. The [i]little boy he once was[/i] wanted to trust this man, but the [i]man he had become[/i] knew better. For now, though, he would smile and see where this was to go. He had plans after all. 

Then came the question about his mother. His eyes dropped to the floor and he answered.

[color=LightSteelBlue]“She has passed, father. She had been ill for a number of years and finally succumbed. I was not there to say goodbye to her. That is why I am here. Not just because she’s gone…but because I would like the opportunity to right that wrong. By getting to know you. By finding my family.”[/color]  

Calbert’s expression fell even though the answer had been expected.  It had hurt even after all these years to know that she was gone. There had been such turmoil between the two of them so long ago, but he had always cared for her. Maybe he hadn’t loved her in the way she had wanted but he had cared. He was silent as he took this in, his eyes narrowing with emotion. He then stared at Cassius and for a moment, wondered if he could trust this man and his words.  He supposed if he indeed was his son, then he knew the answer to that infernal question. He clenched his jaw. 

Finally, he moved forward and gave his son a hug, putting his arms around him. He had decided that it did not matter his intentions nor if anything he had been told was the truth. It only mattered that this was his blood and that meant he’d do anything to protect him. [color=0072bc] “I’m sorry Cassius. I will be here for you from now on.”[/color]

The man hugged him. At that moment, Cassius felt the briefest shock of vindication. Then…he felt nothing. This was by design. Of course he was happy to see this whole thing start off so positively, but he forced himself to calm the emotions stirring within him and refocused his mind on the bigger picture. This had been a great start, but he knew that trusting his father just based on this one moment would be a mistake. One that he and his plans would not be willing to make. He considered his next words for a moment before continuing. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]”I want you to know that your words mean so very much to me, father.”[/color] Cassius rested his hand on Calbert’s shoulder and smiled at him. [color=LightSteelBlue]“I’m sure that there is much for us to discuss…and of course I look forward to all that comes next. Hopefully, I can be of use to this family…to you…and we can make right the wrongs of us never being side by side. It will be a wonderful and complex journey for the both of us I’m sure…but for the time, let us part before tears are spilled or this wonderful moment is ruined.”[/color] Cassius lets a sarcastic laugh follow his words and gives the man a hearty pat on the shoulder. [color=LightSteelBlue]”It seems I have other business to attend to. There is an archery contest that I was sure I would miss, but given that our meeting went far smoother than I ever would have expected I believe that I can make it if I leave…well…immediately.[/color] 

He didn’t even give the man a moment to respond. Instead, he gave a sly bow…turned heel as formally as he possibly could, and walked away back out the gate and towards the contest. [hr]

[u]Location: The Archery Competition
Time: 10:00 AM[/u]

Cassius replayed the meeting over in his head numerous times on his way to sign up for the archery competition. Minutes passed like seconds as everything else around him was a blur. He had to stop and ask a rather attractive couple to point him in the right direction, and almost considered skipping the contest altogether to see if the two were up for a little [i]fun[/i], but alas…he had just arrived. Even he knew it was a bit too early to stir up trouble. Plus, the contest sounded like exactly what he needed to unwind a bit. His mind had been so focused on the business at hand that it would be fun to just enjoy himself in a friendly competition. Hopefully it would give him the opportunity to mingle a bit and get to know some of the other nobles floating around. He was now [i]one of them[/i] afterall. He laughed out loud at the extreme bizarreness of the thought.

Upon his arrival, he signed in under the name Lord Cassius Vael of House Damien. He looked forward to any confusion this would bring. The very thought amused him. What a way to debut.