[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ONd4lpK.png[/img][/center]
[color=00F8FE]Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Ballroom to Wulfric’s Office
Interactions: [@SilverPaw] Wulfric [/color]

[color=9FA1A4]
While Prince’s Court had begun with promise, it soon devolved into tedium. No one else brought him wine, or produce to antagonize a king with, or even a simple glimpse at a real person. An hour was spent writhing under a spotlight while a crowd of unfamiliar faces looked on. There was nothing to do but wait around for someone to approach and then engage in what felt like the same conversations played on repeat. It was hard to just sit there and be still and look regal, so he drummed his fingers against the table and fidgeted with the stuff on the table. Callum tried to be still when someone else sat across from him but he held no doubts that every onlooker could see just how much he did not want to be there.  [color=00F8FE][i]Don’t be rude. Don’t be rude. Don’t be rude.[/i][/color] He had to keep reminding himself because he kept forgetting.

He could handle the attention when he was biting into onions or making announcements from atop a table, but doing nothing like he was now, felt so wasteful. Right now he was practically on a stage with enough eyes and ears near him that he could do something that mattered if only he were made of something other than bad ideas and impotent rebellions. So he only tried his best to do what he was supposed to do on this stage and blend in with the scenery, but even as nothing more than a prop, Cal performed poorly. 

Then there was Wulfric, placing a grounding hand on his shoulder, offering him a path to escape. He didn’t have to be here anymore. As much as he wanted to flee his chair in the same way Ruby had earlier, he held back. Callum didn’t bother to look his brother’s way, only nodded his agreement and waited. He wasn’t going to let Wulfric know he’d done him a favor, that would feel like a loss in the imaginary war he was in with his brother. 

Wulfric made his exit from the ballroom and Callum sat through another conversation that left his mind as soon as it ended. He didn’t announce his departure or wait for any official dismissal; Cal only nodded at Edin and left the ballroom taking the handkerchief and worm pot with him.  

But he didn’t go directly to Wulfric’s office, but meandered through the hallways, taking the scenic route, to go see his brother. He studied the railing as he climbed his way up the stairs. He took detours through various rooms looking like a lost tourist as he studied objects he’d seen hundreds of times. He again stopped at his own bedroom and placed the handkerchief and tiny worm pot on his desk. He drank more whiskey. Enough to wash away any lingering taste of onion. He locked his bedroom door as he left. He staggered around the second floor some more, taking the longest path possible to Wulfric’s office. Just to be a nuisance.

Callum knocked once against the door to Wulfric’s office before opening the door and walking in without waiting for a response. [color=00F8FE]“You [i]wanted[/i] to see me? Again?”[/color] He walked into the room, left the door open, and made his way to one of the couches. He flopped onto the couch and swung his legs up and laid back, letting his feet rest atop one armrest and his head on the other. [color=00F8FE]“Surely a Crown Prince has better things to do than keep tabs on his brother all day.”[/color] Callum grinned and on instinct, he poked the bear to see how angry it was. [/color]