[color=gray][INDENT][COLOR=lightgray][SUB][SUP][H3][I]Previously...[/I][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][/COLOR]
[COLOR=DIMGRAY][quote]Picking up a tent, Cass hauled the bag upwards with minimal effort, though noting that despite its seeming lightweight construction, it wasn't without heft. Walking over to Axel, Cass lifted the tent in a salutation before forcing a smile.

[color=#8AACEB]"I got us a tent! Want to help me set it up?"[/color] His eyes darted back towards Katja, before looking towards the older male in a manner that practically screamed 'save me'. With any luck, Axel would take pity and save Cass from the hole he dug.[/quote][/color][/INDENT][CENTER][COLOR=#455676][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5407930][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1047910123206627378/1080163847022841937/image.png[/img][/url][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=#798bab][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Southern Plateau[/I] - [I]Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=#798bab][b]The Homecoming Trials #1.050:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Flight Risk[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=#455676][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=#798bab][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I][@Hillan] - Axel Bordeaux[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=#798bab][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Somebody Save Me[/I][/right][/SUP]
[INDENT]Axel’s brow furrowed. He looked at Cassander and then back at Katja before bringing his eyes to land back on Cassander. With a reluctant nod, he agreed to the younger teen’s request, though admittedly confused why someone in Cass’ situation would rather spend the night in a tent with him than take the opportunity to ‘snuggle to keep warm’ with Katja. 

[color=#C0C0C0]“Whatever, kid.”[/color] Axel gestured for Cassander to put the tent down as the blonde-haired boy got to work. 

[color=#8AACEB]“Great,”[/color] Cass replied, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. He could tell he had hurt Katja’s feelings. He had at least shook her hand and introduced himself, but panic had set in and his mouth was faster than his brain. Thankfully Axel had covered for him this time.

[color=#8AACEB]“I’ll get this set up.”[/color]

Admittedly, Cassander had never been camping before. And what he knew of camping, he knew solely from movies and television. That said, this ‘tent’ was nothing like the poles and canvas he was expecting and after a few moments of fidgeting with the shelter, Cass found a small lever. Giving it a quick pull, a hiss escaped the tent as the poles began to unfold and the base extended over the dry, patchy grassland. 

[color=#cecfd2]“Ah!”[/color] A voice foreign to Cassander suddenly rang out from behind him. [color=#cecfd2]“I see you’ve made a friend.”[/color]

Turning around, Cassander saw a faculty member approaching. He didn’t immediately recognize the man, but he bore more than a passing resemblance to Axel. Combined with the House Lynx emblem proudly displayed on his windbreaker, Cassander realized this had to be Viktor Bordeaux; Axel’s father.

[color=#C0C0C0]“Friend?”[/color] Axel retorted with a snide chuckle, [color=#C0C0C0]“More like a rescue dog.”[/color] He added, not making an attempt to hide the barbed comment.  [color=#C0C0C0]“Are you checking in on me, old man?”[/color]

Cassander felt his cheeks sting as they flushed red.

[color=#cecfd2]“Just wanted to see how you were settling in.”[/color] Viktor mused looking over Cassander briefly before turning his gaze towards the rest of Team Blackjack. [color=#cecfd2]“You are, after all, something of a flight risk.”[/color] 

Cassander allowed himself to scoff at the bad joke. Axel subsequently shot him a look that caused Cass to second guess if he’d regret it.

[color=#C0C0C0]“How long have you been sitting on that one?”[/color] Axel asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest before stiffening up. It was the same sort of hostility that Axel had shown earlier in the day. 

[color=#cecfd2]“It was just a joke.”[/color]

[color=#C0C0C0]“I don’t think I’m at the place where I’m ready for some ‘friendly’ father-son ribbing.”[/color] Axel snapped back, [color=#C0C0C0]“I definitely don’t need you coming down here to babysit me, and I frankly don’t appreciate it.”[/color] 

Cass began fidgeting with the door to the tent. It was probably time to give them some space.

[color=#C0C0C0]“You got this, puppy?”[/color] Axel asked, snapping a pair of fingers towards Cassander.

That was it.

[color=#8AACEB]“That does it-”[/color] Cassander roared back, a flare of light emitting from both palms as he stepped forward only to be stopped as Viktor placed a hand on his shoulder.

[color=#C0C0C0]“Ha, guess they didn’t neuter you at the shelter.”[/color] Axel laughed. [color=#C0C0C0]“Whatever, I need a breather. Enjoy kumbaya or whatever.”[/color] He saluted before becoming airborne and heading off towards the storm cloud-laden horizon.

[color=#cecfd2]“Sorry about that, young man.”[/color] Viktor apologized, turning towards Cassander. [color=#cecfd2]“I wouldn’t count on Axel returning tonight, but on the plus side, you’ll have plenty of space to stretch out.”[/color]

Taking a breath, Cassander allowed himself to nod. As the burn subsided in his hands, he slowly released his fingers, looking down at the nail marks dug into his palms. 

[color=#cecfd2]“Take a moment, cool off and then you really should go and bond with your team, I’ll let Jim know what happened,”[/color] Viktor added, patting Cassander on the back who looked around at the other ten members of Blackjack.

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