[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/AldUxWF.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/WfLXxRf.png[/img][/center]
[hr][i][color=LightSteelBlue]Time: Late Morning[/color] 
[color=LightSteelBlue]Location: Sorian Beach[/color] 
[color=Lightsteelblue]Attire:[/color][url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1065027714953793578/1138619964304142417/Cas_Beach.png]Cassius[/url]
[color=LightSteelBlue]Interaction:[/color][@Tae] Kali & [@princess] Charlotte [/i]
[hr]
[center]Many Years Ago[/center]

The cobblestone streets of Stravy had been a welcome change from the dirt roads and muddy trails that they had been traveling for weeks. Cassius, even at his young age, had come to love life on the road…but even he appreciated the comforts that cities could bring. Normally, when the troupe hit a place like Stravy, it meant staying there for at least a few weeks. This time had been a bit longer than usual. Almost three months…it had been the longest that Cas had been in one place in quite a while. He had even gotten to know some of the other children, for better or for worse, and had learned his way around the district they were staying in. For the most part, he had the unadulterated freedom to roam and explore as he pleased…one of the [i]benefits[/i] of the life he had been given. 

His mother was far too busy with rehearsals, performances, and all of the hustle and bustle that came with her musical endeavors to keep an eye on him all the time. She did her best, but that lifestyle came with certain [i]sacrifices[/i], and the inability to be an attentive parent certainly was one of them. Cassius did not hold any of that against his mother though, especially at the age of ten. He was in awe of her, and despite often not being allowed in the venues to see her performances…he usually found a way to watch. Even back then, he was proficient in the art of finding a way to get what he wanted. 

Sitting on the outer fence of the amphitheater, Cassius had his legs wrapped around the posts and his arms intertwined with the railing to further support his rather uncomfortable positioning. It was the best he could do to get a proper view of the stage below, where his mother was about to perform. She had been practicing a new song for weeks and tonight was meant to be its proper debut. The other opening act was in the final moments of their performance, and it was only a short while before he would get to see his mother walk across that stage and do what no one in the world could do better…at least in his eyes. 

As he waited, a smile crept across his young face as he was filled with the excitement and pride he had for his mother. That smile did not last. 

He was struck with the stinging sensation of liquid crashing into his body unexpectedly. The shock of it was only overshadowed by the stench that immediately hit his nostrils. Cassius darted his eyes away from the stage and turned to see what had happened. What he found was a group of other children who immediately began to laugh at his misfortune…one of which was holding a chamber pot with a smug look on their face. The realization of what was going on began to set in. Then came rage.

Tears of anger welled up in his eyes as he lowered himself from the fence. The other kids continued to laugh as his feet finally hit the ground.

[color=E9967A]“Look at the whoreson…I think he's going to cry!”[/color] One of the boys shouted. The others roared in laughter at the remark.

Cassius let his eyes travel to the one who was speaking. He took in every feature of the boy, burning it all into his memory out of sheer spite. The way the boy’s curly blonde locks looked as though they hadn’t been washed in weeks, the freckles that lined his face, the one eye that was greener than the other, and even that shit eating grin that adorned his ugly mug…it was all photographed into his young mind in the most permanent way. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“Don’t call her that.”[/color]  Was all that escaped Cas’ lips in the moment, his tone was quiet and eerily neutral. 

[color=E9967A]“What did you just say?”[/color] The bully asked, perhaps caught off guard by the statement or unable to hear over the sounds of laughter surrounding him. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“You called me a whoreson…my mother is not a whore. Don’t call her that again.”[/color] Cassius stated in that same, cold tone of voice. The bully looked around at his friends, the shit eating grin on his face growing more and more smug by the second. The others began to chant for him to say it again.

[color=E9967A]“Poor little Cassius…covered in piss…with the biggest WHORE of a mother in the whole city.”[/color] The kid's words barely finished crossing his lips before Cassius charged him. Somehow, Cassius ripped the chamberpot from the bully’s hand and cracked him over the head with it; a loud and satisfying [i]pang[/i] reverberated from the impact. The boy hit the ground hard, but before Cassius could even process his next move…the others were on him. It wasn’t the first time he had been beaten to a pulp…and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.  

Eventually, guards rushed in to break up the melee. The other kids scattered, dispersing like cockroaches into the streets and alleyways. Only Cassius and the boy he struck in the head remained. That boy was unconscious, a bit of blood dripped from where Cassius hit him with his makeshift weapon. The guards grabbed them both and took them away. Those next few hours were a blur until finally his mother showed up to retrieve him. He had never seen her so angry. She didn’t say a word to him until they got back to their small, one bedroom abode at the inn. 

Meredith inspected his wounds with care, but the look on her face was full of disappointment. [color=DA70D6]“Do you realize how scared I was, Cassius?”[/color] Her disheartened tone made his physical pain pale in comparison to the weight of her disappointment. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“I’m sorry.”[/color]  Was all he could manage. 

[color=DA70D6]“Oh, you’re sorry…Good!! That fixes everything. That changes the fact that every single coin I earned tonight went into that guard’s pocket just so he would let me bring you home.”[/color] She very rarely raised her voice at him like this, but tonight had been a terrible night. What was supposed to be the highlight of their entire tour turned into an absolute nightmare as she had been forced to spend hours tracking down her only son. There was a silence that lingered between them as she tried to get control of her emotions. It was Cassius that broke it first. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“They called you a whore.”[/color]  His voice came out mostly regretful, but with a slight hint of defensiveness that still remained. 

[color=DA70D6]“And why does it matter what a bunch of delinquent children think, Little Bear? What power do they have over us? You can’t force this world into being what you want it to be. All you can do is  choose whether you float with the waves or continue to fight them.”[/color] Her tone changed throughout her statement. Starting at the same, disappointed position and slowly transitioning into one of love and care. Despite her frustration, she brushed her son’s filthy hair out of his face as she cherished knowing that he was safe. Even then, at that age, something about her words resonated with Cassius. He knew, as did his mother, that this would not be the last time trouble would find them, but Meredith was hopeful that her beloved son would heed her warning all the same. 

[hr]
[center]Present Day, At The Beach[/center]

As the tension of the moment began to disperse, Cassius once again took in the sight of everyone around him. His eyes lingered on Kali for a moment, flashing her a smirk and nod in recognition of her impressive display. Then, once again, his attention turned to Charlotte as she removed her dress, combed her fingers through her hair, and surprisingly addressed him as well as Kalliope. He could not deny her beauty as she discarded the smoothie-stained dress to reveal the bathing suit underneath, and her turning to speak to him actually caught him a bit off guard. For the moment, he simply answered her courteous welcome with a polite nod…but soon, as she stepped away from the group to finish cleaning what remained of the spilled smoothie from her body, Cassius sauntered over. As he moved past the others to make his way next to her, his gaze turned to the splendor of the water that stretched for miles in front of them. He addressed her with a calm voice…one not as full of wit and flirtation as it was the other night, but that patented charm remained.

[color=LightSteelBlue]“Lady Charlotte…lovely to see you again. Seems I’m not the only one who leaves quite the impression on people.”[/color]  A smile curled across his lips as he continued to look out towards the water. [color=LightSteelBlue]“I don't know exactly what I just witnessed, but the girl I met the other night…the one that showed me such [i]fire[/i] doesn’t seem the type to just stand there and let someone treat her that way. I was glad to see your friends jump to your defense, not that I think you needed it…but it’s always good to have support.”[/color]  After a brief pause, he finally turned his stormy eyes to meet hers. This time, they held genuine concern. [color=LightSteelBlue]“I wanted to ask…are you alright? I can’t imagine that was part of your vision for this relaxing day at the beach?”[/color]