[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ONd4lpK.png[/img][/center] [color=00F8FE]Time: Ignis 2nd: Morning Location: Charity auction in the park Interactions: Kira[@Potter] Mentions: Cassius, Charlotte, Roman [/color] [hr] [color=9FA1A4] [color=black][i][/i][/color] Clarence alerted Callum to Cassius’s appearance as the man made a generous offer towards the charity auction. [color=00F8FE][i]Cassius?[/i][/color] Callum’s eyes followed the monkey’s and landed on a familiar face. [color=00F8FE][i]Nooo. I liked him.[/i][/color] He was already semi-convinced he could make Cassius his newest drinking buddy and they’d shit-talk their shit-dads and maybe play cards. [color=black][i][/i][/color] There was a sharp edge to the thought, one that sliced through Callum’s doubts. Then, like watching a scene from a play, Clarence replayed what it had witnessed at the banquet a few nights ago. How Cassius had stood in against Roman, spoken against Roman, condemned Roman; a man that bastard didn’t even know. Callum’s jaw clenched. [color=00F8FE][i]That dick. And I thought he was cool.[/i][/color] But Cassius really was just another Damien. Just as Calbert and his wife had sent guards to instigate an incident at Roman’s ceremony, Cassius had attempted to paint Roman as some kind of villain. The Damiens conspired against Roman. Roman, the man who had always had Cal’s back. Who pulled him up from countless tavern floors over the years. Who stared down anyone who’d ever thought about taking a swing at Callum. And who never once made Cal feel something lesser because he couldn’t hold his own in a bar fight. Roman was a true friend, a good man, and someone who gave Callum hope that there were better places in the world far from Sorian. There was not a noble less deserving of daggers being slung his way, than Roman. His gaze stayed fixed on Cassius as rage burned through his veins. [color=black][i][/i][/color] The familiar encouraged, with fur bristling at the shift in emotions . [color=00F8FE]“Three-hundered!”[/color] Callum shouted out with a small stumble forward. Eyes still locked in the direction of Cassius as his hand shot towards the sky holding up three fingers. The monkey cackled as it leapt and clapped at Cal’s side. [color=00F8FE]“And another hundo from the [b]MON-KAAAAY![/b]”[/color] Cal added, now holding four fingers up into the air with a grin. The prince clapped his hands together and his eyes moved from Cassius’s profile to the woman who had placed a bid before the Damien heir. Callum waved at her. [color=00F8FE]“You. Me. Team-up. [b]TRIANGLE DATE![/b]”[/color] Callum shouted at her, grin widening. [color=00F8FE]“And we give a big ol’ pile o’ gold to feed the people!”[/color] He spread his arms out wide, as if he were a shining beacon of benevolence, still holding a bottle of whiskey. All he wanted was to see Cassius lose. Either he and Kira would pool their funds together, the charity would win big, and Cassius would lose. Or he would keep bidding, alone or as a team with the other woman, until it crossed into stupid territory. The charity would still win, and Cassius could pay through the nose for a sliver of Charlotte’s time. At least he’d cost the Damiens something. A scratch was still a wound. Good deeds still counted even if you got something out of them for yourself. Callum dropped one arm and lifted the whiskey bottle towards Kira as if for a toast and waited for her answer. [/color]