It really was something else, living in the capital. Back in her village, certain fruits were only really available at one time of year, when a merchant came by with a fresh supply, on his way to bigger sales in the city. In the capital, however, these things were much more available. Even baking powder and baking soda were readily available. It made a baker's life easy, it was no wonder the baking here seemed so… advanced. The powder and soda would keep, she should send some to her mother.

Bananas, strawberries, lemons, and baking soda. That is what the recipe for the yearly bread recipe called for, besides the usual stuff. They typically had to do without lemon, however, which also meant switching from the soda to powder. The capital had all these things and more, so she could use the older form of the recipe. She slipped into the kitchen after most of the breakfast cooking had been done and got right to work. She'd grabbed all the muffin tins and bread pans she could find to make a large batch. Admittedly, they did not have many muffin tins. She would have to acquire more.

Now, what had she found Callum doing in the slums? What she'd heard about him disturbed her. He'd gone and thrown coins at some poor bloke as a means of provocation? She couldn't tell if he'd smelled of his activities or just of the slums when she found him. It was concerning, but she said she'd keep her nose out of it. But, well, maybe she wouldn't. Her service was to the Queen, after all, and she could only imagine the Queen wound want to see the lad's doing alright. As a royal in Caledonia, he probably wasn't.

The bake went smoothly, though there were other tools she'd need to obtain. She made enough bread for the whole barracks to have a bit, and then some. She'd had to do two rounds of baking, as she had not had enough tins for the whole batch. She had the oven space, with two small ovens and one large in the barracks kitchen, but not the tins and pans for it. She would have to get more, if she wanted to do more baking here. She loaded up a basket with muffins, dressed into her adventurer getup, and made a return to the slums.

She had a few people to go through, and a few mouths to stuff full of muffin to stop them from asking too many questions. However, she eventually found satisfying information. The man in question was a known nuisance. What she found was troubling. Perhaps she'd be sticking her nose into matters, after all, but there was the distinct feeling that his family would not aid matters. This would be something she had to do on her own, and she'd missed an opportunity.

Callum. She didn't much envy him the position of Edin's son. She'd caught a glimpse of how the King could be, especially to his family, but she couldn't imagine how bad it was when there weren't eyes to see and ears to hear. Nobility and royalty had to be very, very good about that sort of thing. Perhaps the fallen prince would attract the unsavory sort looking for a high-society in. If he wanted to live so poorly as she witnessed yesterday, she might be able to show him a way to do so without the beatings? She didn't normally involve herself in the high court's internal affairs, let alone the royal family's, but if the prince were in a position where he couldn't rely on his family, then she would see if she could help him, as service to the Queen. Surely, she would seek her son's health and welfare?

Aah, but she would have to find him first. That would have to come tomorrow. For the rest of the day, she would be catching up on any ongoing investigations, particularly with anyone who had done interviews or interrogations yesterday with regards to the gunfire and assassination attempt.

Time: Late Morning
Location: Royal Gardens Tea Party
Attire: Outfit
Interaction: @FunnyGuy Alexander, @Helo Prince Callum
Mentions:



Mina's heart skipped a beat as Alexander's thumb stroked her hand. His touch sent a thrill through her, and she had to remind herself to maintain her composure. She met his gaze with an enigmatic smile, her eyes dancing with playful curiosity. "Well, Mr. Deacon, I must say you have quite the way with words," she purred, her tone suggestive. "It seems you're adept at turning any topic into something... thrilling."

His response about moving to Sorian and his reason for attending the party didn't go unnoticed by Mina. She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "Ah, new to Sorian and already indulging in its pleasures? Quite daring, if you ask me," she said, her voice still soft. "And as for acquaintances, well, you certainly know how to make a lasting impression."

As Alexander kissed her hand, Mina's heart raced even faster. She maintained her alluring smile, though her mind was racing. A married man, and yet he was flirting with her so openly. It was a dangerous game, one that she found herself strangely enticed by. ”As for what brings me, that would be my uncle, Count Sebastian Blackwood. It’s not often he manages to make it to events as he can be rather sickly. It seems like he’s having a good day today, however.” She explained as she gestured to her uncle at the table of women, flirting with them just as she and Alexander were flirting.

Before she could respond further, Prince Callum's arrival broke their bubble of intimacy. Mina turned her attention to him, offering a polite curtsy. "Good morning, Your Highness," she greeted, her tone respectful. "Thank you for the cake, it looks absolutely delightful." She gestured to Alexander. "May I introduce Mr. Alexander Deacon? He's new to Sorian and seems to be enjoying the pleasures of this grand tea party."

She turned back to Alexander with a playful glint in her eye. "And Mr. Deacon, this is Prince Callum Danrose, quite the character of the kingdom, I must say. He can put on quite the party, often my favorite ones to attend while I’m in Sorian." Her tone was light, her demeanor flirtatious as she enjoyed the little dance of words and introductions.

---

Time: Late Morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Attire:Cassius
Interaction:@Tae Kali & @princess Charlotte

---

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 benefits 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 sacrifices, 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.

“Look at the whoreson…I think he's going to cry!” 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.

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

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

“You called me a whoreson…my mother is not a whore. Don’t call her that again.” 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.

“Poor little Cassius…covered in piss…with the biggest WHORE of a mother in the whole city.” 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 pang 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. “Do you realize how scared I was, Cassius?” Her disheartened tone made his physical pain pale in comparison to the weight of her disappointment.

“I’m sorry.” Was all he could manage.

“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.” 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.

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

“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.” 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.

---

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.

“Lady Charlotte…lovely to see you again. Seems I’m not the only one who leaves quite the impression on people.” A smile curled across his lips as he continued to look out towards the water. “I don't know exactly what I just witnessed, but the girl I met the other night…the one that showed me such fire 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.” After a brief pause, he finally turned his stormy eyes to meet hers. This time, they held genuine concern. “I wanted to ask…are you alright? I can’t imagine that was part of your vision for this relaxing day at the beach?”

The concern written across Sjan-dehk’s face as he watched the girl approach the lapping waves was as clear as the sky he stood beneath. He considered following her, but quickly decided against it. Some time alone might do her some good. Besides, did he really think he had the words to ease her situation? Not in her language, he didn’t, and he doubted she understood Viserjantan. His presence would likely do more to confuse than anything else.

So instead, he remained where he was and kept a vigilant eye over her. He might not have understood the full details of their earlier altercation – which, as he thought about it, made his reaction seem all the more silly and reckless – but he caught just enough to know – or guess with some confidence – that this wasn’t the first time the girl had been harassed. And judging by her muted reaction, harassment and ridicule were things she had unfortunately gotten used to.

Or, perhaps her parallels with his youngest sister ran even deeper, and extended to a common gentle and forgiving nature. Either way, the abuse faced by the pale girl displeased Sjan-dehk greatly.

He pulled his tunic back on and tied off the drawstrings at his side. It still escaped him as to why he felt so protective about the girl – a girl whose name he had failed to catch – other than that she reminded him of his sister and evoked the same feelings. Beyond that, it was all a mystery to him, but it wasn’t one he was going to try too hard to solve. To put an end to unjust acts happening before his eyes wasn’t a question of reason. It wasn’t even just that it was the Way. It was also the right and moral thing to do, and that was all that mattered to him.

“Yes,” he said in response to Roman’s query as he threw his equipment back around his body. “I handed it to Lady Adiyan. She is…She will take more time to recover.” Sjan-dehk winced as he recalled the state of the High Queen’s Voice when he had last seen her. As much as her condition had improved, she was still in quite a rough state. “But we have others who can talk, if time is…Not enough. But not today. That is too soon. Maybe another day?”

Sjan-dehk threw a quick, sidelong glance at the pale girl before turning to John. A slight frown flashed over his features as he heard the doctor’s words. Yes, Sjan-dehk once had such thoughts as well, and it would be a lie if he said that he still didn’t find it exhilarating to be at the helm of his Sada Kurau and to have her crush pirates beneath her keel. But at the same time, he was all too aware of bitter reality. The damage a cannonball did to a man was unspeakable, and Sjan-dehk was immediately reminded of decks sticky with blood, and strewn with bodies both torn apart and pulverised into barely-recognisable pulp. And he would have had to keep fighting on amidst such a sordid and macabre environment, and always with the thought that he could just as easily meet such a gruesome end lingering in the back of his mind.

He shook his head slightly, and placed a smile on his face. “Yes. Sometimes,” he replied simply. “This city, it is very…Nice? Good place to be, yes.” He left his response to the doctor at that.

Once again, he snuck a glance at the pale girl. And once again, he considered joining her, but those same doubts from before surfaced in his mind. Not that it mattered in the end; while Sjan-dehk was entertaining his thoughts, someone else approached her. It was the man who had arrived with Kalliope.

That brought him to the woman who had been on his mind. Sjan-dehk had, in fact, noticed her before she joined the group. How could he have not? Dressed in an outfit that showed off enough of her physique to be tantalising, but still keeping enough hidden to allow the imagination a bit of fun, and with her fiery hair pulled up and framing her sun-kissed face beautifully, she was an eye-catching sight to say the least. That was in-and-of-itself a problem for Sjan-dehk; he wasn’t quite sure where he should look. The slight flutter in his heart didn’t help in the least.

“Good morning, Kali,” he said with a tip of his hat that also served to shade more of his eyes. If he couldn’t find a place to rest his gaze, then he would simply obscure it. Even so, he made sure to meet her verdant irises with his earthy ones from time-to-time. It would be impolite to do otherwise. And each time he looked at her, the smile playing across his lips inexplicably widened. “You’ve got a way with words. Can’t say that I understood enough to say anything more about them, but they sounded powerful to my ears. And…” He trailed off as he looked over her attire once more, his cheeks tinting red as he did so. Utterly determined to avoid the same mistake as the previous day, he wracked his mind for a good word to use.

Embarrassing as it was, he immediately thought of words he used to describe ships. “You look…You look stunning.” That word didn’t leave his mouth as smoothly or confidently as he hoped it would, but at least it was an improvement from yesterday. Marginally, but an improvement, nonetheless. He checked on Charlotte once more, but this time, his smile faded as he looked at the man with her. Who was he? And why had he come to the beach with Kalliope? Guilt and irritation flooded his heart almost as soon as those questions entered his mind. Why was he being so nosy? He wasn’t some palace gossip with nothing to do but needlessly pry into the affairs of others. Kalliope could do as she wished, and none of it would be any of his concern.

No, it really had nothing to do with him.

And so, that was why instead of asking those questions, he simply nodded to the pair standing not too far away at the water’s edge. “Who’s your friend?” He asked in as casual a voice as he could muster, and that alone made him even more annoyed at himself. Why was he acting this way? It was unbecoming and not at all congruent to the Way. A flush came over his cheeks. “I-I mean, I didn’t catch his name. Don’t want to be rude when he comes back, you know?”

Time: Late Morning
Location: Royal Gardens Tea Party
Attire: Outfit
Interaction: @FunnyGuy Alexander, @Helo Prince Callum
Mentions:



Mina's eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched Alexander's interaction with Prince Callum. The dynamics between the two men were intriguing, and she couldn't help but appreciate the subtle power play that was unfolding. She maintained her alluring smile, her demeanor still playful and flirtatious as she responded to Callum's comment about his partying days being over.

"Oh, Prince Callum, sworn off the booze, have you?" she said, her voice tinged with mock surprise. "What a shame, just when I was considering offering you some of Kolonivka's special brandy. It's been known to have quite the... revitalizing effect." She couldn't resist a playful wink before she reached out, taking the flask from him. Without hesitation, she took a swig, her lips curling into a mischievous grin as she felt the warm burn of the alcohol.

She turned her attention back to Alexander, her eyes dancing with amusement. "You must forgive us, Mr. Deacon," she said, her voice still suggestive. "Prince Callum and I have a bit of a shared history involving spirited discussions and spirited spirits." It wasn’t the whole truth as they really hadn’t spent much time around each other. If they did, it was at one of the secret afterparties during the courting season and they often were both rather drunk or with others. Still, she knew enough about Callum just from gossip and observation and she’d decided she quite liked him. She offered the flask to Alexander, her fingers brushing against his as she did so. She held the plate of cake in the other hand, not quite touching it yet.

As Callum turned the conversation towards his charity project, Mina's demeanor shifted slightly. Her flirtatious playfulness gave way to a more genuine interest in the cause. "Supporting a charitable project, Prince Callum? That's certainly a noble endeavor," she said, her voice sincere. "And you're right, the Blackwoods have always believed in the well-being of our people. What would a ruler be without their people, afterall? I would be honored to offer my support." She glanced at Alexander with a knowing smile. "What do you say, Mr. Deacon? Shall we help make Sorian a better place for everyone?"

Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and mischief as she waited to see how Alexander would respond. The game was on, and Mina was fully committed to playing her part.

Time: Morning
Location: Beach Event
Mention:
Interactions: Lorenzo @FunnyGuy
Appearance:Outfit, Hair style

Her eyes widen in reaction to his…accident as she looked away trying to not laugh at his discomfort. She took a bite of her sandwich as her feet dug into the sand as the current continued to flow in and out. “I did warn you, but most things that are good for you don’t taste great unfortunately.” She offered him a friendly smile “ Oh, you don't need to repay me for anything. It’s nice that my strange habits come in handy sometimes.”

Listening to him talk about the dinner was interesting. Hearing his perspective she was surprised he wasn’t more angry about his treatment.

Smiling at Charlotte when she delivered the smoothies she took it gratefully as the refreshing taste of strawberries certainly hit the spot. “ I, unfortunately, had to leave rather early from the event. My mother thought it to be a good idea to embarrass me at such a large event by having my brother come and escort me back home in front of Farim.” she took a frustrated sip of her drink as her brows furrowed just thinking about it.

Your mother is wrong, you know? I think she's wrong about most things.

Thats an understatement…

Ariella sat and listened to the Duke. His words were surprising, to say the least and yet rather expressive of who he was as a person. Her mother was certainly a weed, and her knowing the location of the only place she felt home at caused a level of discomfort Ariella hated. Her eyes widened at the mention of Vermillion “ No…No balls? No nothing? Just… and your garden?” She repeated his words as her face showed a level of disbelief. Ariella shook her head “ No I haven’t, but from what you're saying it sounds wonderful.” she smiled, finishing the last bite of her sandwich. “Please, tell me more about it. “ she said excitedly, her face lit up like a firework bursting with excitement. “ What kind of things do you grow in your garden? What do you do for fun there? Does it snow? “ she started listing off questions without taking a breath.

---

Time: Late Morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Attire:Cassius
Interaction:@princess Charlotte, @Potter Olivia, & @SausagePat Ruby

---

The way Charlotte visibly tensed upon hearing his voice had more of an impact on Cassius than he would likely ever admit. He was someone who thrived on getting reactions, both positive and negative ones alike. However, something about her reaction in particular pained him. It reminded him of their initial meeting, and how bad he felt about the way things had played out that evening though he still couldn’t wrap his mind around why. He simply was who he was…unapologetically, and everyone could either take it or leave it as far as he was concerned. He didn’t give a damn what anyone thought about him as long as he was on their mind. Why then, did it bother him so that she was clearly avoiding his eyes as she averted her gaze towards the sea?

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking...It was only a smoothie..." A moment of silence followed her assurance as Cassius, a man who rarely found himself without words ready on the tip of his tongue, struggled to find a way to respond. Soon though, Charlotte broke the silence with a question of her own. "Are you doing well?" Oddly enough, despite his speechlessness only a few seconds before…his response came out immediately and unprocessed.

”Honestly, I’m not sure how I’m doing. Should be wonderful given the morning I’ve had and the way my life has changed over the course of the last few days. I am not sure what I could possibly have to complain about given my new access to wealth and status… yet…something haunts me all the same. In fact, believe it or not I would actually like to…” His words were cut off by the arrival of someone new. The woman had an extraordinary case of Heterochromia, something that only added to her natural good looks. Charlotte stood to greet the woman, whose name was apparently Ruby. She then proceeded to introduce Cassius to both Ruby as well as the other woman standing next to Charlotte named Olivia.

Part of him was almost glad that his apology had been cut off. The words had come out without him even intending for them to, and something about that caught him off guard. He pondered why he was so eager to apologize, but his natural brand of swagger clicked back into place as he addressed the two women with a charming bow.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both, and I must say…you two look absolutely lovely. I hope you’re enjoying your morning at the beach, and what Lady Charlotte says is true, however she left out one important detail. I’m not just the Count’s son…I’m his bastard.” His introduction was laced with sugar as his words came out genuine and kind, the final statement dripping with playful exuberance as he let the word bastard come out as barely a whisper.

A coy smile crossed his face as he continued. ”I know…what an absolute scandal at play. Who wouldn’t love being a skeleton in the closest of a man like my father? Seems to be the role I was quite literally born to play.” The sarcasm was on full display as he spoke, but as he turned his gaze to Charlotte once more his smile shifted back to one of actual genuinity. ”Thank you kindly for the introductions, Lady Charlotte. I would be remiss if I did not also mention how lovely you look today as well. Almost perfect, in fact, save for this.” Cassius reached a hand out and delicately wiped away a final few drops of smoothie that had found itself in her hair. His eyes returned to hers sweetly once he was finished. “That’s better…a bit of spilled smoothie stood no chance of hindering such beauty.”

The mysterious, discomforting feeling festering in Sjan-dehk’s heart diminished slightly as his conversation with Kalliope progressed. How could it have done otherwise, in the face of pretty eyes shining with playful mischief, and in the presence of her amicable warmth? Even the prying questions that had floated through his head earlier fell silent – as they should have been from the very start. Sjan-dehk felt himself genuinely relax, instead of having to pretend to be casual and at ease. He could scarcely remember why he had to in the first place. Not even Kalliope’s remark to the departing Cassius could rattle him, although that was more because he didn’t quite understand what she had meant.

A subtle flutter tickled his heart at Kalliope’s words. “My dashing Captain.” There was something about the way she had said those three words that made Sjan-dehk feel happy, yet at the same time, brought him a degree of bashfulness he hadn’t experienced in a very long time. He dipped his head ever-so-slightly, and hid more of his face within the shadow cast by his hat.

Nevertheless, he chuckled at Kalliope’s remarks regarding the stranger-with-the-guards. Sjan-dehk made a note of her name – she seemed to be an important Alidashti, and thus was likely someone he needed to be aware of, at the very least. “Let’s hope the repercussions never find you, then.” Sjan-dehk offered her a grin along with his words. “Makes what you did pretty damn admirable, if I do say so myself.”

And just as he was about to ask Kalliope about her history with Layla, she introduced Cassius to him.

There was nothing wrong with her words themselves, but there was something in her voice, some strange and vague thing underlying what she had said that brought the discomforting feeling back to the forefront of Sjan-dehk’s heart and mind. His brows furrowed slightly.

“...known for his ways with the ladies."

Suddenly, Sjan-dehk started to understand what Kalliope had meant by Cassius uttering the wrong name the previous night, and with it, an insight to their relationship he wished he never gained. Not that he knew why he felt what he felt, and that made things all the more uncomfortable for him. He was, however, very much aware that the unease he felt was etched upon his face, and so he quickly turned away from her. He looked towards Charlotte, but his eyes were, in fact, focused on the horizon far in the distance.

He cleared his throat and tried to sound as normal as he could when he answered Kalliope. “So that’s her name? Charlotte? Only just met her this morning. She seems nice enough so far. Reminds me of–” He cut himself short just before mentioning his sister. “Of people I know. Might be too early to tell for certain, but I can’t see any harm in getting to know her a little better.”

Then, he turned back to Kalliope, his face neutral but eyes reproachful. “But I do know that she’s had quite a rough morning as it is. Let’s not tease the poor girl and give her any more grief, aye?” He let out a muted sigh as he looked back towards the shore. This was all so very silly, and worse than that, immature. What did it matter to him, if Kalliope was in a relationship with Cassius? Nothing at all, surely; she was merely a friend, if even that. Acquaintance might be a more accurate way of putting it – Sjan-dehk had only known her for all of a day-and-a-half, at most. In a mutter, he added, "Just doesn't feel right, you know? To see a girl like her getting shat upon."

Yes, he was just being silly. That was what Sjan-dehk told himself.

And perhaps, that was why right at the very moment, he wanted to be anywhere else but here. The beach no longer felt even remotely familiar or comfortable. Every fibre of his being told him to leave, to return to the comforting surroundings of his Sada Kurau and lose himself to the monotony and drudgery of the daily routine of keeping a warship running smoothly.

But he couldn’t. To do such a juvenile thing was shameful.

Instead, he did something even sillier. “Looks like they’re having a good time,” he said and tilted his chin towards Charlotte and Cassius. As much as he could, he tried to keep the bite from seeping into his words, though he doubted he was overly-successful. “Your partner seems quite interested in her as well. Should we go join them? Going into the water sounds like a pretty damn good idea to me right about now.”