[color=darkgray] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3EdPgr4.png[/img][/center] [Color=salmon][b]Time:[/b][/color] Morning [Color=salmon][b]Location:[/b][/color] Edward's Estate [Color=salmon][b]Interaction:[/b][/color] [@princess] Cassius, Callum, Charlotte [Color=salmon][b]Mention:[/b][/color] Lorenzo was wearing a warm smile of glee on his face. How could he not? He had just confronted Cassius about his slightly inappropriate behavior with Charlotte, using the appropriate amount of tact without ruining a potential new relationship between himself and Cassius. Now he and the rest of the members of his table could enjoy some spirits to improve the already positive environment further. Or so he thought… It always seemed to play out that way for the duke but this was… Let’s say this was unique to other times. Pay attention. [b][color=lightsteelblue]“Are you finished?”[/color][/b] Lorenzo turned to face Cassius again, wondering what he might say. He only hoped Cassius did not mean to apologize. It might have been nice but it would lay things on a little too thick. Lorenzo only wished to reach a mutual understanding between himself and Cassius that he could truly treasure from now onward. It was unfortunate that this was something Lorenzo and Calbert never reached and possibly never would. At least here, there seemed to be hope. He felt the soft brush of Cassius’ hand on his shoulder and welcomed the kind gesture with a smile. He almost gave thanks but something about how he said his previous words stayed his tongue. Something was very wrong, and it took a hair too long to realize it. [color=lightsteelblue]“I’m truly not sure what I’ve done to earn such ire, your grace, but you are fortunate that I am a man forgiving of such…outbursts. Insults, threats…all in the span a moment, really. Is that how a man of your status…a [i]father[/i]...should conduct himself?”[/color] [color=salmon]“Eh.”[/color] Lorenzo nervously let out as he was a bit confused about Cassius’ defensiveness. [color=salmon][i]Saying I would treat you harshly for treating my daughter harshly is ire? What?[/i][/color] In Lorenzo’s perplexity, he allowed Cassius to continue, hoping there was a dark-humored punch-line ready to be delivered. Instead… [color=lightsteelblue]“How amusing, the thought of a street-rat bastard such as myself lecturing a Duke in the art of decorum. I mean look at you…”[/color] [color=salmon][i]Maybe he… Perhaps he is joking… Yes, he doesn’t seem angry… but that doesn’t mean he isn’t.[/i][/color] Lorenzo gulped as the sharpness of Cassius’s words pressed against him. Not with lethality but only to continue applying pressure onto him. As Cassius adjusted his outfit, the intention of his words became clearer and clearer until it rivaled the clarity of a window pane. [color=lightsteelblue]“What comes next, are you going to strike me? No? Then I suggest you pull yourself together and act like a [i]real[/i] father for a moment.”[/color] Lorenzo’s moment of confusion came to a full stop the moment Cassius questioned his parentage. He questioned his legitimacy. Lorenzo’s eyebrows furrowed as the young man who shared little in appearance with his father somehow appeared identical. Was this his play for this party? To pretend to be offended by slight words of warning so he could spout terrible words directed at him. To wound him deeply without leaving a scar. It would be crazy to think Calbert would subject his son to a vile familial initiation ceremony consisting of humiliating him but it was far easier than believing this young man who had little influence from his father inherited his evil. [color=lightsteelblue]“And to suggest that your own daughter may be nothing more than an hors d'oeuvre. How belittling. Plus, maybe I don’t want just a little taste? Maybe what I want is the full meal?”[/color] Lorenzo’s left eye twitched as he attempted to contain himself for the very person Cassius was speaking of. He could have defended her, Charlotte. With words? With rage? Perhaps madness could take the reins? Maybe wailing and screaming to get it all out so he wouldn’t have to point his feelings toward anyone. Or maybe that was the answer? Action. Throw something? Break something… someone? Violence… that is what that would be, right? Is that what he resorted to that evening as his late wife struck him with her balled hands and all manner of things? That terrible evening of Emina’s death. Was it him? Did he snap? Did he… … … … … … … … Did he ruin his daughter’s life? Why not? Is that not what he always does? Is that not what he’s about to do right now? Lorenzo was truly torn. He wanted to fight for Charlotte so badly, at this very moment in any way he could! He wanted to argue! He wanted to scream! He wanted to break something! He wanted to break someone! He wanted to cry. Yet despite it all, he just sat there. Lorenzo shook his head, took a deep breath, adjusted himself in his seat, and just sat there. [color=salmon][i]Ignore him. This is not the time nor the place for tears, anguish, or rage. This is Lottie’s time, this is her season, this is her age… Endure, Lorenzo. Keep her safe. Keep her happy. You promised.[/i][/color] [color=00F8FE]“It’s an honor to sit with the best-dressed Duke in Caesonia,”[/color] said Prince Callum as arrived at the table. [color=D0B4EC] "He is rather splendid, isn’t he?"[/color] Charlotte agreed. The grand compliment from royalty at that, but the words did not seem to register completely. To appear polite, Lorenzo forced a short-lived smile. Keeping his expressions light held back the tears that yearned to escape and bring him to express how he felt. Even as Charlotte sat in the seat between himself and Cassius with excitement and ignorance, he sat calmly. It was what he wanted, right? For Lottie to make friends and socialize with her peers. To not be shackled by his poor judgment and decision-making. [color=00F8FE]“Oh, look! Shots are here!”[/color] Callum announced. [color=D0B4EC] "Oh! Shots, yes—how thrilling!"[/color] Charlotte laughed delightfully. To believe something so soft and delicate could help hold himself together, to even summon that was more genuine than the last. Still… [color=00F8FE]“To the two of you, a stunning couple. And to Lord Drake, of course.”[/color] It stung, to see and hear Callum present that toast, but the swig he took from his cocktail did well in rivaling it. He noticed its potency. Perhaps he was one of the few who could scrutinize the barely noticeable unevenness of the cocktail’s mixture. A dangerous concoction he was more than willing to welcome. Lorenzo stood up with a feigned smile and grabbed a second beverage from the server before returning to his seat. In front of Lorenzo sat his lone shot for the toast. With a slight shrug, he dumped its contents into his current cocktail. [/Color]