[color=lightgray][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Py8ahPu.png[/img][/center]
[hr][i][color=LightSteelBlue]Time: 10am[/color] 
[color=LightSteelBlue]Location: Edwards Estate / Drake’s Party[/color] 
[color=LightSteelBlue]Interaction:[/color] [@princess] Lottie, [@Helo] Callum, [@FunnyGuy] Lorenzo[/i]
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As Cassius leaned back in his chair, his arm was still draped casually around Charlotte’s shoulders as Callum’s remarks hung in the air. He chuckled at the Prince’s sudden arrival, his voice smooth and teasing.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Ah, Your Highness. I do not yet know you well, but I might have guessed that shots would bring you running.”[/color]

His charming eyes sparkled with mischief as he raised his glass to acknowledge Callum, though his attention lingered for a moment on the odd expression Callum wore as he stared at Charlotte.

[i][color=lightsteelblue]Hmm. Interesting.[/color][/i] Cassius wasn’t blind to the curiosity—and perhaps something more—that flickered in Callum’s eyes. Not that it mattered. Everyone had their secrets, and Cassius wasn’t one to judge based on idle glances. But the brief moment of curiosity made him wonder just what it was about Charlotte that seemed to draw out such a gaze from the man.

His smirk widened at Callum’s apology for the "bastard" comment. Cassius waved it off with a dismissive hand, having never been offended by the satire.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Oh, don’t worry about it, Your Highness. ‘Bastard’ is hardly an insult in my world. In fact, I’d say it’s a term of endearment for someone like me.”[/color]

His gaze darkened slightly, though the smirk never left his face.

[color=lightsteelblue]“And as for my father—”[/color] he paused, letting the weight of that word settle between them, [color=lightsteelblue]“—let’s just say that so far it seems we share similar tastes in wine… and little else.”[/color]

The tension broke when the waiter appeared with a tray of cocktails and shots, and Callum seized the opportunity to raise a toast. Cassius watched with a bemused expression as the prince lifted his glass toward both him and Lottie, insinuating that the two of them were an item. 

[i][color=lightsteelblue]A couple?[/color][/i] Cassius thought, hiding his amusement behind a sip of his drink. He glanced down at Charlotte, her blush deepening as she instinctively raised her glass in response. The sight was enough to make him grin. There was something oddly endearing about the way she flushed at the slightest provocation, even when she clearly disagreed with the assumption. Cassius leaned closer to her, his voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper as she began her objection.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Well, Princess, it seems we’ve fooled him. Who knew two days of you even tolerating me would make us look so… believable?”[/color]

He winked at her, enjoying the playful tension, but his amusement was short-lived when he felt her stiffen beneath his arm. His banter faded as he noticed the distant look in her eyes. Charlotte had frozen mid-toast, her hand hovering in the air as if she’d forgotten where she was. It was subtle, but Cassius was attuned enough to recognize when someone was slipping away, trapped in some memory or emotion far beyond the present moment.

His grip on her shoulder tightened ever so slightly, not enough to be alarming, but enough to hopefully ground her. His eyes softened, watching her carefully. [i][color=lightsteelblue]There you are… somewhere far away. But were?[/color][/i] He studied her face, noting the tension in her features, the way her gaze seemed to drift beyond the room.

Cassius had seen that look before—mostly on the battlefield, or rather in the aftermath of one. It was a look he would see in the eyes of comrades who had stared too long into the abyss. He didn’t know where she had gone, but Charlotte, for the moment at least, was gone. When her gaze finally flickered back to the present, her shoulders slumped slightly as if she had returned from a long journey.

Charlotte cleared her throat, her attempt at recovery almost painfully awkward as she raised her glass to the group with forced brightness.

[color=D0B4EC]“Right! A toast!”[/color] she exclaimed.

Cassius didn’t let the moment linger. He kept his arm around her, offering her a small, knowing smile.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Well, well,”[/color] he drawled, raising his own glass with exaggerated enthusiasm. [color=lightsteelblue]“To wonderful company and to Lord Drake, indeed.”[/color] He tipped his head toward Charlotte with a smirk. [color=lightsteelblue]“And to your impressive ability to down an entire cocktail like an absolute legend.”[/color]

He grinned as her eyes widened in realization; the empty glass still clutched in her hand.

[color=lightsteelblue]“I’ve never seen someone drink with such… gusto, my lady.”[/color] The teasing note in his voice was unmistakable, but it was softened by a hint of admiration. [color=lightsteelblue]“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to keep up with me.”[/color]

Cassius downed his own cocktail in one smooth motion, setting the empty glass on the table with a sharp clink.

[color=lightsteelblue]“But, I suppose if anyone here is going to match me drink for drink, I’d be honored if it were you.”[/color]

He leaned in a little closer, voice lowering to something more private.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Though, if you keep that pace, I’ll be the one carrying you out of here by the end of this little shindig.”[/color]

Cassius gave her shoulder another light squeeze, offering her a moment of reprieve before he turned his attention back to the group. With a swift, fluid motion, he reached for another cocktail from the tray and took a long sip, savoring the burn of the alcohol as it slid down his throat. 

[color=lightsteelblue]“Now,”[/color] he said, his voice more animated as he addressed the group, [color=lightsteelblue]“If we’re all done with the toasts and pleasantries, how about we get to the real fun? Because as much as I enjoy the conversation…”[/color] He grabbed one of the shots that had been delivered along with the cocktails and swirled it gently in his hand, watching the liquid catch the light. [color=lightsteelblue]“I’m far more interested in finding out which of you can actually hold your liquor.”[/color]

His challenge hung in the air, playful and provocative. Cassius’s smirk returned, that signature roguish grin that seemed to invite trouble. But even as he shifted the energy of the table, his arm remained around Charlotte, his touch steady and reassuring.

He downed the second cocktail with a flourish, setting the glass aside as his gaze swept the table. His attention briefly flicked to Lorenzo, a subtle reminder that the man was still very much a part of this tense little gathering, despite the earlier spat. But for now, Cassius was content to let the moment breathe, the sting of his earlier words fading beneath the alcohol and the company. In fact, the drinks had already begun to loosen him up… quite a bit, in fact.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Well then,”[/color] he said, his voice light and teasing as his eyes flicked between Callum and Charlotte. There was somehow already the slightest hint of slurring in his words, an effect of the [i] extra special cocktails[/i] they had been provided. [color=lightsteelblue]“Shall we see who can keep up?”[/color]
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