[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/AXQYyiE.png[/img] [hr][i][color=LightSteelBlue]Time: Evening[/color] [color=LightSteelBlue]Location: Damien Estate / Banquet Hall[/color] [color=LightSteelBlue]Mentions / Interactions:[/color] [@princess] Lottie, [@Tae] Kalliope, [@JJ Doe] Hala [/i][/center] [hr] [color=lightgray] Milo remained pinned, spine against stone, utterly calm in a way that only made the fire behind Cassius’s eyes burn hotter. [color=lightsteelblue]“How do you know that name?”[/color] Cassius growled low, his voice just above a whisper, but sharp enough to cut through most men’s defenses. [color=lightsteelblue]“And don’t play stupid again. I’ve killed men for less than dropping those words.”[/color] Milo’s smile didn’t falter. He tilted his head slightly, his hazel eyes gleaming with interest rather than fear. [color=bisque]“I have my ways, bastard. But don’t worry, I can tell you’re not defined by it,”[/color] he said softly. [color=bisque]“But gods, it does make for a fascinating footnote in your life, doesn’t it?”[/color] Cassius stepped in closer, their faces inches apart now, his hand still gripping Milo’s collar tight enough to wrinkle the fine fabric. [color=lightsteelblue]“You think this is a fucking joke?”[/color] [color=bisque]“No,”[/color] Milo said, smile softening...not disappearing, just shifting into something more honest. [color=bisque]“I think it’s a tragedy. And like all the best ones, you’ve rewritten the ending so many times you’ve forgotten which version is true.”[/color] The muscles tightened in Cassius’s jaw. His breath was uneven. He wanted to throw a punch just to end the conversation...but something in him held back. Then, a presence entered the edge of their periphery. [i]Hala[/i]. They approached with an unmistakable air of deliberate elegance, attention fixed squarely on Milo. But neither man moved. Neither man spoke. For a moment, it was like Hala wasn’t even there. Milo didn’t break eye contact. Cassius’s grip didn’t loosen. And then... [color=8D3B72]“Cassius.”[/color] Her voice, soft and careful, sliced through the tension. Cassius’s gaze twitched, just slightly, toward the sound of Kalliope’s voice. Her fingers touched his arm...gentle, but brave. The kind of touch you gave a cornered wolf, trusting it wouldn’t bite. Cassius didn’t look at her right away. Not fully, but he did lean into Kalliope’s touch ever so slightly. It was a comfort in an otherwise completely tense moment. He leaned into Milo just slightly more as well, voice dropping into that low, dangerous whisper, half threat, half promise. [color=lightsteelblue]“You’re lucky we’re drawing a crowd.”[/color] His lips barely moved. [color=lightsteelblue]“Guess we’ll just have to continue this later.”[/color] Milo’s smile widened ever so slightly, like he’d just been handed a gift. He looked over to Kalliope with a quick wink, and then turned back to Cassius with the full expression of the man who had come to be known as “Mr. Sunshine”. [color=bisque]“Oh, how I look forward to our next… little... chat.”[/color] Cassius released him with a shove that was just rough enough to send his back against the pillar with a thud, but not enough to escalate or draw additional eyes their way. He turned, shoulders still tight with the remnants of fury, and moved with Kalliope like a storm rerouted. His eyes shifted to Charlotte once more as he walked, even in this moment where the air could be cut with a knife, his gaze craved hers. As they moved further away, Cassius finally addressed her Kali's gesture, her words, and even more importantly [i]that look[/i]. Before he spoke, he forced himself to take a long, deep breath. [color=lightsteelblue]"I'd be halfway to the dungeon by now if you hadn't of stepped in..."[/color] His words carried a hint of forced sarcasm, but there wasn't a single thing about them untrue. [color=lightsteelblue]"I would have gutted that fucker, right there, in front of everyone."[/color]. Running a hand through his hair, Cas took another deep breath before meeting Kalliope's gaze fully. [color=lightsteelblue]"So thank you, Kali...I owe you one."[/color] Milo took a moment to breathe in the stillness that followed. He smoothed out his coat with one slow sweep of his palm, adjusted the hem of his sleeve, and flicked a speck of dust from his lapel. Then he reached up, carefully straightening his tie. Only then did he finally turn toward the other presence beside him. His smile remained, easy and curious as he answered Hala's question. [color=bisque]“Hmm…Am I an artist who creates with my own hands,”[/color] Milo repeated softly, [color=bisque]“or…do I direct others to make my vision a reality?”[/color] He regarded Hala with a slow blink, as if nothing had happened at all. [color=bisque]“Why not both?”[/color] [/color]