PapaOso

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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Time: 12 Days Ago
Location: On The Road to Sorian
Interaction: N/A

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The moonlight from above reflected in the sanguine puddle that was spreading across the dirt road. The only sounds that could be heard were that of the wind and the occasional, labored breaths of the man lying in the shallow pool of crimson. The man’s breaths grew fewer and farther between as each exhale threatened to be his last. His eyes were still open…staring at the sky above with tears pouring down the sides of his head and onto the dirt below. Words were beyond him now as he was fading by the second. From a few feet away, a third sound emerged; the sound of a song.

“May your dreams bring you peace in the darkness… May you always rise over the rain… May the light from above, always lead you to love… May you stay in the arms of the angels.”

The singing man’s face was being obscured by the shadows cast in the moonlight, but his voice rang out in the night confidently. It wasn’t a perfect singing voice, but it was beautiful all the same. In the man’s hands there was an ax covered in blood. As he sang his mother’s song he began to clean the blood off of his weapon with a burlap rag…taking slow steps towards the bleeding man as he did so. His singing continued.

“May you always be brave in the shadows… 'Til the sun shines upon you again… Hear this prayer in my heart, and we'll ne'er be apart… May you stay in the arms of the angels”

Kneeling down at the dying man’s side, Cassius placed the bloody rag on the man’s chest as he finished the song and then fastened his ax back to his belt.

“My mother would sing me that song when I was scared.” Looking down at the man, he smiled genuinely at the man lying in a pool of his own blood.

“I imagine that in this moment you are rather scared yourself.” Cassius reached down and wiped the tears from the man’s eyes.

“Just remember, stranger… You chose this. You and your friends made a choice when you robbed this caravan. You made a choice when you threatened that little girl. Now, the caravan is back on its way and your friends aren’t with us anymore.” He breaks eye contact with the man long enough to look around the road at the three other bodies lying still in their own bloody puddles.

“It’s just you and me now, stranger. Time to live with the choices you made while you can… Because I’m afraid there’s not much time for you left.” He smirks. “I saw to that myself.” Cassius lies down next to the him, not concerned with the fact that the man’s blood is now staining his clothes. “There are worse final sights than the stars and the moon…that’s for sure. You know, you might not think so but you are the lucky one here. You get to die and see what happens next. I, however, have far too much left to do in this broken world to die now. I’m just getting started.”

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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Time: Two Years Ago
Location: Iron Wolves War Camp, Cassius’ Tent

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Cassius stood at the entrance of his tent looking out into the night sky. The moonlight reflected off his uncovered body; highlighting the curves of his muscles and many scars that he had earned over the years. The smell of a coming rain was in the air, and Cassius felt right at home despite his tent being surrounded by dozens of others filled with mercenaries and soldiers alike. He felt the warmth of arms wrap around his waist and another uncovered body caress his own.

"Why in the nine hells are you awake right now?” The man asked before planting a kiss on the back of Cas’ shoulder. "Or rather…why are you awake and not in bed with me, Lieutenant?” Cas’ lips curved into a flirtatious smirk at the man’s words. He turned back to see his companion. The man was beautiful. Truly beautiful. Not even the leather eye patch nor the scar that potruded from the top and bottom of it could hinder the man’s gorgeous face. Liam…his name was Liam. He took Liam’s face in his hands and gently pressed a kiss against his forehead.

"Tonight has been too perfect. I wasn’t ready to let it end. I considered waking you, but you looked far too adorable snoring with drool dripping onto your pillow.” Cas’ smirk turned to a childish smile and he laughed as Liam playfully began to attack him.

"I do not snore!” Liam exclaimed through his own fit of laughter. "And if I do it is because you absolutely wear me the fuck out Cassius.” The man grabbed the back of Cas’ head and pushed it down towards his own, planting a ferocious kiss on his lover’s lips. Cassius complied with the passionate kiss, but gave his own rebellious spin in the form of biting Liam’s lip in the most seductive way possible. Cassius could feel Liam’s body press against his own with desire; ready to give into the passion and repeat the fun they had already experienced more than once that night. The suddenly…Cas felt the man pull away from him just slightly. For a moment they simply stared at each other. Cas could sense the hint of sadness behind his partner’s one green eye as he brushed the man’s wavy, red hair out of his face. Liam maintained a smile despite letting the melancholy feelings slip. "Nights like tonight are almost enough to make me forget the truth.”

"And what truth might that be?”

"The truth of your heart you beautiful…foolish bastard.” Cas couldn’t help but let his smirk curl onto his lips once again hearing the man’s words.

"You know…that is no way to talk to your Lieutenant.” Cas jested. ”I could have you on latrine duty for a month for that offense.” The sarcasm dripping from Cas’ words forced a smile to curl across Liam’s face despite his more solemn demeanor.

"Yes…of course. Make your jests and flash that charm that so often gets you out of difficult conversations. It has worked on me before. But tonight…tonight I stand my ground because I want you to know that I do know the truth Cassius. That you will never…” Liam is cut off before he can finish as Cas covers the man’s mouth playfully.

"Why would we ruin a perfect night like this with supposed truths, Liam?” He motions to the bed. ”There is more perfection to be had before the sun rises. We can save truths until the morning if you wish.” After a moment of consideration, Liam slowly removes Cas’ hand from his mouth.

"In the morning we have other truths to face, blood to spill, and gold to earn. This truth needs to be spoken tonight Cassius. For the sake of my sanity. Just in case tomorrow doesn’t go our way.” As Liam finishes his words, Cassius turns back to the night sky and takes in the stars one final time for the evening.

"As you wish. Let me hear this truth of yours.”

"The truth is…that I love you. But I know your heart Cassius Vael of the Iron Wolves. My Lieutenant. The man handpicked by Captain Mercer to lead our men once his time has come. I know you. And with that comes knowing that you will never truly love me, Cassius. You will never truly love anyone as much as you love yourself.”

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Time: One Year Later
Location: A brothel in a war torn city

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The woman rubbed her fingers up and down Cassius’ unshaved chest in a comforting motion. Her nails were beautifully manicured and painted green. They reminded Cassius of Liam’s green eye.

“Well…was he right? Are you truly incapable of love?” The woman asked as she lifted herself to kiss his chest then lips. Cassius looked her deep in the eyes with a somber smile.

"Perhaps.”

“And where is this brave and handsome warrior named Liam now?” The woman asked. The eye contact between the two is broken as Cassius looks towards the window…taking in the starlight one final time for the night.

"He died…two days later…in my arms.”

“Cassius…I…I am so sorry.”

"No need to be sorry, beautiful girl. I am sorry enough for the both of us.” Cassus rolls over on top of the gorgeous woman and winks at her with a sly smile. "Now cheer up. I may very well be incapable of love…but lust…lust I have in spades.” The woman, looking up at him, raises her hand and places it against his cheek lovingly.

“You are unlike most men that come in here, Cassius. I am not sure I’ve ever met anyone like you before.” She laughs. “The arrogance I’ve seen. Even the charm is not unique to you…But there is something about you Mr. Vael. Something that makes me want more no matter how much I get.” She bites her lip erotically, reaching around…she drags her nails down Cassius’ back. “Now show me more of that lust you mentioned.”

"That’s a good girl.”

---

Time: Almost Noon
Location: The Athletic Arena & Beyond

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Cassius watched as the woman who seemed to be affected by the executed man’s strange actions was attended to. She seemed to be alright…at least superficially. He considered walking over to her, but felt now was not the best time to make introductions. If he has the chance again, he would not waste it…but for now he felt the need to leave. Before doing so, he pulled the flask from his jacket’s breast pocket and paid his respects to the death that was just witnessed by pouring some of the liquor onto the ground at his feet. The dead man seemed to be a truly vile individual, but that didn’t mean that his life leaving this world was undeserving of respect.

The next few moments unfolded like quite the blur as Cassius made his way through the crowd and outside of the arena. It wasn’t even quite noon and yet Cassius felt as though he was ready to call it a day. So much had transpired so quickly and much of it was nothing like he had expected. He felt something which he rarely suffered…the feeling of being overwhelmed. Oddly, it was almost comforting. At the very least it was a change of pace, and those are always nice from time to time.

He meandered a bit around the city as he took the very long way back to the inn where he was staying. He stopped in the bazaar for a quick bite to eat, watched some of the people that came and went, but mostly he just lived in the silence as he tried to process everything that had happened. Normally, in moments like this it had become his habit to seek comfort in the form of a stiff drink and a lust-filled tryst. But everyone needed to face these moments of uncertainty every once in a while. So he did…for a time. He pondered and reflected and looked inward. However, by the time he made it back to the tavern his daily allotment for such things was more than exceeded, and so he turned his attention back to doing what it was that he did best. He drank. He fucked. He made sure his name would never be forgotten by those who were lucky enough to cross his path this day.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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Time: 11 AM
Location: Athletic Arena / Execution
Mentions: @Tae Lady Mina & @Helo Leo

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Cassius was perplexed by the depth of feelings brewing within him. He had expected to feel nothing but apathy and perhaps disdain meeting his new family. The fact that there was more to his feelings on the matter almost irritated him. He scoffed at the idea of longing to be a part of these Damiens. Though his scoff could not hide the ember of desire growing within him. Having actually met his father and sister…he felt different than he expected. He quickly put the matter out of his mind as he made a pitstop on his way to attend the execution.

Climbing the inn stairs, he whistled to himself the song that the establishment's resident bard had been singing below in the tavern. Finally, he found himself at his rented room. Not the usual type of room fit for nobility such as those with the blood of house Damien flowing through their veins…but one perfectly suitable for a bastard like himself. It was comfortable if perhaps a bit cramped, but it was exactly the type of room that Cassius was used to. Once he unlocked the door and stepped inside he looked to his bed, where his shield was propped up against the wall next to most of his weapons. The shield, painted with the symbol of the Iron Wolves, had been missed upon his back throughout the events of the morning. It was almost strange not to have it on his person, but he figured that showing up to the Damien estate armed to the teeth was the wrong move if he wanted a face to face with the Lord of the house. So he left it here, along with his favorite axe and armor. Of course he was never truly entirely unarmed; he had a couple of daggers on his person, and a pair of knuckle dusters stowed away just in case. It was a dangerous world after all.

Cas walked over to the bedside table and grabbed the bottle of wine he had procured the night before. Drinking a nice sized swig straight from the bottle, he let out a joyous exhale. It had already been a very eventful day and every eventful day was made far better with a little wine in the belly. Weapons, Women, & Wine. The three things that came closest to godhood in his eyes. Not that he was exclusive to women, in fact he loved to taste any and all beauty that the world had to offer…but Weapons, Women, Wine, the occasional Fella, & everything in between just didn’t have the same ring to it. One day he’d find better words for his “gods”, but for now the three Ws would just have to work.

He felt renewed after his quick drink, and despite wanting more he knew that if he was going to make it in time for the execution he would have to keep this brief respite as short and sweet as possible. He closed off his bottle and returned it to the nightstand, taking one more look towards his weapons and armor. He had grown so accustomed to them that he felt far more comfortable fully equipped than he did even in the most luxurious of fine clothing. He imagined this would probably never change, but perhaps his days of wearing armor day and night would soon be mostly behind him. He didn’t know what the next steps were in this journey, but as always he was intrigued and open to anything. Would he actually move into the Damien estate? If so, how long until he was kicked out, exiled, or worse? Finding out would be part of the fun. For now though, he would shift his focus to whoever was about to be executed.

With only a few minutes to spare Cassius found his place at the athletic arena. He had expected a hanging, perhaps a beheading…but the empty pyre and stake was quite a surprise. Death by fire was an extreme form of execution. It was usually saved for the worst kinds of criminals and for those who consort with dark magics and other vile arts. He had only ever seen one person put to death this way. He saw flashes of the woman’s face as she screamed…the flames licking her body and charring her flesh in his memories. Immolation was a terrible death. He questioned if anyone truly deserved such a fate.

When they brought out Cameron Nesworth and tied him to the stake, Cassius stared at the man’s eyes. He had the face of a killer; scarred and twisted with ill intent. He looked like a villain. High Treason was his crime…among others. The accused man began ranting and raving his final thoughts. Cas listened thoroughly, but turned his eyes to the crowd. He was interested in the kinds of people who would choose to attend such an event. He knew why he was here, but assumed that he was probably the only one in attendance there to actually pay respects to the man’s final moments. Who do we have here? he thought as his eyes fell upon the woman with the ravishing red hair. See, there’s always beauty to be seen. Even in the strangest of places. The woman’s red hair was eye-catching, but the rest of her was just as beautiful. Her fair face was flawless like perfect porcelain. Her eyes were a soft gray-blue; stormy and elegant. The tall black boots and well-fitted bodice framed her body in a way that was both seductive and full of class. Perhaps when this was over he would have to introduce himself.

As the accused man’s chilling last words came to an end, the pyre was lit and the process of watching a man burn to death commenced. Cassius did not look away. The moment deserved reverence and he would deliver his respect to man’s final moments best he could. He watched as the man struggled against his chains. Then, he saw the man’s demeanor change as the flames grew and began to engulf him. The laughter that poured from the accused man was maniacal and bone-chilling. Cas focused through the flames to settle on the man’s eyes. They were looking directly at someone…but who?

He turned his attention back to the crowd and scanned the faces of everyone in the direction of the man’s gaze. Above all else that same woman with the perfect red hair stood out. He could see the fear in her eyes. Something was happening to her. Cassius looked back to the burning man. His eyes were hard to see through the flames that had fully engulfed him…but Cas caught a glimpse of them through the dancing fire…and they were glowing red like devilish beads of light. He turned once more to the woman just as she began to stumble and fall. Was he hallucinating the things he just witnessed? Had Cameron truly been looking at this woman? Was he affecting her in some unnatural way? His eyes…had they really been glowing red? It all happened so fast. Cas’ mind was racing as he watched from afar as the woman fell into the arms of the man next to her. At least someone was there to keep her from injury. Who was she? He had to know if what he saw was real or if he was finally losing his fucking mind…but for now he would simply watch and hope that the woman was unharmed. Cassius let his gaze turn back to Cameron Nesworth one final time to make sure the man was actually dead. He sure looked the part. Cassius could feel a danger in the air. The feeling he used to feel the night before a battle. It was invigorating but not to be taken lightly. The hairs on the back of his neck stood straight. What in all the fucks in the world had he just witnessed?

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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Time: 10:35
Location: Archery Contest
Interaction: @Heartfillia Crystal, Jacob, Liah / @princess The Good Ol’ Count

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Cassius was more amused than he had been in some time. This had already been one of the more eventful days of his life. There had been some over the years that had been filled with enough conflict, drama, and bloodshed to satisfy a dozen lifetimes…but this one was something special. Thus far he had met his father, annoyed and impressed the local nobility in equal parts, made an absolute ass out of himself in front of his newly revealed sister in the best way possible, and perhaps if he hurried he could witness the last moments of someone’s life. What a day indeed.

Though the execution interested him, Cassius did not enjoy watching anyone die. As a mercenary he had witnessed and dealt his fair share of death, but he never allowed himself to become numb to it. The weight of taking a life was something he held with high regard. He wouldn’t be considered honorable by many standards…but he had his creeds, his beliefs, and his own form of principles. Ending a life could be exhilarating. It could be heartbreaking. It could be liberating. One thing it should never be is taken lightly. This is why he intended to be present for the execution. Not to gawk at someone as they are put to death or judge them for the crimes that led them to this point…but to ensure that at least one person in attendance watches their last moments with reverence. This kind of thing was important to him. But first…he had to deal with his current predicament; his sister and her comrades were not going to let him leave without verifying his identity first. Thankfully, it seems that he wasn’t going to have to wait very long.

Arriving on a brilliant black horse like a story book hero…or perhaps villain, the Count himself climbed down from his steed and approached them. He appeared even more regal than their previous meeting. It was clear to Cas that his father was one that took appearances very seriously. He was sure to disappoint the man in that regard. Calbert greeted them and then looked towards Crystal. Something about his eyes gave Cassius the sense that there was sadness there. Perhaps worry. Cas looked over to his sister as he tried to work out what exactly he was missing. The next few moments were a blur to him as the Count explained the truth to Crystal. Her reaction was not ideal, but he couldn’t blame her…this was sure to be a lot to take in.

Cassius watched as his overwhelmed sister walked away. His usual smirk fell into a solemn expression. It was clear that there was more going on than he realized. Insight suggested that something bad had happened. In his arrogance he had missed the signs in his father's eyes…until now. Looking up to his father he couldn’t help but feel a little bad for letting his chaos make what could possibly be a rather serious situation that much more complex. He had intended to be a thorn, and never would have expected to feel bad about his own success in that regard. He would ask the Count about this intuition later, but he felt now was not the time. Even he, in all his panache and his devil may care attitude, could leave well enough alone once in a while. So, he kept things simple.

Thank you for telling her the truth. I fear she wanted me thrown in the darkest of dungeons for my claim. I…apologize if I upset her. He took a deep breath, almost not expecting the apology that just came out of his mouth. ”Well…I’m sure you have all manner of important business to attend to. Myself, I am going to attend the execution. Someone has to pour a drink out for the accused. Might as well be me.” For a second time today, Cas walks away from his father without giving him time to respond. Sure, he feels bad for whatever the hell may be going on with this family…but he’s still Cassius Vael.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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Time: 10:35
Location: Archery Contest
Interaction: @Heartfillia Crystal, Jacob, Liah / @Rodiak Mathias

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“Y-you are not my brother…” The fancy girl retorted quickly. She was holding her books tightly as though he was going to try and rip them from her hands. “My father did not cheat on my mother…” She added feebly. Just as Cassius was about to respond a figure appeared. The man looked like the poster child of young nobility. He was the perfect blend of pretty and strong. Momentarily, Cassius saw nothing but another entitled noble in this man…but there was more to be seen. On the surface he seemed mellow and elegant, but there was something else about him resting a bit deeper. He was a warrior. Cassius was sure of it. He could always tell. The controlled movements…the presence of adeptness...the eyes. He had no doubt that this man was a capable combatant. Thank heavens he wasn’t as boring as Cassius initially perceived. The man acknowledged him, but just barely. The arrogance alone won a sly smirk from Cas. The man cleared his throat and spoke…really just to the girl in the cream colored dress.

"I apologize; I can see this is not the best of times." He folded his hands behind him and seemed to struggle to find more words to say. "It was lovely to see you. I will be by the stands if you need me, Lady Damien. And if you need any help, do not hesitate to call for me." As the man finished his bit, Cassius turned to his supposed sister. He watched her face blush and eyes fixated on the pretty man. Perhaps the pup was in love. Noted. Finally she responded.

”I um ….T-thank you Sir Mathias..” was all she was able to get out. She was flustered. It was hilarious. Cassius looked to the ground. It was all he could do to not chuckle at the awkward cuteness of the interaction playing out before him. He was an asshole, sure, but he wasn’t going to ruin this moment for either of them. The man bowed, smiled, and walked away without any additional acknowledgment of Cassius at all. His sister watched him walk away like an abandoned puppy. She quickly turned back to him though, and picked her previous thought up like nothing had happened. ”There's no way I believe you at your word. Anyone can claim to be a part of a family. I'll let father deal with you.” Cassius watched as his sister looked to the behemoth with intent. He always saw the beautiful redhead with her draw a blade. He looked at the armed woman, raised his hands cautiously and smiled.

”Now now…no need to cause a scene. Let’s all go to father dearest together shall we? Don’t get me wrong, I would love the opportunity to get to know you and that blade a little better…but alas…me and the big guy are already courting one another.” He sarcastically motions to the giant of a man named Jacob. ”So…I propose this. The two of you escort my dear sister and I to our father together. No blades. No bloodshed….and he’ll be able to clear all of this up.” He looks towards Crystal. ”How does that sound my lady?”

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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Time: 10:35
Location: Archery Contest
Interaction: @Heartfillia Crystal & Jacob

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Cassius could only smirk as the monster among men shoved him forward in the direction of the woman in the cream colored dress. He honestly only understood a handful of the words coming out of the large man’s mouth, so he just smirked and walked on without any resistance. This behemoth was strong…very strong, but Cassius was confident that if he needed to he could slip out of the monster’s grasp and take out his knee before he even had time to react. It probably wouldn’t come to that, but it was better to be prepared just in case it did.

”The man is a Bampot. Thought I was coming over to hit on him… yep. ON him. Not hit him.” The behemoth’s words almost reverberated his bones in such proximity. This man seemed more like a loyal pet to this woman than a friend or companion. Clearly some kind of personal guard or hired lapdog. She was clearly in charge, and the glare on her face said as much. She had an authority to her that was familiar to him. Very curious indeed. Then she began to speak.

”Who are you really? Speak truthfully….please. Her words were forceful in tone…but the little please at the end betrayed her, killing the aura of power she was presenting just long enough for Cassius to see past it. It was clear that she couldn’t help herself in saying it. It isn’t that the authority was false, but rather it seemed like she was imitating the work of a master and perhaps was not quite up to the task. She became even more familiar at that moment.

The woman flustered herself and added.”I-If you don't Ill have Jacob drag you towards the prison himself. Such a harsh threat. Cassius could tell he was positioning the final pieces of the puzzle already. Why would she be so angry at his assumed false identity? It must be an incredibly personal matter. She must have more skin in the game than anyone else there in the audience regarding who he was. There was only one answer…She herself was a Damien.

Cassius could see the Count’s features in her face, if only slightly. From the moment her eyes met his he had not broken eye contact, but with her question and the threat afterwards he knew he had to say something. So, with a charming little bow he smiled at her and replied.

“What a day I have had already. First, I met the man who made me a bastard. Then I made quite the impression in my first fancy archery contest. Afterwards I made a beautiful new friend.” He looked back and winked at the monster who apparently is called Jacob and then continued. “And now…now it seems I get to meet my long lost sister for the very first time. Let me introduce myself properly. I am Cassius Vael of the Iron Wolves. Son of Meredith Vael and Count Calbert Damien. I am your brother.”

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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Time: 10:35
Location: Archery Contest
Interaction: @Aerandir Verrick & @Heartfillia My dear sister

---

Cassius loosed his final arrow and scored big with a 9. He was sure it wouldn't be enough for the win, but it was nice to end his round with a good shot. He looked over to his opponent and gave the man a look of respect. The scores had not been finalized, but he knew the man had bested him. As he looked towards his opponent the man addressed him.

“Well done. I don’t see archers with an eye like yours in Casonia very often… though I know Count Damien only has two daughters…So who are you really?” His opponent asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Who am I really? That is such a good question. I'm certainly not as good an archer as you my good sir. Regarding my father...It appears that the good Count has a bastard along with his precious daughters. I just happen to be the asshole unlucky enough to share the man's blood. I don't expect anyone to believe me, but truth is truth after all". The man simply gave him a nod before turning to accept his prizes. Cassius left things at that.

Well, the result of his first match in the archery competition did not go his way. Nor did the second. It mattered not, though, as his ultimate goal in this endeavor was more than successful. What an ARRIVAL. The people cheered for his bombastic antics. Perhaps without them he could have pulled off the victory, but it was never about winning. It was about being seen, and the lords, ladies, and commoners alike in the stands definitely had their eyes on him.

Cassius had spent as much time looking over the crowd as he did his archery targets. It was his way of feeling their temperature. He wanted to get a read on as many of them as possible, and being a little extra braggadocious was sure to stir up some reactions; be they positive or negative.

Many were positive indeed. Cheers and applause spilled from all around as the spectators appreciated his tricks and panache. Others were smug and judgmental of him not taking the competition seriously. Most were probably somewhere in between. Then there was the woman in the cream colored dress. Her reaction was something else altogether. She spurned him entirely. Purposefully not giving him the time of day. Was that a bit of spite he read on her face? Now that is interesting.

He thought of her as soon as the competition was over. She was hard to miss with that dress that probably cost more than all of his belongings together…and her blonde hair, which probably took a team of servants to ensure each strand was in its rightful place. He chuckled to himself as he put the bow back on its holding stand. Running his fingers through his hair, Cassius turned to look towards the crowd once more. He specifically surveyed to find the spiteful woman. She intrigued him more than anyone else in the stands. To his surprise, the woman’s rather large companion was making his way towards Cassius.

“Well this is going to be riveting.” He spoke aloud but to himself as he watched the man approach, making sure to put on his most dickish smile.

“Oi! YE WEE BAWBAG!” The large man hollered as he walked directly towards him. This behemoth was pointing his big meaty finger at Cassius, who would usually be the larger man given he stood 6’4” in height. In this instance, however, the behemoth stood a foot or so higher than him. Cassius gave this giant a flirtatious glance with a nod, but before he could speak the large man reached out to grab him.

“AYE you! Yer Coming with Me!” He said with a scowl. Cassius did not resist the man’s advance, instead holding his hands out to his side as to let the man do whatever he wanted.

“It was my understanding that only the victor got a prize. But here we are. What a prize indeed. So big. So very strong. I sure hope you are not overcompensating for anything, my good man. Now that…would be a shame. Cassius held his ground completely. Not resisting, not backing away, and not a single flinch as this monster among men got even closer. He spoke his words with frisky arrogance and a hit of sensuality. “SO…large man. Where, indeed, will you be taking me?”

𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝙰𝚠𝚊𝚢

This is very tempting. Just started re-playing 2077 and have wanted to RP in this world for years.

WWE or Cobra Kai.

Huge WWE & Cobra Kai fan here...but I'm not exactly sure what this is. I'd love to see you find recruits and get this off the ground, but you may need to adjust your approach. Your OP doesn't give enough information on what this is actually supposed to be. Instead it just gives info on Judgement Day and Cobra Kai...which is great, but this stuff should come secondary to setting expectations and establishing what you're actually trying to accomplish here.

Look at some of the other Interest Posts on the site and see if you can find a formula that might work for the game you're trying to run (there is no shame in taking inspiration from how others do things). I love the enthusiasm and the topic, but I feel like people need more context rather than just daily bumps.

Feel free to disregard this post completely, but I figured it might help you find what you're looking for. Either way, happy gaming!

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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Time: 10:00 AM
Location: The Archery Contest
Interaction: Technically none, but a shoutout to Cas’s competitor @Alivefalling

---

Cassius watched the others compete just long enough to get the basics down. He was a good archer…not an excellent one, but he would not turn down the opportunity for healthy competition. He knew his limitations, and was sure that most of these blue bloods had taken years of private archery training with the finest instructors the kingdoms could muster. He was not fortunate enough to have that luxury. In fact, he remembered teaching himself how to string a bow and nock an arrow in the barn behind the stables after completing his eight and half hours worth of daily chores. It wasn’t until he joined the Iron Wolves that he really got a lesson or two on the proper form. Mostly, though, he learned in the heat of battle.

He was ushered towards the competition area as he heard his name announced for the first time.

"Lord Cassius Vael of House Damien against ...Isaac? Who's Isaac?"

Cassius chuckled at the “Who’s Isaac?”...He also did not know who Isaac was, but it mattered not, because all of these people were strangers to him. As his name was announced there was almost a quiet that encapsulated the audience. It was an audible moment of confusion with little more than hushed whispers and gossip filled questions coming from the crowd. His smile widened. He lived for that chaos and curiosity.

As he entered the field of view, Cassisus confidently approached his station, turning to the crowd and giving them a little wink and nod as he did so. He had not even considered needing to bring his own bow until this moment, but was thankful when someone handed him one upon his approach. He tested the weight of the weapon; it was sufficient but definitely not the kind of bow he was used to. The curiosity within him began to grow. He was completely unsure how he would perform, but the pressure of exhibition normally caused him to rise to the occasion. He had never actually competed in archery before, and was self aware enough to doubt that he’d perform as well as he would in a real battle. The stakes meant everything, and the stakes here were nowhere near life or death. Or so he hoped.

This was to be his first introduction to the court for which he now belonged, in name at least, so to make a total fool of himself would be something difficult to live down. Win or lose, he just hoped to put on a spectacle and catch the eyes of curious onlookers from across the noble families. It was time to begin.

Cassius didn’t even pay mind to his opponent other than a quick nod. He decided to focus just on the task at hand and save any spare attention for pandering to the crowd. This would be fun. He turned to the audience and made a show of pulling his first arrows. He tried to wink and give the look to as many beautiful people in the crowd as he did so, but realized quickly that this particular crowd was MOSTLY beautiful people. Nocking his first arrow, he pointed straight towards the sky and slowly drew the string back into position. He then lowered his bow methodically and aimed at the target. He turned back to give the crowd a sly smirk before turning towards his mark and released….

It was a good shot! Not quite a bullseye, but a helluva first shot to say the least. He quickly drew another arrow and loosed it. This shot was nowhere near the bullseye. Fuck. With a quick sigh and a long breath he nocked his third arrow. Again, he turned to the crowd to give a sarcastic little shrug to make light of his second shot. Then he readied himself and released the third arrow. Time slowed down in this moment as the pointed reed traveled towards the target. BULLSEYE!!! He gave the crowd a playful bow and really turned on the charm as he smiled. What’s the point if he couldn’t make his debut a pleasure? He nocked the final arrow for this round and let it loose. It barely hit the target at all.

His second round went about as well as the last. His first shot was decent, his second was another bullseye…with more playing to the crowd of course, and his third was almost a miss as he got a little too arrogant in the moment, but his final shot of round 2 was decent again. Thus far he had totaled 40 points. He hadn’t even glanced at his competitor since they had started, but he liked to imagine that he was well ahead in points over the man. Time would certainly tell. Now for round 3.

This was the final round. Probably the most important round. It was also his worst of the three. Cassisus hit a decent first shot for five points. Then he completely missed the target. With a playful grimace and shrug he elicited decent laughs from the crowd. Most of them were going along for the ride, but he was sure there were some that were not a fan of his antics. He lowered his bow and turned to face the audience directly.

“And for my final trick. Prepare to be amazed…no, bewildered…perhaps even titillated.” With a flourish he removed his coat and made a show of tying the sleeves over his eyes. “As you can see…I can’t.” He put on another flirtatious smile before turning back to his target. He lifted the makeshift blindfold over one eye just long enough to make sure he was truly facing the right direction, nocked an arrow and released. He was sure that he’d miss the target completely…but alas…he heard the impact. Ripping the blindfold off he saw the arrow had indeed hit its mark…not a bullseye, but fucking close. He was amused, impressed, and honestly a little thankful because that was sure to make an impression regardless of the actual outcome. With his final shot earning him seven points, his total climbed to 55. Time to see how the other guy was doing.