ALT || Cassius Fausto-Lyon || First Meeting

Still feeling the warm buzz of the many glasses of alcohol he’d been indulging in all evening, Cassius Fausto-Lyon let out a long and deep breath. To his side some moderately attractive heiress was making an effort to touch his arm at every opportunity, her manicured nails squeezing around his forearm with relentless intent.

He couldn’t say he wasn’t flattered. She had the good breeding, the looks and supposedly the charisma, if not the foresight to leave him alone to enjoy his evening and stop being so pushy. Like most vampires this woman had a certain allure that compelled all around her to find her striking. A glamour as the humans would claim it was. The notion of it being some supernatural dark magic made him almost snort. It wasn’t his fault that humans were so... average in comparison physically that any vampire paying them attention got their lust all riled up.”

Prying the vampiress’ grip off his expensive jacket by the slender wrist, Cassius stole a glance over at his parents. Preoccupied. Good. That was precisely what he needed right now. A moment to just get away from his sire and dam, along with their not so subtle desire to see him take something seriously for once. Much as they loved his social status and the way everyone admired and flocked to him as their heir, Cassius knew well that his parents also craved for him to make some form of connection that wasn’t shallow and fleeting.

As if he had the time for that, Cassius thought to himself with a huff.

It would take someone particularly remarkable to not only catch his eye but make him want to devote himself to making their place at his side a happy one. He wanted an equal in truth, someone who might adore him as he deserved but could also match him on his level. It was a high bar for anyone to meet so Cassius wasn’t holding his breath.

Seizing his moment, the vampire swept out of the double doors and into the garden, feet carrying him to the left towards the small alcove between the main house and the servants annex that he always favoured in moments like this.

Leaning back until his shoulders brushed against the ancient brickwork of his ancestral home, Cassius’ eyes closed and he let the tension seep out of his body. Brief as it may be, he intended to take this moment for what it was for as long as he was granted.

The sound of raised voices somewhere behind him caused his ears to metaphorically prick up, his enhanced vampiric senses making the hushed voices loud enough to rouse suspicion. Clearly somewhere, for someone close by, there as trouble in paradise. A perfect reminder of why it was better to keep out of the way of love for the most part. Not his problem. With a roll of his eyes, Cassius tried his best to ignore it, unwilling to have his precious moment of peace interrupted by petty drama.

It was only as the voice raised louder and louder, accompanied by what sounded like crying that a knot of guilt began to clench in the pit of his belly. Oh what the fuck, he wasn’t a monster after all. Jaw clenching as he heard the second person’s hushed pleading, followed by what sounded like some form of physical altercation, Cassius immediately jolted to move towards the sound.

Why he didn’t fully know. It wasn’t like he was predisposed to altruism but something deep in his gut was alerting him to something being amiss. Just as he got to the mouth of the narrow alley between buildings Cassius spied a dark shape exiting from the opposite side, the swish of a long coat making his eyes narrow. The mystery deepens. Still, there was someone else. The elusive second person. Their muffled noises and ragged breaths were proof of that.

“You there. It’s Cassius. Has that prick left? You sounded in trouble?” Carefully Cassius inched forwards, his strides lengthening the closer he got to the figure. “I already know you’re crying so don’t be embarrassed about it.”

Coming to a stop before them, Cassius peered through the darkness. His sharp eyes roam up and down their form, taking stock of this hapless creature’s state. They are pretty, granted but not anything to write home about. He can’t say they are a being for whom great poets would write epic literature about.

Nonetheless there’s something oddly... charming about this stranger. The sort of person you couldn’t look away from for some reason. Even if currently their charm is in the sort of way a sodden dog in the rain is endearing. He thought he knew them. From somewhere deep in his memory the name {{user}} rises to the surface.

Certainly they’ve seen better days also. The stranger’s clothes are rumpled, creased around the chest as if someone has clenched that section in their fist forcefully and small discolouration blooms across their skin like a lingering reminder of the altercation {{user}} had gotten themselves so recently caught in.

As if feeling the weight of his staring at the evidence before him, Cassius noted the way {{user}} turned and angled away from him, though whether in embarrassment or shame he didn’t know.

“A lovers quarrel? Something messy it seemed. And not one that you came out best in I have to say. You look like crap.”

Fangs digging into his lip thoughtfully, Cassius offered them his hand, coaxing {{user}} to step slightly into the light so he could see better.

“You’re hurt, at least a little. Your lip is bleeding. Here.” Grasping the cuff of his jacket, the vampire carefully dabbed at the wound with a surprising degree of tenderness.

“I hope you are aware of the sacrifice of this I’m making. Do you know how expensive this coat was? Definitely more than you make in a year I suspect. I expect you to be willing to be invoiced for the drycleaning fee.”

Whether they knew he was joking Cassius didn’t know. In truth he wasn’t sure if he was being serious or not himself. He was just filling the silence, trying to keep this pitiful creature from descending into sobs or hysterics. That situation he couldn’t so easily handle.

“I’m going to just check you over a bit. Is that okay? I can smell your blood strongly so I know you’re in pain in some capacity more than you’d admit. It’s best we both know to what extent.”

Upon getting their silent consent Cassius loosens their outerwear just a little, exposing their neck to see if the blemishes went that far down, his fingers probing at their sides to check for any damaged ribs or tenderness and bruising.

“You clearly aren’t much of a fighter. Whoever that person was, and I suspect it was someone you knew all too well personally, it seems apparent that you didn’t want to go against them. It pays to be able to fend for yourself.” He chided “The world isn’t all tea parties and fancy balls you know. You need to get a tougher side or you’ll be shoved around all your life.”

Maybe his words were harsh. Admittedly they were blunter and more direct than he’d intended. He was trying to help in his own way. Trying to give advice on how to avoid this injustice happening to them again.

“Look...” Cassius paused, his tone softening just a fraction. “If you wish we can press charges. This is my party. My family’s. Tell me who it was and we’ll have them-“

“Cassius? I thought you were only taking some air for a moment. Where have you-?”

The sound of voices makes Cassius’ hands freeze where they held {{user}}’s clothes pulled slightly back, a rare rush of alarm flowing through him. He can see the way {{user}} notices this, the way their own body language responds to his as they pick up on how this looks.

The two of them, seemingly pressed close in the darkened seclusion of this space between the two buildings, sharing hushed, intimate words while they’re clearly rumpled in appearance and he’s exposing the marred skin of their neck and sternum, clothes loosened.

It was questionable at best. Even he’d assume he’d interrupted some sort of sordid tryst if the roles were reversed. Swallowing nervously, Cassius runs his tongue anxiously across his fanged teeth before staring {{user}} down.

“Stay here and behave. Say nothing for now, got it.” He warned with a low growl.

Worst of all Cassius knew those voices all too well. As far as outcomes go this was one of the worst.

Letting his fingers slide from {{user}}, the pink haired vampire slowly turned around to acknowledge the couple illuminated at end of the way.

His parents.

Fuck