Worrying News [Cassius & Dominic]

Spring - 26th of April - 2023

As soon as Cassius had heard the news he made his way to the headquarters as discreetly as he possibly could. They had announced the untimely death of the crown prince and Cassius had heard everyone talking about how it most likely a narchon behind it. Cassius couldn't help wanting to check in on his old friend as he had the feeling this would bother him. He also wanted to check if the EFA was safe for now, and it did not look like what he feared it did. He wouldn't know how he would deal with it if he would get there and the headquarters was overrun with godia warriors.

Once Cassius reached the old worn building, he quickly took the keys out of his pocket before unlocking the door, making sure no one was around to see him before he entered. "Dom?!" He shouted as he glanced around for his old friend. Cassius could not calm down until he laid his eyes on Dominic who seemed to be fine or at least not in any physical harm. He also took a glance around making sure he did not miss any godia warriors hiding around, even though it would be very unlikely.

Dominic had just heard the news. Or maybe 'just' wasn't a fitting word, as it had been over an hour ago. But it felt like 'just' for Dominic. Like his world had just been turned upside down. The shock felt permanent inside of him, as he had spent the last hour checking in on all of their missions, calling different Nachon Warlocks in hiding and - to all of his shame - made sure that this wasn't a murder made by a prominent EFA member. All of this crisis management and no time to stop and think about what the fuck had just happened. And how he felt about it.

It wasn't until he heard a familiar voice calling for him, that he stopped, right in the middle of walking towards his room to make yet another call. He turned towards the entrance door to see Cassius walk towards him, and that's when it truly hit him. The anger, the sorrow, the fear. All of these overwhelming emotions with the knowledge that no amount of crisis management could prepare him or EFA to what would soon hit them.

As first all of this could be seen in his eyes mixed with the surprise of seeing his friend in the midst of all this chaos. Dominic felt the urge to meet him with a hug, which was rare - Dominic wasn't a guy big on touch. But all of this merely lasted a second. Then he composed himself. There was no use for acting such a way. This was not the time for weakness.

So instead of greeting his friend, he said, with the voice of a leader: "Were you followed?"
While asking he rushed towards the door, closing it and making sure it was locked behind Cassius. He was certain that the man hadn't been followed, or else he would never dare to enter the headquarter. But he had to ask. Just to be able to ask something practical, something easy to handle.

Cassius was quick to follow his lead and put on a mask of professionalism and toughness. Dominic appreciated that. He had seen the shot of panic in Cassius' expression and dreaded the thought of having to calm him down. Not because Cassius was hysterical in any way, on the contrary he had every right to panic. That was the reason behind Dominic's dread; how would he be able to calm anyone down when he himself was filled to the brim with fear?

"Good," he simply said to Cassius' answer. Of course the man hadn't been followed. He knew all the backways to the headquarter. He had been sneaking this way for ten years now. Then Cassius asked the question, Dominic expected but which still send a chilling shiver down his spine. He avoided looking at Cassius, his gaze resting with his hand on the handle, he had already checked to make sure the door was locked.
"Yes," he said, the word leaving his mouth as a weary breath. But he couldn't show his tiredness for long. Not when there was that faint worry in Cassius' voice as the next question was asked. No, he had to pull himself together. Therefor, he let go of the handle and made himself turn towards his friend. Meeting his glance with a stern expression.
"No," he answered, "It wasn't. I've checked."
Of course someone could be lying, but Dominic doubted that. Actually he was certain that it couldn't be them. No Rebel and no Nachon would be that stupid. This murder was committed by someone who knew that the blame would never fall on themself, but on others less fortunate.

The stern expression continued on as Cassius spoke. Dominic didn't seem surprised by the news - Cassius was a Seymour after all, so it made sense for him to be invited - but he took a few seconds to think the scenario through. Considered the options. Then he nodded, agreeing with his own thoughts.
"You should go," he said, knowing that this wasn't a choice made by neither him or Cassius. It was a choice made by the responsibilities Cassius carried with his family name.
Finally, Dominic decided to properly entering the living room again, walking towards the kitchen in the open-floor room. "Actually yes, you should definitely go," he added, now more present in the conversation, "I need you to spy for EFA. Update us on everything relevant. Anything suspicious." He opened the cabinet to the where they stored the coffee before realising he hadn't asked Cassius about his preferences. "Care for some coffee?" Dominic himself could use the caffeine. Or something stronger. But coffee for now.

Cassius nodded along as Dominic answered his questions. He relaxed a bit when Dominic told him it wasn't an EFA member behind, though Cassius knew none of them could have done it.  Cassius' eyes never left Dominic as he continued to speak. A part of him felt a bit hurt when Dominic said he should go, mostly cause Cassius wanted to stay here and protect his friend if needed above all else, though he knew it wouldn't be in the best interest for either them or the EFA if he did. Not when he had this opportunity.
 "Will do" Cassius said with the professional tone he always used whenever he received a mission. It was a funeral, but it being the crown prince's funeral, there could be some valuable information to gather.

When Dominic offered him a cup of coffee, Cassius gave him a small smile, going more into a friend mode than a subordinate mode. "Sure, I could really need it right now" He answered as he made his way towards the kitchen, fully intending to help Dominic get the cups of coffee ready. He could really use a little moment with his dear old friend where they just focused on something else than the chaos going on right now.

Right as Cassius had accepted Dominic's request, the Nachon Warlock felt a slight sting of guilt. He knew about his friend's issues with his father and how the thing he least wanted to do probably was going to that funeral with him. But Dominic had been too caught up in the strategy to consider that at the moment, only realising it after it had passed. That was one of his biggest flaws as a leader - thinking in ressources, not in people. Even when those people were his close friends.
But alas, the moment had passed and Dominic weren't one to bring up his flaws and he knew that Cassius would hate for him to bring up his insecurities as well. So Dominic just offered him coffee and they both smoothly went into friend mode. The strategy was set - now they could just talk.

Dominic visibly relaxed in his posture when Cassius met him with a small smile and a 'sure'. He didn't smile back but his face softened and it was with less rush that he grabbed the coffee and closed the cabinet.
"Not one boring day in this line of work, huh?" he said, clearing trying to lighten the mood but maybe not having success with doing so. The sentence sounded more bitter than joking. He shook his head. Why even try - comedic relief wasn't his strong suit, he knew that.
So instead, while making the coffee on the coffee machine, he did what he actually was good at - serious conversation.
"How are you?" he asked in a more intens manner, making sure that Cassius knew, he didn't want a superficial answer. He also quickly added: "Not just with the.. well shitshow of a news story. In general - how are things? How's studies?"
Honestly, Dominic would prefer to keep talking about the news. That's all that filled his thoughts right now. But he had already once in this brief interaction put the mission ahead of his friend, a moment he felt the need to make up for. His way of doing so was forcing himself to talk about something else, whatever his friend felt like talking about.
While the coffee machine was doing its job, he turned around with his back against the countertop. He crossed his arms, waiting for the answer, a typical go-to stand for Dominic.

Cassius noticed his friend more relaxed posture as he found two unused mugs and placed them on the counter. Cassius leaned his back on the nearest wall as he glanced at Dominic as he spoke. He didn't comment on the attempt of a joke, mostly in fear of making a more bitter statement that ruined the mood. Though Cassius couldn't help but freeze up a bit when he heard the next question.
How are you? How was Cassius really? He hadn't allowed himself to think about that lately. Spring had arrived and with spring came painful memories that Cassius had never told anyone. With the memories came the remnants of his Mardella symptoms, probably psychological... However, Cassius had not shared these memories with anyone, not even Dominic. As if it was right on cue, a cough escaped him, making him realize he had spaced out for a while and Dominic was waiting for an answer.

"Well the family is the same old, cold as ever, you'd think ice ran in our blood, not fire" Cassius answered, attempting to ignore the cough as if it never happened. "My studies are going well, I think I might be at the top of my class" He continued, changing the subject away from family related matters. Cassius considering returning the question. However, knowing Dominic, it probably would just make the other think about the current situation and it would just be a failed attempt to distract the two from it all. "Spring has arrived, I don't know about you, but it makes me think of the past sometimes" Cassius eventually said again as another cough left him.

Cassius spaced out when Dominic asked him about his well-being, and that instantly concerned Dominic. He didn't change position but he did look more intensely at his friend, studying him.
"Cass?" he asked, trying to get the man's attention.
That seemed to do the trick; Cassius came back to reality. But not without letting out a cough, that made the hairs on Dominic's neck stand up.
However, Cassius answered as if nothing had happened and nothing probably had happened. It was just the remains of the illness. Nothing to do about it, but nothing to worry about either. Even though it was linked to some awful memories between them.
Dominic nodded along Cassius' description of the family and snorted with a brief laughter because of the 'ice-blood' comment. How he hated Cassius' family. Even while making jokes about it, he could feel his blood boiling. As if he was the one with fire inside of him.
"Of course you are," Dominic said matter-of-factly to the point about Cassius being the best in class. He was a smart man, everyone knew that. It didn't surprise Dominic the slightest that he would be the best in class. It was actually very kind-hearted of Cassius to even be in the EFA. He could live a good life, even as a Cursed Spirit, with his intelligent and family wealth. Dominic had no choice but to fight for survival - he didn't even consider the possibility of fleeing the country - but Cassius had a choice and he chose to help. That was a good man.

A good man, that yet again coughed, and Dominic made sure to change his facial expression, furrowing his brow as a question, he didn't ask, to show Cassius that he did notice it. Not that they had to talk about it, but Cassius didn't have to pretend like it didn't happen. Dominic would for sure call him out for it if he tried to.
However, before coughing Cassius said something that Dominic had to ask about. The Nachon raised an eyebrow at him, a bit skeptical. He wasn't one to talk about the past, actually he would much rather ignore its existence. And Cassius was in some regards or at least in their friendship the same way. Bringing it up now meant having something on his mind, maybe something bothering.
So he asked: "What part of the past?" Before turning finally stopping his examination of Cassius, but only because of the coffee machine, which now was done. He turned around to grab the kettle and pour coffee in the mugs, Cassius had found for them.

Cassius tried to save face by making a joke, a joke that didn't land with Dominic. Especially because of the 'dead man' part. Dominic hated when he called himself that. It felt degrading - towards Cassius self, that is - even as a joke. Also Dominic tried to avoid everything that reminded him of the fact that Cassius in a way was dead. Or at least closer to death than any man ever would be. That fact made him feel as though he himself was the one who was sick. A bad taste hit his tongue as he thought of that. So no, Cassius got no response from Dominic. Maybe a hint of the distaste he was feeling. But that didn't matter, because Dominic had asked Cassius a question to which he was now replying. Well, replying by shrugging it off and telling Dominic to forget it. Which Dominic knew he wouldn't, but he would at least not comment on it any further. For his and for Cassius' sake. As Cassius said himself: No good in digging up the past. Dominic just let it slide and focused on pouring coffee. After he was done, he and Cassius grabbed one, and he turned to face his friend again, standing like before with his back against the kitchen counter. He was about to take a sip when Cassius commented on the coffee. He laughed, just a bit and shrugged as a nonchalant way of agreeing with him. Then he took his sip.
"It's because I'm the only one who bothers to make it properly," he said after that, "One time I dared to ask Saga to make it for me instead and it tasted like watered-down soil. A very shitty flavor by the way."
Saga... He wondered if she was okay. She didn't live here at the headquarters and hadn't answered his text message yet. Getting lost in his thoughts again, Dominic decided to find his phone from his pocket to check. No message from Saga now but a lot of other messages regarding the news. EFA members all over the country were panicking. Dominic's chest clenched, quickly reading over his notifications. Then he locked the phone and stuck it back into his pockets. He looked up at Cassius, knowing that he had just seen his worry. But he didn't mention it. Instead he said: "Want to sit by the couches? If we're lucky, we can find a channel that isn't talking about all of this. Maybe a game of sorts instead." Football, basketball, golf, whatever. It really didn't matter as long as it wasn't about the news. Maybe Dominic could check his phone while they were watching. Answer some messages. Try to see if anything could get a hold on Saga.

Cassius chuckled when Dominic told him about Saga's poor attempt at making coffee. Saga was someone who Cassius found a bit too cheerful at times, however if he was going to be honest, it was a nice change from how his family usually was. Cassius even had taken it up on himself to help her control her powers. After all Cassius had been a very promising fire kirsha before, in the EFA she could have no better teacher who understood the feeling of fire in your veins like Cassius did. Sometimes he would miss that feeling of crackling energy burning it's way throughout his body, though now that was rarely.

When Dominic asked if they should move over to the couch, Cassius nodded. "Yeah lets sit down and finish the coffee, though afterwards I'll have to leave" Cassius answered as he sat down on one end of the couch, taking another sip of the coffee. They sat there channel surfing, though most channels talked or mentioned the 'poor tragedy that befell this nation's treasure'. After finally finding a channel that did not mention the late crown prince, which seemed to be a children's channel filled with reruns of cartoons. Cassius drank the coffee while occasionally chatting with Dominic. Once the cup was finished, Cassius said his goodbyes as he left, sneaking his way back to the Seymour Manor in Haling Dove.