ᴅᴀʏʙʀᴇᴀᴋᴇʀ

“Of course I have to worry about you,” he huffed, grabbing his small crown and placing it atop his head. It was important to present yourself well. He wanted to look somewhat regal, break away from the image of being a sickly child. “You’re by my side on the daily, so I care for you.” And it was true. Tobin was regularly surrounded by people fussing over him, and he loved them all for their concern over him. Following the man closely, he sighed a little at the mention of the nobles. “My parents and brothers will make it hard for suitors. I feel bad for them…” It was no wonder none of them had actually made it to him.

"I appreciate your concern, lad. One day you'll realize that this grizzled old man can take care of himself." Cain shrugged off his concern with a shake of his head and a playful roll of his eyes. It was nice to know that Tobin had started to care for him past his guard duties. Cain thought himself to be different than the other members of the court. They saw Tobin as a means to an end an not an actual person. "They're protective of you, lad. It's better than them shipping you off to some far off land and forgetting all about you."

                        THAT HE DID, IN ALL ITS WARMTH—at the very least, the warlock could feel the pull or the graze of anything that the tamed shadow would come into contact with. But he was very much capable of really melding the sensations into something more of a legitimate experience ——— just like how he felt the mat of fur on Cain like he was touching it himself… the curve of it… even the warmth that was probably kept on by the alcohol in their system. Dmitri offered a small smile then, his eyes a little more teasing now that if felt like they were easing into the same page. Fingers moved into circles then, a wider stroke as if an attempt to encompass the proud broadness of the other’s chest in reply to the goad that he had just thrown to Dmitri.

“——— nah, I suppose this will satisfy me…” Liam hummed, letting the shadows to even narrow a little bit that the tips of it was almost a gentle tickling rake over the hefty slab of the knight’s breast.

"Will it now?" Cain challenged the mage with a crooked smirk as he stepped forward and into his space. Their muscular bodies collided with a gentle slap as brawn met brawn. Their pecs fought for space as Cain brought Dmitri's hand up and onto the very same pec he'd been groping with his shadow. Whatever had been in that alcohol had made him much more daring than he would have been otherwise and he decided to act upon his impulses. "Doesn't that feel much better?" His voice was low and suggestive as his own hand came to rest on the small of Dmitri's back, pressing the other forward so what little space existed between their bodies was snuffed out. Fur met smooth flesh as their pecs sloshed together and as Cain raked his fingers up Dmitri's wide back. "This is way better than some party, I'd say."

If Cain had voiced his thoughts, Tobin was unlikely to agree. While many had pointed out the similarities between him and his mother, he just couldn’t seem himself on quite that same level. Pandora was strong, gorgeous. Tobin was soft. With a little sigh, he got out of bed and began to pull on clothes – deciding on light purples and golds for the day. “I do like the be early…” he murmured softly, moving to a mirror so that he could fix his hair. “I slept okay. Gabriel was with my for most of the night. How did you fare?”

Tobin was a sweet boy. Most nobles he had the pleasure of working for did little to regard him and acted as if he didn't exist. He considered his prince as if he were one of his own and treated him accordingly. "You needn't worry about me, Tobin. All that matters is that you slept well and that you're going to be on time for breakfast." Once the boy was dressed he clapped him on his shoulder and gestured toward the doors of his chamber. "You know there have been a lot of young nobles wandering around the castle lately. I wonder if somebody is trying to set you up with them." Cain was comfortable enough with Tobin to strike up a conversation with him. After all, he was his guard and he was expected to build up a foundation of trust and mutual respect with the boy. He also wanted to be involved in every aspect of his life as a father would.

“Yeah, a friends of mine that lives in Bergia helped me out with picking out a nice fur coat but it’s still something to get used to. It’s a very nice coat. I also have to remember to bring it as well “ Yaz smiled as he remember that day meeting Davios for the first time. He instantly felt better now that he was wrapped in the man’s coat. “Thank you. I appreciate this. Are you sure you’re alright? Maybe we should get to some shelter where we can both warm up a little.”

"Don't worry about me, lad. I've got enough brawn to fight off the cold." He'd lived in Bergia his entire life and the bite of winter was familiar to him. "If you want we can go into a nearby tavern here." Cain gestured toward a bar with an open door. Warmth, music and laughter spilled out through the windows and beckoned to the pair who were still standing out in te cold. "I'll cover your tab." He offered, already starting toward the tavern. Once inside the owner of the bar greeted Cain who had became such a familiar face that other regulars also greeted the former soldier. "What're you doing out here anyway?"

Tobin was groggy as he pushed himself up. Pink sheets and white fur blankets fell from him, leaving the half-nude prince looking dazed, confused, and slightly chilly. His hand moved next to him where Gabriel had once been before sighing. “Ser Cain…” he mumbled, rubbing at his eyes. “Is it already that late? I’m sorry…”

Tobin was a vision. He shared his mother's beauty and wore it nearly just as well as the queen. "It hasn't started yet. You'll make a good impression if you're punctual." Cain watched the boy from the foot of his bed before he stepped away so the prince could wash and dress. Since Tobin was the youngest child of Beriga there was a slim chance that he would ever be king or queen himself. That didn't mean that he couldn't make a name for himself in his own right and Cain wanted that for his charge. "How'd you sleep, my prince?" He turned away from the boy so he could get ready for the day.

Cain had never thought that retiring from the service would have brought him into the Bergian castle and babysitting princes. Thankfully the boy he'd been assigned to was as fearsome as a newborn kitten and Cain liked easy assignments. Before breakfast, he started down toward his chambers and politely knocked on the prince's door before allowing himself in. He was dressed accordingly in the armor worn by those tasked with protecting the royal family. Cain planted himself at the foot of Tobin's bed, standing over him as he waited for the boy to stir. "Time to wake up, my prince. Breakfast won't be there for you if you sleep till the afternoon."

                        A DISTANT CAW CAME FROM THE NEARBY TREES, skimming through the quiet roll of the waters and the celebrations whose chants still singed through the night wind. Dmitri chuckled. It was almost as if it was shared humor amongst mages, sorcerers, and warlocks; a playful hope that they can get a coin for every time someone asked them the kind of tricks that they do. Though right then, as Cain’s eyes weighed on him with a playful gleam, Dmitri’s own sparked as well—albeit one better of hidden through another heave of a sigh as he coolness crept under his skin ——— that without warning, his magicks took grasp; where Cain scratched at his chest, along the curve where the light kissed at the peak of it, the shadow paused. The black mark of a hand stayed as if painted on where it contracted and spread in a rhythm as if it was the exact shadow that was meant for the action of scratching. And with it, the sensations came just as much—as if Cain’s shadow itself playfully scratched at his chest ——— all while he tried to play mum about it.

Surprise colored his features as his own shadow scratched at his brawny chest. Cain glanced down at his full chest, incapable of seeing past the wide expanse of them as that black hand remained. "That's something." He looked up from his pecs back to Dmitri who was acting as casually as possible. "Can you feel what you touch?" His hand fell over the phantom hand that rested over his pec, rubbing at it curiously. "If so, you're gonna have to do more than scratch 'em." Normally Cain wouldn't have been so forward. He was much more reserved and flirtation never came easy to the knight, thankfully that bottle had softened him considerably.

                        “AH—” A BIGGER SMILE FINALLY EASED THROUGH PARTED LIPS, eyes cast on the proud swig that came welcomed by the gulp from the thick cords of Cain’s neck, down to the broad chest that swelled from the burn that coaxed on that subtle growl. Beast of a man that he is, the tease was quite expected. “——— and here I am trying all the possibilities from the magic that I wield, who knew I’d find it right down in the bottom of the bottle…” Dmitri quipped, words came punctuated with a swig of his own. All at once, it was his turn to feel the sharp warmth that trickled down with the gentle ease of his swallow. And with its own burn flaring within his chest, he set it down as his face winced along with the swell tense of his bared form ——— swelling on with a push as if he meant to let the round heft of each come into better display under the soft moonlight. A soft cough even caused them to jug at the slightest.

“Hm, none yet…” Dmitri played on, taking in a breath that pushed them on as he looked down to see the curves that were sculpted by nothing but light and form. “ ———not from where I see it at least… ”

"You never know what you might find at the bottom of a bottle." Cain returned his lips toward the object in question and took another deep swig. Years of drinking in a local tavern made downing an entire bottle look easy. Cain didn't flinch after downing half of the bottle before returning it to Dmitri. "You could find men, adventure, sex or a fight." He smirked, mostly to himself before he leaned back into a nearby wall. He gave a soft sigh as the cold stone touched his bare muscle. "Aye, you don't need hair on you. Ya look fine, I'd say. I've got enough for the both of us, I'd say." Cain reached up, unconsciously scratching at a furred pec. While Dmitri spoke he watched the other behind a look of amusement. Mages always intrigued him. They wielded so much power and could rend flesh, burn down houses or save lives with a simple gesture. "--I've always been curious about what you do. I know you're a mage but I've never actually seen what you do." Cain leaned forward, still wearing a mischevious smirk. "Mind showin' me?"

Lately Yaz had been spending a lot of time in Bergia because of Davios. They had became quick friends and he was enough to bear the cold for. However now that here was here more, he also spend more time in the markets there. Usually he was without an guard which he knew turned heads but considering he didn’t make a public name of himself, very few outside of royal courts know who he was. That’s why he was shocked when the knight approached him. “Yes, it is. As nice as Bergia can be.” He spoke. “I mean not that it’s bad, just a bit colder than I’m used to.”

Yaz had been somebody Cain recognized from afar. He didn't want to admit it subconsciously but he was keeping an eye on Davios and the company he kept. This would be a way for him to test the boy's character without stating it directly. "You should look into buying a thick coat. Which shouldn't be hard for a boy of your stature." Cain shrugged off the jacket that he wore and offered it to the man. It was a big, dark leather coat with a hood lined with white fur that would keep Yaz warm. "I can't have you freezing to death out here. Use this." He offered the smaller male, smirking down at him.

Aurelios had a done a lot of work over the time since the end of the storm. He had traveled to provide aid to those affected as well as helping on his own land. In his travels, he made sure to gather knowledge on those most helpful during the storms. That’s why the knight from Bergia was summoned in front of him today. “Your name was brought up many time, sire. I want to personally thank you for your courage not only during the storm but also in your return here. Not many are so eager to come back after what happened. 

"Tis but a storm that ravaged the land, nothing more. Thankfully they don't come back as frequently as ill-mannered guests." Cain kept himself cordial with the queen, offering them a little smile as a courtesy. He had done what he could to help whoever he could find but it never felt like enough. If he had been younger, stronger and quicker he would have saved more. Instead of lamenting on the inevitable he straightened his posture and returned his eyes to the floor. "This is a tremendous honor, your majesty. There are others far more worthy of your attention, I assure you. I was merely doing what was right."

Cain didn't want to impose on a prince of all people. Yet, he couldn't stop himself from being curious about why the prince was allowed to wander unaccompanied. He then realized how ironic it would be for him to worry about the boy when his own charge was nowhere in sight. Cain realized that it was easier to simply watch over Dante when in public where he could keep up the appearance that he was actually doing his job. Last he checked his prince had been sleeping which left him with a few hours to himself. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" Cain feigned ignorance as the boy looked over something in the small marketplace he found him in.