Cassian could only smile at Uncle Archimedes, assuming it was likely because their attitudes towards devotion to work and disinterest in marriage were quite aligned. Not that Cass would ever admit that out loud (for fear it solidifies how he feels), nor did he have as much of a choice as a firstborn son.
The two gentlemen Valenduris clinked their glasses, and Cass took a good sip while he considered his wise grandfather. How they’d never gotten around to talking about his many wives before, he didn’t know. It seemed surprising, considering the amount of time one spends with their other half. Perhaps because Katerina was around as often as she was, they simply never had the opportunity.
Though for his questions about Grandma Avella, Cass did not expect such an impact on the old man. It was as if his eyes lit up with memories from several lifetimes ago, at once animating him while making him appear worn and tired. Cass rotated the glass thoughtfully in his hands, a furrow between his brows.
“I’m sorry,” he put it gently, realizing this may have been hard for him. “It must have felt as though you lost a piece of yourself when that happened.” Though young, Cass supposed he knew a thing or two about this sense of loss from his line of work. Yet something about what the old man said about what matters most twisted his stomach to knots. A passing thought of his longtime friend flickered through his mind’s eye, though of course in this context it made no sense. Wrestling with these thoughts, he let Meserimus’ words marinate for some time before he ventured to speak.
“I suppose my challenge is that I could be myself,” he started. “Without artifice. I have been criticized for not speaking my thoughts transparently before, for keeping my distance under pretense. Perhaps it is my line of work, it is frightful what I’ve seen. I would never wish to place that sort of burden on anybody. And I tend to think the worst.” The blonde grimaced, and tiredly rubbed the back of his head before taking another sip of whiskey.
“In a way I would almost rather an arrangement,” he laughed. “Perhaps I may have the same luck as you. You know me better than any of my family, I would take your endorsements wholeheartedly. Then it's just a matter of if she passes muster with Lecia and Sabine,” he added with a grin. The ladies Valenduris were known for having… very strong wills.
The two gentlemen Valenduris clinked their glasses, and Cass took a good sip while he considered his wise grandfather. How they’d never gotten around to talking about his many wives before, he didn’t know. It seemed surprising, considering the amount of time one spends with their other half. Perhaps because Katerina was around as often as she was, they simply never had the opportunity.
Though for his questions about Grandma Avella, Cass did not expect such an impact on the old man. It was as if his eyes lit up with memories from several lifetimes ago, at once animating him while making him appear worn and tired. Cass rotated the glass thoughtfully in his hands, a furrow between his brows.
“I’m sorry,” he put it gently, realizing this may have been hard for him. “It must have felt as though you lost a piece of yourself when that happened.” Though young, Cass supposed he knew a thing or two about this sense of loss from his line of work. Yet something about what the old man said about what matters most twisted his stomach to knots. A passing thought of his longtime friend flickered through his mind’s eye, though of course in this context it made no sense. Wrestling with these thoughts, he let Meserimus’ words marinate for some time before he ventured to speak.
“I suppose my challenge is that I could be myself,” he started. “Without artifice. I have been criticized for not speaking my thoughts transparently before, for keeping my distance under pretense. Perhaps it is my line of work, it is frightful what I’ve seen. I would never wish to place that sort of burden on anybody. And I tend to think the worst.” The blonde grimaced, and tiredly rubbed the back of his head before taking another sip of whiskey.
“In a way I would almost rather an arrangement,” he laughed. “Perhaps I may have the same luck as you. You know me better than any of my family, I would take your endorsements wholeheartedly. Then it's just a matter of if she passes muster with Lecia and Sabine,” he added with a grin. The ladies Valenduris were known for having… very strong wills.
![[Image: BC4TW0z.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/BC4TW0z.jpeg)
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