Cassius' Shop of Jeweled Wonders

[Red Gypsy]

Vihata

Cassius had busied himself with a few of his commissions that had to be sent out, complete with spells added. The spells were really the harder part of his work but always satisfying when they settled into the gemstone. He boxed those up then made a few smaller pieces, still trying to decide what to do with the larger stones he had to work with.

Most of his work was done through inspiration, making things as the gem inspired him to carve. So it wasn't that much of a surprise when his first large piece turned out to be another large owl, this time with a ruby. The spells weren't that hard to set into it since they were just basics. He'd add other spells when the piece was purchased.

But in looking at the things Kota had made, he decided to have the ruby owl as a display piece with the circlet. He collected Kota's bowl of pieces, gave him a kiss that promised for more attention later, then headed into the shop to set the new pieces up and open up the shop.

While they'd been working, the workers had arrived to get started on the studio. So that left Kota with unpacking and making lunch, if he was so inclined, while Cassius dealt with his first customers.  

[Red Gypsy]

Vihata

Cassius leaned back in his hold with a contented sound and grinned over his shoulder, "Take a look around. Apparently everyone who came in yesterday to buy your things told everyone else about them. So you're almost sold out again. There's only the circlet left and a couple of rings. But I sold a piece to go with each one, so we're even, I think," he told him honestly.

He turned in his arms and planted a delighted kiss on his lips, "I've also been told that adding an open aviary for Orthius won't be a problem at all. They'll attach it to the studio. But I told them that they should get the finishing touches and layout for it from you, so don't be surprised when they come asking about it," he added, finding that he dearly loved spoiling his lover and could spend an entire lifetime doing so without ever getting tired of it.  

[Red Gypsy]

Vihata

Cassius felt something wrong almost immediately when Kota left the shop so he simply closed up and checked on the protective spells he kept on the building. Nothing foreign had entered but something still didn't feel right.

He headed upstairs and frowned at the sight of the closed door. When he tried to open it, he knew he had to act when he found it locked.

He suddenly could feel everything from Kota and knew what was wrong. So he simply reacted. He closed his eyes and started to sing, bring a part of his mere form forward to be able to give full power to his song.

That song called to his soul that Kota now held, chased away the fear, and started purging him of the blasted stuff weakening him. His song pleaded with Kota to stay, not to give in to what was weakening him. It drove him to his knees outside that door and reinforced the shielding on the building to prevent incidents like it in the future, but it took alot of energy out of him to do this only partially shifted.

He knew his 'family' would do anything to get him back under control, but he'd never expected this. Never once thought they'd team up with another race to eliminate what they thought was simply another of his lovers...

In purest desperation, he did the only other thing he could think of... He pulled the substance harming Kota out of him and into himself, finally making him pass out on the landing just outside the bedroom door, still only partially shifted... He was only missing his tail at this point...  

[Red Gypsy]

Vihata

Cassius gave a soft moan just as Rex came in through the back door and headed for the stairs demanding to know who'd had the audacity to attack them.

He winced at the volume Rex was using since he had a sizable headache and put one hand to his head and the other on Kota's, "I really wish he had another volume... Kota-love, would you please go let Orthius out while Rex gets me off of the floor?" he suggested in a soft voice just as the large man started up the stairs and frowned when he saw Cass.

"And just what in the nine hells have you been doing to get like that, fish? Nevermind, your boy here can tell me some of it. You're going to bed for now. I know you'll have to go swimming later to finish that shift either way, but you need sleep right now," he said in a softer volume and moved to pick him up gently.

He carried Cassius into the bedroom without another word and put him on the bed, "I think my family's teaming up with some unmentionables this time, human. Tell the cat and she'll do something to help for a bit. At least until I can get back on my feet," Cass said softly, dropping into the old teasing as a way to buffer the whole situation for the moment.

He knew better than to ask Kota to go anywhere right now, not even downstairs, so he didn't bother to try as he shifted to his side to avoid laying on the fin that ran along his back. At least he hadn't developed the gills and tail. That would have been problematic.

Still, he did have the fin along his spine and the ones along his forearms as well as scales over his hips, legs, and shoulders. At least his clothes covered most of it for now. But there was no denying that he'd become the more beautiful of his forms.

Rex stood back with his arms folded across his chest with a frown, "I'll get some of those boys to keep an eye out as well. They can't be harmed by anyone and will summon help right quick should it be needed. I'll send over some of that tea you like a little later and leave you to your boy for now," he told Cass then turned a kinder face to Kota, "You snuggle in with him, boy, maybe make him some coffee or tea in a bit. He'll be fine. He just overworked himself a bit, I'd think," he tried to reassure the Alichino as best as he could and even patted his shoulder as gently as he could as he headed out.  

[Red Gypsy]

Vihata

Cassius accepted the help to drink the tea then relaxed back against the pillows, knowing the tea would help restore some of his energy. It still took him a few more moments before he spoke, opening his lavender eyes as he wiped at the few tears still on Kota's face.

"No more crying or you're going to break my heart, lover. I'm truly sorry this happened to you... I never thought my family would get that desperate. I'll have to go have a talk with them about all of this, get them to finally back off and realize they won't be able to do anything about my life. I'm not going back to them no matter what they do but attacking you like that has to be the final straw..." he said softly, hoping he'd understand what he would have to do.

He knew that as long as he let the attack go unpunished it would happen again. And the next time he might not be able to save his lover. That was something he'd never be able to live with.  

[Red Gypsy]

Cassius gave a soft sigh at the information, knowing what he was going to have to do but not really liking it. Instead, he concentrated on the preparations he'd have to make and what he'd already done to make their home safer. Because what he was going to have to do was going to be hard on Kota most of all.

He took in a deep breath and pulled Kota in to lay next to him with one hand and gave the little owl a light scratch with the other, placing a light kiss to his lips before speaking, "I want you to go stay at the castle for a few days, Kota. You and Orthius will be safe there while I go deal with my family. Very few can get past Sebastet's protective wards there. I'll escort you there tomorrow before I leave, alright?" he said softly, hating the separation but knowing that Kota wouldn't be able to go where he was headed.

He knew explaining things to his family would be harder since they'd be able to tell that he and Kota weren't fully lovers yet but he wasn't about to push the man on it. For the first time in his life, he found himself taking on a slightly submissive role with a lover and found it strangely both frustrating and freeing at the same time.

It did complicate matters with what he was going to have to do, but he was not about to that part of their relationship too fast. He'd do what he had to do to keep Kota safe from his family, no matter what it took to do so....  

[Red Gypsy]

Vihata

Cassius had a feeling he knew exactly what his family wanted of him but he kept it to himself for now as he held Kota to him, loving the feeling of him in his arms. Then he whispered the sweetest words he'd ever heard and shifted so that he could see his face clearly, looking into his eyes to make sure he'd heard that correctly. But he already knew. He could actually feel it.

He put a hand to his cheek, gently caressing his soft skin, "You have no idea how much I've been wanting to hear you say that, Kota," he whispered softly and leaned in to give him a tender kiss before pulling back enough to look into his eyes again, "I love you so much Kota..." he added, then kissed him hungrily and passionately.

He tenderly got them both out of their clothes and lead the intimate dance first, then guided Kota into loving him in return. He loved the way Kota explored his scales from his partial shift, finding them to be more sensitive than he'd expected them to be.

When they finally rested, Cassius held Kota to him like a lifeline, knowing he was going to need this memory to get him through what he had to do.

He pressed a kiss to his temple and tightened his arms around him briefly, "I will come back to you, Kota... I promise you that... Don't loose hope of that while I'm gone. I need you to believe that I'll come back to you," he whispered softly and buried his face in his neck, knowing he had to sat that, that he had to have that hope to do this...