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It rankled him more than it should have.

Other Castor knights. Others who bore the same shame as he, forced to serve and carry the crest of the fool prince on their armor. Be sworn to aid a world that offered them nothing. Other Castor knights- no doubt who were loyal to the upstart foundling royal, and none likely would he find amicable to his cause. Devotion and brotherhood were truly the most infuriating of aspects, though force had always been of favorable nature.

Grumbling at the revelation given to him in warning from one of the generals he’d been using as a contact, Lacedaemon trudged through one of the smaller parks, hand on his staff tight and his lips pressed in a thin line. His displeasure was palatable in the air, and his brisk walk was more than openly indicating his frustration.

Stopping at the crossroads of the walking path he hissed between his teeth, hitting a tree with far too much force than needed, cracking the bark with his weapon.

“Of all the damn-“ He took a breath, free hand slicking back his blonde hair and eye closing.
“As if I did not already have enough troubles.” He groaned to himself. Other Castor knights- just what he did not need in his plans.

He was ready to grouse about Castor knights more when the energy flickered nearby and he was forced to school his features, swallowing back his frustration.
Frustration that quickly became adore as he saw the woman who’s power was brushing his own like a friendly caress.

Lacedaemon was not in his own terms, entirely sexist. But he knew what he liked, and he was rather open about his ideas on women and how they should be in relation to their male counterparts. Which was typically in two manners.
Next to him aiding his goals.
Or under him. In any fashion.

As he caught sight of the woman adjusting her armor, (was it more a bodice? Who’s to say, all he cared was that it accented her figure very pleasantly), the knight smirked, openly leering for a moment until he realized that leering was hardly an effective way to instigate a first impression.

“Perhaps. But it would be best effective in hitting one’s neck to crush the trachea. If that should fail then at least it will often stun your enemy. But if we are being creative-“ He hummed, smiling as he went forward.

“I am certain the uses can be varied.” The word was laced with something too friendly and warm, yet not openly designed to be known as it was.
“Pardon my intrusion on your evening. Lacedaemon, of Castor. And you cara mia?”

Lacedaemon looked at her for a moment in her confusion then chuckled softly under his breath. Lifting his head open palm covered his neck before he pointed to an area with two of his fingers.
“Here. It is used for breathing. Windpipe is another word for it I believe?” He figured that it would help for him to try perhaps a less formal approach with this woman. She certainly seemed to not mind base terminology.

“A kick to the groin would be effective, but it will not always waylay your enemy some beings are.. lacking, or, have a mounted defense to that classic tactic of focusing on such a site. As for pretending none of this is happening… I would rather you not. I have not met others of my crest before,” truth, “and frankly the opportunity to spend some time with an ally is something that was rare for me in my homeland.” Also a truth; he wanted to see if she would entertain him for a while, or at least allow him to learn more about her.

“Imbrium- a lovely name. And I can assure you, you are of Castor’s banner. The symbol you wear is proof, and if not our shared symbol, no doubt your soul. We of Castor would be a rather powerful sort. Brotherhood, devotion and force and all that.” He looked her up and down, less leering but more appraising.
“Have you begun to explore your magic yet?”

He scoffed, actually taking mild offense at her comment on their roles being akin to a freak show. “Freak- my dear, we are nobility reborn.” He said, ice eyes fixed on her, trying to stress the importance. “We are above the commonality, your college frat boys don’t hold a candle to you.” He smiled.
“They hardly are of consequence against a man like myself. They are lacking, we are not.” He was not, and maybe he’d get to show her the many ways he was above the petty men of Destiny City. Powered and mortal man.

“Our wonders, that is the place we draw power from, call to us, they call us to a home tied to our souls.” Walking over he motioned to the center of his chest then her own. “Does it not feel at times so empty? Like there is a place you long to be but cannot go? That is our wonder, our namesakes, calling out to us, begging for our return. The emptiness you can try to fill with other outlets but you will be unsatisfied. Trust me, only when you reside at your wonder will you feel truly… whole.” He sighed. Perhaps, that was the worst of their lot, that the longing they felt would never be placated by living on earth, with this paltry hidden life when they should be revered like Gods among men.

Lacedaemon’s hand went to her shoulder, gentle sliding down the bare skin.
“You magic is yours. To me, my magic is cold. Hard and immovable. Yet in that cold I find my strength, my force. It comes when we call it, but when you first need it, it will rise in you like a tempest. If you face the storm you will emerge from your battle victorious. Fail to face your power and-“ He hummed, hand pulling back.
“-Do you wish to know of the royal or the world? They are not one and the same, and just because we are beholden to one does not mean we must serve the other. If at all.”

Lacedaemon stared at her up and down again, eyes lingering on her face. He got the impression he should know her, but from where, or how, he couldn’t recall. He’d likely have to explore his wonder to figure that out at a later date.

“Dear Imbrium, you have no idea how it feels. The power under your skin set free, your nature filled and whole. And when you take it in, embrace what it offers?” He sighed, recalling when he’d grabbed his power, come into it and claimed it as his own.
“The hole is filled and you know what it is you have been missing. You find a peace, a purpose. You have magic and a wonder, it is just a matter of discovering them.” He smiled, reaching out and giving her shoulder a tiny squeeze.


“Castor is a planet, and our wonders reside on it. It is cold, ah, a bit like Norway or Scandinavia. Beautiful but fierce. Green in the summer, white in winter, but one got used to it. It was grand, but once you go you’ll perhaps see into the past as I have. Truly, you must go as soon as you are able. As fo us knights- Once. Once were were many, and for a long time, in this life, I thought myself the lone one. But now I have learned I am not so. It is a wonderful thing.”

Lacedaemon just had to get them on his side was all.
“There is so much to know Imbrium, you just need to open up to the possibilities.”

He smiled, leaning down to purr in her ear, hand slipping down her shoulder to her arm.
"Shall I show you my dear Imbrium? I can show you the full depths of my magic, our magic?"

He wanted, either her, or her loyalty.

"It is in our power to leave this world behind, return to what is ours, to our wonders and reclaim what belongs to us. What is our birthright."

She didn't like it, his touch. He felt the tensing, that faint shift in her body language and he smirked. She'd not pulled away and so his grip tightened.

"How far are you willing to go Imbrium? Everything demands tribute, sacrifice, devotion. That is one of our aspects, devotion. You must devote yourself to your choices. Can you accept that?" He tugged on her gently, to look him in the eyes as he spoke.

"Because the first step is accepting who we are, and what we must be willing to do to gain back what is rightfully ours. Cast out uncertainty, ignore fear and brush away apprehension. Close your eyes and look inside yourself and tell me, are you ready to become Imbrium or will you just take their name and nothing more?" He let her go.

"If you are willing, I will grant you a gift to aid in this process if you will grant me a simple thing in return."

Lacedaemon smiled.

"I tell no lies Imbrium. In this, I am oath bound." A lie of all lies. He was the oath breaker, in his past, in this life and the next, he held no oath or vow he would not care to salvage or mend. None he would uphold save his own.

He was a liar, and he'd lie to hell and back if it would serve his purposes.

"The price is simple; promise to yield to me in battle and stay your blade from me and my goals. I have, unfortunately, been betrayed before by my fellow knights, and I have no desire to suffer the same fate twice." Not a lie, he had been betrayed- but only because he'd sold his fellow order aligned to Chaos for the wealth that was power.

"Swear you will do me no harm, and I will give you a gift that will help you find yourself, to find the one who is Imbrium. Both now, and in the past."