Cassius turned those that had desire for something more. Those that held that look to their eyes that screamed for a world beyond the one that they lived within. Val held such eyes, even now she did. There was a part of him that still wanted to reach out to that. To stroke those fires and see just what came to pass. But he knew the road that lead him down. He knew how quickly he could be swallowed up in that desire and lose everything that he had created for himself now. He had put too much into all of this to cast it all aside.
No matter how she tempted him.
No matter how she always would.
Never had Cassius feared her. He feared few. It wasn't a matter of arrogance but more a lack of fear of death. He'd been forced too near to it too many times now to truly fear what would come should it claim him. He could not fear torture or pain, as he had seen much of it. So what then was there left to fear? The only fear he held was harm to those few ties he had in this world. Only two remained and never did Cassius truly speak just what weaknesses they were for him. Though perhaps Val's presence here was a clear sign that the enemy well understood that weakness.
Understood it...and sought to exploit it.
Should he fall there would be no need to target Selene, Cassius would have done so all on his own. He knew already that his memories, his energy, could crush her. He could drown her in such experiences that she'd never be the same. He nearly had. Nearly....he fought tooth and nail to stop it.
But part of him had enjoyed it...the way that control slipped away, shedding away under the onslaught.
The heat, the fire, was like a drug that destroyed everything once you let it get into your veins again.
"What you want I will not give this time." Cassius responded slowly after finishing quickly the second drink. Soon the waitress did return, lining a few more to the table top. Though those too would quickly be gone. The liquor wasn't near strong enough tonight. But perhaps that was because it was not what his thirst truly craved.
Will not…not can not. Cassius could give her what she craved. The world could quickly spiral back to how it had once been. It could be as thought no time had passed at all between them. It could be…but he would not let it be. It wasn’t just what she wanted. It was what Sergio was hoping for as well.
Just one more down in the long line of those he sought to make crumble.
“You know this…” he paused, placing a cigarette to his own lips and lighting it quickly “…so why are you here?” direct, to the point, and said in a tone holding no fire, no hate. Calm. Cold perhaps.