<div class="floatright">(https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/11917865_1484291961887317_2019264209_n.jpg)</div><div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7b/8e/74/7b8e745e098bc61ef6f36ae32e84f650--anubis-mask-the-mask.jpg)</div>Name: Markus<br/>Location: Banquet Hall<br/>Tagging: Claudine<br/>Mentioning: Elia, Hudson, Isobelle, Stephen<br/><hr/><br/>Markus listened as his burgundy-hued Dance Partner dismissed his report on the Count's death as a matter of staged entertainment; all the while filling her plate with various morsels that tantalized the Boxer's now realized hunger. The Banquet Hall had been decked out with enough food to feed a small village. Each dish expertly prepared and displayed to be as inviting as the culinary masterpiece next to it. Anxiety fueled adrenaline started to wane and a small rumble escaped the confines of M.J.C.'s midsection.<br/><br/>As, the still unnamed, Claudine placed her fingers on her escorts muscular arm she offered Cade an alternative to fretting about the chaos he had just witnessed. Sitting down and enjoying a meal with this attractive Woman did seem to make more sense than losing one's shit over something that could be nothing more than a huge game of clue.<br/><br/>"It was the Mask Butler in the Ballroom with the Knife?" Markus said, making light of his own inner dialog. Perhaps the domino mask wearing Brunette was right, maybe this was all just an elaborate trick... But then Markus felt and heard it, the crack in the facade within the facade. The barest of trembles and the slightest of change of tenor that told the young Fighter that the explanation he was just given wasn't as fully believed as the Young Lady had made it out to be. Cade's first instinct was to call his Dance Partner on her own bullshit, but he strangled that thought almost as quickly as it had developed. As much as he might have thought he knew this enticing Woman, he really had no clue as to who she was and what she might be feeling at the moment. Despite all that was happening and her own possible apprehension, She had simply tried to set the Boxer at ease. Wouldn't it be 'just' to do the same?<br/><br/>As the burgundy dressed Beauty offered Markus a wink before turning to walk away, gracing him with what might be a 'come hither' glance over her shoulder; the Lightweight Champion sighed and force a smile to his lips which turned into a genuine one as he started to look over possible fillers to the empty plate he was reaching for. M.J.C. started with the classics, various cuts of meats and cheese set out for sampling before adding some vegetables cut perfectly so that they may be dipped in a variety of creams and sauces. When one small plate had been covered to excess, Markus gathered another and loaded it up with several types of pieces of bread and pats of flavored butter. Finally, after stacking one plate on top of the other, he went for a bowl but instead of pouring in some delish smelling soup, Cade took his lovely Dance Partner's advice and went to town on the meatballs. It was a balancing act, to say the least, for the Fighter but he had Olympic athlete agility after all. As he passed several guests, they stared at his abundance of plates and food with various levels of amusements to outright disgust. At least that was what he guessed they were expressing behind their individual masks.<br/><br/>"What?" Markus said to anyone who dared looked too long. "Did I miss something?"<br/><br/>The Woman that had tried to set Markus's mind at ease had found herself a table that was off the beaten path but not hiding out in the corner. Her plate was still there but as M.J.C. scanned for her he realized she had moved to the bar and was ordering herself a drink. As the Anibus Warrior sat his treasure trove of food down he thought to himself what sort of beverage he might order. That thought ended upon seeing the Mask wearing Brunette return with a second glass in tow. As Markus reached for the wine he felt the shake that vibrated the rich golden liquid within. As the Woman sat down, Cade returned his hand to hers after setting the offered goblet of wine on the table. The Boxer squeezed his Dance Partner's hand, wrapping his own around her's so that his fingertips could tickle her palm. Markus locked his hooded eyes on the ones peering thru the domino mask and spoke softly, confidently, and precisely.<br/><br/>"Maybe you're right and this is all just one big game. Maybe you're wrong and our lives are in jeopardy. It doesn't matter because..." Markus looks one way then another for ock dramatic effect before returning to his soliloquy "...WE are fighters. WE are Survivors... and most of all, WE are together in this. I promise you, I got your back." Cade gave another reassuring squeeze before letting his Partner's hand go. The Fighter wasn't sure if his words were of any help or even warranted. Still he didn't regret saying them and Markus meant every word. Markus Jerome Cade wasn't a hero by any stretch of the definition but the Jackaled Masked Fighter wasn't a coward either. M.J.C. would protect himself and anyone he felt close to without a hesitation and if he could offer this Woman some reassurance to help her get thru the night, he was happy to do so.<br/><br/>"Besides, I'm going to need those hands to be steady... someone's going to have to help me eat with this damn mask on?"<br/><br/>As Cade watched the group of two men and two women, that he had thought to throw his lot in earlier, disappear to explore the castle and possibly a way out, he turned to his Masked Dinner Companion with a mischievous smile. "Hey Beautiful, how about after we refuel, then we find someplace to wander off too... I'm sure there's more to this castle than ballrooms and banquets halls. Let's go find some trouble?"<br/><br/>