Caius had begun thinking of maybe recording a message for Celes with the crystal in order to make it look like he was doing one of those video calls. They were about the same, right? And he should probably report back to the icy general that he had arrived in Sonora safely, for better or worse. It was unfortunate that he had been alerted that the meeting was to begin soon and he was needed in Sonora right before she was to arrive in Torensten. He had wanted to at least see how Celes was doing in person, plus discuss business without things delaying them. However, it just so happened that one subject of that needed business discussion decided to sabotage any attempt he could make at escaping.

By taking on fake names and passing himself off as his friend. All for a free bath. Then the man's arm was around Caius' shoulder, and Caius immediately shot him a look that said if he didn't quickly take his arm away, it would be gone. While the barker was taken aback by Alex's sudden appearance, and after a quick once-over actually seemed a bit disappointed at the sight of him, he simply nodded and motioned towards the bathhouse after salvaging his enthusiasm.

"Of course, your timing couldn't be better Mr. Rex! Enjoy, and make sure to come back if you do!"

Caius found himself pulled towards the springhouse, begrudgingly following along with the trap of social convention he had found himself in. Taking steady, deep breaths to retain his composure. It wasn't long before the two of them handed over the vouchers and were promptly whisked to changing rooms. Caius had considered using magic to store his clothes in the glaive, but decided to only do so for the suit jacket since it would be the most expensive to replace if stolen. And he would at least need a set of clothes on hand if one of Sonora's anti-magic fields happened to be activated. He wasn't sure how he felt about only wearing the pair of trunks they had provided, it made him feel vulnerable to attack. He had not been shirtless in public for... Well, his entire life, really. Caius was well-built, with broad shoulders, creased hands and skin here and there tattered with scars. While the Kingsglaive had magic that could heal wounds well before they scar, Caius had spent eight years on the battlefield alone and without that luxury. One particular scar located just below his neck however, looked more like a mix between a claw scratch and a deep burn. That one was courtesy of the Infernian. He had received that scar the same day he was chosen to be a Kingsglaive.

The baths were separated into male, female and unisex, the latter likely meant for unisex groups or families. The place actually seemed nice enough, with the hot spring being surrounded by soft sand. Well, not too soft. Caius noted it was far harder than what was in the Pale Coast. He could almost feel himself sinking a bit into it as well... When Alex arrived, he would find Caius peering into the waters of the hot spring, noting the steam rising up. He could feel the intense heat from here!

"I have heard of these types of baths, but they look more like they're meant to cook me for dinner than provide soothing" Caius mused aloud as he heard Alex's footsteps. He placed a foot into the waters, but the sheer heat startled him into pulling back. Caius was beginning to think this was a bad idea. But he knew he'd hear no end of it from Alex if he didn't try, so he tried again. As he did, he tried to think up something to say to distract himself.

"I don't suppose you and Cassandra have reconciled at all?" Caius inquired then, with actual innocent intent. "You have my apologies, it was not my intention to get between husband and wife. She showed at our door, and didn't provide any information on anything other than that she was looking to join. I was unaware that she had left behind a guild in Provo, nor anything regarding a lover, or dog."

"Suppose I'll find out soon enough" Caius commented as he decided to just go for it and plunged in the rest of the way. He let out a gasp as the heat hit him hard, but he would cool down after a few moments. But he did raise himself out a bit, letting the heat settle in more gradually. He would lower himself more over time. Caius rubbed at his scar a bit -- the one below his neck that resembled a deeply burning claw mark. Even now, it continued to glow slightly as though it were on fire. To be honest, he had never exposed it to elements this hot, and part of him had wondered if the scar might hurt again if he did. But the pain did not come.

Alex said something about numbers but Caius was too busy trying to adjust to really process it. But that was quickly overtaken by Caius' attempt to mend things with Alex, in his own way. Which was answered with pure disgust at the prospect that he and Cassandra were together.

"Oh. Huh. Apparently you referred to me as the "blonde homewrecker" that stole your lady romantic partner, and your dog. Claire had to explain what a homewrecker was" Caius responded with a slight shoulder shrug. "Honestly I thought homewrecker meant actually destroying someone's house. Zephon's language is strange."

Had something gotten lost in translation? Caius wasn't really sure. But apparently he had no idea Cassandra was even alive until she had joined the Dragonblades. "How did you find out she joined the Dragonblades, exactly? Before even finding out she's alive, at that. We don't exactly put recruits' faces on posters and spread them everywhere" Caius inquired with a scrutinous eye. Something really didn't add up here, so it was best that he was sure.

He'd probably have felt bad for Alex that his friend just dipped from their guild and re-appeared after months in another guild. But after everything he had done, Caius' sympathy well was running a little dry.

And then came the accusations, almost as hot as the water trying to boil him alive. With it came a long sigh from the mercenary, who responded still as calm as could be. Even if Alex made that hard to do. "We talked at length about her background and her work. Screened what we could. But nothing about your guild ever came up. She never mentioned it, and we didn't find anything. We had no clue it existed until recently" Caius spoke then, which part explained the situation... And part probably made the situation worse. It was probably best that he didn't specifically say that it wasn't even on the radar until Alex started drunkenly spouting about them poaching his girl and dog in the middle of a tavern.

How Alex recognized the mark of Ifrit right away despite it being the Ifrit from his own world that had done the deed, Caius didn't know. So he just turned to stare at Alex with an expression akin to if the gosling mercenary had grown a second head. But at the least, they could finally get down to business. Caius was, in fact, not the "homewrecker" he had spoken of while presumably heavily intoxicated. The homewrecker was...

"Cloud. You're talking about Cloud. I smacked him upside the head for that Provo incident" Caius answered in kind, unsure of if he should be giving the man's name. But considering Alex now knew Tifa, it was inevitable they were going to be in confrontation at some point. "So I was right," he mused aloud. "You actually did mean a literal homewrecker. Though it sounds like you created a misunderstanding in the realm of rumor -- many who heard you think you meant I stole your partner and your dog. Claire only repeated the common meaning of that word in Zephon."

Ever so slowly, Caius began to sink more into the water once he started getting used to it. But it didn't stop him from turning and staring piercingly at Alex, his expression having slowly harshened after Alex had ill-advisedly called Claire an "idiot".

“However, I will grant you one friendly warning. The Claire you speak of is between that of a little sister, and a daughter, to me. If you insult her further, Ifrit will find itself outdone.”

He had spoken with complete calm, not an inch of anger in his tone. But even as his expression returned to something more neutral, the way he stared... Well, it was quite clear he wasn't kidding. The younger Claire wasn't someone you trifled with. Oh, the Farrons would be giggling in unison if they had heard him say that. His thoughts were likely known already, but never spoken. He cared for the younger Claire like a little sister, but also as something resembling how a father would see their troublesome teenage daughter. And nobody messed with a man's daughter.

With that, he returned to allowing himself to relax into the waters. Or, as much as Caius was capable of relaxing at present. The kingsglaive still didn't know how to let his hair down proper. He could admit, at least. That the hot waters had a calming effect to them. He didn't understand much about the dog, so he simply nodded and didn't comment further. Alex then barked about Cassandra being "so beautiful it's a curse" and Caius very slightly began to wonder if Alex was faking that whole thing about her being like a sister. Considering what that language use generally connotated to, if that disaster with Celes was any indication.

Perhaps it was fortunate he didn't remember the first time he'd used that language with Celes. He had been half-drowned, after all. Unfortunately, she did.

"She seems nice enough. We don't see much of her, however. She pops in, cooks meals for a few of our members, then is gone again and the only trace she exists is occasional letters and our cut of her fees."

Alex complained about how he had taught her everything she knew, dragged her on all his misadventures, and then she ran off. Even relished in the fact that with Caius' scar, it was clear she would be jumping into the fire. "She was made aware. We don't sugarcoat the dangers of the job" Caius spoke in turn. To be honest? The more Alex spoke, the more he was starting to see why Cassandra left.

"It is good to get that sorted. I have been informed of the trouble you've caused as a result of thinking we "poached" her, however. While I simply wanted this sorted out... I would apologize to Miss Chere when you are next in Provo" Caius advised Alex then. "If not for professional courtesy, than for your own safety. The two women who run that clinic you disrupted, Celes and Yuna... Are not people I can just tell to stand down. And I'm not getting in their way to save your ass if you anger them further. I haven't survived this long by being stupid."

He didn’t know what had happened.

He had begun to sense growing aggression from Alex, but he had figured it was because he had told him it was best to apologize to Celes. And to avoid insulting Claire further. But nope. Apparently Alex had been building up unbridled rage over… Cloud breaking what Caius was sure was probably a shack with under half a roof intact?

Apparently Alex had given him work. Then because he had accidentally destroyed his shack, now he had a blood grudge. Sounded about right for Alex. Caius just… Kind of stared. Eyelids drooped, watching this display with a look of “why”.

Seriously. Going from that whole thing at Seventh Heaven to this? Was horrible. What atrocity did he commit in a past life to bring this upon him? It was fortunate they were the only ones in the spa. At least, in the men’s one. Caius heard the sound of screams, female in voice, coming from the next room over after Alex started screeching aloud. Odd… Those screams sounded a lot clearer than they should be behind a solid, decorated stone-textured wall. Wasn’t the point of the separation of baths to be privacy between the sexes for the sake of modesty?

But before Caius could peer closer to the wall, he was accosted by Alex in his unreasonable logic rampage.

“No,” Caius answered calmly, but his expression was tired and just absolutely done with today. “I know him in passing. We worked together when a monster threatened this city. Next time I saw him, he was fighting in Provo without caring about collateral damage” he then explained, with a tone like a tired cashier telling the ninth customer that hour where the chocodew drinks were. “We nursed him to health since he was half dead, and gathered information.”

Caius adjusted his shorts, checking for something just in case Alex decided to attack, before he tried to relax again. Hard to when Alex was furious, however.

“Are you familiar with the beef between Cloud and Sephiroth?” Caius decided to ask, hoping it may calm Alex down a little. “Apparently, that Sephiroth guy is a sociopathic mass murderer in their world. Who somehow lost his memory of it all upon coming here. Which is awkward, since he slaughtered Cloud and Tifa’s entire village, killed their families, and then attempted full-scale planetary genocide. I can’t really blame Cloud… Even if I wish he had been more responsible.”

Caius probably should have vetted the Stones more.