Cassandra laughed. It wasn't her typical, cruel laugh at his (or anyone else's) expense, but her more genuine, rusty laugh. "Vibrant? Now there's a word." Probably one that people would more often apply to Apollo. He had a way of shining like the sun, after all. And, Cassandra thought wryly, when his more genuine attributes came out, she thought there was no one more beautiful. She only wished she could bring out that part of him more often. Preferably in a way that didn't involve any near death experiences or bitter shouting matches.

"Well," she said gently, "there's always the hissing. And the spitting, if the mood strikes."

She reached out, lightly touching his hair. "Or maybe something better."