[color=#b97703]“Or just a blessing,”[/color] Cas added, setting the backpack down by the side of the bed along with his discarded hoodie. He kicked off his shoes as well before making himself comfortable on the mattress, leaning back against the headboard and crossing his legs. Upon opening the bag of goodies he’d taken, he went for the bottle of water first, parched after their long walk they’d had to get to Eulmore. He downed almost half of it while Iris talked about how far confidence could get someone. That was a truth he’d learned throughout his life too. Growing up in a heavily political environment, he’d had to teach himself how to put on a sure face even when he wasn’t secure in his abilities. It was a necessary skill, according to his father, since no one would take him seriously as a king if he didn’t seem like he knew what he was doing. He thought it was a useful tool, but sometimes it was exhausting to pretend like he was more self-assured than he really was.

[color=#b97703]“Me too,”[/color] he agreed with her statement about the running water. [color=#b97703]“It’ll be nice to wash off all the grit from the last district.”[/color] Capping the bottle, he set it down by his hip as he took out the sandwich to eat next. Ever since they’d laid on the street during the bombing, he had been covered in a thin layer of dust and ash. A lot of it had fallen off his skin and clothes as they’d walked, but he still felt dirty. The shower he’d taken at Maisie’s apartment hadn’t lasted nearly long enough, so he was thankful that he had a second chance to scrub off the grime of traveling through a warzone before they moved on to the next district.

Falling quiet for a moment, he focused on filling his stomach with the fresh food the bartender had given them. It may not have been of the same quality as the meals he’d been spoiled with in the capital, but it was a major step up from the questionable fares in the backpack. In a matter of minutes, he’d devoured it ravenously and was chasing the small meal with what was left of his water. With a full belly and a roof over his head, he anticipated that he was going to sleep well that night.

Apparently Iris had the same thought when she spoke about being able to lock the door. [color=#b97703]“Did you not get decent rest at Maisie’s place?”[/color] he asked, turning toward her with a frown after he balled up the empty paper bag and tossed it in the wastebasket. Even sleeping on the sofa, he’d felt well-rested when he’d woken up in the morning. He’d noticed that she had seemed tired before they’d left Tongsen, but he had assumed her lethargy was because of her fever. The possibility that she hadn’t slept well hadn’t crossed his mind.

At her last comment, he rolled his eyes. [color=#b97703]“Not unless it’s springtime allergy season,”[/color] he replied. [color=#b97703]“Although you should already know that I’m not a snorer, since you weren’t that far away from me when we were sleeping in the bunker.”[/color] He tossed his empty water bottle into the wastebasket too. [color=#b97703]“Do you want to take a shower tonight or tomorrow? I was thinking about washing up before I go to bed, but you can go first if you’d like. I don’t mind waiting a little longer.”[/color]