[color=lightgray][h1][center][color=9AF781]Leo[/color] & [color=E77298]Anastasia [/color] [/center][/h1]

[hr]

[color=9AF781]“Outside it is.”[/color] Leo agreed with a nod and followed Anastasia out of the guest house into the cool evening air. He thought over what he’d ask as they walked, he had to keep his questions focused; things she might be willing to talk about and that wouldn’t trigger a need to protect the party's host. It had been a long day, and an even longer dinner, so he avoided trying to start any small talk. Leo would be willing to bet the day had been just as taxing on Anastasia as well.  

[color=9AF781]“I’d like to talk about what happened last night if that’s alright with you. It’s the memory loss that’s been troubling me. So if there’s anything you can remember, anything about what happened last night, if I took anything there, it would really help ease my mind some.”[/color] Leo asked once they’d found a spot to speak without anyone listening in. 

Anastasia exhaled softly, her breath mingling with the cool evening air, as a wave of guilt washed over her heart. Her entire demeanor shifted.  [color=E77298]"...I'm so sorry, Leo. I hope you are feeling okay and not hurt or anything from last night."[/color] She first said sincerely.

 [color=E77298]"You know I would never take you guys anywhere if I thought there was a risk of getting hurt, right?"[/color] She hugged herself tightly as she settled onto a nearby bench.

[color=E77298]"...Honestly, it's all a bit hazy once we arrived at the party,"[/color] she continued, her brows furrowed in concentration. [color=E77298]"I have brief images, but I can't guarantee they weren't from a dream or something. I vaguely remember seeing cupcakes scattered on the ground, and there might have been a cocktail in my hand. I think… I think we went down some stairs to go there, right? Weird to go downstairs in a warehouse... I realize it sounds really stupid, doesn't it?"[/color] She briefly covered her face with her hands, feeling overwhelmed by the situation.

[color=E77298]"I feel terrible about what happened to Darryn and what happened to everyone, especially Zarai. She doesn't deserve that,"[/color] Anastasia admitted with a heavy sigh. However, determination glimmered in her eyes as she lifted her head and focused on Leo once more. [color=E77298]"But I will find out what happened. Tonight, I'm going to confront the guy who threw the party and question him."[/color] She told him in a resolute tone, [color=E77298] “I’ll fix this mess.”[/color] 

Leo took a seat on the bench leaving a respectful amount of space between himself and the Caesonian princess. He listened, quietly, as Ana spoke, shaking his head to indicate he was not hurt, and nodding that he understood that Ana’s intentions were not to get anyone hurt. The guilt was evident in her tone and he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d judged her too harshly after this morning. Leo could easily admit that it was often hard to stay reasonable in a situation as heightened as this morning's lecture had been. Until she mentioned her plan to meet with the host tonight, another reckless plan even if she was only placing herself in danger. 

[color=9AF781]“I think I remember stairs, but not cupcakes. And staring at a cloudy blue sky. Which, you know, makes less sense than anything you said because it was night and we were inside.”[/color] Leo offered some of what he remembered. He hadn’t thought about how strange it was to be in the basement of a warehouse until Ana pointed that out. [color=9AF781]“When I try to recall more than small glimpses I get this terrible headache, does that happen to you?”[/color] He asked. 

[color=E77298] “Stairs, cupcakes, the sky… Ugh isn’t there anything else?”[/color] Anastasia rubbed her head and found it truly did give her a headache to try to think about the party, almost as if she had been blocked out by a wall in her own head. [color=E77298] “Yes. I do have the headache.”[/color] 

[color=9AF781]“And you weren’t wrong this morning, we are all adults who chose to go, that is not on you. Titles are stressful, they ask a lot from us, and anytime we shrug them off for a bit, it seems we end up paying for it one way or another. Those who look at our lives with envy, desperately want to see us fall. It is unfortunate, but that is the world. If you feel you need to protect the host, that is your call, I’m not looking for someone to punish. But for as much as I’d like to know what happened, how it happened, it is not worth putting yourself in danger. I’m certain Zarai would agree. It is your enthusiasm that brightens Caesonia, and that is worth more than answers.”[/color] Leo offered his thoughts in a quiet voice, without any of the usual forced confidence. 

Anastasia had smiled faintly, grateful that he did not blame her.  It was a nice change of pace. [color=E77298] “Well…I just don’t know for sure if he did it…If I can’t remember what happened, it feels wrong to throw him to the wolves without at least trying to find out what went on.  My parents will execute him with no questions asked…If he’s to blame for all this, I will stop protecting him.”[/color]

However, the more Anastasia thought about it, the more she realized that she did not recall any of the parties she had attended over the years and not just this one. [color=E77298] “I usually can’t remember what happens to be honest at his parties …but I always drink too much and so does Callum. I didn’t realize it was abnormal until it happened to everyone. ”[/color] She shrugged to him, [color=E77298]  “I have been going to his parties often and he’s always nice to me. I don’t think I’ll be in danger, but if you’re concerned, Wulfric is making me bring guards with me.”[/color]

[color=9AF781]“Sounds like you’re doing the best you can with the information you have. I can respect that, but from someone who is often nice to people that I neither like nor care about, people can be nice for very selfish reasons. I’m not saying this is the case with your friend, but I am glad to hear Wulfric is looking out for you.”[/color] Leo spoke as he thought over what Ana had said; that these parties had been happening for a while and they always ended in memory loss. It had to be the drinks, it was basically a guarantee that everyone at a secret party would have at least a drink, so someone, if not the host himself, had to be drugging the drinks. With what or why were likely not things Ana knew, but Leo was sure it couldn’t be anything good.  

[color=9AF781]“My concern is that this might be some sort of blackmail scheme. If you find anything out, a possible reason behind all this, I’d very much appreciate it if you let me know.”[/color] Leo added. 

[color=E77298] “Of course. I’ll tell you everything I find out. ”[/color][/color]