[IC] Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

[sukikyoufu]

Iris couldn’t help but grin when he defended himself over being squeamish, she was only messing of course but it was nice that they could still have these jibes and jokes with one another. She did appreciate that regardless of the injury he had still taken her to the hospital even though as he put it that she had bled all over him. She listened about how his home theatre scored five stars and she could understand his reasoning, it had to be off putting when you were trying to watch a film and you have people just staring wanting to see your reaction. It couldn’t have been relaxing.

Looking over as he moved from the window, she watched his movement towards the door and smiled, “Thanks, I’ll be sure to head over! Straight past the room we came through.” Nodding as she remembered the way to go, she hoped she wouldn’t get lost, “I won’t pass the chance up for food.” Chuckling to herself she was sure whatever was made would be great, it would still beat that hospital food she had for the past few days. Thinking on it would she have time to have a quick shower? She desperately wanted one and then change her clothes get out of the dress.

Deciding she would go for that shower she picked up the crutches and moved to were he placed the bags to get out the toiletries. Grabbing the items, she made her way towards the bathroom and beamed at the room, it was just as stunning as the bedroom she was staying in. She knew she shouldn’t be surprised but she just couldn’t help it, this definitely had to be one of the finest places she had stayed in. Looking at the side she smiled when she saw towels were already there, thank god because she didn’t want to trouble anyone just yet.

Playing about with the temperature of the water and the pressure she jumped in the shower already feeling much better than before. She was careful not to get her injured leg wet as she didn’t need to change the bandages just yet so it would be unnecessary to cause extra work for herself. Using the new toiletries, she couldn’t help but sigh happily at the smells, it was just so nice to be able to do this. Thankfully her head had healed so she didn’t have to worry about that. It hadn’t taken her long, but she felt fresh and clean, it was amazing the amount of difference a shower had made. Hobbling out of the shower she grabbed the towels to dry herself and soon she could get changed. Stopping at the sink she caught sight of her reflection, sighing as she thought about the damage she had caused at the hospital. She couldn’t believe she had allowed herself to get so angry over her own reflection.

Shaking her head, she moved back towards the bedroom to get into fresh new clothes, she had opted for the pink jumper she had been so fascinated with in the store and a pair of jeans. More to hide the bandaged leg as she was sick of looking at it. At least she could look normal. Using the towel, she started to dry her hair as she sat on the edge of the bed, she began to think whilst she continued to use the towel drying her hair best she could.

Is it really okay to be here? I don’t want him to feel like I’m taking advantage of his kindness. I’m sure others have tried in the past. Sighing to herself she had dried her hair to a point where it was only slightly damp in a few places, but she didn’t mind, her stomach was rumbling again, and she was hungry. Food was next on her agenda and she didn’t want to keep him waiting. Grabbing the towels and the dress she had changed from she placed them in what she assumed was a dirty washing hamper and ensured she had left everything neat in the room. When she was happy, she decided it was high time she made her way to the kitchen, remembering what he had said she walked down the hall with the help of the crutches and headed towards the other side of the house.

Opening the door, she looked around before grinning, I didn’t get lost! She thought triumphantly to herself as she walked further inside looking for Cas.

[Rogue Sloth]

On his way to the kitchen, Cas felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out to find that he had a new text from Jay this time, requesting an update on “the chick from the woods.” Noticing that his friend had included Miles in the chat, he rolled his eyes. They were both too nosy for their own good. Nevertheless, he’d put off filling them in for long enough, so he sent a quick reply:

She’s fine. Still no memories, so she’s staying at my place until they come back.

Slipping the device back into his pocket, he stepped into the kitchen and looked around to see if there were any cooks still nearby. Luckily, he spotted one older woman who made quite a few of the meals for him and his father regularly. He raised his hand to her both in greeting and to get her attention as he asked, “Hey, could you please make a couple hot sandwiches for me and Iris, the girl I brought back to stay here? Neither of us have had lunch today.”

“Of course,” she bowed to him respectfully and set to work right away, plucking ingredients from the fridge to make their food.

“Thanks,” Cas nodded absently, taking his phone out again as he felt it vibrate hurriedly with responses from his friends. He’d expected that they would probably make this into a bigger deal than it was—they were usually dramatic like that—but he hadn’t thought they would start so soon. He read through the texts as he walked back out of the kitchen, heading to his room to rest for a little while before the late lunch.

From Jay:
You took her back to your place without even going on a date first?? Damn, Cas. That’s hella smooth.

From Miles:
Teach me your ways, master.

Cas snorted. They were already reading into it, and he’d only sent them one message. Typical. He typed out another reply, hoping to get the conversation back on track before it could get any worse:

No, idiots. Her family hasn’t called about her yet, so she didn’t have anywhere else to go. She’s only staying here until she can go home.

He lowered his arm as he climbed the stairs to the second floor. Even though it was only about one o’ clock, it felt much later in the day to him. It was probably because of how busy he had been between his early econ lesson and all the time he’d spent helping Iris buy new things at the mall. If he had the time, he might have considered taking a midafternoon nap, but it wouldn’t be long before the food was ready. Sandwiches didn’t take very long to prepare.

He felt his phone buzz again, but he waited until he got to his room so he could lay down on his bed before he checked the new messages. Once he had settled down comfortably, he looked to see what his friends had said this time.

From Jay:
That’s kinda weird, man. It’s been a few days right? Are you sure she’s a high born?

From Miles:
Yeah, you’d think someone would be looking for her by now. Maybe she’s someone’s servant.

From Jay:
You’d better not kiss her! It would be embarrassing if word got out that the prince was caught macking it up with a maid. LOL

He brought a hand to his face in exasperation before sending a reply:

I wasn’t going to kiss her anyway. I’m sure she’s a high born, but she might have a bf. I’m not gonna make a move on someone else’s girl.

His friends responded within a minute.

From Miles:
Well, can we at least meet her?? I’m dying to see this mystery chick you found in a BEAR TRAP.

From Jay:
Yeah, you can’t hog this all to yourself. It’s like you just walked into a movie. I want in too.

Cas drummed his fingers against his stomach as he laid on his bed. He didn’t mind that they wanted to meet Iris—he really wasn’t trying to keep them out of it—but he didn’t want to overwhelm her. She’d just gotten to his place that day. He wanted to give her plenty of time to settle in and make herself comfortable before his friends bombarded her with questions she probably couldn’t answer. He sent another text:

You can, but not yet. She’s still getting used to being here, so I don’t want to freak her out. I’ll tell you when it’s OK.

Closing out his messaging app, he checked the time and sat up. He hadn’t spent much time in his room, but he was hungry, and he’d told Iris that he would be waiting for her in the kitchen. Deciding he should go back to meet her there, he got up and headed downstairs again. Even from a distance, he could smell toasted bread and freshly cooked deli meat. The appetizing aroma made his mouth water, and he hurried to get his plate.

Apparently he’d left at the perfect time. Just as he stepped back into the kitchen from the hall that led to his room, he saw Iris limp in from the opposite side. Her hair was damp from what he guessed had been a shower, and she’d changed into the new clothes she’d picked out at the mall. His brown eyes swept over her. She looked good in the jumper she’d put on but, unsure if a compliment was appropriate or not, he kept it to himself.

He glanced at the food the cook had set out for them at the kitchen counter and grinned. “I hope you’re hungry,” he said, turning back to Iris. “Because Stella makes the best grilled chicken sandwiches in Aspiria.”

[sukikyoufu]

Smiling as she saw Cas, she knew she was right on time, she had been worried she took too long but apparently not. She could already smell the food and it smelt great, the idea of food was making her mouth water, she hadn’t realised how hungry she was until the smell of great food. “I really am, I’m so looking forward to food! It smells great!” Grinning she moved towards the counter seeing the food that had been set out for them, it looked great and she knew it would be good.

Hoping up to sit up at the counter she looked over at Cas, “I didn’t take too long did I?” She didn’t want to keep him waiting as she felt it was rude, but she had needed that shower. Already she felt much more comfortable in the new clothes and again she felt more human and normal, her life had been flipped upside down and it was nice to do things that to her seemed normal. “Oh man this looks great, I’m so hungry!” Smiling as she looked back at the sandwiches that had been made, she couldn’t wait.

Smells so good! I bet it tastes great too! Settling down she took a bite smiling at the fact it was so much better than what she had at the hospital. So good! I’m so glad he suggested getting some food. Happily eating the sandwich, she glanced around the kitchen noticing all the fancy appliances and high-tech gadgets, this place certainly spared no expense in all the rooms and it was clear. The décor, the appliances and the way it was all kept it was hard not to swoon over the place.

Sighing slightly as she thought back to the memory, she had earlier should she tell him? The idea that her mother wasn’t alive would surely dampen things, but it would make sense as to why her parents hadn’t called. It made her wonder on her father, was he still around?
“I eh.. remembered something earlier. I didn’t want to say because I didn’t want to believe it.” Looking down at the plate with a half-eaten sandwich left she bit her lip; this would certainly dampen the conversation and she was sure of it. “When you spoke about the rebellion, I remembered something. I think it was my father, but he said that my mother was a casualty of the rebellion. I don’t think she’s alive. I have no clue if any of them are, but I’d like to think that they would have noticed my disappearance by now.”

Shaking her head, she smiled once more, “I didn’t want to ruin the nice conversations we have been having but I felt like I should tell you, it’s easy to talk to you.” Regardless of her feelings she didn’t want to turn the conversation to sad topics, she’d rather keep it positive and upbeat. “I’m sure someone will call for me tomorrow.” Returning to eat the rest of her sandwich she was already feeling much better with being away from the hospital.

[Rogue Sloth]

“Mhm,” Cas nodded in agreement when Iris said the food smelled good. The meals that the cooks in his family’s staff made were always great, and they had so many different recipes that he never got sick of the dishes they prepared. If it wasn’t so boring to stay home all the time, he probably wouldn’t ever bother to eat out. However, he enjoyed sharing a meal with his friends when he could, so he often went to the restaurants around the capital despite the fact that he had easy access to gourmet food just a few yards from his bedroom.

Walking up to the counter, he sat on the barstool next to Iris and eagerly bit into the sandwich on his plate. As expected, it was as flavorful as always. Stella had lived up to her reputation yet again. “Nope,” he shook his head when she asked if she had taken too long. “You got here just in time. I only got back about a minute before you, so I wasn’t even waiting.” He paused to take another bite and then snapped his fingers as he had a realization. “We need drinks.”

Getting up from his seat, he circled around the counter to open up the cupboard where the glasses were kept. Technically, royal etiquette would have said that he should have waited to ask a servant to get the drinks for them instead of standing to do it himself, but it was an easy enough task that he didn’t feel like bothering one of the maids. They were probably busy with the other chores that needed doing anyway, and he wasn’t so helpless that he couldn’t pour his own water.

He filled two glasses from the tap and brought them back as he sat down again. “Here,” he slid one to Iris across the quartz countertop and took a swig from the other to chase his lunch. Already, he could tell he was right when he’d guessed he was going to like having her around. It was nice to eat with someone else instead of by himself. His father always ate his meals in his room, since he didn’t have the energy to stay out for very long, so thy never dined together anymore.

As she spoke up again, he turned to her with a frown, noticing the discomfort in her voice. That wasn’t a good sign. If she had gotten another memory back, he’d hoped she would be happy. Instead, he had a feeling it wasn’t a pleasant one, so he stayed quiet as she went on to explain what she had remembered.

When she said he mother was a casualty of the rebellion, he couldn’t help the surprise that crossed his face. How had she been a casualty? As far as he’d been told, the Scourge had never made it into the capital. Maybe her mother had been a soldier who died in the war? That made sense to him. There weren’t very many high borns who volunteered to fight, but it wasn’t completely unheard of. Her mother must have been one of the few who had been courageous enough to step outside the stronghold to protect the country. It was a noble way to go.

“I’m glad you told me,” he assured her with a halfhearted smile, feeling some pity for her since he knew it had to be hard to relive the realization that her mother was gone. It would have been a nightmare if he’d had to do the same thing with his. He shivered at the thought. Even though she tried to move on like it wasn’t a big deal, he hung on the subject, not quite as willing to let it go and let her bottle away the sting of the resurfaced memory. He’d tried that before, and it hadn’t gone well.

“You know, not everything has to be happy-go-lucky all the time,” he went on meeting her gaze with a sympathetic smile. He hesitated for a brief moment before he reached out to wrap an arm around her shoulders in a side hug. Not wanting to make it awkward by lingering, he let go again after just a few seconds, taking another sip of his water to hide the slight blush on his cheeks. “I’m sorry about your mom,” he offered. “It sucks that you had to remember that, but hey,” he looked up at her again. “That might tell us a little more about your family. Since she was involved in the war against the rebels, she was probably a soldier. Usually, if a couple has kids, only one of them can join the military so the other can stay with the family. That means your dad should still be around. He could call for you any day now.”

[sukikyoufu]

Saying thanks for the water that accompanied their food she thought it was quite pleasant eating together, it certainly beat eating subpar food in the hospital alone, so this was nice. Sighing as they had spoken about her memory nothing made sense to her, she felt as if everything wasn’t adding up and only adding to the confusion. Even if her mother wasn’t around and had gone to war it didn’t make sense to her and she was sure that it was like every highborn around here, she got the feeling that it wasn’t natural but that was something she would not voice to Cas. Especially if she wasn’t sure on who she was.

“I’m glad it doesn’t” Smiling slightly when he spoke about it not having to be like that, she was glad, it would mean that she could voice other memories if she had other bad ones. She was certain there would be more because she couldn’t have all good memories. “I don’t know I wish it all made sense to me, it’s kind of like a puzzle. Except well.. the puzzle is me and I don’t know who I am.” Sighing as she picked up the glass of water looking at the liquid inside before swirling it, “Except for the chocolate dance loving girl.”

Taking a sip of her drink she looked back at the sandwich before she began to eat the last of it, thoughts on who she was. If she had family and if she even belonged here. What if she was a serving girl for one of the highborn families? She couldn’t help but think it especially at his reaction to her offering to help out. It couldn’t just be because she had a good nature. Finishing of the sandwich she smiled over at Cas feeling much better with eating something, she hadn’t realised how hungry she was until now so she could only imagine he was quite hungry too.

“Hopefully I’ll remember something more useful than my favourite colour.” Chuckling to herself as she looked at her hands, how could she remember simple things like that but not where she lived? The side hug did catch her off guard and she couldn’t help but smile at the way Cas was trying to cheer her up a little, is he? Blushing?... She could have sworn she saw red tinged cheeks but he had taken a drink quickly so she couldn’t be sure. Deciding to change the topic however was much more ideal.

“Sooooo, did you want to watch a movie? Or just chill? Unless you want to do something else? I feel like I’m taking up all your time now. Your friends must be getting jealous” Grinning as she used her arm to lean on the counter with, watching him closely to see if she could see any sort of blush. Why do I even like the idea of him blushing? The thought passed fleetingly as she pushed it to one side not even bothering to entertain it, she was going to have fun and not dwell on silly things.

[Rogue Sloth]

Cas turned his focus back to his food, silently chiding himself for getting flustered for no reason. He hadn’t meant to suggest anything with the hug, but there was a part of him that felt a little giddy about touching a girl as attractive as she was. It was stupid, he knew. He didn’t want to put any moves on her before she got her memories back. What if she had a boyfriend who would call to pick her up soon? Or what if she wasn’t receptive to his advances and it just made everything awkward? He definitely didn’t want to risk putting himself or her in a worse situation just because of one bad idea.

“You may be a puzzle, but we’re putting more pieces together every day,” he pointed out, finishing off the rest of his sandwich as a means to keep from meeting her gaze while he recovered from his embarrassment. It was true enough. The day he’d found her, she had recalled her first name, and ever since then, little details had continued to return to her as well. At the rate she was going, he had a feeling she wouldn’t need more than a few weeks at most to remember who she was. If her family came to get her before then, it could be even faster.

When she asked what he wanted to do, he finally turned to look at her. It had been long enough that the remnants of the blush had faded from his cheeks. “I’m still down to watch a movie,” he said with a smile. The thought of kicking his feet up and sitting around with her for a couple hours sounded amazing. It had been a pretty busy day, after all. He felt like he’d earned a good, long break. Plus, the house staff rarely ventured into the theater, so they would have some time to themselves. He liked the idea of being able to keep talking with her so openly, without worrying about someone eavesdropping on their conversation.

At her mention of his friends, he shrugged. “They’ll survive without me for a few days,” he assured her. Thinking back to his text chat with Jay and Miles, he added: “Actually, they said they want to meet you.” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “I told them a little about what happened, because they wanted to know what I’ve been doing lately. Not everything, of course, and I told them it was up to you, but yeah… If you’re okay with it, they’ll probably come by to visit at some point.”

Noticing that she was watching him more closely than usual, he blinked. Did he have something on his face? He dragged the back of his hand across his mouth but didn’t feel anything. “What are you staring at?” he asked, deciding to be direct instead of guessing. “I don’t think I’m that interesting, am I?”

[sukikyoufu]

We’re putting more pieces together… His words had made her smile, it implied that he was willing to help and that they were working it out together. It honestly made her feel warm, that someone was willing to look out for her and help and it was such a wonderful feeling. Of course, she was certain her family would help when she found them but for now, he was willing too and how could she refuse.

Grinning when he said he was still up for the movie she was quite excited to see this home theatre, it sounded amazing and who didn’t love watching movies? Plus, if the movie was boring, they could still talk, and she was quite comfortable when it came to talking with him. It was strange but he always seemed so calm, relaxed and she was sure he probably had a lot going on too, but he was pushing that aside to help her.

She was shocked when he mentioned his friends wanted to meet her, she honestly hadn’t expected it but at the same time it sounded quite exciting to meet them. “I’d love to meet them! Who knows maybe they will help bring back memories of my own friends? And I’m sure you have some sort of games room I could embarrass them with.” Speaking quite confidently as if she could beat anyone when it came to games, she was probably rubbish but it sounded like a lot of fun and she was sure that they could both use it. Plus, his friends sounded decent and she was curious to know who he was friends with, getting to know them might actually help her in getting to know herself.

When she had returned to watching him, she didn’t expect him to call her out on it, flustered her cheeks flared a crimson as she looked away rather quickly picking up her glass of water to finish. “I wasn’t staring at you!” She stated abruptly, voice high as she tried to defend her actions. “Why would you be interesting to stare at?” Scoffing to herself she placed the glass down before shaking her head slightly, “Sorry… I guess I kind of was. I mean I take back my last comment, you are fairly interesting.” Teasing him gently as she hoped off of the bar stool grabbing her crutches. “It’s not everyday Prince charming rescues a damsel in distress…” Iris couldn’t even finish the last of her sentence without laughing, she was only teasing him, and it was clear, but she found it highly amusing.

“Shall we go watch that movie?” Smiling as she calmed down from her laughs, it had been a while since she had a proper good laugh, but it felt good. Not caring for her worries or fears felt amazing and she was sure she could allow herself a day or two to settle in, get some rest and heal up before she worried about the idea that no one was coming for her.

[Rogue Sloth]

“Oh yeah?” Cas raised a brow when Iris said she would embarrass his friends at a game. He wondered if she had remembered that she was good at playing games or if it was all just talk. It was hard to tell, since she was a pretty energetic person from what he’d seen so far. He wouldn’t have been surprised either way. Maybe she would annihilate Jay and Miles at some game that she was an expert at or perhaps his friends would wipe the floor with her. Whatever the case, he liked the idea. It had been a while since he’d had a group over to play any games at his house, so it sounded like fun.

To his surprise, she grew even more flustered than he had been when he called her out for staring at him. Honestly, he’d thought there really was something on his face or that he’d done something weird, but instead she acted like she had just been watching him because she wanted to. Somehow, he kind of liked the idea though. A lot of people stared at him every time he went out in public, but there was something different about having her gaze on him that made him feel fuzzy inside. He would have been kidding himself if he pretended like he didn’t know what it was.

Way to go, Cas. You’re crushing on a girl with amnesia, he thought dryly, downing the rest of the water in his glass. This was definitely going to make things harder. He really didn’t want to make things awkward between them, but it was difficult for him to ignore his attraction to her. Still, he had to keep doing it even if it wasn’t easy. He reminded himself that she might have a boyfriend who was probably worried sick about her. It would have been far more uncomfortable to make a move on her only to get a phone call from another guy asking where she was. He would just have to keep ignoring the butterflies in his stomach until she could go back to her family.

Despite his decision, what she said next didn’t help his resolve at all. As she called him Prince Charming, he couldn’t stop the color that flooded his face—a mixture of flattery and embarrassment. “You’re ridiculous,” he rolled his eyes as he slid off his barstool, trying to cover up his reaction with nonchalance and a laugh. Internally though, his ego had been thoroughly stroked.

“We shall,” he nodded when she brought up the movie, more than happy to change the subject. Leading the way since he knew she didn’t know where to go, he took up an easy pace for her to keep up with on crutches. “So, what kind of movie do you want to watch?” he asked, turning to her curiously. “I think you should pick one you think you’ll like, since it might help you get your memories back.”

[sukikyoufu]

Iris couldn’t help but smile as he questioned on her winning at games, she wondered if she was any good at them but at the same time, she was sure she had some sort of skills. She was confident in her skills and even if she was terrible it would be such a good laugh. Following him from the kitchen and towards the home theatre the smile turned into a grin when she saw his face flush from her comment, the giggle left her lips when he called her ridiculous and she couldn’t help the excitement of the fact her comment had affected him. Why am I acting like this? Stop it! Get a hold of yourself.

Hobbling along the hall she couldn’t stop the small smile that she had upon her face, her cheeks had a slight tint to them which she hoped would calm down. She was slightly embarrassed because a part of her thought she was making a fool of herself, she hoped he didn’t think that way. Why do I care what he thinks of me? Oh gosh… stop it! You have no memories, that is top priority! Scolding herself in her thoughts she looked back at him as he mentioned of what kind of movie she wanted to watch, thinking on that instead she wondered what to choose from.

“Well maybe something with a bit of action in, nothing too sappy but comedy. I don’t know I’m sure there’s some action movie that has it all in.” Smiling as she walked beside Cas, they soon came to a room full of beautiful leather chairs that looked so comfortable. A huge screen that filled the room and it was as if you were in a cinema. Grinning as she looked around, she couldn’t quite believe it, this was pretty much a cinema but in their own home! How could you not get excited at this sight?

“Well I think you might be right; I may have to give it five stars myself.” Touching the leather chairs, she could feel the comfort and she was giddy with excitement. This was going to be amazing and also a good way to rest up her leg too. Moving around the chair she sat herself down on one of the sighing with content, “I mean I could probably nap right here.” Chuckling to herself as she made herself comfortable looking over at Cas, “Honestly put anything on for now, I am not that fussed. Just watching something and relaxing, chatting with you will be great.”

Patting one of the chairs next to her she invited Cas to sit with her, he didn’t have too of course but she thought it would be nice. Plus, they could chat during the movie if they wanted too, or if he preferred, they could watch it and stay silent. If she was honest just enjoying his company, knowing he was there was enough for her. “I’ll try not to talk much through the movie! Unless you’re okay with that? I don’t mind.”

[Rogue Sloth]

Was Iris blushing too? Cas could have sworn he saw a hint of pink in her cheeks. He wasn’t sure what reason she had to be embarrassed though. Her comment had been clever, even if it had been at his expense—sort of. Though he wouldn’t admit it out loud, he had kind of liked it when she’d called him Prince Charming. It made him feel like he’d done something important. Well, he supposed saving her from bleeding out in the woods had been important, but it was still nice to be acknowledged out loud.

Walking through the hall that led to the home theater, he glanced at her again when she answered his question about what kind of movie they should watch. Apparently she was a fan of action too. He was excited about that, since it was his favorite genre. At least he could be sure he wouldn’t be settling for a rom com or something else that wouldn’t interest him very much. Maybe he could even put on one of the movies he liked best, so he could share it with her.

When she added that she wanted to watch something with comedy too, he wasn’t surprised in the least. Throughout their banter, he’d noticed that she was fond of humor. She probably liked films with a lot of wit. Already, he was thinking of a few different ones that would check both of her boxes. Something with great fight scenes and clever one-liners from the hero. It wouldn’t be hard to find a movie she would like that had all of that. They were pretty popular among high borns in general.

“I’ve got some ideas already,” he smiled eagerly, looking forward to spending the rest of the afternoon with her. As they stepped into the theater, he snuck a glance at her face to see her reaction. It didn’t disappoint. The excitement on her face lit up the room as always, and he couldn’t wait to get a movie started, so she could see how much better it was when the lights went out.

“You’d better,” he teased when she said she would have to give it five stars. “Anything less than that would be heresy.” Following her over to the chairs in the front row, he watched her touch the material and sit down. At her joke, he laughed, “Well then I guess I’d better put on something that will be entertaining enough to keep you awake.”

With her permission to pick anything, he headed up the stairs on the edge of the room to the projector, where there were also cases of movie disks. He already knew which one he wanted to show her, so it didn’t take long for him to find it among the alphabetized collection and set it up to play. Once that was done, he headed back down to sit in the seat that she had patted while the screen came to life before them.

“I’ve seen this one before, so you can talk if you want to,” he shrugged in response to her question. “Oh, and by the way, these chairs are all recliners.” Reaching over to a button on her seat, he demonstrated that the leg and backrests could be raised and lowered to whatever incline she wanted. He pressed the button on his too, setting it up so that he was leaning back comfortably with his feet up.

“You said you like action and comedy, so I chose a spy movie for us,” he said, turning to her with a grin. “It’s got plenty of both, so I think you’re gonna love it.”

[sukikyoufu]

Grinning at the fact he had some ideas on what to watch she settled in the chair excited for the movie and experiencing the home theatre. Of course, he was right, there was nothing less she could give the theatre except five stars. The chairs reclined too which added to the comfort and they weren’t surrounded by people or annoying kids that could disrupt the movie. “Woah… this is pretty awesome.” Looking around the room she was happy, spending time with Cas was great but then add in a home cinema, what more could you want?

Sitting back, she waited for him to go pick something, if she was honest, she wasn’t too fussed on what they would watch as she was sure she would enjoy it. Her leg would be happy she was resting, and she could still talk to Cas as he didn’t mind if she spoke through the movie. She had to ask of course as she didn’t want to be rude, some people liked to just watch the movie and that was okay.

“This day just keeps getting better and better.” Chuckling to herself as she pressed the button, he had shown her to recline the chair, it was much more comfortable to be leaning back with her feet up. Plus, it was good to have her leg in a raised position the doctors had told her to keep it raised as and when possible.

“Ohhh I like the sound of it! Action and comedy are always a great mix.” Smiling as she looked over at him, she couldn’t help but notice his grin, the way he seemed so happy and relaxed and she couldn’t help but feel the same around him. “Oh, a spy movie, definitely interesting. I doubt I’ll be able to fall asleep.” Looking towards the screen she smirked before glancing back at him, “I bet you fancy yourself as a spy hmm? Running around this big place like you are on your own secret mission.”

She was finding it so much fun to tease him, she didn’t know why but she loved seeing his reactions. The embarrassment and smiles from her words, plus it was a lot of fun to wind him up especially as he seemed to take it so well. She hoped he continued to see the funny side and not take any sort of offence, but she was sure he did. He had quite the remarks himself on occasions, so she was sure it was fin. She hoped he would tell her if she was going to far.

Rubbing her eyes as she turned herself to the movie she began to watch as the imagine came up on the huge screen, it was massive, and the sound filled the room, so it was hard not to feel immersed with the movie. It was certainly impressive, glancing back at Cas as the movie started, she couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking. It always interested her what others were thinking.

[Rogue Sloth]

When Iris said the day was getting better and better, Ca had to agree. What had started out as a normal weekday with a boring economics lesson and no certainty about what was going to happen to her was turning out to be the best day he’d had in a while. He’d enjoyed seeing her reaction when he had picked her up from the hospital, and he’d even had a good time walking around with her at the mall. Now, with a full stomach and a great movie to watch, it was all adding up to be an exciting afternoon.

He was glad that she seemed to like his choice of movie too. After everything she’d told him, he’d had a feeling this would be a good one for her taste, but seeing the smile on her face just made it even better. He hadn’t known her for very long now, but he was starting to take pride in being able to make her light up with such enthusiasm. It was a good look on her, and it put a grin on his lips too.

Part of him really hoped she didn’t have a boyfriend, so when she finally got her memories back, he could ask her out without it being weird. However, he didn’t want to let his hopes get too high. Someone as fun and beautiful as her had to have a been snatched up by someone else already, right? Besides, there was still his father to deal with too. The king had been against both of the dating relationships he’d had in the past, and he hadn’t let him forget it. He already knew that if he was to try again, he was going to get another long lecture about outdated arranged marriages and why having a girlfriend was a “waste of time.”

His attention was drawn back to Iris as she teased him about being a spy. “I did, actually,” he confessed, putting his hands up guiltily. “When I was a kid, I used to follow the servants around and pretend like they were bad guys I was going to take down. Looking back on it, they were pretty patient for putting up with me.” He laughed, amused by the memory. “I promise I don’t do that anymore though.” Even if he wanted to, his father would never allow such childish behavior from his heir. Atlas was always pushing him to put on his best face for everyone, so he would be respected as the crown prince. It was part of his grooming to become the next king of Aspiria.

He drew his knees closer to his chest, finding the position comfortable as he looked up at the wall of a screen in front of them. Having already seen the movie they were watching, he remembered how the opening scene went. It started in medias res, with the main character in the middle of a high-pressure mission, eavesdropping on criminals through a vent. Of course, he recalled all the events that would lead up to this particular part of the plot, but he knew it was exciting for a first-time viewer.

He glanced at Iris, wondering if it was all new to her or if she had seen this film before and was starting to remember it. “Recognize any of this?” he asked. “It’s a pretty iconic scene. Maybe you’ve watched it before.”

[sukikyoufu]

Iris smiled when he spoke of his memory, the fact that he had done that as a child amused her. It made her want to know about her own childhood memories, what she may or may not have done inspired by films or not. She could picture a miniature version of him running around as if he was a spy, grinning slightly she could also picture him having finger guns and just having the time of his life pretending to be a spy. How could she not smile at the idea of that? “I’m sure they enjoyed it as much as you did. Cas the super spy~”

Settling down comfortably in the chair she turned her attention back to the screen as the movie started, she couldn’t help but smile because everything seemed to be going great. Watching the movie, it felt similar, perhaps she had seen it before? She couldn’t quite work it out just yet, but she had this overwhelming sense of déjà vu. Leaning forward on her set as she focused on the mission, he was one, listening to the criminals whilst hidden. She could feel the tension building in the film, but she knew what was going to happen. She could sense it.

I have seen this before…

“Huh? Oh!” Turning to Cas as he asked her if she recognised it, she nodded, “I think I have seen it. I have this overwhelming sense of déjà vu so I’m pretty sure I have. I can’t fully remember but it’s a good sign.” Turning back to the screen it was nice watching a movie, relaxing together and being able to talk with one another was just a great feeling.

“I’m sure it will come back to me, it just takes time, I guess. But things are slowly coming back. I just wish I knew more but… oh well.” Shrugging slightly, she was trying not to dwell on it to much as she knew it saddened her, the idea of not knowing who she was scared her to no end. She wondered what childhood memories she had; did she ever play pretend? She had all these questions but barely any answers.

“Oh, I wanted to ask. Did you have a library? And on occasion would it be alright if I did some reading?” She knew he couldn’t be around the whole time; she was sure he had important things to take care of but at least she could keep herself entertained in the meantime. Plus, reading could help her restore memories, learn things as well as keep the mind active which she was sure it was a positive thing to do. “I just thought you can’t be around all the time, so I could maybe do some reading? It could help spark back some memories but if not, I guess I’m still learning.” Chuckling to herself as she rubbed her eyes, she felt a little tired, but she knew it was far to early in the day to be sleeping.

[Rogue Sloth]

“I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I gave more than one maid a heart attack,” he laughed when Iris called him a “super spy.” Perhaps some of the servants had found his childish antics amusing, but he was pretty sure that most of them had thought he was just a nuisance. They always had work to do around the mansion, and he had gotten in their way every time he had interrupted to play spy. Of course, they would never complain out loud, since he was to be their future king and could be punished for speaking out even to a boy, but he couldn’t imagine that they had all been fine with being roped into his games against their will.

When Iris said that she had seen the movie before, Cas grinned, even more pleased with himself for guessing right and putting on a film that she would recognize. Plus, he was excited that another trigger had seemed to work on her. If they continued to find more things she remembered, he hoped it would be like a dam breaking. She would get a few incoherent memories back at a time until everything broke through at once, and she knew who she was again. That would have been great.

“It will,” he agreed confidently when she said her memories would come back to her with time. “Who knows? Maybe by the end of the week, we’ll know your last name and which family you belong to.” If her parents didn’t call first, that was. He was still crossing his fingers that someone would come looking for her soon, so she wouldn’t be so alone. It would have been fantastic if a family member or friend reached out to get her tomorrow. He just hoped it wasn’t a worried boyfriend.

As she asked if his family had a library, he nodded. “Yeah, and it’s actually really close to this room,” he answered, turning away from the screen again to look at her. “I don’t think anyone would mind if you borrowed a few books. I’m not sure what you would find to read though. Most of my dad’s collection is full of boring records and instruction manuals.” He paused, another thought coming to him. “Although, now that I think about it, there might be a few novels mixed in. My mom used to read in her leisure time, and I doubt she was interested in The Art of War.”

His features softened slightly at the memory. When he was younger, his mother had often read short stories to him before bed. Those times were long in the past, but they still brought a smile to his lips. They also made him pity Iris for not being able to remember the good times she’d had with her mother. All she knew was that one of her parents was dead. That couldn’t have been easy.

“What sort of books do you like to read?” he asked, deciding not to dwell on the depressing thought. “If you remember, I mean.”

[sukikyoufu]

“Brilliant! Thank you! Means I can do something whilst you study your trade.” Grinning at the idea of being able to use the library it excited her, she didn’t care if it was a boring book or a novel as either of them would be great to read. Learning new things was always handy and who knows maybe it would help her memory? Dwelling on the thought of books she glanced over at Cas noticing the way his features softened, perhaps he had remembered something himself? She didn’t want to ask even if she was curious about it. The smile however was pure, it was clearly a memory he was fond of and she couldn’t help but smile herself.

“Oh, well I’m certain I like novels. I probably even enjoy the boring stuff. I just have this feeling I like to curl up with a good book in the warm. I mean the art of war does sound enticing.” Teasing him gently as her gaze moved over to the film, every now and then she would cast a glance towards Cas just to see his own reactions to everything.

“Maybe! Knowing who I am will certainly be great and even so. As much as this has been a whirlwind and a bit confusing, I still made a new friend.” Commenting on the fact she could remember who she was by the end of the week, it was a possibility. Smiling over at Cas she placed her hand on top of his, her touch gentle, hand soft, smooth and warm. She met his gaze still smiling, as she was happy that through it all she had met someone decent, someone who could make her laugh and feel at ease whilst her life had been turned upside down. As much as hated to admit it he had become a person she could rely on, even though she loved her independence she needed him.

Oh my gosh, you’ve kept your hand on there for way too long! I hope this isn’t awkward. Should I take it back? Should I leave it? Ahh… jeez. Her face flushed pink as she pulled her hand away and turned to the movie coughing, acting like nothing had happened. Already she was berating herself silently, wondering what she was even playing at, hoping he didn’t find it awkward or hated it. She should know better! I don’t know who I am, I don’t know my memories and now I’m touching his hand! Idiot!!

She didn’t dare look at him, face still pink as she tried so hard to focus on the movie. Blue eyes almost glaring at the screen, but her mind was far from watching the movie. A part of her wanted to take a glance at him, wonder how his reaction had been but she knew better. It would save her more embarrassment especially if he had taken it a bad way. What if he has a girlfriend? I hope he doesn’t think I’m trying it on with him… how stupid of me. Biting at the bottom of her lip she could feel the nerves creep up as she kept focusing back to what she had just done.

[Rogue Sloth]

“It’s sort of like a trade,” Cas justified when Iris poked fun at the excuse he’d made at the hospital. “I’m just the only one in my class.” Well, classes plural. He had a lot to learn before he was ready to take over the handling of an entire country. Honestly, he didn’t know if he would ever be ready to accept that much responsibility. It was why he tried not to think about it and why he often liked to pretend he was just another high born instead of the heir to the throne. Putting off the inevitable wouldn’t solve anything, since he would still be crowned king when his father died, but it made everything easier to bear for now.

Unfortunately, the older he got and the more Atlas’s health waned, the harder it was for the prince to ignore the inevitable role he was going to have to step into. Already, he had to manage a few of his father’s duties like meeting with foreign ambassadors to negotiate trade deals on occasion—the king was too sickly to put on a strong face for their neighbors anymore—and talking to the soldiers who guarded the market at the southern edge of the capital whenever they arrested any visitors from beyond the wall who were trying to start trouble. Compared to everything the king still managed, his responsibilities were nothing, but it felt like he was adding new ones to his list every month.

Cas turned back to Iris when she described the kinds of books she liked to read. At her comment that The Art of War sounded enticing, he made a face. “Trust me, it’s not as good as the title makes it sound,” he promised her with a shake of his head. He’d had to read it last year, when his father had been teaching him about military strategy and tactics. To say it was a dull read was an understatement. The content was useful, but it had taken him quite a bit of effort to get through the whole book without nodding off a few times. It was hard for him to imagine that anyone would read it for pleasure.

As she went on to talk about making a new friend, he smiled, glad to hear once again that she appreciated his company. He was sure she meant it too. Out of all the people he had met throughout his life, the amnesiac girl had the least reason to try and use him for her own gain. Even Jay and Miles could have just been spending time with him in the hopes that they could coax favors out of him when he became king. He couldn’t know their motives, but he was certain that her words came from a place of truth.

He was just about to say that he was happy about the way things had turned out too, but before he could even open his mouth, he froze when she suddenly placed her hand over his. The unexpected touch made him blush. Her hand was soft and dainty, and he was torn between turning his palm over to hold it in his and pulling away completely. Apparently he didn’t need to decide anything though, because just as he was wondering if she was waiting for him to do something, she removed her hand, and his trance was broken.

He looked away from her, trying to refocus on the movie. However, it was difficult to do when he could still feel the residual warmth from her fingers on his skin. Privately, he wished the moment hadn’t ended as soon as it did, but he kept the thought to himself. Instead, he shifted to cross both his arms over his middle, too conflicted between his desire to get closer to her and his resolution to keep his distance to give her the chance to do it again.

A long moment passed, silent if it weren’t for the sound of the film playing in front of them. Cas couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Iris, curious to find out if she was as worked up over the brief moment as he was. It wasn’t easy to spot in the low light, but he was pretty sure her face was rosy too. He let out his breath slowly. He’d been trying so hard to keep his hands to himself that he hadn’t even thought about the possibility that she would be the one to reach out to him. Still, he wasn’t completely certain if she was blushing for the same reason he was or if she had been embarrassed by his reaction. Whatever the case, the color he saw in her cheeks didn’t change the fact that she might have had a boyfriend before she’d lost her memories. He didn’t want to step on anyone else’s toes.

Choosing to let the awkwardness pass, he sank down a little lower in his seat and turned back to the movie again, trying to watch without being too distracted by the attractive woman sitting next to him.

[sukikyoufu]

Her heart was hammering away from the touch, he felt so warm and the temptation to keep her hand on his longer had been there, but she knew her place. They were still getting to know each other, plus she had no memories maybe she had someone in her life. What if he took it the wrong way, what if he just wanted to be friends and she had made it awkward? Her mind was racing with all the different possibilities of what ifs and what could be when she knew she should be focusing on the movie and her recovery.

Touching her cheeks, she could feel the warmth from them because she knew she still had a faint blush on them, she hoped it would calm down because she didn’t want to look like a fool in front of him. Fidgeting in her seat slightly she couldn’t help but play with he hems of her jumper, the soft fabric calming her down quicker as she kept fiddling with them. Her heart rate had returned to normal and she although she could still feel the heated cheeks from before she was sure they had calmed down now as she regained control of herself.

Should I say something?

Nervous with the idea of it becoming awkward she debated on what to talk about, what should she say? Should she even say something? She kept her eyes on the movie trying to focus on the pictures and what was happening, but it really wasn’t happening, all she could think of was the fact she had touched his hand. The warmth it had with the gentle touch of hers. Glancing over at him she wanted to say something, but she wasn’t even sure yet, trying to think of the words to say or even just something to break this silence between them.

“So… eh. Good movie!” Grinning as she looked back at the movie running fingers through her hair as she turned her attention back to the screen. If she was honest, she hadn’t paid too much attention to it, so she was a little lost at this part of the movie but again she had the sense she had seen it before, so she wasn’t entirely fussed. “Your pick wasn’t too bad.” Looking back over at him she felt a bit more at ease now after that interaction, talking had helped her feel less awkward whether the situation had been or not.

“I wish watching it gave me more memories you know?” Sighing slightly, she just wanted to know who she was, it was frustrating not knowing especially as she had no direct links to anyone. “I know it will take time, but it would be great to know if I have family, friends…” Boyfriend… “So! Before we make the subject depressing, what are you doing tomorrow? I assume your mornings are for studying as you always visited afternoon time.” She had noticed that when he visited it was usually afternoon and he had mentioned he was studying his trade so she put two and two together.

[Rogue Sloth]

Try as he might, Cas couldn’t fully take his mind off of what had just happened between him and Iris. He couldn’t believe how hung up he was on something as small as the brushing of their hands, but crushes never were logical. It wasn’t like he could just hit an off-switch and not care about the way his stomach fluttered when she touched him. The fact of the matter was that he found her beautiful outwardly, and the more they spent time together, he thought her personality was attractive too. The more he thought about it, he was surprised he had never met her before the incident in the woods.

Then again, the capital was a densely populated city, and he doubted she would have been among the crowds of admirers who had followed him around in the past. She seemed far more grounded than the hordes of women—and a few idealistic men—who fantasized about being with the crown prince. She didn’t strike him as a partier either. If they had never happened to bump into each other on the streets, there was no way they would have met before.

After a few more heartbeats of silence between them, Cas glanced at Iris as she spoke up again to comment on the movie. More than happy to jump on a new subject, he rolled his eyes at her sardonic assessment of his taste in film. “Alright, Ms. Critique,” he gibed in return. “Next time, you can pick what we watch, since your standards are obviously more refined than mine.” He shot her a teasing smile. Even though he knew she was only messing with him, he was curious to see what she would choose if given the chance. Since they seemed to share interest in the same genres, he knew he would probably like whatever she picked. He just wanted to take every opportunity to try and jumpstart her memory and, if he was honest, to get to know her better.

When she went on about wanting to know who her family and friends were, his smile melted. He wanted to assure her that she would remember them eventually, but he had already run that subject into the ground. Every day they had spent together, he’d made a point to remind her not to give up hope, but still no one had come to find her. He was surprised that two full days after she had gotten hurt, her family and friends hadn’t even called the hospital to find out if she was there.

They have to call sometime though, he reassured himself. If she was gone long enough, someone was bound to suspect that something had gone wrong. It was just a waiting game until they did.

“As of right now, not much,” he shrugged when she changed the subject to ask him what he was doing tomorrow. “I do have a class in the morning, but other than that, I shouldn’t have anything else to do unless something comes up at the last minute.” Most of the responsibilities he’d taken over from his father were short notice. Despite his illness, the king was an independent spirit who refused to let his son help him unless he saw an opportunity to teach him something valuable or he was too sickly to get out of bed that day. It was why Cas made a point to keep his phone close at all times when he was out of the house. If Atlas needed him home early, he had to be able to report back right away.

“Why do you ask?” he turned to her again curiously. “Is there something you want to do tomorrow?”

[sukikyoufu]

Iris couldn’t help but giggle as he teased her back, claiming that her own taste was more refined than his when it came to movies. It was ironic in a way but still she enjoyed the jokes between them and so happy that they had now focused on something to talk about after the actions from earlier. Thinking on it she wondered what she would choose, they seemed to have a similar taste which was great, but she was sure they liked other things as well. It made her wonder on what movie she might have picked; would she have gone for this spy movie? Or something else?


My family will call for me. I’m sure they will.

Listening to him answer the question on what he was doing tomorrow she smiled, she had been right he had some sort of class in the morning but then he seemed free. She could keep herself entertained until he had finished his class and maybe they could do something tomorrow? Explore and hopefully regain more memories of her past. She seemingly had triggers so maybe something outside would help her remember where she lived. It was the hope that it would happen.

“Well… if you’re not busy maybe we could do something? Explore? After your class of course! But I was thinking that even just a stroll outside, visiting well known areas might help with my memories.” Glancing towards the movie it was still going but it looked like it would soon be over, well she felt like it would be whether or not that was the case. “Maybe whilst we are out some friends would recognise me? Maybe even family. That’s the hope of course but even so if that doesn’t happen just having a day out with you would be fun!”

As always, she tried to stay positive, she assumed it was something to do with her personality that she was this upbeat kind of person. “Unless you want to stay in and hang here? We could invite those friends of yours over.” Backtracking a little on the plan just in case he didn’t want to go outside, she didn’t want to assume what he would want to do or even if he wanted to spend the time with her. She hoped that was not the case of course because she thoroughly enjoyed spending her time with him.

“I just, I think doing more things. Seeing more places will trigger more and as you say maybe one of them will just be the thing needed for everything to come back. To know who I am.” Meeting his gaze she kept the soft smile on her face. Deep down she was afraid of her memories, they could completely change everything for her but the sooner she knew. The sooner she could remember it meant she could get on with her life.

“Regardless though it will be fun to hang out whether indoors or outside. Buuuuut if you wouldn’t mind being my tour guide that would be very helpful.” Chuckling as she called him a tour guide, he was far from it but he had helped so much with her memories already.

[Rogue Sloth]

Cas had already had a hunch that Iris wanted to spend more time with him tomorrow—she hadn’t been very secretive about her enjoyment of his company so far—but when she suggested that they could explore the city together, he smiled nonetheless. There were plenty of places he could think of that they could check out. She was right about the potential of someone recognizing her too. They hadn’t been out for very long when they’d stopped by the mall earlier that day, but that didn’t mean no one would ever approach her. He already drew more than enough attention by himself anytime he went out. With heads already turning to gawk at their future king, someone was bound to catch sight of Iris too. Hopefully at least one of those people would see her as more than just the prince’s mysterious companion for the afternoon.

“I’d like that,” he encouraged with a nod. “As long as you’re staying here, we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the mansion, so we don’t have to hang out here all day. Let’s go back into the city tomorrow.” Stretching out his legs again, he turned back to the movie screen. Though he had gotten pretty distracted during the middle of the film, he recognized the part that was playing now. There wasn’t much left before the final fight between the main character and the antagonists. It was a great scene, but they had both seen it before, so he didn’t mind talking through it.

“I can invite my friends over in the evening if you really want to meet them,” he offered, just in case she had made the alternate proposal because she was curious to find out who he associated with. “You might want a couple drinks before they get here though. They can both be a lot to handle sometimes.” He was only kidding, but there was a hint of truth behind his jest. Miles had a reputation for being a flirt, and Jay had a bold personality in general. He wouldn’t have been surprised if either of them decided to test the waters with Iris when they met her. And why wouldn’t they? She was gorgeous. The two high borns were probably eager to meet her because they wanted to find out if she was available.

As she went on to explain why she wanted to go back to the city with him, he murmured in understanding. They had managed to get a few of her memories back so far, so it wasn’t too far of a stretch to guess that she would remember more of them if she went back to places she had been before. All it could take was one vivid enough memory to bring back everything. Who knew? Maybe she would taste a specific food or even see a street sign that would take her back to a previous time. It was worth a try.

At her joke about him being her tour guide, Cas barked a laugh. He’d never been referred to in such a way before. He could almost imagine the looks of astonishment on the other high borns’ faces if he walked her around the city, pointing out highlights and telling her interesting facts. It would certainly draw even more attention to them than usual. One of the nosy media writers might even spin it into a headline. Still, he wasn’t offended by the remark at all. He liked her candor and the lack of fear she had about speaking whatever was on her mind, even if it was ridiculous.

“I’d make the best damn tour guide in all of Aspiria,” he teased, casting her a smirk. “I know the history of every pebble in this country, since I’m supposed to rule it someday. You’d learn everything there is to know about the capital.”

Turning back to the screen, he watched the last few minutes of the movie before it finally ended and the credits started scrolling. He reset his recliner to its original position and stood up, lazily stretching his arms over his head. It wasn’t even four o’ clock, but between the busyness of the day and the lack of windows in the dark room, it felt much later to him.

“I need to move around,” he announced, lifting his hand to his mouth as a yawn escaped from his lips. “Sitting around for so long made me tired.”