Trash Panda

~Bonsoir~

The return journey to the Hygrace manor was uneventful for Vail. He made it back to his family’s territory without incident and even arrived at his bedroom without being stopped and questioned by any of his relatives. Even though he’d already come up with an excuse to explain away the floral perfume that clung to his skin, he was relieved that he didn’t have to use it before he retreated to the sanctuary of his private quarters for the night. Attempting to dodge a potential argument with Peter, he remained behind the closed door, occupying his time by reading more of the book he had found in the archive until his concentration was broken by a quiet knock.

He permitted the visitor to enter, silently praying that it wasn’t his father, and then raised a brow bemusedly as his mother stepped into the room. She looked worn with tired eyes and skin that was slightly paler than usual, and her clothes were spattered with flecks of blood—not her own, Vail determined when he pinpointed the scent as human. “What are you still doing up?” he queried, setting his book aside to give her his full attention. Like the rest of their family, Katherine had adjusted to a daylight schedule, so he had thought she would be sleeping until sunrise.

“A new refugee arrived after you left,” she sighed, closing the door behind her.

“Oh?” Vail mused, his hazel eyes drifting quizzically down to her stained clothes.

Katherine followed his gaze and shook her head sourly. “It belongs to a servant,” she answered his unspoken question. “Erasmus forgot himself and bit the poor girl. I had to separate them before she fainted from shock.”

Vail nodded thoughtfully. It was rare for one of his relatives to prey upon the humans who served them, but he suspected he knew why his cousin had done so. Even though the other Hygraces had laughed in his face about the threat of the Wynters, Erasmus must have secretly taken the warning to heart. If the cowardly vampire thought his life was in danger, he would have stopped leaving the premises to feed altogether until his bloodlust had grown so unbearable that he’d snapped. His cousin’s mistake would be difficult for the rest of the family to recover from—anytime this happened, the servants became terrified of the vampire clan they served—but Vail was smugly pleased that his only potential competition for his inheritance had slipped up so royally. If there was ever a chance that Peter would have willed the Hygrace estate to Erasmus, it was gone now.

“Does any of this have to do with me?” he asked as his mother sat down in the chair across from him. As much as he enjoyed hearing that his relative had tripped over his own two feet, he didn’t believe Katherine had come to his room just to tell him that news.

“No,” she confessed, her eyes wandering down and up his frame. “I just had a suspicion that I wanted to confirm.” A knowing expression took over her eternally youthful features. “You came back awfully late tonight.”

“I went out to hunt,” Vail shrugged nonchalantly. It was technically true, since he had fed on Victoria’s blood when he’d visited the Crest manor. He just left out the detail that he’d done so whilst sitting with her in a bathtub.

“Mhm,” Katherine seemed unconvinced. Her gaze was tinted with both concern and disapproval as she went on, “Vail, I think it would be best if you stop seeing that human, at least until you’ve given someone else a chance. Peter has been in communication with Sylvia’s father, and they’ve arranged for the two of you to begin courting tomorrow afternoon.”

“Why am I only hearing about this now?” Vail narrowed his eyes, feeling blind-sided by the reveal.

“Peter knows you wouldn’t have agreed to it while you’re still obsessed with the Crest girl,” she replied matter-of-factly. “Keeping the arrangement from you was for your own good. I’m only telling you now so that you can behave with dignity when Lady Sylvia arrives tomorrow.” She rose gracefully from her seat and smoothed down her bloodied skirt. “You should get some sleep while you can. Your father will be by tomorrow at noon to wake you for the outing. Goodnight, Vail.” She bowed her head to him curtly and strode back to the door, leaving her son to process the news alone.

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

That's so weird xD My pets don't seem to notice the changes in the weather at all. At least, not that I can tell.

It's going to be such a good part. Lots of action and drama!

Okay! And no worries. I won't be on much tomorrow anyway because I have a presentation, a studio class, and a meeting.

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

Seems like it's been a warm winter all around then! I live high up in the mountains, so we usually get a decent amount of snow, but it's already warmed up a lot this time. I feel gypped because it's my favorite weather xD

Really? How does it affect your cat?

It definitely will be! It would be a really easy opportunity for him to convince her that Cas would be no better of a king than his father is.

I like that idea! Also for the kidnapping part, I don't remember if I mentioned, but Iris and Ethan's plan would have to include knocking Cas out otherwise he'd just call for help. His com device doubles as an emergency signal (it's the reason why he doesn't have to walk around with bodyguards all the time) so he could just trigger it if he's in danger

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

Fine now! I took medicine ^^

I love it too. We haven't had much lately though. We got a lot in November/December and then January/February dried up. It was the opposite of what winters are normally like here, haha.
Right? It's super weird! I've always wondered why that happens.

I'm also excited for Iris's (and Ethan's) reaction to the speech Cas gives later cx It'll be a raw window into the way high borns see Hope, and it'll include the sentence for the two rebels that didn't manage to get away.

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

“I definitely haven’t forgotten about that,” Cas promised when Iris reminded him of their plans to go to the pizza parlor he had told her about. “But you said next time we go for dinner, and I’m not going to dress up when we eat there. Luigi’s is more of a casual restaurant.” That, and the food was a little messier. Since Iris seemed more put off by his family’s wealth than entranced by it, he kept it to himself, but most of the formal clothes in his closet were worth an obscene amount of money. If he wore a five thousand credit cashmere suit to a pizza parlor and stained it with marinara, his father would have an aneurism. He might have been taking over more kingly responsibilities than usual lately, but he wasn’t ready to be the monarch full time just yet. Not killing the king with questionable life choices seemed to be the smarter move.

When she poked fun at him again about being a ‘stuffy old prince,’ he tossed his head back in exaggerated exasperation. “Oh my god,” he chuckled, leaning over to playfully push her shoulder with his. “By the time you stop calling me that, I’ll already have gray hairs.” Privately, he appreciated her concern for his well-being though. It was true that whenever he got bogged down with responsibilities he had to put his own needs on hold. Having someone around who supported him while he was stressed was a nice change. Atlas never bothered to check up on how he was doing, and none of the servants in the mansion were fearless enough to tell him what to do—not because of him, of course, but because of what his father might do to them if he found out the help had given his protégé an order.

“Thanks,” Cas smiled at Iris when she said she would watch the broadcast. Jacob had already told him that his speech was compelling, but it was difficult for him not to doubt himself after years of listening to Atlas deliver some of the most powerful speeches he had ever heard. He was nervous about falling short of the public’s expectations for their soon-to-be leader, so knowing that at least one person who would be listening thought he was going to do well was bolstering to him. He just hoped the rest of the capital wouldn’t be too harsh with their comparisons if he couldn’t fill his father’s enormous shoes.

At her comment about the food, he nodded in wholehearted agreement. There were plenty of other talented cooks in the high-end restaurants around the city, but those who worked as private chefs for the royal family were the best of the best. They had to be. Every dish they served was prepared with the utmost care, because Atlas was known for replacing his staff if he believed there was someone better suited for the job. The positions in the Maydestones’ kitchen were especially competitive, as they were compensated handsomely for their work. Tonight, the chefs hadn’t failed to deliver. “If you really want to learn how, I bet I could get someone to teach you,” he offered, remembering her odd affinity for household chores. “The chefs all live here but only have to prepare three meals a day, so I’m sure any one of them be more than happy to be your trainer during their off hours in exchange for a pay raise.” They would just have to be careful not to let the king find out. Atlas wouldn’t be nearly as supportive of a high born woman learning the trade of a commoner.

In the next moment, Caspian noticed that Iris had fallen quiet again. He watched her concernedly as he took another sip of his wine, wondering what she was thinking about that would cause her to look so sad. As if she could read his mind, she answered the unspoken question, and he frowned. “Hey,” he reached for her hand and held onto it reassuringly. “You don’t have anything to worry about, okay? My dad is just on edge because of the attack. He isn’t actually going to do anything to you. Besides, you won’t be here forever. We’ll get you back to your family as soon as we can, and then you won’t have to listen to his baseless accusations anymore.”

It was a promise he felt certain he could deliver on, so there was no hesitation in his voice as he made the vow. Wanting to comfort her further, his eyes flicked toward the kitchen to make sure the cooks weren’t looking and then leaned over to press a swift kiss to her cheek. “Just trust me,” he smiled at her warmly as he pulled back. “This’ll all be over before you know it.”

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

Got mine done! Now I've just gotta take care of a headache I got this morning ^^;
It's supposed to snow and rain this week, and I always migraines with the pressure changes for some reason

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

As soon as Iris hinted at the prospect of what sounded like a date, Cas faltered in his step. The comment made him feel certain that she was at least interested in acting on the feelings they had confessed to each other the night before. It didn’t look like an ‘I like you, but…’ situation after all. His heartbeat quickened with excitement. If he didn’t have to leave for the address so soon, he would have liked to sit down with her and express that he wanted to explore the spark between them too. However, he couldn’t let himself get too distracted right before he stood in front of the public. It would have been humiliating for him to fumble through such an important speech because he couldn’t stop thinking about a girl. Still, he couldn’t get past the moment without letting her know that he also liked the idea of a real date.

“Maybe I will,” he grinned at her. “But if I dress up, you’d better do it too so I’m not the only one.” As much as he liked his comfortable clothes, he would put on a suit to impress her without a second thought. Plus, he couldn’t deny that a part of him wanted to see what she looked like in a classy dress. “We can go to l’Ivore for dinner once the lockdown is lifted,” he suggested, eagerness slipping into his voice when the idea came to him. The upscale restaurant was one of the most expensive and exclusive venues in the capital with a waiting list that could extend as far out as six months during peak seasons. He doubted she had been there before since it was so difficult to make a reservation, but he could get them in at any time because he was the crown prince. The owner always made an exception for him when he wanted to dine there, and it was the perfect spot to eat if they were going to dress up.

It was when he was taking his seat at the counter that Cas noticed the shift in Iris’s mood. He studied her confusedly, unsure why she had suddenly become so melancholic and hoping it wasn’t because of something he’d said. Her forced smile only reinforced his suspicion that she was upset. He parted his lips to ask her what was wrong, but she spoke before he could vocalize the first word. “Yes, mom,” he rolled his eyes, teasing her in the hopes that he could pull her back out of whatever had caused her face to fall.

Turning toward the kitchen, he expressed a quick ‘thank you’ to the staff as two servants set down their dishes on the countertop. The food smelled even more delicious up close. The salmon was cooked to perfection and seasoned with a variety of spices to enhance the flavor. It was coated with a melted caper butter and accompanied with a side of wild rice, and the entire meal was paired with a glass of Louis Jadot le Montrachet. Despite the fact that his frayed nerves had left him without an appetite earlier, the prince’s mouth watered at the aroma. “I’m definitely going to eat every bite of this,” he assured Iris with newfound confidence, licking his lips as he picked up his silverware.

At her offer to listen to his speech, Cas shook his head. “I appreciate that, but I know I’ll just second guess myself if I read it now,” he admitted, glancing up at her with a lopsided smile. “I’ve decided I’m not going to look at it again until the flight to the square, where I won’t have access to a pen.” As he spoke, he patted his breast pocket, where he’d stowed the paper that contained the speech he’d written. “If you want to hear it, you can watch from the TV in your bedroom later. I’m sure it’s going to be broadcasted on every channel,” he added with a sigh, reminded of just how many eyes were going to be on him when he gave his speech. Trying not to think about it, he cut a piece of salmon with his fork and lifted it to his lips in an attempt to distract himself with the gourmet food.

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

Awesome! I may be able to write one more tonight depending on how late we stay out with our friends after dinner. If not, I'll shoot to post tomorrow afternoon ^^

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

Caspian tensed slightly when Iris insinuated that she knew he hadn’t had a chance to sleep yet. She didn’t seem to be pitying him though, so his stiffness didn’t last long. “I’ve been busy,” he sighed, giving up a portion of his act now that he knew she’d already caught on to him. His shoulders sagged a bit as he leaned into the edge of the mattress, betraying how tired he really was. There was no point in pretending if she wasn’t going to fall for the lies. “My dad still isn’t feeling the best, so I’ve had to take over everything. The prisoners, the council, the public…” He trailed off with a shake of his head. A mere list didn’t capture the full weight of all the responsibilities he’d had to take care of that afternoon. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to lay down and have a drink or two to take the edge off the stress he’d been under since the day before.

When Iris approached him, his smile returned. He appreciated her unspoken gesture. Her touch was calming, and her hand was pleasantly soft and warm through the sleeve of his jacket. Although they still hadn’t had a chance to talk through the feelings they had admitted to each other yesterday, he found himself hoping that she would want to be with him longer than just a couple dates. He enjoyed having her around and even though his father wanted him to think about marriage as a political tool, he couldn’t help but desire a relationship with someone with whom he genuinely connected. Call it romanticism, but I’d prefer to like the person I end up with someday, he thought to himself. Of course, it was still far too early to tell where a relationship between them would go if she was interested, but she definitely fit in the category of the type of women with whom he’d like to test the waters for something long-term.

As she playfully called him a ‘slow poke,’ Cas laughed and took a step away from the bed to follow her out of the room. “You really want to go there, cyborg?” he teased, gesturing to the metal crutches she was using as support when he caught up with her. Even if he was wearing dress shoes, he was sure he could outpace her when she couldn’t even walk short distances without something to lean on.

“You would have made better company than the people I actually spent my time talking to,” he pulled a face at the mention of the soldiers and the high borns who had wasted his afternoon with their unnecessary fretting. Whether they could have spent time together or Iris had just slept for the last few hours, he would have preferred a day with her over the others. Maybe then he could have even napped for a while, himself. Her following comment lifted his spirits though. He didn’t find suits as comfortable as sweat clothes or even regular button-down shirts without the thick jacket, but at least she seemed to enjoy the ensemble. “I’d like to say this was for you, but unfortunately, I didn’t dress up for dinner,” he admitted, glancing at her sideways. “Since my dad is still in bed, I have to take his place and give the public address that he was going to give this evening. I’m sure you know already, but citizens of the capital wouldn’t take me seriously if I didn’t look like I’m about to attend a red carpet premier.”

As they approached the entrance to the kitchen, Cas trotted a couple steps ahead to open the door for her. “I hope so too,” he agreed, waiting for her to walk into the other room before he followed along behind her. “If everything goes well at the center square tonight, it should be the last major thing I need to deal with. Fingers crossed the soldiers catch those two missing terrorists quickly, because then we can put this all behind us and keep working on getting you home.”

Stepping over to the dining bar beside the kitchen, he could smell the dinner that the staff had already prepared for the evening. “Ooh, I think the chefs made salmon,” he grinned at Iris eagerly. It was a great choice for him. The fish was always expertly seasoned by the professionals that worked for the royal family, so it would taste delicious, but it was also light enough that he wouldn’t stuff himself before he had to give his speech.

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

Thanks! And same.
I should be able to get started on one more post right now ^^