Trash Panda

~Bonsoir~

Sorry for the delay. I've got friends in town, so I've been busy. I'll get a post up for you when I can!

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

To Caspian’s relief, Iris didn’t seem upset with him for kissing her without warning. He supposed she was the type to like spontaneity after all. Good news for him. As she told him not to apologize and suggested that they hang out and “forget about everything,” he nodded in agreement. “That sounds amazing right now,” he sighed. Getting his mind off the stress of all the running around he’d been doing, his speech, and the fact that he had, once again, gotten his hopes too high about his father’s reaction to his hard work was all he wanted to do for the rest of the night. A drink at the bar would certainly help him achieve that goal alongside her friendly company.

“Really?” he mused when she went on to say that the sentence for the two terrorists had been shocking to her. It was common knowledge that treason against the crown was punishable by death. Then again, she’d had weird gaps like that in her knowledge since the day he’d picked her up in the woods. He supposed she must have forgotten about some of the laws in the capital alongside her memories of who she was. “I don’t like it either, but it’s what we have to do to make the Scourge think twice about threatening us again,” he shrugged, bringing a hand to his mouth as a weary yawn escaped his lips. “If we give them any leeway, they’ll just take advantage of it.” It was a cold fact that his father had drilled into him since the civil war had escalated. Since he had an empathetic streak, Atlas had been worried that he wouldn’t be hard enough on their enemies if he took over as king before the feud was settled. The monarch had explained the importance of bringing any offenders to justice extensively to make sure he understood.

When they reached the bar, Cas sat down at the booth across from Iris and met her gaze with a fond smile. Her praise was definitely welcome after the neglect from his father that evening. “Yeah, it takes a lot out of you,” he confirmed sagely. “There are a lot of little nuances to pay attention to, and knowing that everyone in the city would know if I made a mistake didn’t help at all.” As he spoke, he saw the bartender quickly organize his station and begin walking over to take their orders from the corner of his eye.

“That would be nice, but unfortunately, this whole place is still on lockdown until those missing rebels are captured,” he exhaled, unbuttoning his suit jacket and shrugging the heavy fabric off his shoulders. Once the jacket had been set down somewhat haphazardly on the seat beside him, he slipped his tie off and added it to the pile so that he was left in only his maroon shirt.

More comfortable than before, he settled down on his side of the booth and laced his fingers together, pushing his arms over his head in a long stretch. “Scotch sours are my weakness,” he replied with a smirk when she asked what he would be drinking, letting his arms fall back down to his sides. “And no. I’m just going to have one glass tonight. Something to celebrate the fact that all this madness is finally over and done with.” Earlier, he’d been tempted to drown his feelings in alcohol, but he tried not to ever become dependent on substances to cope with tough days. It was a bad habit to get into, so instead, he usually compromised by having one or two drinks and catching up on seasons of the various sports he liked to watch or going to bed early.

“Good evening,” Martin bowed politely when he reached their table. “What would you like me to make, Your Highness?”

“The usual for me, and whatever she’s having,” Cas replied, turning from the bartender to his company with a smile. He figured that she’d tried enough cocktails last time they were here to have a better idea of her own palette, so he didn’t make any suggestions.

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

Yeah, just exploring the city and some other fun places I know of in the area ^^ I'll get some writing done in the mornings if I can. Depends on how time-consuming my virtual model turns out to be.

~Bonsoir~

Vail lifted his shoulders in a shrug when Victoria pointed out that he had been intoxicated by her blood first. It was technically true, but that was a different kind of intoxication than what he had been talking to her about. His desire for the essence that flowed through her veins was entirely physical, primal, and was reminiscent of the way he was drawn to any human that walked the earth. He was just addicted to her because her blood was stronger than anyone else that he had fed on before. In contrast, his fascination with her as a woman stemmed from his mind and heart. She had invaded his thoughts and his dreams and filled him with delight every time she touched his hands or kissed his lips. The feelings she brought out in him were different than anything he’d experienced before, and he basked in them like a strong drug. He couldn’t compare the sensation to the way he felt when he drank from her soft neck.

When Victoria threw her arms around him, he slid his hands up from her legs around her back, returning the hug. “I forgive you,” he murmured into her thick hair, more relaxed now that they had resolved the misunderstanding. “I would be a hypocrite not to… I’ve not trusted you as I should have in the past.” As they held each other, he took in her familiar, sweet scent, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment although he kept his light eyes fixed on the door in case any of the Saints became impatient and burst into the kitchen. In their current position, it wouldn’t have been unlikely for a hunter to assume he had his fangs buried in Lady Crest’s throat when they were really only locked in an embrace. He didn’t want to take the chance that one of them would shoot his gun before waiting to hear an explanation.

“You might want to tell your mother and that Saint who answered the door,” he added as an afterthought, idly trailing his fingers through her brunette locks. “They’re both still under the impression that I was using you, and I don’t think they’ll listen to a word out of my mouth right now.” He let his arms fall down from her back when she pulled away from him, watching silently as she took each of his hands in hers. Her touch against his burnt hand stung, but he didn’t react outwardly to the pain. As he had said to her when they had first started talking to each other, physical afflictions were just nuisances to him. The initial sear of the silver gun against his flesh had been the worst part, and now that he was just left with a few angry red marks on his palm and the pads of his fingers, the discomfort was almost mild enough to forget.

“I did,” Vail nodded and took a deep breath as the reason for his visit was brought up. “I tried to convince my father to take the threat seriously one more time last night, but he’s still refusing to do anything. That’s why I came here. He may be too stubborn to take any precautions against the Wynters, but I’m going to protect my family… even if it means I have to align myself with the Order.” He looked up from their joined hands to her alluring face. “I’m here to offer whatever services I can to the Saints, so I can make sure the Hygrace clan will be safe from harm.”

As Victoria exposed her neck to him, the vampire’s pupils dilated predatorily, but he hesitated. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” he asked, removing his uninjured hand from hers to brush her hair away from her collar. Though he questioned her, it was clear that his thin resolve would break if she didn’t rescind her offer. “You need your strength, and there’s a small army of hunters just outside this room. It’s hardly an ideal time for me to… drink…”

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

No rush! I'm probably going to spend the rest of the afternoon working on my project and then going to bed early. I've got a friend coming to visit for the next week, so my posting speed will probably slow down for a while!

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

As soon as he heard the rattle of the doorknob from inside the bedroom, Cas let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He was glad that at least one of the people he’d stopped by to visit was still awake, and the smile on Iris’s face that he could see when she opened the door made his heart swell with joy. “Thanks,” he grinned back at her when she commented on his speech. After learning that his father hadn’t even stayed awake to watch one minute of it, knowing that she had kept her word made him feel warm inside. He also thought it was cute that she referred to herself as his ‘number one supporter.’ It was nice to have someone around who would act like his cheerleader when even his own family was too busy to pay any attention to him. He hadn’t had anyone like that in his life since his mother had passed away.

Without thinking, he took a step toward Iris and leaned down to press his lips to hers in a deep kiss. His hands found their way to the small of her back, and he pulled her to his torso, closing the distance between them completely. Her touch was still new and exciting, but she also had a way of comforting him that no one else could match. Savoring the feeling of the tension ebbing from his body and the heat of her slender frame pressed up against his, he lingered for a moment—or maybe it was longer; it was hard to tell when time seemed to stop—before he finally pulled away to catch his breath.

“Sorry,” he smiled at her sheepishly, although he didn’t let his arms drop from around her waist right away. “I just needed that.” Clearing his throat awkwardly, he stepped back again and dropped his hands into his trouser pockets in a wordless declaration that he would keep them to himself now that he’d gotten the first move out of his system. Since everything was still so new, he hoped he hadn’t overstepped any boundaries by kissing her without any warning. He didn’t know if she was the type to appreciate spontaneity or if she had been taken aback by the gesture and would have preferred him to give her some kind of sign before his lips had crashed into hers.

“I would like that drink now,” Cas confirmed, turning to lead the way down the corridor. He could feel a hint of a blush that had developed in his cheeks, so he opened his mouth again to distract himself from his own chagrin with a conversation. “So, you really thought the address went well?” he asked, glancing down at her as they walked. “To be honest, I don’t remember all of it. I was such a wreck right before I started that the beginning went by in a blur. I think I spoke coherently though, because the audience clapped a few times.”

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

Yeah, Atlas is the kind of father who always criticizes people before he praises them, so it takes a toll on Cas ^^; That’s why he has some insecurities. He doesn’t know if his father is proud of him or not.

Also I’m getting some cleaning done this morning but I’ll get to work on a post after I’m done later!

~Bonsoir~

When he finished speaking, Vail studied Victoria’s face across the kitchen. He could see that she had been watching him closely as if she thought he would lie to her about his “affair” with Sylvia. Though he hadn’t necessarily earned her unwavering trust yet, he didn’t like being on the receiving end of her cautious looks. Whatever she had been told, she seemed to have bought into it hook, line and sinker. He was frustrated, but he also couldn’t hold it against her. When Ray and Gerald had each attacked him before, his first instinct had been to assume that Victoria had been their accomplice. The thought nearly made him shake his head. They both needed to learn not to jump to the worst conclusions about the other when things went poorly.

Despite her hesitation to believe him, he noticed that she set her weapon aside. It was a small gesture, but he took it to mean that she was willing to let him approach her if he so chose. He was relieved that she seemed to have backed down from picking a fight with him. Having not seen her progress since the last time they’d scuffled and he had pinned her to the ground to feed, he had no doubts that he could overpower her again, but he disliked the thought of causing her any pain—at least, more than was necessary to drink her succulent blood. That a fight had the potential to put further strain on their relationship was what deterred him from closing the distance while the rapier had still been in her delicate hand.

As Lady Crest expressed her insecurities about not matching up to what Lady Macey could offer him, Vail listened patiently, gathering his thoughts to explain himself to her. “Who said we can’t get married?” he queried first, something of a smile painting his lips. “I’ve told you once before that I’d like to call you my wife someday, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make that happen. For as long as you live, I’m yours, Victoria.” Slowly, he stepped away from the wall to stand before her and rested his hands on her knees, ignoring the bite in his seared palm.

“Old age isn’t going to change anything either,” he went on in a low tone. “You may be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, but it’s your spirit that I find so intoxicating. You’re courageous, resilient, intelligent, and entirely sexy; and that is why you stood out to me among all the other women, both human and vampire alike, who have nothing more to offer than their pretty faces.” As he spoke, he trailed his fingers aimlessly from her knees up to her thighs and flashed her a foxlike smile. “You truly are one in a million, and I would never do anything to risk letting a gem like you slip through my fingers.”

At her question about the kiss he had planted on Sylvia’s cheek, Vail blinked. It seemed that she hadn’t just heard about his outing with the other vampire but might have even seen it for herself. He shook his head. “I was just saying goodnight to her. Victoria, I’ve known Lady Sylvia since I was a child. Her family is close to mine, so she’s been a dear friend to me for two centuries. Even though I’ve never taken an interest in her romantically—and she’s told me before that she thinks of me like a brother—we’ve spent a good deal of time together, and that’s what our behavior around each other reflects. You have nothing to worry about. I promise.”

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

That's pretty much what I was thinking. Cas and Atlas have been at odds lately, so he'd be more likely to disobey the order to stay inside the palace

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

The flight back to the mansion was just as uneventful as it had been on the way to the square. After dodging the swarm of paparazzi for a second time that evening, Caspian and his guards all squeezed into the hover car and took off into the twilight sky. The prince sank into his plush, luxury leather seat and turned his head toward the window to watch the city roll by beneath the vehicle. Since the sun was finally setting, twinkling lights had started to flicker on all across the capital, creating a beautiful, manmade glow that stood out against the dark. He’d always liked the way the kingdom looked at night, so he kept his gaze fixed on the enchanting view as they flew smoothly back to his home—to Atlas and Iris. He was still eagerly anticipating speaking with both of them to find out what they’d thought of his speech.

“Tonight went well,” Jacob seemed to read his mind from the front seat. The security guard had his arm up lazily on the rest beneath his window and was peering back at his prince over his shoulder. “From what I could see, everyone seemed pleased with your address.”

“Yeah… must have been that magic water you gave me,” Cas glanced at him with a joking smile.

“With all due respect, Your Highness, I think you underestimate your own abilities,” Jacob shook his head, turning around to look forward again. He carried on a conversation easily enough, but the prince could tell by the subtle tilts of his head that the guard was simultaneously listening to other people speak through his earpiece. His multitasking talent had always astounded Cas.

“I’m nowhere near as impressive as my dad,” he rolled his eyes in disbelief, propping his elbow against the side of the car and pressing his cheek into the palm of his hand.

“His Majesty has decades of experience under his belt,” Jacob pointed out. “It may not feel this way, but he was just like you once, learning how to be king. Every leader has to start somewhere.”

“I guess so,” Cas sighed. He turned the other man’s words over in his head for a minute before a half smile crossed his lips. It was difficult for him not to compare himself to Atlas, but hearing Jacob remind him that he still had time left to get there helped ease his feelings of inferiority. He was still learning, but today, the high borns of the country had thought he’d done a good job. Maybe he really could handle the responsibilities of being king one day. “Thanks, Jacob,” he murmured, his chocolate brown eyes drifting back to the cityscape below. “I just hope my dad feels the same way.”

--

When they got back to the mansion, Caspian climbed out of the car and stretched his legs with a weary groan. It was starting to hit him that all the chaos was over at last, and he could finally rest. There were still two terrorists on the loose, but the soldiers already had their orders about what to do with them, so there was no more need for him to get involved. He could go back to his usual routine—although he was seriously considering taking a day off from his studies to unwind. After everything he’d done in the past thirty-six hours, he felt like he deserved a break.

His guards accompanied him to the building before they parted ways, and the prince headed up to his father’s quarters to find out what his thoughts were on the speech. His heart raced with a mixture of nervousness and excitement that seemed to increase with each tread. Atlas had always been miserly with his compliments, but surely he had at least one good thing to say about the address. After all, the entire audience had responded exactly how the monarch had wanted them to. That had to mean it had been a success, right?

Trying to be hopeful, he walked up to Atlas’s bedroom door and raised his fist to knock. However, before his knuckles made contact with the wood, the panel eased open, and a familiar face stepped out.

“Dr. Emett,” Cas blinked, backing away from the door to let the physician into the hallway. “What are you doing here?”

“Prince Caspian,” the doctor bowed his head politely. “I just came by to run a few tests on His Majesty.”

“Oh,” Cas nodded. “Good news, I hope?”

“We’ll find out tomorrow,” Emett indicated his supply bag. “I need to give these samples to the lab for analysis.”

“I hope they come back normal—or at least, not worse than they have been so far…” he trailed off with a troubled look. “Anyway, it was good to see you again, doctor. If you’ll excuse me…” He took a step to walk around the other man but didn’t get any further before he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.

“If I may, Your Highness,” Dr. Emett smiled at him sympathetically. “It would be best if you wait to see your father tomorrow morning. He’s asleep right now, and he needs all the rest he can get.”

Cas frowned, “Didn’t you just take samples from him though?”

“Given his condition, it’s more comfortable for His Majesty to be asleep for the procedure. I gave him a sedative so he wouldn’t be in any pain.”

The prince felt a trickle of distress creep up his spine, “How long has he been out?”

Dr. Emett checked his watch, “About half an hour, I’d say.”

“Oh,” Caspian’s voice broke slightly as the wave of disappointment crashed over him. If Atlas had been unconscious for that long, it meant he’d missed the entire public address. He cleared his throat, going on in a more subdued tone, “Well… thanks for making such a late house call. Call me as soon as you’ve got the results.” Without waiting for a reply, he turned around to go back down the stairs. He knew it wasn’t fair to blame his ailing father for missing his first major speech, but he couldn’t help feeling slighted by the fact that Atlas had slept through the whole thing. It was hard not to think that his father hadn’t cared about him enough to wait thirty minutes before he’d taken his sedative.

Don’t go there, he chided himself silently, clenching his jaw. It was a rabbit hole that would bring nothing but hurt and distrust, and he couldn’t let himself fall into it. The king’s health was more important than one short address. Atlas had only missed it because he’d had more pressing things to take care of, and it wasn’t his fault that Dr. Emett’s visit had overlapped with his trip to the center square. He just had to keep reminding himself of that whenever these situations occurred. He couldn’t believe that the only family he had left didn’t seem to want anything to do with him, because then he would have no one.

Trying not to drown in his internal turmoil, he made his way down to Iris’s bedroom and knocked on the door. He hoped that at least one person had stayed awake long enough to wait for him to come back. Right now, he could use some warm company, so he wouldn’t have to find solace at the bottom of a glass of whiskey.