21What is Owed
Everyone staying in this place – a clinic, Amorette learned it was called – were fed different things depending on their needs, and at different times as necessary. Most of them received three meals a day – which was already incredible to Amorette's mind. How did they eat so much?
That was nothing, however, compared to Amorette's feeding schedule. She was fed no less than six times a day, including one midnight meal that she was woken to enjoy. All of it was purely liquid soup and in much smaller portions than her neighbors.
Free food was free food, however, and she didn't complain, eagerly eating all of it. The first time someone caught her licking the bowl, they gave her a weird look. The uppers had so much extra food, they didn't need to do such a thing. In order to fit in and not draw attention to herself, Amorette resisted the urge to do it again.
Her liquid soup was soon supplemented with potatoes that had been boiled and mashed and mixed with spices. Spices! Amorette had never enjoyed spices before. She hadn't been aware that food could taste so good. Like the blue sky, it almost brought her to tears.
By her second day, she was being taken out of her bed by random people who would ask her to do a variety of pointless tasks. Walking. Stretching. Some very light lifting. They said that they needed to help get her strength and appetite back up.
They didn't know about her true strength.
Amorette had always been ridiculously strong in comparison to the people around her. She could lift another person with one arm and throw them with ease. While being trapped and starved had left her weakened, her strength built back incredibly quickly.
It was another secret that she kept to herself. After how those other women had reacted to her strength when she met them subplate, she didn't want to draw attention to her abilities while she was hiding amongst the uppers. She simply lifted what she was told and walked as directed and tried not to make it look as easy as it was. She must not have been a good actress, however, because everyone just kept saying how impressed they were with the speed of her recovery.
After three days of being kept in the clinic, Amorette had become used to her strange schedule. She had been allowed to have very small pieces of meat and vegetables in her soup, finally giving her something to chew. She was bathed every day, not always dunked in the tub, but at least scrubbed down, until she could do it herself. Her medicines were eventually taken out of her diet, for which she was unspeakably grateful.
It was instead replaced with regular tea. And usually a different blend, a different flavor, each day, depending on what they had decided to make for their enjoyment. The assault of flavors was overwhelming and Amorette found herself quickly falling in love with tea. She told herself that it was a bad decision and that tea wasn't available subplate.
But the servants that took care of her quickly realized her love for the drink and were only too happy to foster it with bright smiles. Every tea came with the offer of cream and sugar and, when her preference for sweets became clear, they got used to adding them without even asking.
Cupid usually came to visit her once a day. It usually wasn't a long visit. Often, it was a quick exchange of words as he met with her and the other patients. Amorette didn't mind. Since she had expected him to demand her body as was his right after claiming her, the distance he kept between them was as surprising as it was welcoming.
Maybe he was waiting until she was healthier. That would be nice of him. He was an attractive man and quite kind. She didn't think she would mind laying with him. After all the work her father went through to make sure she never needed to make that deal, she felt a bit guilty about her rather flippant attitude towards it happening.
However, trading sex was just a fact of life. It was bound to happen sooner or later. She was just lucky that her first time doing it would be with a nice person like Cupid.
On her fourth day at the clinic, it was a about noon and Amorette was enjoying her midday meal. It was one of the meals she got to eat with everyone. Her neighbor with the broken leg had gone home a couple days ago and hadn't been replaced. It almost seemed like more people were leaving than were arriving.
Because he had been her only neighbor, Amorette was left alone as she ate. None of the others talked to her and she made no attempt to change that. How could she focus on conversation when she was busy staring out of the window at her bedside?
The wonderful scent that she was so attracted to, she had come to realize, came from outside. Good, clean, fresh air, the servant woman would call it as she opened the windows to air out the room. It smelled like fresh earth, green life, and sunshine. Even better than the sweet tea she loved to drink, she loved the smell of the fresh air.
She still had her soup to eat, with some descent sized food bites to eat. More vegetable than chicken, but she was amazed that she got to eat chicken at all. She also had more potatoes and a small piece of bread with a spread of sweet jam that one of the servants had passed to her with a grin and a wink, telling her to save it for last.
Amorette dearly wanted to know what sweet jam tasted like – the name in and of itself was tempting – but she was obedient and was eating her soup, enjoying chewing the carrots, thinking to herself that she had been given more food today than normal.
That was where Cupid found her. He came right towards her bed, without once looking away, carrying a small box in his hands. Amorette looked up as he sat down, putting the box at her bedside, as he looked at her food tray.
"You're eating well." He said, nodding in approval. "How do you feel?"
"Great," Amorette answered honestly, beginning to put down her spoon.
"Don't stop on my account," Cupid said quickly, gesturing for her to continue.
She hesitated for a moment. Everyone else would stop eating when someone came to talk to them and she was trying to blend in. However, she was quite hungry and it seemed important to him. Besides, that was an order from the person who owned her, so, after hesitating for only a moment, she continued to sip at her soup.
Cupid smiled, his shoulders relaxing as he watched her eat.
It had only been a few days, and they had needed to slowly get her accustomed to eating again, but she already looked far healthier than she had before.
Her body was still too skinny, her dress hanging off of her, but her cheeks were no longer gaunt and her eyes weren't sunken. There was a dash of color to her cheeks and her skin was no longer as pale as it had been before. Not to say that she wasn't pale, but the sunlight was doing wonders for her and even her bright hair seemed more golden.
Cupid was beginning to suspect that Amorette had been a beggar of some kind. Just the way she looked was far more ragged and haggard than a servant from a household in Gold would have looked. Such people were very well cared for, if for no other reason than a sickly servant would reflect badly on the household that kept them.
Amorette's hair had been dark, grungy, and limp when she had first come in. After being washed and cared for, he could see the true golden color and the almost bouncy, gentle waves. The cut was staggered, uneven and choppy around shoulder level, but that could easily be remedied. Her eyes were especially enchanting, seeming to alternate between blue and green depending on how the light hit them.
Though she was unhealthily skinny, he imagined she would be quite fetching once her body filled out a bit more. At the very least, he thought she shouldn't be so tiny that he could see her bones outlined even through her dress.
According to the reports he received on her, she was quite attached to sweets. He could even see a spread of jam that had been offered to her on the tray. That pleased him because eating all that sugar would help her gain weight faster.
"I promised you a treat." Cupid said after checking her over.
The reminder turned her eyes up from her empty bowl. She had finished the soup as he watched her and had begun working on the potatoes. He found it interesting that his unerring gaze on her didn't make her uncomfortable as it would most people.
"My treat?" She repeated, surprised, eyes darting to the box he had brought.
Chuckling, he picked it up and held it out to her. "Open it."
She hesitated only a moment before taking the box and turning it over in her hands. As though it were a mystery she was trying to solve, she investigated it from several angles, almost turning it upside down to check the bottom before Cupid quickly stopped her.
Only once she had satisfied herself by checking the outside did she lift the lid. A sweet aroma floated out from inside and her eyes widened in shock as she stared down.
"Is this... cake?" She gasped as though even the thought were impossible.
Cupid nodded once, beaming. "I didn't know what flavor you liked, so I got fruit bread. Aren't the little flowers cute?"
Amorette blinked down at the flowers, unsure of what to say. She knew what cake was. Her father had sometimes managed to steal or barter for a piece when she had been younger, but those times were rare and the offerings he had made to her had never been so large as this. The entire cake could have fit over the span of her hand, fingers included, and it was covered in a layer of white icing that had been topped with icing flowers. Bright red. Like roses.
It was an unspeakable decadence, and the pop of color only made it seem more unreal. Amorette felt like she didn't even deserve to hold such a thing.
"You're giving this to me?" She gasped, turning her eyes over to Cupid in disbelief.
"It's only a small cake," he frowned regrettably. "I didn't want to get you a big one in case you didn't like it. Er, do you not like fruit bread?"
How could she know? She didn't think she had ever had it. Would it even have mattered if she didn't? She would eat this entire thing regardless.
Biting her lip, she looked back at the cake. The desire to bury her hand into it, grab a fistful, and take a large bite was strangely strong. This was a plate that she probably wouldn't resist licking.
"Thank you," she murmured, stroking the outside of the box. For all that she wanted to grab the cake and dig in, there was also part of her that was afraid to breathe on it, lest her breath taint it and make it inedible somehow.
Cupid smiled, leaning back in his chair. "You're welcome. Finish your lunch and I'll cut you a piece."
Amorette's gaze moved up to her food tray, back down to the cake, then over to Cupid.
He truly was incredibly kind. At the rate this was going, she not only didn't mind belonging to him, she thought she might like it outright.
That sweeping warmth in her chest was mitigated by the knowledge that, if he knew what she was, he would probably be less inclined to be so gracious and magnanimous. Her grip tightened on the cake box with that thought and she reached out to obediently take a bite of the delicious potatoes, refusing to let go of her cake.
The jam she had been so looking forward to was unspeakably delicious and wonderfully sweet, but it seemed pale and tasteless in comparison to the cake she was holding. She ate the bread and jam, a bit worried about how full she was becoming. What if she didn't have any room left in her body to enjoy the cake? Would he take it from her?
Cupid spoke to the servant that came to take Amorette's empty food tray. A moment later, he returned with the same tray. This time, however, it had empty plates, a small knife, and a pot of tea and two cups for their enjoyment.
Amorette continued to cradle the cake as Cupid stood to pour them the tea. He didn't bother to ask about adding sugar to her tea but said, with a smile.
"This tea tastes better without cream. So, I won't offer you that with it. Sorry."
Amorette shook her head. "No, you've already done more than I can... I mean, thank you."
He smiled, holding out his hands. She looked between them and the cake he reached for with a frown on her face. She only handed it over reluctantly. He smiled when he took it before grabbing the knife and cutting it through.
The piece he lifted from the box was generous and he placed it down on her plate with a smile. She stared at the piece, then back to the box. Was that all he was giving her? She wasn't complaining, it was already more than she could have imagined having. However, after holding the entire cake in her hands, she couldn't deny the disappointment.
Cupid, however, remained calm and smiling as he closed the box and gently set it back down on her bedside table.
"You can have more after dinner. Don't want to eat too much at once, you'll get a bellyache."
"You mean... I can have the whole thing?"
"It would be rather strange if I bought you a cake and only let you have a piece, don't you think?"
She thought it was stranger to have a cake at all, but she kept that to herself as she stared at the piece he had given her. She was already full from the soup, potatoes, and bread. She could feel the food sitting heavy in her belly.
But she didn't care how full she felt. She wasn't not eating that cake.
Picking up the fork, she cut off a bite and quickly lifted it to her mouth. The icing almost immediately melted on her tongue, its sweet flavor completely taking over her senses. She chewed once and the icing was joined by the sweet, fruity flavor of the cake itself. She didn't know the fruit, it wasn't the same as her jam, but it somehow made the icing flavor even better.
Cupid smiled at the rapturous expression on her face. She appeared completely lost in her own world as she took another eager bite.
"Amorette?"
"Hm?" She hummed in response, still focused.
"You're doing much better since you came here. It's time for you to be discharged."
Pausing, she turned to him, her fork held up over the plate. "Discharged?"
"I mean, we're letting you go."
"Letting me go?" Her eyes widened in shock. "J-Just like that? You didn't even get anything from me."
He waved away her concern. "Don't worry about payment. The crown is covering the cost for everything that happened."
"The crown?"
"The king feels responsible for everything and he's opened the royal treasury. That's not important though." He leaned towards her, elbows resting on his knees as he looked at her seriously. "I need to know, Amorette, do you have anywhere to go after you leave?"
Somewhere to go? Sure, she could go back to Iron. Once she figured out how to get there. She didn't know the upper plates at all. If she had been subplate, she could find her way around in perfect darkness, but up here, the overwhelming mixture of colors, sounds, people, and buildings meant that she could barely grasp the world outside of the windows. She was barely accustomed to the large clinic room she spent most of her time in.
"If you have nowhere else to go..." Cupid hesitated for only a second before continuing. "Maybe, you'd like to stay with me for a short time?"
"Huh?"
"You don't have to, if you don't want to. I was just thinking... I promised you a place to stay and, if you don't have anywhere else to go... My house isn't anything impressive, but its comfortable and safe. I can at least offer you a bed and-"
"Sure."
Her easy response cut off his nervous rambling. He stared at her, surprised by the conviction in her gaze as she looked at him. There was no hesitation there at all.
He owned her, as far as Amorette was concerned. And if he was this kind to the women he owned, she didn't really mind being kept by him. Certainly, she wanted to repay him the kindness that he had been giving her.
Cupid honestly couldn't say why he had made the offer. He had been thinking for days about what they were going to do with Amorette. No one had come around asking for her, like so many family and friends had as the bodies were pulled from Gold. She had yet to give him a response about where she was going and had a strange expression when he brought it up.
It was a stupid idea. She could be a thief. She could be a murderer. Just because he was a physician didn't mean he needed to open his house to the people he took care of for work.
But he didn't want to take back the offer, and she wasn't at all uncertain.
A small smile formed. "Great. I'll... I'll get ready for you then."
At his words, she gave him a smile. Bright and energetic. It was the first real smile he had seen from her and it fell against his chest like a fist.
How could a girl look so haggard but so cute at the same time?
It was raining slightly when Amorette was being discharged from the clinic.
The slight drizzle wasn't the hard downpour like the spring storms, but it was steady and consistent, the sky turning gray and the streets running with water. Amorette had only seen rain as it came down from between the plates and she stared in wonder at the sheer amount of water. Her fingers itched with the urge to collect it for drinking later.
She stood at the exit of the clinic, under the eaves where Cupid had ordered her to stand as he rushed inside to grab a coat. She was wearing her dress, her shoes, the other half of her cake that she hadn't eaten yet held lovingly in her hands. The servants that had taken care of her had all wished her farewell, telling her to take care of herself.
Now, she was alone, watching the rain with a smile on her face. This was rather calming. Rains subplate were busy times because they needed to collect the water, but the uppers, who had no shortage of water, didn't seem inclined to leave their houses. Meaning the streets were largely empty with only the occasional person rushing to get where they were going.
After a moment, Cupid returned. He had an umbrella under his arm. Amorette had seen people on the street using them, so she had an idea to its purpose. However, she didn't know why Cupid needed a coat as he was already wearing one.
She was surprised when he held the coat up for her. It was too large for her tiny frame, but it was dry and would protect her arms and dress.
"For me?" She asked, looking up at Cupid for confirmation.
He nodded. "It's one of my coats I accidentally left here. Here, your arms."
Amorette turned, slipping one arm into the sleeve, then transferred her cake to her hand so she could do the same with the other. He settled the coat around her shoulders then came around to her front, smiling with a nod of approval.
"Ready to go?"
She nodded and watched as he opened the umbrella. It spread out over their heads and he took hold of her arm, pulling her close and under its protection before walking with her into the street.
"The aircabs aren't running because of the rain, so we'll have to walk. Will you be all right?"
"I can walk." Amorette assured him, looking around eagerly.
She knew the view from the clinic windows quite well now, because she spent such a great deal of her time staring out of them. Walking away offered her an entirely new view and she couldn't get enough as her eyes moved over everything.
The rain had muted the bright colors and sent the people inside. That just meant that it was easier for her to stare at everything because there wasn't so much to overwhelm her. She couldn't get enough of everything.
Cupid watched her enjoying all the sights with a soft smile. She seemed excited as though it were all new to her. Which wasn't quite surprising because this area of Magnesium was where the wealthier people tended to congregate. If she really was a beggar or otherwise impoverished, she might not have ever been here before.
Since the aircabs weren't flying, they had to walk. Luckily, Bronze was the immediate neighbor to Magnesium and Cupid often enjoyed the walk home. His steps were unerring as he led the way. Hue's Clinic was at the far end of Magnesium to the lift that would take them the short distance down to Bronze and his home was at the far end of Bronze in comparison to Magnesium. He worried slightly for Amorette's ability to walk that much after what she had been through.
However, she kept pace with him easily, not once showing any signs of fatigue as they crossed through a garden that let out into the main street that opened into student houses. Cupid had called those small apartments home before he began his apprenticeship. He didn't get paid much but it was enough to afford a decent house in Bronze. Once he was a proper physician, he could probably afford a home in Silver. Though, he supposed, when he left to join the military, he wouldn't have a home at all.
Which made him concerned for Amorette. What was he going to do with her when he was gone? He didn't intend for her to stay with him forever, but he couldn't just turn her out onto the streets once he got his marching instructions.
Pushing the worry from his mind, he decided not to think about it for the moment. One thing at a time and, for now, he needed to get Amorette settled in his home.
Bronze was set just slightly lower on the mountain than Magnesium. The ride on the lift wasn't a long one, but Amorette stared around in fascination as they rode with a group of other people. She acted like she had never been on a lift before, which was interesting.
He offered to allow them to rest once they got into Bronze, but Amorette assured him that she was all right. He looked her over, wondering if she was just acting strong. However, there was a healthy flush to her cheeks and a bounce in her step. Maybe the walk was good for her.
She didn't show a single sign of slowing down the rest of the way to his house. His small, single story home was at the entrance of a culdesac. His neighbors were all good, hardworking people that were either single or only just married without children as none of the homes here were large enough to allow for the growth of a family.
"This is it." He said to Amorette, pulling his key from his front pocket. She stared at the building as though awed by it.
"I can really stay here?" She asked, watching as he unlocked the door.
There was a small ledge up to the door, barely enough to be considered a step. However, there was no eave over the door so he had to wait until he stepped inside to fold up his umbrella, shaking it off outside before placing it into the umbrella stand by the door.
As he did so, Amorette stared around his home.
It was small, but she found that far more comfortable than the large room she had been sharing with so many other people. It was still bigger than the stone hut she had lived in with her father subplate. The walls were more colorful here than they had been in the clinic. Half of them were covered in wood, but the top half had a pretty, floral pattern.
There weren't many walls inside. The door to the bathroom was open, showing her that it was place in a far corner. The kitchen was at the opposite end. There wasn't a separate room for his bed, but it was placed along the near wall. He had put his dining table with only two chairs in the middle of the area with an empty vase in the center.
"It's not much," Cupid said apologetically, closing the door. "Here, let me light a candle. Sorry, I can't use the lights. We don't have any energy."
"Hm?" Amorette watched him curiously, unsure of what he was talking about.
However, he didn't hear her as he picked up a box of matches on the table and used them to light a candle he had waiting right beside the door.
"I only have the one bed," he continued once the tiny fire was lit. "You can use that if you like. I'll just sleep there on the floor. Kind of wish I had bought a sofa now. It didn't really seem useful before though."
"Why would you sleep on the floor?" Amorette asked, confused. "Isn't it your bed?"
"Well, it's not like we can sleep together."
"We can't?" Her head tilted curiously.
Cupid flushed bright red, his heart suddenly leaping forward. "O-Of course, not!" He spat quickly, turning to walk past her and into his kitchen.
Amorette watched him as he moved towards a small linen closet and began pulling out what he would need to make himself a place to sleep on the floor.
He wasn't expecting her to sleep with him? What did he want with her then? He was rather confusing as a person. Was there something else he was after, maybe?
Cupid set down the folded blanket and sheet onto the table, looking at her askance. His face was still flushed in his embarrassment which she found strangely endearing. The urge to wrap her arms around him and hug him tight was oddly strong.
Before she could make the attempt, he cleared his throat, took a calming breath, before turning to her with his usual smile in place.
"Well, I know it's not much, but make yourself at home."
"It's not much?"
"Well, not as grand as some." He chuckled, scratching at his cheek. "I'll have a better place. One day. You know, when I finish my apprenticeship."
"What's that?" Her head cocked curiously.
"Er, well, I'm not a full physician. Not yet. I'm still in training. Master Hue pays us, but it's not what a real physician would make. Not that I'm complaining! Most wouldn't get paid much, if at all. I'm lucky to able to afford this."
Amorette had the same thought, but she was rather sure that it was coming from a completely different place, so she just nodded her head as though she understood.
"Erm, shall I give you the tour?" He gestured around awkwardly.
"Sure." She nodded, still watching him.
Cupid realized too late that she was still just holding onto her cake box. Stepping forward, he held out his hand. "Here, I'll take that for you."
"You're taking it from me?"
"No, no. I just want to put it in the kitchen."
"Oh." Amorette looked down at her box, a bit uncertain. She hadn't yet let it out of her sight, not wanting someone to steal it while she was unaware. While sleeping, she had hidden it under her blanket beside her body.
However, Cupid was smiling at her patiently and, after a moment, she slowly passed it to him. He smiled, turning to walk into the kitchen.
"Er, this is the cupboard." He said, pulling open the doors of a small, standing cabinet. The shelves were mostly bare except for a few sealed clay jars. He made a face as he set the cake box down. "I probably should have gone shopping before you got here. But don't worry. We can go after you get settled in a bit. Feel free to help yourself to anything."
"Really?" Amorette blinked at him, confused. Was she his woman or not? He was treating her like it, taking care of her and everything, but he didn't want to sleep with her? That seemed like a strange contradiction.
"Sure. Once I get something to put in there." He chuckled, gesturing to the sink. "We only have cold water now, but it's still fresh. Erm, bathroom is through there. Bedroom. You can put your stuff in the chest at the foot of the... Oh, well, I guess you don't have anything else to... You know what, we can probably get you a couple dresses while we're out as well."
"We can?" Amorette followed after him as he walked back into his room area.
Cupid was scratching the back of his head awkwardly, thinking that he probably should have done more to prepare for her arrival. He seemed like an inept child, fumbling for a purpose. She certainly deserved better than that. He had offered to take care of her and he needed to make good on that promise, for his own pride, if nothing else.
"Sorry, I don't really have more to offer you," he grimaced, looking back at her. "Don't even have a sofa... I guess it's a bit of a bachelor pad still."
"What's a bachelor pad?"
"You know? A place where a bachelor lives."
"What's a bachelor?"
"Erm, well, a single guy?"
"Oh. You mean a man without a woman." Amorette tilted her head, watching him curiously. "We call them virgins where I'm from."
"Yes, well, I wouldn't quite say that." Cupid made a face, turning to look out the window. Was it getting hot in here? "We should probably open the windows. Let in some fresh air."
"Fresh air?" Amorette perked up immediately. "I like fresh air."
"Yeah?" Her excitement was infectious and he found himself smiling back at her. "Well, let's let some in, shall we?"
Amorette nodded eagerly and he turned towards the near window. However, with his hand on the latch, he hesitated, looking back at her.
"Tell you what, let's go shopping first. We'll get everything we need for you and for dinner, then we can come back and let in as much fresh air as you'd like."
Amorette smiled, folding her hands behind her back. "You don't have to get me anything."
"Sure, I do." Cupid turned back to the window, twisting the latch back to lock it into place. "I volunteered to take care of you. I won't turn my back on that now. I can't really afford that much, but I have some stashed away and-"
His voice froze in his throat as he felt something soft brush against his cheek, a warm hand hanging onto his shoulder. He turned, looking to his side as Amorette came down off her tiptoes, smiling at him brightly.
"Thank you, Cupid."
"Er..."
"You're a nice person. I like you." She squeezed his arm, resting her head down on his shoulder. "I didn't think that I would meet someone like you here."
Cupid, still startled from the unexpected feeling of her lips against his cheek, needed a moment to get his thoughts in order. His gaze snapped forward, a blush painting his cheeks again.
"It's, er, really not a big deal. I'm sure that anyone would do the same."
"Really? Because you're the only one who did."
"I, er..." He couldn't really think of a thing to say and she smiled, resting her head down on his shoulder as she looked out the window.
"I like fresh air." She murmured, taking a deep breath.
He didn't know of what though as the window was still firmly shut.
He cleared his throat, taking a breath. "We'll get your hair cut while we're out too. It's, er, a bit uneven in a few places."
"Sure." She nodded, thinking that it was a bit long anyway. If he wanted her hair shorter, who was she to say no?
Cupid didn't pull his arm from hers but instead led her along as they returned back to the door and he picked his umbrella up out of its stand again. A few stray droplets fell and they stepped back outside into the light drizzle.
The Copper District, where most shops were located, was right beside Bronze and barely a ten minute walk from Cupid's front door. Even better than that, the marketplace where food was sold was right on the other side of the lift. They didn't have far to go at all and Amorette seemed even more energized on this walk than her last one.
She thought that the amount of water in the clinic was unbelievable. It was nothing compared to the amount of food that was available for purchase in the market. Even on a rainy day, the selection was impressive enough to have her eyes nearly fall out of her head as they walked through. She had never seen so much food at once before.
But Cupid clicked his tongue. "Slim pickings. I should have gone this morning. I'll have to do that tomorrow before I go to work. We'll just get something for tonight, okay?"
Amorette didn't really have a response so she just nodded her head, staring in wonder. How was this slim pickings? There was enough food here to feed her people for weeks! That guy was selling spices by the pile! And that man had steaming buns hot from the oven just laid out, tempting people to come take a look.
Deciding that it would probably be better to get food on the way back, Cupid walked her right past the market, mumbling something to himself. She didn't really understand, but she didn't think he was talking to her anyway, so she didn't pay much attention. Her nose was too busy trying to track all the scents that were assaulting it.
She didn't know what half of these food items were, but all of them made her mouth water and her stomach tighten in eager anticipation. She wanted to try them all! This surely must be what paradise looked like. She couldn't imagine anything more.
The first place they visited was a salon. Cupid asked Amorette how she wanted her hair. She told him that whatever he chose would be fine. Which made him wonder if she even knew how to pick a new hairstyle. So, falteringly, he had asked the stylist simply to clean up her current style.
The man, scissors in hand, had stared at Amorette's messy cut as though it were an affront to his very senses. When he had her in his chair, he attacked her strands as if going to battle. A determined scowl on his face, brows furrowed, hyper focused.
He started with a wash, laying Amorette back into a reclined chair and dipping her hair alone into water before washing it with something that somehow smelled even better than the soap that they had used at the clinic. It tempted her nearly as much as the food stalls on the way here. However, she had already learned her lesson about how soap tasted and, despite the water not being anywhere near her face, she kept her eyes tightly screwed shut the entire time.
Afterwards, he dried it slightly with a towel before moving her to a properly upright chair. Amorette just sat there, wondering what he was doing as she saw her freshly cut hair floating to the ground out of the corner of her eye. She couldn't watch it fall as, when she had tried to move her head, the man had snapped at her to keep still.
She didn't consider him a very nice man after that, but Cupid desired this, so she said nothing as he did his job.
After cutting it to his liking, he spread some sort of cream in his hands that he then liberally applied to her hair. All the while, he grumbled something about 'straw' and 'appalling', but Amorette had already decided not to listen to him as he was rather mean.
When he finished, he wrapped her hair up in a pretty pink cloth, tucking it in on top of her head, and ordered her not to touch it yet but to wash it after she got home. He then bullied Cupid into buying some of the stuff he had applied to her hair. Amorette protested, not wanting to either give the mean man her custom or make Cupid buy her something unnecessary, but Cupid barely listened as he passed over the coin for the solution.
"Shall we go?" He asked, holding the bottle as he opened the door for her with a smile.
Amorette frowned, but said nothing as she stepped out after him. She supposed if it made Cupid happy then she couldn't really complain. She did wonder what was on her head though and why she wasn't allowed to let it down yet.
After the haircut, Cupid took her just a bit further into Copper to a dress shop. He apologized because it was all pre-made but that he couldn't really afford to have something made for her, nor did they have the time for that since the dress she was wearing was her only one. Since Amorette had only ever worn discarded fabrics, she had no idea what he was complaining about.
The harried seamstress inside the shop was somehow even more short and rude than the stylist. She also snapped at Amorette to stop fidgeting and barely asked what they were there for before grabbing a strange device that spat out a long piece of cloth with black markings on it. Amorette stared at it curiously but the woman snapped at her to look forward before wrapping it around her body in a few places.
Since she wasn't nice either, Amorette decided to ignore her, just doing as she was told as the woman went about her business. Once she was finished, she walked away without a word and began going through the dresses she had hanging up in the shop.
"I don't like her." Amorette confessed to Cupid, frowning as she crossed her arms.
"Hm? Why?"
"She's rude."
"I suppose a bit. I can't really blame her though. It's been hard to make any sort of fabric now that machines are no longer working. She probably has her hands full trying to keep her business alive. It's a bit sad really."
Cupid was a really nice person, Amorette decided, smiling at him. So nice, he didn't even mind when other people weren't nice. She rather like that about him and showed him as much by kissing his cheek yet again.
Once more, she caught him off guard and he stuttered a bit in surprise, making her smile. She just wanted to squeeze him; he was so cute! But she also didn't want to hurt him, so she kept that particular urge in check as they waited for the seamstress to return.
After a moment, the woman returned with three dresses. One was plain pale pink with a simple skirt and ruffles around the bust. The second was creamy with a low waistline and dropped sleeves leaving the shoulders bare and the neckline low. And the last was a slightly darker pink with some cute green leaves embroidered around the half-length sleeves.
"This is all I got that will fit her. And that's stretching it a bit." The woman said, gesturing to them with a careless wave.
"This is it?" Cupid frowned at the meager selection. Not to say that they weren't pretty, but they didn't look much better than the clinic dress she was currently wearing.
"Nobody is her size." The seamstress frowned, her brow furrowing. "I might be able to take a few others in, but that will cost more."
"No, no. That's fine. We'll take all three." Cupid didn't want to buy her something that fit her just right anyway. Not when he thought she still needed to gain more weight to reach a healthy size. If anything, maybe it was good this was all she had. He wouldn't need to spend a lot of money on dresses he hoped Amorette would soon outgrow.
Amorette frowned, a bit unhappy at how much the dresses cost, but Cupid looked delightedly surprised when he heard the number.
The woman gave him a grateful smile before wrapping all three dresses in some brown paper and passing it to him. He took it with a small thanks and, after just a moment, they were stepping back into the streets.
"Let's see, what else do you need?" He mumbled to himself, looking at the dresses and the bottle of hair cream.
Since Amorette didn't think she even needed those, she thought herself not quite qualified to answer that question and so said nothing. It appeared that Cupid wasn't looking for an answer though because, after a moment, he made a soft sound of decision and began pulling her along to the next shop he had picked in his head.
After a short time and a few more shops, Cupid's burden was joined by a toothbrush with a pretty handle carved from wood in the shape of a bird, soap for her hair and body - two separate things - that he insisted she simply had to have, a brush for her hair, and undergarments that Cupid had looked mightily uncomfortable helping her buy. However, since Amorette didn't know anything from upper undergarments, he had to choose them for her. A fact which also earned them a strange look from the lady selling the garments, but since Amorette decided she didn't like her either, she didn't care.
Only after they had bought all of that did they return to the food market to get something to eat for supper. Cupid confessed he wasn't much of a cook and Amorette told him she only knew how to cook raw ingredients over an open fire. A fact which earned her an odd look and made her think that maybe that was something uppers didn't really do.
However, he didn't question it and instead made the suggestion that they buy something already cooked and just eat that. Amorette, teased and tempted by all the smells in the market, was only too happy to agree with that plan.
He asked what she wanted, deferring to her preference, but she couldn't say that she particularly had one. There were some foods that she had eaten that didn't taste good for a variety of reasons – rancidity, mold, etc – but food was food and she never had the luxury of choice before. The 'slim pickings' that Cupid had turned his nose up at was a feast to her eyes and not only did she not have a preference, she couldn't make a choice.
So, she deferred back to Cupid which made him frown. He tried to assure her that she could choose whatever she liked, but she merely insisted again that he choose and that she would eat whatever he liked. Which was true and, from the smells, she would like everything here.
After the brief argument, Cupid focused back on the market and began mumbling to himself as he walked through. Not loud enough for her to hear, and it didn't even sound like he was grumbling, upset at her turning the choice back onto him. It sounded like he was just thinking aloud to himself, almost like he wasn't even aware that he was doing it.
Watching him mumble to himself caught her attention for a short time until he finally made his decision and pulled her along to a few different stalls to pick up everything he needed.
There was a meat shortage going on, due to the war, he explained. Amorette didn't know what a war was, but she held her tongue because he said it as though it were something anyone would know and she didn't want to draw more confusion. Because of the shortage, however, he couldn't really get any meat for the meal, for which he apologized.
The spice trade up from the Aqua Isles, however, remained strong and steady and the bean casserole he did end up buying tempted and tortured her with its scent as the woman passed him the tray. He then bought a small loaf of freshly baked bread and a small spread of jam. He also stopped to purchase a bottle of wine, smiling as he held it up to her.
"Wine?" Amorette repeated, looking at the bottle. It was the only thing she was carrying, a fact which worried her. It didn't seem right that Cupid should be carrying everything else.
However, when she offered to take half, or at least some, of it from him, he had denied her, stating that she was still recovering and he didn't want her doing any heavy lifting. The purchases didn't appear at all heavy, even to him, but she kept her mouth shut, still trying to hide her own abilities so as not to draw attention to herself.
"Strawberry wine." Cupid nodded, smiling. "It's pretty sweet, so I bet you'll like it."
The promise of its sweetness tempted her and she continued to stare at the bright red liquid with interest as they returned to his home.
Since his hands were full, Cupid asked her to open the door for him, lifting the purchases so she could reach into his pocket. It was the first time that Amorette had ever operated a key before and she frowned, focused, as she tried to emulate the movements he had made before. She tried to put the key in upside down the first time but, aside from that, it was a smooth and easy process. She smiled, rather proud of herself, as she walked inside, opening the door up for him to follow.
It was getting late in the evening and the lowering sun had begun to cast shadows into his room that he alleviated with more candles as Amorette investigated their purchases. Seeing it all laid out on the table really made her realize how much he had actually bought for her.
"Are you sure this isn't too much?" She asked him, worried, as he took the casserole back into the kitchen. The bread and wine he left on the table.
"Too much? I didn't think it was enough." He frowned, grabbing some plates from the cabinet. "I'm sorry I couldn't get you more."
Amorette shook her head quickly before giving him a bright smile. "No. It's already so much. Thank you. I love it. Which dress shall I wear tomorrow?"
"Hm... Whichever you want, I suppose." He wasn't really paying attention as he searched for a spoon to scoop the casserole from its dish.
Amorette bit her bottom lip, turning back to the brown paper that held her new dresses. He bought these for her, but didn't even have a preference on which one she should wear. The men who owned women down in Iron were always so exacting about what they could wear and what they could do. It was one of the many reasons her father said she shouldn't belong to any of them.
Cupid was so nice though. It was sweet.
He asked her to clear the things off the table so they could eat, which she did gladly. She took her clothing and set it on the bed and put the hair cream and soap and toothbrush into the bathroom at his direction.
By the time she finished, he was setting their plates on the small, circular table and he urged her to sit with a smile as he returned to the kitchen to grab some utensils.
Amorette plopped down into the chair, beaming at the food offered to her. It was a generous portion by far, equal to his own. The long, bright green string beans had been cooked into a hearty dish with onions and lentils. It was still steaming slightly as she took in a deep breath. It wasn't sweet, but there was a savory sort of scent that made her mouth water in eagerness. She was tempted to grab for the food with her fingers, but she already knew from living at the clinic that doing so was considered rude by the uppers.
So, she waited, only slightly impatiently, as Cupid returned. He set a fork down beside her plate and his before lifting a knife and cutting into the bread. He offered her a large slice and all of the jam for her pleasure with a smile.
His kindness only made the meal taste sweeter.
It was the first time she had eaten something that required so much chewing since she had been dug out of the rubble. Even her cake was considerably softer. The satisfying sensation of biting down into the solid food, however, was a welcome change. And it tasted nothing like either the soup or potatoes she had been living on before this.
How was it possible for so many different flavors to exist? And none of it tasted bad, either. Not a single thing on the plate had rotted or molded. The uppers ate their food all fresh and the difference was enough to nearly bring happy tears to her eyes.
If only she could bring this down to everyone in Iron. She was sure that they would all love the chance to eat such things.
Cupid kept up most of the conversation. Mostly because her mouth was full, but she was happy to let him carry most of the topic. She was trying to blend in, after all, and it was nice to hear him talk about whatever. He had a nice voice and the gentle rumble of it, deep, masculine, with a gentle rumble that soothed her heart, was lovely to her.
After dinner, he brought her a slice of her cake but didn't take any for himself. She told him that he should, but he denied her with a smile as he poured them both a glass of wine.
"I don't have the same love of sweets that you do," he assured her pleasantly.
"Why not? They're amazing!" She beamed at the cake as he set down her glass.
"I guess they are, but it's nice just to watch you enjoy yours."
Amorette chuckled as he lifted the cup to his lips, holding the clear crystal by the stem. He took a deep sniff of the wine before gently sipping at it. He let the taste roll over his tongue for a moment before nodding in satisfaction.
"It really is sweet. I think you'll like it a lot."
Amorette beamed as she grabbed for her own cup. She didn't hold it daintily by the stem as he did, but held onto the cup with both hands, lifting it up to her mouth. She ended up taking a large drink, the heady scent of strawberries hitting her nose just before the liquid hit her tongue-
-and she began coughing and hacking as a strong and strange taste, a cross between bitter and sour, overwhelming her taste buds.
"Amorette?"
Cupid was on his feet in a moment, rushing around the side of the table and patting her back as she continued coughing.
"Are you all right?" He asked, looking her over quickly.
"What was that?" She asked, the strange taste making her lightheaded.
Cupid frowned. "It's just wine. Have... Have you never had alcohol before?"
Alcohol? It didn't sound familiar. And she was certain that she would remember that taste. She shook her head, looking down into the glass curiously.
"Sorry." Cupid chuckled, rubbing her back gently. "I didn't think you'd never had it before. You shouldn't take a big drink like that if you're not used to it."
He passed her a napkin so she could wipe herself off. It was only then that she discovered that the wine she had hacked up had stained her dress. She let out a cry of dismay.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"Look!" She lifted her skirt, showing the droplets.
"Oh." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it."
"How can I not? You gave me this dress."
"It's just a clinic gown. It doesn't matter if you stain it."
Amorette, however, wasn't comforted by that. She continued to frown at the pink marks, equal parts guilty and upset to see them there. This was her first upper dress and she had stained it.
Cupid, seeing how much it was upsetting her, smiled softly. "All right. If it means that much to you, take it off and we'll soak it in some red dye."
"Huh?"
"Well, we can't take the stains out, but we can hide them. I guess that means you'll have another pink dress though."
It would be a different color, but she would be able to keep the dress. A smile stretched out over her face as she got to her feet.
Cupid stepped back, thinking that she would be heading to the bathroom to take it off. However, to his shock, she yanked at the ribbon tied at the front of her waist right there at the table. Before he could do more than let out a single sound of surprise, reaching out to stop her, she was already yanking the dress up over her head.
She had only a simple loincloth around her waist. Her small breasts were completely bare. And, just like that, she was almost fully nude at his dining table.
Cupid was nearly a fully trained physician. He wasn't embarrassed or uncomfortable when it came to the human body. He had seen many people nude in various clinical situations and was fully capable of dealing with it in a professional and mature manner.
However, he had never had a cute girl suddenly naked at his dinner table and he wasn't at all prepared for the sight.
A strangled sound escaped his throat as she turned to him with a smile, holding out the dress to him with an innocent, trusting expression that didn't at all seem congruous with the fact that she was nearly fully nude.
"Thanks so much, Cupid." She beamed excitedly.
"Y-You're naked!" He finally shouted. It wasn't intelligent, but it was the only thing that managed to escape his suddenly stuttering mind.
"Is that a problem?" Her head tilted curiously.
"Of course, it's a problem! You can't just strip down in front of me!"
"Why not?"
"I'm still a man, Amorette!"
"I know that. I figured you wouldn't mind."
"Why wouldn't I mind?!"
"Well, aren't I your woman?"
The simple question, the innocent confusion of it, left him reeling and unable to formulate a response for a solid few seconds. He stuttered a bit, unable to think of anything to say.
He finally settled for, "What?!"
Amorette tilted her head, watching him curiously. He was a strange person. Maybe he had never had a woman before and that's why he was so flustered. Well, then they were evenly matched, because she had never been claimed by a man before.
"It's all right." She promised, stepping in closer to him. "I don't mind you taking your time. It's kind of nice, actually."
Cupid had fallen back a step in a reflexive reaction to her approach. He shook his head, trying to clear his own shock. Doing so reminded him that he had been staring at her and he determinedly fixed his eyes on the ceiling.
"J-Just put your dress back on. Please."
"But weren't you going to dye it?"
"Not right now. Just... Just put it on."
Unsure why he was being weird, but not unwilling to obey his orders, Amorette obediently slid the dress back over her head. It hung, limp, on her skinny frame as she didn't bother to retie the ribbon back around her waist.
"Okay?" She asked, holding out her arms.
Marginally, but Cupid could still see, with near perfectly clarity, her nude body, in his mind. He was rather happy that there was only cold water to bathe in now, he rather thought he needed to fully dunk himself inside the tub now.
"Amorette, you can't just undress in front of people." He tried to say slowly. The shock was beginning to wear off and he reminded himself that he was nearly a physician and he couldn't become so flustered just because of a naked woman.
But it hadn't been just any naked woman. It had been Amorette. In his kitchen!
"But I wasn't undressing in front of people. I was undressing in front of you."
"That doesn't make it better!"
"Why not?"
"Do you not understand that I am a man?" He rubbed at his temples, trying to banish the mental image of her nudity. It was clinging quite determinedly to his thoughts. He really thought that he was better than this. Apparently not.
"I do understand that." She smiled, holding her hands behind her back. "And I am a woman. Do you want to sleep with me?"
"You can't ask that!"
"Why not?"
He resisted the urge to state simply that it just wasn't right and, besides being simply improper, it didn't reflect well on her that she would be so cavalier about such things. Instead, he swallowed the answer, taking a deep breath, before asking calmly.
"Why do you think it's okay to ask people that?"
"I'm not asking people. I'm asking you."
"And why is it okay that it's me?"
"Well, because I'm your woman."
"Why do you think you're my woman?"
"Aren't I?" She frowned at him, confused. "You take care of me. You brought me to your home. You're feeding me and buying me all these things. Isn't that how you treat your woman?"
He opened his mouth, ready to argue that she wasn't his woman. He had neither asked her to be nor had that been his intention in bringing her here.
However, that argument quickly died on his tongue, because he couldn't really say that what she was saying wasn't completely true.
Why did he bring her here? There wasn't any reason for him to do this. There were options for people that had lost everything when Gold fell. He had made the offer, but he couldn't really say why he had done so. He just didn't want to see her lost to the holding houses that had been set up and funded by the crown.
There was a sweet innocence to Amorette that was almost childlike. He found the urge to protect and shelter her to be quite strong.
But considering her his woman? Surely, he hadn't thought that. He just wanted to keep an eye on her and make sure that she was doing well.
It... wasn't exactly the same thing.
"It's all right." She said, interrupting his thoughts with a smile, face flushing with shy eagerness that surprised her. "You can take your time if you're nervous. I don't mind the wait. It's my first time as well, so it's nice to get to know you first."
"Amorette..." He trailed off, unsure of what to say for a moment. "Do you... think that you owe me your body for helping you?"
"I owe you my body because I'm your woman. Is that not true?"
"It's not really... Amorette, I'm a physician. Helping people is my job. I'm supposed to help you. I'm supposed to take care of you."
"Then, why am I the only one in your house?"
He couldn't bring up an argument to that question.
She smiled. "Do you always buy clothes for the people you help for your job?"
"Well... No." He would offer them a clinic gown or robe but he didn't take them into the market and spend his own money on them. He would occasionally buy them treats, like the cake he had offered her, but he never went this far with any of them.
"Doesn't that mean you think of me as more than an ordinary person?"
He hadn't expected her to be this insightful. She asked questions sometimes as though it were her first experience with the world. He didn't think she was going to be able to put into such harsh perspective his own actions and leave him stumped to explain himself.
Amorette smiled as she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him. The hug was gentle, her head resting down on his chest, as she rested against him with a soft sigh of contentment. Despite her tiny size, her frail frame, her grip was sturdy and confident.
A hug. Something that could be so innocent. This one, he thought, didn't qualify.
It occurred to him at that moment that his behavior, in the wrong light, could be considered exploitation of a helpless woman.
He hadn't intended that when he made the offer. He never anticipated having Amorette holding onto him like this. He had pure intentions.
Pure intentions with devious consequences.
Because he didn't push Amorette away. He allowed her to hold onto him. His hands tightened into fists as he resisted the urge to hold her back.
That would be wrong. Because Amorette was fully dependent upon him. She was a victim that, if he allowed himself to touch, he would be taking advantage of. He hadn't intended to bring her here for this-
-yet, here they were.
"Amorette..." He started, looking over her head.
"You're so kind. I really can't believe it." She murmured, nuzzling him. "You're not even trying to touch me. It's... strange."
"It's... not so strange."
"Isn't it?" Her arms tightened slightly. "I know others who wouldn't have hesitated to take what they would say I owed them, regardless of what I wanted. Some wouldn't even have waited until I was fully healed."
"What kind of people do you know?" He frowned, not liking how accepting her tone was in regards to someone taking her against her will while she was helpless.
"The ordinary type, I suppose."
"I really don't think so."
She smiled, looking up at him with her head still resting on his chest. "But you're a really nice person. I like you. I don't mind being your woman. I, actually, kind of... like it."
He tried to keep his head up, to not look at her. He needed to discourage this. He couldn't allow himself to take advantage of her. It was wrong of him as a physician. It was wrong of him as a person. She was just in a vulnerable position and didn't think she had any better choice.
Despite his determination, however, his traitorous eyes still glanced downward.
There was an adorable splash of pink across her cheeks, a gentle smile pulling up on her lips. She was adorable. He dearly wished to hold her back.
Clearing his throat, he deliberately stepped back, taking hold of her arms and unwrapping them from around his torso so he could hold her at arm's length.
"You should, er, go wash your hair before bed. It's probably about time to let it down now."
Amorette smiled. "All right. Do you need help cleaning up?"
"No. I got it. Don't worry about it."
"All right." Her head bobbed in acquiescence as she walked around him, reaching up for the turban still wrapped around her hair from the salon.
Cupid let out a long breath after hearing the door to the bathroom shut behind her. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it backwards as he mumbled softly to himself.
"You've really stuck your foot into it this time, Cupid..."
And, he realized grimly, he hadn't denied her assumption either. She called herself his woman and he didn't once contradict her.
Master Hue was going to have words for him and he was going to deserve it. For his own sake, and for hers, he needed to banish those assumptions of hers. He was just lending a helping hand to a person that he felt a great deal of sympathy for.
"I'm not doing anything bad," he murmured, trying to convince himself.
From the bathroom, he heard the sound of the water in his shower turning on. Amorette let out a sound of delight that came easily through the door.
She was impressed and excited by so many simple, normal things. It made walking through the market strangely refreshing. But it also reminded him that she was oddly ignorant of the world and how things should work.
She wasn't his woman. Absolutely not. He couldn't allow himself to take advantage of her that way. But he also didn't think that he could convince her otherwise. She had been so confident and assured of herself when she declared herself his and then easily twisted his actions into proof that she was correct in her assumption.
He wouldn't encourage this, but he would allow her to think it. Just until he was able to teach her that it wasn't normal to believe yourself owned by someone because they took care of you. He would educate her on that, and when she realized it herself, their 'relationship', such as it was, would come to an easy and natural end.
Somehow, that conclusion seemed like the right and wrong thing to do at the exact same time.
Letting out a guilty breath, he turned to the remnants of their meal and began to clean up, both the dirty plates and the wine Amorette had spat up.
In the bathroom, Amorette laughed as the water came out of the spout over her head, splashing down across her body. The shower was strangely fun and so much more practical than the big tub filled with water.
She was quite eager to wash away the stuff that the mean hairstylist had put into her hair. Just in taking off the turban, she could smell it again and, despite the sweet scent, she was only reminded of him and so was eager to get rid of it.
After finishing cleaning her body off, she entertained herself by watching the water escape down the drain – the uppers just pierced holes in their houses to get rid of it – before she grabbed a drying cloth and ran it over her hair and body.
There was only a single candle in the bathroom and it was set up near the mirror. Amorette approached it carefully.
She had seen her reflection a few times in Iron. Sometimes, it was in a puddle of water that had accumulated in the spaces between plates, when the sun was in just the right position so that its rays penetrated that deeply. The times were few and far between, but Amorette had an idea of what she looked like.
The mirrors the uppers used seemed almost unreal. They reflected everything with perfect clarity and in an amazing amount of detail. Unlike puddles, the glass didn't ripple and they were completely colorless, allowing her to truly glimpse her own face.
In the short time since she had been among the uppers, she could already see a great change. The haircut that had evened out her choppy strands was just another one to add to the list. While she couldn't really see what it looked like while her hair was still wet, the difference between now and before was still obvious.
That wasn't the only change, however.
Her face was becoming smoother, rounder. Her skin darkening thanks to the abundance of sunlight that the uppers took for granted. Even her eyes seemed brighter.
She frowned from the mirror down to her body, analyzing it critically for a moment.
The upper women were all so curvy and well endowed. A lifetime beneath the plates had left Amorette with a thin and undesirable body. Which had never bothered her before, as she didn't want other people to desire her.
However, when she thought of Cupid, she wondered if she was pretty enough for him. She had seen some upper women with amazingly large busts or hips, neither of which she possessed. If anything, she was bony and almost like a boy.
Maybe that's why he wasn't touching her yet. She didn't look feminine enough for him. It would also explain why he was constantly giving her food and sweets. He wanted her to build up her weight so that he would then desire her.
That made sense. Amorette resolved to eat more for his sake as she looked around, realizing she hadn't brought a second dress with her. She didn't mind wearing the same dress over again, but they were supposed to dye it to hide the stains.
Shrugging, she stepped out of the bathroom with only the towel wrapped around her body.
Cupid, who was cleaning the used dishes in the sink, turned around.
"Hey, did you want-"
His voice suddenly cut off and she turned to him curiously.
"Want what?"
"Er..." Cupid shook his head, forcing himself to look forward.
Just act like it was normal. Don't give her a reaction.
"The rest of your wine..." He finished, mumbling it as he pointed to her wine glass.
Amorette made a face as she padded across the kitchen towards him. She seemed to have absolutely no concern for the state of her dress – or lack thereof.
Cupid was looking forward, doing some quick mental calculations of how much of what type of pain medicines would be needed for patients of different ages, weights, and genders. Anything to keep his thoughts off of her body.
Amorette was completely oblivious to his struggle as she cautiously lifted the glass. She sniffed at it has he had, once again getting that strong scent of fresh fruit and sugar. This time, however, she took a small sip, emulating him.
The strange taste of the alcohol spread over her tongue again. This time, prepared for it and having only taken in a small amount, it wasn't nearly so overwhelming.
In fact, she smiled as she took another sip, it was quite good. It felt warm in her belly and the sweet flavor was a delight on her tongue.
"It's good!" She declared, beaming at Cupid.
"I'm glad you like it. Erm, you should probably get dressed for bed though."
"Oh, sure. Should I wear one of my dresses?"
"No. I have some spare sleeping clothes in the chest of drawers. Bottom drawer. Wear whatever you like. I don't mind."
"Thanks." She smiled, turning on her heel and bouncing across the open home towards where the bedroom was situated.
Cupid had rather liked the lack of walls when he had moved in here. Now, however, it was a serious problem as Amorette shamelessly let the towel fall away from her body as she began digging through the indicated drawer for something to sleep in. He was grateful that he had the forethought to shut the windows and draw all the blinds before she had come out of the bathroom.
He let out a long breath as he finished washing the last of their dishes. The remainder of the bread and casserole he put away for them to eat in the morning.
"Are you going to sleep with me, Cupid?" Amorette asked, standing up from where she had been sitting to dig through the drawer. To sleep in, she had decided on just one of his shirts that she had pulled over her head like an especially short dress.
"No. I'll sleep on the floor, as planned." He said, trying to sound friendly.
She merely shrugged as she moved to her new clothes that were still spread out over his coverlet. She began opening them and smiling over the items.
"Well, if you change your mind, I'll be waiting for you."
"That's not necessary." He murmured, grabbing for his own glass of wine. He had needed to pour himself a second helping.
He was strong enough to get through this.
He had to be, for her sake.