londoncallingrpg | The Return of The Fae Doctor

yves posting in

He didn't like to return to the Other Side, but now and then it couldn't be helped. Some things he required for his work could only be found there, and so he'd been off back home for what had been not terribly long here, but quite some time there.

It was good to be back in London though. ...Well, perhaps good was a bit much. It was preferable to home though.

It wasn't terribly cold tonight, just chilly, and Yves strolled down the road with his hands in his pockets, taking in the holiday lights and the crowds. Dreadful, all of it. Just herds of mortals looking for things to spend money on- Things that might make their brief and dreary lives slightly better. Though, to their credit, he supposed they did. Not for long, not in a way that lasted, but emptying their wallets seemed to amuse them for a while. Like a dog chasing after a ball, or a cat who'd just discovered nip. A brief little high that got them through the dregs of the year.

It was almost infectious, and for a moment, just a moment, he found himself outside a shop window, staring in. There were watches on display, dozens of them, along with silk ties and leather shoes. Pretty little baubles he didn't need. Tiny temptations that were usually little more to him than the odd armour he was forced to wear in this world. Here and now, however, they stopped being a necessity and became a desire.

How odd. Perhaps he'd been away too long.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

miss_ives

"I think that blue would make your eyes pop," came the statement, along with a gesture at one of the ties. When Yves looked at her, Vanessa raised her eyebrows slightly, lips curled in a small smile, her expression seeming to dare him to contradict her, or perhaps, to remark on how unlike her the remark was.

From:

yves

Yves turned his gaze on her, his face blank for a moment- Until finally he offered a faintly amused smile and raised brow.

"I tend to prefer black," he said.

From:

miss_ives

"Are you shopping for an occasion?" Vanessa inquired. "Or looking for Christmas gifts, maybe?"

She had no idea whether there was anyone in his life he might exchange gifts with.

From:

yves

"Wasn't shopping at all," Yves admitted. "I suppose I simply was briefly caught up in the thrill of consumerism. I have no need for a new tie, and no gifts to purchase. ...Unless, of course, you're hoping for a trinket."

From:

miss_ives

"I have no need for a new tie either," Vanessa assured him, eyes sparkling with amusement. Of course, that had not been what he had meant, but it was still the best way to answer his remark. "The only thing I find myself hoping for right now is the pleasure of your company. Would you care for a drink?"

From:

yves

Yves seemed to consider that offer for a moment, but eventually nodded. "I'd like that," he admitted, moving away from the shop window to walk at Vanessa's side.

"How have you been?" he asked curiously.

From:

miss_ives

"Better save the true answer to that question until we have a drink," Vanessa replied, an answer in itself. Or at least until they were off the street and settled some place, rather than navigating walking through the Christmas-shopping crowds.

From:

yves

The fae nodded once in agreement, though he kept his gaze on her for a beat as they walked. as though looking for a clue as to what might be amiss.

From:

miss_ives

"And what about you?" Vanessa asked politely - although she truly cared to know. "How have you been, Yves?" She expected the answer to include 'as busy as ever', of course.

From:

yves

"I've been home, actually," he admitted. "Carefully avoiding my mother and kin while I gathered some supplies I required for my work."

From:

miss_ives

"Carefully, and successfully?" Vanessa inquired, chancing a glance his way before they crossed the street.

From:

yves

"Very," he nodded. "I don't believe I'll need to return there for some time."

From:

miss_ives

"And your experiments?" Vanessa inquired, steering them towards a café.

From:

yves

"...Will be resuming after the holiday. Hard to find a volunteers this time of year," Yves confessed with a sigh, following her lead.

From:

miss_ives

"Ah, yes," Vanessa acknowledged his issue, then led the way into the café, unbuttoning her coat as its warmth engulfed her.

They found a quiet table in a corner and quickly ordered hot drinks from an eager waitress.

"Hopefully things will pick up in the new year," she resumed the conversation as they were left alone.

From:

yves

Yves sat down gingerly, crossing his long legs and nodding.

"One can only hope," he said softly. "I'm a bit lost without my work. Before I left I decided to take leave from the hospital until the new year, so my plate is unusually empty at the moment."

From:

miss_ives

"I volunteer at a charity for the homeless, if you think you might put your medical skills to such use," Vanessa offered, although charity work was not for everyone. And she was certain that his skills went quite a long way beyond what might be needed at the charity, of course.

From:

yves

A shelter might actually be a good place to find his next batch of subjects, and Yves looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding a little.

"It would certainly keep me occupied," he said after a beat. "I'd be glad to tag along one day."

From:

miss_ives

Vanessa's smile at his answer was genuine. "I'll send you the details."

From:

yves

Yves nodded his thanks and considered her for a moment. "Do you volunteer yearly?"

From:

miss_ives

"All year long, actually," Vanessa answered. "Not always as much as I should, but... I try not to let a month go by without donating some time. I was born in a rather priviledged family," she stated with a brief smile that hinted at the understatement that was.

From:

yves

"I see," Yves replied, nodding a bit and looking thoughtful. "You feel it's your duty then, to give back?" he asked.

From:

miss_ives

"I don't much like that word," Vanessa replied, after a brief pause. "It would be naive to deny that it doesn't play into it at all, but I don't think I would be doing quite so much of it if I didn't... like it," she very simply finished. It was entirely possible that she identified more with the people on the fringes of society than with those within her own social circles.