The Return of The Fae Doctor - OTA

[yves]

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.

Comments

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[yves]

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

[miss_ives]

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

[yves]

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

[miss_ives]

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

[yves]

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

[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.

[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."

[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.

[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."

[miss_ives]

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

[yves]

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

[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.

[yves]

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

[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.

[yves]

"I see. I apologize, I didn't mean to make it sound less generous than it clearly is," Yves replied gently.

[miss_ives]

Vanessa smiled at how widely their interpretations differed. "Do you know, I would call my motivations mostly selfish."

[yves]

"Oh? How so?" Yves asked, curious to see how she defined selfish.

[miss_ives]

"As I've said, I'm doing it mostly because I like it," Vanessa stated, still smiling slightly. "That's not exactly selfless."

[yves]

"I see," Yves nodded, not asking more questions since they seemed to be wandering in circles on this topic. "Will you be seeing any family for the holiday?"

[miss_ives]

Her gaze saddened for a second, before she covered it up. "There's no one, actually. My parents died a few years ago, and whatever remote family I have... Well, it's quite remote."

[yves]

"I'm sorry to hear it," Yves replied softly, his voice growing a touch more gentle than usual. "Friends then, I hope?"