takeitinstride | 001. a room of her own // open post.

[ While she is not probing through your thoughts, she can guess at your reasons. No need to talk about it, though. ]

Keep all of this up, and expect to receive a lot more of them in the future.

[ And from sources, she feels, that are sparing with their praise. She counts herself as part of that group. ]

It's... [ Is he shrinking just a little bit? You bet. ] It's really not necessary, ma'am.

[ That sheepish smile is also apparently plastering itself on his mouth. ]

I do my part and I want to make sure I do it well. [ A beat. ] The Vigil deserves no less.

To be perfectly blunt, the Vigil only deserves the people who choose to Keep it. We can all just hope that the ones that do have principles.

[ It isn't a popular opinion, but Liandrin has never been one to be idealistic. ]

That is precisely why it's good to have operatives like yourself on board, and it is only proper to recognize your efforts.

[ He glances over when you say that and he won't bother hiding how your pragmatism is something that he appreciates.

Nodding now as he turns his eyes back to the road, slowing down when the light turns red at the stop.

He's quiet at first... then: ] Thank you, Kaiser.

[ He looks back up just long enough to meet your eyes before he's ducking his gaze again. ]

[ Smiling back at that, then turning her own gaze towards the road.

It is always odd and refreshing at equal terms for her to have personal encounters with her own operatives. Her position often places her well above the daily concerns and the human faces of Netsach in ways that not even her powers as a Mastigos Mage can compensate for. Perhaps, as well, she is not entirely used to it, even after all of this time.

That's one benefit of not being constantly at war with the rest of the world. Being able to enjoy the moments in between all of the work. ]

On lighter and simpler concerns... how is Ateneo treating you? My class included, of course.

[ He's keeping that stoplight on his periphery even as he turns back to you. ]

Pretty well, ma'am. On all fronts. [ He isn't aware that he looks much younger than he actually is when he's talking to you like this, hand coming up so that his fingers drift through his hair. ] I think... I mentioned before that I never got to finish. [ Looking back up now, teeth catching again on his lower lip before his eyes angle away. ] So it... it feels good.

To be back in school. [ A breath. ] To finish what I never got to.

Edited 2014-10-15 14:57 (UTC)

[ Yes, you did. She had also been aware of that fact because of your dossier. ]

Because it provides you with closure, yes?

[ Saying that like she understands, because she does. Special cases like yourself always have unfinished business. ]

[ He shouldn't be surprised that you'd put it that way, because it is, in part, that.

The light's turned green again, so he's turning his attention to getting the car back on the move. A little after it's picked up momentum again though: ] On one hand, yeah. It does.

On the other, [ A beat. ] I don't know if this makes sense but... it feels like an opportunity to pick up where I thought it'd be the end of things.

[ The school year had barely started when his illness had taken over. He had only been back a little over two months when his heart had given out and he'd Awakened as one of the Bound. ]

It does make sense.

[ A beat, then after an amused chuckle: ]

Rilea and I jumped at the opportunity to attend a proper university.

[ Here's a look of surprise from your operative, ma'am.

Bear with him, you and Miss Rilea look really young for women who are centuries old -- he kind of... forgets. Sometimes. ]

Wh... when was that?

[ Decades upon decades ago, he can imagine. He doesn't mean for the question to sound really dumb. ]

The 1900s, when it was still not quite fashionable for upstanding women of society to have an education.

[ All the sarcasm.

All of it. ]

Suffice to say, the Kings did have something to do with the beginnings of feminist movements within Europe.

[ His major used to be history, and while he'd been largely focused on his country's own, it doesn't take much for him to take an interest in things like this.

He is going to resist the urge to say how cool that is because the last thing he wants is to look like a total derp in front of the woman who is essentially his boss. ]

What was it like? Back then, I mean.

In many ways, it was similar to what we're experiencing now. One of the very important lessons I've learned from living for as long as I have is that every period of history is exciting, and that we are always in transition.

[ It's probably a vague answer and she knows it, but it's difficult to describe her experiences in the past effectively without painting in the wrong way. ]

If you're asking specifically about the Vigil, though, most things were much more difficult for Keepers of the past than they are now.

[ He can only attempt to imagine it. Sheltered as his hometown was, difficult as the States is for supernaturals at the moment, he's still living in a time when people have some awareness that the world is a big place with strange things and people moving in it. ]

My generation owes a lot to you and all the other Keepers from the past.

[ He's saying that in all earnestness... and then turning his eyes back to the road as if he's worried that what he just said makes him sound like such a kid. ]

[ You really are adorable. It's no wonder Jessiah and Rethe like you so much, and even someone like Alistair doesn't have a nasty thing to say about you.

And then, there is Hikaru. ]

We did what we could. Now you're all picking up where we left off.

[ It is a good thing he actually has no clue what you're thinking Kaiser ( nor any inclination to presume ) because otherwise his ears would be red. As it is, there's a faint flush up the back of his neck as he keeps on driving.

He's kind of... at a loss for words. He really isn't used to this, and while he normally wouldn't be reduced to this almost-kind-of-not-quite-maybe "starstruck" ( it is the only word that comes close to it ) today is apparently a different story altogether. ]

[ And she feels no need to put you on the spot. You'll relax eventually. She doesn't bite - or, more like, she has no reason to bite right now. ]

You can drop me off at the Manor once we get back, and take the car straight to wherever you have to go. Lorenzo will pick it up later.

Will do, ma'am. [ He actually caught himself before he said 'Ma'am Lia'. Was it Jessie who mentioned once that you don't like being called by nicknames? He forgets.

In any case, he's going to make sure that the rest of the drive is as smooth as he's managed so far and occasionally glance over with a flick of the eyes to make sure that you're comfortable. ]

001. a room of her own // open post.

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