It's Been So Long! [Vivyan/Alastair]

Happiness and relief guided the young girl’s steps as she walked with purpose to Alastair’s office. She had heard he was out of the hospital, that alone lifting her mood as she had found the perfect present for his recovery! At least.. She hoped it was perfect! She definitely was holding the small wrapped box rather close to her chest, with that growing sense of nervousness in her chest as she got closer and closer, but she was sure.. He had to like it!

But maybe.. It’d been too long since they’d seen each other? Would he still remember her? Was this weird? She’d audible groan and gently bonk her own head with a fist and squeezed shut eyes,

Get it together Vivyan! You’re gonna see him, you’re gonna give him the gift, and you’re both gonna be happy to see each other well! So cut the stupid thoughts!

With a hand firmly on the door handle, she’d pop the door open, looking to Alastair with bright eyes, “Good afternoon, sir! I’m so glad to see you’ve recovered!”

…Oh no, her legs weren’t moving any further than the doorway.

Alastair was still adjusting to being in his office again, it had not been all that long really but the room still felt oddly foreign to him. Perhaps that was just how he was feeling in general of late. What a surreal few weeks it had been.

He was just about to start on the next report when the door suddenly swung open. Hardly a surprising development, but his gaze did turn from his computer to look at his latest guest. Orange eyes bored into Vee with an almost bemused intensity, before they softened and the faintest hints of a smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"And to you. It is a relief to see you back on your feet too."

Internally, he spent a moment kicking himself for not visiting her in hospital. But he had been dealing with his own issues, both medical and personal, and suddenly the time had flown by. Still, for what the reports said of her own injuries, it genuinely relieved him to see her so upbeat.

"You may enter, Miss Faye?"

Vivyan's eyes stared back at his familiar intense gaze, as if searching for a glimmer of familiarity in his expression. She seemed visibly tense, pressing the small box even harder against her chest as the silence between words felt way too long. He couldn't have actually forgotten about her, right? Her presence couldn't have felt that pointless to others? Alastair was one of the first people to make her feel seen since she got here, and the idea of that just...

Her worries simmered when he acknowledged her with a slight smile and a sense of relief in his words. Sure, her eyes were still burning, but she herself felt a little better, soon moving her heavy feet inside of the office upon direction, walking stiffly up to his desk with a weary smile and wide eyes,

"I.. Uh.. I um... I got you a present! For your recovery, that is.. Cause I was so happy to hear you recovered!" She bumbled the words out as she was holding back tears, and placed the small box on the table. Inside was something rather basic; a thin silver bangle with small red stones and a tiny bird charm.

"It reminded me of you.." She'd chuckle awkwardly, shuffling a bit, "..Do you like it?"

"Oh, that was unnecessary..."

Alastair's voice trailed off as Vee opened the little box to reveal the bracelet, as he felt a little knot of guilt tighten in his stomach. Still, he resisted the urge to show most of that emotion. Bottling it up behind his broadening smile, he slid the box over to himself and examined the trinket. It was a beautiful little piece, certainly, and perhaps a touch thematically appropriate so he plucked it from the container before offering it out to Vee along with his other arm.

"If you do not mind, I would be honoured to wear it. Thank you."

It would be cheap for him to get her anything now, after this, and yet he could not help but feel obligated to do something. His hand was forced just as much as she was now forcing the bangle onto his wrist. Still, what exactly could he offer?

"I admit, I do not have a token for you in turn. And it would be rather unseemly for me to acquire one now. But I am grateful, so if there is anything you wish to ask of me then simply do so and I will try to help."

Unlike Alastair's successful moves to compose himself, the younger woman's smile was hardly enough to hide her frayed nerves, her hand trembling a little as she gently latched the trinket around the offered wrist for him, her hands immediately and firmly returning to her sides once done.

"...I mean, I kinda just wanted to talk about.. Stuff that's bothered me..." Her gaze would lower, "...Have you ever felt like you're not doing enough for something, or someone, and no matter what you do, you fall short?"

She'd look even more nervous as she brought that up, "If.. If that's stupid and you've never felt it, it's okay."

Sliding his hand back across the desk, he inspected the trinket on his wrist again now that it was attached to his person. Satisfied, he let the arm return to his side and listened to what exactly Vee had in mind for a response.

"It is only natural to strive for perfection in each of your actions. But you will rarely achieve those lofty heights. Every person has their struggles, and those that tell you they have not are either liars or layabouts."

He looked to the mug of coffee that sat, half-drunk, in front of him and reached out to encapsulate it in his palm. After a moment of concentration, the liquid began to bubble and boil as he slowly heated up the reishi with his innate power.

"When I joined the Vandenreich, I could barely even increase my temperature. Now I can extend heat out into small objects. It is still so small and insignificant, but I continue to train and grow because I believe it will one day be a powerful tool. Yet I watch others manipulate the elements so masterfully that I know I am still akin to a child compared to them. Still, I must persevere for my own sake if nothing else."

Bringing the piping hot coffee to his lips, he took a drink before offering a more composed smile. That was only an example of his own struggles, after all, and it was only a minor one at that. The best he could do was offer to help, anyway.

"So, I do not think it is stupid to feel like that. Talking about it can be helpful, perhaps provide some insight that you are missing?"