mallowhallow | Rehearsal 4 (6/04): [Video, from Astralfield]

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Current Location: His favorite bench in Astralfield

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Rehearsal 4 (6/04): [Video, from Astralfield]

[The feed clicks on to find Victor seated on his favorite bench, giving the viewers a small, slightly-embarrassed-looking smile.]

Hello everyone. I regret to say that this is another 'advert' of sorts for my potential services. I've been thinking about what I might have to offer ever since the Queen told us we needed to work. I've never really worked before, honestly. . .my father was quite rich at home, so I've always depended on an allowance. . .

[He fiddles with his tie for a moment before adopting a determined expression and looking up.]

But honestly, I didn't like that I didn't have to pay for anything in the first place, so I'm more than willing to try. And I do have something to offer.

[He turns to the side and holds his communicator over his open sketchbook with one hand, using the other to turn a few pages. There's a number of scientific drawings of butterflies (complete with annotations), and a few more fantastical things, like a rabbit in a top hat, jacket, waistcoat, and spats, carrying a pocket watch in rather sharp claws and what looks to be an ant made out of folded paper, with a long paper beard and a broad-brimmed hat. Everything's done in crisp black ink. After a few pages, he turns the chalkboard back to his face.]

Yes, so if you need an artist for any reason, I'd be happy to help. Prices would depend on what exactly you want drawn. I can do colored drawings and paintings too -- I just prefer to work in ink sketches. So -- if you like my work, please contact me! Either here or at my room -- 6988 at the Astralfield Hotel.

[He gives a little wave before ending the video.]

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[She knocks at Room 6988 lightly.]

Victor?

[Victor's returned to his room after making his post, with the intentions of grabbing a quick snack. The knock on the door makes him pause, though. Who -- but then he recognizes the voice. He goes over and opens it with a smile.]

Oh -- hello, Kurenai.

Good Day Victor! [She greeted with a bright smile.]

It's nice to see you. What brings you by?

It's nice to finally meet you in person.

[She hands him the bouquet of flowers that she carried over from her garden.] Can I come in?

Same here.

Oh, thank you. [He accepts the flowers, looking them over. Quite pretty -- he'll have to get them in some water.] Oh, yes, of course.

[He moves out of the doorway so Kurenai can enter. His room looks rather different from hers -- a little more sparse, perhaps, given the small amount of furniture. Like her, though, Victor's given it his personal touch -- he's hung up some pictures he likes on the walls, and the desk in the corner already looks well-used, with a few ink stains and drink rings. His sketchbook from before rests on the surface, accompanied by an inkwell and quill.]

Thank you very much~!

[She smiles at him and slowly waltz into his hotel room. She notices the pictures on the wall and the zen style.] You have a lovely home Victor~!

You're welcome.

[Victor busies himself finding a glass and filling it in the bathroom sink, keeping the door open so he can hear if she talks.] Oh -- thank you. It's not much, but -- I've made it my own. [He brings the glass out, then puts the flowers in it and puts the whole thing in the middle of his little table.] You're all settled in too, I hope?

[She stood still, her arms folded behind her, and her eyes wandering.] It's cozy and beautiful.

[She nods happily as if Victor could see it.] Yes, I'd like to think I did. In fact, I've already set up a tiny business of my own.

[Victor smiles a little awkwardly. Cozy, he'd agree with, but beautiful? Still, he's hardly one to contradict a lady.] I'm glad you like it.

Oh, have you? That's wonderful! [And then, remembering his manners again:] You can sit if you like.

I really like it. [Victor is actually looking at someone who loves simple things. The simpler, the more beautiful.]

Oh, thank you~! [She gives a slight curtsy, and seats on the nearest chair.] I have. It's really tiny, but it's the sort of business that I've wanted to have ever since.

[Good thing, because it doesn't get much more simple than this. Still, it's home. He nods, then goes to his cupboard.] Can I offer you anything to eat or drink? I haven't got much, but there's these wonderful chocolate and cream biscuits that I quite favor. . . And I know from experience even the tiniest business can grow into a giant. What sort of thing are you selling?

Oh that sounds very lovely Victor. I will take one of those biscuits if you don't mind. And if I might impose on tea?

I don't dream of having such a large business. Just something which can earn me and my supplier enough money to give us comfortable lives here. Roses.

Not at all! And I should be able to make tea -- that coffeemaker is wonderful for heating up the water, actually. [He pulls out a package of Hydrox-brand sandwich cookies and brings it over to the table, extracting one of the plastic sleeves for picking at, then busies himself boiling the water in the coffeepot and getting tea bags.]

Fair enough -- I can hardly imagine running something so large myself. Despite the fact that my father did so easily. . . [He shrugs, then smiles.] Ah -- I should have guessed, really, from our first conversation.

If it's too much of an inconvenience, you really don't have too. [She curiously watches Victor move about his residence. Kurenai doesn't touch anything and keeps her posture straight while waiting for Victor.]

Your father must have been an amazing person if he was able to do that. [She just smiles.] And happily, there's this butterfly hovering around my garden. I hardly get a glimpse of her. But if I see her again, I'll take a video for you!

It's fine, truly. I've made tea using that device before [Water's boiling! Victor gets cups and puts in the tea bags before carefully (he's burned himself before) pouring in the water.] That'll just need to steep for a moment. . .

Quite smart, yes -- a very good businessman. [He grins a little.] Really? That would be very nice of you! I bet you'll be getting more before too long. They always know where to find the best nectar.

Well I truly appreciate it. Thank you very much. [Though she's not sure if he can see it, she bows before Victor.] Yes, I'm sure it'll be lovely afterwards.

I'm sure you have his skills as well~!?

Yes! I hope so too. And when that happens, we can finally have the garden party we were talking about.

[Victor catches the movement out of the corner of his eye, though he doesn't do anything about it until he's put down the pot. Then he nods to her.] It usually comes out well enough. Do you like milk and sugar in it? [He'll be getting out both anyway as he likes them in his tea, but it's only polite to ask.]

Er -- in mathematics, yes. But when it comes to making deals and things like that -- n-not really. I tend to be t-too shy for my own good.

That would be lovely. [He notices the cookies are untouched.] Er -- you can have one of those if you like.

I'm fine with just a little sugar. I love fragrant unadulterated tea~! [She's all about the scent and the warmth.]

Ah, I suppose it takes a lot of courage to speak to the necessary people involved. Don't worry, it's understandable Victor~!

I think so too. And remember, you promised to be there.[She looks down at the cookies and looks back up at Victor.] It would be improper if I don't wait for you!

All right then. I've always liked mine sweet myself. [He likes the scent and the warmth too, but his sweet tooth will not be denied.]

Courage and a firmer spine than I usually have. I generally have to talk myself into being tough. Not to mention I just -- didn't find it all that appealing.

[He chuckles softly.] Yes, yes, I know. I will be. [And oh yes, propriety. He'd nearly forgotten.] Oh -- right. Sorry, my manners are -- well, I was recently living in an area that lacked them.

And that's perfectly fine, I'm certain of it.

Well, isn't that enough? I mean, it's not easy to encourage yourself to do things. Most of the times, it's so much easier to simply just hide and shy away from responsibility.

Great.[She smiles as well.] Oh? How is that possible~!?

Heh, thank you.

[. . .awkward tie-fiddling time.] Yes, I -- I k-know. I got into a bit of a habit of that when I was younger. . .m-mostly because I could. I've definitely worked to take charge of my life more recently, though. [He shrugs.] I suppose it is enough, when it comes to results, but like I said, the business life just didn't call to me like it did to Father.

There's areas in this world that simply don't have a lot of polite people. [Tea seems to be ready, so he brings it over, along with the milk and sugar.] Whitechapel was one of them.

I think that's very inspiring. And I think the business life really isn't for everyone. [She gives Victor a reassuring smile.] Trust me, there's nothing wrong if you don't have his business acumen.

Shall I help you pour? [She inquired politely.] That is quite sad. Where is Whitechapel? Is it the place you grew up in?

[Victor nods and sighs.] I don't think Father thought quite the same, though he was good enough never to say so out loud. Still, it's a moot point now, isn't it?

Oh, no need -- they've got these bags that allow one to make individual cups here. So that's all settled. See? [He passes her cup over to her so she can see it's already filled with tea -- and has a string poking over the side.] Though you'll want to take the bag out before you start drinking. . . And Whitechapel is in London, England. I grew up in a smaller village some distance away -- Burtonsville. I was sent to Whitechapel after some trouble at home -- you remember the corpse bride I told you about over the network? Emily?

At least he showed you kindness that way. And yes, it's not important now.

Oh~ [She watches him carefully.] I've been too used to traditional methods of brewing them.

[She listens while thoughtfully looking at her cup of tea.]Yes, I remember her.

Yes -- which is more than Mother showed me at times. [He shakes his head -- oh, his parents. . .]

Heh, it's all right -- it took me a bit to get used to them too. Though they are very convenient. [He pulls out his tea bag from his cup, setting it aside on the saucer he got for that purpose, then adds milk and sugar. He also takes a Hydrox, just to remind Kurenai that it's okay, he's sitting with her now if she wants a snack.]

Right -- I don't think I ever properly explained what happened after she was set free. You see, while all of that was happening, my parents were out of town. Looking for me, ironically -- the town crier had seen me and Emily right before she took me below, and reported that I'd apparently r-run off with another woman. So they never saw any of the business with the walking dead. They returned after everything was said and done with -- and when I tried to explain what had happened, they didn't believe me. In fact, they thought I'd -- l-lost my mind.

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Rehearsal 4 (6/04): [Video, from Astralfield]

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