Colin's posts

Jaden looked back at her, paused for a moment, and smiled.

"Go for it." he said.

"Scotland is a beautiful country, nice and friendly, it'll be a wonderful place to raise a family." he reasoned, making his way over and standing before her, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close.

"...this is it." he then said.

"A new chapter in our lives, a fresh start in another part of the world." he told her.

"And right now... it's the greatest feeling in the world to be turning that page with you." he finished, as he leaned in close, and shared a kiss.

Vincent nodded in response.

"Fair enough." he said.

"I'll let you know." he told her, before sighing quietly, and smiling.

"For now, let us have a now-congratulatory teatime!" he declared. "I don't know what sort of schedule you are on right now, but the tea should be steeped enough, and everything should be ready." he reasoned.

"So let us indulge in one of life's little simple pleasures." he suggested.

"After all, the finer things in life aren't always the pricier things."

Vincent let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, that does it for me." he said. "I'm fine enough knowing that." he told her. "Hopefully it'll be enough for Rowena as well." he then said further, thinking about it.

"You can also tell her that Marcus helped personally establish that hiring policy." Desiree then added. "And that they pride themselves in being a safe and productive place for Modern Hunters to make their living, while leaving the old ways behind." she finished.

"...and that should probably seal the deal for her." Vincent chuckled.

"She IS nervous and a little paranoid, but I do know her thoughts on Marcus. And even SHE feels he's chained himself to his past too much." he revealed to her. "And coming from Rowena, that's saying something." he said quietly.

"...your choice on whether you tell Marcus this, but if you do, you didn't hear it from ME." he then stressed.

Vincent paused for a moment, almost flinching when she said that.

"...I see." he said.

"Now, I trust you, Desiree." he told her. "And you KNOW I do." he reiterated. "But please understand that the thought of entering a store staffed entirely by mana hunters is not something that immediately sounds... inviting." he continued.

"Can I have a little more... information about this?" he asked.

"If nothing else, so I can offer some reassurance to Rowena?" he said further. "I am NOT going to have this be a surprise to her, as she will NOT react to a sudden instance of being surrounded by hunters." he mumbled.

"I'll need something to assuage some of those fears."

"....." Vincent was silent for a moment, before sighing.

"Just one more thing." he said. "And then we can enjoy our tea." he chuckled.

"From what you've told me, you are the owner and CEO of Mariana's, yes?" he asked, to which Desiree nodded in response. "That is an immense level of responsibility, to understate it." he commented.

"Do you feel up to it?" he asked. "Can you handle that level of responsibility?" he asked further.

"I'm not saying I doubt you, heavens no, but for this to suddenly be dropped into your lap would be overwhelming, in many different ways." he reasoned. "Will this interfere with your personal life?" he inquired. "And what of your magician performances?"

"Hm." Vincent mumbled.

"Yes, I'm willing to bet redemption and reincarnation for your mother is... a pipe dream for her." he said.

"But if what you say is true about your brother, then he MAY have a much easier time." he went on. "Depends on if his soul can face that corruption, and defeat it." he shrugged.

"We really won't know, sadly." he lamented.

"Anyway, back to happier topics, I'm glad your life is on track, and in the fast lane." he told her sincerely. "If you ever still need anything, or want to confide anything, my door is always open." he reminded her.

"...he was, was he?" Vincent asked, a hint of skepticism in his tone... before he just sighed.

"I can believe that." he then said. "In fact, I'm more than willing to believe that." he clarified. "...I certainly hope his soul gets another chance, then." he then told her. "From what I know of such matters, which... isn't much, admittedly... if a pure soul is corrupted by others, then in the afterlife, it has a greater chance of seeing the error of their ways, and therefore getting a chance at redemption." he said further.

"Also known as reincarnation." he then stated.

"He was a human, so he would be reborn as another human." he said further, before pausing.

"But this is purely conjecture at this point. Redemption DOES take a while, from what I have been told." he lamented.

Again, Vincent was stunned, before he forcibly brought himself back to reality.

"Right." he said. "I'm not sure what's more surprising; the fact that THE Mariana Niell was your mother... or the fact that your brother left the company to YOU." he told her.

"From all I know of him, that is... NOT something he would do. At ALL." he stated, before leaning back a little. "Unless there is/was more to him than most of us know..." he mumbled.

"Wouldn't surprise me. People, even the worst of the worst, can sometimes surprise you." he then admitted, scratching his chin a little.

"Are you certain there's nothing... sinister... going on behind the scenes?" he asked. "Not to make you paranoid, but at the moment, to say I'm cautious about this sudden information is... well, it's an understatement."

Vincent accepted the card, almost dumbfounded, and looked at it. He saw that she had, indeed, written that on the back, alongside her signature. He could only stare at it at first, before looking at her.

"D... Desiree?" he stammered.

"Wait..." he muttered. "Wait, wait, wait..." he said.

"Hold on, you have a position of authority at Mariana's?" he asked. "And quite a hefty one, at that?" he asked further.

"But... how... I mean..." he then stuttered, before taking a small breath, and letting it out slowly.

"I assume this has to do with your sudden uptick in fortune?" he asked, more calm now.

Vincent thought for a moment, before shaking his head.

"Well, firstly, things have been fine here, thank you." he told her. "Yes, busy, but we've been managing." he assured her. "Overall... things really haven't been better." he stated.

"And... I think so?" he then answered.

"I mean, I'm sure we all have SOMETHING... probably..." he went on, trailing off a bit. "Admittedly, it's been a while since any of of dressed up for a truly formal occasion." he then sighed.

"So the answer could very well be...... no..." he admitted sheepishly.

"Why?" he asked.

He chuckled again.

"Of course." he responded.

"I'll see if Aimee or Lex know of any places in France." he told her.

"It IS lovely there." he reasoned.

"But beyond that, I'll do some scouring." he promised. "I'll have some options for you in the next few weeks."

Vincent nodded in response.

"I understand." he said.

"You put up with him for FAR too long. Longer than anyone should have had to." he told her. "But... that is the past. And we must put the past behind us." he then reasoned.

"Instead, live in the present, and look to the future." he continued, and then paused.

"...when did I start sounding like a bloody fortune cookie..." he mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"For the record, that sounded FAR less cliché in my mind." he told her.

"...very true, sadly." Vincent agreed.

"However, it's a conversation that needs to happen." he told her. "Seriously, as uncomfortable as it will be, it is something that will have to be brought up. It will be unavoidable." he continued.

"Whenever you do it IS up to you, however." he then stated.

"Regardless, for now, I reiterate what I said before; congratulations." he went on, smiling again.

"And I mean that, I'm glad you finally seem to be truly happy." he told her. "And I know it's not because of the money." he quickly clarified. "I'm merely stating how at peace you seem to finally be now."

"....hm." Vincent mumbled.

"Parents should never outlive their children." he said.

"You... may want to talk to Jaden about that." he told her. "Seriously. The last thing Marcus needs is to outlive you." he went on. "And I'm sure your human lifespan won't be good for Jaden and your child later in life." he went on.

He then paused and shook his head.

"But that's just me thinking out loud, I suppose." he muttered.

"You two do whatever you feel is best."