Ephemeral Truths [Verity]

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

When Verity arrives for her daily shift, Schön's demeanor in answering the door suggests this might not be just another day at the office. "Ah, good morning. I wonder if you might feel like a small change in the routine?"

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[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Given your fondness for the boy, I shall take that as high praise, and thank you for it," he replies softly. "I'm sorry to have soured your day with sad thoughts." And he is.

[brave_heart_verity]

The boy. It makes her wince, but only because it's true. He has so much growing up to do, and so little time before...

"Oh, no, you haven't. It was a surprise, the parallels in your stories. I'm glad you found your freedom." She pauses for a moment before giving him a shy look. How much will this favor cost...? "Would you talk to him about it? If he's willing to?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"About... my past? Feeling suppressed by my family, and the release I felt when free of them?" There is some reluctance in his expression, and not merely the dealmaker's mask of it. Sharing a confidence with Verity is one thing, but he doesn't know Viatorus nearly so well, nor have any sort of arrangement or understanding with the lad.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Or..." No. She doesn't even know that this is what V wants. So she sighs and shakes her head. "Nothing. Sorry. Forget I asked, it was out of turn."

She refills her tea cup, then angles the pot toward his; would he like more? "I'm glad you liked New York," she offers at last, trying to retreat to more comfortable conversational topics.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"You want to help him. It is a generous impulse," Schön offers, trying to soothe her regret.

He nods, at her offer of tea, waiting 'til she's poured to continue. "As am I. It is a beautiful city. Do you have a favorite neighborhood?"

[brave_heart_verity]

She gives him a little smile; there's no reason for him to feel bad about these things. But to say she has a lot on her mind is an understatement.

"Who could pick? I guess... Chinatown for food, Soho and the Bowery for shopping, Upper East for living."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Mm, grand choices, all. My friends and I had a certain fondness for the artistic souls of Alphabet City," he admits.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I'm not surprised." She glances up when their soups are delivered, thanking the waitress and waiting for her to leave again before speaking. "I regret not having explored more when I had the chance."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Perhaps you'll have the chance again, someday," he suggests.

[brave_heart_verity]

Clink, clink goes her spoon as she stirs her soup. "That's not the problem."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"No," he admits, spooning his own soup, "I don't suppose it would be."

[brave_heart_verity]

"But there's plenty of other places to explore," she points out when she rallies again. "I never traveled much, so it's not all bad."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"There are," he agrees. "Any about which you've wondered?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"The mountains," she answers eventually. "I think I'd like the mountains." Which mountains, and what she'd do there, haven't been worked out yet. "Or maybe Iceland."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Iceland is pleasant," he muses. "The music scene in Reykjavik is a delicious blend of old-world and modern influences."

[brave_heart_verity]

"That could be fun. And I've heard they're a nation of readers." This, of course, is very important to her. "You think I should give it a try?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"They are, indeed, with their annual book flood." With a smile, he nods. "I think you could enjoy Iceland. Yes, you should try it."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Books and music and solitude..." That sounds rather ideal for her. "Yes, I think I'll see about a little vacation for myself soon."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Do let me know, if you'd like any help with the arrangements."

[brave_heart_verity]

She hmms with amusement at the offer. "You have recommendations, I'm sure. Is the offer just for transportation, or logistics?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"Oh, I'm very good with logistics," he replies, smug and sly. "What would you want? A cozy fisherman's cabin by the water, far from anyone else? A penthouse suite overlooking the city? A mountaintop island lost in a sea of mist?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Those all sound good," she admits with a sigh. "I would need to think about it. And decide if I can afford to lose that much hair."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

He laughs. "I'd not strip you of your lovely locks, Verity. Do recall, I take all manner of currency."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I know." Reading over so many of his contracts, she's well aware of the kinds of things he takes as payment. "But this is getting to sound suspiciously like work."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

He chuckles. "Is it? Do forgive me." Peking duck is sometimes a bit of a wait, but it's arrived at last. "Ah, here we are. As far from work as possible, unless you're going into restaurant criticism?"