riverview | { Video; UN: potentia.regere }

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{ Video; UN: potentia.regere }

What am I to make of this? {The voice of this new user is entirely too calm; too collected considering the circumstances. But he has been uniquely trained by, shall we say, a vibrant life? Which, incidentally, ended abruptly (and painfully) in his memory.}

An introduction, perhaps? All of those start to sound the same, I imagine. {He finally comes into full view, smiling in a way that could be polite - if it weren't for the mischievous glint in his eyes.} Something like: I am Earl Vincent Phantomhive? Does that suffice? Should I add "of England"?

{He gives a light chuckle before remarking:}

I must say this is the queerest afterlife I can imagine.

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That sounds cozy. {Can he join? Please? Pretty please with sugar on top?} I think I should like to learn what...movies...bring him enjoyment. Does he read too, at times? What of music or plays? I am sorely lacking in all the information a father should know!

{His eyebrows rise.} Fights, corpses I can understand, but bedroom scenes? Is that truly necessary?

{He can only guess that has one intended purpose.} Perhaps the populace is not imaginative enough in certain endeavors and needs the movies to...ah...assist them?

[What remains of the end of his braid below his fingers, he lifts and twirls.] This place has all of that as well. We both read quite a bit, but the means of their music is... odd. Seems we've been building a small library of both. I can't imagine he would object to letting you borrow any of it. Might find it's to your liking as well, though I confess I've not asked after much of what he keeps, just if he finds anything interesting.

[That and he really hasn't cared what the boy gets himself into so far as that goes. Those scenes in movies, however, he has had to pause the show to skip it altogether. What an adventure that was when they came across one the first time.] Afraid you're asking the wrong person, milord. I hardly know why they feel those scenes are necessary where they were. They said there were action movies or horror movies or science fiction. Not all of them contain something such, but we're careful about it now. Only so much I can tolerate [Around the boy anyway.] and your son is of the same mind.

I must grow accustomed to the oddities. {There really is no other choice. Vincent can adapt, but it's rather like learning to walk or talk again.} I will discover his treasures for the both of us, in that case! I know they will be in good condition; he was careful with his toys.

{Adventure is an interesting way to describe it. Vincent might have broken the television set if he had seen it.}

There are no warnings? {Well that says something about society, doesn't it.} Fourteen is too young to know of such activities. I was not even as well-informed as I liked when I was married!

{...actually that's probably not the case, but his point stands. Baby will not be seeing sex scenes.}

Edited 2017-10-30 05:23 (UTC)

It's only your first day here. This is a lot to absorb, even for an Earl of our time. But this world does have its conveniences, despite the strangeness. [Vincent is already well aware of the boy's illnesses, so he'll go on with it.] There was an incident some time back where your son had one of his asthma fits.

[Before Vincent can panic about that, he'll lift a hand.] He's fine now, don't worry. But he was rushed to their hospital here. You would be amazed at the way they treated his condition. Asthma is a thing of the past just about. He was breathing well again within a few minutes. Now he carries with him something they call an inhaler which gives him a little puff of a medicine that opens his lungs again so he can breathe, should he need it.

I'm not his father, but I'll put up with a little indecency if it would save his life like that. [The smile on him softens when he looks back to his companion. He can't see so well, but he wants to see the look on him at that news.]

The conveniences are what stretch the imagination. {But how can he complain when one of his main worries is soothed? Asthma has frightened him since he first encountered it in Rachel. Then imagine holding a tiny baby who cannot breathe and being helpless to do anything to comfort him. Yes, Vincent detests the disease.

The color leaves his face for a moment, but then it returns.} It works so quickly? Each attack felt like we were dancing on a knife's edge. All I could do was try to comfort him.

{He breathes a sigh of relief.} He need not live in fear of that attacking him unawares. I did not expect him to be so strong. The family name might be secure after all.

Would you? {Only for the baby, hm? Vincent looks amused.} I believe you have put up with more than that for his sake.

Edited 2017-10-30 06:02 (UTC)

[No more fear of death by asthma. It's a beautiful thing, really. One of them.] Yes, just so quickly. I haven't a clue as to how often they happen for him, but look what they've been able to do with the ailment. Now you can save those efforts to comfort him for and put them toward reacquainting with him.

[He flicks his braid once more and lets it flop back down at his side.] I don't think you need to worry about the family name, milord. He'll carry it on, that's for sure. When you see him at work, you'll see what I mean. [Has he put up with more than that? Oh, if only he could say.]

{He smiles as if his worries have been lifted from his shoulders. Vincent does not belittle any joy - no matter how long it lasts.} They happened so frequently when he was a child that he was isolated indoors. It seems as if they have improved on their own with age - and now the medication can give him added security.

{His voice warms.} I am looking forward to reacquainting with him.

{The braid is caught before it falls back into place and, idly, Vincent toys with it too.} Elizabeth is well? She was betrothed to Ciel, as you know, but if that is not meant to be, he is the best solution.

[He glances down at the hand that has caught his hair and then away again, unconcerned. He knows the Earl knows how sensitive his head can be sometimes and trusts that won't be used against him.] That would be a wonderful thing as well, if he'd get over it on his own. I've read it's a chronic illness that never truly goes away, even in this world. But at least it can be maintained and controlled.

[At mention of the young Earl's bride to be, he shakes his head.] I'm afraid I don't know what became of her, other than that she is alive and well. Your son was my focus, you know. [And what a focus that had been. Had things been different, had that damned demon not been involved, this would have been simpler.]

{He won't even tug. The soft silver hair is very fetching and since Undertaker has grown it so long, it's basically asking to be touched. Or so that is how Vincent thinks anyway.} I can ask for no more. An illness can be a fine teacher. He will need patience, perseverance, cunning. He must be the calm in the midst of a stormy sea.

{Little Lizzie has his fondness. Her golden ringlets and fierce fencing skill have ensured she will be a great Lady Phantomhive.}

She can help him. You wouldn't believe the things that girl can do.

[He won't mind a little exploration. Too much and he'll be tempted to drop into a pile of boneless flesh, but he won't mind that either, so long as they get to the young Earl first. Vincent doesn't yet know where the Funtom business is headquartered, after all.] Eloquently put.

[He is well aware of the girl's "hidden" skills, but even if she is quite formidable an opponent on the fencing ground, he still has his sights on Ciel.] I might, I might. If she thinks he is your intended Earl, I imagine she can. I'm told love can heal in ways no one can understand, or is that too fanciful a thought?

{Vincent has a penchant for pretty hair. He won't stop at fiddling with a braid if the Undertaker doesn't complain. But, yes, his sights are set on his son. Once he has had a good assessment of him, he will feel far more like his playful self.}

Eloquent or not, it's true. I thought his character might be too weak, but he is a Phantomhive after all.

{He lifts his hand and studies his wedding ring.} No, it isn't fanciful at all. Those we love can represent better parts of ourselves and they can serve as reminders of who we need to be.

[That certainly sounds nice. Maybe one time, he would have been envious of that. Now, there's just a little hollow pit inside where that part of him should have been.] Whatever else you might think of him, milord, he is you and he is your wife. You know them both better than I ever could, so you know what he can become.

[He lets his gaze lower as they walk, watching the sidewalk pass beneath their feet.] Sounds nice, that. Maybe she can do that for him one day.

{A hollow that surely can be comforted if not filled. Vincent isn't terribly spoiled - only mostly - and he likes seeing his friends genuinely happy.} He is more Rachel in appearance. Those eyes of his can surely win over the hearts of some of his competition.

{And his sons are just plain cute. Vincent never saw himself as cute.} She will. I knew Francis would raise a lovely daughter. I couldn't have her married to anyone else.

Edited 2017-11-01 05:57 (UTC)

[He won't hold his breath for it, even if he is already dead.] Whichever of you he takes more after, he's you. He'll make someone very happy one day, whatever happens.

[He'll say nothing more on it for a few minutes. They've come to a corner and here he takes the turn needed, giving Vincent more than time enough to follow his lead.] Not far off now.

{Don't make it sound like a challenge. He can hardly say no to one of those!} He already has. {Says the slightly overly biased father. Vincent might sound like he is hard on both his sons truly, but it is only because he has to be. If he is too soft, he might lose sight of reality and put them in danger.}

I do believe I am nervous. {He chuckles at the uncomfortable feeling, but his steps do not slow.}

[He held onto a mourning chain for a reason. It's not a challenge it's a matter of self preservation that he can't seem to commit to. But he won't comment on that. He knows daddy dearest is quite biased.]

Ah, milord, don't be. It's only awkward at first, but you've much to discuss. Just a few bumps in the road and you'll be just as you were. [As if it's that easy. It won't be, but he can talk like it is and maybe Vincent will follow.]

{That's the problem with getting attached to humans. Nothing is permanent; nothing is without some stipulation. He might do better loving some quiet mountain hermit than the Phantomhives.}

I hope I do not frighten him. {He would be uneasy - happy, but uneasy - to see his mother, for example.} Am I asking too much of him? But to not see him would be an insult to the gift we have been given.

[It wouldn't matter. They'd all still be human, and they'd all die one day, and he'll still be there to watch them die while he no longer can, even though he was once human himself. Sucks to be him.]

I don't think of it as asking too much of him as a need for both of you to know that the other is real. I can hardly believe those little network devices myself sometimes even now. If you need time after that, you know you can always give it that.

{On the bright side, this place has proven that death need not be permanent? Learn its secrets, Undertaker. ~~But Vincent will still be ash.~~}

True! I will feel better once I see him. He must endure a parent's fussing. {Something his little son would have enjoyed...before.} I want to protect him - even if I must do so from a distance.

[Already on it. He's tired of this whole people he cares about dying thing. Just let him perfect it before he even thinks about trying to fall in love again.]

[Also welcome to the club. He's thinking about making shirts.]

Oh, always. There isn't a parent alive who hasn't wanted to fuss at their child in one way or another. He'll appreciate it somehow.

{Just remember that souls are perhaps more fragile than bodies.

They do need shirts. And hats.}

I will not stop even if he complains! {Vincent, that isn't exactly the best parenting strategy.} He deserves to know that my feelings have not changed.

[He's not playing with any that matter to him anyway, so there's that?]

Ah, we'll let it be what it is, my lord. There are a few things I'd like to give you a forewarning about, if you don't mind. His manner aside, you'll notice an eyepatch over him that he likely won't let you remove. It's nothing to be alarmed over [Not yet at least.] but try not to mention it to him, if you can. He's quite sensitive about it.

{Good job, Undertaker. Leave those you care about for later when you've perfected the method.}

Ah? {He listens, expression unchanging, not revealing what he truly thinks of his son's...injury? Shouldn't he be alarmed his child lost an eye? There must be some other explanation.} I will remember. He need not show me any of his scars; I am sure he has others.

{Yet. One day, Vincent wants to see. To know.}

I am a selfish creature, but I try to be less so around him.

[He's good at that. He's had time enough to know how to do things right while he's figuring them out.]

In a way, we all do. We're not immune to that ourselves. [I mean, have you seen his face lately?]

What father isn't? The good of it is you do so for his benefit and not always your own. I've known fathers who didn't deserve the title.

{That's the plus side of living, basically, forever?}

Certainly not. Our skin is not made of steel. {Yet he is as handsome as ever!}

It comes from love and that emotion cannot be selfish if it is to remain pure. {His babies deserve the purest of love.} I like being a father.

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