"No, you don't—It's been a while. We can talk." She sighs. "There's not a lot to say. My father left my mother and I when I was little, because of the gender thing. After I turned, my mother was involved in a car accident. I tried to turn her." She swallows. "I failed."

"Gaaah. On like four different levels."

'Sorry' or 'that sucks' always seemed kind of pointless.

She shakes her head. "Yeah. So, I don't have a family, anymore," she says, then shrugs.

He pats her on the shoulder.

And then screw it that is entirely not enough sympathy, hug.

Hug.

There may be some clinging. Non-superstrong clinging.

Sigh. "Unless you want to talk about it... Back to work?"

She shrugs again. "I don't have a lot to say about it. It happened. We can talk if you want, but." Third shrug.

"I don't have much to say about it either beyond 'damn, that's terrible'. So yeah."

"Back to work, then, yeah."

Work work work.

He seems subdued. And doesn't try small talk again. They're making progress though.

She doesn't want to be on this note, though.

"Tell me more about your family?"

"Hm, they're actually kind of - not the same thing, nowhere near that, but... My brother's the law student, just like his pa. The golden boy. I'm the kid who messed with stone tablets and smelled like potions ingredients in high school. Not respectable, liable to blow myself up by accident, which is a stereotype and not a reality by the way. But they got better about trying to be so controlling when I got into Suvak."

"Why would they want anything else? You're perfect."

He gives an exaggerated shrug. "No idea, no clue at all. But they do love me, and I them. Even during the times I can't stand 'em."

"Well, as far as I'm concerned you're wonderful, smelling like potions ingredients or not."

"Thanks."

"Gee, I wonder what other trap conversational subjects are waiting."

"I don't think there are any. I was turned a few years ago, memories from before then are fuzzy, but I think I was bullied a lot when I was small. I didn't have any horrible falling outs with anyone, I got rich off... something... probably using my power, I don't quite recall. My life was pretty alright, I think. And you shouldn't avoid any subjects. I was just somewhat unprepared for it, hadn't really thought of it in a while."

"Oh that reminds me we should look into various magical anesthesias. If they help the pain of your thirst do you think there's a good chance they'll help turning?"

"Yes," she answers instantly. "Might be useful to see if they help with the pain of being set on fire, I think when a vankire catches fire that's as bad as turning."

He writes this down, along with four varieties he knows off the top of his head. A potion, a crystal, two different amulets, and a kind of fair folk.

"Hm, just busywork for the memory project now I think. Copying what's already there four times, with just a little change here, see?"

She nods. "I could do that, vankires have much less of a problem with boring tasks, in general."

"Your multitasking is pretty good, eh? How many Kings matches could you play at once?"

(Kings is a bit like Chess)

"I guess that'd depend on how much brainpower I wanted to dedicate to each? And I'm not sure, I've never really tested. Several, against humans, one, against a vankire."

"Well I guess we can chat some more while you carve if you don't mind - get to know each other and all. Do you like board games, generally?"

"—maybe I did? I don't really remember, haven't had the opportunity to play them much after turning."