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Isabella eats up as much magic as Vivian can teach her; both of their library cards see a lot of use. The list of spells she's allowed to cast gets longer, and eventually she gains permission to cast one or two by herself. Vivian worries, but she's also proud. It's nice to see Isabella so motivated.
Now that Isabella has a medallion and a library card, they go to the Avalon more than just "as necessary to replenish her cash." It becomes something of a habit for Vivian to arrive, drop Isabella off at the library, and then wander around to sell her charms, do her shopping, catch up with her friends, or whatever else she feels like exploring that day. The critters are blinder to human society and politics than she might like, but she thinks she's getting through to some of them. If they want to blend into human culture, these things matter, after all.
Today in particular being a nice day, Vivian and Isabella took the whole day to go out. After a protest demanding equal rights for LGBT employees, they head into Avalon. Vivian leaves Isabella at the library and goes to grab a cup of tea from the cafe next to the marina. She drapes her jacket over the back of her chair, but when she sees the woman at the next table eyes her Out and Proud! button on it warily and grimacing, she removes it from the coat and puts it onto her shirt, front and center. Take that, nosy lady.
revivian
A different lady also peers at the button when Vivian draws attention to it. She looks, not quite lost, but not like she knows where she's going, either.
revivian
Vivian catches her doing this and inspects her. The stranger's not making a judgmental face, so she will get the benefit of the doubt, for now. But it does tempt Vivian into going over to say hello. Just to see the reaction.
"Hi!" she says brightly. "You look lost, can I help you?"
"Hi!" she says brightly. "You look lost, can I help you?"
"...Maybe," says the stranger, in accented but clear English. "I'm looking for healing magic."
revivian
...well. Vivian likes that accent.
"I know some magic," she says. Possibly this is an understatement. "But healing magic isn't common. What kind, exactly?"
"I know some magic," she says. Possibly this is an understatement. "But healing magic isn't common. What kind, exactly?"
"I - my brother has cancer."
revivian
Now Vivian is in something of a quandary.
Healing magic is hard. She knows a little, bits and pieces. By herself, she certainly couldn't cure anyone of late stage cancer- and she's assuming that anyone wandering around an Avalon asking strangers about healing magic is dealing with a pretty serious case. She could make their life a bit easier, perhaps. That's all.
But some of the sources she's read about sphinxes mention healing.
...but she can't say that without exposing her daughter.
What to do, what to do.
"I'm very sorry about your brother," she tells the pretty stranger. "I... might have to look into it. I could at least make his life easier, but cures..." she nods at her table in the cafe. "Would you like to sit and talk? We don't need to block the docks."
Healing magic is hard. She knows a little, bits and pieces. By herself, she certainly couldn't cure anyone of late stage cancer- and she's assuming that anyone wandering around an Avalon asking strangers about healing magic is dealing with a pretty serious case. She could make their life a bit easier, perhaps. That's all.
But some of the sources she's read about sphinxes mention healing.
...but she can't say that without exposing her daughter.
What to do, what to do.
"I'm very sorry about your brother," she tells the pretty stranger. "I... might have to look into it. I could at least make his life easier, but cures..." she nods at her table in the cafe. "Would you like to sit and talk? We don't need to block the docks."
The lady sits. "I'm Gianna," she mentions. "Gianna Trafeli. My brother is in Italy but I could try to have him moved here, if it would be easier."
revivian
On the one hand, that would make this all much easier. On the other, if Isabella can't do anything- "Even if all I can do is make his life easier?" Vivian asks cautiously. That she can manage that much, she is comfortable with.
"If it's just more painkillers - ordinary painkillers are very nearly good enough, the trip would be very hard on him - but if you can buy me time to look harder -"
revivian
"I-"
Vivian thinks. The spells she knows, the chance of Isabella: how good are her odds here?
"-make it 85% I can do at least that much?"
Vivian thinks. The spells she knows, the chance of Isabella: how good are her odds here?
"-make it 85% I can do at least that much?"
Gianna's mouth forms a thin line and she nods. "When I go home I'll - make another try at the Avalon nearest there, and if I find nothing, I will check again with you and have him moved. I can pay you."
revivian
Vivian nods. "I'm Vivian. Vivian Sun. Here-" she scribbles down her phone number. She offers it to Gianna with a smile. "So you can reach me."
At the offer of money, she shakes her head firmly. "If I wind up using ingredients I might ask you to buy them, but for me- no. Thank you, but that's not necessary." She squirms. "I wouldn't say no to dinner, but. Not as payment. Just if you wanted."
Smooth, Vivian, very smooth. Not.
At the offer of money, she shakes her head firmly. "If I wind up using ingredients I might ask you to buy them, but for me- no. Thank you, but that's not necessary." She squirms. "I wouldn't say no to dinner, but. Not as payment. Just if you wanted."
Smooth, Vivian, very smooth. Not.
Gianna blinks, perhaps confused.
revivian
Yep. Smooth. "You're very pretty, you were looking at my button earlier, I thought maybe- would you like to go out for dinner sometime?"
After a second's thought she adds, "I'll help either way, of course, don't feel pressured, I just," thought you're gorgeous and sweet about your brother and your accent is delicious and noooo she will not be saying any of that out loud, "think you're cute."
After a second's thought she adds, "I'll help either way, of course, don't feel pressured, I just," thought you're gorgeous and sweet about your brother and your accent is delicious and noooo she will not be saying any of that out loud, "think you're cute."
"I - I - all right," blushes Gianna.
"A week, this time. My new job will have me in and out regularly."
revivian
"Do you have any nights free? Thursday, maybe?"
She'll be back for wooork, more than oooonce, Vivian's being quietly very pleased about this!
She'll be back for wooork, more than oooonce, Vivian's being quietly very pleased about this!
"Not Thursday - Friday though."
"Yes, all right -" Gianna writes down the address of her hotel.
revivian
She puts it carefully in her purse. "I'll see you then." She inspects her tea: all gone. "Would you like a drink? Or am I keeping you, I'm sorry, were there other places here you wanted to try? I can show you where the magic shop is, at least."
"That would be very helpful - I don't really know where to start, it was lucky that I found you, isn't it?"
revivian
"A little," Vivian admits with a laugh. "But if you spent enough time in the magic shop I'm sure someone would have introduced us eventually."
"I'm not sure I'd know a magic shop if I saw one," Gianna admits.