[Atoli01]

[ I'll make a human for him when I get home today, I swear. ; ___ ; ]

Mara was always such a hassle... The young man sighed, letting his body sink even farther into his chair. He would be like an alligator, soaking in the sun's rays, were it not for that accursed suit he was forced into day after day. It was so hot out today, but it was too nice of weather to stay inside. So here he sat, on a cushioned bench in the hotel's garden. Vincent could hear the voices of a couple children (probably immortal kids) playing on the other side of the garden, though he concluded that his time was better spent watching the sky that searching for the exact source of the ruckus.

Vincent had tried to get up, you see. He had actually made it to his feet! But he thought better of it, wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, and collapsed back on the chair. Something like this would definitely have earned him a scolding had he been assigned anyone else, but Mara was someone who didn't particularly require his company twenty-five hours a day. It was comforting to have her around. She gave him some breathing room, but she nurtured him just enough to keep him coming back for more. Vincent truly did consider her a friend, but maybe that wasn't all it was...

He was getting hungry.

[Baconwizard]

Ava wandered around the hotel, her eyes wide at all the grand, antique decor and design. The old furniture looked as if it hadn't aged a day, much like it's inhabitants. It seemed like it would be easy to get lost in such a place, and Ava had a sneaking suspicion that she was already lost. She tried convincing herself that it wasn't a terrible thing that she had gotten lost; Ava had just been hired to paint a portrait of one of the young immortal children, so she was probably allowed to explore a little bit. Find the best lighting, or some other artsy excuse.

Hefting the large bag that carried her canvas and paints, Ava wandered down a hallway, peeking into half-cracked doors to see what was inside. Half the fun of large mansions, or hotels was exploring the hidden depths. Ava used to spend all her time exploring her parent's extensive mansion, until her parents always summoned her back to her studies, or some social function they needed her at. Ava looked down the hall, blinking at the glass doors that looked as if they led outside. Heart speeding up a little bit, Ava hurried the rest of the way, then carefully stepped outside into the heat.

Despite the humid summer warmth, Ava smiled, looking around at the bright flowers that lined the edges of the pathway. Carefully slipping her bag off her shoulder, Ava placed it near the wall, then moved towards some bright fuchsia flowers that were almost spilling out onto the path. Unaware that there was a person behind her, Ava crouched down, gently cupping a flower in her hand, making a soft noise at the colors.

[Atoli01]

Curiosity beat the heat, apparently. Vincent, hearing small rustling sounds behind him, instinctively turned around to look for its source. Whether or not he was surrounded by immortals, he was raised to carry with him an acute awareness of his surroundings. He only managed to blink in confusion a couple times upon seeing a petite, black haired girl tenderly cradling a flower in her hands. From her haircut and profile alone, Vincent suspected that she was not an immortal. He had never seen a girl such as her here before. Of course, the hotel could be catering to it's more regular guests at the moment, but even at that, all the rooms were supposed to be booked for them... Maybe she was an employee here?

"Excuse me, miss. I hate to be a bother, but could I ask for an introduction? I don't recall having seen you around before." His body was twisted around in the bench to allow him a better view of the girl, and one of his arms, resting on the bench's back, was being used to prop his head up.

[Baconwizard]

Ava jumped about a foot in the air, startled by the male voice behind her. Her head swiveled around to stare at the person reclining on the couch, and Ava shrunk back slightly, her cheeks warming up with shyness and embarrassment. She hadn't realized that someone had been there... Ava hoped with all her heart this strange man hadn't seen her crooning at the flowers. That would be embarrassing beyond belief!

Realizing that she was pausing for longer than acceptable, Ava quickly stood up, brushing off her skirt with a nervous movement. "U-um, sorry to disturb you, sir..." Why was she apologizing?! Inwardly cringing at her awkwardness, Ava swallowed, making sure not to make eye contact. He was too... suave for Ava to maintain something like eye contact. "I-I'm just the artist they called for a portrait, um... My name is Ava Liske."

Ava trailed off, not sure what else she should do at that point. Should she curtsey? He looked like he was one of the immortals in the hotel, and there was no telling what he could be. Ava's cheeks grew a little pink; it was apparent now that even with all of her mother's etiquette lessons, there was no hope in salvaging Ava's decorum.

[Atoli01]

Vincent shook his head in response, meaning to say that she hadn't bothered him in the slightest. Although he was on one of his rare breaks (due to the fact that Mara was currently in one of today's many meetings), it didn't bother him to spend the time adding to his contact list. He didn't suppose a human connection would do him the greatest bit of good, but it couldn't hurt anyone, right?

"Nice to meet you, Ava. My name is Vincent Halbert Ridley," he told the girl, actually taking the effort in this moment to stand from the bench and bow to her. "Don't mind me. I am a mere servant around here. You said you were here to paint a portrait, correct? Could you perhaps be in need of assistance in finding the client?"

She had introduced herself as an artist. Maybe he could see about getting Mara a portrait for the holidays... Vincent would have to properly judge the girl's artistic talent first.

[Baconwizard]

Ava looked a little surprised at the offer, and her shoulders relaxed slightly. "Um..." She dithered for a moment, not sure if she wanted this stranger's help. But... he wasn't quite a stranger, was he? Ava knew his name, and he was kind enough to offer his help. Blinking up at the man, she nodded her head, a small smile on her face. "Y-yes, that would help a lot, thank you."

Reaching in her skirt pocket, Ava looked at her instructions. "I'm doing a portrait of a little boy named... Peregrine?" Ava frowned at the letter. Immortal people certainly gave their kids funny names. Blinking back up at Vincent, Ava realized that she probably needed to give him a little more information. "Um, I was told he'd be around here somewhere. I think he heard that he was getting his portrait done, and ran away." Ava giggled at that, shrugging her shoulders sheepishly. "I don't really blame him."

[Atoli01]

Vincent was simply pleased that he could be of service to the young woman. Even after so many years, even after knowing nothing else, such thoughts still seemed strange in his head. Sometimes, he supposed, parents truly were successful in molding their children a certain way. He was the textbook example of such, anyway. Upon listening to the girl's explanation however, his mind instantly flicked to the joyous sounds of laughter and tiny footsteps that had been flooding the courtyard just moments prior. Upon closer evaluation, such sounds could still be heard, albeit farther in the distance.

"Then, in that case, could he possibly be one of the children playing over there?" It was more of a voiced inquiry to himself rather than her. Vincent could picture the little boy in his head; stick thin, short blonde hair, freckled face and blue eyes. For a child, he was quite cute, Vincent had to admit. He was well-mannered, yet he could recall hearing tales a couple run-ins with his parents that had left a soured taste in Mara's mouth.

"Please follow me, ma'm. Rather, maybe you could help as well? He's a little blonde boy, yay tall," Vincent leveled one of his hands around his hip, "and has a few freckles across the bridge of his nose."

[Baconwizard]

Ava fell into step with the man, looking up at him with wide brown eyes as he talked. Her smile grew slightly as he described the little boy, and she clasped her hands in front of her. "He sounds cute! If he sat still for a little bit, he'd probably be fun to paint."

Ava trailed off, her attention grabbed by a tree that was covered up with flowering vines, and her feet paused in their movement. Her eyes flicked over the tree with an artist's appreciation, and her expression lit up, her hands clapping together slightly with excitement. "This garden is so beautiful! Gosh, I would spend all day in this garden if I could. All these flowers make me so happy!" Ava caught herself, and she looked at Vincent with a wide-eyed expression, as if she wasn't sure how he'd react. Realizing that he was probably not going to make fun of her, Ava's face melted into a smile, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Um... was that to weird to say..."

[Atoli01]

Ava truly did possess the heart and soul of an artist. That's the conclusion that Vincent reached after watching her get excited not only over painting Peregrine, but the garden's trees as well. Instead of teasing her like it was obvious that she feared, I smiled gently at her. "You really do love painting, don't you?" The man almost found it cute, in a childlike manner.

"Let's continue, shall we?" he asked her tenderly, before continuing down the garden's path. Vincent could hear the voices of the children getting closer, and he absentmindedly wondered where they were before a certain little one came running straight into his legs, falling backwards from the unexpected impact. A wide grin spreading across the man's face, he swooped the little boy up into his arms and turned to face Ava.

"I found the little one!"

[Baconwizard]

Ava's eyes flickered at Vincent's first observation, and she fell back into step, hanging a little behind the man. Her cheeks grew a little warm at the strange compliment. Was it a compliment? It made Ava happy, she supposed, that someone recognized that she was passionate about art. Not many people had encouraged her hobby-slash-job.

Then suddenly, a child had appeared out of nowhere and slammed into Vincent's legs. Ava jumped, her reaction a bit delayed, and she stared wide-eyed at the small boy that Vincent presented to her. "Y-you did!" She exclaimed, a bright smile on her face, and she let out a breathy laugh, clasping her hands together. Leaning towards the little boy, Ava smoothed out the straw-colored hair. "Now let's get you back, young Peregrine. Your mother is probably worried about you!"

[Atoli01]

Just mention of his mother alone was enough to make Vincent shudder. A pudgy, blonde, red-faced woman who was content in sitting upon her husband's large pile of cash. (Apparently she was quite the stunner back in her younger days, though she had long since let her physical appearance go.) Although she had been born into royalty, she was originally of a much lesser family. The difference between that woman and Peregrine were stark. It was hard to believe that the small boy, whose hair was being patted by Ava, was her son.

Nevertheless, Ava needed to get her work done. "Shall we take this child back to his mother, then?" Vincent's words were more along the lines of a command than a mere question or suggestion. Peregrine still looked a bit confused, so Vincent wanted to take advantage of that only slightly squirming boy's state, before he tried to make a wild dash for it again.

Vincent didn't think his mother was in any of the meetings right now...? Maybe she'd be having tea at this hour. That was the man's first guess, anyway, and where he set his sights toward.

[Baconwizard]

Ava nodded at Vincent's suggestion, perfectly happy to go along. She blinked up at him, a small smile on her face, then she turned her attention back to the little boy. It was apparent that Ava liked children, but had no idea how to act around them, and she dithered for a moment before she gently took the little boy's hand in hers. "Let's go find your mother, Peregrine," she chirped, bending down slightly so that she could look in the boy's eyes. "It'll be an adventure!" Ava held back a small laugh, enjoying the make-believe idea that she, Vincent, and the little boy were really on an adventure together.

[It would probably be a good idea to figure out how old Peregrine is. :U Do immortals age? Or do they age until a certain point?]

[Atoli01]

With a polite, faint smile, Vincent took Peregrine's hand in his as well, following suit with Ava. Maybe going on an "adventure" wasn't too bad, after all. He had rarely done such things as this even as a child, when he would've been the one in Peregrine's shoes, whether it be with an adult or other children his age. Music practice, etiquette classes, personal tutors (to teach the more academic classes), art, cooking... Nearly every subject but things like fun and games were included in his childhood. So, maybe being a kid again, even fifteen years later, didn't seem like such a bad idea.

"Yes, yes! An adventure, Peregrine!" Vincent swung his arm up in delight, dragging the small boy's hand along with it. It elicited a short glare from the boy, but his parents had at least been good in teaching him manners (most of the time), and he cut it out after only a moment or two. "Off to the picnic tables we go!" he hummed in delight, leading both Peregrine and Ava through the garden.

[Baconwizard]

Ava glanced over at Vincent, a laugh bubbling up out of her at the change in the man's demeanor. Her steps becoming light as well, Ava bounced along, pulling the boy with her. "Do you know where the picnic tables are?" She asked the little boy, who looked as if he didn't want to be around these crazy adults anymore. Ava raised her eyebrows sheepishly, glancing up at Vincent again. "Don't worry, Peregrine, once we find your mom, we'll be out of your hair."

Ava looked around the garden, her eyes sparkling at the beautiful arrangements of flowers and trees. She wondered if things would have been different if her parents had a garden like this. Ava probably would have spent more time outside, playing make-believe with herself. Looking down at the little boy, Ava tried again to strike up a conversation with him. "Do you like playing out here with your friends?"

[Atoli01]

Vincent found Peregrine's demeanor toward the two of them to be quite comical. He was usually a friendly, bright kid, but in seeing his refusal to answer even Ava's simple question about his friends, one could assume that the two of them weren't seen by the boy to be the best of his friends (much less, friends at all). Peregrine was unhappy with them, but alas, what was there that the two could do? Ava had been assigned to paint a portrait of him, and it was Vincent's duty as a butler to take proper care of anyone in or who came into contact with the royal families.

"Miss Sylvester?" Vincent called rather timidly from around a large hedge when they had finally reached the spot. The walk was only a few minutes, but it was enough. When Vincent heard a hearty, "Yes?" in response, his ears perked up. Stealing a glance at Ava, he nodded, telling her to let go of the boy's hand. Vincent only gripped Peregrine's hand tighter as he took a step around the hedges and into what some might argue to be the most peaceful portion of the garden.

"I found your son. I heard he was supposed to have his portrait painted as well? I have the artist here as well, if you'd like, ma'am." The woman, for once in her lifetime, appeared ecstatic.