✘ 34 ✘ distraction

[notwhatiwas]

[Vincent's birthday was almost a week ago. Thanks to the timing of everyone's punishments and the fact that the only people who could POSSIBLY know the importance of the date were thereby indisposed, he seems to have gotten by without anyone attempting to pull anything stupid.

Or at least so he thinks. It's really only a matter of timeRegardless

Comments

I'm not sure "distraction" is the right word, but HI! :D

[intimacyphobic]

[Lucrecia has not been this nervous since her first grad school entrance exam. She's been looking for Vincent, actually, because some helpful outside sources indirectly reminded her what time of year it was. Oh, how she fails so hard.

But she does care, sort of. And so, more than fashionably late, she creeps up hesitantly behind him, holding a jar wrapped in plain paper and tied with one of her ribbons.

She has... no idea how much he knows about what's been going on with her and the others--probably everything, it's Vincent, after all--and, therefore, no idea what kind of reception she would have from him. She bites her tongue to keep from clearing her throat, gently setting the jar on the bar and freezing, debating speaking to him, or turning and running off without an explanation.

Oh, hell, he probably heard her enter the room. So, in her smallest voice, there's a whispered:]

Hi.

[notwhatiwas]

[Vincent will not comment on the fact that, for a fraction of a second, his face lights up when he hears her voice. One of these days that will stop, he's sure, but for the moment those shadows of his feelings for her still show themselves now and then.

But only for a second.

He turns to look at her, eyes flickering from her face to the parcel in her hands and back again.]

Hello.

[He straightens in his seat and pulls his things aside a little, enough that she should be able to comfortably take a seat herself, if she wants.

...Vincent hates being so conflicted.]

[intimacyphobic]

[She definitely doesn't catch his look, probably because even after what he said at their first meeting, Lucrecia hardly believes someone could feel that way about her, particularly after what she's done, will do.

She nods and sits down, lacing and unlacing her hands a few times, eyes cast to the bar as she looks for more words.

She does notice his glances, however, and eventually, she speaks quickly and quietly.]

Happy Birthday.

[There's more wringing of her hands as she looks down at her lap, stealing a glance sidelong first at him, then at the package. Sucking in a breath, she scoots it a little closer to him with the definite sound of glass sliding on counter.]

It's... for you.

[She gestures by flipping her palm up, fingers fluttering, as if she's explaining a white board diagram. And with that, her manner doesn't ease so much as allows her to focus in on something more technical and familiar than this attempt at... whatever it was. She had no idea. And felt dreadfully silly.]Dionaea muscipula. At least I think that's what

[notwhatiwas]

[For a minute Vincent just sits there. He blinks, eyebrows arching ever so slightly, and doesn't seem to believe her.

A flytrap? Lucrecia engineered him a flytrap? For his birthday? That's--Honestly, he's moved. It doesn't really show, but there is a glint of something in his eyes as he turns and just holds out both hands for the jar.]

[intimacyphobic]

[When he holds out his hands, she eagerly deposits the three quart jar in them, lips sucked in to hide a smile that's a touch surprised and infinitely pleased.

The original plant came from an accidental excursion to the jungle deck, and it had been a definite chunk of hours of research and cultivation to arrive at the decently sized specimen he'd find under that paper. Still, considering what she was capable of, this felt like a small hobby project, a way to wile away the time.]

Go on--open it. ... If you want. The light won't... hurt it, either. It's just not necessary. But you might want to keep the lid closed.

[notwhatiwas]

[Vincent tugs at the ribbon a little, then pulls the glove off his good hand with his teeth, holding the jar in his other hand for a moment as he turns to deposit it on the bar. His notes get pushed aside in a short sweep of his arm in the motion, and he sets the leather glove ontop of them before holding the container in place with his left hand and working the ribbon loose with his right.

It's been a very long time since he got a real gift, to be honest. The other members of Avalanche probably tried, but Vincent didn't exactly make his whereabouts known after Sephiroth's defeat, and wasn't particularly interested in doing so after the Remnant incident.

He thinks about what she said about leaving the lid closed as he carefully pulls away the paper, revealing the bright green-on-red--mostly red, as she said--leaves and stalks of the plant.

After a moment of just looking at it, surveying the gift, he turns to look at Lucrecia instead. And he may almost be smiling.]

Thank you.

[He wonders if he should name it.]

[intimacyphobic]

You're welcome.

[She shifts, hiding behind her bangs as she tucks her shoulders up and smiles.]

You should only have to check the moisture level once a week or so, when you feed her--it. Feed it.

[Yes, Lucy made him a pet. In fact, considering she had to add a nervous system to stabilize the metabolic functions, it might, might possess a very rudimentary consciousness. Though... it won't ever run away or scream at the sight of him. In fact, if he keeps her fed and watered, and maybe plays a few mp3s once in a while, she'll think he's a pretty swell guy.]