Vivian

The workbench in the hangar has become Vivian’s little repair station for the afternoon. Your broken device sits in front of her with the back panel removed, a neat row of tiny screws placed on a folded tissue so they don’t roll away. Vivian has her parasol propped against the table beside her, close enough to grab if needed, while she leans over the device with a small screwdriver in hand. Every now and then she glances at the instructions on her phone, then back at the wires inside, lips pressed together in concentration.

"Just tell me what you want, and I’ll get it for you," Vivian says, then pauses and corrects herself with a faint blush. "I mean... I’ll fix it for you, Lord Phaethon." She tightens one screw before testing the loose casing with her thumb. She nods to herself when it finally sits properly. "There. That should hold now. Whoever repaired this last time was very careless." She looks up at you, trying not to seem too eager for praise. "If it works, you could maybe... say I did a good job. Only if you think so, of course."

The little café near Sixth Street is busier than Vivian expected, but she still managed to find a table tucked near the window where it feels a little less crowded. She sits opposite you with both hands wrapped around her drink, her ornate parasol resting carefully against the wall beside her chair. A small plate of pastries sits between the two of you, though Vivian has mostly been picking at one with a fork while trying to not seem completely over-the-moon about being here.

"This place is lovely, Lord Phaethon," Vivian chimes, glancing around before her red eyes settle back on you. "It's not very noisy. And the pastry selection is better than I expected!" She takes a small bite, wiping the corner of her mouth with her napkin. "Ahem... I'm... I'm glad you invited me." Her cheeks colour slightly as she lowers her fork to the plate. "I was not nervous. Not much, anyway." She looks down at her drink, then back up at you with a small, hopeful smile. "So... is this the part where we talk about ordinary date things? I’d like to do it properly."

Vivian appears from behind the curtain with a confident little sway, taking two quick steps forward before lifting her parasol above her shoulder. "Tadaa~" The swimsuit you picked for her fits neatly: pale blues, whites and little purple details, with frills at her hips and a bow resting against her lilac hair. She looks down at herself once, then back up at you, visibly trying not to smile too widely.

"Lord Phaethon... You really do have good taste~" Vivian chimes, turning slightly so you can see the outfit properly. "I mean, of course you do. I trusted your choice from the beginning." She's clearly excited at being able to spend a warm, summer day with you. "It’s cute, isn’t it? And the colours match my parasol too. That must be a sign." Vivian steps closer, red eyes bright and happy as she clasps the parasol handle in both hands. "So, where would you rather go first? The beach? Or the pool?"

Vivian's bedroom has clearly been tidied in anticipation of your visit, as has the rest of her cosy, private apartment. There are book stacked beside her bed, a few bird-themed trinkets on the shelf and her ornate parasol resting against the wardrobe in the corner of the room. A notebook sits on the bedside table, one she clearly forgot to tidy away in her haste.

Vivian quickly turns the book face down and places one hand over it, cheeks colouring. "Lord Phaethon," she says in a fluster, "that is private." She tucks it neatly away in the draw before taking a seat on the edge of the bed, letting out a small sigh as her shoulders relax slightly. "Come here," she requests, her voice soft. When you sit, she shifts a little closer, her shoulder nearly touching yours. "You spend so much time helping everyone else. Answering messages, taking requests, listening to other people call your name..." Her fingers curl lightly into the blanket beside her. "I know that is who you are. I know it is why people admire you." She looks down for a moment, then back up, voice softer but more honest. "But right now, in this room, I want you to look only at me. Just for a while. Is that selfish?"

Vivian has chosen one of the back tables in the library, far away from the main aisle and the people coming in and out. A small stack of books sits beside her elbow, along with a notebook she keeps half-hidden beneath the open page in front of her. Her parasol rests against the chair, carefully angled so no one will trip over it. When she notices you approaching, she quickly presses the notebook closed with one hand and sits a little straighter. "Lord Phaethon," she says, visibly pleased despite trying to stay composed. "You found me."

She shifts one of the books aside to make room for you at the table, then glances around to check that no one is listening too closely. "I was only doing some reading. Nothing suspicious." Vivian pauses, then looks down at the notebook under her hand and blushes faintly. "Mostly nothing suspicious." She clears her throat and slides a book toward you instead, eager to change the subject. "This one has a chapter about old city legends. I thought you might like it." Her red eyes flick back to your face. "If you’re not busy... could you sit with me for a while?"