#universal-legacy|Vinzent Vogrand

[galaxy-0f-muses]

Annette was quickly yet silently leading them off to her current place of residence. Thankfully, it wasn't too far away from what they were used to for walking, so it shouldn't be long until they got there. The only major issue was the sheer number of people around making it a bit difficult to maneuver both herself and him. Not to mention the pause lights for the paths. . .

They were at one of these pauses when she heard him speak, a bit surprised to hear the other suddenly speaking up. Looking over, her eyes were wide, before they quickly softened. After all. . .

"It's. . . Okay, dear. You were startled. I was the same." She quietly admitted, gaze moving back toward the indicator that could say if they can go or not. When she saw it change, she gently grabbed his hand, to lead him the right way between the two crossings. "I. . . I do not blame you for your reaction."

She could never blame him for his reaction.

But, thankfully, they seemed to reach their final destination. Her free hand reached into her pocket for the key, seamlessly moving from grabbing it to having the door unlocked within moments. She slid right into the place, pulling him in with her. Then, just as quickly, she had the door shut and locked, the key going back into her pocket. A trend that had been with her since even before all of this. . . A way to keep herself and others with her safe when she was being cautious.

"There. . . That should do it."

"Of course, please lead the way, my dear." Quickly falling in line behind her, Vinzent waited for her to take the lead and show him where to go. With all of these machinations around, the constant faint hum of tamed lightning, and far more people than he'd seen in one place. . .

Indeed, the more he observed their surroundings, the more he recognized that it would likely be wiser for him to let his beloved take the lead here. After all, knowing his past luck, he was likely to have a hundred and one things go wrong if he tried to lead them somewhere he thought was safe and private. And even then, it likely wouldn't even be as private as he'd believe it was.

Even as he let her lead the way, he couldn't help being a bit quieter than he usually was, especially seeing as it slowly registered that he'd been a little. . . Rough and rude with her in his anxiety driven state of being.

"Dear. . . I'm sorry. . ."

[galaxy-0f-muses]

That was exactly what she was trying to do, at the moment. Truthfully, the way they had the streets in the current day and age made it a bit harder to memorize and traverse them, but she knew she could, at least, get them back to the old Monet manor. Even as run down and dilapidated as it was, it was secluded, and no one seemed to go near it due to various rumors.

"I do, yes. . ." She mindlessly responded, gaze traveling over toward him. Annette offered a hand to the other, along with a small, nervous smile. "May we go? I will make sure that we aren't in the way of anything."

The last thing she wanted was for him to accidentally get hit by a random machine, or anything like that. It would very much be problematic if that happened. . .

"Hmmm. . . Is that so? If you insist, that it's fine. . ." He was admittedly a little quiet after having snapped. He knew that it wasn't fair of him to snap at her like that, but all things considered, he just didn't know how to feel about the sudden shifts in his environment and the fact that he was seeing his dear love right there, alive.

Yet, if the change in the technology was anything to go by, she should not be alive. He shouldn't be alive. So, how. . .? How was it. . .?

He didn't know. He didn't fucking know, but he figured that it was in his best interest to see if they could find somewhere that they could actually talk about it in private.

"Annette, dear, you don't happen to have somewhere that we could go to for some personal privacy, do you? Somewhere that we could discuss things without prying eyes on us?"

[galaxy-0f-muses]

"N-no, no. . . I understand." She quietly responded, feeling her gaze latch onto the ground in front of herself. She had figured that she would find him when she heard the rumors of a person. . . 'Cosplaying' as a pirate was around. She had been around just long enough to be able to start to comprehend these modern words, and she just had that feeling that. . . It was him.

She was glad it was so, but she hadn't been expecting him to be so hostile. Annette could admit she had no idea how he actually. . . But she had hoped that her face was more of a relief than anything else. "They are used to my attire, however. The town just sees me as someone with a. . . Unique sense of aesthetic. So do not be concerned as to how I am looked upon."

everyone has a secret, and everyone lies. (Annette to Vinzent)

"Me and you both know this all too well, Ms. Monet. However, need I remind you that in our case, these lies are an unfortunately necessity for us to stay alive right now." As Vinzent had been guiding the silver haired young lady to her new destination, her little quip had partially struck a nerve. Sure, he was used to lying about who he was to others on a regular. It came with being a pirate, sailing into docks and bays that he'd normally be considered wanted in.

It was different to be doing it in a strange age where his appearance, and hers, would likely attract some unwanted attention that could very well get the both of them killed if people decided that it was no good. For the time being, people were accepting the fact that they were around for some sort of convention.

"I'm sorry, dear. I'm just confused and stressed."