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Since everyone seems to be in the spirit of introducing themselves... { Vincent looks as out of place as possible. He is obviously wearing Victorian clothes - of such a cut that they are obviously expensive - and he is resting in the grass under a great tree. }

I am Vincent Phantomhive. I have never owned a farm, though I was set to inherit a manor.

{ Let it not be said that he is completely lazy, however. Nearby, some planting has been done and there is a shovel resting against a rock. }

Are there any other nobles about? How are you faring with your physical labor?

{ He finds the idea of nobles laboring amusing, okay. }

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{ Victorian. It will be nice to get plenty of information for himself, his family and the Queen. The Phantomhives are her loyal dogs. }

At least you are not alone! I have housemates too.

{ He sees that pendant, but it seems too indelicate to ask a lady such a question. Even for him. }

I am an Earl, technically, but what good will a title do me here? { Vincent stretches an arm behind his head, smiling. } Besides, boasting can have nasty consequences.

[Then she might be a treasure trove of information for him if he ever got her talking about her past. Something that was exceedingly hard to do with how determined she was to bury it.]

I vas never alone to begin vith. Ve came here togezher... his idea amusingly enough und it vas a good move for both of us.

[It really, really was.]

Besides, it's a good thing to haf ozhers around. It keeps life interesting.

[As for his title, she was even more amused.]

Titles are vorthless here. Zhe opportunity to reinvent yourself here iz vat matters. Besides, boasting as more consequences zhan some might realize. It speaks vell that you haf a good head on your shoulders to recognize zhat.

{ Well, there are ways to encourage her. Vincent isn't in any rush and he doesn't really have much use for remembering the past either. He has recently lost his mother.

He smiles, but the expression doesn't reach or warm his eyes.} I hope you are never parted.

{ Loss is a heavy burden to carry and no farm can make up for it. }

It does, doesn't it. I like the quiet now and then, but never forever.

{ His spirits are raised by her praise and he almost seems to glow. }

I like difficult games. I assure you my family didn't become nobility by being negligent or lazy! I would be a poor heir if I picked up such bad habits.

[He could try but, she did have a slightly over protective significant other and with good reason. She noted that his smile didn't quite reach his eyes and just chose not to comment.

Obviously, there was something about what she said that bothered him.]

Az do I. Ve vork vell togezher.

[And her happiness was something Rip did have a hard time containing as she shifted in her seat to lean back as her device was set on her desk. With how thin Rip was naturally, it wasn't hard to notice a slight baby bump.]

Zhen you family must haf vorked hard to gain your titles. Earning zhings instead of being handed zhem is definitely more revarding.

Besides, difficult games are sometimes zhe games zhat are zhe most satisfying to win.

{ Bothered might be too strong of a word. Vincent misses his mother and without her, he is only truly close with his sister and his butler. Yet he is expected to be, in all ways, a proper Earl. Thus he must move on and move forward. }

I am searching for my...companion...too. { A wife. He has choices. Many choices. But he needs someone who suits him.

Though he is mostly a gentleman, Vincent does notice that tell-tale curve of her stomach. A hard-working mother? Admirable! }

I couldn't agree more. Do you believe in a true, lasting victory? I feel such things only exist in dreams.

Zhen I hope you find zhem. Everyone deserves to be happy.

[Even a monster like her. It just so happened her husband to be was just as much of a monster as she was though they were actively trying to put that behind them and just focus on their future together. It wasn't an easy task, but, they were managing.

Rip would be even more of a hard working mother IF she were allowed to be the one to tend her fields again. Instead, she balanced the books at the trade off. Still hard work, just not the hard work she preferred to do.]

That's the thing about victories, zhe moment you haf it you desire more. But, I do believe in a lasting victory. It really just depends on your definition of vat a victory is.

I will. I believe my perfect wife is out there.

{ Some will think him a monster too - someone lacking empathy entirely. But he isn't as cold-hearted as he seems and Vincent is prone to spells of melancholy when he is not actively engaged with business or family. Therefore he wants his life to be full to bursting.

The fields are not the place for her! What if she lost the baby? Absolutely not. Vincent too would be against her idea. }

You might have a point. If your expectations are shifted or lowered, lasting victories could be possible. But I would never be content with such a bargain.

[No wonder she was getting along well with him. Those were traits both her soon to be husband and herself tended to carry from time to time. Both the lacking empathy and the spells of melancholy when left to their thoughts for too long.

Rip was just happy she wasn't left to her thoughts longer than necessary otherwise she might not have been as agreeable as she is in this moment.]

I find zhat zhe definition of victory shifts over time, not because expectations are lowered or shifted to be less zhan you initially desired, but, because your priorities change.

[She idly started to toy with a pen on her desk.]

For me, a lasting victory vill be a long happy life vith my husband und healthy children to raise.

[Compared to her past? The victory for her is living when she wasn't supposed to on top of finding happiness she would have been otherwise denied.]

At one time, zhat lasting victory may haf been being victorious in battle vhether I died or lived. But, zhat vas a very long time ago.

As I said, priorities can change und so can one's definition of victory.

{ He understands - insofar as he can with his human experience. Vincent actually prefers to be in deadly danger rather than feeling depression/melancholy. That might change once he has a family of his own, but likely not. He is not the sort of man to settle down - nor will the Queen let him retire. }

My priorities now are simple. Almost ridiculously mundane. I must abide by society's expectations and somehow fulfill my own desires in the process.

{ He gives her a softer expression, nodding. }

Take care of yourself and I can see that easily done.

{ Chuckling, Vincent picks a blade of grass and rolls it between his fingers. }

I want a family too. And children. But I won't settle for just anyone. She has to be my equal.

[Rip would rather be tending her farm or out hunting like she used to than being left alone with those feelings. She tended to chase the very sensation of being alive when she could. Or she used to. It was a feeling that was becoming more and more attainable with each passing month. ]

Und yet your title means nothing here~. So, do you still haf to hold to societies expectations vhile you are here? Or iz that only for back home?

[Food for thought Vincent.]

I intend to und my betrothed tends to be a little.. over protective. It's my first child und he's had... bad experiences in the past loosing people he's cared about.

[That's all she's going to say on the matter.]

But, I'm sure your equal is out zhere vaiting for you. Hell, I met my betrothed in battle.

[Her smile faded slightly. Not something she really wanted to discuss.]

Anyvay, ve chose each ozher und zhe rest is history. I vouldn't haf anyone else as my mate.

Only back home. Here... { He shrugs his shoulders and draws a knee up to his chest, resting his arm on it. } I can be anyone. The only given is managing a farm.

{ Even that he can put off on someone else if he really wants to go that far. }

Then, for his sake, stay away from adventures. { Vincent grins at her, hoping to put her at ease. } He won't lose you or his child. The day will come when he will have both of you as active parts of his life.

{ He looks a little surprised, but she does seem the sort of woman that would be a nice soldier. }

I'm not sure if that's how I want to meet my wife. { Who knows? }

Then no match can be better. We're given such a short amount of time to court in my world. But I trust that I'll know her when I see her.

Zhen my suggestion is take charge of this opportunity und find out just vat you desire for yourself.

[She did and Rip was confidant he could to. As for his suggestion, Rip gave a faint amused snort as she kept toying with her pen. ]

Fair enough, but, I'm hardly a voman that likes to stay safe or inside. I'd razher be doing vhether it's tending zhe fields or livestock.. or out hunting. Ozhervise I get too restless.

[And she was strictly forbidden to go out during the day for very good reason considering what she was. Not, that she's about to admit to that to anyone.]

Meeting your significant ozher in battle isn't... completely ideal. Zo, I hope for your sake it's a much nicer meeting zhan mine.

[Hopefully.]

Sounds like you're quite zhe romantic at heart~.

I'm not difficult to please. Then again, I am accustomed to being waited upon and having large funds to my name.

{ He grins as if none of that is of any consequence. To Vincent, perhaps it isn't. He will find a way to land on his feet. }

You are doing something. Growing a baby is no small feat!

{ Don't make him come over and reprimand you, young lady. }

But you do not regret it. I suppose meeting her anywhere would be fine.

{ He laughs and lets the wind take away the blade of grass he had plucked. }

Most would disagree with you vehemently.

[Rip shakes her head slightly and honestly? Wasn't surprised. He seemed like that might have been the case. That was something she wouldn't know how to handle for the simple fact that she was too used to working for things.

...Which is why being relegated to doing the ledgers instead of working on her farm like she wanted left her slightly restless.]

I know, but, I still vish I can do more around here.

[She'd like to see him try.]

How could I regret it? Ve are togezher now und starting a family.

[She smirks a little and keeps toying with her pen for a few moments longer before setting it down.]

Vell, I'm seeing a romantic before me und I doubt most really mattered.

{ They both share that trait. Restlessness. Vincent might seem completely at ease with his book under the shade of a nice tree, but his mind is always working. He isn't where he wants to be, but there is land to conquer here. He will want more of it undoubtedly. }

If you are bringing children into the world, you might consider acquiring more land.

{ He might be living through her a bit. }

He must be proud.

{ Grinning, he shrugs his shoulders. }

I can be what I need to be. My mother taught me to change my skin as necessary.

Ve already haf two farms. My husbands und my own und personally, I zhink that might be enough for now.

[Heaven knows they're busy enough already and when the baby comes, Rip wonders just how much they will be able to handle.]

He is und treats me like a queen.

[She smiles fondly. Rip couldn't lie, she enjoyed it.]

It sounds like you vould make an excellent spy during vartime.

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