If we Don't Try, We'll Never Know [Rhys]

[vasilia abigail fortescue]

February 5th, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

Vasilia had a very strong work ethic. Unfortunately she was extremely poor at working in moderation. She had the uncanny ability to hyper focus, in so much that she completely ignored her own basic needs. Clearly, this was a very bad skill to have, as Vasilia's health had suffered greatly since the summer because of it. Owning and running the pub was a full time job. But she was also still working quite a few hours at her family's ice cream shop, on top of finishing her culinary schooling. 

But, in recent months she'd been trying to be better. sharing the ice cream shop's work load with her brothers. Letting them in share in the burden that she'd been carrying for so long. But it wasn't just that. She'd also made some new friendships. Strong ones. One in particular had never been planned and yet... it was the one that made her heart flutter and beat fast. It was a foreign feeling. Vasilia had never felt like this towards anyone before, though it wasn't for lack of trying. To make matters worse, the person that was making her heart beat so fast? One of her brother's old school friend/now coworker. Rhys Greyback. A man with quite the womanizer reputation at her own pub, for heaven's sake! She'd seen said reputation in action a number of times. And yet it didn't make her heart skip any less. It didn't stop the heartache everytime she saw him flirt with a woman, or wish it was her in that woman's shoes. But unfortunately she knew he'd never look at her like that. She very clearly wasn't his type. Plus, could he even see her as anything other then Ilija's little sister? These thoughts were all consuming when she was idle.

So.... She didn't stay idle.

Months of trying to balance her work and personal life, wasted. Maybe if Rhys, someone who easily distracted her, had been in the pub recently it wouldn't have been so bad. But she hadn't seen him since he returned from Yrisle. She didn't want to think to much about why. He was probably busy with all his work. That had to be it... right?

Vasilia was working just as many hours as when she'd first collapsed. Actually, she'd been working even more. While business was never slow for pubs, it had been a little slower in January. January in general was a slow time of year as it wasn't too popular for travel. People were getting back into their work after winter holidays. By February though life was back to normal for people, so business was booming once again. She was also starting to get catering requests. 

Each day the circles under her eyes grew darker, her already pale skin paler then usual. But she still had that same smile, as if she could handle the weight of the world on her shoulders and never waver. 

There was a night where she didn't go home, instead falling asleep in her office at the Violet Hound. Her staff, understandably, had been a little worried when they realized, but she'd reassured them that she'd leave early the next night. Only, she didn't. She didn't leave at all. Again. So when her morning staff got in, and found Vasilia already there they were far more concerned. This time they planned on doing something about it though. 

Vasilia had stepped out of her office for a minute, running down to the pub's cellar to check for a particular brand of gin. She was sure they had a few extra bottles, but the inventory log showed the one behind the bar was the last one. While she was gone, one of her waiters sneaked into her office and took her phone, shooting a quick text to the one person they knew would be willing... and able.... to stop their work-a-holic boss. Once the text was sent, they put the phone back in her office and went back to work like nothing had happened. 

Fifteen minutes later, and someone walked through the door. A few galleons changed hands between the staff (who had taken bets on how long it would take this mysterious person). Then, they pointed the person through the kitchen, and to the stairwell that went to the cellar, where their boss was currently rummaging through crates to find the wayward Gin.

[rhys alexander greyback]

every now and then, the stars align

boy and girl meet by the great design

February 5, 2026
vasilia abigail fortescue

Rhys pulled a fresh t-shirt over his head. There were the remnants of a headache, yet another hangover. He could still see the look in Sienna’s face as she handed him more aspirin pills, and he refused to discuss the subject of Vasilia Fortescue or any woman further for that matter. At this rate, he was going to drink through all the whiskey in his flat and through the supply that Maria had given him back in December but was just secretly hoping whatever he was feeling would pass. Maybe it was temporary, like a crush that faded with time. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and Rhys found that many things reminded him of her. Just the previous night, he’d been handed a shot of firewhiskey mixed with something with the strong scent of cinnamon, and he’d paused because it made his heart flutter. Cinnamon even reminded him of her. The last time Rhys had felt his stomach flip like this, he'd been sixteen years old. 

He stretched, sore from falling asleep on the couch, but he’d managed to get up at a decent time and shower to look presentable to the world. But he paused when he heard his phone buzz on his nightstand, it was loud against the wood, which made him cringe slightly. He walked over to his phone, and again his heart tripped over itself when he saw who it was from. Pausing, he grabbed the phone and unlocked the screen. He supposed he couldn't avoid her forever while he was sorting through his feelings. But very quickly, it was apparent it wasn’t from Vas but from her staff, and their words concerned him. Rhys recalled when she’d told him of how she’d collapsed the previous year, she worked too hard for her own good, and Rhys noted that as well from his angle.

Rhys put his phone in his pocket, pausing to take a breath and gather himself. Not that Vasilia would ever reach out for such a thing, she reached out for help with things like testing cookies for the New Year’s Eve party. But it wasn’t lost on him that the staff knew they were friends. There had to be a reason they reached out to him, right? Plus, now he was worried and couldn’t get that concern out of his mind if he tried. He grabbed his jacket, his wand, and his phone and walked out of his flat apparating as soon as he got past his wards and appeared in front of the pub. It had been at least a month since he’d been here, so naturally, he paused. There was the anxiety of what he would find inside, why they had texted him, but also the anxiety of seeing her knowing what he did now.

Rhys walked inside and looked at the bartender and waitress, who immediately pointed to the kitchen doors. He nodded and walked through as the doors swung behind him, he didn’t see her right away, but he saw the door to the cellar open and heard a noise coming from there. That’s where she must be. Rhys walked down the steps slowly, she hadn’t seen or heard him yet, but he didn’t want to startle her either. ”Vas?” He called out, but not too loud. Reaching the bottom of the steps, he cleared his throat. ”Hey…I-uh-your staff called me. They’re worried.” He explained. Though now that he said it out loud, it sounded a tiny bit silly, but he was here now.

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[vasilia abigail fortescue]

February 5th, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

Vasilia was absolutely positive that she had a crate of this gin somewhere. There was no way they were almost out! She kept a close eye on the sales and ledger. They didn't sell gin fast enough to warrant being through the crate yet. Not that gin wasn't popular! It was, it just wasn't popular enough to explain there only being one bottle left. Had she miscalculated last time she ordered gin? Was she purely imagining it? Had the supplier not delivered it at all? The gin mystery was very quickly flustering the young owner, and frustrating her beyond belief.

In the fifteen minutes she was down in the cellar she'd very successfully trapped herself. She'd started in the back, unstacking a crate, checking it, then setting it aside to check the next box. Before she knew it, she had stacks of crates half her height completely surrounding her. But she hadn't seemed to notice yet, as she'd finally reached the bottom of the one of the stacks, and was unfolding the box.

She'd just pried the box open, and was squinting at the contents when she heard her name. She froze, because despite it only being a single word, she knew that voice. Her heart squeezed tightly in her chest and she lost her breath momentarily. Rhys. Before she could reply he spoke again. She took a slow, deep breath. "I'm back here!" Clearly he knew she was down here, so there was no denying it, though he wouldn't see her over all the boxes she'd moved. Though, that was when his words sunk in. She stood up, peering over the boxes at him. "They're worried? Did something happen upstairs?" Was there an incident? Why would they reach out to Rhys?

[rhys alexander greyback]

every now and then, the stars align

boy and girl meet by the great design

February 5, 2026
vasilia abigail fortescue

Rhys looked around when he heard her respond, albeit her voice sounded muffled as though she was far away in this small space. The boxes looked disorganized, which didn’t seem like Vas’ style, so he figured she might have been looking for something. Rhys walked closer to one of the smaller stacks. He placed his hands on the handles on the side of the crate and lifted it easily to put aside. The stack was still rather tall, and he was only impressed she’d manage to stack it this tall. Rhys moved a few more crates, stacking them off to the side, so it wasn’t so much a wall anymore, trapping her near the back. ”Hey—there you are.” He commented as he finally saw her. She looked much the same as Rhys remembered and pictured her in his mind, though there was a weariness in her eyes. One he typically saw in himself and especially with the full moon having just passed.

”No, they said you haven’t left the pub in a couple of days.” Rhys shifted his weight onto his other leg, feeling slightly awkward just standing there. He took a few steps forward, looking around the cellar. He’d obviously never been in here before, though he did imagine what it would be like to have one of his own. Perhaps he’d ask Juliet about that and the possibility. ”They’re—I’m worried you’re working too much.” Rhys finally added. It was both true, though he hadn’t initially thought to include his own worries in that statement. ”What are you searching for, anyway?” The crates were labeled, but it was all bit of a mess now. There had been nothing methodical about this search, though he only noted since, in his line of work, one couldn’t approach a tomb as such. Rhys told himself that his slightly elevated heart rate was due to him sprinting over as soon as he had received the text, but even he wasn’t so sure.

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[vasilia abigail fortescue]

February 5th, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

Seeing Rhys for the first time in a month.... Well there were those butterflies again, set loose in her stomach. Vasilia was someone who smiled naturally, but seeing him? Well, it brought out a truly genuine smile. It almost seemed to melt away the exhaustion in her face. "Hey stranger, long time no see," she answered. It had been a while. But again, he'd been working. She didn't blame his absence. The curse breakers had had a busy January! Vasilia brushed her hands on her jeans, shaking off any dust she might have picked up. While wasn't a dirty place it was still a cellar. Dust was a plenty, especially at the back where she'd been digging.

Though, as he explained she blinked, cocking her head to the side before sheepishly smiling. She awkwardly ran a hand through her hair. "I wouldn't say I haven't left...." It was a half hearted denial, but it was obvious that she couldn't completely deny it. She knew her limits when it came to working, and she knew that she was testing those limits... but she wasn't one that easily admitted that. She wasn't used to asking for help when she needed it. Unconsciously she took a step towards him, clasping her hands behind her back. It was.. well, nice to hear him say he was worried about her. She knew he'd never feel the same way about her that she felt about him, so this would probably be the best it ever got. It made her heart ache just a little. She smiled just a little, before looking away. Thankfully the dull light of the cellar made the faint blush in her cheeks impossible to see.

His next words were a welcome change of subject. She immediately turned her attention to the crates. "I swear there's a crate of New Amsterdam Gin down here, but my inventory log says we're almost out," she answered as she squinted at one of the crate labels, before moving to said crate and pulling hte lid off to check the contents. Nope, that one correctly labeled. Apparently she was checking each individual crate despite what it's label said. "They must have gotten stored in the wrong crates..." Clearly his mention of being concerned about her overworking had gone in one ear and out the other as she moved to the next crate.

[rhys alexander greyback]

every now and then, the stars align

boy and girl meet by the great design

February 5, 2026
vasilia abigail fortescue

Rhys found himself slightly smiling in return to her welcoming one. Had it really been a month? While the days had begun to blend together on his extended stay on the island, he tried to remember a time he had visited after New Years'. He realized that he hadn’t stopped by. The cellar wasn’t the best lit place, but he could still see her and the amount of dust that surrounded him. It almost reminded him of work. Rhys gave her a look, aside from the fact that he wouldn't have been summoned if there wasn’t a genuine concern—he knew she worked hard and wasn’t one to take a break. Ever. ”Then what would you say?” Rhys inquired as he looked at the various labels on the crates. Maybe if he found what she was looking for, he could get her out of this dusty cellar and away from work.

However, as soon as he had asked about her purpose here, she began rifling through the crates again. ”Vas, why don’t you get someone else to look for it?” Rhys took a few steps toward her. ”Vas.” He spoke again, but more sternly. Why was she so stubborn about this? ”Will you sit down a minute?” Rhys took another step forward. He usually didn’t do well with stubbornness. If someone wanted to do something, then who was he to stop them, but he couldn’t pull himself away from this situation. She had told him in her own words that she’d gone down a path like this before, and it had not ended well, and Merlin knew what her brother might say or do if he found out that Rhys knew about this and hadn’t acted or said anything. But considering their complicated relationship, Rhys figured it was better not to call Ilija. After a moment of her continually ignoring him, Rhys took yet another step forward and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

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[vasilia abigail fortescue]

February 5th, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

Vasilia wasn't actually sure why her staff had reached out to Rhys. It seemed rather odd. If they were worried about her working too hard, why Rhys? They were just friends. Sure.... He made her heart skip a beat when he smiled back at her, and his voice made her stomach flutter. But he only saw her as a friend. His friend's little sister. Unfortunately.... And he'd probably never see her as anything other then that. And someday, hopefully, she'd get over this crush. Before it hurt too much. Realizing that she was mentally cornered she gave another sheepish look. "I mean, I've definitely left the pub... I took lunch to my parents yesterday, and I had class." That... wasn't as reassuring as she'd hoped it would sound. Technically, yes she had left the "pub" but she'd definitely not gone home.

His question of why she didn't have someone else look was a valid question. She could ask the staff to search. And likely they'd find it much faster since they could use magic. But Vasilia was a stubborn one. She tried desperately to not come across as weak, or useless. To be able to do the same amount, or more, work as anyone else. That being a squib didn't stop her from doing her share. She'd look looking at the crates when he'd asked, so he wouldn't see the small frown that his question brought. It took a moment to come up with an answer that didn't sound too stubborn. "We're already short staffed, and everyone else has a lot on their plate already." She'd finally filled the missing waiter position last month, but then one of the bartenders had put in their two weeks. Turn over at the pub wasn't bad, especially for the line of work, but that didn't mean she liked it.

He mentioned something about sitting down but she smiled and shook her head. "It's fine, Rhys. I'm sure it's down here. Once I find it I'll come back up." As if to prove it was fine, she picked up a crate and moved it to a different stack so she could check the next box down. It wasn't her insistence to find the gin though that drove her now though. It was the fact that Rhys was very close, and her she could feel her heart starting to beat faster and faster in her chest. She'd moved to the next crate, trying desperately to focus on that instead of Rhys, when she felt his hand on her shoulder. She froze, before instinctively turning her head to look up at him. "Rhys..?"

[rhys alexander greyback]

every now and then, the stars align

boy and girl meet by the great design

February 5, 2026
vasilia abigail fortescue

Rhys rolled his eyes this time. It was a tad frustrating that he came all this way, and she still wouldn’t listen. Clearly, he wasn’t the solution to this problem, and he really didn’t know what the staff was thinking when they texted him that morning. He crossed his arms instinctively, though it was normal to see that from him, like some kind of default guarded state. ”You know what I mean…” He mumbled though almost irritably. It wasn’t enough that he was still a bit hungover from his latest binge of bourbon. Still, despite his insistence, she didn’t stop looking through the crate or even the next one. Kicking up a bit more dust in the process. Rhys didn’t even know why he was trying so hard, but then he remembered his own feelings in the matter. He was tempted to back off and hide away as he usually did when something like this occurred.

Making new friends in itself was not new to Rhys, but he was careful who he let in close. He had his close friends and a very failed relationship. Why did he need to complicate things more? But then he’d met Vasilia, the younger sister of his best friend, and she’d gotten close without even trying that hard. Rhys recalled trying to fit together the puzzle pieces of that journey, just why and how it had ended up like this. Or had he just been careless in not guarding himself closely enough? As Rhys moved closer, he could smell cinnamon, and he felt as though his stomach had done a somersault. ”You’re going to be more short-staffed if you’re out of commission.” Rhys reminded her. Burnout was a real thing, and she was sprinting toward it. On that note, Rhys could recognize how he had done something similar, and it didn’t stop whatever pain you were running from.

Still, he paused a moment. He knew it might be futile to convince her to stop. There was no sense in trying this hard, no matter his intention and feelings about her. He could have misinterpreted that they were even that good of friends for all he knew. She was a nice and friendly girl who owned a pub—of course, she was going to be easy to get along with and all-around wonderful. What made him so special? It was that same sinking feeling he got from his chest to his stomach every time he asked himself that question. What made him so special? The only thing remarkable about Rhys Greyback was that he was a Greyback, and that was hardly something worth noting because of what it implied. And yet, Rhys found himself very close to Vas with his hand lightly on her shoulder—something he had just done.

She looked up at him, and he swallowed. He hadn’t planned how to proceed in this encounter at all. Even in the dim light, he could see the exhaustion on her face. It took away that spark he always saw in her eye as if a star was starting to dim. It hurt him a bit to see that. Rhys pulled his hand away, though he reached up to the top of Vas’ hairline where a substantially sized dust bunny had settled when she moved the previous crate. ”You have us all worried.” He spoke in a softer tone, though really he was worried. ”Why do you do this to yourself?”

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[vasilia abigail fortescue]

February 5th, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

The longer Rhys was here, the more hyper aware of his presence she became. His footsteps, his breathing, the way he spoke and tone he used. She mentally clung to it all, desperate. Her heart skipped a beat as he moved closer, and beat faster as she peered into those blue eyes. This was why she'd been trying to stay so busy. Because he made it hard to breath and focus on anything else. If she didn't keep busy he'd consume all her thoughts.

His logic, of being even more short staffed struck a cord. She actually paused then with a look of contemplation. The logical explanation seemed to actually hit home for her. That, she wouldn't actually be much help if she worked herself into a frenzy and collapsed again. It was actually very valid. When an employee was sick, she always told them to take it easy and rest. Why didn't she follow the same logic? "That's... true..."

With him there, hand on her shoulder, she couldn't ignore jsut how close they were in the cellar. Definitely closer than a "casual friends hanging out" sort of way. Then, his hand moved and there was an empty coldness on her shoulder where his hand had been. She turned to face him but stopped breathing when that same hand reached out. So close to her face, before freeing a dust bunny from her hair. She slowly let out the breath she'd held. She might have gone back to working, but hear the tone he used made her pause. It... wasn't a normal tone for Rhys. "I'm not-" she started, but stopped short. This was Rhys. He'd seen her that night at the bar when she'd been at her lowest... Though there were still many of her reasons for working so hard he didn't know, he knew some. The family pressure. But to be honest? That wasn't why she was working so hard right now. That reason was staring at her in the face, quite literally. "Sorry... I didn't realize..."

[rhys alexander greyback]

every now and then, the stars align

boy and girl meet by the great design

February 5, 2026
vasilia abigail fortescue

She didn’t argue with him, and thankfully she didn’t. While Rhys would inadvertently do whatever she asked of him—there was still a limit to his patience. There was a point where his frustration would have turned into a bit of anger and overrode whatever he felt for Vasilia at the moment, or at least he suspected it would. That was how things typically went with him, his temper getting the best of him on most days. He let out a heavy sigh. Despite the appearances that Rhys kept most often, his stoic expression and timid nature. He cared about his friends and their well-being. It just didn’t come as natural to him in terms of how to show it. Maybe it was just too blunt for his own good.

It hadn’t been his intention to stand this close to her, the more physical distance he kept with people, the more guarded he could be. It was ironic of his very physical lifestyle, but all those escapades were void of emotion, so he could stay in a naturally guarded state. She stopped working for the moment and turned to face him. Her eyes were dark in this light, unlike their gold in the daylight. If there was ever a word that people might have used to describe Rhys, comforting was hardly one that instantly came to mind—he was a bit of a loss at the moment. Honestly, he’d expected a bit more of a fight to stop working, but she had stopped. ”I—uh—never thanked you for that basket last month.” He didn’t know why that popped into his head, but it did. Maybe because he was reminded of how she had helped him in her own way, which was his way of trying. ”You didn’t have to go out of your way for me like that.”

Rhys’ tone was tame compared to how he had been speaking earlier out of a bit of frustration. Not many ever got this tone from him, maybe Deva or even Maria, but he also hadn’t realized how he had failed to guard himself now in his attempt to be helpful. Clearing his throat slightly, he spoke again. ”I’m sure the staff can take care of the pub for a day or two.” Rhys commented, rest didn’t have to be a long time. Still, she seemed apologetic though it wasn’t necessary though in his mind. He still wondered why she did this when she knew what would happen. Plus, she was lucky they called him and not her brother, who might have reacted differently. ”Vas—why do you work so hard?” Rhys found himself honestly asking her. His expression was likely as soft as his tone as he looked at her.

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[vasilia abigail fortescue]

February 5th, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

Rhys wasn't pulling away at all, instead remaining just as close, so that she had to tilt her head back just a touch to meet those stormy eyes of his. It was strange, how perfectly his eyes could replicate the sea depending on his emotions. From the clear bright blue or a calm sunny day, to the dark waves of a midnight storm. Today they were more of a clear blue, but there was that hint of disturbance. Almost like a brewing storm that hadn't quite broken the surface. She swallowed hard, trying to tell herself to stop sinking into those eyes. And yet.... She couldn't help it. Her heart beat fast and hard. It'd been a few minutes but she started to smile. It was... a little embarrassing that she'd left food on his doorstep. But yet.... It heart her heart flutter to hear him mention it. "I know, but I wanted to," she answered, though only after speaking realized that it was embarrassing to admit. She looked away, her cheeks a faint pink. "I mean, you had a lot going on, didn't you? I thought you might enjoy it..." God damn, why was she feeling so bashful now?!

Vasilia knew her staff could run the pub without her for a few days if needed... They didn't necessarily need such a hands on owner. THey could handle all the day-to-day stuff. And yet she still couldn't help but be so involved. "They can, but isn't it better to have a hands on boss?" Her father, when his health had been good, had always been hands on at the ice cream parlour. Always in every single day.

Though, he was asking that question again, the one she hadn't answered. It was slightly different, but the same question. It wasn't really one she knew how to answer. Especially right now. She had a strong work ethic. She always worked hard. But right now, she needed a distraction from her feelings. Feelings for him. It was probably her very much sleep deprived mind that got her to say the next words. "If I don't work hard, my own thoughts would drive me crazy," she answers softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She still couldn't look away from those storm-like eyes of his.

[rhys alexander greyback]

every now and then, the stars align

boy and girl meet by the great design

February 5, 2026
vasilia abigail fortescue

There was something about a simple gesture, the little things that spoke volumes. Even Rhys knew that. Maybe it was his upbringing where he had craved even the smallest gesture at times because he knew the grand ones would never occur. Also, in his line of work, some things were automatic. Like when he and Renfri would walk into a tomb, and they had their routine or even just knowing he would see her for a job and one would pick up the alcohol and the other the snacks. Rhys shrugged. She was right—there had been a lot going on between his work with the bank and then Heliopath and the Order. At least the Curse Breaker things he could talk about freely, though he would prefer not to talk about the Island if he didn’t have to. ”Yea, it was busy…” Rhys shifted his weight to his other foot. ”I was trying to drop by the pub that day—but just ran out of time.” He admitted, looking away as he spoke.

Eye contact had never been difficult for Rhys. When he had been in his younger years at Hogwarts, he found that bullies looked for targets that way. If you didn’t meet their eyes, then that implied fear, and he’d been a target from the moment he stepped foot on those enchanted grounds. Vasilia had a point, but it didn’t take away from the fact that she was working herself so hard at such a young age. She wasn’t living her life. ”What if it were me?” Rhys asked suddenly. Her good and helpful nature was noted by everyone that knew her, so he wondered what she might do if she had been his friend when he was working entirely non-stop after Elias died. Without a break, without a second to think because he knew where his mind would go. Rhys knew her well enough by now to know she would say something—in her own way, of course, perhaps not as bluntly as he would.

Rhys looked at her as she answered, though he didn’t know what to make of it yet. Still, it sounded familiar. Working to keep you away from your thoughts and hope they went away on their own. No matter how many times he tried it—it never worked. ”I know the feeling…” He mumbled in response. Honestly, he’d been waiting on some assignment from the bank to keep his mind occupied, and with Maria around, he couldn’t take an impromptu vacation again. Rhys paused, and just as he had asked her what if their roles were switched, he wondered what she might ask in a case like this. Which she usually did when he sulked into the bar. ”If you need to talk about something—I mean you always let me talk at the bar…” Hopefully, his awkward attempt to sound helpful didn’t deter her. There was something about the expression in her eyes and the whisper she had spoken in. It told Rhys something was weighing on her, and knowing she was carrying something alone brought a concerned expression to his features. Looking at her now was when he realized that how he felt was not some fluke or something that would pass. He really did care about the girl standing in front of him.

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[vasilia abigail fortescue]

February 5th, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

Vasilia smiled a little brighter. She definitely knew what being busy was like. But it made her heart flutter a little that he had at least thought of stopping by the pub. "I hope it helped at least a little. Ilija hasn't told me much about the island, but the news makes it sound pretty crazy. Maybe you'll tell me more about it when you have time." She was curious, but she mostly just wanted to spend the time with Rhys. He didn't share too much with people, but she'd realized he shared more with her then others.

His question made her pause. What if it was him? Well... Obviously she'd be worried. She was a bit of a hypocrite in that sense, something she was very aware of. Her gaze broke away. She'd try to stop him if she knew it was bad... "I see your point." She answered slowly. It was true that she spent far to much time working, and not nearly enough time having a personal life. "I appreciate your concern." It sounded far to formal, but yet it was the only thing that really came to mind. After a moment she turned her gaze back to his own.

While he said he knew the feeling she highly doubted he fully understood. Sure, he understood having things on his mind, but he wasn't currently staring at the subject of the distracting thoughts. He wasn't the one with the racing heart. Knowing he was right there, but all these thoughts were just a dream. Nothing more. THe fantasies of a love sick girl who was aiming far to high. She smiled just a little. "I don't think talking would help me much, unfortunately." she started to answer, though she was realizing just how close he was. "Talking will just keep reminding me of things I can't have." She looked away again, her cheeks a rosy hint again.

[rhys alexander greyback]

every now and then, the stars align

boy and girl meet by the great design

February 5, 2026
vasilia abigail fortescue

Rhys felt himself withdraw at the mention of the island. But it was almost an automatic mental response at this point. If his own personal experiences hadn't been traumatic enough, he had spent a few days with Ilija and their new mutual friend Eeva. It still was unbelievably uncanny how much she looked like Hannah. It had been hard on Rhys, and he could never imagine what it was like for his friend. ”Yea, it was definitely a very...unique experience.” he commented, shifting a bit uncomfortably in his stance. It was yet another thing he carried on his shoulders in terms of memories and experiences, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk about it yet. Clearing his throat again, he half a half-hearted smile, more for her benefit than his own.

It looked like his point was finally starting to hit her, well, everyone’s point. She couldn’t see the effect she had on herself, but the thought of it happening to one of her friends seemed to do the trick. Her answer, however, sounded like something she might have told to her staff to acknowledge they said something—not what Rhys expected in terms of a response to him. ”You’re my friend, of course, I’m concerned.” He added, maybe a bit too sternly than he’d intended. If there was ever one thing he was sure of—it was friendship. It had always been something so important in his lonely life and had come into his life before family even had.

Rhys didn’t really understand where she was going with her words, even if he could understand what the feeling was like. What people didn’t seem to get about Rhys was that he didn’t see the point in talking about his feelings on something that already happened and couldn’t be changed or something that wasn’t going to happen anyway. Rhys went to ask what she was talking about, but as she turned her head, he noticed yet another dust bunny in her hair. He couldn’t help but half-grin. ”You’re covered in dust, by the way.” Rhys reached up and grabbed the dust out of her hair. This reminded him of New Year’s Eve and how she had stuck so closely by him, knowing he wasn’t typically one to attend parties or things with large crowds. But, despite all that, he’d actually enjoyed his time there. Being this close to her now, he realized how fast his heart was beating—a fact he had forgotten when he moved to get the remaining dust out of her hair. ”I—um—do know that feeling.” His throat felt dry as he spoke.

template by vee

[vasilia abigail fortescue]

February 5th, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

Rhys' body language and tone of voice was off. She hadn't actually known how bad the experience of Yrisle was for Rhys, but she immediately knew it was from the reaction. Immediately her eyebrows furrowed. What had happened? "Are you okay?" She couldn't help but ask very quickly. He'd been the one concerned about her up until now, but seeing that reaction had immediately brought out her own protective side.

Rhys' acknowledgement, that they were friends, made her half smile. Her heart fluttered and flipflopped violently in her chest. Both excitement and aching that it was "only" friends. But she could settle for friends. She'd do it. Because at least that meant he'd stay around. "I know. I really do appreciate it." She awkwardly rubbed the back of her her neck. "I guess I'm still not really used to that." Her friends being concerned. When her father first fell ill, all her friends had understood why she was working so hard. They'd commended her for stepping up to help her father. But now... Now everyone around her seemed to think that she was trying too hard.

Despite their painfully close positions right now, Rhys just seemed so determined to make it even more so. Reaching out once more when she was looking away to pick out more dust from her hair. It made her heart sputter sporadically, and her breathing catch in her chest. She slowly looked back, unable to stop herself from grinning back. "Stick around and I'm sure you'll join me dusti-ness," she joked, though already she could see a few flecks of dust trying to settle on his shoulder. She'd kicked up quite a bit of it with all the crate moving.

Though, joking aside, she was pretty sure Rhys did not know the feeling. At least not the exact feeling. While he didn't know she knew, she knew about his ex girlfriend and the other girl he'd knocked up. Why would he ever know this feeling? He was charming enough to go after anything he wanted, and she'd seen how girls just melted. He always seemed to get what he wanted. She swallowed hard, trying to smile but it was failing her right now. Perhaps it was the exhaustion that continued to make her speak, or the isolation of the cellar. But either way, Vas' usual self awareness with conversation seemed to have broken. "Yeah, well... She let out a very nervous laugh. "I'm pretty sure it wasn't for one of your brother's friends." It was only after saying the phrase that her self awareness caught up with her sleep deprived mind.