The door to my office opened, without being knocked on, and I frowned gently at Vim who walked in.

"Hey Vim…! When'd you get here?" I asked.

"Just now. I'm just passing through, I'm headed east," he said as he glanced around the office… as if searching for something, or maybe someone.

I ignored his odd action, since he'd been like this lately. Ever since Celine's death he's been on edge… as if he sensed something terrible on the horizon.

I, like many others, wished he didn't so openly display his worry. Since it made all of us uneasy too. But I wasn't sure if anyone had the nerve to actually bring it up to him yet.

"Well… you were just here, Vim, so we've not got any request for you as far as I am aware. Would you like me to go around and ask for you?" I asked. His last visit had only been a few weeks ago.

"Hm… it's fine. I'll be stopping here on my way back anyway, probably sometime in the next month," he said.

I nodded gently as I watched him stand before my desk, and the way his eyes lingered on one of my nearby shelves.

Glancing at the shelf, I wondered what was on it that had caught his eye. One of the books? The few plants that Merit had placed there? Maybe the vase at the bottom…?

"Is there anything I can do for you then?" I asked carefully.

Vim's eyes left the shelf and came to my own.

My toes clenched, and I was glad they were hidden beneath my desk. I wasn't wearing shoes or socks, since I liked the feel of my rug on my bare feet. It was some kind of sheep wool, and felt good. Right now though I was pinching the soft wool with my toes, as to keep my unease off my face.

He and I held gazes for a moment, and after a few heavy heartbeats he sighed and looked away. It took all I had to not sigh as well, in relief.

"Where's Gerald?" he asked.

Oh…? Maybe he was here for him. Thank goodness. "On a trip north with Hector. He's gone to negotiate with a noble," I said.

Vim sighed again, but nodded. "Then I'll see him when I get back, I guess."

I wanted to ask what he wanted Gerald for, but kept my mouth shut.

Vim then turned a bit, as if about to leave… but he paused a moment and then looked back at me. "How is everyone?" he asked.

"Fine, Vim. We've not had any issues… as I said, you were just here."

"Weeks ago," he said simply.

I nodded. I understood his meaning. Lately it felt like a disaster happened every day, so I understood his meaning well. "I know. But we're fine. Really. We're lucky, Vim… although very involved with humans, we're also safe. Insulated. Our members here are all fully capable of staying safe, and are smart enough to stay so," I said.

"How's the surrounding members? The Clothed Woman? Bell Church?" he asked.

"All fine as well. The Bell Church had a request for flour the other day, but that's hardly something to panic over," I said with a small smile.

He sighed. "Knowing them it had been," he said.

I smirked and nodded. "They had been a little pushy, but it's fine. I'm used to it."

"And how have you been?" he asked.

I blinked, sitting up a little as I met his gaze again. "Busy… but fine. I've even been taking breaks lately, you can ask Sofia and the rest if you don't believe me," I said.

He smirked at me. "Knowing you said break is just a cup of tea or something."

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"Actually, I attend a sermon, have lunch with other members, then spend the night reading or sewing. I make sure not to do a lick of work the whole day," I said, defending myself.

"Hm… and how much does that cost, this day of rest?" he asked.

A wry smirk planted itself on my face. "About forty-seven coins… give or take."

He chuckled and nodded, as if glad to hear I hadn't changed too much.

I didn't tell him that today was in fact supposed to be one of those days. I didn't want him to tease me, since I was busy working. Or well, kind of... I was actually writing a letter to someone else, another member. It was business, but not. So it didn't break my own rule.

"How about you Vim…?" I asked, daring to ask.

He tilted his head at me. "Hm?"

For a tiny moment I wondered if that was his answer. That his slight tilt of his head, and the lack of a proper answer, was his way of saying how bad he was doing… but then I realized something rather serious.

Vim hadn't realized at all what I meant.

Doing my best to not let my disturbed heart be seen, I gestured ever so lightly at him. "How're you doing…?" I asked again.

His eyes narrowed as he realized what I meant, and he lightly shrugged at me. "I'm always well, Brandy. I'm literally built to be fine, no matter the condition I'm in," he said.

I wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but I knew better than to question it. At least, here and now and in front of him.

"I see… I'm glad to hear it," I said instead.

"Hm…" he nodded, as if glad that I was glad.

Clearing my throat a bit, I tried to lean forward a little. I was sitting up rather straight, a little too straight. It made me feel, and likely look, nervous.

"So um… Vim," I started.

He raised an eyebrow at me, and I smiled at it. It wasn't often he showed such emotion on his face, like that at least.

"Can I ask something personal?" I asked.

"Sure?"

"Have you met anyone? Recently?"

He frowned at me. "I'm taking it you don't mean as in a new member or something," he said.

I shrugged. "I mean… romantically?"

Vim's eyes narrowed again. "What's with that…?" he asked.

"Just was wondering? Sofia's pregnant again, and Jasna is trying to woe Liina, so I guess it's just been on my mind lately," I said, using my fellow members as an excuse.

"Hmph. No. Even if I did I'd not tell you, I keep such things to myself," he said.

Right… "I'm not saying you have to tell me who, or whatever… was just wondering," I said.

"No. I've not. What's with you people lately…? The Chronicler asked too, and I feel like others have recently too. Is this because of Celine's death…? You do know we hadn't been like that, right? In fact I had found her insufferable," Vim said.

I smirked at him. "So I've heard, yes… but there are rumors, you know," I said, teasing him a little. But my intention wasn't really to tease him, but instead mask the real reason I was asking.

So she still wasn't here.

Maybe Merit and the rest were right.

Maybe their prophecies really could be wrong…

Vim sighed at me. "Whatever. I'm going to leave then, sure you don't need me right now?" he asked, sounding slightly annoyed.

I nodded, feeling a little bad. For many reasons. "We're fine, Vim. Thank you for checking in. Safe travels."

"Mhm." He nodded, then turned and left.

He closed the door to my office behind him, and with the shut of the door silence followed.

I didn't hear him walk down the hallway, even though I should have. There was no rug out there right now, only stone, because we were replacing the old ones for new. So everyone's footsteps in the building have been loud lately. But Vim, like usual, made no sound as he left.

Taking a deep breath, I noticed the normal smells. My own. The wool rug beneath my feet. The plants nearby.

And no Vim. As if he wasn't even real.

"I'm not sure who to pity more. Him or us," I whispered as I returned to my work.

If she wasn't real… if she'd never show up… that meant he'd never find his wife. But that also meant none of us would be saved. Supposedly.

In theory we should be the more pitiful between the two, since there were far more of us than him… but…

It was hard to imagine. Being so old. To live so long. And to never have anyone. Especially a man like him.

I myself didn't find him attractive, but there was no denying his good points. He was protective. Strong. Loyal beyond reason. I think the only reason I, and many others, didn't find him very attractive was the simple fact that he was so… well… too much.

Being so loyal was a good thing, but not when it was to so many people at once. It'd make me jealous and wonder if I wasn't good enough, or something, I think.

I wonder how she will do it. If she is real. If she really shows up. How will she snatch his heart, while also getting him to protect and save us all in ways he's not even doing now…?

"Maybe it was all just Celine's fantasy…" I mumbled softly as I dipped my pen into ink and went back to work.

Save such thoughts for my day off. They didn't earn money.

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