When he had asked her to tell him about her father, he had been sincere; he genuinely wanted to know. So many stories and experiences had been lost to time, undocumented, not passed down by orators and bards, forever forgotten or simply unknown because those moments had been private. Vitas was interested in learning the history of the world--of all worlds--as well as the hidden history, the little stories that were merely whispers of thoughts fading on the wind. And because history was written by the victors, he wanted to know the OTHER side of history, all the different interpretations that were just as valid as the next.
So when she agreed to share stories about her father and beyond, he almost smiled. Almost. It did not reach his lips, but was only just a flicker behind his eyes, just a subtle shift in shadow at the corners of his gaze, but it was there--brief, like a ghost, gone as quickly as it had appeared. "I look forward to it," he whispered with sincerity.
Vitas continued to stare at the mug in his hands when he made his confession of his presence at the gates, but he also stared as she said something odd, something he had not heard before.
I am glad that you are still with us.
Those words made him feel...what was that? He didn't know how to describe it. A heavy and hot feeling in his stomach. Why did his eyes burn like he was about to cry? Was he sad? Was he in pain? Why did he have the sensation of burning in his lungs like they were filling with smoke? It must be a reaction to the coffee he just drank, right? He should...probably stop drinking it. But then, Skadi had given it to him, so he should keep drinking it. And the goddess had told him...that she was glad he was still with them...after being told again and again and again that he was unwanted, that people wished he had never been born, that he was a monster and should just go away, a demon that should return to whatever hell he escaped from. And yet here she was, this wonderful and exalted deity, telling him she was GLAD he was still with them.
Vitas didn't know how to process that. For a few seconds, he seemed to shut down, just staring at the way the light refracted on the surface of the coffee in his cup. He knew he still had things to do, a purpose to fulfill, but to know someone was actually glad he was there? She wasn't...lying to him, was she? No...she wouldn't, could she? Nothing in his studies had ever revealed anything about Skadi being tricky or false by any means...but then...again...not all history was recorded.
A change in subject was welcome then, a distraction from his thoughts, and the burning of his lungs subsided, the heavy pit in his stomach vanished, the stinging of his eyes faded away, and he nodded once to the idea of Heimdall showing him the realms--of learning all about them from Skadi herself. "Again, it would be an honor," he said earnestly upon his monotone.
As for his health--if there was something he could do--his gaze briefly shifted to the window beside him, looking toward the mountains on the horizon, then back to his cup. "One may hope so," he replied flatly. "Human science and technology has only advanced so far. I am confident a solution will be found with resources and connections available on this island, though it is not my top priority." It never had been--oh, Adelheid had certainly made it a priority, and perhaps Vitas should be more concerned about his own health than he was, but he was obviously hyperfixated on other things, again having accepted those circumstances at a young age. Sure, if he lived longer then he could learn even more--and the idea of immortality was tempting if only for that reason...not for power, not for love, but for LEARNING. But for Vitas, there was no sense in following a path that may lead to no solution at all; his time was precious, he knew that, he would rather spend it acquiring knowledge instead of wasting it on something no one really understood.
Then again, he was also using finances obtained from somewhat 'grey investments' to anonymously fund research for a wide variety of projects, medical and historical, including the study of rare cardiac diseases; so it wasn't like he was idle in the process. "Someday, Skadi. Someday," he assured her when she said when she spoke of him liking the mountains. "It is a goal to watch the Northern Lights from the Lyngsfjellan." But alas, to be at that elevation for him was a heavy risk; didn't stop the little monster from having goals, though.
As for learning Old Norse, again, there was that hint of a smile behind his eyes that did not reach his lips, but was still present; someone attentive may easily and correctly interpret that as a clue that he very much enjoyed learning things. "When can we begin?" he asked, maybe just a fraction of something behind that otherwise dry tone. Muted enthusiasm perhaps?
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