leans back on a plush leather sofa, a coy smile playing on her lips So, you really think you can handle all this glam, huh?
chuckles "Had to die to get famous. Now everyone knows my name."
tilts her head, feigning deep thought Oh sweetheart, I know all about dying for fame.
rolls her eyes dramatically Please, honey, don't act like you're some kind of martyr. You think you're the only one who's experienced a little tragedy?
snorts derisively A bus crash? Honey, I've been through worse than a simple bus crash.
"Well, I'm from Saskatoon. Went to a party in Edmonton, ended up getting crashed into by a city bus. Next thing I know, I'm waking up in an ICU. No idea how long I was in a coma..."
rolls her eyes again, with a hint of annoyance Astarc, sweetheart, let me guess. You woke up in the ICU, feeling sorry for yourself.
"No, actually, I realized I was blind."
lets out a sarcastic laugh Oh, so now you're going blind? You're good at making excuses, aren't ya?
"When the doctors told me my vision was bad forever, I broke down, yeah."
rolls her eyes once more Astarc, you know what? Your pity party is officially over. Get used to the darkness, sweetheart.
"But it got better. After months of surgeries and stuff, they put the contact lenses in me, and- man, it freaked me out at first, but now..."
raises an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself Oh really? It "freaked you out at first"? Sounds like there's more to the story, isn't there? Spit it out, darling.
"It freaked me out at first because it was so real. Every color's more vivid than you can imagine, and..."
As Astarc continues to share his experiences with Vivienne, he opens up about the emotional and psychological challenges he faced during his recovery. Vivienne listens intently, realizing that she might have misjudged him. Their conversation leads to a deeper connection and understanding between them.
"Yeah, it sounds cheesy, but it's true. All those clichés about 'new perspectives' and 'life's too short'? They're real when you can't take any of this for granted anymore."
leans forward, her tone softening You know, Astarc, I never thought I'd say this to someone like you, but... I think I admire your resilience.
"Oh, well, thanks. That means a lot."
smirks mischievously But let's not get too mushy here. I'm not your love-struck fan girl yet.
"Trust me, I wouldn't want that."
sits up straight, crossing her arms Well, aren't you just full of surprises, Astarc? Going from tragic bus crash victim to contact lens rockstar.
"But now you've got me curious. What's YOUR story? Why are you so anxious around the press?"
stands up abruptly Oh, you want to know my story? Fine, but don't expect any sappy romance or tragic bus crashes.
"Fair enough," says Astarc with a wry smile, raising his glass slightly. "Tell me yours, and I'll tell you mine."
grabs her own glass, clinking it against Astarc's Alright then, let's play this game. But be warned, my story is more scandalous than anything you've read in the tabloids. You ready for that?
"Scandalous, huh? I'm intrigued as hell."
takes a sip of her drink, leaning in closer Alright, buckle up, buttercup. It all started when I was just a naive little girl, living in a small town.
"Naive little girl, huh? That's hard to believe."
rolls her eyes and smirks Oh, trust me, Astarc. Naive is my middle name. But let me take you back to a time when I was young and stupid, living in this quaint little town.
As Vivienne begins to share her story, she takes Astarc back to her hometown, where she met a charming and charismatic man who swept her off her feet. However, their relationship quickly turned toxic, leaving her heartbroken and betrayed. Despite the pain, Vivienne finds solace in the fact that she learned valuable lessons about love and trust.
"And that's how you ended up here, at the NHL Network?"
waves her hand dismissively Oh, please. The NHL Network? Just a stepping stone in my grand plan, babe. But let me tell you, escaping that toxic relationship was a major milestone.
"Toxic relationships... Tell me about it. I've had my fair share of those."
raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued Oh really? Well, color me shocked. I didn't picture you as the toxic type, Astarc.
"Love makes people do crazy things. It's a powerful emotion, you know?"
scoffs Love? More like a twisted game of manipulation and heartbreak. But hey, who am I to talk?
"So, what's next for you, Vivienne? Any plans to settle down or find true love?"
laughs True love? Ha! Not on my radar, buddy. I've had enough heartbreak to last a lifetime. But hey, who knows? Maybe someday I'll stumble upon Mr. Right. Until then, I'm just gonna keep on dancing, you know?
stands up, grabbing Astarc's hand Oh, you betcha! Dancing is my jam! But let's save the small talk for later. Right now, I've got a little surprise for you.
"A surprise, huh? Well, this should be interesting."
pulls Astarc towards the dance floor Hold on tight, sweetheart! We're about to bust a move like nobody's business!