There's No Place Like Home (Victoria)

Grayson never really knew how to accept a compliment, so he simply ducked his head with a modest smile and moved on. He chuckled at her next comment. "Oh yes, I owe Madam Pince far more than I can say. Her records are meticulous, and saved me a lot of work when I first got here."

He listened with interest to Victoria's story, nodding at times to show he was paying attention. He didn't bat an eyelash as she admitted to having a girlfriend--he certainly wasn't one to make a big deal out of people's sexuality.

Mexico was one place he actually hadn't gotten to visit. He had been planning an extensive trip all over South and Central America, but alas, his plans had been waylaid, and it had never happened. He had studied a bit of the culture in preparation, however, and from what he had learned from books, it was an incredibly fascinating place with rich cultural traditions that he wished he could've gotten to experience firsthand. Perhaps he would, someday.

What was his favourite place? That...was a very difficult question. Everywhere he'd been had its perks and its downfalls, and its own unique experiences. He thought about it for a good minute.

"I really can't say," he started. "Uganda was my first choice, simply because I spent a considerable amount of time there. But India was lovely as well. And Nigeria has some...well, interesting memories," he chuckled, "And Nepal was stunning. I couldn't choose a favourite, really, they're all so different. Every place I've been to is my favourite for a different reason."

He hadn't even mentioned Spain, and China, and Kenya, and Ethiopia, and Thailand, though he was only there for two weeks, and...there were too many. He snapped himself back to the present. "I haven't been to Mexico, though. I've always wanted to. What was your favourite part?"

Grayson nodded in agreement. "I am lucky, though I suspect most of it was just me running from my problems," he replied with a wry smile. He had no delusions when it came to his own privilege--he knew he was fortunate when it came to his family's wealth and the opportunities he had because of it. That didn't stop him from taking advantage of it, but he was well aware of what he was doing, and how many others couldn't do the same.

"India...well, it depends which part you visit. In general, it's quite crowded. And traffic is terrible. But the festivals...if you ever get a chance to go, go during a holiday. The Diwali lanterns are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, and...well, I'm not sure I ever fully appreciated humanity until I experienced the whole country coming together to celebrate Holi. It's indescribable, really." His gaze took on a faraway look as he lost himself for a moment in the memories of his first year in India. He shook himself out of it to address her next question.

"I'm afraid I can't help you find a dance instructor. I could never dance like that, no matter who tried to teach me," he chuckled. "The food is indeed incredible--some of my favourite, actually. I managed to pick up a couple things while I was there, which is probably one of the proudest accomplishments of my life so far."

He rarely ever spoke so much about his experiences, and never to a relative stranger like this, but he felt strangely comfortable conversing with Victoria. He listened quietly as she spoke, nodding along to her observations. He understood her comment about the heat--having grown up in the United Kingdom, his first visit to Africa was a bit of a shock when it came to the weather. He'd eventually grown used to it, but he still remembered his initial reaction--and the reaction of the natives who seemed to laugh at his suffering.

He again nodded at her description of her travels. He'd obviously seen images of Mexico, and had a fairly decent idea of what it was like, but he knew nothing could compare to actually being there. He felt a slight pang, wishing he could experience it for himself.

"It sounds stunning. To be honest, I prefer the less touristy areas--you can find some hidden treasures when you avoid the crowds. But I understand; some things are popular for a reason." Visiting Vatican City had been that way for him. The crowds were a nuisance, but they were justified in being there--Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica deserved every bit of attention it received.