08 // dream - filtered from Elliot

[stfuelly]

Warnings: Spoilers for Chapter 58 and on, violent character death
Effects: Confusion, horror and a healthy dose of denial

Comments

[unsureazure]

It's that dream again... It's been a while since Noel had last witnessed that scene being played out through the Dreamberry. Back then, only bits and pieces of what had happened were shown, and she could put them together to guess that horrifying truth about what had happened, but... Actually seeing the entire moment in all its terrible detail is a whole different level of terrifying.

However, when she saw the state Vanessa is in, along with hearing her inquiry... She knows that this is no time to pay that nightmare any mind. It's very obvious that she's ill, and Noel couldn't just let her try to go to the pharmacy by herself. Vanessa had to stay and rest... and Noel should make herself useful for once.

"Miss Vanessa, please stay in bed!" Noel implored the older woman through the phone. "I-I'll go and fetch the medicine for you!"

[stfuelly]

Had this been back home, of course Vanessa would be happy to demand others to care for her. Nightmare, fever, all of it would be taken care of by Hans or any other number of the Nightray maids. But the last year, and perhaps the cause of the stress for the fever in the first place, Vanessa has learned an important truth: despite everything, she's become a useless person. There's no family pride to live for here, no duties, no reason to even look in on her brother any longer now that his servant is here. There's only day by day that goes by carrying the threat of waking and seeing her dream state destroyed and her life ended once more.

She's quick to answer the call, her voice tired despite the harsh words.

"That wasn't what I asked at all! Now tell me where it is or stop talking altogether!"

[unsureazure]

Noel couldn't help but let out a startled whimper when she hears Vanessa's reply. Even though the voice through the phone was tired, Noel had always been intimidated by the harsh words of her friend's sister. Still, despite how much Vanessa refuses to accept such a notion, and despite how harshly she regarded Noel and, well, everyone else... Noel had considered the older woman somewhat of a friend, and she sincerely wants to help.

"Th-That isn't the issue here! You can't just expect me to let you go by yourself at the risk of collapsing along the way! Now, please rest and leave it to me."

[stfuelly]

"No, that's exactly the issue because it's what I asked!"

It's a mistake to try and scream so loudly; she ends up having to turn away from the Dreamberry to cough into her hands. So much for keeping up any level of dignity while still pretending like she has any left.

"You're not my servant and you're not my family. So don't bother."

[nightraysewerat]

Death and death and death. It's not as if the images themselves are strange to Vincent, not as if he doesn't know all these things already. Watching Vanessa plead with Elliot after he own death, now, that's new and different, and his eyes stay locked on the screen for every second of it, riding out the emotions that come along with it, almost savoring them.

His own real emotions that might come out in this moment are carefully tucked away, set aside.

And so when he calls Vanessa, there's nothing but a dry tone.

"Is there something you need?"

He has no doubt she will tell him she doesn't need it from him, but that's the beauty of the thing.

[stfuelly]

For a moment, she hears Elliot's voice inside of Vincent's. Blame it on the fever, but she's startled up and out of bed by it, fearing that she hadn't filtered it correctly...

But no. It's only Vincent. Groaning, she only turns the voice function of the Dreamberry on, not wanting to embarrass herself further by letting him see her face.

"I don't need anything from you - except to just leave me alone, Vincent."

[nightraysewerat]

"Are you sure? I don't know where to find the pharmacy, but I'm sure I could come up with something helpful. Cool cloth? Rub your feet?"

This teasing Vanessa thing might be slightly suicidal, but it's so very much fun, he can't help himself. And any real concern he might be feeling is safely hidden, for now. He'll deal with that in a moment, once he decides the proper way to do so.

[stfuelly]

"Oh my god, you are disgusting!" she snaps back, sounding genuinely so. Honestly, the thought of his hands on her in any way is enough to turn her stomach even more than it already is.

"No, none of it! At all!"

[snapekillsedgar]

A while after Vanessa got off of the phone with Vincent, there was a soft knock on her door.

Guess who, dear sister.

[stfuelly]

She's not expecting Elliot of course; for all he knows she should be at work or at the very least preoccupied right now with other things. So she ignores it and simply turns over in bed with a soft groan.

Though, the squeaky springs in the bed are probably audible through the door.

[snapekillsedgar]

A few moments later, she would hear the knob on her door being turned and her door opening. Elliot stood in the doorway with a rare mix of concern and conflict obvious in his expression. He stays quiet though, thinking Vanessa's still asleep.

[stfuelly]

Well, that's the opposite sound of what she expected. It has to be Vincent; he's the only one annoying enough to walk in without being invited, if only to gloat over what was said over the Dreamberry. She turns back over and reaches for something to throw. Anything close by. But by the time she manages to sit up and glare at the doorway, instead of the person she expected to see, it's the last person that she expected instead.

"Elliot?" she exclaims, clearing her throat to try and clear it of any grogginess and signs of pain.

"C-can't you see I'm still sleeping?"