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[playing_human]

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[playing_human]

[Nope, Dorian definitely did crime. Well. Crime by proxy. Repeated assault and battery via werewolf.]

But something we did is what triggered our treatment. It wasn't random.

[matermali]

[ There's no man-made law here, not that Vanessa ever cared about that. Vampires shouldn't be protected by it, anyway.

Whoever is playing God has no right to judge her, let alone 'punish' her. Such things ought to stay between those affected.

But it won't. They are all quite fucked. ]

I would worry more over how they can take us away whenever they will it. Sleeping has become dangerous. We are helpless to the whims of a nameless entity, and we can do nothing but bend to their will if we hope to go on as ourselves.

[playing_human]

At least we weren't simply being tormented as some experiment. [Which uncomfortably makes him think of Frankenstein and Jekyll, but NOPE NOPE NOPE he'll deal with that later. Much later. As long from now as possible.]

[matermali]

[ To that, she squints. ]

Of course it is an experiment. They want to know what we will do, how we will break, if it will be different this time. This may not have happened to anyone we know, but it has happened before, and it will happen again.

[ Torture, experimentation, treatment. They all go together in her world. Is this itiration forty-something, or four-hundred and something? ]

We are trapped in an orouboros.

[playing_human]

[She's getting awfully philosophical about this, and he just wants to know if it's a coincidence that it happened right after he did something bad, or if he can avoid it in the future by not doing bad things.]

Outside of the usual way, I meant. Are you still in any pain?

[matermali]

[ Usual way, is it. ]

Less than you, I'm certain.

[ She's probably used to enduring pain for longer amounts of time.

As for emotional pain... ]

Have you been to see our resident doctor for your pains?

[playing_human]

We have a doctor? [In other words, no.]

[matermali]

[ These men... Vanessa has never visited the doctor and she still made certain to know of him. He's only anywhere that someone mentions even having a headache. ]

He calls himself Daan. He helped a friend who had been hurt that night, and might do better for your pain than anything I can manage.

[ She moves slowly when pouring the water over the herbal mixture, her grip feeling clumsy still. The last thing she needs is to burn herself after everything else. It's difficult not to do this without thinking of her dear Sembene, but to do so would only weaken her step. ]

But this should still lessen the worst of whatever ails you, and it will certainly help you sleep.

[playing_human]

Thank you. [He probably won't check out the doctor. It's one thing for Vanessa to offer him help directly, it's another for him to go looking for it. He doesn't want to be seen in this state, doesn't want questions to be asked, and knows, deep down, how much he deserves to be in pain.]

I wish you would let me do something for you.

[matermali]

[ Her half smile toward the countertop is melancholy. ]

The best thing you can do for me is to avoid such peril in the future. I wasn't certain if you were alive these past few days.

[playing_human]

And if I said the same thing to you? Would you stay out of danger then?

[matermali]

I'm already doing you a favor, aren't I? You shouldn't be greedy.

[ It's almost said with a light-hearted tone, but the weariness and tension seeps through. ]

I was never in danger, not from Ethan.

[playing_human]

[He would argue that she didn't know it was Ethan when she ran into danger, but she's tired and he's tired and they can argue some other time.]

A strange man I met said the same thing--that Ethan would not harm you, not even as the wolf. [Ethan himself wasn't so confident.] I don't know how he knew.

[matermali]

[ 'Strange man' accounts for a few of Vanessa's acquaintances, but who would have been that confident? ]

Who?

[playing_human]

He did not give me his name. He was pale, dark-haired and soft-spoken, a fey manner about him.

[matermali]

[ She's realizing she has met a couple of 'fey' types by now, but the specific combination makes it clear under the context. He had mentioned finding another victim.

Even she's surprised that he felt so confident in Ethan. She had always worried that Morpheus wasn't very impressed by him. ]

That sounds like Lord Morpheus. He has his own sort of charm.

[ There's no hiding the fondness, especially after what he's done for her today. ]

[playing_human]

He helped me. [Dorian pauses.] Morpheus. Why is that familiar?

[matermali]

[ She folds her arms, turning to face him. Does he mean he heard it in the City, or elsewhere? If elsewhere, she has an inkling. ]

"Morpheus flew, on noiseless wings, through darkness."

[playing_human]

[A light comes on in Dorian's eyes.]

Yes. The god of dreams. Who brought Zeus' lie to Agamemnon.

[matermali]

[ Though it's hard to be overly pleased in anything right now, she is always comforted talking about Morpheus. Strange to think of them having met... ]

More than a god, really.

[ Turning back to the cup, she'll place it on the saucer so that she can bring it over. Slowly and awkwardly, at least for her. ]

He is who I will be staying with for the evening.

[playing_human]

I'm glad you have him.

[Dorian's first impulse is to tease, but it isn't the time. It's not like Vanessa is going to go home after however long being tortured and vigorously bang a god. Not even Dorian was up for that his first day back.

Wait. That's another thought.]

Vanessa, did you only make it back today?

[matermali]

[ The saucer settles down with a little clink onto the table nearest him. ]

You think I would have waited two days to let you know I was back? I should not like to do that to a friend, even under duress.

[playing_human]

[He blinks at her, dismayed.]

You were in there for two days?

[matermali]

[ Carefully, she sits on the edge of the chair nearest him. ]

I have been through worse.

[playing_human]

I have no doubt. [He doesn't. Somehow, Vanessa gives the impression she's survived it all. It doesn't make him at all less concerned.] Does that mean you don't have to rest?

[He was dead on his feet after one day, and here she is, puttering about, helping people.

Which reminds him to pick up his tea. He doesn't want to enable this, but he does need the sleep.]