[The City] IC Contact

[hypnagothic]

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[matermali]

[ One can trust Vanessa to relate to the most depressing thoughts over a story on the best of days. ]

What was that?

[hypnagothic]

[ he can't really blame her in this moment for it, considering what she's gone through, whether he knows exactly what that was or not. so there's no reproach or annoyance of where her focus is with the story, continuing in that same storyteller way as he finishes rinsing out her hair. ]

They found solace through the story in the creation of night. It allowed the creation of time, allowing wounds the ability to heal and rest.

[matermali]

[ Time. This too will pass.

How many times has it happened already? How many times is she supposed to let go of it?

She's never known how to do that. ]

Time means nothing here. We're as trapped as she was in the first day.

[ Pulling away, Vanessa leans forward onto a hand and wipes at her face. ]

Nothing here will go away, nothing except what is good.

[hypnagothic]

[ his hand fall from her as she pulls away. ]

And yet, you returned.

[matermali]

[ At their bidding. And at their bidding, she'll no doubt return. She doesn't have the heart to say that to him when he's trying to be kind in his own way. ]

May I— I can finish. I need...a moment, please?

[hypnagothic]

[ there's a moment of pause, Morpheus going still as if surprised by the request. but then he moves, dipping his hands into the water to rinse off the last of the suds, then rising slowly while drying his hands on a hand towel. ]

As you wish, my love. I shall wait outside.

[matermali]

[ She nods, glancing at him again with a sudden flickering smile of gratitude despite the furrowed brow. She appreciates what he's already done more than he can know, and it's taking all of her strength to keep her voice (mildly) steady at the moment. ]

Thank you.

[hypnagothic]

Do not hesitate to call should you have need of me. I will hear you.

[ but he steps through the bathroom door, closing it delicately behind him. ]

[matermali]

[ In that case, she does her best to keep her weeping as silent as possible.

There isn't too much more to do to wash up, so it isn't long before she's climbing out to find what looks like a clean towel to wrap herself in. By the time she's sitting on the tub's edge to drain the water, her face is dry.

She doesn't know what to do with the clothes, she can't just leave a mess there. She wouldn't mind burning them, really. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ he honors her privacy as best as he can while still listening, waiting as long as necessary. it's only when he hears the water drain and then the silence after of no movement does he knock gently on the door, speaking low through it. ]

There are clean clothes that I can offer you, if you wish.

[matermali]

[ That draws her over, shuffling to the door to pull it open with a peek up toward his face. The sight of him tightens her throat again.

Opening the door the rest of the way, she suddenly steps forward to wrap her arms around his middle, face hidden against his shoulder. As some sort of comfort or gratitude, she doesn't know.

She doesn't force it to linger for long, but she does struggle to let go once it feels she should. She wouldn't mind wearing his clothes until she can recall where other dresses are. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ she doesn't have to pull away if she doesn't want to, Dream welcoming her in an easy embrace as she leans into him. one arm wraps around her back while the other gently cradles the back of her head as she hides her face. ]

[matermali]

[ It's only another minute, when her breathing has actually steadied from her recent cry, before Vanessa pulls away with a grateful gkance. Just back in the washroom long enough to gather up the sweatshirt and squint at the pile of what used to be a dress. She doesn't even want the earrings anymore.

With one hand reaching to keep her towel from slipping, she looks quizzical with her whisper. ]

Is there somewhere to dispose of them?

[ The bathroom trash probably wouldn't work well, and she doesn't want to leave them a mess. ]

[hypnagothic]

You need not concern yourself with it.

[ he'll handle it while she dresses in his room, taking her hand again to lead her there. ]

[matermali]

[ It does feel much better now that she's clean. Once she has rebandaged herself and dressed–

What is she to dress in? A robe of his again? She could ask, but she stays silent until they return to his room, holding tightly to his hand. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ they reenter his bedroom, and she'll see some clothes folded on the edge of the bed. a simple black t-shirt and a pair of those sleep pants he wore in her apartment before. ]

[matermali]

[ At first her glance about is a slow and dulled curiosity, and the folded clothes draw out some of a smile, but spotting the stuffed raven nearly brings a hiccup of emotion that she tries to restrain with a tremble before going over to pick it up for a hug. He had said that he kept it, but it's another thing to see it.

He seems to decorate about as much as she does. ]

I am overwhelmed with the joy of seeing you again. [ —to Morpheus, of course, as she turns to face him again. ] There were moments which felt like years and I did not think I would look upon you or anyone else again.

[hypnagothic]

[ he had been about to step back out, ready to provide her privacy for dressing or for another surge of emotion as he watches her hug the stuffed object. but her words draw him fully back into the room, stepping by her side, his hand gently cupping her cheek. ]

As to that ... are you aware of how long you were hidden from us?

[matermali]

[ At the question, she kneads anxiously at the stuffed animal. It felt like so much longer. ]

Just over two days.

[ It took her a bit longer than it should have to reorient herself enough to even find Heine's, or it would have been slightly sooner. ]

I could not even find you in my dreams. I was not permitted to sleep.

[hypnagothic]

Nor could I find you. It was as if you had vanished from this place as completely as you arrived.

[matermali]

[ It isn't surprising, but it's disturbing to think of how powerless she is, how powerless he is in this place.

Slowly, she turns to set the raven back down, her fingertips petting away any wrinkles that her grip forced. ]

This won't pass. Hope isn't hidden in our story. They can do anything to us, whenever they wish. We can only protest because they allow us even that much.

[hypnagothic]

Allow. Permitted.

[ he frowns at her wording. ]

Will you share with me what was done?

[matermali]

[ She wasn't very good at explaining to Heine, and she had gone to him knowing he understood what it meant. What it was like.

Frowning, she stops moving, her hand resting against the raven's side. ]

I thought...I had left that worry behind. Yet there it was— scratching. In the walls, I thought, but no, no...it was me, it's me, they took me away and brought me back and held me down, and then it was scratching to get out.

Because we always get what we deserve.

[hypnagothic]

[ he steps closer to her, standing just behind. he doesn't touch her yet, not when she goes so still. ]

You believe it was ... punishment?

[matermali]

[ The word summons a light cringe, with her immediately covering her ears and looking down and away from the raven as if it has become something else entirely. As though she only just remembers she's allowed to, her eyes squeeze shut with a delay of a few seconds and she huffs. ]

No. But yes.

[ It was more than that, and she's trying her best to remember the other part, to picture something other than the punishment. Where everyone is at peace, laughing and helping one another, and then she can hear the ocean in place of their laughter. Nothing can scratch the water. ]

It was better when they smiled. For...my betterment.