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Deirdre Winters; The Snow Queen ([info]snow_bees) wrote in [info]bellumlogs,
@ 2010-04-15 23:52:00

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Entry tags:dracula, snow queen

Who: Deirdre and Vlad
What: Reactions to the noise at the beginning of this.
Where: P1 to P3
When: Same as this.
Warnings: Nosy neighbors? Deirdre in her pajamas? :-D


Deirdre was sitting in her living room, ready for bed in her nightgown, when she heard the sounds from the corridor starting to filter under her front door. They were loud, angry, and concerned her probably more than they should. She knew that since the anonymous post listing their fictional counterparts, people had been upset about Vlad being Dracula. She wouldn't put it past the residents of the building to actually put together a mob.

Rising from her curled position on the sofa, she grabbed her robe and headed barefoot for the front door. The noises were only slightly muffled, but still seeping through. She slipped into the corridor, casting a glance around before realizing that the sounds were, thankfully, not coming from Vlad's penthouse. Nevertheless, she padded over to his door and knocked softly, wondering if he was still awake and hearing the same thing she was.



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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-16 05:27 am UTC (link)
Vlad's sleep schedule had never been quite right, and he found himself becoming more and more prone to taking naps during the day while being completely unable to sleep at night. It was when he got most of his work done, during the very early hours, since the time difference meant that it was already morning in Romania by that time.

It didn't help matters, however, having a neighbor who had not even a speck of respect or common decency. He was used to all sorts of noises coming from P4, so he barely paid attention when it started up again tonight. It sounded like some kind of argument, loud and angry at first, but becoming strangely muffled through the walls after a few moments. Vlad was curious, but not enough so to do anything about it; especially since it was probably some kind of stupid lover's spat.

That is, until the knock on his door came. Perhaps it was something slightly more serious - if it was that idiot child come to complain about something, he was going to kill him right then and there. He made his way to the door, completely indifferent to the fact that he was clad in black pajama pants and a t-shirt, pulling it open with a frown that vanished once he saw who was on the other side. "Deirdre." Surprise was evident in his voice, although the fact that she was in her nightgown didn't escape him. "Is something wrong?"

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-16 05:42 am UTC (link)
Deirdre had wrapped her robe around herself, aware now that they were both standing in the hallway in entirely inappropriate attire. She ignored it though, pretending as if she was in her normal wardrobe. She glanced toward the door of P4 in response to Vlad's question. "I was awake and heard that. I suppose, with everything going on lately, that I wanted to check that the mob hadn't come for you."

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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-16 05:56 am UTC (link)
So it seemed he wasn't the only one who'd heard the noises, but he wondered if they'd awoken her or if she had simply been getting ready for bed when they started. Vlad glared in the direction of P4, making a mental note to do what that new tenant had suggested and compromise his stereo system in the morning as a 'friendly warning'.

"You thought a mob had come after me?" He tilted his head to the side, a smile playing on his lips. "I appreciate the concern - most people would have either come to watch or to join in themselves." He realized that they were both hardly dressed appropriately for this sort of thing, but it wasn't as if he was planning on sleeping any time soon. It couldn't hurt to ask, after all.

"I realize this is rather unorthodox, but would you like to come in? At least until our beloved neighbor decides to cease whatever it is he happens to be doing."

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-16 06:04 am UTC (link)
"I might have to be offended that you think I would be like most people in this building." Her slight smile softened the comment, even as another round of shouting drifted over from P4. She did her best to ignore it, the only sign that she'd heard it a tiny tightening of her shoulders.

She knew that it wasn't likely for her to sleep soon either, at least not until the noises stopped, and knowing P4, there was no telling when that would be. It wasn't something she did often, if ever, entering someone else's home so late at night, but she nodded slightly. "If it isn't an imposition. Who knows what is going on over there, or if it might spread. Better to be awake for it." After only a moment of hesitation, she stepped forward, slipping in through the door.

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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-16 06:27 am UTC (link)
If this had been a normal building with a proper landlord, Vlad would have had Trenton evicted by morning - but even if the previous landlord had still been here, he would have laughed at such an attempt. There was nothing they could do about their neighbor unless they threw him out themselves. He gave her an appraising look, shaking his head lightly. "I hardly think that you are anything like most of the people who live here."

He spared one last glance at P4's closed door before taking a step back, allowing her room to come inside before shutting the door behind her. "Not at all. My sleep schedule has been rather... erratic lately. I was already awake when the noise began, and that is not likely to change anytime soon." He kept an eye out for the dogs, who had been asleep in the bedroom, but he assumed they saw no need for alarm since they didn't appear in the doorway. "Would you like anything to drink? Coffee, perhaps?" He was already half-turned towards the kitchen, gesturing for her to take a seat on the couch.

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-16 06:53 am UTC (link)
Deirdre's smile was small and sly, amused. "I should hope not, sir."

She looked around Vlad's home once through the door, more than satisfied with the way it was decorated. She knew he had dogs, but saw no sign of them on the furnishings. "Mine has as well. I fear that my thoughts are to blame." Her smile faded a touch, slipping away from her eyes even though it stayed on her lips. "Coffee would be delightful, thank you." She followed his gesture, heading for the couch and perching lightly on the edge, trying to keep some sense of decorum by gathering her robe around herself, double-checking the tie of it to make sure it was secure.

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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-16 07:12 am UTC (link)
Vlad gave a short nod and continued into the kitchen, preparing the coffee maker with practiced ease as he spoke. "Thoughts often seem to be the reason, I find." Thoughts that weren't even your own were that much worse. "I would introduce you to my dogs, Cain and Abel, but they can be terrible lazy creatures when they wish to be. They may decide to wake up at some point, however." Once the coffee was set and the machine was on, he went about getting the cream and sugar while it brewed.

"Aside from sleep habits, have you been well since we last spoke?" He paused to study her for a moment before continuing on, and when he took a seat on the couch across from her he set two cups of coffee on the table, along with the cream and sugar if she should want it.

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-16 02:18 pm UTC (link)
Deirdre's smile was still faded at the talk of thoughts, and she nodded, almost absently, in agreement. In the next moment, she laughed softly. "I do admit I was wondering where they were hiding. I've seen you take them out for walks, and they don't seem like the type of animals you could hide easily." She paused, then laughed again. "And let them sleep. At least someone is on this floor."

She reached for the coffee, murmuring a soft 'thank you' before adding enough cream to lighten it considerably, but leaving it unsweetened. She gave it her full attention for the first careful sip. It was a long moment before she lowered it again, looking directly at Vlad and giving an answer that wasn't exactly honest, hidden behind another flat smile. "Quite as well as can be expected, in a place such as this." She didn't mention the doubtful thoughts about their transformations that she'd been sharing with Shane via email.

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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-16 09:42 pm UTC (link)
"They get me out of the building, at least, since their size requires a great deal of exercise." Their size was also an advantage, though - one large dog was intimidating enough, but two were a far better deterrent than any alarm system. Vaughn had managed to break in while he was walking them - but any other time he had to leave the apartment, they were left behind. "The fact that they do not see the need to run out and growl already means that they like you." He laughed. "They are quite good judges of character."

Vlad had done some research since the last fable occurrence, but this time it had been on other fables rather than his own. He knew about the Snow Queen's tale, and her previous concerns made him wonder if she was struggling with her fable just as much as he was. He added a touch of cream to his coffee, preferring it strong, and took a thoughtful sip. "I am glad to hear that." He paused for a moment before continuing. "What do you think of that woman's prediction - that what happened before will happen again on the full moon?"

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-17 04:20 am UTC (link)
Deirdre glanced toward the back rooms of the penthouse with a smile. "I am glad to be approved of, then." She took another sip of her coffee, smiling around the rim of the cup.

Her fingers tightened around that cup at Vlad's next question, going slightly paler with the tension. She finished her sip slowly and lowered the coffee before taking yet another moment to reply. She'd been thinking about it enough to have formed a reluctant opinion. "I think that it would not surprise me entirely if she were right. Stranger things have happened even since I have been in the building than a bit of true prediction."

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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-17 08:26 am UTC (link)
Vlad personally believed her, since his reading had been almost eerily accurate - and once she'd spoken of his mother, he knew Katya had a legitimate gift. No one save for one person knew that part of his past, and he knew Helena would have never told a soul. "I am inclined to believe her as well. On the one hand, I suppose it is a small positive that we know when to be prepared for. On the other... well, I had hoped it would never happen again."

The noises sounded more muffled now, less audible, and he wondered again what could possibly be going on. Did Trenton never sleep? "Now that we know what to expect, perhaps it will not be quite as bad as it was the last time. Some friends of mine have already planned precautions for my circumstance, both to keep me from hurting anyone and to keep them from attempting to kill me." There was a slight undertone of resentment at the thought of being treated like an invalid, but it was faint. "It is hardly ideal, but it is all we can do until we can figure out a way to stop it."

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-20 05:04 am UTC (link)
Deirdre nodded as she looked down into her cup of coffee, the late-ish hour making her more introspective than she usually allowed herself to be, especially in the presence of another person. "I hoped not as well." She laughed bitterly under her breath. "I was hoping quite a bit, actually."

She looked up at Vlad, interested in his preparations for the moon. Since talking with Shane, and his plans to lock himself in, she'd been trying to figure out what she might be able to do about her own walking about on that night. There wasn't anything she'd been able to think of, other than leaving herself a sign on the door, which she would likely ignore. "It's a good idea, though, if you are concerned about hurting anyone. And especially about them hurting you. I," she trailed off for a moment, wondering if she should finish the thought of I wish I had someone here to help me like that. Instead, she finished softly, "I think that might be for the best for you."

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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-21 06:17 am UTC (link)
"Everyone seems to have different opinions on the matter. Some believe it was the building that made us this way, while others think we have always had these fables with us, but not all of us knew it until we moved here." Vlad was inclined to believe the latter, considering what had happened in Romania. Normal people didn't develop a lust for blood and slit innocent women's throats to satisfy it out of nowhere - there had to be a reason, something within himself that had prompted him to cross the line. It could have been Dracula, even then; fighting to get out in the only way he knew how. "Still, no one can blame you - or anyone else - for what they do when they are not themselves. The fact that you worry about it already shows that you are a far better person than most here."

He was mostly concerned about Helena, because he knew Dracula wanted her to become a vampire like himself - Kiki as well. Among his other plans were to get rid of Harker and Van Helsing, and he wanted to find Renfield - but Vlad was almost positive there was none in the building."I am more worried about hurting others. He is not worried about anyone hurting him, in any case." Death was something he wasn't going to let happen - Aiden and Peter might be prepared, but he would be prepared as well.

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-21 07:52 pm UTC (link)
No one can blame you. Deirdre couldn't help the laugh that slipped out at that, shaking her head as she remembered again her emails with Shane and how similar an opinion Vlad seemed to have. "I had someone else tell me much the same thing, not that long ago. And it seems that while I share that thought in regards to others, it's slightly more complicated when it is personal."

Deirdre turned her gaze on Vlad, eyes serious again. "He may not be worried, and you do not seem to be that worried, so I will worry for you. Both of you, if I must. I've seen what is said on the forums, and I don't doubt that there are people in this building who would quite devote themselves to removing the threat of him from their presence." She paused, giving him a wry smile. "I was a voracious reader when I was a child, Vlad. I've read Stoker's work, and I know how it ends. Let's try to avoid that, yes?"

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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-22 02:43 am UTC (link)
Vlad raised his eyebrows but didn't ask who - he knew what was and wasn't his business, and who Deirdre spoke with about the fable issue was none of his concern. The fact that she hadn't offered a name made that fairly obvious, even though there were some people who would have ignored it and pressed forward regardless. I suppose you are right. There is a difference from telling others the same thing and believing it yourself." Not to mention the fact that half the building didn't see a difference between himself and Dracula, despite what Daniel and Boyd said.

It was almost funny, how Daniel and Helena had said basically the exact same thing - Daniel especially had been annoyed by the fact that he didn't seem worried about the threat Aiden posed. He was worried, because he'd come close to death the night of the masquerade, and he knew that even Dracula wasn't indestructible. Even now he could almost hear his indignant reply - I will not die - and it was one of the few things he and Dracula agreed on. He wouldn't let himself be killed, even if he had to kill in return to make sure that didn't happen. Then again, wasn't that how Dracula was killed in the first place? He grew too confident, too careless. Maybe this time around it could be different. "Oh, I have no doubt there are people here who would not hesitate to kill me if they had the chance - but I have no intention of letting them succeed. I will be careful."

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-26 03:06 am UTC (link)
Deirdre could see the curiosity in Vlad's eyes, and she had to commend him for allowing her to have her privacy in the matter. "I often find that is the case, yes."

Deirdre rolled her eyes a little at Vlad's dismissal of the danger to him. "Be more than careful." She shook her head and sighed. "You're not invincible." After a moment of silence, she looked toward the door, realizing that the sounds that had drawn her over had gone quiet. She made a soft, thoughtful noise. "I believe our neighbor may have found himself some civility. I don't hear him any longer."

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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-26 05:27 am UTC (link)
Vlad couldn't help but laugh, even though the prospect of possibly being killed was serious and not very humorous at all. Deirdre just reminded him of everyone else, of Daniel and Helena, and it still seemed strange that people cared about him at all. "I know. No one will let me forget the fact that I am far from invincible, but I suppose that is a good thing. With Dracula's arrogance, a reminder can never hurt."

He hadn't even realized that the noise stopped, but with any luck it would stay that way for the rest of the night. "Nor do I. If we happen to be lucky, his civility will last until morning." Vlad still didn't plan on sleeping, but at least he could get some work done without being distracted now. "Perhaps we will both be able to get some sleep now." He didn't want to stand and make it seem like he was forcing her to go, so instead he shifted towards the edge of the couch as though he were going to stand, waiting for her to do so first.

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-26 05:40 am UTC (link)
Deirdre smiled at Vlad's laugh, but her eyes were still somewhat serious. "Don't you laugh at me, sir. I meant what I said. And I shall give you more reminders, should you need." It was a bit more forwardly honest than she usually was, but she felt she'd found a like-minded neighbor in Vlad, and she didn't intend to lose that to the building's less refined residents.

She was easily able to read the social cues of a visit come to an end, and pushed herself up from the couch, standing as gracefully as possible while wearing a tied robe. She gave another check to see that the sash of it was still securely knotted, and smiled at Vlad again. "Sleep sounds like a possibility now, yes." She gave him a slight nod and started toward the door. "Thank you for your hospitality this evening."

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[info]nobleblood
2010-04-26 06:54 am UTC (link)
"Then I can count on you to never let me forget how fallible I am?" He chuckled, a softer sound this time, although he was glad that he had at least one neighbor who proved to be far more than tolerable - in all, he found he did enjoy Deirdre's company. "Thank you, in that case."

Vlad stood a moment after she did, hiding a smile at the way she checked to ensure that her robe was still tied. "It was my pleasure. Thank you for your company." He held the door open for her, polite as always. "Do not hesitate to come by again if our neighbor's civility runs out in the future."

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[info]snow_bees
2010-04-27 01:28 am UTC (link)
Deirdre smiled again, just short of another laugh. "Indeed. Someone needs to, apparently."

She slipped out the door, pausing just over the threshold and resting her hand lightly on Vlad's arm for a brief second. "I will consider that an invitation. Since I'm sure it will happen again." Her eyes warmed for a moment with a smile before she nodded and turned away, heading back to her penthouse.

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