Who: Vanille, Belle What: Making sure Vanille is okay, quick chat When: 08/18, slightly towards the end of this log with Wolfwood et al Where: Vanille's room Ratings/Warnings: Uhm... PG-13 for the just in case. Status: Complete
Belle knocked softly on Vanille’s door, pushing her still-wet hair over her shoulders. She was still pretty upset about everything, but she figured she could work that out on her own time. Right now she just wanted to make sure Vanille was okay.
Vanille'd been praying for a miracle. That was pretty much all she could do right now. She knew in the dreams she had the power to cure what she'd done, but she didn't seem to have that power now.
She looked up when Belle knocked and got up to get the door, opening it a bit to peek through the crack, "Is he gonna be okay?"
“Think so. Got a doctor here helpin’ him out, he says he’s feeling better. Can I come in?” Her voice was soft and gentle. She didn’t feel very calm, but that wasn’t something she thought Vanille needed to know.
"I wasn't sure you'd wanna come in," Vanille replied, her tone a mixture of relief and sadness. She opened the door all the way and stepped aside so that Belle could come in, then shut it again. The quick glimpse she'd gotten of the kitchen was all she needed to see to know that it was better that way.
Belle tried not to think too hard about what she’d seen in the kitchen. “I know you didn’t mean to hurt him.” She sighed and leaned against the wall. “You’re not hurt, are you?” She didn’t necessarily mean physically. This was not at all the way she’d meant to introduce the two of them.
"I really didn't... I'm so worried that I'm gonna hurt someone else," Vanille wrung her hands a bit and chewed on her lip.
She'd have to be even more naive than she was not to understand what Belle was asking her, but she wasn't sure how to process the rest of it, "Him bein' here really startled me. It was... a shock, but it really shouldn't'a been. I mean... you said you'd been with 'im before."
“I shoulda texted you.” Belle said with a sigh. “I thought I’d said somethin’, but now I remember I didn’t. I’m sorry, sweetie. This wasn’t how I wanted you two t’ meet.” She looked down at her hands, wishing she knew what to say. “It won’t work out any better between him and me than it did between us. He knows it won’t go nowhere. I’m sorry that I hurt you.”
"No, I mean... this is a horrible way for people to meet, no one would ever want t'meet someone else like this." Vanille frowned, and looked down at her hands again. If Wolfwood had died, she never would have forgiven herself.
"You're still seein' him though. I want to be happy for you, I really do. I was just... a little surprised, I guess. I hope he doesn't decide not t'come back here after this."
“Me too.” She laughed a little, shaking her head. “I’m gonna go check up on him. There’s dinner in the oven for you. I figure I’ll probably drive him home and get drunk when I get back.”
"Belle? Is he..." Vanille frowned, suddenly not sure if she should ask the question she wanted to ask. But she'd started, so she had to finish, "... Is he better than me? Do you like him better? Does he have somethin' to him that's ... more?"
Belle paused. “He’s not better than you. I don’t like him better than you. You’re my friend, Vanille, I asked you t’ come out t’ America with me because I enjoy bein’ around you. You’re so lighthearted and see the good in everything. I need someone like that in my life. You’re everything I want t’ be but can’t. Wolfwood is. . . more like me. We’ve both seen an’ done things we’d rather not’ve, and we both just have to live with that darkness. I do like him, but the same things that kept us apart will keep me and him apart too. Eventually it’ll end, and all we’ll have left is memories.” She stroked Vanille’s face softly. “But I’ll always cherish my memories of you. Knowin’ you reminded me of the good in people, reminded me why I decided t’ do this so long ago.”
Vanille could understand that. Shared experiences like that - it's what made talking to Fang about her dreams different than talking to Belle about them. Fang had been there, they'd done some of that together, and it made them ... like what Belle was saying. More like each other.
The words still made her teary-eyed, though. She wrapped her arms around Belle's waste and hugged onto her, "I love you, Belle. Not th'same as the way I love Fang... It'll never be the same, but I don't wanna say I love her more, either. It's just different. So I kinda understand... and I'm so glad I met you."
“I’m glad I met you too.” She hugged Vanille tight. She didn’t know if it hurt more that Vanille loved her, or that she loved Fang more. Of course, that was better for everyone involved, but Belle still wanted to be selfish. “You gonna stay or take off t’ be with Fang? I’ll understand either way.”
"Maybe you should drive 'im home and then stay with him tonight. Just in case, yeah? I mean... he'll probably be okay if the doctor took care of him, but maybe you should look after him anyway," Vanille replied, after squeezing Belle one more time and then taking a step back.
Staying with Wolfwood sounded like a better idea than running away from him and getting drunk, anyway, "Gettin' drunk doesn't sound as fun, you know?"
“Maybe not.” She said with a laugh. “You should call Fang and have her over.” She ruffled Vanille’s hair a little. “That way we both have someone to snuggle up against.”
"Well... that's not a bad idea," Vanille replied, with a bit more wide of a smile. She nodded, "Alright. Is it okay if we eat that dinner together, then?"
“Me and you or you and Fang? Either’s fine with me, except I’m full and naked, so maybe you should share with Fang. It’s a steak, but there’s enough sides for you to split it.”
Vanille laughed a bit, "Me an'Fang. I'll give her the steak and steal all the sides for myself. But I'd have eaten dinner with you, too, only I think you've gotta get Mr. Wolfwood home!"
Belle nodded. “Gimme a call if you need anything.” She smiled at Vanille and took a deep breath. Hopefully it would all be okay.