[ She'll wait again until she's finished chewing. Sorry for the anticipation, but she's trying not to abandon all her manners, no matter how easy it may become to let her more wild side out around Red.
She can still see Sembene's gentle smile from the corner of her eye when he pretended not to see her take a dessert from the tray waiting in the kitchen. She has heard some of his stories. What would Red think of them? ]
Witches.
[ She ought to elaborate, perhaps. There are other witches in the group beyond Vanessa, after all. She hasn't yet pinned down their true purpose, but she has been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Before this, she had only ever met one witch who didn't serve Lucifer... Only one Daywalker. ]
Women who have pledged their services to Lucifer, in exchange for power beyond the mortal realm. I could not say if they are worse or better than the demons. The ones I know have been keen on commanding the thoughts and actions of others through fetishes. [ And, since she is used to people not understanding what that means: ] Dolls who puppet their victims.
( Red taps her fingers on the counter absentmindedly as Vanessa clarifies what she means. They do have witches within their group like Emilia, and she then winces at the explanation of what these witches in particular have been doing, bargaining for power beyond with someone who is like Hades - worse than Hades from what little she's even heard about him. )
Well, shit. That's- a lot of power to be able to command someone's thoughts and actions.
( That's what she was like before. After, she became this version of herself in Purgatory High, it was different. She knows now he mixed in too much human soul, and what the fuck happened to her? She hasn't let herself think about it. Afterwards, it was mostly only her actions that could be commanded, instructed. She stacks up several pieces in a row. )
Guess it's a good thing there aren't many of those here, or demons either. Demons weren't really a thing in my Underworld, but they're also in line with like Lucifer?
[ Vanessa isn't sure that there's any difference from controlling thoughts or actions in this case. Power over one dictates power over the other. It hurts, to think of being suspended here, eating a snack, while Sir Malcolm is still under that witch's thrall. Is he even alive? It seems quiet moments like this aren't allowed to come easy, either.
She doesn't reach for more, her appetite dulled by the memories. ]
The demons I have seen in the flesh, vampires... They would talk of their great master, and I can think of no greater Demon than Satan himself.
[ It doesn't mean she is right, and she knows there's a puzzle piece missing, but it's striking how little she knows despite her experience. More questions than answers at every turn.
Leaning against the counter, fingers spread against the cold metal just near the sliced bread and cheese, Vanessa's attention turns from her inner turmoil to Red's curiosities. How she eats, how she asks... She is still learning so much. They both seem to have only begun their quest for purpose. ]
What would you call those who reside in Hades, if not demons? What do you call yourself?
( Red frowns at her answer. It must be difficult to be so wrapped up in a world and then still have so many questions about it. The Underworld was... not home. That's not the right word (not at all), but it was so much a part of her she knew everything about it. She could sense when something was wrong with it, when a new spirit arrived, when one got too close to the River.
She plays with some of the pieces of cheese. )
...monsters. ( Red hasn't figured out what she is still, but that term is still true. Monster and- and something else (some human soul split into pieces and carved inside of a piece of Cerberus, but she doesn't like to think about that. It's not like she knew about the human part until she was here). She swallows. ) There were spirits, monsters, or gods and goddesses in the Underworld for the most part. And we had daemons, but they don't seem like the same as the demons you talk about. They weren't evil. More like spirit guides?
I know of Charon. He is not particularly verbose in the epics.
[ To hear them called monsters only draws her nearer. She can be fond of them. Part of her may even be fond of demons, that it's a part she continues to deny. If a thing should be lonely, if a terrible creature should want for love, can she not see herself in that? Can she leave them wanting? ]
Did you find friendship with any of the other...monsters? The gods or demons?
Oh. ...no. That's not what I was made for. Pretty sure Hades regrets- ( She shakes her head, bites down into some of the bread and chews and swallows. Regrets making her so human, infusing that soul inside of her, turning her into a being capable of choice and escaping him. He should have left her as she was - three headed dog monster to terrify the teens of Purgatory High instead of turning her into something more palatable, but the gods were trying to do things differently and so she was made.
Her shoulders tense and she stares at the food. )
I didn't really see any of them much except the spirits that were sent to that specific area of the Underworld.
[ What she was made for... What was Vanessa made for? Surely it can't only be to carry around her curse. Surely God made her for a better reason. ...Or does he also regret...
She 'hm's softly while leaning against the counter next to Red, appraising her. She's heard the growls, felt the heat, but she also sees the girl. Such a combination can only keep Red as a singular sort. With Vanessa, she has only been a gentle monster. In return, Vanessa's touch is gentle as she brushes back Red's hair with fingertips, tucking it behind her ear. ]
( Something painful crawls up her throat at the question. It wasn't supposed to be. Loneliness was not supposed to be for her - a tool, a creature created to be a god's, a weapon to be utilized, and she played her part, because she had no choice, but not only that. No. She did have choices.
It was easier to be frightening than to risk rejection. She lifts her gaze to meet Vanessa's briefly at the gentleness of the touch from someone who carries this dark power inside of her- the power of this dark goddess inside of her. Has it been lonely for her too? Vanessa sees more of her than most can, and still she isn't frightened and she doesn't pull her hand away.
Her own hand (awkward and unused to this, comforting or receiving comfort) wraps around Vanessa's brief and tight.
And she can't find her voice to answer the question, doesn't feel fair or right to so she doesn't. )
[ The awkward clutch of a child is a most unique feeling, when Vanessa can look to her hand and see claws. A growl that one might mistake for a whimper, if they only listen. Beyond that, she can hear Mr. Chandler's voice echoing from the moors, reminding her of why they must protect one another. Monsters alike. We are not like others. We have claws for a reason.
They have more than claws, though. They have searching hearts that must break so easily. They have yearnings and curiosities while they adventure on silly little errands and relish in the mundane of apple and cheese.
Holding their hands there, Vanessa steps behind and rests her other hand over Red's shoulder, her cheek gently resting atop the other's head. She can think of nothing fair or right to say, either.
Hades was a fool god. Such sweet monsters ought never be lonely. ]
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no subject
She can still see Sembene's gentle smile from the corner of her eye when he pretended not to see her take a dessert from the tray waiting in the kitchen. She has heard some of his stories. What would Red think of them? ]
Witches.
[ She ought to elaborate, perhaps. There are other witches in the group beyond Vanessa, after all. She hasn't yet pinned down their true purpose, but she has been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Before this, she had only ever met one witch who didn't serve Lucifer... Only one Daywalker. ]
Women who have pledged their services to Lucifer, in exchange for power beyond the mortal realm. I could not say if they are worse or better than the demons. The ones I know have been keen on commanding the thoughts and actions of others through fetishes. [ And, since she is used to people not understanding what that means: ] Dolls who puppet their victims.
no subject
Well, shit. That's- a lot of power to be able to command someone's thoughts and actions.
( That's what she was like before. After, she became this version of herself in Purgatory High, it was different. She knows now he mixed in too much human soul, and what the fuck happened to her? She hasn't let herself think about it. Afterwards, it was mostly only her actions that could be commanded, instructed. She stacks up several pieces in a row. )
Guess it's a good thing there aren't many of those here, or demons either. Demons weren't really a thing in my Underworld, but they're also in line with like Lucifer?
no subject
She doesn't reach for more, her appetite dulled by the memories. ]
The demons I have seen in the flesh, vampires... They would talk of their great master, and I can think of no greater Demon than Satan himself.
[ It doesn't mean she is right, and she knows there's a puzzle piece missing, but it's striking how little she knows despite her experience. More questions than answers at every turn.
Leaning against the counter, fingers spread against the cold metal just near the sliced bread and cheese, Vanessa's attention turns from her inner turmoil to Red's curiosities. How she eats, how she asks... She is still learning so much. They both seem to have only begun their quest for purpose. ]
What would you call those who reside in Hades, if not demons? What do you call yourself?
no subject
She plays with some of the pieces of cheese. )
...monsters. ( Red hasn't figured out what she is still, but that term is still true. Monster and- and something else (some human soul split into pieces and carved inside of a piece of Cerberus, but she doesn't like to think about that. It's not like she knew about the human part until she was here). She swallows. ) There were spirits, monsters, or gods and goddesses in the Underworld for the most part. And we had daemons, but they don't seem like the same as the demons you talk about. They weren't evil. More like spirit guides?
Like Charon. He'd ferry in spirits on the River.
no subject
[ To hear them called monsters only draws her nearer. She can be fond of them. Part of her may even be fond of demons, that it's a part she continues to deny. If a thing should be lonely, if a terrible creature should want for love, can she not see herself in that? Can she leave them wanting? ]
Did you find friendship with any of the other...monsters? The gods or demons?
no subject
Her shoulders tense and she stares at the food. )
I didn't really see any of them much except the spirits that were sent to that specific area of the Underworld.
no subject
She 'hm's softly while leaning against the counter next to Red, appraising her. She's heard the growls, felt the heat, but she also sees the girl. Such a combination can only keep Red as a singular sort. With Vanessa, she has only been a gentle monster. In return, Vanessa's touch is gentle as she brushes back Red's hair with fingertips, tucking it behind her ear. ]
Was it lonely?
no subject
It was easier to be frightening than to risk rejection. She lifts her gaze to meet Vanessa's briefly at the gentleness of the touch from someone who carries this dark power inside of her- the power of this dark goddess inside of her. Has it been lonely for her too? Vanessa sees more of her than most can, and still she isn't frightened and she doesn't pull her hand away.
Her own hand (awkward and unused to this, comforting or receiving comfort) wraps around Vanessa's brief and tight.
And she can't find her voice to answer the question, doesn't feel fair or right to so she doesn't. )
no subject
They have more than claws, though. They have searching hearts that must break so easily. They have yearnings and curiosities while they adventure on silly little errands and relish in the mundane of apple and cheese.
Holding their hands there, Vanessa steps behind and rests her other hand over Red's shoulder, her cheek gently resting atop the other's head. She can think of nothing fair or right to say, either.
Hades was a fool god. Such sweet monsters ought never be lonely. ]