Bernadetta von Varley (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bearlylistens) wrote2022-04-15 09:39 pm
bearlylistens) wrote2022-04-15 09:39 pm
Hello, I'm Nanami, an old schoolmate of Getou's. I wasn't sure if he has spoken of me to you or not, but I know you recently signed a contract with him. I wanted to thank you for saving him from spending any longer in jail than he already had.
[ Who's this stranger suddenly reaching out to her out of the blue?? Bernie frets for a few moments (or, half a day), contemplates finding Geto to ask him what this was all about, or looking for Hubert for advice (no, he'd probably try to kill him) -- but ultimately, well... The message was harmless, wasn't it? It seemed alright. ]
Hi. I'm Bernadetta, but I guess you already knew that.
He was nice to me when he didn't need to be. I think it's worked out okay? I don't think jail is a pleasant place to be when he didn't do anything wrong.
What I mean is, I don't think you have to thank me for anything! It works out well for me too. He's letting me stay in his place too. If anything I should be thanking him.
Hi. I'm Bernadetta, but I guess you already knew that.
He was nice to me when he didn't need to be. I think it's worked out okay? I don't think jail is a pleasant place to be when he didn't do anything wrong.
What I mean is, I don't think you have to thank me for anything! It works out well for me too. He's letting me stay in his place too. If anything I should be thanking him.
[ It's none of his business how much about Getou's past she knows, so he won't divulge anything about it, though he has a laugh to himself at the idea of Getou not doing anything wrong. ]
I'm glad to hear it is going well. I had hoped he would introduce us the last time I was over, but he never did and I didn't see or hear a peep from you.
I'm glad to hear it is going well. I had hoped he would introduce us the last time I was over, but he never did and I didn't see or hear a peep from you.
Oh...
Well, I told him I could stay really quiet so I wouldn't bother any of his guests. And he didn't need to introduce me to anyone.
Please don't get mad at him! I asked him to let me stay in the room so I wouldn't have to meet anyone, so it's my fault.
Well, I told him I could stay really quiet so I wouldn't bother any of his guests. And he didn't need to introduce me to anyone.
Please don't get mad at him! I asked him to let me stay in the room so I wouldn't have to meet anyone, so it's my fault.
I am not mad at him, Bernadetta. Apologies for worrying you over that possibility.
If that's your preference, then I am glad to see he's honoring it.
If that's your preference, then I am glad to see he's honoring it.
It is my preference! Too many people make me nervous. He's been very gracious about telling me if he would like to have guests. Sometimes I can just stay in there, or sometimes I go out so I don't have to bother you all by being around.
I'm sorry for not introducing myself sooner.
I'm sorry for not introducing myself sooner.
I see. I doubt you would be a bother. You seem pleasant enough to speak to through text.
It's quite alright.
It's quite alright.
Speaking through text is easier. It's quiet and it's like writing letters, or stories, or anything else like that.
You can think of the right words to say! And on this device, you can take away what you say before you let the person have your message. It's so clever and convenient, and I wish we had something like it at home. [ Texting would have been THE WORST thing to happen to her at home. She would have never come out of her room ever. ]
But anyway, you know me now! Did you need me for something? Did Geto say something?
You can think of the right words to say! And on this device, you can take away what you say before you let the person have your message. It's so clever and convenient, and I wish we had something like it at home. [ Texting would have been THE WORST thing to happen to her at home. She would have never come out of her room ever. ]
But anyway, you know me now! Did you need me for something? Did Geto say something?
I am happy to continue like this.
It is very convenient. We had many different devices like the ones we use here back home. Though none of them folded up quite like the ones here do.
No, this was simply my reaching out to introduce myself. He did not say anything.
It is very convenient. We had many different devices like the ones we use here back home. Though none of them folded up quite like the ones here do.
No, this was simply my reaching out to introduce myself. He did not say anything.
It's so lucky that you have things like this! If I could, I would bring this back home with me. [ If that was even possible? Bernadetta wasn't aware. ]
Are you and Geto good friends? Is that alright to ask? I hope it is. It's nice to know he has a lot of friends who are worried about him.
Oh, I'm not really someone to worry about! If you were worried.
Are you and Geto good friends? Is that alright to ask? I hope it is. It's nice to know he has a lot of friends who are worried about him.
Oh, I'm not really someone to worry about! If you were worried.
I don't know if that's possible, but there's only one way to find out.
[ And it's not one that they can purposely aim for. ]
We've known each other since we were teenagers, though we had a falling out and only have begun to reconnect here.
[ Yes, he's being vague as hell, but it's Getou's story to tell, not his. ]
I wasn't worried.
[ And it's not one that they can purposely aim for. ]
We've known each other since we were teenagers, though we had a falling out and only have begun to reconnect here.
[ Yes, he's being vague as hell, but it's Getou's story to tell, not his. ]
I wasn't worried.
[ Then why was he still talking to her? If he really wasn't worried. He didn't want anything, so Bernie has no idea, and is trying not to conjure other, horrific reasons of her own. ]
Well... then... are you checking up on him through me? Or checking on me? Or something like that? I don't understand.
Well... then... are you checking up on him through me? Or checking on me? Or something like that? I don't understand.
Bernadetta, have you heard from Hubert as of late? He did not come home last night, nor the night before, and he will not respond to any of my messages or calls inquiring about his whereabouts. I am growing quite worried...
[ Then again, this wouldn't be the first time this happened to the two of them. He'd vanished on Hubert before, after all. Why shouldn't he fear the same might be happening to Hubert, or that something else has befallen him in the city while strange things are happening? As for Bernadetta, he doesn't live with her, and she tends to make herself scarce more often than most, so it's less obvious to him right now that she's kind of gone missing in a way as well... ]
[ Then again, this wouldn't be the first time this happened to the two of them. He'd vanished on Hubert before, after all. Why shouldn't he fear the same might be happening to Hubert, or that something else has befallen him in the city while strange things are happening? As for Bernadetta, he doesn't live with her, and she tends to make herself scarce more often than most, so it's less obvious to him right now that she's kind of gone missing in a way as well... ]
[ Bernie actually responds to this, even if she's nowhere to be seen in the provided housing, having stolen off to hide somewhere remote. But... if Ferdinand was wondering where Hubert of all people was, then.. maybe something was wrong? ]
Ferdinand! I haven't heard from him. I was going to just ask him now where he is, but the device won't let me search up his name? Is something wrong, do you think?
Ferdinand! I haven't heard from him. I was going to just ask him now where he is, but the device won't let me search up his name? Is something wrong, do you think?
Oh.
Maybe. That might be.
I mean.
When Annette suddenly left it was a little like this. She just disappeared and I couldn't find her anywhere or send her any messages this way because her name was just gone.
Maybe. That might be.
I mean.
When Annette suddenly left it was a little like this. She just disappeared and I couldn't find her anywhere or send her any messages this way because her name was just gone.
Are you okay, Ferdinand? Where are you?
Can I
I want come and see you?
Can I
I want come and see you?
No it's okay. I haven't been home much so
I'll come over!
[ It will be a while. But she makes it eventually, a canvas tote in hand with her smartly-dressed Hubert bear peeking out from inside. She knocks at the door; she's been here before, very briefly, so there's not urge to run and hide while she waits for Ferdinand to come and invite her in. ]
Um. Hello! I hope... are you home, Ferdinand?
I'll come over!
[ It will be a while. But she makes it eventually, a canvas tote in hand with her smartly-dressed Hubert bear peeking out from inside. She knocks at the door; she's been here before, very briefly, so there's not urge to run and hide while she waits for Ferdinand to come and invite her in. ]
Um. Hello! I hope... are you home, Ferdinand?
[ From inside the door, Ferdinand's voice sounds, ] Of course I am! [And naturally, it's getting closer, because he's about to open the door. ] Knowing you were to arrive, I would not leave you waiting.
[ And the door clicks and opens. First he sees Bernadetta, which conjures a small smile that leavens the despondence about his features. Then he notices the bear, which clips the smile, and even causes his lips to twitch as his heart is nipped with sudden, overwhelming ache. The way he looks at Bernadetta plunges into a sort of need, a lack of solace in his darkening world that might be alleviated with someone else he loves. He makes space for her to enter. ]
Please... make yourself at home.
[ Hubert's presence is alive and well in the space, the ghost of him all that is left in the wake of his likely departure. Ferdinand hasn't the heart to rearrange much of anything, even the smallest, dynamic messes like a cup forsaken on the table. ]
[ And the door clicks and opens. First he sees Bernadetta, which conjures a small smile that leavens the despondence about his features. Then he notices the bear, which clips the smile, and even causes his lips to twitch as his heart is nipped with sudden, overwhelming ache. The way he looks at Bernadetta plunges into a sort of need, a lack of solace in his darkening world that might be alleviated with someone else he loves. He makes space for her to enter. ]
Please... make yourself at home.
[ Hubert's presence is alive and well in the space, the ghost of him all that is left in the wake of his likely departure. Ferdinand hasn't the heart to rearrange much of anything, even the smallest, dynamic messes like a cup forsaken on the table. ]
[ She hovers uncertainly at the entrance for a moment, waiting for him to let her in and close the door. She's very watchful, between taking a quick and quiet look inside for any sign of Hubert... and catches, quite by accident, how his smile falls when he spots the bear. Should she not have brought him?
She'll worry about that later. There's no time to be selfish, after all. First thing's first, she puts the bag down on the ground so she can turn and get on her tiptoes to fling her arms around his neck, if he'll let her. ]
I'm sorry, Ferdinand.
She'll worry about that later. There's no time to be selfish, after all. First thing's first, she puts the bag down on the ground so she can turn and get on her tiptoes to fling her arms around his neck, if he'll let her. ]
I'm sorry, Ferdinand.
[ Oh, he lets her. He presses her closely to him in return, finding solace in her embrace as much as he tries not to let it aggravate his sentimentality too much. Tears threaten him, after all. And if Hubert has truly vanished on them, then Bernadetta is the last he has of anyone he can call home, and he will not take her for granted. ]
I cannot bring myself to believe that he is simply... gone. And yet, I... cannot find a better explanation.
I cannot bring myself to believe that he is simply... gone. And yet, I... cannot find a better explanation.
[ It's hard for her when people demand things - pulling or pushing her into things when she isn't ready. It's different like this, when a friend is troubled and in need of a good hug. ]
It's hard to believe when we don't understand how they do it.
Are you okay? I mean... can I do something for you?
It's hard to believe when we don't understand how they do it.
Are you okay? I mean... can I do something for you?
Simply stopping in to see me like this does quite a lot for me. [ He releases the hug, though his hands remain on her shoulders, and another wispy attempt at a smile is made for her. ] It is enough. Besides, if there is something that can be done beyond clutching onto the selfish hope that he has not left us and continue investigating his whereabouts, I do not know what that is. I just... [ The despair starts to eat at the corners of his expression. ] I am aware that I must look forward. Contemplate a life without him here to support me, and prepare to find... someone new. [ Ah, it hurts to say... He swallows the pain. ] But it is... actually quite painful to do. I have hardly even accepted it yet.
You don't... have to find someone new, though. Not now, or maybe not ever? Not anyone like Hubert, at any rate, since I don't think there's anyone like him. [ She tries to smile for him too, maybe even succeeds at it for a little while. ]
I mean... you'll probably need to find someone to sign a new contract with, because we have to. We'll go to their zoo if we don't. But that new someone doesn't really have to mean as much as Hubert meant to you. I think. Maybe. [ But what does Bernie know, really? She's not been in this position before. ]
Sorry. I don't know what I'm saying.
I mean... you'll probably need to find someone to sign a new contract with, because we have to. We'll go to their zoo if we don't. But that new someone doesn't really have to mean as much as Hubert meant to you. I think. Maybe. [ But what does Bernie know, really? She's not been in this position before. ]
Sorry. I don't know what I'm saying.
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