voicemail.

[disinherits]

Leave a message. If you must.

[BEEP.]

Comments

[disinherits]

It won't. And you don't need to rush into it too fast.

[It's a gentle but stern reminder. There are more important things in life than kissing boys.]

[miraculo]

Mm, I know. [ She nods slowly. ] Th-thank you, too... I'm glad someone understands my feelings on this. [ And not having them brushed off as being nonsense or unimportant. ] It's nice to talk to someone.

[disinherits]

[She frowns a little. A girl like her should have lots of friends in a place like this; it's an angry, easily irritated personality like Vanessa's that keeps people at arm's length.]

You don't have anyone else to talk to here?

[miraculo]

[ She has to think of that question for a moment. Well, it's not like she can't talk to anyone else. ] No, no, it's not that-- [ It's... more that she doesn't tend to, period, and keeps things to herself because she---. ] I just don't want to be a bother. Ah, that's why I was anonymous that one time.

[disinherits]

[There's a quick, generic answer here. Something along the lines of "your friends will never think that you're a bother", but this is something that Vanessa had spent years learning. After Fred, Claude and Ernest died, she'd kept her own grief bottled up. Who had time for it when the rest of her family had suffered as well? There was nothing to do except be as strong willed as her older brothers and eventually as brave as her little brother. She really has no right to go around waving the banner of friendship at anyone.]

I figured it was because you didn't want him recognizing you and bothering you about it. [She finally says.] But...people probably don't see it that way. As a bother.

[miraculo]

Ah... I've been told that before. [ She nods. ] I've also been told I'm too quick to make friends, so I didn't know what to do-- if it was alright to go to anyone or not...

[disinherits]

It isn't wrong to be quick to make friends. It's only wrong to trust the wrong types of people unconditionally.

[miraculo]

[ A small smile again. ] You're right about that, and I'm trying to learn that too.

[ Then a frown. ] I have a lot to learn... I wish I knew how to make friends better.

/finally returns from vacation and work hello

[disinherits]

...That's something I definitely can't help you with.

[She doesn't sound upset about it, though. Nightrays didn't have friends, they only had each other, and the few that had been allowed into her heart had all come to this place and left already.]

[miraculo]

[ She gives a small smile nonetheless. ] You're my friend, right?

[disinherits]

[She blinks down at the camera, eyes going a little wider.]

- You think of me as a friend?

[miraculo]

--Er, yes!

I know people tell me not to think others are friends so quickly... but you helped by talking to me. That's very friend-like, right?

[disinherits]

[It's a naive way to think about it, but it's also not altogether wrong. Encouraging it might make it worse, but at the same time, people who value friendship are hurt when they're told it's not reciprocated. Maybe some middle ground, then.]

Well...friends do talk and help one another through rough times...I suppose.

[miraculo]

[ Her mood seems to brighten. Slowly, she IS learning that friendships aren't that easily made. But it's still nice to have someone to talk to. ] Then, you can come to me whenever you need help or support. Because that's what friends do.

[ Let's be real, Sanae would support or help someone who isn't her friend tbh. ]

[disinherits]

...I'll - um, keep that in mind.

[The words come out sounding distant, but not in a disrespectful, flippant way. Just unfamiliar, confused. No one offers Vanessa help and support these days; she's demands it when she can't deal with things on her own, and those moments are becoming few and far between.]

[miraculo]

[ She nods, smiling warmly. ] Mm.

Well, I should get going. I have a lot to think about now. [ Also more self blame, more feeling bad, but...! She's glad she got to talk about it with Vanessa. That makes her happy. ]

[disinherits]

Oh, right. Well. [She clears her throat with a more noble sounding ahem.]

Should it come down to it, I'll be glad to set him straight for you. Take care.

[miraculo]

Oh, no, it's fine. [ Although it proooobably would help if she did. ] I'll be sure to keep in touch!

[ She bows, and then the feed cuts. ]