Admittedly, Vendetta had a hell of a time with Tetch and their victim, she never heaving meant to take over. But nobody, nobody, would be allowed to even think of hurting either. If anyone wanted to, they'd have to go through her first- this struck her as odd. Normally, mortals were of little concern to her. This one- No, these two, she corrected herself- were something truly special.
She watched him re-appear, knowing all the while, his eyes were on her. He was rather the gentleman, even deep in the madness. She had been rather surprised, when she apologized, to find him amused, not furious. '—Are you kidding me? I was tickled when you decided to get involved in his demise, not many fancy a good torture session.'
"Do I seem like someone who would shy away from a little blood and torture? Now, now. My feelings are hurt." She made a mock-pouty face, then shock hit.
The things
Vendetta had seen, drew something from her own fears.
Quietly, a single tear slid down her face… Almost instantly - when the Hatter noticed the tear- the madman reverted,
sated for now- and once again Jervis was back, appearing as if he had
little knowledge on what had occurred; a Jekyll and Hyde-esque
experience, for sure. She recalled, in lucid detail, the things that- that thing- would
have done. It made her sick. If she was not here, and even one
mistake had been made... She hadn't noticed him revert back to Jervis-
having proven her wrong. All he saw, a woman standing before him, in
distress. All she heard, the concern in his voice, him moving near.
”—Vendetta, are you alright? I do hope it wasn’t anything I said?” Without
evidence of blood or a body, he would have never known… still he would
near her, drawing her instinctively back to the Tea Party, ”—Please have a seat, would you care for some tea?”
"No, no, not you, I promise… Yes, tea to steady the nerves, calm the emotions. Perhaps that is best, thank you. I'm not fine, I just... Had a memory come to mind..." Vendetta wasn't sure, how much Jervis knew about Tetch, and his doings. Of events transpiring. She let him guide her back, sit her down, pour her tea. Vendetta was trembling lightly. Best not to speak until he spoke first.
Tetch would have smirked inside, though the look wouldn't have appeared as much more than a slate sheen to his irises... Attentions were set solely on the Lady; the last hours had been black, as if all he had seen censored. He didn't mind, not particularly wishing to know what Tetch did on his time; he did like this new world he had emerged into, and in some cases thought it so much more Mad than Wonderland, on a more in-depth level.
Even while she spoke, he was already pouring out a cup of tea, only stopping to politely help her into her chair properly like the troubled gentleman he was.
"-I see, is it anything you'd like to talk about? I've learned sometimes speaking on what you feel, helps mend whatever pain nags the heart?" At least it helped when his therapist talked to him about things of that nature. Helping himself to more tea, he would slowly sip its edge, quietly waiting her words if she wanted to share… Vendetta sipped at it a couple times, steadying nerves. Likely only Hatter knew everything- Jervis equally likely didn't. She had looked down into the cup, when he asked- every bit of him screamed concern.
"Is that something a therapist told you? Perhaps in a vain effort... To keep themselves alive?" Vendetta laughed softly. It took a re-pour, before she would allowed herself to speak once more.
Quite the opposite, Jervis LOVED to talk just as much as the Hatter did, consider it something of the past, years ago no one listened. 'Poor Jervis, might as well have been invisible!' he wailed silently, appearance glum for but a moment before he perked up. But with his new invention, people HAD to listen whether they wanted to or not, because they didn't have a choice. The thought was priceless and made him smile something wicked, a promise perhaps, never to be weak and docile, at least he could have the Hatter to thank for that.
A break in the concern would have resulted in humour, a laugh when Vendetta spoke. "-It might have been, but it is something I do happen to agree with..." he explained, finishing off the cookie he had been nibbling on to enjoy a sip of tea "-It certainly doesn't hurt to get it all out in the open, keep things for too long inside and you end up with a 'Dark Passenger' like mine" Not that he had any personal qualms about it.
Before long, his prying would have paid off, and she would respond, explaining herself, while he casually dusted a bit of crumbs off his lap. "I met your… counterpart, for lacking better word. We got to know each other better... Took a night-time stroll. Happening upon someone, enmeshed in spirits, we... made a choice, and… had an interesting time. I had to take over, when things got... messy." She sipped her tea once more, and soon had relaxed. In a quieter voice, Vendetta went on. "I cannot- will not- tolerate anyone even thinking of hurting either of you. It simply won't do."
Jervis finally smiled at this last statement, reaching out to place his hand atop her own adoringly, "-My sentiments exactly, and I'd like to think they are 'his' sentiments as well towards you..."
A pause and he'd continue "-No... they are. Even with all your your talents- we wouldn't let anything happen to you. And while I don't usually partake in such brutalities, I'm more then content it was to such a savage piece of trash. So...thank you for that."
Vendetta nodded gently- reflexively touching her throat where it choked her. Jervis didn't notice.
Glancing around, he nodded in quiet admiration, "-You did a hell of a job cleaning up, I didn't suspect a thing... much better then he usually does" and when this was done, he would flit his gaze back towards her, "-Are you okay?"
Filled with secrets, that's what he was- and what he had always been from the very start. None had known, what unscrupulous deeds he committed in the hours after nightfall in his youth. Now being of that dark world, he was even more a mystery. Part of him exposed for all- those who chose to see, to believe he existed beyond any usual means. The other part of him, hidden, answers to his birth, destruction, what made him tick, what gave him purpose. Even his past life nearly forgotten memory, something he stopped hanging on to ages before, lost amid the sands of time.
Vendetta was not one of many words sometimes. Right now was one of those times. She merely listened- his laughter, the things he said. Words had deserted her. He interjected as she told her tale, then ended on an interesting note of finality. "I will be. I understand you don't like it, but... It does seem to help. Only take those who deserve it, and/or who won't be missed."
She sipped her tea, silent once more. Her words sounded hollow, she didn't seem okay. She was still shaking... As he reached for a cookie, she noted it was a favourite of hers. She did realize she hadn't slept in some time, though. Coming down from the anger, that high of adrenaline... Exhaustion took her over. With a soft yawn, she sleepily murmured "I best get some rest.. Too many days awake, it does things after a time.. I hope you'll excuse me.."
Vendetta begun to tidy up; she always believing a place should be left in better shape than how she found it. Dishes were gathered and washed, treats wrapped up, tea poured out carefully. Soon, it was in very good shape. With a small curtsy, she turned to make the difficult journey home. Daybreak was upon them- and she questioned whether she could make it or not. Still, she had intruded long enough upon Jervis' kindness. Time enough to disappear.
Wetting his lips, he settled back against his chair, legs crossed at the ankle, more out of strange habit then anything else, while the lovely woman beside him piped up in expression, speaking of rest. The sudden thought was random, but he didn't mind. Nearly forgetting the time, losing himself with her... Queer thought, he too probably needed rest- unless he preferred to fall deeper down into the rabbit hole.
Even before he could begin cleaning, she would tidy, adding to the Hatter's amusement, helping her finish whatever was left. It would not have been long before she surrendered her final farewell for the time, then departed, leaving him alone in the attraction. "-Until next time, mon amour," he cooed, wiggling his slender digits into a wave, before deciding to crash at the park for the evening... Until next time- he could hardly wait...