Vampire Residence

XIV

Night had fallen over the house once again, moonlight filtering in through the front windows of the hall, and a small stream of noise coming from the kitchen.

Sibyl was the first to arrive downstairs, idly leaning against the wall next to the main stairwell, quietly watching as everybody else slowly poured out of their rooms and into the hall.

Eleanor was next down the stairs, half dragging a very sleepy Daciana behind her.

Sybil looked up from where she was leaning on the wall as she saw the other two descend, taking in the fact that Daci was very obviously half asleep as she trailed behind Eleanor, who was already wide awake.

"Mmrgh... "

Daci made a soft, half-asleep noise in response to Sybil's comment, letting herself be led and supported by Eleanor's hand on her back.

Daci made another noise in response. She was still in her groggy half-sleep state, still letting herself be led by the half-asleep walk by Eleanor. Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were half-lidded, as she leaned against Eleanor.

Sybil's eyebrows stayed raised, a slight note of surprise in her voice as she continued watching the other two, particularly Daci.

"You aren't usually like this, are you?" she observed, her tone slightly disbelieving. "I've never seen you this... bleary."

It took Daci a while to respond; she was still half-asleep and half-conscious, her brain slowly trying to process the question.

"...No," she managed, her words still half-slurred by her half-asleep state. "M'not."

Sybil continued to raise her eyebrows as she looked at Daci, now somewhat fascinated by the fact that Daci was half-asleep, practically walking like a zombie.

Eleanor, meanwhile, was gently but gently guiding Daci towards the living room as if she were a child, all the while keeping a hand on her back to steady her.

They slowly made their way towards the living room, Eleanor leading the half-asleep Daci towards the sofa.

As soon as Eleanor slowly got Daci to sit down, the latter leaned back against the backrest, letting out a low, tired huff as her eyes closed again.

Sybil continued to watch closely as Eleanor sat next to Daci, gently placing Daci's head on her shoulder and starting to play with her hair, in an almost soothing manner.

After another moment, Sybil spoke up again in an observing tone.

"She's quite clingy, isn't she?"

"Mm," Eleanor responded as she ran her fingers through Daci's hair. "Only when she's really tired. Or half-asleep."

She looked down at Daci, watching her as her eyes slowly began to shut, still leaning blearily against Eleanor's shoulder.

Sybil watched the scene again, now intrigued by Daci's current demeanor, so uncharacteristic of her usual attitude. Her eyebrows stayed slightly raised as she spoke.

"It's unusual to see her like this, isn't it?"

"Unusual, but not unexpected," Eleanor responded as she continued gently playing with Daci's hair, running her fingers through it, noticing how Daci's eyes continued to droop.

By now, Daci seemed to be almost fully asleep, her head slowly lolling against Eleanor's shoulder with the rest of her body practically slumped back into the sofa.

"It happens when she gets sleep-deprived. Sometimes, she'll be cranky and irritable... but most of the time, this happens,"

Eleanor observed quietly, noticing how Daci's eyes were now fully closed, and her body was fully slumped against the couch.

Sybil continued watching; for some reason, this side of Daci, half-asleep with her head lolling against Eleanor's shoulder as the latter played with her hair, piqued her interest and amusement.

"And how often does that happen, exactly?" She asked.

"Not that often anymore," Eleanor answered, tilting her head as she looked down at Daci. As Daci was now fully asleep, it was obvious from the calm, somewhat soft expression on her face.

"It used to happen a lot when we were younger, but she's not as sleep-deprived as often these days. She usually gets enough sleep most of the time."

Sybil chuckled slightly, studying Daci intently, now completely fascinated by the fact that the usually irritable, somewhat antagonistic Daci was currently half-asleep against Eleanor, in a rare moment of peacefulness.

Sybil shrugged nonchalantly, keeping her expression steady and hiding her slight interest.

"Maybe."

She paused, looking pointedly at Daci. "It's just amusing to see her like this, I suppose."

"Mm," Eleanor responded as she gently moved a strand of hair away from Daci's face, running her fingers absentmindedly through Daci's hair.

The latter was oblivious to this, still fast asleep, slumped against Eleanor, and showing no signs of waking up anytime soon.

Sybil continued studying Daci's sleeping face, somewhat impressed with the relaxed expression on her face, so different from the usual annoyance or irritability on her expression.

Eleanor chuckled again, noticing Sybil's interest. "You look fascinated by her."

Sybil shot Eleanor a sardonic look, trying to maintain a facade of indifference. "Oh, don't get the wrong idea."

She turned her gaze back at Daci, now seeming more intrigued than before, almost admiring Daci's peaceful half-asleep demeanor.

"No, no, of course not."

Eleanor responded with a mocking tone, very obviously seeing through Sybil's nonchalance. Sybil, in contrast, continued to watch Daci intently, continuing to be mesmerized by how the latter's demeanor was unusually soft and calm.

After a moment, Sybil spoke in a slightly amused tone.

"I'll admit, I didn't know she could look this calm. I'm starting to think she's downright tolerable when she's half-asleep like this."

"Oh, believe me, she's perfectly capable of being this calm while she's awake as well..."

Eleanor responded, glancing down at Daci's sleepy face.

"... when she's not irritable and grumpy, anyway."