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Introduction

Bourdonnement — Wingbeats of Scattered Thought (Part One) is the sixty-second chapter of Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas.

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SPOILER WARNING!
This article contains plot and/or ending details for The Case Study of Vanitas.
Read at your own risk.
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Summary[]

Dante glares fiercely at a shocked Noé and an unimpressed Vanitas. In the space left behind by his venomous, hostile words—if Noé’s behavior is purposeful or genuinely moronic—there is only silence. Noé hesitates as he does not know how to respond. In his place Vanitas delighted pipes up and answers with a cheeky grin that Noé is truly that much of an idiot. Noé, irritated, glares at Vanitas.

With a smarmy smirk, Vanitas addresses Noé without taking his half-lidded gaze off Dante and condescendingly rephrases what the redhead means. That Dhampirs are “repulsive” and thus their names aren’t worth remembering or being uttered by the tongues of the Vampiric nobility. To the side watching this heated exchange, Dominique silently listens with her body still hunched in on itself in shame. Noé is baffled, and Dante clenches his fist in growing anger. Vanitas simply goads him on. All of them in the room, from the Vampire nobles to the nobles’ servants to the Dhampirs themselves, have accepted discrimination against Dhampirs as a given, as natural. Meanwhile, just as the overlapping voices and constant arguments just a moment ago had flown over Noé’s head, he has no context for the social dynamics between the races. And so his question, from his ignorance about Dhampirs to him simply not being able to keep up with the conversation, was entirely genuine. Leveling him with a hard, unwavering stare, Vanitas acknowledges Noé’s ignorance but tells Dante to direct his frustrations about their treatment to the ones with actual power in the room, Orlok, Nox, and Manet. The three in question glare angrily at Vanitas but don’t say a word. Behind Dante, Johann cradles Riche comfortingly in his arms. Dante growls at Vanitas for implying that they’re okay with their treatment. Noé with growing distress tries to call out to Dante.

Johann interrupts all this by addressing Orlok directly. Nox and Manet sweat nervously at his boldness, though Orlok says nothing. Johann proceeds to speak diplomatically and gracefully, acknowledging that they should have given a report on their progress regarding the incident but their lack of ability has prevented them from doing so, and he apologizes for it. And so, to avoid “further foiling the air” with their presences, he suggests the three Dhams make their exit and return another day for a proper report. After a moment, Orlok begrudgingly agrees to this which Johann thanks him for before he begins ushering his two companions out the room. Noé watches them go. Before they can leave Orlok calls to them and reminds that if they cannot deliver results and resolve the situation as promised, the entire Dhampir race will be held responsible. Noé watches wordlessly as Johann laughs under his breath and, with a shamelessly mocking and sneering tone, confirms that they know that very well. Manet hisses angrily at this. Dominique bashfully announces her own departure before she hurriedly runs off as well, Murr at her heels. Noé worriedly calls out to her as she goes and makes to follow her, but he’s stopped by a tug on his sleeve. Noé turns confused eyes to Vanitas, who sighs and tells him to leave Dominique alone for the time being.

After this the two of them leave as well, and they walk together out from Orlok’s office into the crowded pathways of the Galerie Valentine. As they go side-by-side, Noé thinks back to the confrontation he had just witnessed and been a part of inside. Noé confirms with Vanitas that Dhampirs are discriminated against harshly. As he pulls his coat tighter around him against the chilly breeze, Vanitas confirms the explanation he’d given inside to be true. However he continues to elaborate that Dhampirs are not special in that regard and discrimination of all kinds overflows their world. Some may think that is how the natural order should be, such as Orlok and his servants, and others are not even aware of their part in that discrimination, such as Dominique. Even those who are targeted by discrimination themselves may perpetuate the exact same thing on others.

After ascending a small set of stairs, Vanitas pauses and turns around to face Noé who looks up at him. Vanitas identifies that Noé truly does not understand why Dante had gotten so agitated, to which the latter’s silence acts as confirmation. Vanitas reaches for Noé, clawed gloved fingers pointing into the other’s eyes. When Noé interacts with other people he sees them as the “individual” they are, regardless of things such as race or social position. He will look at and talk to them based on exactly what he sees. Most others however instead focus on an individual’s “category”; man or woman, adult or child, the way they dress, whether they are human or Vampire or Dhampir. Noé ascends the stairs after Vanitas and they continue walking forward together.

Vanitas states this as not necessarily a negative action, as information like that can be vital in identifying whether the person one is facing can be a threat. Noé’s ignorance is not borne just of how small of a world he has lived in up until recently, but also the surplus of power he possesses that he can use to protect himself when faced with a threat. The same is not true of Dante, Johann, and Riche. They are scorned and shunned solely for their identities as Dhampirs rather than ever seen as their own people. And so naturally in turn, Dante tends to make assumptions about the people around him with the context of Dhampirs. To him, in those moments, he saw not Noé but one of his oppressors as a Vampire. Noé bows his head forlornly, finally understanding Dante’s emotions now. Vanitas stares at his despondent face with exasperation and makes to say something, only to be interrupted by another calling Noé’s name.

Running up to them from the streets outside is Riche, panting from tiredness then from relief when she finds the two. Noé surges forth to say something just as Riche reaches them with a gasp. At the exact same time, they both bow and apologize. Then they look up and stare at one another with confusion as Vanitas watches blankly behind them. Afterwards they had all left and gone outside, because Noé and Riche got caught up in a politeness loop of trying to offer the first word to the other, which drew so much attention they blocked traffic. Now sitting at the edge of a fountain outside with both their heads bowed in embarrassment, Vanitas idling around on the other side, Riche initiates the conversation. She apologizes for Dante’s rudeness, as she wanted to bring him to apologize himself but he was too annoyed and refused. Noé tries to shift the blame from Dante onto himself, a Vampire, for having asked a rude question without understanding the full context of what he’d been saying.

To this, Riche sternly declares that to be Dante’s fault. When the subject of Dhampirs is brought up, he tends to get tunnel vision. Riche looks into the rippling, leaf-filled water of the fountain as she speaks. For Dhampirs like them, not being called their names is a given and the way Orlok and his servants had treated them is just a way of life that they had long since accepted. Or perhaps, she amends, they had given up. Riche looks up and tells Noé that when he had spoken up and asked why they weren’t being referred to by their proper names… Riche smiles brightly with gratitude and tells him how happy it made her. Noé blinks in surprise.

Characters[]

(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.

Terms[]

Trivia[]

  • Bourdonnement is literally translated as "buzzing" from French.
  • In Volume 11, this chapter is combined with Mémoire 62 Part Two to make a single consolidated version of Mémoire 62.

Navigation[]

v - e - t The Case Study of Vanitas
Characters

Main: Noé ArchivisteVanitas
Dhampirs: DanteJohannRiche
Galerie Valentine: ManetNoxParks Orlok
Hôtel Chouchou: Amelia RuthFlute
de Sade: Antoine de SadeChryslerDominique de SadeLouis de SadeMurrThe TeacherVeronica de Sade
Oriflamme: August RuthvenJeanneLoki OriflammeLuca Oriflamme
Chasseurs: Astolfo GranatumCharlesGanoGeorgesMarcoMariaMiraOgierOlivierRoland Fortis
d'Apchier: Chloé d'ApchierJean-Jacques Chastel
Blue Moon: MikhailVanitas of the Blue Moon
Archiviste: Noé ArchivisteLady Archiviste
Charlatan: ChèvreMonsieur SpiderMoreauNaeniaPlague Doctor
The Vampire Senate: FaustinaLord BellatorLord PaldenceMarquis Machina
Others: Beast of GévaudanCatherineÉricFannyFredGillesLouiseMinaNoé's GrandparentsParacelsusThomas Berneux

Nobility Archiviste ClanClan of the Blue MoonHouse d'ApchierHouse de SadeHouse of GranatumOriflamme DukedomThe SenateThe Vampire Queen
Terminology Species & Factions: BeastiaBourreauThe Catholic ChurchCharlatanChasseursDhampirsVampires

Objects: Astérisque FlowersAstermiteThe Book of VanitasMielWorld Formula Alteration Device
Weapons: Carpe DiemDurandalHauteclaireLouisette
Events: Babel IncidentThe War
Miscellaneous: MalnomenMark of PossessionTrue NameWorld Formula

Locations AltusAveroigneLa BaleineCarbunculus CastleLes Catacombes de ParisGalerie ValentineGévaudanHôtel ChouchouDoctor Moreau's LaboratoryParis
Volumes 1234567891011
Omake Romance is a✰LOVE MISSION
Episodes 123456789101112131415161718192021222324RecapSpecial
Blu-ray/DVD 12345678
Drama CDs Drama CD 1Drama CD 2Drama CD 3Drama CD 4
Soundtrack OSTSora to Utsuro0 (zero)Your NamesalvationCharacter Song Album 1Character Song Album 2
Character Songs Le Formidable!Hidamari ni Saku Hana~mon trésor~Na mo Naki MichiSekka
Other Media Stage Play
Extra Vanitashu no KaruteAuthor's NotesTimelineReal-World References
Author Jun Mochizuki
v - e - t The Case Study of Vanitas Chapters
Parisian Excursion Arc 12345
Bal Masqué Arc 67891011
Hunters of the Dark Arc 12131415161718192021
The Beast of Gévaudan Arc 2223242526272829303132333434.53536373838.53940414243
Amusement Park Arc 444546474849505152535454.55555.556
Miel Incident Arc 575859606161.56262.563
Intermissions 15.546.551.560.5
Volumes 1234567891011
Omake Romance is a✰LOVE MISSION
Other Vanitashu no KaruteAuthor's Notes
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