[ open ] Darkness lets the stars shine bright

[darkcharge]

Who: Vanitas + You!!
When: All of Mareuer
Where: Various
What: Open + Closed Prompts
Warnings: TBA



( Familiar Shopping )

[ Vanitas has noticed that instead of having a Bond, plenty of local Witches seem to have Familiars. Do they prefer them over Bonds? He doesn't really know and Van isn't going to bother to ask that question. His Unversed, that one lone Flood, has been sort of serving as a Familiar since it had arrived. However, Van doesn't particularly like it. Okay, so he kind of hates the thing. Other people seem to think that it's cute. He doesn't get it.

That's why he's entertaining the idea of an actual Familiar. So Vanitas has made his way down to some shops, finding one that specializes in this sort of thing. He peruses the contents, making faces here an there; Vanitas isn't impressed by the selection. ]

Cats. Dogs. Rats.

[ That's where he's at in his search. Though perhaps at one point he does hold a hedgehog, somewhat entertained by it. ]


( Library Visits )

[ As always, Vanitas can always be found in the library from time to time. In fact, several times a week. He never reads for recreational purposes, oh no. Rather, he reads to fill the time. Fill the time and also study different kinds of magic. He can always be found practicing healing spells - progressively getting better at them.

There's a lot of magic here that doesn't exist where he's from. This particular instance, Vanitas is practicing Transmutation and Divination. Some days he can be found with a mirror, glaring at it as if he could break it with his mind. Other days he has broken objects lined up - anything from glasses/mugs to some tools he's found lying around.

Hey. He likes having multiple skillsets. ]


( A Flood's Day Out )

[ The Flood that Vanitas has isn't on a leash or stuck in a crate. It is allowed to meander about on its own. It does, however, have a collar and a tag about its neck just so people realize it does belong to someone. Vanitas doesn't actually keep track of it, completely unaccustomed to doing so - never needing to.

That being said, it likes to create problems for people. Enjoying a nice, quite lunch? Not anymore! That Flood darts up, snatches it, and likely takes off a few feet away to gloat. That new trinket that you just bought? That's gone too.

Vanitas might not be far away. Or maybe you just find it and decide to try to return it. Up to you. ]


( Disney Princess? )

[ Unbeknownst to Vanitas, all that time spent practicing healing magic has apparently left its mark. He doesn't know why this has been happening as of late and it's being met with no small amount of irritation. Here he is, minding his own business in the Coven gardens, and little critters keep coming out to say "hi."

No, really. One moment Vanitas is taking a nap and when he wakes? Maybe it's a stray cat sprawled on him. Sometimes a random squirrel. Today, however, it's a little more extreme. There's a bird in his hair and butterflies fluttering around. A rabbit has seen fit to flop into his lap. ]

Oh come on! Go away! Shoo.

[ Yeah, it doesn't work like that. Vanitas, as a result of his casting practices, apparently has a "calming aura" that he knows nothing about. ]


( Cooking Vani )

[ Back at the house, usually people take turns cooking. Van's helped out a little, though it's mostly with the cleaning. He actually wants to do something this time. So he's in the kitchen, a recipe book on the table. Vanitas is turning the pages, as if trying to decide on something. Though it doesn't look like he's really made up his mind.

This is... Probably going to end badly. For everyone. ]


( Wildcard)

[ As always, if there is no prompt that is to your liking, feel free to hit me up on plurk or discord and we can figure something out! I can even write a closed prompt no problem. ]

Comments

[darkcharge]

[ He waits, of course, to see what Roxas is going to do next. For a moment he does look like he is about to charge Vanitas again. The rage is still in his eyes. Under normal circumstances, he might even encourage Roxas to say something, to do something. Anything to get more under his skin than Vanitas already is. However that's not what he is going to do. Rather he just looks at Roxas with something like apathy.

Because he really doesn't care about any of this. Vanitas just isn't going to allow someone to come at him. ]

Starting to accept the truth? Realizing that you're going to have to work a little harder to keep your instincts in check?

[ That's just being blunt. Vanitas isn't actually trying to antagonize in this moment. ]

[twilightskey]

[Vanitas's words make him grit his teeth, but the earlier rage has left him by now. Because as irritated as he was at Vanitas, even Roxas could see the truth in his words. He clenches his fists and looks back up at Vanitas.]

...Yeah. You're right, I'll give you that. [Because Vanitas was right. He did have to work harder to keep these new instincts in check.]

Like I said before. I'm not going to be some mindless animal. [Said as much to Vanitas as it is to himself.]

[darkcharge]

[ Oh how it must hurt to inwardly admit that someone you dislike is right. Now Vanitas does enjoy that somewhat. A part of him, no matter what becomes of him in the future, always will. Some things just won't change. ]

If that's the case then you might want to make sure one of your Bonds is a witch. I hear that Monsters can become quite feral otherwise.

[ Totally helpful, see? ]

[twilightskey]

[It does irritate him, knowing that Vanitas is right about this. But at the same time, Roxas isn't stubborn enough to ignore wise words, no matter the source. And he doesn't have the same baggage that Aqua, Ventus, or Sora have with Vanitas. So even though he's irritating, Roxas can concede to his point easier.]

[Those last words actually have Roxas looking up in surprise, his brow furrowing.]

...feral?

[darkcharge]

Lose all sense of self. The full moon has quite the effect on Monsters. Go too long without a Bond and...

[ Vanitas shrugs. Obviously Roxas should understand what he is getting at. ]

A Witch-Witch Bond is too unstable with the magic. A Monster-Monster Bond is too far the other way.

[twilightskey]

That can happen..?

[Oh, Roxas definitely understands. He's already felt the effects of the full moon with his headaches and mood swings, and now with these new instincts that are developing. To lose all sense of self... His ears lower to the sides, now out of worry rather than out of shame.]

So, I need to find a Witch to make a Bond with...

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas is somewhat surprised. Has no one spoken to him about these things just yet? Is Van really the first person to mention this to Roxas? How... Ironic. ]

Oh it can happen. I thought it was a lie myself, but you could say I learned the hard way about these things.

[ He won't go into details. ]

So yes. I would suggest finding a Witch for at least one of them. No one told you about this?

[twilightskey]

You did..?

[Roxas is curious about that, but he doesn't get much of a chance to ask about it. He frowns, glancing to the side.]

They mentioned it's important for a Monster to bond with a Witch, but I... didn't think it would be that bad. I thought that I'd have time to worry about that.

[Looks like he didn't have as much time as he thought.]

[darkcharge]

How much time you have depends on you, I would think. I avoided it by having my Flood around. It isn't the same type of Bond, but it is classified as a "familiar" here.

[ Which, of course, just helped to channel magic for a while. Not indefinite and Vanitas did feel the effects. ]

I've never witnessed things on the Monster's side of things, of course. All of the Monsters in the house were already Bonded.

[twilightskey]

A familiar... maybe I'll look into that if I can't find a Witch to Bond with.

[It would at least buy him some more time to find a proper Bond. Roxas slowly stands up, brushing the garbage from his clothes with a grimace before turning back to Vanitas.]

You have a Bond with Sora now, right? That's why you're doing okay now. [Sora told him about bonding with Vanitas before. And if that Bond goes two ways, that means Sora will be okay as well.]

[It's good information to have, even if it comes from an annoying source. Roxas can swallow his pride long enough to admit that.]

...Thanks. For telling me all this. [Instead of just leaving him in the trash.]

[darkcharge]

I'm not sure it would work for a Monster, but you might as well ask the Coven if there are alternatives until you find a Witch.

[ He has no idea if it would work the same way or not. Vanitas shrugs, glancing away as if bored when Roxas brings up Sora. He doesn't feel the need to answer, since it should be obvious. Yes, he is more stable now because of the Bond that he has with the brat that he shares a face with. Probably the only reason that he is even alive right now honestly. ]

Despite what you may or may not believe, I don't exactly hoard information.

[twilightskey]

Yeah. I'll be sure to ask them.

[It's at least worth asking, if only to see if Roxas can hold off long enough. He could potentially ask Kairi or Riku if he really needed; though he knows Vanitas is a Witch, he's not exactly sure if the other boy is willing to form another Bond so quickly.]

Well, to be honest, I don't really know what to believe about you. It's not like I know much about you outside of this place. So I wouldn't know if hoarding information's something you do.

[darkcharge]

[ Roxas would be correct in assuming that Vanitas isn't seeking any Bonds at the moment. He has two and that is more than sufficient for the time being. If he absolutely had to choose someone for a third, well. It wouldn't likely be anyone from their Worlds at the moment.

He hears what Roxas is saying though. No one really knows all that much about Vanitas. Oh Van is so willing to talk and talk and talk. But hardly anyone really knows him and, in a sense, he has preferred to keep it that way. ]

That's why I said "you may or may not believe." I don't know what the others say about me and I don't really care.

[twilightskey]

To be honest, the one who's talked the most about you is Ven and Sora.

[And he remembers the conversation that Sora had with him, about how Ventus and Vanitas had their own issues they were dealing with. And how maybe all Vanitas needs is some patience and understanding. While that's mostly Sora's natural optimism, Roxas can see the value in the words.]

I'd rather learn about you from you. Others can talk, but I'd rather see it with my own eyes.

[darkcharge]

Obviously those two would be the ones to say things. I can only imagine what...

[ Not that he really wants to. Sora probably has nothing but good things to say which is arguably more distressing than just being a little mean. Vanitas doesn't know what Ventus would be talking about, only that they don't get along very well? Which, really, isn't that to be expected? Vanitas might not loathe Ventus as much as to want to kill him on sight...

But he still only tolerates him. ]

Augh. Now everyone wants to get to know me...

[twilightskey]

Well, when you're not dumping people into garbage, you're not the worst I've dealt with.

Even if Vanitas is giving him good advice, he's still salty about that.]

[darkcharge]

Technically you got yourself into the garbage. I was the one who got you out.

[ Vanitas is full of good advice! People should take him more seriously. ]

[twilightskey]

Your Flood got me in the garbage.

[darkcharge]

You didn't have to chase it.

[twilightskey]

I didn't want to chase it!

[His ears angle to the sides.]

[darkcharge]

Really? That's not the impression I was given...

[ That was quite the tumble into the trashcan after all! ]

[twilightskey]

[A low growl rumbles in his throat, more out of embarrassment than annoyance. He glances off to the side.]

Look, thanks for the advice, but you don't have to rub it in.

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas waves Roxas off. Completely casual and dismissive. ]

Whatever. I would be rubbing it in if it didn't happen in the first place.