[ 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

[unsundered]

[Emet-Selch stares at Vanitas with that response]

What makes you think I would ever want that?

[Just the thought pulls a disgusted sort of mini-shudder from him.]

But their combined weight is doing something to me regardless.

[darkcharge]

Look, you're the one that phrased it the way you did. Not me.

[ So if there is some sort of misunderstanding, it is because Emet-Selch hasn't really been clear why he means by any of this. ]

That something might be putting you into a coma.

[unsundered]

[What? Admit that his phrasing had been easily misunderstood? Not a chance. He just shrugs, with performative irritation.]

'Tis only a coma if I don't wake from it, correct? There's no reason to think it will progress that far.

[There's also no reason to think that it'll hold steady. Especially since it hasn't.]

[darkcharge]

There's no reason to think that it won't progress that far, Sleeping Beauty.

[ Not that Emet-Selch is likely to understand that one, but eh. ]

What would you be telling Mira if she was in this situation?

[unsundered]

[It is a comment that gets Vanitas a strange look, if mostly because Mettaton had called him the same thing, which he'd just taken to be one of his things. He just- decides not to ask.

The question was more important, for all that he just sighs at it.]

To cut off the person she likes the least, to see if things improve.

[An easy thing to tell someone else to do.]

Unfortunately, that's not a solution for myself.

[darkcharge]

[ Man what would the old man even do if he had realized that Vanitas had basically called him a helpless sleeping princess? Instead the answer that he gets makes him roll his eyes. Yes, Vanitas would expect that sort of answer... ]

And why is it not a solution for yourself?

[unsundered]

[He would agree with being obviously regal, even while asleep (and ignore the helpless part), that's what.]

Because I'm unwilling to break any of them.

[Obviously.]

[darkcharge]

Because you like them all that much or because your pride won't allow you to?

[ It's probably a pride issue. Old man Asican can't let something like this show how far he's fallen due to being here. ]

[unsundered]

[It's a question that has him pause to consider.]

...A mix of both, to be honest.

[If it were pride alone- Emet-Selch can imagine, hypothetically, convincing himself to break one off for his own good. If he managed to think of it the right way, it would just be shedding a connection that was no longer required. Attachment and pride though... it was a terrible combination.]

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas snorts. ]

Looks like I'm not the only one around here that's been changing.

[ Because he knows Emet-Selch well enough. Before this really wouldn't be an issue, hmm? Forming attachments... Gasp! How very unlike him. Though that's a good thing. A good thing because at least it's not only Vanitas that is adjusting to this place and the people around him.

Suffer as he must suffer, old man. ]

[unsundered]

[And that just earns him a skeptical look. Changing? Really?]

I'd consider it more of an adaptation.

[Which was entirely different. And it wasn't as though he were incapable of attachments, it was just unlikely. And it ultimately didn't change anything- not himself, not his fate. It was thoroughly meaningless, and for some reason that bothered him even more than said attachments.]

[darkcharge]

Adaptation is still change, even if it is one made to adjust to this style of existing.

[ Change is change. Whether or not it is because one felt they needed to in order to make it easier on themselves or because they genuinely have had some sort of inner transformation...

The point is? If it is unlikely for him to make attachments and he is willingly allowing himself to make them now? That's more than just adaption. But Vanitas won't call him out on that just yet. ]

Either way if you do end up unable to wake, then you're going to be a pain.

[unsundered]

[Van was right, and that was annoying, so Emet-Selch chooses to ignore that part, focusing on the rest with a shake of his head.]

I don't see how. So long as you roll me appropriately out of the way, I shall be little bother.

[Silent and unobtrusive... or as unobtrusive as someone of his size can be, anyway. Just throw a blanket over him and use him as a low-lying and poorly made table.]

[darkcharge]

[ Oh don't think Vanitas doesn't know this, that Emet-Selch is avoiding admitting that Vanitas is right. He always does when something like this happens. It doesn't bother him, really, though perhaps it should. The only thing that Van does in response is offer a little smirk. ]

You're heavier than you look, old man. And don't tell me you'll be a "little bother" if it's Irhya or Mira finding you like this.

[ And if Vanitas is caught doing nothing about it? Come on now, Ascian. You know better than this. ]

Besides. You don't get to pester and bug me about my crap and not have the same done to you.

[unsundered]

[Gonna pointedly ignore that smirk too.]

They would fuss, wouldn't they... how fortunate that I wouldn't be awake to hear it.

[If they chose to worry over him, that was their own fault. ...Is what he'd like to feel, but he wasn't wholly at ease with it either. They did care about him, for some bizarre reason, for what good it did. He should probably tell them what was going on at some point....]

And your filial concern is well and truly noted.

[darkcharge]

Oh no, you wouldn't hear their fussing. That means that you'd feel their hurt and potential anger when you wake up.

[ Which is arguably worse and, to Emet-Selch, potentially more annoying than just dealing with it now. At least Vanitas would think so. Whether or not the Ascian wants to admit it, he cares to a degree about their well-being or else he wouldn't tell them off about what he perceives to be stupid choices.

Van doesn't say those things out loud. There'd be no benefit in doing so. ]

Filial concern, old man?

[ Sorry, Vanitas doesn't quite know what that means. ]

[unsundered]

All the more reason to remain in my unconscious state, away from such overbearing sentiment.

[Because that's all it was. Stated with closed eyes and a dismissive expression.

Though he waves a hand at him at the last, sighing.]

Concern as from one's offspring, Vanitas.

[darkcharge]

What? You don’t like it when the attention is all on you? Flashy, dramatic thing that you are?

[ Vanitas says it with sarcastic amusement. Then again Hades is also super avoidant. Van can’t really comment on that because he is too in his own way. At least Vanitas is this way with emotions and situations that he doesn’t understand.

But the Ascian and Vanitas are so similar in so many ways. Vanitas sees it and he wonders if Emet-Selch does at all.

The following explanation does make him snort and roll his eyes. ]

If it’s going to be all that, then maybe I will start calling you “dad.”

[ Which Vanitas and Mira already see each other as family so heh. ]

[unsundered]

Oh, it's welcome to remain on me, so long as I'm not required to acknowledge it.

[But Emet-Selch knows he has several- more than several- traits in common with Vanitas. And not just easier ones to accept like a dark aspect or taunting behavior, but... other, more emotional things as well. How terrible. And something he'd prefer to not deal with.

But he cracks an eye open to- not actually look at him, it's his bad eye. But to give the impression of sparing Vanitas a dry look without having to actually see him.]

Are you so desperate for a family?

[darkcharge]

[ The whole thing just makes Vanitas laugh. From the not wanting to acknowledge all the way to the comment about desperation. ]

No. I’ve never given it any serious thought. If anyone is to blame for any interest I may have it’s everyone who lives within these walls.