[ open ] Life is what our thoughts make it...

[darkcharge]

Who: Vanitas + You!!
When: All of April
Where: Various
What: Open + Closed Prompts
Warnings: Violence, PTSD, Fluff, and more to be added later



( Cometflies: 4/3 only )

[ Vanitas has already spent enough time watching the meteor shower. He's a little dazed and confused trying to walk back to the house and there's a reason for it, but that's neither here nor there.

He is soon distracted by all of the colorful little glowing things now fluttering around. The natives seem amused by it, but Vanitas does not. Red and yellow seem to want to linger close to him as well as blue, but he keeps batting them away before any single bug can actually hand on him. ]

Go away and bother someone else!


( Pile's Plantagorium: A )

[ Earning some funds by growing plants? Well count Vanitas in. It's not that he went out with the mindset that he is going to specialize in flora. In fact, it isn't as though Vanitas really finds any relaxation or enjoyment in this activity. However, he is good at it and he believes plants are easier to deal with than people are.

So, sure. Vanitas spends plenty of time helping out on that rooftop, tending to and growing what seedlings tare there. Vanitas can be seen putting his talent to use, standing above flower beds and soon seeds become greenery and leaves. Then they begin to bloom in an array of colors. ]

( Pile's Plantagorium: B )

[ Buuuut there's more to be had if he ventures outside, right? Vanitas is standing right at the edge of the Wall. His Keyblade, Void Gear, is strapped to his back. The problem is, Van sure doesn't know what is a deadly plant or what isn't. So maybe stop him before he goes out and offer a hand?

Or maybe Vanitas is encountered already exploring beyond the wall. He has a plant isolated, it's true. It doesn't look sick... But those are a lot of sharp looking thorns on it. That's probably not a very good thing to bring back, but it looks like Vanitas doesn't really care. Only... he's kind of circling it. Looking for how he can get a cutting of it. ]

( Out of the City )

[ Once again Vanitas takes the opportunity to not stick around the city. When the chance is offered to venture beyond the Wall to one of the settlements, Vanitas takes it. He makes sure to leave a note stating that he'll be out. Doesn't state why or for how long because who needs to know that? He played it pretty safe last month by staying within the city walls so naturally Vanitas needs to get out and actually do something.

To get rid of some of his restless, excess energy, Vanitas takes to patrolling around the settlement he is brought to. There are plenty of infected monsters in the area and the spar he had last month isn't enough. Thus he can be found engaging in battle, fierce grin on his face and laughing. It's almost like he's enjoying every single moment that he cuts down one of those monsters, hurling around Void Gear like it weighs nothing. There's no magic used, just brute strength.

And when Vanitas tires of this - not that he will ever fully tire - there is something else he can do. Don't get him wrong it's not that he cares about these people. He doesn't, at all. Vanitas isn't doing this for their sake, but for his own. He joins some of the other Witches that have set up healing stations. Vanitas, see, has been working on the healing artes for months. Now he's putting himself to the test to see just how much mastery he has over those skills. Feel free to bother him or tease. ]

( Book shopping )

[ Vanitas enjoys being self-sufficient. He doesn't like to rely on others, though there are at least a few people out there that... Well he'll let them help him out if he really needs it. Over all? Vanitas still is uneasy. Normally that would be his motivation for getting out and learning anything.

That's not the case this time, but he's going to keep that to himself. Instead he's at this bookstore, going through the shelves. However, Vanitas looks more and more irritated as he goes. ]

Augh. This one's useless too.

[ He's getting aggravated enough that he's not bothering to put all of the useless ones back. Nope. There's starting to be a book scattered here and there. ]

Why is this proving to be so difficult!?

[ All he wants is a ding dang recipe book. To meet certain Monster dietary requirements. ]

( Wildcard )

[ Anything that you wanna do with Van, of coruse. As always, feel free to contact me at jardaan

Comments

[darkcharge]

There's nothing better to do now is there?

[ Because Van has no goals nor ambitions. So he's kind of like a ship adrift at sea with no direction.

He's lived his entire life with a single-minded goal and now that's not something he has. Vanitas doesn't know how to just exist, after all. But... That's a learning process too. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[Riku's quiet for several moments, but his contemplation is thoughtful. For as long as he can remember he's always had a dream, a goal, something to strive for. Becoming stronger. Protecting his friends. Defeating the organization.

He's not very good at just existing either, but at least he has things that he's passionate about. Finally, he shrugs, at a loss.]

I don't get you.

[darkcharge]

[ What a comment... Vanitas looks at Riku for a moment before laughing. It's a somewhat bitter one. ]

Start a club with Ventus and Aqua.

[ He doesn't expect anyone to understand him. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[He catches that bitter tone and raises a questioning brow.]

I don't mean it in a bad way. Just that it's hard to know what to say when I can't relate to what you're saying.

[darkcharge]

Why do you even want to have something to say in the first place? You don't have to play nice with me. It's not like you'll get anything from it.

[ Which is why it's so hard for Vanitas to understand the guardians of Light. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[He cocks his head to the side so he can see Van's face, his expression scrunched up in confusion.]

Why would I need to get something from it? You think we're talking now because I want something from you?

[Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that Van would think like this, but that doesn't stop Riku from being surprised.]

You haven't spent enough time with Sora yet if you're still thinking like that.

[darkcharge]

[ He'll only be met with a scowl. However Van has different kinds of scowls. There is one for disgust. One for irritation. This one is because he is wary. ]

No two people are exactly the same, right? Just because I know Sora doesn't necessarily want anything from me doesn't mean that others do not.

[ Look. He has a very hard time trusting anyone. Sora's taken months. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[He takes a moment to consider that before nodding in acceptance.]

Yeah, you're probably right. Sora definitely isn't like other people. [He chuckles at his own words, but it's a fond sound.]

But I don't want anything from you. I have just...curious I guess. Most of what I know about you I got second-hand. It would be easy to judge you off the worst of it.

[But he doesn't want it to be easy. After all, if someone learned about his past they could do the same to him.]

[darkcharge]

[ Of course it's fond. Who isn't fond of the little brat? Vanitas knows that everyone values him oh so much.

He rolls his eyes at the rest of Riku's words. Now Van doesn't really care what people have to say about him. Doesn't care about how he is judged or perceived. ]

So go ahead. It's not as if I would be particularly offended by it.

[ Partially because it would be true. What others could say about him. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

Hmm I could.

[He shrugs. But then he turns his head towards Van and smirks.]

But where's the fun in that?

[Welcome to friendship? with Riku, where his language of affection is trolling.]

Are you still cold? We should be getting close to the house if you want to come in and warm up.

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas, in return, just makes a face at Riku. Half disgust because he doesn't know if he should be amused that someone would give that answer or annoyed. Sounds like something he'd do. ]

Whatever.

[ All of them can do what they want. Van isn't going to stop them. And yet he frowns. ]

I am cold. Not cold enough to go into that house.

[ If Riku is implying that he means where all of the guardians of Light live. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[He snorts in reply, but doesn't bother trying to argue. It's the response he had been expecting anyways.]

Okay, then lead the way. I don't know where your house is. And I don't want to leave you to ice over into a popsicle.

[darkcharge]

[ Look. He hadn't really wanted anything to do with the guardians of Light in the first place. However that seems pretty unavoidable. That doesn't mean he has to put himself into situations where he is going to run into them. Besides... He and Aqua don't quite get along.

And he still loathes Ventus. Even if Ventus is trying. ]

Like that is going to happen...

[Though he doesn't quite want others knowing where he lives either. However it is better that than going into territory where he will immediately be put on edge.

Thus Van does lead him towards the house where he and a few others live. He stops at he door, kind of just. Indecisive. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[Riku follows him to the door, giving the house a curious look. It's big for one person, but he's not going to bother asking Van if he lives with anyone. He either wouldn't get a straight answer or the other boy would be touchy about the question.

He's getting the feeling that Vanitas doesn't like questions about himself. Or maybe he just doesn't like Riku asking questions about him.]

So...I guess you better get inside and warm up.

[darkcharge]

[ Or he'd just look at Riku like he's dumb. Because obviously more than one person lives here.

The reality is, Vanitas doesn't like questions about himself. The more intrusive ones he doesn't know how to answer. There's not really much to talk about, really. His entire existence had been training to meet a particular goal and nothing else between. A goal that is no longer obtainable in the same sense as before. And there's nothing to fill that void which makes him confused and uncertain. Those emotions, in return, make him irritable. ]

I suppose.

[ Though right now his thoughts aren't on that subject. It's the fact that going inside means losing body heat. Going in alone means that, actually. Thus Vanitas pushes on through, opening the door and heading inside.

Then he stops and looks at Riku expectantly. This is the only sort of invitation Vanitas will provide. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[Riku watches as Van pushes open the door, waiting and expecting for it to be shut behind him. He said he would get him home and once he's safely inside he will consider his quest fulfilled.

But Van doesn't shut the door behind him, and instead gives him a look that Riku can only assume is an invitation. Eyes widening, he's not able to conceal his surprise.

His feet are moving before he makes an actual decision and a moment later he finds himself crossing the threshold into the house.]

Um...nice place.

[His eyes dart around curiously. What now?]

[darkcharge]

[ For starters, Vanitas still has Riku's jacket. He doesn't seem to be relinquishing it any time soon. Rather, Van simply shuts the door once Riku is inside and promptly flops onto the couch.

Shivering again. ]

Has to be mostly Irhya and Mira. The old man probably made the furniture, but probably just so it's more comfortable to sleep on.

[ Van keeps his things in his room. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[He's not concerned about his jacket and he wasn't going to ask for it back when Van clearly needed it more than he did. Plus, it's not like he doesn't know where he lives now to get it back.

Following Van further into the house he takes a seat on the nearest piece of furniture. He's given a few unfamiliar names of whom he can only guess are Van's housemates.]

Yeah it's...really comfortable. Are they all out at the festival?

[He's not sure if it would be more or less awkward to be introduced to Van's housemates.]

[darkcharge]

[ Comfortable enough anyway. Emet-Selch isn't the type to allow for anything tacky to be strewn about. Mira is an alchemist and an avid book reader. However this is still an Ascian and two Dark Knight. Then one Vanitas...

Regardless Vanitas is still cold. He thought coming inside would help but alas. ]

More than likely. Two of them enjoy things like that and the other probably went just to be contrary.

[ But there is one little housemate that Riku will meet either way. Breezy, Mira's gaelkitten meanders into the room. She stares right at Riku and yowls. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[He eyes the gaelkitten as she enters the room, but wisely keeps his hands to himself. A decision he's glad of when the next minute he's on the other side of the kitten's upset sounding cries.

He turns panicked eyes towards Van.]

What did I do?

[darkcharge]

[ It's almost funny, seeing someone panic over such a small creature. It's just a cat with bat wings and possibly some type of voidsent so how can it be so intimidating? Funny that this would be what puts something of a smile on Van's lips. Still more of a smirk, but not a nasty one. ]

What do you think? You came into her house.

[ Breezy looks to Van as if to say "this human is in my seat too and you're not doing anything about it." To which Vanitas shrugs. The kitten yowls again before taking her next favorite spot - Van's lap. ]

And you're in her chair, now that I think about it.

[shadowsthedawn]

[Aside from a neighbor's dog that Riku would sometimes play with his experience with pets is pretty nil. His experience with cats even smaller. With a cat like this, nonexistent.]

But you invited me in!

[So if anything this is Van's fault?]

[He glances down at the chair in confusion.] Why would she need her own chair?

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas only offers a shrug. What does it matter to a cat who invited who in? The fact remains that there is an unknown element in her home. ]

It's her favorite spot.

[ And clearly Riku doesn't have any experience with cats. They do what they want and when they want. Everyone is just supposed to follow their flow. Work around them.

As if to prove that point, Breezy bats at Van's hand. Which, of course, he complies with her silent wish and begins to scratch between her ears. ]

[shadowsthedawn]

[Riku watches Breezy warily. She seems calmer now that she's on Van's lap, but maybe it's just a trick...]

Does she bite?

[darkcharge]

[ Oh she is quite content now. Purring even as Van gives a little tug to an ear. ]

Only if you do something she doesn't like.