middaeg | [ open ] When you light a candle...

Entry tags:

[ open ] When you light a candle...

Who: Vanitas + Open
When: All Iuneril
Where: Various
What: Open Quest Prompts + Closed Prompts | Hit me up at

jardaan if you'd like!
Warnings: TBD

( On Fleece )

[ This isn't the first time there's been something going on with the sheep, right? Well the first time Vanitas hadn't been all that interested. Honestly he's not all that interested this time either. However, the reports of sheep with fangs has sort of piqued his interested. The only reason that Vanitas is there is to poke some fun at people. He has no intention of actually helping. So that's what he does. He'll see someone intimidated by one of the wooly beasts and then he jeers. Vanitas mocks and teases. Because that is the sort of person that he is. Who could possibly be afraid of these things?

Of course the tables turn a little, don't they? While Vanitas doesn't help anyone out - not one bit - he seems to have his own following of sheep after some time. They eventually block Vanitas in and he shoves at them. He's not nervous about their forward attitude. ]

Go away! [ Oh they aren't budging. ] Come on! Get lost!

[ The sheep aren't going anywhere. In the process of Vanitas trying to get them to go away, one licks his cheek instead. ]

Augh! Gross!

[ He might have forgotten about the fact that animals like his aura, okay? ]

( Berry Picking )

[ Seems like all of the bakeries are wanting these iunerberries. It feels like pretty tedious work, so Vanitas doesn't really take any interest in it at all. However, when one of the shops is offering double? That is when he takes notice. How hard can it be to pick some berries and get some money for it, after all?

Hence he is out in the fields, with what feels like a bunch of people. Vanitas' basket is coming along fairly well, but he is trying to keep to himself. There are a few people that Van can get on okay with, but for the most part groups still annoy him.

Come bother him? All he's doing is plucking berries. One in particular catches his eye. Just what do these iunerberries taste like? ]

( Candle Crafts )

[ After Irhya drags him to this activity the first time, Vanitas will stop by now and then. How many people have told him that he needs to find a hobby? Thancred sure seems to have been encouraging it. Vanitas would prefer to do something other than create candles for a holiday that he knows nothing about nor cares to but whatever.

He doesn't take to carving anything or designing. Vanitas is pretty content with just the pouring aspect. The staff teaching those that are wanting to learn are used to this, but are trying to coerce Van into learning how to design as well.

The look on his face is one of disgust. ]

( Silent Forest )

[ Vanitas is going to be going out each and every time an infusion is requested. Each and every time he's going to say this: ]

I don't need any help. I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself. Go find someone else.

[ At least that's what his response is to anyone that approaches him. Yet in the end that isn't going to work, is it? In the end someone is going to be stubborn enough to work through his prickly exterior and come along with him, huh? Thus here he is, in the company of someone that he never asked for, walking through the forest. ]

The leyline should be somewhere around here. Let's just get this done and go.

( Wildcard )

[ As always, I am open to any and all ideas. If none of the prompts tickle your fancy, just throw something my way and I'll roll with whatever. Or just get with me and we can do something else! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Just sheep. Van gives Lio a flat look. ]

I really don't care if they are predators or not. I'm not going to just stand there and let it bite me.

[ But apparently licking is okay? The sheep are making bleeting noises, but they aren't really making any aggressive moves. Maybe bumping Vanitas' hand for something. Probably petting? It's hard to tell and Vanitas himself just looks so put out. ]

Just hurry. I don't want to keep standing here like I'm their personal popscicle or something.

[ ALSO STOP SMILING! ]

... what about you has them so calm? I thought they were going to be difficult to manage, but when they're almost begging to get stroked...

( soft mumbles as he approaches the first one, the sheep that gave van the bitty lick. he's able to safely dig the cutters into the wool and start trimming it. he focuses on making sure he doesn't accidentally stab the poor thing. it just wants love while it tries not to melt! )

Don't worry. I'm going as fast as I can.

( that sheep is about almost done... )

Have you ever flown before?

[ The sheep turns only to give Lio a cursory glance. It doesn't seem to be overly upset about having its wool removed. Good thing then, right? It's quite a difference from the other sheep that are giving volunteers a hard time. ]

Hmm. Someone suggested that magic leaves traces. So the spells I cast frequently might be felt by others.

[ Which, for Vanitas, he had always struggled the most with healing magic. Thus he practices daily, making it his most-used school of magic. This creates that calmer aura around him, even if he is quite prickly himself. ]

Flown? What do you mean flown?

( he wonders about what kind of magic would offer such a peaceful and composed presence. would it be something light? something inviting and warm that could soothe others... though lio isn't able to cast magic, it never hurt him to learn a little about what he could offer as a monster to a witch in the form of bonds. )

I see. ( sorry. more smiles for you, vanitas. ) And I mean if you've ever been able to use your magic in order to fly, like a bird.

( his wings twitch, almost wishing to be acknowledged. meanwhile, the first sheep is done and he's onto the second, this one a little more keen on getting rid of the incredibly dense wool. )

[ Van's never bothered to ask the Coven about it. Never really thought about reading about the topic either. So he doesn't actually know what magic is causing it, or if it really is magic lingering in his aura at all. However there is some sort of logic to it, so Vanitas hasn't outright dismissed the idea.

The sheep, however, are still practically glued to him. He frowns at one of them. Gives another little shove. Nothing. ]

I don't know that there's a spell for that.

[ Might be though. Maybe through transmutation? Van shrugs, taking note of Lio's wings. ]

Have you tried yet?

I've flapped them a few times. But it's like stretching a limb I've never used before, I don't know how strong it'll actually be...

( his voice trails off as he works through the second sheep, taking a moment to wipe his shears on his pants. it doesn't look like the sheep care about anything but wanting to get touched, in any way, by vanitas. lio wonders if the fact he's somewhat bird-like might make him feel attracted in the same way, as he reaches down and pats the third one, which gives van's side a gentle headbutt.

cute. )

I fear that I'll fall. That, somehow, I'll plummet and crash. I could fly using the Promare before, but this is different.

( he softly clicks his tongue, annoyed with himself. )

Maybe I'm being stupid, but I want to be careful too.

It's one of those things that you aren't going to know until you keep trying. There are probably other bird-like Monsters here you can ask.

[ Vanitas doesn't see why it wouldn't work. He's seen Dragons fly around. In fact, Aqua had chased after Vanitas once with her gift of flight. ...He hadn't liked that one at all. Nope. So it should be possible for Lio to be able to.

Now the fear of falling? Sort of understandable. But it's not like Lio is going to fall off of a cliff though, right? ]

The first step is probably building up the muscle so you can use them. In the end I think your instincts will take over and guide you on how to use them.

[ A shrug as he watches another sheep lose its wool. ]

I could always try to find a spell to help with eh falling thing.

( well, no cliffs. but there's always a chance he may plummet and hope someone might catch him. )

I figured as much. ( van is correct. though it does pain him when he thinks about maintaining his strength and conditioning without the assistance of an alien symbiote. ) I guess I should probably try using them. Just not right now.

( a slight smile, as he imagines the sheep fleeing when the wings come out and he starts flapping them like an idiot. that or they might just try to defend themselves and that would be a very, very rough ending for them.

the sheep, probably. )

... you might already know how to do it. Those winds you made as we ran from those wolves? ( he lowers his voice on the last word. hopefully the w word doesn't frighten the fourth sheep, which is already trembling from the shearing. ) I bet if it came to it, that might do something.

You're right on that. The motion will probably startle this stupid things.

[ One of those "things" shakes itself on once sheared and actually begins to trot away. It feels much better now that all that pesky wool is gone. And now it is one less beastie that Vanitas has to worry about trying to make him a kind of salt lick. ]

The wind spell, you mean.

[ Vanitas mulls it over. Yeah, okay. He sees what Lio is getting at. Something like that could do in a pinch, he supposes. The winds could either catch the other at the last moment or, perhaps, launch him back into the air to try again. ]

Maybe after working on it and making some modifications.

( they look a lot happier after they've lost roughly 90% of their unsheared size. slowly but surely, it seems that lio's plan has somehow worked? it does mean he gets closer to vanitas with every sheep moving on for greener pastures, and with that comes a growing sense of calm and warmth that laps at his skin. )

I don't think they're stupid. Not their fault you're so...

( what's the best word to describe van? he thinks of one, though to him it doesn't seem like a compliment or insult, but it's too late. )

... intriguing.

( lio's stopped for now, crouching down to sit. )

[ Hey, look. If Lio taking advantage of the fact that the sheep feel at ease around Vanitas means that they can get sheared and then feel okay to move on? That's fine. At least there are less sheep for him to have to contend with. He doesn't have to keep struggling with having so many wooly beasts with sharp teeth near him. ]

Intriguing. That's the word that you're going to use here?

[ Van doesn't know if it is a complement or an insult. He's not sure that's quite the word that he'd use to describe himself... ]

I have others in mind.

( said with a smirk! but does vanitas really want to hear them? some of them might even be complimentary! the thinning number of sheep mean that there's only one or two left, and they're quite content to hover around the two of them as lio reaches to tug one into his own lap.

he's greeted by a quick 'baa' and then the feeling of the sharpest teeth coming down on his arm. lio gasps, grunts, then immediately pushes it off. it's forceful enough to make it roll away due to its fur rather than skid. the harpy immediately grabs the spot, and he winces. )

Ah... damn.

[ Wow! Vanitas gives Lio a look for that comment. It's an uneasy one because "others in mind" could also not necessarily be good! ]

That's not ominous at all.

[ There's a moment to ask. However that's when the sheep decides to bite Lio instead. And that is why Vanitas hadn't wanted any of those things close to him. Those teeth, goodness. Lio shouldn't have encouraged it so close.

Vanitas watches for a moment and he shakes his head. ]

Let me see your arm.

( none of the words he can think of are ominous, but maybe... he'll have an opportunity to speak his mind later. right now, all he can really focus on are the white hot points of pain that have punctured his forearm, leaving spots that are bleeding. it's not particularly gruesome and it crosses his mind that it could've been much worse. )

It's not bad. I've felt worse.

( sheepishly, lio holds out his arm toward vanitas. if it were anyone else, he might be concerned. wary. but he trusts van to do the right thing, whatever it may be, and it keeps his wings from flapping in discomfort. )

[ He actually gives a huff of a laugh at the comment. No, the wound isn't that bad at all really. ]

Pretty sure that we've both had much worse.

[ But that's not really the point. The point here is that it doesn't have to just linger. Besides... Who knows what the sight of blood would do to the sheep. Or what weird infections one could get. Nah. Vanitas would just prefer to deal with it now rather than later.

So with one hand he holds Lio's arm. The other hovers over the bite. This is something he can handle with his level of healing magic. So that's what he does.

Of course it probably makes the sheep even more mellow now. Oops? ]

( it's not just the sheep that grow even calmer, to the point of lethargy, but as lio watches with genuine interest his eyelids start to flutter. his wings droop, and his breathing gradually slows down. though the healing spell is clearly working, the puncture marks starting to mend, lio feels a soothing warmth pulse throughout his body. a drowsiness settles on him next, and he leans forward as he closes his eyes. )

... not sure if I should make it a point to get hurt more often, if it's going to feel like this.

( his mumbling is quieted by a sheep that has now settled in front of him, and lio finds it to be a suitable place to rest as his arm goes limp in van's hand. )

[ Hey! That's not how this is supposed to work! Or, rather, it hadn't been his intention at all to add a bird to his growing collection of sheep. At least this confirms one thing for Vanitas: it's the healing magic that is making the animals of this world feel more relaxed around him. Thus to remedy it all he'd have to do is stop using healing magics altogether.

...Yeah that's probably not going to happen since he's pretty sure that he's the only one in the household that has even bothered to learn. So Vanitas needs to become proficient. He needs to master this. Van is going to have to find a way to deal with the after affects, though Lio's reaction has him huffing, embarrassed. ]

Who says that I'd even do anything about it the next time you got hurt? If you want to be that reckless, see how far it gets you.

[ He's only a little flustered about it, okay? Animals are one thing. They can't make comments like that! ]

( if van hates smiling, then there's no way he'll be able to deal with lio's next laugh: bright and cheery, maybe the first time he's had a chance to... ever? there were no laughing matters when it came to his survival, every moment was fraught with danger, and so lio had very few times to reflect on anything.

this happens to be one of the very few times. )

You wouldn't leave me hurt, would you?

( the napping sheep in front of him is his next and last shearing opportunity. he'll make this one the best one yet. )

[ Vanitas only gets upset if the laughing is aimed at him. Right now he isn't sure what this laughter is for. Is it at his expense? His ears are burning slightly from it. He's somewhere between irritated, confused, and embarrassed. ]

Do you want to find out?

[ Probably not, no. Van doesn't exactly take to many people. But the ones that he does? Well... What's his is his. End of story. ]

In a way, yeah. But I also don't want to be in that kind of position.

( the kind of position where vanitas might have to worry about lio's health, something more life threatening than a bite from a defensive sheep. he wouldn't want van to take any risks on his behalf. he'd feel guilty.

but also, if he were to be injured and van didn't care... that might hurt more. not just physically, too. )

I'm glad you were here. It made this a lot easier.

( that and the company's nice. the sheep is putty in lio's hands. )

[ This is why Vanitas gets ruffled when there are people trying to tell him that he is not as bad as he seems. Yes, he really is. Just because he's capable of being decent doesn't change the fact that he still chooses when to be. Fortunately in Lio's case, he does choose to be. ]

You mean so you can take advantage of the fact the sheep aren't intimidated by me.

[ Van knows full and well that he also means the company. He just doesn't know how to respond properly to that. ]

Of course. I don't think they'd react very well if it was just me. Surely there have been sheep that have been preyed upon by other monsters... or possibly a Shade.

( even though lio probably doesn't look that intimidating, that's all in the eye of the beholder. as he finally finishes the last animal, he pushes the pile of wool off to the side though he stays seated next to vanitas. )

But you can't say I didn't save you, either. You might've never been able to escape that crowd of sheep without me.

( his wings idly flutter; a sign of contentment. )

[ Upon first glance? No, Vanitas would not have thought that Lip could be dangerous. However he has seen how reckless and headstrong the other can be. There are a lot of those types around here. ]

Perhaps. I would think that being attacked by a Monster or Shade is a rather common occurrence.

[ He glances over as Lio pushes the wool away and takes a seat. Save him? That merits a laugh. Okay there could be something there. ]

Ever stop and think you might have just saved them from me?

If that were the case, then I saved them in the nick of time.

( lio smirks, pulling his knees up to his chest. his wings folded closer, imitating a feathery cloak as he rested his chin on top of his kneecaps. )

Or, they might've licked you to death. That'd be a sad way to go.

( he chuckles to himself. ) But I doubt you would've killed them for no reason. You were here to do a job, too. Right?

[ Vanitas makes a face at the phrase "licked to death." ]

That would be a stupid way to go.

[ He clicks his tongue against his teeth. It's actually pretty easy to fall into conversation with Lio. Again, Van wonders how he has gotten to this point. For the last eight months that he's been here... Can one really change that much? ]

I wasn't here to help. Just to make fun of people running away from the fangs.

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