middaeg | [ open ] Don’t worry if people think you’re crazy

Entry tags:

[ open ] Don’t worry if people think you’re crazy

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

jardaan if you'd like!
Warnings: TBD

( CIRQUE MYSTIQUE: 3rd-4th )

[ Vanitas had heard about this thing called a circus before. Of course he's never been to one before, like many things really. There are reasons for him not to go and he considers staying inside. However his curiosity soon gets the better of him and he soon finds himself in the midst of the things.

Once more Vanitas finds himself overwhelmed, as he normally is crowds, by the smell of food and the sounds of people selling wares. Vanitas is more interested in the food than the games, since after watching people play them for a while he figures they're rigged ( or maybe he mocks whoever tries to play them ). So he's walking around and watching the performances with mochi or dumplings in his mouth.

And at night? Vanitas watches the displays. Even he seems a little taken in by it all. Surprisingly. ]

( WONDROUS THINGS )

[ The pay is what draws him to this particular quest. Whisper Cloud reeds need harvested and for some reason the locals don't really seem to be interested. When Vanitas hears why, it is understandable. They tell secrets.

If he goes into an area alone it won't be a problem right? Not to mention Vanitas doesn't consider himself a person that has a bunch of secrets. Most things he's willing to speak on. So it'll be fine.

But it's so not fine. The moment that his fingers touch the fuzz, there are things murmured that he'd not been able to voice himself. Some of his inner thoughts and Vanitas draws back. ]

What a stupid enchantment. Wonder if it will still work if I chop the thing down...

[ And he looks like he's actually considering it! ]

( GATHERING SAMPLES )

[ There's a list of things that someone desires to get cuttings of. Vanitas is someone that more or less can be found roaming around the Wilde. So while he is out finding creatures to put down, he figures that he can do this little errand as well. It isn't as thought he is going out of his way now is it?

There are two things that Vanitas hopes to acquire: the branch from the Orapple tree and the root from the Silphin herb. The Orapple tree is pretty easy to find. Getting the branch? Also not too difficult. Vanitas scales the tree -

And is promptly attacked by a bird whose nest happened to be hidden in there. Vanitas bats at the thing, but ultimately falls out of the tree into a bush. ...Maybe no one will be around to see that? ]

( RUNAWAYS )

[ Here's the thing about the runaway kids. They are angry and sad and feeling so many negative emotions. What's good at sensing these emotions? Well at one time that would have been Vanitas himself. However his Food can. Vanitas thinks to use this to his advantage.

The creature scurries about in the Wilde and Vanitas can be seen following behind it. Void Gear is strapped to his back and visible for the moment. ]

Can't you hurry up? You should have been able to track at least one down by now. [ Snorts ] Worthless thing.

( FLOODS AND KITTENS )

[ Vanitas isn't fostering any kittens. But there are plenty of people that are! Be mindful that the kitten doesn't get too far away from you.

Vanitas' Flood might be scooping them up and running off with them. Where? Well who knows. ~~Maybe it thinks to try to make a meal of them!~~ ]

( A HAIRY SITUATION )

[ Now one of the things that Vanitas hadn't really thought about before had been something along the lines of haircuts. He's been here for a few months shy of a year and not once has he gotten his hair trimmed. In the past he's worn the mask and has never had to worry about it. Now though? It's starting to get in his face - in his eyes. He can't stand it!

Vanitas is in the middle of sparring - training, really - and he keeps having to blow it out of his eyes. He gets fut up and throws his weapon down on the ground, growling. Tugging his hair and just having a rightful fit of it. ]

STOP GETTING IN MY FACE!

[ It probably looks pretty amusing to anyone passing by. ]

( WILD CARD )

[ Nothing above tickle your fancy? Feel like doing something else with Vanitas? This is where you can do whatever. Need an idea? Hit me up! Van can also be found in the Coven library and out in the Wilde either offering healing services ( for practice only!!! ) and smacking creatures around. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I did promise not to go om a rampage. This is just going to be a conversation, Cottontail.

[ He frowns, still trying to concentrate and get these cuts all healed up. These take a little longer because they are nastier. Deeper. But he should be able to do this without scarring? If he really focuses... ]

Sora. Stop being so soft. You could have been seriously hurt and I might not have been able to do anything more to help.

[The shoulder is difficult to heal. Sora is still trying not to cry out in pain. The calming of the magic is helping a lot with that.]

I'm not being soft. Lavi just couldn't control himself. I got away, didn't I?

Don't start that.

[ Just because Sora got away doesn't excuse things. It doesn't stop Van from panicking. From choking on his own emotions. Doesn't stop the rage from seeping into his veins and causing him to want to take it out on others. ]

This is hard enough. What if you would have been injured worse than this?

[Sora's ears do seem to droop. He reaches out, fingers grasping gently onto the bottom of Vanitas' shirt.]

But I'm okay. If it happens again I'll do better.

[He's not trying to make Vanitas upset.]

[ Now he might have been moved by such a display. However he's a little too mad and a little too upset to give into Sora's little pouty expressions. And while he knows that Sora isn't actively trying to make him upset...

He still is. These things are just way too new for Vanitas to know what to do with them. Van's never cared about someone to this degree before. ]

No, Sora. If you run into someone that's gone feral, just leave.

[He knows this isn't really an argument. That they're not fighting! He's worried Vanitas almost just as much as Sora had been when Vanitas had come limping into that outpost camp within two inches of his life as well. It's scary caring about someone so much that upset seems to drive things when they see the other one hurt. But it's there and it's raw and it's real.]

I can't just leave a friend to run around and maybe hurt someone else or even hurt themselves. You know I can't do that.

[Seeing Lavi had been awful. And he had to try. It's just in Sora's nature to at least try even if that means getting a bit beat up.]

[ Vanitas releases an irritated huff. ]

Yes, I know. Because you're so stubborn and thickheaded that you just have to try. It doesn't matter that it could cost your life.

[ Grumble grumble grumble. He doesn't like this. Doesn't like the fact that Sora is going to be Sora. Not when things like this happen! Honestly Sora could at least entertain Vanitas by not immediately shooting him down. Give him the benefit of at least mulling it over. ]

Edited 2020-07-19 20:51 (UTC)

[Sora does try to give Vanitas a little tug where he's still holding onto his shirt. Tug tug.]

I'm sorry.

[That's a genuinely soft and apologetic tone. He just can't help how reckless his heart is sometimes. Even when he knows there are people who care about his wellbeing so much.]

If it happens again just come save me. So you can smack me in the head yourself, okay?

[Trying to make the conversation a little lighter.]

[ Augh... Sora is sorry. Like genuinely sorry and Vanitas can feel it. In a way it does soothe his rage. Just a little. Not enough to stop him from what he is going to end up doing.

He does, however, make a noise that sounds like a growl. Healing process halted, he yanks and pulls Sora to him. An embrace. ]

I'll do more than just smack you in the head and call you an idiot. You don't get to scold me anymore for being reckless either, got that?

[At least the healing is complete enough that the yank forward doesn't hurt him. In return, Sora embraces the other boy too. He brings himself nice and closer, hands clutching at his bondmate.]

Maybe. [Sora challenges this just a little but there's no fight in his tone about it. He buries his face against Vanitas' shoulder.] But I got it. I got it.

[They just care about each other a lot??]

[ So then just. Let him hold Sora a little longer. He's already feeling something welling up in his eyes. It stings and burns but Van's stubbornly not going to blink just yet. Instead he buries his face into Sora's good shoulder for now.

Augh. He hates this. Hates caring this much. It was so much easier when he didn't care about any one or any thing. When Van hated it all. Wanted nothing to do with it. But seeing Sora like this, even though he knows it could be worse - probably has been worse - just makes his heart want to burst with a different kind of emotion that makes him sick to his stomach...

And now he's sort of fighting himself over this. Part of him wants to push away. To put some distance because this hurts just too much. Then the other part just wants to cling tighter. ]

[He was expecting Vanitas to say one more quip or to bully him just a little more about his recklessness. But what comes is a moment he didn't expect. Vanitas clinging to him and burying against him and if he's sure he can feel some sort of frustrated sorrow from Vanitas on their bond. It makes Sora's breath catch and he holds the boy close and tightly, bringing his hands to hold up into black hair as the witch burrows on his shoulder.]

Vanitas?

[He knows this feeling too. This ache when he thought that Vanitas could have been worse off when he saw him at that outpost. Or the times when he thinks of Vanitas' past or the times that he's been hurt or hurting. It leaves a certain worrying ache behind each time.]

I know it's hard. [He starts with a tiny squeeze.] When we care about each other it gets scary sometimes. But that just means that we're important to each other, right? I'm still trying to get better about not worrying you all the time. So you don't gotta be scared if we're always thinking of each other.

[ The problem here is that Sora might start to feel a distinct dampness on that good shoulder. He really doesn't like this. Doesn't like experiencing these emotions so strongly. That ache... It hurts. It really, really hurts. And it seems so silly because it isn't as though Sora had been gravely injured or anything like that. Almost everything had been surface damage only. ]

I don't like it.

[ Why does being so happy ( yes Vanitas can acknowledge that Sora does make him happy and he knows what happiness feels like ) also come with moments of pain like this? Vanitas just... Why does feeling have to be difficult? Why can't he just expel it? Feel numb again?

Why does he have to be so overwhelmed by these things? By caring? ]

[There is a certain alarm that Sora feels when he notices the dampness on his shoulder. Vanitas might be crying and that sort of ache makes his heart feel such a strong jolt that he can't help tugging the boy as close as he can. His hands tuck into hair and he shifts his head so his nose nuzzles at the side of Vanitas' hair. Their chests are close and Sora's heartbeat is getting quick with his own worrying care.]

You know? I got just as scared when you were hurt too. It hurt to see you all beat up. I just wanted to hang onto you really tight and make sure you were okay.

[He nuzzles Vanitas some more. And his lips are smiling. the next thing he says is with a soft lightness in his tone.]

It sucks liking someone so much, huh? I'm sorry it's such a pain. But it just makes the good things even better, Right? Right? They outweigh stuff like this.

[Hang onto the happiness with him, Vanitas. Because he doesn't want to let go of this.]

[ He knows that this is how Sora had felt. Vanitas had felt those emotions as if they had been his own. However this time they are his. His emotions that have grown so wildly out of control in this moment. It's because this is the first time he's had to experience this level of worry and concern. Perhaps when Mira had her broken heart...

But this is different. Because this is someone that he... Someone that he what? Likes? No... It's more than like isn't it? The emotion is so much stronger than that. That's why this hurts so much... ]

It does. [ Suck that is. Why does it have to be painful? Vanitas has experienced all sorts of pain. Physical and of the heart. But it doesn't compare to this. ] I don't know what to do...

[ But he knows the first thing he is going to when Sora is resting. However for the moment, he doesn't know what to do with these emotions that are out of control. Vanitas isn't going to let go of Sora though, since he is a greedy thing and now that he has something for himself he doesn't want it to go to someone else. ]

[Sora gently tugs Vanitas up so he can put both his hands on Vanitas' cheeks. He knows that'll make Vantias reveal his teary eyes but he's not judging him on that. Sora does his fair share of crying over things too, after all. His fingers are gentle against those cheeks.]

Just remember how it feels when you're happy. When we're together and everything's okay.

[It's worth hurting once in a while, isn't it? To feel the good things too. To look forward to them.]

You're happy, right? With me? Because I am with you.

[ Crying is just disgusting though. It’s a weakness that Van doesn’t like showing. Part of him is so ashamed and grossed out with himself for even allowing it. It’s been ages... Not since the time he had gotten his Unversed under control. But now... Now he doesn’t have much choice. Tears are harder to hold back when one usually just gets rid of the emotions that cause them.

His face is probably looks gross. Face blotchy. Eyes reddish. Stains down his cheeks. ]

Y-yeah...

[ Van is happy. With Sora. It’s the best he’s ever felt really. And he knows that Sora is happy with him. One can’t really hide it, strong as their Bond is. ]

M’happy.

[ Sora... Probably needs to hear him say it right? ]

[It is nice to hear Vanitas say it out loud. It just makes it that much more real. His heart bounces and his smile is soft and a bit sad but warm nonetheless.

And if he were to have a certain opinion he might say Vanitas is kind of cute when he's being weepy. But he's not about to ruin his street cred more than he already has. Instead, Sora leans forward to kiss his cheeks. One then the other and then his forehead.]

Being happy means things will be bad or hurt sometimes. But the being happy part is worth it! It's worth all the worry!

[He grins encouragingly.]

But I promise to stop being such a pain, too.

[Or at least- he'll try his best.]

[ Van makes a small noise of irritation as Sora gives him kisses. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Isn't he supposed to make Sora feel better since the Puca is the one in pain here? ...Then again hadn't it also sort of happened this way when Vanitas had been hurt? Compelled to soothe and comfort the other who had been in something of a terrified panic because of Van's wounds?

...It seems pretty backwards that the one injured isn't always the one that needs the comfort. However seeing that sad smile on Sora's features is sort of making Vanitas determined to turn this around. ]

You can't promise something like that... Because that's part of who you are. Some reckless brat who means well.

[ And, despite how he feels, Vanitas can't really change that about him. It's part of what makes Sora... Sora. ]

What about... At least try to think first?

Ah- Come on...!

[Sora ducks his chin down and lets out a puff of sheepish laughter. Alright, he'll accept the claim that he's a reckless brat who means well. Because honestly, it is who he is. He's always trying his best and sometimes his best means making reckless choices.

Sora tugs on Vanitas.]

If the least I can do is try to think a little more, I'll do my best to do that. [Gosh, that sounds funny.] I don't wanna keep getting scolded by you.

[He grins a little and nudges Vanitas gently.]

[ For his part, Vanitas merely nudges Sora in return. Nose against the Puca's temple. Van takes a deep breath. Grounding. Refocusing. This is what he needs to do. But there's still something... ]

How can I make it go away?

[ The sadness. Worry. Pain. How can he make any of those things go away the correct way. This is what he is asking Sora. He wants to know how to properly deal with the emotions that he's trying to process. ]

I don't want to keep scolding you either. It's pretty pointless and doesn't really make me feel all that great.

[Sora's expression softens again and he lets Vanitas stay close, his own hands tugging the boy closer.]

Umm. I don't know if feeling worried ever goes away. But all the other stuff? I think you gotta feel them and know they're there before they go away. And talking with me and trusting me will make that part easier.

[He really doesn't mean to cause the other sadness or worry. But they're real emotions. They happen.

But then he quickly snuggles into Vanitas too with a quick and fierce affection.]

Kissing and cuddling helps too!

[ He sighs, clearly not liking the answer. Vanitas still wraps his arms around the other. The Witch would rather have something more tangible to do, something to focus on. They are real emotions and they happen. Yes, Vanitas gets this. Doesn't like it very much, but this is the first he's dealt with this. ]

Are you saying that because it really helps? Or because that's what you want?

[ The kissing and cuddling part, of course. That sound suspiciously like something that Sora says would help but secretly wants. Being sneaky! ]

...You should rest.

Um. Both?

[He can't offer Vanitas super tangible things when it comes to emotions. Just that he's here and if things like this happen that they deal with it as a pair. And well... Kissing and cuddling are things to do, aren't they? Oh.]

It really helps! It really helps. When you feel bad just find me. We can work on those things together.

[Just focus on him! Sora leans in and gives Vanitas a small sweet kiss.]

But yeah... I'm really tired.

[ Feeling bad... So he should seek out Sora. Because Sora would cheer him up. Help process those feels and turn them into something else. In a way that sort of makes sense. When Mira had felt bad, talking had helped. So maybe there really is something to it. ]

I'll... Try.

[ That's all that he can really say about there. It's a bit more difficult for Vanitas, after all. After all what defines "bad?"

That's something to figure out later. Right now he's going to focus on looking over Sora's injuries again. Making sure that he's got everything healed and taken care of. ]

Sleep then.

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