[open] throw away the key and then

[oathkeeper]

Who: Sora + You!
When: The month of Aguril
Where: Where these threads happen!
What: A catch-all for the month of August including closed threads inside. As well as near the end of the month Sora runs into some bad characters on the street and happens to get kidnapped by some desperate Dorchacht smugglers and possibly sold to the underground markets still trying to deal in the shady “monster part” trading business there. More info can be found here.
Warnings: kidnapping, violence, blood, tba

[A: first, we're goin' to set some bait]

[It’s a normal day in Aguril and the city is bustling with life as usual. One puca boy is making his way up the road with a paper bag of various fruits and vegetables in his arms and is heading back home to get them into the icebox. The summer heat doesn’t do much to Sora even with his body now covered in patches of soft brunette-coloured fur. But the heat might do something to his newly purchased greens and treats, so he wants to get them home soon. A rabbit has to have snacks!

He’s not quite paying attention to his surroundings enough and doesn’t notice a pair of cloaked figures just down the road amongst a grove of trees. There is a small clatter of wooden wheels against the pavement and Sora stops for a moment to look up at the cloudy sky.

That is when his vision suddenly blurs, and pain erupts against the side of his head as he's clubbed with a wooden bat. It happens so quickly that Sora falls like a sack of bricks. His shopping scatters on the ground and the two cloaked figures throw a black sheet over him and scoop him up. They start quickly retreating to the back alley where a wooden cart is waiting...

Perhaps you're nearby and happen to hear the clatter or odd noise. Maybe you see the whole thing happen. They are clearly amateurs. But they are amateurs who are now stuffing Sora's knocked out body into a wooden cage on a cart. Perhaps you attempt to rescue him but at this point of time they will get away. But that doesn’t mean you can’t rough them up a bit if you so choose!]

[B: inside a nasty trap and wait]

[People who are bonded to Sora will notice the sudden dullness in their bond with him first. There will be a strange static-like feeling that only gets worse when they try to reach across the bond to him. It is like he's inside the city still but there's something that is muting his monster signature and his location on the magical bond. If anyone tries to contact Sora through alternative means such as their devices no responses will be given. Which is strange because he always answers his messages!

Although there might be some ways to try to find out where Sora is. Witches who know how to tap onto Divination might be able to scry where he might be heading. Or better yet maybe a witch can start some sort of magical conversation with his sleepy mind.

Somewhere along the way Sora wakes weakly in his wooden caged cart and finds himself travelling ... somewhere?? He can feel the temperature drop several degrees so it feels like they might be leaving the city. Because of that Sora tries his hardest to gather enough strength (did they drug him or something??) to create a small little red butterfly with his Illusion magic. Who knows... Maybe it'll be able to communicate with someone. It should be able to write messages or even make a noise or two but it won’t last long!]

[C: when he comes a-sniffing we will]

[If you managed to follow the smugglers into the wilde and towards their den, you’ll find that they haven't left the place unguarded. The den is nestled up in a rocky alcove that is covered in cold heaps of snow and old broken tree branches.

Just outside of the den is a large feral looking hyena creature that isn't happy to see you. Long sharp fangs protrude from its lips and four spider-like eyes stare at you with clear angry intent. It growls at a higher octave than expected and takes a step forward.

You’ll have to deal with this first if you want to get into the den.]

[D: snap the trap and close the gate]

[Inside the cavernous den itself is the dank smell of odd leathers and rotting spices that hang in the air like it is all growing much too old. There are torches lining the cavern walls but it leaves the den dim and hard to navigate. Walking the narrow path that have been dug in is uneven on the feet.

Depending on how one explores the den it all comes to one central spot at the back. There are collections of jars, boxes and crates filled with who knows what. Some jars seem to shimmer with old dragon scales, rusted old weapons line the walls and various liquid and powdery substances sit murky in vials scattered about. ]

"Just get it over with already, bastard!"

[A voice rings out angrily from the other room. If followed, Sora can be found held down against his will across a large wooden table. He struggles weakly but the man holding him has a painful grip and a large meat cleaver held high in his other.]

S-Stop!

[Sora tries to struggle. But he can’t move well. They must have put something in his system to make him feel weak. The other man across the room reaches out and yanks Sora's long rabbit ears with one hand and slaps them against the wooden table with Sora wincing painfully.]

"Get the ears and then take off a foot. Have you heard how much a lucky’s rabbit foot can go for? Hurry up, the shipment has to go out tonight!"

[A rescue would be good! Anytime now!]

[E: wildcard]

[got something else? throw it down here!]

Comments

[darkcharge]

Needle and a potato?

[ Vanitas stares at Sora. He has no idea what any of that means! ]

They... Don't do anything like that?

[oathkeeper]

Uhh--! Yeah, that's great!

[Sora laughs a little sheepishly. How own imagination kind of just ran off without him.]

It's just a thing I think people say when they want to get ear piercings. You're supposed to put the potato behind your earlobe and then stab the needle in or something...

[It's a dumb myth Sora shouldn't believe!]

Nevermind about that! Ahahah!

[darkcharge]

[ He leans over and gives Sora a peck on the cheek. Reassurances! ]

They use special equipment and an enchantment. At least I know why you were so jumpy about this.

[ And here they are, coming up to the little shop itself! ]

[oathkeeper]

[There it is! Sora smiles at Vanitas before they head for the shop doors and enter.]

You weren't nervous at all when you got yours?

[Although he really doubts that Vanitas was at all. He's too cool for that. But it is such a new and permanent thing to do to your body.]

[darkcharge]

[ Well he supposes he could lie... Then Vanitas shrugs his shoulders and holds the door open for Sora. ]

It's still something piercing your skin. Yeah, I was. A little.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora looks a bit surprised at that answer as he walks in front of Vanitas holding the door for him.]

Really? No way!

[But he smiles because it is kind of nice to know he wasn't being super weird for being nervous. Shortly after they enter there are some attendants who greet them and Sora points to his ear.]

I wanna get a piercing in my ear, please...!

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas slides into the shop with him, clicking his tongue. ]

Matching ones.

[ Because they don't look alike at all anyway, right? ]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora practically beams. Seems he's not too nervous any more thanks to Vanitas. He's quick to echo,]

Matching ones!

[And the attendants seem to smile at each other before they nod. One even brings over a small book that displays some trinkets that could work. Then one explains that a few of them have charms too. One of the ladies explains that some of the earrings can send small whispered tunes or gentle musical notes to the other pair like a little love note to the other person when they want to. That makes Sora blush pretty quickly.]

Uh, well I dunno...

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas has to put his hand over his mouth to keep from snickering. Sora's just too excitable, really. Of course he's going to have them bring over couples enchantments. Van isn't going to intervene. No interruptions from him! Rather, he's going to stand back and let Sora handle this.

In the end, Vanitas doesn't care if they get enchantments or not. Personally, he'd prefer Sora to have warding, but it's not entirely the Witch's call in the end. For now, he just likes watching Sora struggle. The Pucca can get really cute when he's flustering and stammering. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Well he does glance several times at Vanitas and back at the collection of earrings being offered to him! Like he's expecting Vanitas to have some sort of input in it! Not just leave Sora here to fluster and blush on his own while they coo over him about love charms and stuff! Vanitas! Please!!

... Vanitas is ignoring him on purpose, isn't he.]

Erm...! Well- I guess.. Something might be nice! Like that! A couples charm, I guess...?

[A love charm...]

[darkcharge]

[ Every glance his way is only given a smirk in return. Yes, Van sure is leaving Sora to have all the input. ]

I think we were looking for matching earrings. Not necessarily matching charms. Something practical better suits us.

[ Look, he'll try to save Sora here. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora finally gives Vanitas a look of relief. While he thinks the little charms might be neat and romantic he has no idea if they should actually get something like that.]

Yeah, just some matching earrings is fine for us!

[He makes sure to nudge at Vanitas' shoulder quickly. And then Sora reaches out to pick out a simple pair of star-shaped earrings. Not made of silver, of course! These will look great! After that, Sora is led over to a chair to prepare the area on his ear for the piercing. His long ears twitch nervously. But he tries to keep still!]

Erm... Okay!

[darkcharge]

[ Definitely not made of silver! There's no way that Van could hurt Sora by doing that. They're made of gold, of course. Then Vanitas looks at Sora, feeling that nebulous emotions. He sighs and rubs his face. ]

The bratty Puca does kind of want a charm on these things.

[ Don't deny, Sora. Vanitas can tell with that look on his face. ]

Personally, I would have thought that an enchantment to stabilize his illusions would be useful. But if he wants something more romantic then don't let his nervous demeanor fool you.

[ Just come out and say what you want, Sora! ]

[oathkeeper]

[Oh? The attendant looks from Sora to Vanitas and back to Sora. They have quite the amused smirk on their face.]

Vanitas-! I was just thinking!

[Sora pouts and his face is red but he does tilt his head to the side. Even if an enchantment to help him with his fluctuating illusion charms wound be great his heart is sort of leaning towards something more romantic. He's just a dumb boy who wants dumb things with his boyfriend-]

I wanna get the music notes charm! [So, fine! He's going to take it with a huff.

The attendant only smiles and casts the charm just like so. Now it's time to numb Sora's preferred ear.]

[darkcharge]

[ In return for the red face and flustered state of the Puca, Vanitas gives another smirk. Again, he hadn't really been wrong. Sora just needs a little push here and there. So worried the guy is about pleasing people that Vanitas needs to remind him that it's okay to want what he wants. ]

Music notes charm...

[ But that one out of all of them? Really? Van just sighs and nods in agreement. He'll be patient and wait for Sora to get his done first. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Vanitas wants him to say what he wants so he's saying what he wants! He pouts at Vanitas.]

Music notes charm.

[Then he turns back to the attendant who is now preparing Sora's ear with a little bit of cleaner and a small spell to numb the section of his long ear where the piercing will go.

Sora tries his best not to fidget too much. The pain shouldn't be there at all thanks to the spell. Right? Right... And snap! The little tool goes click right on his ear and Sora blinks. There it is, the tiny little white gold charm hanging from Sora's ear.]

Ah- What- Is it done?? Does it look good?

[Can he touch it???]

[darkcharge]

[ Sora can have his way. He's not saying a word against it. Rather, he continues to watch Sora's pouting expression. Observes the other in the chair, still a little nervous and then it's all over. Just that quick. Sora's surprise makes Vanitas smirk. ]

That's all it takes. [ Time for the Puca and the Witch to switch places. ] Don't play with it too much.

[ Look, he knows how strange it is. Van had fussed with his first one a lot. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora's fingers linger over of the spot, not quite touching it. It's a little numb and achy feeling but that wasn't so bad at all. The little charm dangles from his long ear with a slight jingle now.

He gets up from his spot to switch places with Vanitas.]

It feels kinda weird.

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas is going to get his own in the same spot, of course. He is far more relaxed about it this time than what he had been last time. Funny how that works. ]

It will for a little bit. At least until you get used to it, bunny boy.

[ Which this is a rather short affair for Vanitas as well. One moment he is sitting down and they are numbing his ear. In the next it's over and there's a matching earring and enchantment to go right with. ]

[oathkeeper]

[And it's done so quickly too! Sora watches the tool go snap and he can't help grinning when he sees the matching little earring on Vanitas' ear too. Now Vanitas has two earrings and it's kind of cool.]

It looks great on you, Vanitas!

[The attendant then informs them to try out the musical charm and Sora thinks of the first tune that pops into his head. The first few notes of a familiar song jingles in their minds for only them to hear.]

Ahaha...! [Sora's cheeks are warm. He likes this. Even if it's really dorky.]

[darkcharge]

Stars and such are probably more your thing than mine.

[ That being said, wearing it does sort of... It's kind of like a mark isn't it? Vanitas wearing something that can be identified with Sora also means that he can be identified with him too right? It's such an embarrassing and soft thought that Van has to shake his head, feeling more than flustered over it.

This is how he is distracted and able to be taken by surprise by the tune that suddenly plays out in his own mind. Is that how this charm works? One hums or thinks a tune and the other can hear it? ]

That's... A little weird.

[oathkeeper]

[It is something that will be very visible to people. Sora's long ears sit straight upwards so his earring will be in full view all the time. It's even more telling than their matching bracelets. Which is why Sora's cheeks are so pink too. This tiny happy flicker of embarrassed wonder is tickling across their bond.

Sora quickly shakes his head. Trying to look not so dweeb-y about it though.]

But- It's kind of cool, right? I like music so I thought it might be fun! To send each other notes once in a while? Come on!

[darkcharge]

[ Sora is never not going to be a dweeb. Vanitas has come to terms with this. He has accepted this fact too. Van just focuses on the emotions skirting across their bond. ]

You know I haven't had much in the way of experience with music.

[ It's not saying that this is cool. However Van also isn't outright rejecting the idea either. He supposes that he could at least give it a go. ]

[oathkeeper]

Now's a good time to try it out, right? Music is great!

[Sora tilts his head. The little earring gives a tiny jingle when he does that now.

Music is simple and easy. Any little tune can mean something. So it would be nice to hear what Vanitas might think.]

Only I can hear it too!

[darkcharge]

[ He slips from the chair and then meanders to the count to be able to pay. For his own and Sora's too, of course. As if he is going to let the other do that. ]

Are you saying you want me to give it a try? Right now?