[ open ] Life is ten percent what you experience

[darkcharge]

Who: Vanitas + Open
When: All Aguril
Where: Various
What: Open Quest Prompts + Closed Prompts | Hit me up at jardaan @ plurk


( Antler Fruit )

[ Granted Vanitas doesn't care what the fruit is going to be used for. He never cares when it comes to these sort of "fetch me this" or "fetch me that" sort of stuff. However what he does care about is the fact that there is a pretty price tag on the whole thing. That is what Van is interested it. That is what gets him to go out in the Wilde and track down one of those deer. Besides... He's never seen an animal able to grow fruit on their bodies, so he's interested.

Now one might think that he'll look for hoofprints or find signs that one had been close. That's what someone with any tracking skill would do right? Well not necessarily in Vanitas' case. Rather he has a trick up his sleeve that, while he is loathe to do it, he is going to employ. So when he goes out he finds a rather secluded area. He sets up some wards that should tell him if something or someone is approaching. The Flood has gone with him this time, serving as another pair of eyes.

Then Vanitas just sits down at the base of one of the trees. Curious way to try to get a deer, huh? ]


( Forget-Me-Nots: A )

I suppose I could always burn it. Or find a way to kill it.

[ Another one of those "please get this for me" type of ordeals. They always sound so simple at first, but it never is. Of course it couldn't be an easy task or else the people of this world wouldn't require aid now would they? For this, Vanitas has found a rather sizable amount of flowers. However with it comes a massive bush and he has no desire to get himself scratched up. ]

Would wards work?

[ To prevent scratching that is. Van wonders if there is some kind of spell that would prevent the nettles from doing this. Perhaps a ways to slide like how water does off of the feathers of ducks? ]


( Forget-Me-Nots: B )

When I get my hands on you...

[ Now here is a curious sight. Looks like Vanitas has come across some trouble while looking for those flower seeds. He's half in and half out of a den or a borough, snarling and digging. The Flood is just there on standy, watching for anyone passing through or any threats. ]

I'm going to make you into a belt!

[ Just what is he so furiously trying to get at? ]


( Worm Wrangling )

[ Now Van doesn't care much for the people of the Underground. He doesn't care too much for the natives in the city either. There is no trust there ( not even the Coven really, but they are useful so that's a different matter ) so why should he bother doing any of this to "help out." Well there are some benefits to it. Sometimes there is money involved and other times... Well other times are just like now.

He's managed to find some of those nomads down here in the tunnels. Van grins, almost feral as he steps into view. ]

Well well. What do we have here?

[ The group immediately looks up towards Vanitas. Two stay behind to keep the captured worms at bay while the rest start to approach the Witch, weapons slightly raised. They don't want to give up what they've managed to steal! Honestly Vanitas doesn't care, but it does make him laugh. ]

What? Can't we just get along? [ Now they are beginning to charge him in earnest! ] No?

[ Van's grin only grows wider as he pulls out his Keyblade and takes a ready stance. ]

Good.


( What's Missing: Available Only at the End of August )

[ It's hard for Vanitas not to immediately notice that his Bond with Sora has immediately dulled and become fuzzy. With how the Puca had been adamant about Van not trying to block their bond, there is no way that Sora himself would. In fact, Vanitas is certain that the other doesn't even know how to go about such things. That's why this puts Van on alert. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong and it is putting him on edge. Of course he is going to drop everything that he is doing to either find Sora or find out where he's gone.

And when it discovered that the Puca is missing? Taken by people with unknown motives? Vanitas sees red. He is livid and there is no way to calm him down. Who would DARE to think to take that which is his!?

That's why he's in the shadier part of the city, down where illegal parts and bits are being sold. Normally he wouldn't care. People are prone to doing what they are going to do and he has no interest in stopping them. However when it comes to Vanitas? Someone crossing him? Then all best are off. That's why he can be seen slamming shop keeper's heads onto their counter-tops. That's why he's picking people up and practically throwing them against walls. Anything to get answers about why someone would desire a Puca and where someone would go to get away.

Needless to say he's leaving quite a few distraught shopkeepers and customers in his wake. There's also quite a bit of property damage that he doesn't even remotely care about. So... Either stop him or help him out because there's no getting through to the Witch at this point. ]


( Wildcared )

[ Nothing above tickle your fancy? Then by all means either hit me up on plurk or at verthunder#9612 to work something out. Alternatively, just throw something at me and I will be more than happy to roll with what you've given me. Vanitas can always be found in the Wilde fighting off creatures or at a settlement providing some aid ( as training of course! ) ]

Comments

[unsundered]

[Torture away, Vanitas; Emet-Selch was neither opposed to torture, nor had the slightest inclination towards trying to calm him down. If he'd lost someone important to him, due to the malice of others (as this possession of his had to be a person; he doubted Vanitas would respond this way to a missing object, however valuable), what other response could there be but to tear the world apart?

The shopkeeper- who had perhaps turned a desperate eye towards the Ascian, only seems to pale that bit further when it's clear that he's not there to interfere, reassure, or do literally anything other than encourage Vanitas in his rampage (and in a distant way, Emet-Selch notices how natural the scene felt, familiar and comfortable in a way; something to do with his own intrinsic nature, he supposed, the call of chaos and disorder).

And when Emet-Selch finally speaks again, it's in the shopkeeper's direction, and while his voice turns towards the idle, it's only that much darker for it. No, there's no sympathy for this mortal, regardless of how innocent or not he is of this particular crime.]

He's serious, you know. And the penalty for not knowing anything... is much the same as remaining silent, I suspect.

[Better have something useful to say, and quickly- to have any chance at all of limiting a considerable application of pain.]

[darkcharge]

[ If there is one thing that Vanitas can count on from the Ascian, it is indifference. He isn't going to be like others that will try to stop the Witch from doing what he deems necessary. Won't try to talk him out of it. On the other hand, Emet-Selch won't be the sort of person that will save Van's captor either.

Though he does somewhat acknowledge the fact that the old man does speak at all. Vanitas hadn't expected that. Though he does note the tone and it's not that he expected any sympathy either way... But rather the old man is prone to watching and making snide commentary. An odd thing for Emet-Selch to remind this shop owner that Vanitas is serious. ]

Should listen to the old man's advice. I'll burn this place to the ground with you in it.

[ He will too, make no mistake of that. Vanitas pressed that too hot hand against the exposed skin of the owner's neck. The man screams, begging soon following. He doesn't know anything about a Puca. Hasn't requested any sort of Puca parts. But that doesn't satisfy Vanitas does it? Just because this one hasn't asked for it doesn't mean he doesn't know of suppliers...

So he cranks up the heat emanating from his hand. ]

[unsundered]

[The Ascian hadn't heard of or noticed any mass kidnappings as of late, so this was either a focused target or the result of some opportunists. That Vanitas was apparently looking for a puca does get his attention, and further erodes that already non-existent concern towards this shopkeeper's safety and comfort. It also provided a hint as to who had been stolen; Vanitas was Bonded to a puca, and had apparently gotten quite attached to the other boy.]

Ah, be careful not to destroy too much of his head.

[This time he addresses Vanitas, faux-casual, a calm statement between the screaming, careful to not talk over anything that might be actual words.]

He still needs to be able to speak, you know. Crush his throat, and he won't live long enough to tell you much of anything.

[Not that he's at all suggesting Vanitas should back off, or some such nonsense--]

But he can spare a limb or two, can't he?

[darkcharge]

[ Two, actually. Somehow Vanitas has gotten himself mixed up with two different Pucas. However, it is true that he has gotten rather attached to just one of them. Though Vanitas doesn't really see that as a secret. As often as Sora is over it would make sense. It would also make sense that since Vanitas is attached, that it would be a very possessive sort of thing. ]

I can think of a few other places that would burn and be just as effective.

[ Because augh. He really does dislike when the other is right. When Emet-Selch actually offers sensible advice... It's annoying! Though in this context it only ruffles Van's feathers somewhat. After all the Ascian isn't doing anything to stop him and it's true that there will be no answers forthcoming if Vanitas burns out his vocal chords.

The shopkeeper's eyes go wide. Surely Vanitas wouldn't... ]

But a missing arm would serve as a fair enough warning.

[ When he raises his hand again, it's with a simple spell to surround his hand in ice. He can make a rather sharp blade from it can't he? Van is about ready to pull back when the man tells him to stop. That he'll tell the both of them what he knows about the trade, but that he doesn't know anything about a specific Puca. ]

[unsundered]

[Two pucas, my.... With his Flood also being rabbit-esque, Vanitas really is drawn to them, isn't he? Still, Emet-Selch would have a harder time faulting the choice. But even with Sora being the only one he knows of, he's pretty certain that he's the target involved. The kid was around an awful lot, something the Ascian had noticed even with his own irregular stays at the house. They were clearly close- and in a distant sort of way, he supposed it was even nice that the kid had found such a companion in the boy (Even if he remained less certain of the wiseness of attaching to one so obviously of the Light, but, it seemed to work for him. For now.). As though it were some affirmation that connections like that were possible, even for people like them.

(He'd be less content if he thought too much about another trait they had in common: possessiveness over those they cared for. Even if it'd been something he'd been aware of for some time- it was a trait that only seemed to deepen as attachment did. But Vanitas' reaction to the loss of his favored puca was natural and laudable; Emet-Selch could fully accept that much.)

But he only snorts at Vanitas' comment, loosely crossing his arms, casual as anything as he observes. As though the impending sight of the kid burning, slicing, freezing one of the man's arms off would qualify as some normal occurrence. And he's only amused, if darkly, at Vanitas' evident irritation with him being all sensible in his direction. As well as satisfied at Vanitas' recognition that he was right.

--And look at that, the threat seems to be about to pay off. Emet-Selch isn't sure if he's disappointed or not.]

Oh, it seems you've jogged that memory of his.

[darkcharge]

[ Who knows... Maybe months ago when he had first arrived here, when he had no idea how to control his emotions, he might not have cared or recognized what Emet-Selch had been doing. He might not have been able to keep his head about him. Now, however, he does have a clearer head even when there's this rage boiling him from the inside out. ]

Looks like it. Though now it depends on how useful the information actually is.

[ But that hadn't been the deal! At least that's what the man seems to think. Since Vanitas doesn't show any sign of recalling his magic, the guy has no choice but to press on. He speaks of people that do "poach" within city limits. Take unsuspecting monsters and lure them out of town. But that's really all he knows, really! He doesn't know the location, of course, but he does tell an interesting tale a customer had told him... Something about two shady looking guys hanging around town. ]

So spill it!

[ He drives that blade of ice right into the shoulder. The rest of the information is useless. Vanitas has already figured that much out. The two shady guys? Now that is a story he should know about. So either this man needs to give up the customer or start taling. ]

[unsundered]

[Emet-Selch could appreciate that Vanitas had listened, and despite his rage was still capable of making the rational choices, of tempering his anger into something productive. As what he was doing was obviously the rational and now productive choice. As maiming and torturing and killing was fine. Even rampant destruction without an identifiable target was fine, on principle. The Ascian understood that.

And he listens just as carefully, not at all surprised that such a market existed. Paying attention to the underbelly of the city at all... it was hard to miss the rumors. Monsters certainly seemed to have a difficult time of it, in general.

But how vague, unspecified, useless. And Emet-Selch is not surprised at all to find that Vanitas seemed to concur, his non-existent patience splintering further. But apart from humming quietly to himself, he doesn't comment nor interfere; Vanitas didn't need the encouragement, and the shopkeeper's attention should really be on trying to answer properly this time.]

[darkcharge]

[ Monsters do have it far different than Witches. In that respect, Vanitas is rather grateful that he was given the gifts he had been here. He doesn't have to worry about things like being snatched up and dissected for parts. The reality is that he doesn't know, exactly, what sort of parts from a Puca could be used.

There's a cry of pain as Vanitas buries this blade of ice into the shoulder. Chances are the man won't be using that arm any time soon. When no answer is immediately forthcoming, Van loses a little more patience. He twists just a bit, enough to get another shout. Then the man begs for Vanitas to stop. That he'll repeat what he heard. ]

So hurry it up.

[ Apparently the customer's story was about two men that had, in fact, met up with a Puca. Even though they seemed suspect, the Puca hadn't seemed overly concerned at all. In fact, he had went right along with them.

Hearing that, Vanitas drops the shopkeeper. Yes, that definitely sounds like something Sora would do - be somewhat oblivious until the last moment. It doesn't really tell him where Sora could be, but at least it potentially answers a question of how. ]

Probably doesn't know anything else.

[unsundered]

Hm, how unexpectedly merciful. With enough healing, he may even eventually regain some use of that arm.

[Emet-Selch's glance is dispassionate, indifferent as the man is allowed to slump to the ground, freed of the ice pinioning him to the wall. And how fortunate, really, in the way that his impalement had been via ice, causing his wound to freeze over nicely, limiting any excessive bleeding. Truly his lucky day.]

I wonder if all pucas are so naturally trusting. [A statement followed with a shake of his head. But he'd have to agree that it seemed as though this man had been as useful as he was going to be. As useful as he would ever be in his life, possibly, being placed in this world only to pass on this shred of information.] Well, I hope you have more leads than this. 'Tis not much to go on when it comes to a location for your wayward rabbit.

[darkcharge]

He's not worth my time.

[ And time is simply something that Vanitas doesn't have. There's only one thing that he demands further and that is the address of this particular customer that witnessed this. Seems like Vanitas is going to pay them a little visit. ]

But I can always make an exception.

[ After everything the man has been put through? There's no hesitation in offering up this customer. Better that person than him continuing to face Van's wrath. So yes, Vanitas is thinking further. If he must follow a rabbit trail in order to find his "wayward rabbit" then that is exactly what he is doing to do.

But for now he's already walking away. Heading towards the direction of the street provided. ]

I already know he's outside the city.

[ That's all his muted bond can give him at the moment. ]