middaeg | [ open ] Life is ten percent what you experience

[ open ] Life is ten percent what you experience

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! ) ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Huh?

[ He looks down at what he is being offered. Seeds... Oh right to feed the fox. Is this a method to make nice with the creature? Vanitas frowns. ]

I'm not the one that needed to be nice in the first place.

[ And he will firmly stick by this, thank you. However, despite his grumbling and complaining, Van will offer those stupid seeds to the equally stupid fox. ]

It's not about needing to be nice. ( his smile is small. ) It's about wanting to be when you don't have to.

( the stupid fox is happy to eat the stupid seeds and not bite anyone, especially when there aren't any more seeds on lio's person. as he watches van feed it, the harpy snickers. )

It never hurts to be kind and smart about it.

"Nice" really isn't in my nature.

[ Because, you know. Darkness and all that. Yes, yes. Vanitas is aware that there is more to it now, but that is his origin. However it really doesn't change the core of his personality. He's just kind of a rough person to get on with.

Yet the fox does seem happy, huh? Vanitas is even able to set the creature down and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. ]

( and because the fox is happy, lio is also happy. not because of eating seeds out of van's hand, which lio is not doing and totally hasn't been thinking about it, but because he simply likes seeing van do the good deed.

that, and he's not making it into a belt. no fox belts, please. )

It's okay. ( a second, and he laughs. ) I'm patient.

( he gives van a gentle pat on the shoulder before checking out the state of his bag. )

Damn, it really got in there... I'll have to gather some more.

[ He supposes that he won't make a belt out of the thing after all. In the end, the fox is curling up on Van's lap once done with the seeds. ]

What's that supposed to mean, Lio?

[ Lio can be patient about Vanitas eventually becoming nice? Doesn't seem like something that can happen, honestly. ]

Anyway... You should repair the bag first.

( lio doesn't answer. he just tries to hide a smug grin. )

... I'll probably take care of it when we go back into town. ( he frowns at it, while also looking at the comfy looking fox, chilling out and being all cozy.

he huffs! )

Those seeds can be found underneath some bushes, but you have to watch out for the thorns. If you get pricked, that part of you will go numb.

[ He gives the blonde a look for that lack of answer... ]

Why bother to do that when I can just fix it?

[ Yeah. That fox is just making himself at home there. Van is slightly glaring at it, but making no move to actually remove the furry creature. ]

See, I knew there was a catch to getting those things. I haven't come into contact with the thorns, but the didn't look like they'd give you a fun time.

( lio looks down. then, up. then? somewhere for away, before returning his eyes to van. )

Oh. Yeah, I guess you could. With magic?

( or can van sew some holes real quickly with some thread and a needle? he takes a moment to pull it off, untying the string. )

They're awful. It takes a lot of time for it to pass.

( and now he sits next to van, bag in his hand. )

Yes, I could. With magic. I've been practicing.

[ Because he doesn't trust people with what little material possessions he has. So Vanitas wants to be able to fix them on his own without having to rely on another person.

He holds his hand out, fully expecting Lio to give it to him. ]

What's it feel like?

( the bag is placed in van's outstretched hand without a thought. of course he trusts him to repair it! why wouldn't he? it's also a good way of watching the process; magic will always be interesting to him.

with a thoughtful frown, lio shrugs. )

Just couldn't move it. It felt like dead weight.

( the fox is starting to doze off and the harpy reaches over to give it a very gentle pat on the head, which it accepts with a yawn. )

[ Vanitas simply holds it between his hands. If the fox hadn't thought to just next there on his lap, that's probably where he'd have put it. Then he just focuses on the hole in the bag and mutters a few words. ]

Inconvenient. Consider yourself luck that nothing thought to make a snack out of you.

[ Eventually the hole begins to mend itself. ]

( lio shakes his head quickly. )

I still had another arm, but my bonded was also with me. He would've kept me safe if anything went wrong.

( he watches with curiosity. the hole looks like it's melting away, making the back whole again. )

But even then, I have my wings. My sword. I won't go down without a fight.

Good. I remember you saying that he has a pretty strong personality. Good thing that he has some fight in him too.

[ It does look kind of like that - the hole melting away and soon it looks like there had never been anything there to begin with. Vanitas hands back the pouch to Lio once he's finished. For a moment Van looks like he is going to get up. But then his eyes drop to the fox, remembering that it's there. ]

I know you wouldn't. You're not that weak.

Well, he's definitely seems good in a fight...

( and can pack a wallop with a fist and his magic, if he needs to. but momo's better at being disarming and convincing, with a charm that lio still finds endearing. not to mention, kind and protective. )

Huh? ( blink blink. ) Not that weak... but am I strong?

( he cocks his head to the side. )

[ Vanitas had started to pet the fox in his lap. He pauses when Lio speaks about Van's comment. Now he blinks for a moment. ]

You're still here, aren't you? Managed your changes? Started to adapt?

[ How is that not strong? ]

I don't think I had a choice.

( he doesn't see going feral as being one. pulling his knees up to his chest, lio let his wings cover him. the tips of some of the feathers brush against van's shoulder. there's no strength in willingly choosing the wrong thing. )

But I guess in the end, things could've ended up worse.

[ Has Lio even told Vanitas about going feral? He doesn't know anything about that!

But he does notice the brush of feathers against him. ]

You do have a choice though. At any point you could have been stubborn about all this... A lot of people are until the last moment.

( no, but he also wouldn't want to worry van... early on, when he didn't have a bond? it was close. very close. dangerously so. )

Oh. ( why is van vaguing him like this. ) Well... I was.

( looking away, lio is now doubly embarrassed. )

I'm lucky. I think.

[ Van gives Lio a shove with his shoulder. ]

Maybe. I think you're pretty lucky to have come across me.

[ Look at that smirk that Vanitas is wearing. Is he serious? Or serious? ]

( serious or not, lio laughs. it's maybe the happiest sound he's made since coming to aefenglom, since losing what made him burnish and made him human. having a friend like van... )

I hope you feel just as lucky to have me here.

( but he's not as cocky, not smirking. just thoughtful, looking at van with a soft and barely formed smile. )

[ He doesn't really understand where the laughter is coming front. Vanitas is fairly certain he had said something in arrogance. Not something to have joyous laughter.. Still, the sound isn't a bad one so instead of taking offense? Vanitas takes it for what it is.

He does huff though, a little embarrassed at the sincerity of the reply and the question within it. ]

Yeah, maybe. After all, I'd still be deep in that hole if you hadn't arrived.

[ But, really, he is kind of lucky. ]

Edited 2020-09-21 23:44 (UTC)

( there's a gentle ache deep within his chest, but it's not quite unpleasant. it's the feeling of being with someone who actually brings him some joy in his life. but he knows that there's a lot he's missing when it comes to van and his past. )

And maybe working on turning an animal into a belt. Speaking of which, it seems pretty attached...

( and so does lio, albeit in a different way. )

[ There's another short laugh and Vanitas shakes his head. ]

Only because you got me to feed it.

[ Even a nudge with his fingertips doesn't seem to want to dislodge it. The creature gives a small yip and a yawn. ]

I guess it isn't so bad.

Didn't think it would be.

( lio's happy to see van be gentle. doesn't matter how content the fox is, it continues to make lio fawn over the both of them. )

Just be careful. What if it follows you back to your home, looking for more food? Would you keep feeding it?

If it follows me back home then it follows me back home.

[ A shrug. It doesn't bother him too much. After all, he is something of a stray himself. ]

I had been looking for another familiar.

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