[ Open ] Life is like a blanket of snow

[darkcharge]

Who: Vanitas + Open
When: All December
Where: Various
What: Open Quest Prompts + Closed Prompts | Hit me up at [plurk.com profile] jardaan if you'd like!
Warnings: TBD


( Wool You Lend A Hand )

[ Hadn't they sheered the sheep all the way back months ago? Why is the wool just now being used? Vanitas wonders this, of course, as the word gets around that the person who keeps the sheep needs an extra had. Given the fact that he had been an unwilling participant in the sheering of these sheep in the first place, Van is curious about what the wool is going to be used for this time around.

Really the job itself is easy. Put the wool in the dye. Swirl it around for a while. Take it out. Squeeze. Move it on to dry. Simple! ]

Don't know why he had such a hard time getting people to take on this job.

[ At least... Until Van starts to snicker. At nothing. ]


( An Eggstra Bad Mistake: A )

[ Van is holding a list as he stands before a house, scowling at it. There are several scribbles on the piece of paper. Though he doesn't really look too happy about being here. ]

The idiot pushing his mistakes off on other people to fix. Maybe we should just feed him to this creature he stole the eggs from. Then maybe he'd learn his lesson.

[ Not that he had much of a chance to refuse. The crazed person shoved a list in his hand, rambling, and took off. Now Vanitas is in front of one of the houses, about ready to knock. Someone should probably help him because this isn't going to go well. Vanitas has the mindset of just breaking in and taking what he needs to. ]


( An Eggstra Bad Mistake: B )

[ By now Vanitas has recovered quite a few eggs. They are all being kept into a rather big basket that he's found. Oh he's noticed that he's not the only one carrying eggs back to the Wilde. Just how many people did this moron enlist? How much did he steal!? ]

Anyone else thinking that maybe we should have left the guy to deal with this instead?

[ The problem now is that the eggs in Van's basket are starting to move. He hasn't quite noticed it yet! ]


( Save the Snowbirds )

[ Chances are that Vanitas has grabbed someone to go with him. He's made a promise not to go out into the Wilde on his own if he can avoid it. It doesn't matter who he drags with him - if they look competent enough then that'll have to do. Vanitas is confident that he can make up the difference in skill and strength. He's also grown into a rather adept healer in his time here.

Or, perhaps, you have snatched up Vanitas to come along with you. Either way, with some complaining about worrying about some dumb birds, they will all find their way to the nest. Seeing the state of the area immediately puts Vanitas on edge. ]

Of course it would be like this. At least now we know what happened to the dumb birds.

[ He pulls his Keyblade out, not wanting to risk using magic. That's when little growls and yips can be heard in the background. ]

Looks like it won't be such an easy job after all.


( Other Locations )

[ Vanitas can always be found here and there near the Wilde settlements, either clearing out the areas of wildlife or infected creatures. Or he'll be at the healing tents, offering some services to keep his "skills" sharp. Additionally, he can be found meandering the city this month, perusing through shops looking for gifts and trying not to be obvious about it! ]


( Gift Giving: Closed to CR )

[ Towards the end of the month, Vanitas is going from house to house of all of the people that he knows. At least those that he knows where they live. It seems silly and his ears are burning like mad because of the embarrassment over this, but he hadn't been able to do something of this nature last year. Vanitas had only just started to open up and trust people around this time the year previous, when Mira had brought him in. Since then he's learned a lot and has grown as a person quite a bit.

So he kind of wants to repay that. Don't get him wrong, it's not out of kindness. It has nothing to do with making other people happy or showing them that he appreciates them. Van isn't that soft of a person and he isn't about to say that this is what this is about! No, Vanitas is merely giving back out of some strange obligation to do so.

That's it. No other reason.

So several people are going to be finding Vanitas on their doorsteps - or in some cases just tracking them down and finding them at random times - and trying to shove something into their hands before making a hasty exit. ]


( Wildcard )

[ If nothing above tickles your fancy, by all means just throw something at me and I will roll with it! Or, additionally, hit me up on plurk and we can plot something out. ]

Comments

wildcard

[oathkeeper]

[Vanitas might think that he's giving gifts out of some sort of sweet sense of obligation but Sora thinks he might know a little better. He's watched out of the corner of his eye as Vanitas picked and wrapped little things for the people he's come to know and enjoy having in his life. And each moment of it has set a tiny flicker of happiness in Sora's chest. Watching his beloved bondmate flourish quietly to himself as he watches him get ready to go dispense gifts to his special people... His big heart can hardly handle how sweet and special it really is.

He comes up behind Vanitas and suddenly rests his chin on his shoulder with a bit of a pressing nuzzle.]

Hey, why don't we take a break and go for a walk? I think I'm craving something hot and sugary to drink!

[darkcharge]

[ And each time he feels that flicker of happiness, Vanitas shoots a scowl over to his stupid Puca. Don't make this harder for him than it already is! He's terribly embarrassed by the fact that he wants to do this. Sora doesn't need to make it out like it's some big deal with those happy bursts.

By now he's completely used to this behavior from the other. When the moons make Monsters a little more active, Sora tends to get a bit more... Forward with his affection. Which is fine, Vanitas supposes. At least the focus is always on Vanitas. ]

Hot and sugary? Like what?

[ They do have tea here... ]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora is absolutely going to make it out to be a big deal by bubbling on their bond alone. He doesn't even care when Vanitas scowls at him he only lifts his nose and grins. Someone has special friends!! He's so proud!!

At least right now Sora keeps the comments to himself as he gives Vanitas a little bit of an insistent nuzzle. Pushy, soon to be moon-laced, rabbit is pushy.]

Let's go see if we can find a stall selling some hot chocolate! I bet it's great this time of year.

[darkcharge]

[ Pushy bunny is always pushy. That has been the case from day one when they had Bonded! Thankfully, Vanitas is also used to this. So he rolls his eyes - trying to suppress a smirk - and sets his things aside. Vanitas then turns and scoops Sora up in his arms. ]

Someone needs to tone it down a little. I can almost taste your little giddy fit you're having here. Like sunflowers on a bright sunny day.

[ Vanitas snorts. ]

Cottontail wants some hot chocolate? How is that a beverage?

[oathkeeper]

[Sora lets out a delighted laugh when he's scooped up and he tugs roughly at Vanitas' shirt to pull him right up to his nose for a short kiss.]

Can't help it, it's the most wonderful time of the year right now! And just look at you!

[A gentle tease as Sora grins and nips Vanitas.]

And I'm not missing the chance to see your face when you try some hot chocolate. Trust me, it's the best hot beverage you're ever gonna taste in winter.

Gift Giving!

[darkestbefore]

[ The knock on her door is unexpected, but not unwelcome. Setting aside the runework she'd been so focused on, Yona gets up to answer, peeking outside to spot a familiar face and her expression brightening when she sees who it is. ]

Vanitas! Hello!

[darkcharge]

[ She really does need to stop with the smiling and stuff. It's almost like she really is happy to see his surly presence. ]

Yona.

[ Gonna make this quick and save himself from embarrassment. So watch as Van tries to shove a gift box at her and try to leave! ]

[darkestbefore]

[ Oh, he's not getting away with an escape that easily, nope. Because her fingers reach out to latch onto his sleeve and tug him back before he can completely turn away. ]

You brought me a present?

[darkcharge]

[ Ack! Guess there is really no escape from this princess. She's already latched on. ]

Yeah. What of it?

[ Okay. Go on. Make fun of him for it. That's what the response is going to be, right? ]

Saving Snowbirds

[twilightskey]

[The one who Vanitas drags out into the Wilde this time is Roxas. While Vanitas may think it's foolish to worry about "dumb birds", Roxas is willing to take this seriously. After all, if the snowbirds were important, then it wouldn't be dumb to worry about them, right?]

[Upon stumbling across the nest, Roxas looks crestfallen. He briefly kneels down to inspect a bird corpse, his ears low.]

This is awful. These poor birds...

[His sorrow won't linger for long. His head and ears perk up at the yips, and he reaches for his Keyblades too.]

We'd better work quick. We don't want these birds to be affected any longer than they have to.

[darkcharge]

[ Look, having a Monster and Witch combo is usually good for most things, even if they aren't bonded. Magic doesn't work too well on that which is infected. So at the very least Vanitas is fine since he keeps himself in good physical condition as well. ]

Somehow I don't think the creatures are overly concerned with the state of the birds.

[ And then the foxes make themselves known, slipping out of the shadows. They definitely are carrying the infection on them. Might have to be careful. ]

Now let's see just how good you are in a fight.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas is okay with the pairing, really. While he's still a capable fighter, the loss of his magic is a significant hindrance to his abilities. So having a Witch nearby is very good.]

[Seeing the state of the infected foxes makes Roxas's ears angle to the sides, and a low growl rumbles in his throat.]

Same back to you.

[He's never actually seen Vanitas fight, but it looks like now will be a good a time as ever to learn.]

[darkcharge]

[ Too bad magic isn't something that can be used with infected creatures. Thus he isn't going to be using it. Not that Vanitas has to.

One wouldn't know it looking at him, but he is fast, even without his augmented abilities. He dashes forward without another thought. His hits are fast and hard. ]

Other - shopping

[noblegarnet]

[Vanitas isn't the only one looking through shops to find gifts for people, of course; Ferran has been struggling with the idea since he first learned of the upcoming holiday. Not only is he limited in how much he can spend, he also only knows the people around him so well—compared to most of his friends back home having been in his life for several years at a minimum.

Maybe Vanitas isn't being obvious about it, but Ferran knows the guy has Bonds and that Modranicht is approaching. It's an easy assumption to make. Ferran puts down a skull-shaped crystal trinket, glancing towards the dark-haired witch.]

Looking for gifts?

[He's more bundled up compared to the last time they met, the cape around his shoulders designed specifically to cover everything and keep in as much warmth as possible. It manages to keep his new, crumpled wings from being touched by the chilly air, as long as he doesn't move his arms... mostly.]

[darkcharge]

[ Now Vanitas isn't usually one that startles, but this time he does. It's a combination of someone coming up behind him and not expecting someone to catch him in the act. In the act of something that is embarrassing for him that is. He whirls around and gives the other a bit of a withering look. Or it might be more like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar. ]

...What makes you ask that?

[ Vanitas also takes not of Ferran's attire but doesn't say much on it. Not yet. ]

[noblegarnet]

[The defensive reaction isn't what he anticipated, and his eyebrows rise marginally when a question is turned back to him.]

There's a holiday coming up, isn't there? [Ferran doesn't actually doubt this, but it seems like an easy way to defuse the conversation. He shrugs.] It's what I'm doing.

[darkcharge]

[ They might have had a decent conversation before, but Vanitas is a little defensive when it comes to things of a more... Personal nature. This is rather personal, considering he hasn't really done this sort of thing before. He's never been compelled to something like this before really. ]

And just who are you looking for?

[ Maybe Vanitas can get some ideas. ]

Eggstra Mistake: B

[lostinshadows]

Yes.

[Lavi is in full support of having left this to the guy instead.

He hears some movement though and looks down, curious as to what it could be.]

[darkcharge]

I'm telling you, watching him struggle would be worth the pay loss.

[ But then things start moving in the basket and Vanitas can feel it. He doesn't make a startled sound, but he nearly drops it in surprise instead. ]

What's -

[ Oh. Oh they are hatching. ]

Perfect. Couldn't get better than this.

[lostinshadows]

Should we...dump them somewhere...?

[Do they really want to become parents to these monster eggs?]

[darkcharge]

Drop them where? Just randomly off to the side somewhere?

[ Tempting but... ]

Are we the mother or whatever won't attack until it gets them back?

snowbirds

[piromare]

( imagine him snatching up vanitas and taking him here... no, it's definitely the other way around. and lio is prepared for it this time. sword sharp, just like his talons, though he's probably not going to use the latter. he doesn't want to risk getting hurt.

and though he's not quite a bird... he hates what he sees. the anger lio feels makes his blood boil. )

Nothing's ever easy here. ( sword out, his wings fold back behind him. ) We better cut those foxes down before they continue to kill.

( especially because the infected animals know there are people in their vicinity, and the yips are becoming growls. )

[darkcharge]

[ Honestly with Lio, Vanitas would half expect it. Even if that's not quite what transpired, they're still here and there's still foxes all around. It's strange though, isn't it? Foxes aren't really pack creatures. Perhaps the infection is what causes them to seek one another out? Strength in numbers? ]

Just watch your wings. They're a pretty good sized target even if you're not.

[ Van smirks. Yes, he is calling Lio short. Not that he has room to talk. ]

[piromare]

( wow! in the face of incredible danger, potential infection, and not to mention the sadness of seeing so many birds torn up by these little monsters... van goes for lio's weak spot? his wings flutter and twitch as he stares daggers at vanitas, narrowing his eyes and gritting his teeth. )

Whose side are you on?!

( shaking his sword at the boy in a semi-teasing manner, he only breaks from his amusement to slash at a fox that attempts to interrupt their fun. )

... my wings are a part of me, you know!

[darkcharge]

Awww. Does the pigeon feel for the other pigeons?

[ He just likes teasing Lio a little. Vanitas also brings his Keyblade down one of the foxes. Crushes its skull. No magic this time. ]

But aren't you here to watch my back?