[ open ] Growth is Painful

[darkcharge]

Who: Vanitas + Open
When: Throughout Jan
Where: All around
What: Quest Prompts, Event Prompts, and closed threads
Warnings: TBA


( Orphanage: Mistaken Identity )

[ Vanitas has nothing to do with the orphanage or the kids there. Really and truly, he doesn't. Now he might have been tasked to drop some donations off, but hanging around them? Playing with them? Oh no. No no no. That's not something that Vanitas can tolerate at all.

Seems like he's in a bit of a situation right now though. Looks like some of the kids are out and about when he's dropping something off. With a cry of "Sora!" one kid starts running toward him. One kid becomes two. Then there's a quite a few running up to him and asking him a million questions. What happened to your ears? and Is your hair darker?

Van is a little overwhelmed and flabbergasted. Help? ]


( Wet and Wild: Options A and B )

Back off!

[ It's not so unusual for Van to be out in the Wilde offering assistance or just working out some of his own aggression. This time he's battling some Shades while a group of people try to clean up the area. They're now evacuating and Vanitas? Eh... He might be buying time. Not for their sake, but mostly so that he doesn't have any dead weight holding him back.

He slashes at one with his weapon, Void Gear and goes to take another step. So ( a ) either help Van get people out or get ride of Shades...

OR

( b ) Unfortunately this had been taking place along the cliffside. He gets the idea to cast a spell to cause a controlled landslide to bury another Shade. Unfortunately it also makes the ground below to become unstable. One wrong step and Van is getting swept up in an additional rockslide that is going to cast him off of one of the cliffsides. ]


( Wilders Training )

[ Okay so Vanitas had originally been there for other reasons. He just so happens to come across the recruitment people and others interested in taking part. That's why he shows up at the training grounds. When someone asks if he is a new recruit? He brushes them off and says that he's just here to watch.

But if a Mirrorbound were to try to convince him... That might change things. Or he'll just watch Mirrorbound and their partners attempt to train people and scoff from the sidelines. ]


( Wild Card )

[ Either throw whatever you want at me and I'll roll with it or hit me up at jardaan


( Event Prompts )

LINK FOR COMMENTS BELOW

Comments

EVENT; Preaching to the Choir

[darkcharge]

[ The disappearances actually don't bother Vanitas overly much. No one that he knows has actually gone missing. However, he had been around last year when a bunch of people were kidnapped and tortured. Some of that still plays over in his mind, even if he hadn't really cared about that all too much back then either. However, in recent months? Well his Bondmate had been taken and no one had really known or dared to speak out until he started to make some noise.

This is what prompts Vanitas to start taking a closer look. He's not actually looking to stop this cult from doing whatever it is that they intend to do. All Vanitas cares about is that it isn't done to his people. He doesn't want anything to happen to what is his.

The first Friday, Vanitas doesn't do much. He's actually haunting the grounds and noticing where all of the security is. Thus there is the option to run into him casing the grounds.

The second Friday Vanitas is actually still studying some of their movements. He's lingering long enough to find out when shift changes happen and what areas seem to be more heavily guarded than others. Here there is a chance that he could be discovered.

The third Friday is when Van actually starts to make a move. This is where he will actually start to try to get backstage. He's a familiar enough face by now, right? Surely no one is going to notice him attempting to get some more information! ]

Preaching to the Choir

[al_bhed]

[On the first Friday, Rikku misses Vanitas completely. She's too focused on trying to seem like she actually thinks this Evergreen Circle thing is a great idea, and quite frankly the effort takes up pretty much all of her headspace.

On the second Friday, she sees him and gives him a wave from across the room while stuffing her face with cookies that one of the crazy follower ladies baked. Just because they're bad people doesn't mean they can't make good food, and really isn't eating their food its own kind of karmic payoff? They're feeding the enemy! Take that!

On the third Friday, Rikku notices Vanitas slinking around the outskirts of the crowd and can't help her curiosity. She approaches--carefully, using sneaking skills that she frankly doesn't use often enough--and keeps her voice low.]

Psst. What are you doing?

sorry for the delay. was trying to figure something out

[darkcharge]

[ So that second Friday he definitely had seen her and shot her a glare. Good food or not maybe we shouldn't be taking food from strangers? Just a thought?

As for Rikku actually sneaking up? Van doesn't jump. But he does immediately turn on her. Unfortunately also slapping a hand over her mouth. Voice low or not, he doesn't want to be spotted? ]

Obviously trying to find information.

no worries!

[al_bhed]

[Don't judge her, Vanitas! She's a growing girl and those cookies were delicious.

Rikku doesn't protest in response to the hand over her mouth--she realizes she kind of asked for it by sneaking up on him like this. However, this also renders her unable to ask any follow up questions, so she nods and points backstage to try and communicate 1. is he going that way, and 2. does he need backup?

Maybe Vanitas can read minds or something?]

[noblegarnet]

[When Vanitas attempts to make his way backstage that third week, he might spot something unusual—a distinct copy of his own shape moving in front of him, then turning away from the back area—not as detailed as the real thing but distinct enough to fool anyone who might glance at it briefly. Unseen from Vanitas' point of view is the veil that's been cast over the space for the moment, practically guaranteeing he has a chance to get in unnoticed, at least from this side.

From several feet away, Ferran is watching him intently between glances to anyone who approaches, and he puts a mild smile on his face whenever he exchanges brief pleasantries.

Here's your chance, buddy—go for it. Ferran will join in soon enough.]

[darkcharge]

[ Actually yeah. That is a little surprising for Vanitas to see a copy of himself. Well, one that he hasn't made himself - and he's kind of kicking himself for not thinking of it. He looks around to see who it might be from. Who is watching him do this that they are covering for him.

Hmm. Something to think about later. Vanitas is going to slip back there and hopefully find something worthwhile. Maybe how they are so successfully converting people? Or maybe an idea of where they are taking those that are going missing...

Hopefully there are offices or something back this way. ]

[noblegarnet]

[After concealing his own presence and moving backstage himself, Ferran proceeds with caution, making sure no one but his apparent partner in crime is nearby before letting the stronger illusion go and letting the sound of his footsteps announce his approach towards the other man. He's under a full glamor today, his wings hidden by both his winter cloak and magic, rather than just the former. The lack of Fae in the cult hasn't escaped his notice, so if he is caught by whatever higher ups have congregated behind the scenes, he wants a possible out.

He'd holding his Coven-granted watch in one hand, already recording video to its storage in case he comes across something incriminating. When he addresses Vanitas, there's a serious look in his eye and his voice is barely a whisper. He's done enough sneaking around places he shouldn't be.]

Thoughts?

EVENT; Spirited Away ( Failed Attempt before Successful )

[darkcharge]

[ It all starts when Vanitas decides to go out to do some simple errands. He needs to pick up a few things for a spell and, in general, tends to avoid people. It's not that he doesn't notice that there are people following him.

He does, of course. Vanitas usually has some pretty good spatial awareness since he doesn't trust people. He's a wary person by nature. That's why he continues to peruse through the shops and their wares before going ahead and walking down an alley. That's where he stops. This is a place where he can, after all, cut loose. ]

I hope you know how stupid you are for coming after me.

[ Likely because he is small and appears like a harmless teenager. Yet as Vanitas turns around, he begins to spark with chain lightning all around him. A feral grin takes over since he is going to have fun with this -

Until a Chimera under an illusion spell appears out of nowhere and puts Vanitas in a sudden chokehold. He lifts the smaller Witch off of the ground and Vanitas begins to kick! The other two would-be captors are coming towards him with a cloth, likely meant to muffle Van's sounds and knock him out.

Well know what. ]

[piromare]

( not too long ago, lio said he'd keep an eye on vanitas. who knew that on this one very occasion that it'd come in handy?

lio is already infuriated, his blood boiling. surely if van wasn't taken by surprise, lio might be the one trying to keep the witch from going overboard. but instead, it's him diving downward, sword in hand but his talons out and pointed down toward the chimera.

no way he's going to let van stay grabbed like this. lio 'lands' on the chimera, digging his sharp nails into the shoulders of the monster and pulling as hard as he can. )

Let go, you fuck!

[darkcharge]

[ Lio had, in fact, said those words to Van. Like Lio, Vanitas had thought that the Harpy would be more about holding him back in the end rather than actually, you know, needing to save him.

Right about now the Witch is grateful for the fact that Lio tends to keep an eye out for him. Those claws digging into the shoulders definitely make the Chimera kidnapper drop Vanitas and the other two stare in shock for a moment.

Van drops to the ground, coughing and dizzy. The other two cultists seem to recover. One continues to go after Van. The other goes to try to rip Lio off of the Chimera's back. ]

[piromare]

Van... I'm sorry.

( why is he apologizing? it's because for the longest time, lio wanted to never use what he's about to use. some harpies are bestowed some magic, to manipulate wind. to utilize that as a weapon. but lio is not one of those harpies and as he opens his mouth, a song reverberates from him: sweet and almost stickly, a wordless melody that he directs toward the minotaur below him.

he hates doing this but. it's time. )

This man wants to hurt me! Get him!

( the chimera's eyes go glassy. the monster, who now allows the harpy to ride it,swings at its former teammate who now doubles his efforts to get lio off. )

Van! I'll keep these ones busy.

[twilightskey]

[It's actually by chance that Roxas is in this part of town. There's an ice cream parlour nearby that he enjoys going to, and it had been on a whim and a craving for salted caramel that had brought Roxas to this end of town. But his ears perk up and his head turns sharply as he hears the sounds of a scuffle, and a surprisingly familiar voice.]

[Thoughts of ice cream abandoned, Roxas follows the sound into the alley, and sees the Chimera holding Vanitas in a chokehold. Instinct instantly takes over, and a deep, gutteral growl looses from Roxas.]

Let him go!

[And that Chimera? He's going to get tackled in the side by a Turnskin who can definitely hit hard.]

[darkcharge]

[ Roxas' intervention does, in fact, knock the Chimera around. It's startling enough to drop Van. The Witch falls to the ground, coughing and wheezing. Might be a moment before Van gets to his feet.

In the interim, Roxas has the Chimera's full attention now. It's charging right at Roxas...

The other two kidnappers? The seem all right with this and continue to encroach on Vanitas' personal space. ]

[twilightskey]

[Roxas may not have his Keyblades with him right then or his Light magic anymore, but he's still physically fit and combat-trained. He growls at the Chimera, and he waits for the Chimera to get close enough before--]

[--he ducks and skids around, pulling a Reversal on the bulky monster. Hopefully it forces the Chimera to barrel past him and hit something, or at least confuse him. Meanwhile, Roxas's ears flick and he turns, seeing the other two encroaching on Vanitas.]

Don't even think about it!

[It comes out as a half-bark as he rushes to Vanitas's aid, lunging at one of the kidnappers with fangs and claws bared.]

[inlikethebrume]

[One of those attempted captors will soon feel someone's hand around their throat quickly, followed by a good shock. Only to stun and maybe knock them out themselves.

If there is one thing that pisses off a mama bear is that one of her cubs is in danger. Unfortunately for these folks, they messed with the wrong cub. It was by pure happenstance that Mira was in the area, looking for a place that could help her with some bullets for her gun. But when she noticed that someone familiar was in danger, well...]

Hands off my son.

[The next attack is for the one holding onto Vanitas, using some Illusion magic to try and obscure their eyes as a distraction. At least trying to get them to loosen their grip on him. Trying to fight while in a choke hold is a bitch, not to mention she wants to save him.]

[darkcharge]

[ These people are definitely about to have a bad day. Dealing with Vanitas wouldn't be good in any regular circumstance. But then you have Mira coming in and seeing them attacking her boy? Oh Vanitas would be grinning quite widely at the entire thing. It would bring him no greater delight than to see Mira rip people into shreds.

But he can't really do that right now. His vision is starting to swim a little. Lack of oxygen and whatnot. He'll be able to get that back fairly soon. The Chimera won't just loosen his grip. It drops Vanitas entirely to bat at what it thinks is something small and buzzy coming after it. ]

[inlikethebrume]

[Her primary goal is not to kill some hapless idiot, it's to make sure her son is safe and out of harm's way. She does run over to him and takes him by the arm, attempting to get him to a standing position.]

He won't be distracted for long. Best to move now.

[thejoyrider]

[It’s been a long time since Vanitas actually needed Marie to check up on him. These days he is doing very well by himself and she is aware of that, but that doesn’t mean she completely stopped periodically making sure her former Bondmate was okay.

This was just one of the days when she spots Vanitas in the streets of the shopping district, completely unaware that he’s being followed by someone other than her. Should she should stop him for a chat? That’s the idea as she enters the alley after him.]

Huh? Vanitas?

[Uh oh.

She should probably do something to help, shouldn’t she... preferably something that doesn’t get Vanitas in more trouble.

For now she smacks the nearest attacker’s face with her handbag]

These people aren’t your friends are they?

[darkcharge]

[ Well he would answer her, of course... But he's kind of busy. You know, struggling. The Chimera mocks Van, needing a little girl to help him out. The other two laugh as well, right up until one of them gets smacked with the bag. Then it becomes "hey little girl what do you think you're doing!?"

Vanitas, on the other hand, has had enough. He sinks his nails into the flesh of the Chimera's arm best as he can. Then sets it on fire with a wordless spell. It's enough to startle the Monster into letting him go and backing away. ]

Definitely... Not friends...

orphanage; mistaken identity

[roombamastermind]

[Croix has been helping with the orphanage; normally, she's not someone who considers herself particularly great with children, but she is a teacher, and helping the caregivers with lesson plans is something she can do... and she's just about done with that, and getting set to leave, when she spies Vanitas in his predicament.

Smirking, she approaches him and the children, arms crossed.]

Well well well, I never expected you to be someone who found themselves to be popular with kids.

l-lol

[darkcharge]

[ By the time she reaches Van and the kids, he's already trying to peel one of them off of his arm. He looks up at her, huffing. ]

It's not me that they want.

[ It's Sora. The kids seem to disagree, tugging more on Van's arm and telling him that he's being silly. The game isn't any fun if he keeps pretending to be someone else! ]

Re: l-lol

[roombamastermind]

Oh my. A case of mistaken identity? How intriguing.

[She's still not moving to help.]

Kor | Don't Touch the Puca

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas definitely notices when the Bond he shares with Sora feels off. They are so deeply connected and intertwined at this point that the slightest deviation from the norm feels weird. Unnatural. It isn't going to be missed.

The timing isn't going to be missed either. Whenever Sora is going to hand out with Kor. So obviously something must be happening, right? That's why he's on the hunt for the other.

Sora's bondmate or not, the other guy might have some things to answer for! ]

[spirialink]

[If Vanitas knows to look in the right spots, Kor proves to be rather easy to track down. In this case, looking for him at the Coven is a safe bet. Kor's been diligently attending his magic classes just like Vanitas demanded him to in order for their training to continue to be a thing. It's as he finishes up his classes for the day and is on his way home that he runs into Vanitas.]

Huh? Hey, Vanitas! What brings you here? We're not due for this week's training session already, are we?

[darkcharge]

[ It's not like Vanitas can teach Kor everything. Going to lessons is a critical part of understanding the intrinsic nature of this place's magic and where the source is. Even Van goes to classes. Occasionally. Less now. ]

This has nothing to do with the training session.

[ Hands on his hips. Vanitas isn't really looking to play right now. He's clearly frustrated. ]

What's going on with Sora.