[ open ] If you do what you always did...

[darkcharge]

Who: Vanitas + Open
When: Throughout Mareuer
Where: All around
What: Quest Prompts and semi-open prompts
Warnings: Mentions of last month's event


( Scarring ) - open to close CR ; Beginning of month

[ For the first week after Vanitas had returned home, he really hadn't left bed much. His body had been healing and recovering from the events of the previous month. He hadn't felt much up to doing anything or talking to anyone. There had been a lot that Vanitas had been dealing with internally as well. He had been beating himself up for being too weak and for allowing his guard to drop. Blamed himself for his circumstances and busted wrist. Screaming and having fits in the middle of the night to the point where he'd try to slip away and try to find a place where the voices aren't so loud.

The following few weeks are better, but not by much. Vanitas still hasn't been sleeping well, but he is roaming about the house. Maybe he makes it to the front porch and around the yard, but that's where he stops. For now. If anyone asks, he snaps at them. Vanitas may very well pretend that nothing is wrong and everything is fine. He's defensive, closer to how he had been a year ago. It makes him sick, but he can't stop himself from lashing out a bit.

Because he's fine. He should be fine. So why isn't he? ]


( Gerard's Gardening )

[ Now after about a week into the month, Vanitas can't stand it any more. He doesn't need to be treated with care so he's going to show people that he's fine and that they need to pay attention to themselves and not worry about what he's doing.

Which leads him to where he is right now, planting some seeds. It's a task he's actually done a lot since he's been here and is more familiar with plants than he cares to be sometimes. Anyone watching for a lesson might see - ]

I'll show you how it's done. The right way.

[ Which means Vanitas digging his fingers into the soil. Sprouts magically rise from the flower bed and begin to bloom. He pulls back soon after. ]

Anything more than that and you'll kill them.

[ He's totally done this before. ]


( Birds of a Feathered Cap )

[ Sure, one could probably look for feathers in the city but everyone's going to be doing that, right? Hence Vanitas can be found right outside the wall. It's likely an odd sight, seeing him pace around the area - checking out vegetation and even going so far as to climbing some trees. Looking for nests, of course. They're bound to have feathers as well. ]

You can get lost. I can handle it.

[ This is his job. He doesn't need your help ]


( Curiouser Cats )

How often do these Chimeras run off... I swear there was another incident like this.

[ He's mostly grumbling to himself. This brat's run off and whatever. Vanitas is pretty sure he can track the child down. Without help. Though if pressed he'll motion to the Flood at his side and say that this is all he needs. It's like he's trying to prove to someone - mainly himself - that he's not weak. That Vanitas is still the same as he had been.

Hopefully he won't go out there and get overwhelmed by the Caitagàire.

Even so, he's pushing on - with or without you - into the woods proper with his Keyblade strapped onto his back. ]

Need a bell or something on these kids.


( Wildcard )

[ You know what to do. If you want to plot just hit me up on plurk at jardaan! ]

Comments

Gardening

[twilightskey]

[It takes time for Roxas to get out and about as well; while he doesn't have as many injuries as Vanitas does (sporting little more than a few bandages and a couple notches in his ear), he was still dealing with his own unseen injuries. But the days where he feels stable enough? He does go out to do some simple, less intense quests. Like planting seeds. It's a simple, quiet task. Something Roxas can focus on without his mind wandering to dangerous places.]

[At least, until Vanitas suddenly comes over. Perhaps Roxas was a bit too focused, because when Vanitas reaches over, it shocks Roxas enough to make him visibly flinch away, ears flattening as he bares his teeth. But the growl that's about to form in his throat dies when he realizes who it is.]

A-Ah... sorry...

[He backs up a bit, giving Vanitas more room to work.]

[darkcharge]

[ Van sees the flinch. Doesn't comment on it. He's doing the same things still from time to time. However he's just determined to get over it. Not the healthiest of ways to deal, but it's really the only way that he knows how. ]

You're not a meek little puppy, Roxas.

[ Don't apologize to him. ]

[twilightskey]

[Roxas looks up at Vanitas, briefly surprised by the answer, before he looks back down at the plants in front of him.]

...I know.

[He knows. He's been through tough trials before. He's been told by those who've been helping him recover that he's not weak. That he's got strength for dealign with such a horrible experience.]

[So then why is he still jumping at shadows? Snapping at anyone who gets close?]

[He frowns, and focuses on the seeds instead. Planting seeds is easy. He's planted plenty of seeds before. He plants a few seeds before hazarding a look up at Vanitas again.]

...your arm looks better.

[darkcharge]

[ Roxas is doing it for the same reason that Vanitas doesn't really sleep at night. Same reason he screams and wails and lashes out. ]

I don't think you do know.

[ He snorts, breezing by the change of topic. ]

You know what I thought made you more tolerable than some of the others, Roxas?

[twilightskey]

...huh?

[Roxas looks up, surprised by the sudden question.]

What’s that?

[darkcharge]

The fact that you actually had a spine.

[ Ventus is so soft. So squishy. All about good positive emotions and not letting things drag him down. Roxas isn't this way. ]

You actually get angry. You have a fire that he doesn't. So where is it right now?

[twilightskey]

[Vanitas’s words make Roxas flinch, but not in fear. He grits his teeth and looks away, but his ears angle to the sides, more in irritation than fear.]

You think I’m not angry?

[For a couple beats he doesn’t respond further, focusing on the plants as he gathers his words. It’s a couple minutes later before he elaborates.]

I hate that I’m like this. Jumping at shadows, having nightmares almost every night, snarling whenever someone gets close to me... this isn’t who I am. I know I’m stronger than this! But being forced into experiments, and having that magic on me... actually feeling like I was going to die...

I’ve never felt that powerless. Even when I was trapped in that fake Twilight Town, I at least felt like I could fight back. But in those cages... I really felt like I was going to turn out like those foxes.

[He briefly pauses to take a breath, his claws digging into the dirt.]

I want to fight past this, but I don’t know how. The people who did this are gone. What am I supposed to do? Get mad at the ones helping me?

[darkcharge]

[ Talking more fire and less anger, but hey. Will take what can be gotten instead of seeing sulky jumpy doggy boy.

It's not that Vanitas doesn't understand Roxas' perspective. He does. It's the exact same way that he had felt.

He clicks his tongue for a moment. ]

Fight me.

[twilightskey]

[The sudden, blatant answer is enough to make Roxas turn to look at Vanitas, surprise on his face.]

Fight you? But why?

[darkcharge]

You'll find out why after. Come on.

[ Motioning away from all the plants. ]

Let's go.

[twilightskey]

...alright.

[Roxas frowns in confusion, but at Vanitas's urging, he stands up and brushes his hands clean before following him.]

[darkcharge]

[ Good. Because he had been about to grab Roxas by the ear or tail or something. Anything to get his attention.

Now when they are a good distance away, Vanitas stretches. Then he makes a few sparks of lightning flash around his hands. ]

Come at me, Roxas. Give me all you got.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas follows after Vanitas (without any tugging, thank you), and perks up in surprise at the lighting around his hands. He frowns at Vanitas.]


You still haven't told me why we're doing this.

[But he has a feeling that by "after", Vanitas meant after their fight. So he gets into a ready stance, claws flexing briefly before he lunges at Vanitas.]

[darkcharge]

Because you're weak and need to shape up!

[ Now to get Roxas really angry. What will it take for him to actually snap and go after Vanitas with intent? ]

You got captured right? [ Vanitas dodges the initial lunge, spraying Roxas with a blast of water magic. Not taking him seriously! ] Isn't it because you're utterly useless? Just a dog that can only chase it's tail?

[twilightskey]

Hey!

[Roxas yelps as the water splashes him, making him falter and shake his head to get the water out of his hair and fur. He turns back to Vanitas, frowning.]

That's... that's not true!

[He tries again, lunging at Vanitas again.]

[darkcharge]

[ Good. Get mad or upset. ]

It is!

[ And it's a very good thing that Vanitas is quick. Because he dodges that blow and uses a gust of wind to blow Roxas a couple of inches away. ]

How else is it that you got caught? Did they get lucky? Or are you just that useless without your Keyblade?

[twilightskey]

[That gust of wind is enough to make Roxas stumble, almost losing his footing. He manages to remain upright, but he turns to Vanitas, ears angling to the sides as a growl rumbles in his throat.]

I'm not useless..! They just--!

[He grits his teeth, briefly glancing down and clenching his fists. He had been caught unawares, yes, and he regrets not realizing he was being followed. That didn't mean he was useless...]

[darkcharge]

[ The best or worst part is that Vanitas isn't even really trying. He's not giving it is all or using his more dangerous spells. Everything right now is defensive. Blocking. Evading. ]

They just what, Roxas? You have a nose don't you? Why didn't you sniff them out? Did you just stand there and take it? Like you're doing right now? Just give up?

[twilightskey]

[Roxas's fur bristles even more, and his growl increases in intensity.]

No! They surprised me, okay?! I wasn't paying attention and they surprised me!

[darkcharge]

You weren't paying attention...

[ This time Vanitas launches a dark fireball right towards Roxas. Is he paying attention to that? ]

What a weak excuse!

[twilightskey]

[The fireball makes Roxas gasp, and he manages to dodge it... but just barely. He grips his hands into fists, his entire body trembling with rage and shame.]

It's not an excuse, I know! I messed up! And because I messed up, I...

[He was taken. And Vanitas was taken. And he couldn't actually fight against the Circle at all.]

[darkcharge]

You screwed up. Now you're paying the price and finding out just how useless you really are here...

[ Come on, Roxas. Have a go... Get mad. Attack. Release all that pent up energy! ]

Didn't try too hard to escape either from what I recall. Did you enjoy being placed in another cage? Did it feel like home to you?

[twilightskey]

[Roxas closes his eyes, his growling increasing as Vanitas speaks. He wasn't useless here, he knows that! But... he couldn't fight back against the Circle. He couldn't do anything while he was there. He really did feel useless while he was there.]

No... I'm not...

[But that was the core of his problems, wasn't it? He hadn't been strong enough. Without his Keyblades, he couldn't fight back. Without his magic, he couldn't fight back.]

[Why couldn't he fight back then?]

[Why can't he fight back now??]

[He wants to fight back so much. He's better than this. Stronger than this.]

[He's better than this.]

[His frustrations over his lack of power, lack of autonomy had been the kindling. Vanitas's words up until now had been adding gasoline to the kindling. And his words about being in a cage? That's the spark that makes Roxas's eyes snap open, glaring at Vanitas with a fury he hadn't exhibited in a long time.]

Shut up!!!

[He half-shouts, half-snarls the words, and when he lunges, claws flexed and fangs bared, he aims for the throat.]