middaeg | Nov Catch-All

Nov Catch-All

Who: Vanitas + Open
When: All throughout November
Where: Various
What: There are some open prompts and also some closed ones in comments. I can write individual starts for anyone who would be interested in threading something out.
Warnings: None, yet

( Magic Practice: All Month )

[ Vanitas has always excelled when it comes to magic. His elemental spellwork has always been top notch. Thus it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's taken to evocation and enchantment as his main fields of "study." Yes, he actually attends classes. Though usually Vanitas tends to stick towards the back, hood always drawn up to keep his face hidden. He doesn't openly question or mock instruction, though his body language always says he's disinterested.

There are moments where he is also found in the library, perusing over textbooks and reading theories. Vanitas also carries around paper that he's scribbling notes in.

Otherwise, he spends his time in the barracks, actually practicing. Be careful, though. There's plenty of fireballs flying to hit the intended target. The air is charged with electricity. And one only mildly irritated Vanitas complaining about how it's just not good enough. ]

( Incompatible: All Month )

[ There is, however, magic that Vanitas has never been taught. Either Xehanort had never bothered or the opportunity never really revealed itself. He's sitting down, out of the way, as he's pulling up the sleeve of his coat. There's a fresh burn there, probably from some earlier practice gone wrong - magic gone awry. ]

Sloppy...

[ He is irritated with himself. His hand hovers over the burn and he takes a deep, focusing breath. Sure enough, the soft glow of a very basic healing spell makes itself known... For three seconds before it just fizzles out. The result is a very, very agitated Vanitas that knocks over anything on the table instead. ]

Why won't it work!?

( Coven Grounds: All Month )

[ He pays very little mind to anyone as he comes and goes about the Coven. They aren't important enough to even catch his notice. However, every once and while one of the unbonded monsters sees him and sees fit to approach him. He throws up a hand and keeps walking. Every time. ]

Not interested.

[ Sometimes this exchange is witnessed by someone else. A witch. Another monster. Maybe someone bonded maybe someone that isn't. Either way they see fit to interject themselves, trying to tell him about the benefits to being bonded to another. Why he should consider it, because in the end it's unavoidable right?

Vanitas is, as always, disinterested. He couldn't care less about these bonds. How can he want something that is just a mockery of what he should have? ]

Why is it you can't get through your little heads that maybe some people are fine the way they are? No, I don't care what you have to say. I don't want it. So back off before I give you a reason to stay away.

[ He'll follow through with the threat, of course. ]

( Unfamiliar Familiars: After Nov 20 )

[ In the past, Vanitas has never bothered to keep track of his Unversed. He's never had to, being connected to them in such a way that he knows where they are at all times. After all, they are a part of him, his broken off emotions. Their entire purpose is to go out and collect more negative energy, whether through natural means or by creating it themselves.

This is why he doesn't keep the lone little Flood by his side. It's free to do as its pleases. The connection is different now, the creature no longer able to replicate or perform its intended functions. However that's not going to stop it for what its nature is.

The item in your hand that you're thinking about buying? Maybe that piece of food that you're about ready to take a bite out of? One moment it's there and the next it's being snatched up by this blue rabbit-looking thing and taking off. Or maybe the Flood is seen scurrying along the streets, pausing only to scare a small child or a baby in a stroller before going about its business once more. ]

( Wildcard )

[ Of course, there is always the option to just do whatever your heart wants if no other prompts inspire. Alternatively, I can write a starter for you or you can get in touch with me at

jardaan if you want to do something. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Of course I know it's not that easy. [ Aqua frowns. ] ... It took Terra and I years to learn to calm our hearts.

But, they're your monsters. They did your bidding back in other worlds. ... I don't know how that Unversed is here, but now that it is - I won't let it hurt the people here.

Now that isn't very fair at all! Comparatively speaking, Aqua, you've hurt more people here than I or this little beast has. Pot calling kettle much?

[ Once again it simply blows his mind that he hasn't been the aggressor in any situation. He hasn't attacked unless struck at first. Yet their first reaction, every time, is to resort to some kind of violence! ]

Maybe you should go back to practicing those "heart calming" techniques.

[ Her eyes widen at that, guilt evident in her expression before she looks to him defiantly. ]

That isn't the same and you know it.

Isn't it, though? I can't control the Flood so it's simply acting on its nature. Suddenly you've found yourself with traits and instincts you can't fully control so you're simply acting on your newfound nature.

[ He shrugs and waves her off. ]

The difference is that you are sentient. You can make choices. The Flood is only a fragment of a greater whole. It can't make any choices against what it is.

No. I may have changed, but I'm still myself. What happened during that night made everyone feral.

[ But, now that she's like this - she needs to find a bond more now than ever. ]

[ Oh really... Vanitas looks at her again with the same look as before. He really is, honestly, tired of this stupid conversation. ]

You don't think it's been influencing you already? I didn't start anything at the little party. Who was that again? Oh, right. That was you. I didn't interrupt your study time with threats. That, again, was you.

[ He snorts. ]

Get over yourself, Aqua. This was fun at first, but now it's just pathetic and I don't have the time nor energy to deal with this nonsense.

[ She reaches then, taking that book from Vanitas. ]

You could have refused. You knew it was me. I offered to help you, and you did nothing but mock in response.

Find a way to control your Flood, or I'll put a stop to it myself. That's all.

I suppose you'll remember it however you see fit to. Far be it from me to try to correct something you've already decided is reality.

[ He hadn't actually mocked her. Vanitas had, for once, explained things. But, he supposes, this is what he gets for allowing one moment of vulnerability. It had been stupid of him to allow the magic in the air to sway him so.

But whatever. It doesn't matter and it never has. It never will. How could he ever accept help from people that are so blind. Aqua can keep the book. Vanitas has already checked out, mentally and now physically as he starts to head out. ]

Do what you want. I don't care.

Edited 2019-11-12 05:52 (UTC)

[ She doesn't miss the resigned tone in his voice. It's enough for her to stop, her wings folding against her back. ]

... I don't understand you at all. Why did you tell me all of those things, knowing who I was?

Isn't it obvious? You asked without your stupid prejudices. I may twist the truth at times or paint it in a light to provoke... But I never lie.

You're wrong. Darkness isn't evil. It's people who manipulate darkness for their own goals that are evil.

Darkness is a part of Terra's heart. ... And it's a part of mine now, too.

But you. You've caused so much trouble for others back in other worlds.

[ She stops, looking away. ]

... But, no one deserves the way that Master Xehanort treated you.

[ And again, the point is missed. Vanitas wonders why she could ever think that he would accept her help. Daily reminders that he is evil? Yeah, she really hadn't understood anything that he had said. Of course Vanitas had predicted that too.

While he's almost surprised that she'd speak about the matter of Xehanort, he's also not. Vanitas hadn't said it for guilt or pity. ]

I am what I am because of him. Without that I wouldn't even be here.

[ He'd still be that pitiful creature, wailing about his other half without any purpose or reason to exist. ]

[ She wasn't calling him evil, mind you. It was Xehanort. ]

Are you really alright with what he's done?

[ He reached out to her. She can't just ignore that. ]

You opened up to me. If you didn't want help, you wouldn't have done that.

It doesn't matter if I am "alright" with it or not. In the end I chose to pursue the option that was given to me. I accept that.

[ Besides. He wasn't a person just a thing. A weapon. A tool. Something to be used and discarded. And Vanitas doesn't know any other way to be. Doesn't know how messed up it really is and he doesn't entertain the idea because Vanitas refuses to be some weak victim. ]

I spoke to you because I thought that it wouldn't matter if I did or if I didn't. Whatever I said would be discarded the moment you saw who it was behind the mask. And, of course, I wasn't entirely wrong.

It matters. You're just as human as Ven is. .... Anyone who treats someone lower than that is nothing but cruel.

[ They're a part of each other. Of course she thinks that. ]

... Did you really expect me to be alright with what you've done? [ It isn't just because of the fact that she was deceived. She feels like she was played with. ... And she felt like a fool.

She hasn't forgotten the way her heart jumped. How could she not be embarrassed that it had partly been a joke to him? ]

You keep asking me that and my response hasn't changed. Do I expect you to "be alright?" No. I don't really have any expectations. What I know is that I did what I had to and I am not slightly apologetic for it.

[ Vanias puts his hand on his hip. He doesn't seek forgiveness. In fact he doesn't really long for acceptance either. What Vanitas had thought was that maybe she wouldn't forgive - not that he needs her to - but that she'd at least come to understand.

But she doesn't. She never will. Even though she had been stuck in the Realm of Darkness, Aqua just doesn't understand his level of desperation ]

As for the rest, it's funny to hear you say that now, but you've always thought of me as less than human haven't you? Even in these moments, before fully having the answers about the situation you took my book. Disturbed my studying. Demanded that I control something that I have no power over. Then you even went so far as to threaten. Do you really expect me to take any hand that you offer?

I meant the Masquerade. You're surprised I'm angry, but you deceived me. You--

[ She stops herself there, her eyes narrowing. ]

You can't expect me to stand by and allow your Unversed to harm others.

Did I really deceive you? You asked me to reveal yourself at the end and I did. I even asked you if you were sure you'd want to dance with someone that you wasn't sure if you knew or not. I don't recall saying that I didn't know who you were.

[ But he isn't surprised she's angry either. Hadn't he said he had been sort of counting on it? ]

You weren't acting like yourself at all. I couldn't have known it was you.

Watch it. You don't know me enough to make that sort of statement.

The word gentleman isn't something that exactly describes you.

No, and I wouldn't ever say that it does. But that doesn't mean you get to run your mouth off as if you have some personal, intimate knowledge about my person either.

... You're right. There's so much about you that I don't understand. I didn't realize.

Hold on. Let me get something to record that with. It might be a needed comfort object to help me sleep at night.

[ Really? She looks away from him. ]

You say that you're different than what I assume, but you're also proving me right.

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