[ And for his part, Vanitas has been struggling a lot. For so long has he denied the very things that Marie and Mira have been trying to get across to him. Things like kindness. Caring. These are not thins that Vanitas has ever had and frankly he doesn't know how to respond to them. People showing him these things is met with caution; Vanitas is defensive and careful. It is as though he is waiting for the shoe to fall or what the price is for being treated in this way.
But no one is asking anything of him. They care and worry. Then, at night, his thoughts begin to stray. Vanitas starts to wonder about whether or not he does deserve everything Marie says he does. Something close to hope begins to take root and it throws Vanitas so wildly that it sets him off, careening straight into a panic attack.
Maybe he shouldn't talk to her anymore. Marie is putting thoughts in his head that have no place there - because he doesn't want to hurt anymore. Physically or emotionally.
Yet here Vanitas is, showing up right when he is supposed to. Marie wants him here though he isn't quite sure why. There are a lot of things that Van doesn't understand about this. About her. About why she thinks to worry and concern herself with him. However Vanitas wants to understand her perspective. Maybe that's why he's here. ]
But no one is asking anything of him. They care and worry. Then, at night, his thoughts begin to stray. Vanitas starts to wonder about whether or not he does deserve everything Marie says he does. Something close to hope begins to take root and it throws Vanitas so wildly that it sets him off, careening straight into a panic attack.
Maybe he shouldn't talk to her anymore. Marie is putting thoughts in his head that have no place there - because he doesn't want to hurt anymore. Physically or emotionally.
Yet here Vanitas is, showing up right when he is supposed to. Marie wants him here though he isn't quite sure why. There are a lot of things that Van doesn't understand about this. About her. About why she thinks to worry and concern herself with him. However Vanitas wants to understand her perspective. Maybe that's why he's here. ]
[Edelgard was glad to have the opportunity to actually make friends. To get to know people outside of the toils that were statecraft, school, and warfare was something she had little time or opportunity for before arriving here in Aefenglom. Marie's presence, and her apparent interest in getting to know the Emperor was welcome, because she sensed that they had some things in common, and could likely learn from one another as well.
Arriving on time, precisely so, she makes her way into the tea house and settles across the table from the Queen with a small smile.]
Thank you for meeting up with me, Marie. It's good to see you again.
Arriving on time, precisely so, she makes her way into the tea house and settles across the table from the Queen with a small smile.]
Thank you for meeting up with me, Marie. It's good to see you again.
[ He is being taken care of, yes. Between gifts of scarves that he's been given - he's wearing one now - it also appears that Vanitas is wearing something that's not his dark suit nor his Organization coat. Instead he's wearing true clothes and a coat.
No hat or earmuffs, though. So many there's still something that he can be taught about bundling up. ]
I'm not cold, Marie. [ And really, he isn't. Though Vanitas does step inside and wait to be shown where to go. He has no idea how to "make himself at home." ] Why am I here?
No hat or earmuffs, though. So many there's still something that he can be taught about bundling up. ]
I'm not cold, Marie. [ And really, he isn't. Though Vanitas does step inside and wait to be shown where to go. He has no idea how to "make himself at home." ] Why am I here?
[The break in formality is appreciated and reciprocated. Hubert is not around, after all.]
My holidays have been well enough. I'm glad that you liked it.
[She's not saying the world has been sunshine and rainbows, but is it ever?]
Were your other gifts as well received? I should hope so.
My holidays have been well enough. I'm glad that you liked it.
[She's not saying the world has been sunshine and rainbows, but is it ever?]
Were your other gifts as well received? I should hope so.
[ Likely a combination of Mira and just Vanitas being observant and picking up on some social cues.
Then Marie speaks and Vanias gives her an odd look. Since when are they friends? He's pretty sure he's made it clear that he, Vanitas, doesn't do friends. Friends make you weak. They are a liability. ]
A friend...
Then Marie speaks and Vanias gives her an odd look. Since when are they friends? He's pretty sure he's made it clear that he, Vanitas, doesn't do friends. Friends make you weak. They are a liability. ]
A friend...
[Corrin was a bit late, as while she hadn't technically gotten lost she had gotten distracted a few times by things she had passed. Because she had the attention span of a mayfly half the time. STILL, She had made it!]
[She hesitated on the doorway for a moment. Knocking on strangers doors was still a bit weird to her, and she kept telling herself it was fine but part of her always thought it wasn't. Still, she'd come all this way and it was fine.Probably.]
[So finally she reached up and rapped her knuckles lightly on the door, leaning up on her bare tiptoes to peer through the window to see if she could see someone approaching.]
[She hesitated on the doorway for a moment. Knocking on strangers doors was still a bit weird to her, and she kept telling herself it was fine but part of her always thought it wasn't. Still, she'd come all this way and it was fine.
[So finally she reached up and rapped her knuckles lightly on the door, leaning up on her bare tiptoes to peer through the window to see if she could see someone approaching.]
[ How can he possibly have similar feelings? He doesn't even know what sort of feelings she is referring to! ]
I don't have friends.
[ Vanitas is far too guarded for that. ]
I don't have friends.
[ Vanitas is far too guarded for that. ]
Did you really...to...everyone?
[That's bold as fuck, Marie.]
My bonded are well, yes. Corrin is as irrepressibly cheery as ever. Hubert...though. He's well, but he's been a touch moody lately.
[That's bold as fuck, Marie.]
My bonded are well, yes. Corrin is as irrepressibly cheery as ever. Hubert...though. He's well, but he's been a touch moody lately.
Courting?
[ Too bad for Marie he has no idea what that word even means. Still, he rolls his eyes. Vanitas doesn't answer right away because... Well he doesn't really have an answer? ]
You're something I have yet to determine.
[ Too bad for Marie he has no idea what that word even means. Still, he rolls his eyes. Vanitas doesn't answer right away because... Well he doesn't really have an answer? ]
You're something I have yet to determine.
[ Marie, don’t say that. It may end up breaking his little brain. Because what does he know about things like friends? At what point do acquaintances become friends? ]
I don’t... Know?
[ What makes someone a friend? ]
I don’t... Know?
[ What makes someone a friend? ]
Ah...he's fine? I just...
[Well, Edelgard blushes, quite honestly. Turning quite a shade of pink.]
Actually that's something I wanted to talk to you about.
[Once they've settled down at a table, she goes on:]
...Were you afflicted by those strange weeds last month?
[Well, Edelgard blushes, quite honestly. Turning quite a shade of pink.]
Actually that's something I wanted to talk to you about.
[Once they've settled down at a table, she goes on:]
...Were you afflicted by those strange weeds last month?
Edited 2020-01-20 19:44 (UTC)
Aside from getting side-tracked a few times, it was pretty easy.
[She agreed with a bright smile even as she moved to follow her inside, red eyes scanning the house as she went.]
Oh, water would be fine.
[Her hands folded behind her back, bare toes curling against the floor as a faint sign of anxiety.]
You have a very nice home.
[That was the right thing to say, right? She was kind of new at...visiting.]
[She agreed with a bright smile even as she moved to follow her inside, red eyes scanning the house as she went.]
Oh, water would be fine.
[Her hands folded behind her back, bare toes curling against the floor as a faint sign of anxiety.]
You have a very nice home.
[That was the right thing to say, right? She was kind of new at...visiting.]

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