[Open] Come In From The Cold...

[inlikethebrume]

Who: House Darkness Residents and OPEN
When: All of February
Where: House Darkness in the Haven
What: It's an open log!
Warnings: Shadowbringers Spoilers in some threads possible, possible talk of the Snatched Event

[If anyone knows the residents of the house, it might seem strange that such a group have selected a cozy abode for their home in the city. However, it is not to be said that they are unwelcoming (depending on who) and usually when someone comes to visit, there's always a warm cup of tea ready for them...and maybe some food to go along with it. Feels like a crime if someone doesn't get fed. And despite the hardships of the previous month, the house does welcome guests for any particular reasons whether a visit for the soul, a chat to catch up on events, or even maybe go a few rounds with the poor striking dummy in the backyard.

When you live with sword users and have stress, it gets used, ok?

It might be chilly outside but strange enough, the house itself is pretty warm. Just mind the gaelkitten and Flood running around from time to time.]


((OOC: Feel free to make a top level if you wish! Open to all!))

Comments

[glitzandglamour]

For somebody with a pervasive air of disdainful annoyance... Any strong response is a good one. Oh, yes... It means you stir in him something deep and meaningful, obviously! Something personal.

[Sound logic, Mettaton. He seems to find this quite true, for he places his hands over the center of his chest as a be-still-my-beating-heart kind of gesture. Then he folds his hands together.]

People don't react so strongly in either direction unless they're invested, darling!!

[poisontippedcure]

[When Rose comes back from the expedition, she isn’t happy. Rose already feels like she has enough on her plate, between worrying about the Exarch, Tataru, Thancred, and the rest of them. She would at least think that Mira would have the sense to take care of herself!]

[But she doesn’t, and so Rose finds herself at the other house, tea kettle in hand. It isn’t hard to get in, not when she’s well-aquatinted with all the housemates. Between Irhya, Vanitas, and Emet, they’re all happy to let her go on her way.]

[She spots a book on the first floor and decides to take it with her. By all accounts, it’s probably Mira’s.]

[When Mira wakes up, she’ll see an angry looking Miqo’te standing over her, with a cup of tea and book in hand, and a frown on her face.]

You have some explaining to do.

[inlikethebrume]

Are you sure?

[Invested in her? Well possibly and it was that way back on the First but...that just means being invested. Not actual love.

She can say the personal connection but that is not her place to say. That's for Emet to disclose at his own time. For several big reasons.]

Let us say that he is invested in me. But for what reason would he given everything I have said?

[Did it...have something to do with that fleeting positive emotion before he was taken? Mira did feel that at least but love? She doesn't think him incapable given his words back at the Ladder about emotions and that he too has them.]

[oathkeeper]

[He remembers his brief stint of having to fight the occasional unversed and they were pretty hard to deal with sometimes. Fast and strong and he guesses that Vanitas used them for all sorts of useful things.]

They were a pain in the butt for me sometimes. [He gives Vanitas a sheepish look. Sorry for beating on Vanitas' unversed, anyway-] They are pretty strong and really fast.

[But he also remembers that Vanitas makes these creatures out of his negative emotions and that it wasn't always pleasant. And yet this Flood right here is so cute. And maybe just to take a jab at the way Vanitas makes a face at him Sora scoops up the Flood again and hugs it, cheek nuzzling it like it's a real rabbit.]

You're right, rabbits aren't so bad.

[darkcharge]

[ Yeah... Yeah, Sora he's just watching all that and it makes him so, so uncomfortable. Visibly uncomfortable ]

Put that thing down. You don't know where it's been.

[ But at the very least, Sora seems to somewhat understand what Vanitas is getting at. Each Monster type has their own unique talents and abilities. None of them are powerless and useless. It's just going to be on Sora to utilize those attributes and find out how they can best be useful. ]

And it's creeping me out. Between the old man treating it like a cat and Ventus saying it smells good...

[ He makes a face and shudders. ]

[oathkeeper]

[It's going to be a struggle for Sora to adjust to his newfound monster attributes but at least Vanitas is right about a few major things. Rabbits are fast and just because they're small and tend to jolt around they can be just as dangerous as any other wild animal. Those teeth and powerful legs aren't to be taken lightly.

And speaking of teeth Sora glances quickly at the bite mark that would be at Vanitas' shoulder and then to the cut he's left on Vanitas' lip and he frowns a little bit about it.

But anyway-]

Ven said it smells good?

[Ventus, what? He chuckles.]

But what's so bad about holding this guy? He's not attacking or anything. And he's not dirty.

[darkcharge]

He did. Ventus said it smelled "good and familiar." Whatever that means.

[ However he had also said that about Vanitas too. That he had smelled "familiar" and whatnot. Being a puppy and being given a sharper nose should not make him even more brazen and reckless than he already is. But here we are. Ventus saying these things where everyone could read it.

He shakes his head, turning his focus back to Sora and the Unversed. ]

It's weird. Under normal circumstances I would be able to feel it and with how it is right now, I can't. You're holding an extension of myself and the disconnect makes it weird.

[inlikethebrume]

[You are like the third angry person to visit her, Rose. While Mira feels like her fever has gone down a bit, her body has decided that more sleep was needed in the meantime. She didn't think anyone would try to visit her yet (she fears when Tataru comes) and seeing an angy miqo'te fae staring at her...yeah, it's awkward.]

That depends on what all you know already.

[Slowly shifting herself into a sitting position but leaning on her pillow. So who spilled?]

[unsundered]

[Well, at least the kid could react to something outside himself. Not that the Ascian was really one to talk when it came to wrapping himself up in his own misery.

He has to hum at Vanitas' actual response, though.]

You do know it's faster to just tell me what's happened that has you so wound up. Satisfy my curiosity and I'll leave you be, 'tis not a bad offer.

[oathkeeper]

I can't really say what Ven meant by saying that since he can't remember us but? Maybe because it reminded him of you? Or maybe it's because he's a puppy. It's probably both.

[Even if Ventus is in some weird spot in time maybe he can still recognize the other half of his heart. But Sora still thinks it's kind of funny Ventus associated a smell with Vanitas. He really is a puppy.

But then it really starts to dawn on Sora with what Vanitas says. He can usually feel what his unverse feel??? Sora makes a face and then suddenly holds the little one a little closer.]

Are you serious? Really? You can feel what they feel usually?

[Oh GOSH... NO.]

[darkcharge]

Probably both. He's sniffed both myself and the Flood out enough times that there's probably some lingering scent. Who knows.

[ Van shrugs. Other than it being super weird and somewhat creepy, it's harmless. And it, ultimately, is kind of meaningless.

Instead his gaze shifts to Sora's hands. How they hold the Flood tighter. ]

Anyway, yes, Sora. They are my emotions. Little fragments of myself. How could I not be able to feel them?

[darkcharge]

And invite you to mock me further?

[ Because let's face it. They both know that this is what is to happen. That and why would he want to admit to the Ascian that Vanitas actually doesn't want to be alone? That he hates the feeling of loneliness in general and he actually might have thought, for once, that he didn't have to be?

Yeah, Emet-Selch probably would belittle him for being naive or foolish. ]

I'll pass.

[unsundered]

Only if you've done something worthy of mockery. Have you?

[Almost anything could be mocked, especially the things that shouldn't be. So yes, Vanitas' instincts were quite apt.]

[darkcharge]

Whether I did or I didn't, you'll find fault in something.

[ Especially since Vanitas had opened himself up to this. Oh he knows. He knows very well. ]

[unsundered]

Oh, almost certainly.

[Lightly, friendly as anything.]

But it must've been pretty foolish for you to be this reticent.

[darkcharge]

Right. So go bother someone else that will actually entertain you. I'm not in the mood for it.

[ HUFF HUFF HUFF. Go away. He doesn't feel like talking to the old man who will just make him feel worse. ]

[unsundered]

No, I doubt you're in the mood for much of anything right now.

[The Ascian doesn't seem to be budging. He'll get bored of this eventually, but for the moment he looks amused enough, still leaning heavily against the doorframe, favoring his still-healing leg.]

I could start guessing. I'm sure I can hit on something relevant if I tried.

[darkcharge]

So glad you noticed.

[ There's bite to his words, not that Emet-Selch will necessarily heed that. Van can practically see the amusement in his eyes.

But he can totally wait out the Ascian, right? ]

[unsundered]

Let's see... you went on that recent trip out of the city, didn't you? It must've happened out there, considering you've been sulking away ever since you returned.

[He notes that bite, and ignores it. Technically he's playing with fire a bit here; Vanitas knows enough about him to hurt, if he wanted. It's not enough to stop the Ascian, though.]

You're the type to react more strongly to people than events. Which means whatever occurred involves someone who was also on the trip. Some manner of interpersonal drama.

[darkcharge]

[ That's the real problem here though: they both know enough about each other to make those comments that cut to the core. Probably even more so now than several months ago and that incident hadn't been pleasant for either one of them. ]

Wow. Great job, Detective Hades. Figure that all out on your own, you did. I'm so impressed.

[unsundered]

[This was probably not the best time to warn off Vanitas from using his name (not that he particularly liked being called old man either, but), and it gets more of a frown than the sarcasm does. The sarcasm he expected, and was easy enough to ignore as he continues, as though Van hadn't said anything at all.]

Now who was with you that could have such an effect? Mira was here, I know that much. The other most likely candidates are those from your own world, I think. I don't know who else was on your holiday, but... I'd wager on it either being Ventus again, or your Bondmate.

[darkcharge]

[ Truth is, Vanitas has sort of picked up on the fact that he shouldn't use the name "Hades" in reference to the Ascian. It's personal and he gets that. Had he not been in such a foul mood, he probably wouldn't be using it. But this is Vanitas and he tends to use words as weapons, doesn't he?

All of these things he's saying are pretty easy to figure out. The amount of people that can actually work him up to this degree are few and far between. Literally it is those in this house - maybe Marie - and then a select few from his "world." ]

Gee, I don't know. Why don't you run off and start asking them?

[unsundered]

[It's not a terribly hard thing to narrow down, he's aware. But who knows, maybe he'll get a reaction in the process that'll give something away. Or the insults will get progressively more personal. Or he'll lose interest and wander off.

Vanitas' comment gets a mildly surprised look, though.]

Would you really prefer that...? I'm sure if I let them know you're unwell and asking for them, they'll come running. You'll probably bore me into leaving eventually, but you'll have a harder time untangling either of them.

[darkcharge]

[ Oh does the old man have a point there and it shows. Van's expression sours. Ventus would probably be clingy. Though Vanitas is fairly certain that Sora will just not have anything to do with this. After all, he had run away. ]

Back off. I don't recall pestering you with all the details of your capture. But maybe...

[ Welp. ]

So tell me. What was that like? Sitting there, broken and helpless? Powerless to do anything to stop those people from hurting you over and over again?

[unsundered]

[Just because he knows Vanitas is lashing out because that's what he does in this sort of situation doesn't mean his words don't land. Don't serve as a reminder for things he couldn't forget.

But Emet-Selch also knows that reaction means he's getting closer to something. But which one? It's just an instinct, but--]

Is it problems with your Bonded then...? You seemed to be getting on so well to start, but I suppose the shine has wore off. Did he give up on you as well?

[Completely ignoring Vanitas' commentary. That he's replying like this at all is likely clear enough of an answer, tone all condescendingly concerned.]

After all, he hasn't turned up to check on you in all this time. Don't tell me you expected anything else.