[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

[darkcharge]

[ Just the reaction he had hoped for. Despite his smirky grin, Van shrugs. ]

How could I know? What memories of whatever mother I had are long gone.

[ Now... ]

Maybe you should ask your husband.

[inlikethebrume]

My-?! What?!

[Oh Halone, strike her down as she buries her face in her hands.]

We're not-!

[darkcharge]

[ Kufufufu. This is kind of great. ]

Oh you're telling me you have no feelings for the Ascian at all, Mira?

[inlikethebrume]

[DAMMIT VANI! But that's the question wasn't it. She admitted to Emet that she does care about him but just didn't know how to describe it. And then before the kidnappings where she had felt for a brief moment, something positive from his side of their Bond and what came next.

And then when they happened, it was painful about the Bond being smothered. Why though?]

Of course I do! I even told him that I care about him!

[Those are feelings, right?]

[darkcharge]

That sounds like someone who isn't entirely certain of the depth of "care."

[ ANOTHER SHRUG. ]

But then again what do I know about caring and all that stuff? The guardians of Light also go through some pretty extreme things to protect those that they "care" about.

[inlikethebrume]

You came after him too, didn't you? Does that not count?

[She honestly hasn't thought about the depth, she just assumed caring was caring.]

[darkcharge]

[ Now don't go and turn this back on him. ]

That's what allies are supposed to do, right?

[inlikethebrume]

[Too late.]

That is what is supposed to happen, aye. But sometimes allies do nothing at all.

[darkcharge]

Now that I know a thing or two about.

[ The Organization was filled with people like that. ]

[inlikethebrume]

[Oof. Mira can't help but move in and pat him gently on the shoulder.]

My apologies. 'Twas not my intent.

[darkcharge]

[ He waves it off. He knows that hadn't really been her intention. ]

I know. Let's just say that the Organization didn't really care about individuals other than themselves. Not in the end, anyway.

[inlikethebrume]

This Organization sounds pleasant.

[Maybe enough to punch.]

[darkcharge]

About as pleasant as turning into a sin eater, I would imagine.

[ Van gives Mira a look for that. Then shifts his gaze off to the side. ]

Save for Master Xehanort, the rest of us didn't matter. Those from the past that lost their battles would return to the past. Any from the present would simply fade away... Maybe they'd be recompleted and maybe they wouldn't be.

[ He frowns. ]

By this time I understood that I wouldn't have my other half returned to me. So what difference did it make if I won or lost? Either way my fragment to complete the ultimate Keyblade would be created. So, really, fading away into nonexistence wasn't a horrible alternative.

[ Now Mira might understand what Sora had meant when he had asked her if Vanitas had been saying crazy things. ]

[inlikethebrume]

[She would answer to his idea of fading away to not be so bad if it wasn't due to the fact that Vani mentions the sin eater part. The fact that she never had spoken about her potential descent to becoming the most powerful Lightwarden to anyone makes her worried. Who told him? And by the look he gives her, she knew somehow that it wasn't a general idea but specific.]

How...how did you learn about that?

[darkcharge]

[ Actually, Mira can continue to focus on this line of conversation for as long as she wants. ]

Mira... Who don't I have contact with from your star? Or other versions from your star. Naturally someone was going to let it slip.

[inlikethebrume]

[She didn't think much on it back then because there was too much going on. And now that moons have seemed to pass, Mira can't help but let it set in. What it was, how it came to be and what it meant. And it stings.]

Then you know what happened, yes?

[darkcharge]

[ Okay so maybe there is the tiniest bit of guilt that tugs on his heart. Just a tiny bit. Nothing major. ]

Not really. The extent of what I can figure is that, somehow, you must have taken in some of this corrupted Light aether. You didn't turn into a sin eater in the end, so you must have found a solution to the problem.

Yeah, we going with Big ShB Spoilers

[inlikethebrume]

...a lot of it.

[It's quiet as she hangs her head, folding her hands in her lap.]

I took in a lot of it. Because I was told that I was the only one who could and yet was never told of the effects, what was slowly happening to me as I took in more. To save a world almost lost to the brink but at what cost to me? I was not told of a plan that would possibly sacrifice another while I was kept unaware until it was about to happen.

I truly hate noble sacrifices. There's nothing noble about them, just a way to make people feel better about death.

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas listens, of course. Out of many things, listening is what he does best. No, he can't imagine that Mira would be okay with people putting themselves out there for her sake.

He slides the pillow back to her. Unsure of what else he could do. Of what he should do. ]

If you had known about this plan in full, would it have made a difference?

[inlikethebrume]

[Thanks son, the pillow helps to hold onto.]

Possibly. At least there would have been a chance to try and come up with something better than what happened.

[And a few good smacks to the head.]

[darkcharge]

Do you think that it could have been done another way?

[ He's curious. ]

What was the point in taking in all that aether?

[inlikethebrume]

Perhaps. But it will never be known now.

[What would have changed if she had asked? Would it happen? Would a fate be different?]

Where I was before coming here...there was an imbalance between Light and Dark Aether. Too much that a great flood occurred and there became an everlasting light in the sky for nearly a hundred years. The imbalance was dangerous, to the point that if left unchecked would have destroyed the star.

[Cause a Calamity, help the ascians with Rejoining.]

We did not know what would happen when faced with a strong sin eater, called a Lightwarden, until I had defeated one and absorbed their aether. It was because of this that the night sky in certain areas was able to return. And yet there was no more said nor what would happen once I had gathered all the Lightwarden's aether. Everyone believed I could hold it in, be strong enough to do so given my title and yet...

[She couldn't in the end. It was a horrible feeling as if she let everyone down because of her limits.]

[darkcharge]

On this Shard, I take it...

[ Look, he does talk to an awfully lot of people from Mira's world, alternate timeline or otherwise. Now he really is starting to get the full picture of what these "Warriors of Light" had actually been up to. ]

Honestly, Mira? That sounds like their problem and not yours. [ Since he knows where she is going with this. ] Was no more said because they didn't know? Did they not do enough research and just assume crap? Did they even give you time to adjust or did they just move onto the next without considering what it was doing to you?

[inlikethebrume]

I...I don't know. I was not told nor did I catch anything from my Echo that showed if another way was explored.

[Oh right, the Echo. Should explain that.]

The Echo is an ability I have that I cannot access to my knowledge here; with it, I can 'hear the whispers of the soul' by means of seeing into their memories. But it happens at random times and could not be controlled. It was one of these times that I heard the idea but no others were suggested. In fact...I daresay it seems that one was rather manipulated into secrecy.

[Like seriously, Urianger. You let a twink twist your arm like that.]

I can understand the means to protect but...it does not feel like it now. What was the purpose of keeping it hidden? To not worry? The faith that the famed Warrior of Light and Darkness can handle anything? That I'm unbeatable?

[One of them who did this is on the path of understanding her, to try and know the woman beyond the title and for that she is grateful...but this is the first time Mira has to confront it. That she can look at it and wonder if her answers were right looking back.

"No more lies."

She had told the other upon learning of his involvement. And she meant it then.]

I had a couple days rest I believe from each Lightwarden battle. Forced to but nonetheless. We were on a time limit.

[But was it enough?]

[darkcharge]

[ All that Echo nonsense... Well Vanitas doesn't know what to make of that. He doesn't really warm up to the idea that someone could look into his memories. There are things there that are better forgotten. Chances are Mira couldn't see his missing ones anyway, right? So the only ones there would be his failures and all of the things he's been through up to this point. ]

Were you really on a time limit? A hundred years had passed and it's not like the Shard fell during that time. Even absorbing one or two would stave off the problem, right? It would have at least increased the time in which you had to address the matter.

[ Vanitas really doesn't know what's gotten into him or why he's so mad about this. People that are supposed to be friends aren't supposed to do this, right? Really he should just be laughing it off because it just proves his point about friendships in general.

Maybe it's just all these people finally rubbing off on him. Who knows. Whatever the case, Vanitas finds himself taking her hands in his, turning on the bed so that he can face Mira. ]

People only think that they are sparing you some pain when they keep the truth from you. The reality is, more often than not, they are too afraid to face it themselves or it's because there's something inside of them that enjoys their silent suffering and sacrifice. They don't even see that they are, really, shutting you out and alienating you.

[ He snorts, squeezing her hands a little ]

You're the hero and in this you're no different than that brat Sora. You give and give and give and people just expect it from you now because are you really going to tell them no? Your value is more than just being the Warrior of Whatever Element but that's something you've got to enforce too because you're only one person and you can't take it all on your shoulders.

[ Vanitas raises a brow as he asks his next question and really, he isn't doing it to mock her. ]

Or have you forgotten who you are beneath that lofty title?