middaeg | [Open] Come In From The Cold...

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[Open] Come In From The Cold...

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!))

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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.

[ 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.

[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.

[ 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?

[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.

[ 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?

[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.

[ No reaction. At least no visible reaction. What the heck, old man. Van practically growls, expression darkening.

Getting on "so well" might be a stretch, but things were amiable enough. There had been something like hope there. ]

Coming from the guy whose on people turned on him? I don't think you have any room to talk. Even your attempt at coming to an understanding failed. Don't tell me you expected anything else.

[A narrowed expression, fingers digging into his palms, though his tone remains even.]

He seemed pretty convinced too, that dark and light could work together. I suppose you showed him what nonsense that was....

[Of course there was no hope, Van. There never had been.]

Once he knew who you really were, that was the end of it, I'd wager. Better to learn it now, than before you got too attached to some dream of something better.

[A hint of bleakness; the only acknowledgement of Vanitas' words.]

We both know that's beyond us.

[ Ah... When had the old man actually met Sora? Van doesn't entirely know. But dark and light could work together? Yeah, definitely sounds like something Sora would say.

But man. Is nothing going to make the Ascian leave it alone? Not even that dig gets more than Emet-Selch curling his fists tighter. There's no explosive reaction like he had wanted from that.

Van gets progressively angrier for it too. He doesn't need someone to tell him all these things he's been telling himself. Vanitas had already known it, but had allowed some attachment and now this... Even though he had known better. And really, there's another comment on the tip of his tongue, but then Emet-Selch says that right at the end. Us. ]

...I know.

[ To which, he just sort of deflates, whatever anger he had bleeding from his features. ]

[When that anger just... fades, the Ascian falls silent in turn, losing the rest of that impulse to lash out at him.

He supposes he... sort of found out what was wrong with Vanitas. Some manner of falling out with Sora? Emet-Selch isn't sure why he feels almost- offended at that. The kid had seemed so certain about taking a third option when he'd spoken to him; had it been nothing but words, as he'd suspected?

And as always, it was those of the dark left to suffer for it. For daring to believe, if only for a little while--]

...'Tis an insidious feeling. You would think we'd know better by now than to give it any purchase.

[And yet.]

[ Emet-Selch has, indeed, found out what has been bothering Vanitas so. Despite the fact that Sora had run away, leaving him there, out of of his own sense of shame, Vanitas still feels as though a back has been turned on him. He's all but been tuning out as much of the bond as possible. Hadn't bothered to heal his own face because they are reminders of his own foolishness.

Of believing in anything. ]

Why is that though? Why do we have to settle for that? Is this all that it ever really will be?

[ He huffs, already bracing himself for whatever mocking the Ascian is likely to give to him. ]

I should have known better. Don't know why I thought otherwise.

[Emet-Selch is reminded a bit of when he'd had his own falling out with Irhya and Mira. The same thought: I should have known better.

It had turned out to be something of a misunderstanding, and once cleared up, he'd eventually forgiven them for it. But the underlying issues, the truth of them- those remained. Those would always remain.]

If there's anything else, I've yet to find it.

[He can't exactly hold out the hope for something better, or even different. But was that because it didn't exist at all, or that it didn't exist for him?

But though mocking Vanitas for a flaw he shared with him wasn't beyond the Ascian, he just- wasn't in the mood for it now. Crossing his arms, he shrugs, somewhat uncomfortably.]

They're quite convincing- quite convicted when they choose to be. It's not unexpected to fall for it now and again.

[ Vanitas isn't going to question Emet-Selch's mood. He is fine with the other not quite feeling up to mocking him, okay? There is no way he's above taking advantage of the situation. ]

He certainly seemed convinced of it himself. Since he's pretty much followed through on everything that he said he was going to do... I don't know. I entertained the idea, I guess.

[ That maybe he doesn't have to be only what he had been sort of brought up to be. ]

And perhaps he was convinced... so long as it remained convenient. So long as you went along with whatever idea of you he had in mind. People like him- will never truly accept you.

[Stated like some ineffable, unmovable fact. These things he needed to remind himself of. Because it was tempting to believe otherwise, wasn't it?

But why risk it?]

Perhaps he still believed you could be 'redeemed'. A cruel joke... this misfortune of tolerance they play at. There's no changing what we are.

[ Vanitas could argue that Sora, unlike some of the others, had not had any expectations for him to change or be "redeemed." He had just wanted to get to know Vanitas as he is right now. But perhaps Sora finally realized what Vanitas is and couldn't actually bear to be around it. ]

Probably something like that.

[ No changing what we are, the old man says. That can mean so much, really. Because while they are individuals that lean/embrace Darkness, they are both miserable and very much alone. Trapped within prisons of their own making and not really looking for a way to escape from it. ]

Why is it that we are better at tolerating them than they are us?

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[Open] Come In From The Cold...

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