Your thoughts on Ventus and Darkness
Ok ok ok so I am not caught up on UX and I am neck deep in my own AUs but from what I’ve gathered we’ve got a vaguely human shaped coalescence of essence who seems to be actively manipulating(/possessing?) a ten year old (and also maybe Ava? Unclear) for its own as of yet unknown ends.
I have a few questions, comments, and concerns about that setup.
Question: why Ventus? This might be something that’s been answered in canon but unfortunately I got stuck and fell out of the game. What makes Ven so especially useful in this scenario? He’s in like the 4th grade. I was practically useless as a 4th grader. Could Darkness not do whatever it is they’re doing with someone older?
Question: Why was Xehanort unable to possess Ven? He’s explicitly using the power of darkness to pull his shenanigans. He needed Terra to have more darkness vibes to possess him. Darkness is pulling bullshit with Ven in UX. Did Ven's trauma simply reject the vibes somehow? He needs to teach me his secrets so I can survive the holiday season.
Comment: I don’t know if this is still up for consideration but I’ve seen people suggesting Vanitas and Darkness might be the same character. I don’t personally think so, because of various character reasons. Vanitas very explicitly sources himself from Ventus and Darkness seems to be completely external. If Vanitas was Darkness he’d probably have mentioned something that wouldn’t track with him originating from Ven's heart, and I’m pretty sure he hasn’t yet.
Comment: I have no idea what the point of Darkness is, narratively, beyond to break the murder mystery and give us another twist. Did they talk to Maleficent once? I don’t remember what about. They had nothing to do with Strelitzia's fate or any of the new union leaders or anyone until suddenly they did, and tbh I was kind of disappointed. Did anyone call that? Did anyone say "oh, of course it was with vague shape! That makes other things add up!" Not that I saw. There are times and places to break storytelling conventions but tossing a previously unrelated character who was practically a nonentity beforehand into a murder mystery isn’t it imo
Concern: Darkness might end up being another new character. I hope not and if it happens I’ll scream.
Concern: Ven needs therapy so bad it’s unreal