#not someones shadow

[dilutedaspirations]

He opens the door, just standing there in the entryway. "I have questions," he says blankly.

@not-someones-shadow

Opal jumped a little, her back having faced the door and didn't notice the stealthy Darkness there.

"oh! O-Oh Vanitas! Hey, what's up?"

She puts a small statue of a spiky headed person back up on her shelf. Odd, that used to be in the living room...

[art-sprees-in-spare-time]

Vanitas wearily eyed the Unversed nearby. It wasn't one of his, which were cowering around his legs. His upper lip drew back in a grimace.

@not-someones-shadow (Wayfinder AU)

Van reached out to the Flood as it skittered away. "Wait, don't-" He paused when it stopped in front of another boy. He froze, embarrassed.

"Oh! Uh, sorry! They get excited sometimes. I'm having trouble controlling when they pop out-get over here!" Van waved a finger at the Unversed and it vanished in a puff of smoke. He looked back up at the other boy, and when he saw his face his eyes widened.

"Whoa..." he gawked. "Are you...me?" He looked at his doppelganger's legs, registering the Unversed behind him. "Ah-well, that makes more sense then. How'd you get here?"

[theshsllibrarian]

Vanitas looked over his shoulder and scoffed. Of course that annoying brat had to follow him. "Go away!" he yelled through the raid. "I'm busy."

_____________________________________________

Since he had recovered Vincent had been doing his best to try and be of some use to the people of Radiant Garden. Anything from helping out in the library to odd jobs around town. Which had led to the current situation.

He'd been finishing up a sorting job at Merlin's home when he had noticed Vanitas walking out as a storm started brewing. Since then he had been following after him with a spare umbrella.

"But you are going to get sick if you stay out in the rain like this! Please take this." He said offering the spare.

@not-someones-shadow

[siblingsoflight]

“Say one more word, and I may be forced to cut out that sharp tongue of yours.”

to Freddy or Gula (your pick)

@not-someones-shadow

Gula hissed as he felt the dark keyblade in his back, leading him deeper into the cave. He decided it would be best not to speak. He had let his guard down for a second, a second too long, and it led to his capture. The dark chains were cold and biting against his wrists. But that didn't hurt compared to the site before him.

Sitting on a blanket was a boy with auburn red hair, his eyes shut as if he was asleep. His was so small, probably between fourteen to maybe sixteen if Gula had to guess. He arms were pulled behind his back, his wrists bound behind him. His ankles were bound by the same shadow chains that bound Gula's wrists.

Rage shot through Gula. This boy....he reminded Gula of his missing brother. Ven had been so small when Ava agreed to hide him among her Dandelions to keep him out of the war. A final favor, not for him, but for Ventus' sake. Biting his lip, Gula decided to risk speaking.

"Whose the kid?"

[multif0rmed]

Large red eyes peered up at Xehanort. Scribbles sat down at his feet, antennae twitching. This was Master's master? His head was very shiny.

@not-someones-shadow

Brows went downwards. An Unversed ..? Yellow blinked, as he moved his feet away. Normally, he would have already summoned his keyblade and destroy it.

But .. something stopped him. An admission - he kind of liked this one. It was .. cute. The words would never spill from his lips, no matter how odd it seemed that he let it live.

@not-someones-shadow

[fatumincaelum]

🫂  to  give  my  muse  a  comforting  hug.

@not-someones-shadow

Sora was very good at hiding his troubles. Sweeping them under the rug and putting on a smile. Be optimistic about any situation. And why wouldn't he be? He'd been told countless times how much hope he brought to the worlds. Finding the light within the darkness was in his nature.

Nowadays, though, it was getting harder to look on the bright side.

He'd been sparring with Riku that day. Nothing unusual, the two of them were always locked in a friendly rivalry. But... Something had gone wrong partway through the match. At the time it seemed like he'd just tripped up-- landed on his foot wrong and took a tumble. But Sora knew that wasn't it. He didn't know how he'd managed to keep what had really happened hidden afterwards. He could only be glad that his leg had reappeared before anyone noticed-- and that no one had questioned why he was sitting on it.

He'd excused himself fairly quickly after that-- fleeing the tower to go back to the islands, and straight to his and his friend's secret place. He promptly sat down in front of the door that rested there, just... Trying to breathe. When he felt arms wrap around him, he couldn't keep it in anymore. He broke. He curled into Vanitas' embrace and just quietly cried.

He couldn't say much other than, "I'm sorry..."

[dilutedaspirations]

Void Gear was left in the living room, sitting on the couch while Vanitas searched for the cleaning supplies. Scribbles sat nearby. Her antennae twitched and she slowly moved over to sniff at the keyblade.

Its eye was sparking back to life. Feint and quickly fading, but still there.

@not-someones-shadow

Star was dusting all the decorations Opal had put up for the holidays. Of course she chose a real tree with dust and falling needles and-

Something shifted. They look over to the couch at Scribbles poking at the dead key...blade? No.

"Vanitas. Your key, they awaken."

They are quick to get close, making sure not to touch but gently trying to encourage the little guy.

"Star? Star what's up?" Opal enters in from the kitchen, holding a towel that was drying her hands.

[art-sprees-in-spare-time]

"I've heard about this so-called Valentines Day. You better do something with that girl you like."

@not-someones-shadow

Van blushed. Hard.

"A-ahhh....well...I-I mean..." He stuttered, fiddling with his fingers. "S-she doesn't...like me like that, sooooo I dunno. I don't think it's a good idea." He seemed sad to admit it, but there really wasn't much he could do.

He saw her always do double takes when they were around each other. He knew seeing Sora's face when Sora wasn't there anymore upset her deep down.

He wrung his hands. "I-I just...I know she likes him, not me," he sighed. "I'd...rather not interfere with that."