Sure it does. The old coot only ever saw you as a convenient weapon, but since you're here and he's gone, you can define what you wanna be for yourself.
Might be a short stay; might be a long one. The point is, you can do what you want.
[ That's not wrong. Even Vanitas knows that Xehanort never really thought of him as more than a weapon or tool. The Unversed are probably what sold Xehanort on the idea. This is a problem, sure, but it's not the problem to Vanitas. He's not sure what's wrong with that. ]
I don't know how to be any thing else.
[ That is the real problem here, isn't it? Free will is nice and all, but given to someone that's never, ultimately, had it? What is he supposed to do? ]
Wouldn't expect you to. Even people without the kinds of issues you have spend their entire lives trying to answer questions like: who am I? Why am I here?
[ He tugs off a glove and...plops his hand on Vanitas's head. You're welcome, kid. ]
First thing's first, though. Gotta stop itching.
[ It may be the most undignified way to do it (for Vanitas), but the itching does start to stop with Xigbar's hand on his head. ]
What kind of issues are you talking about there, gramps?
[ Slight edge to his voice? Definitely. It's like he's daring Xigbar to just come right out and say it. Tell Vanitas how messed up he actually is. Remind him that he is wrong and twisted somehow.
But it doesn't come. At least not yet. Instead there's a hand on his head. The contact does help, even if Vanitas outright flinches at first. Vanitas is confused for a moment, for that's how long it takes for him to realize that it doesn't hurt. ]
He ripped my heart out twice, kid. You think I don't know what it was probably like for you?
[ Even though he technically allowed it the second time, that didn't make it any less shitty. Working for Xehanort in itself was a pain in the ass, but it was his own choice from the beginning to sign up for all this nonsense. For Vanitas, on the other hand, there never was the option to volunteer for this.
He notes the flinch but doesn't say anything about it. He just leaves his hand there until his own itching subsides...and then casually lifts it away again.
He doesn't need to spell anything out. It really couldn't be more obvious. ]
Anyway. I'm not gonna tell you what to do. You'll have to figure it out for yourself.
No one said you had to rejoin him the second time.
[ Though he makes no comment on Xigbar knowing what it feels like. Vanitas' own recollection of that pain is fleeting at best. After all, that technically happened while he had still been Ventus. Though he knows very well what a shattered heart feels like ]
Like I would do what you told me to do anyway. [ A huff. Vanitas runs his hand through his hair as if that will remove any and all traces of gramps' touch. ] You'd probably try to get me to do something weird.
Kid, before we leave this world, I’m gonna take you to an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet.
[ He’s already been snooping around for quick, easy food, so that will be a Thing.
As for the question, he shrugs. ]
Just stupid things people with hearts usually care about. You know, like fitting in and being a ~respectable~ member of society. There’s always this pressure to conform, and I got scolded plenty of times for not being the way other people wanted or expected.
Needless to say, I stopped caring about it a while ago.
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Sure it does. The old coot only ever saw you as a convenient weapon, but since you're here and he's gone, you can define what you wanna be for yourself.
Might be a short stay; might be a long one. The point is, you can do what you want.
no subject
I don't know how to be any thing else.
[ That is the real problem here, isn't it? Free will is nice and all, but given to someone that's never, ultimately, had it? What is he supposed to do? ]
no subject
Wouldn't expect you to. Even people without the kinds of issues you have spend their entire lives trying to answer questions like: who am I? Why am I here?
[ He tugs off a glove and...plops his hand on Vanitas's head. You're welcome, kid. ]
First thing's first, though. Gotta stop itching.
[ It may be the most undignified way to do it (for Vanitas), but the itching does start to stop with Xigbar's hand on his head. ]
no subject
[ Slight edge to his voice? Definitely. It's like he's daring Xigbar to just come right out and say it. Tell Vanitas how messed up he actually is. Remind him that he is wrong and twisted somehow.
But it doesn't come. At least not yet. Instead there's a hand on his head. The contact does help, even if Vanitas outright flinches at first. Vanitas is confused for a moment, for that's how long it takes for him to realize that it doesn't hurt. ]
...Stupid.
no subject
[ Even though he technically allowed it the second time, that didn't make it any less shitty. Working for Xehanort in itself was a pain in the ass, but it was his own choice from the beginning to sign up for all this nonsense. For Vanitas, on the other hand, there never was the option to volunteer for this.
He notes the flinch but doesn't say anything about it. He just leaves his hand there until his own itching subsides...and then casually lifts it away again.
He doesn't need to spell anything out. It really couldn't be more obvious. ]
Anyway. I'm not gonna tell you what to do. You'll have to figure it out for yourself.
no subject
[ Though he makes no comment on Xigbar knowing what it feels like. Vanitas' own recollection of that pain is fleeting at best. After all, that technically happened while he had still been Ventus. Though he knows very well what a shattered heart feels like ]
Like I would do what you told me to do anyway. [ A huff. Vanitas runs his hand through his hair as if that will remove any and all traces of gramps' touch. ] You'd probably try to get me to do something weird.
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[ He had his reasons, none of which he plans on sharing. The point is, he's not blind to the problems here.
He does chuckle at the last part, though. ]
'Something weird', huh? And how do you define that, exactly?
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Something I wouldn't be caught dead doing.
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Like what? Eating pizza?
[ He shakes his head. ]
Didn't realize junk food was a death sentence, but fair enough.
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[ Come on Xigbar. You know this child has next to no experience with anything a regular teenage should have. ]
Right now I'm wondering if you were this strange as Braig or if losing yourself so many times created this personality quirk.
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[ He's very aware of this, yes. It's why they're having this conversation.
As for the other comment, he just waves a hand dismissively. ]
Nope. Haven't really changed all that much. I just care a lot less about certain things.
[ Losing your heart with do that. ]
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[ Xigbar. You can't just use words that he doesn't know to further explain what he already doesn't know. Things don't work out like that. ]
Like what things.
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Kid, before we leave this world, I’m gonna take you to an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet.
[ He’s already been snooping around for quick, easy food, so that will be a Thing.
As for the question, he shrugs. ]
Just stupid things people with hearts usually care about. You know, like fitting in and being a ~respectable~ member of society. There’s always this pressure to conform, and I got scolded plenty of times for not being the way other people wanted or expected.
Needless to say, I stopped caring about it a while ago.
no subject
[ Forget about Xigbar being weird. Or the fact that the guy is so strange and virtually unreadable...
What's up with him all of the sudden being somewhat decent to him? ]
no subject
New world, new rules, kid. No reason to be stuck in a rut when the roles we played are done now.
[ A darkness corridor rolls up from the ground, and with a jaunty wave, he walks towards it. ]
Just drop me a line sometime if you ever want that pizza.
[ And with that, he is gone. ]