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In Too Deep Log

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Harvest Moon Simulator: Tree Edition

[ Vanitas finds himself out and about long after Sandalphon had "convinced" him to participate. If someone had thought to ask him if he'd be out planting trees and taking care of some of the other plants, Vanitas might have laughed at them. The only sort of "life" that he's ever "maintained" are the Unversed and one could hardly call them symbolic of new life. If anything they are kind of the opposite, created from darker emotions than what gardening seems to represent. He might even laugh because the thought of doing something so mundane and normal is a far cray from anything he's ever pictured himself doing.

However, things change. Being completed has done a lot of that, even if it hasn't been for overly long. Vanitas has also given much thought about what Sandalphon and Xigbar have spoken to him about. Trying new things. Seeing what he likes and doesn't like. Figuring out who he is now that his goal is complete and there's no Xehanort to pull the strings.

In that respect he's found that this task is something that's just that: a task. It's repetitive and doing things like pruning and dead-heading flowers takes focus, a sharp eye, and precision in some cases. Most importantly, it takes his thoughts away from the array of new emotions that he still has issues processing and understanding.

Vanitas pretty much minds his own business over the course of the days and can be found on both days working like this. The crowds don't even seem to bother him. As he moves about, some small Floods can be seen carrying the gardening tools behind him. ]

Harvest Moon Simulator: Flower Crowns

I'm not interested in trying out.

[ That's what he's telling one of the maidens at the shrine. The girl smiles in understanding but doesn't seem to be inclined to leave just yet. Vanitas snaps a little, asking what she wants. Instead of an actual answer, she simply drops one of those flower crowns up on top of his head. Vanitas is taken aback of course. ]

But I said I wasn't going to join your stupid little dancing audtion.

[ "That's okay" are the words that come out of the shrine maiden's mouth. She states that Vanitas looks like he needs them more than anyone auditioning and simply turns away to find someone else to volunteer. This leaves Vanitas staring after her. Blinking. Because what. ]

What just... Happened?

[ People confuse him so much. ]

Just Like Animals-Mals: Moon Shenanigans

[ Knowing that some people he is acquainted with, Vanitas is already looking to track some of them down. Mainly Ventus because the annoying pest is likely out there and affected. Of course Vanitas himself never thought to remove the bracelet, thinking that maybe he should hang onto it just in case. That puts him in a good position to:

A) Confront anyone that is Sanguis. Vanitas wonderfully provides a service that many effected by the red moon could take up: fighting. As he enjoys a good fight himself, Vanitas will helpfully step up to the plate and "help" work out any aggression that these individuals might need to alleviate.

B) Get caught by anyone that is Iris. In this scenario there's a good chance to catch Vanitas off guard by a random hug or help him get out of a situation in which he's being smothered by a Prismal that forgot to wear a bracelet or tossed it away. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No. I was out here earlier with Lucifer, and while I'm sure he found the idea charming, I doubt he believes in wish-granting plants either.

[Still, it was a pleasant outing, and he's glad for the conversation they shared. The plant wasn't a bad reward for them either, especially with Lucifer's background. He probably finds these new species fascinating, given his lifelong role]

All the same, I'm sure you've never tended plants before. It's worth experiencing, if only once.

[Whether it has the calming, anchoring effect on Vanitas that it has had for him in the past is something he can't anticipate. But something new can, at least, result in another like or dislike to add to Vanitas' list]

You think? Given how bright he is I thought he would believe in wish-granting plants.

[ Sora and Ventus probably do. And given the worlds that they could visit, it's not really a stretch of the imagination. Didn't one world have an enchanted rose? Another had a cursed spindle and another had a pumpkin that turned into a carriage. So who knows... Maybe Vanitas is premature in thinking that these seeds couldn't also grant wishes. ]

Anyway, I haven't. That was someone else's thing.

[ Marluxia. He liked plants didn't he? His Nobodies seemed to resemble plants and there were those weird petals wherever he went. Vanitas wonders if the guy also recompleted after the war's end. ]

Bright...

[Sandalphon echoes the choice word curiously to himself. It could mean a variety of things and apply, from Lucifer's intelligence to the literal nature of being a primarch whose power is light. But neither would account for the assumption that Lucifer would believe in wish-granting plants.

How very strange]

I grew my own coffee for quite some time. It's a fair occupation, when your thoughts might otherwise wander.

[Particularly down dark avenues that did little, if any, good]

[ Geez. Feathers there is no need to repeat in confusion. ]

Yes, bright. His heart has to be comprised mostly of light. If any darkness exits at all.

[ There's probably some, but so far Vanitas has only seen Lucifer be nothing but kind. Understanding. Patient. Usually qualities of someone that is a "good" person and thus "bright." Makes sense to Vanitas even if it doesn't to Sandalphon.

But then he has to pause. Coffee. Plants. Feathers had grown his own coffee? What is it with these angels and their obsession with coffee of all things? Vanitas can't help it but there's a little snort followed by some light chuckles trying to be laughter. ]

[This kid sure finds something amusing, although Sandalphon doesn't know what it is. But it doesn't concern him the way Gran teasing him about his purportedly delicate fingers does, and he focuses instead on that clarification]

Our bodies are a physical manifestation of our elemental power. Therefore, he is light in that sense, as am I. Any internal workings would be much the same.

[That isn't what Vanitas meant but what are his universe's mechanics anyway? Maybe one day, Sandalphon will have a better grasp of them. He does understand that positive and negative tie into light and dark for...some reason.

As they reach the plot of land where people are busily planting, Sandalphon collects a pouch of seeds for them, and some tools. Nothing more intensive than small implements needed for this job]

But he feels more than he might make apparent, so I don't know if he'd be wholly light as you define it.

[ Maybe one day they can have a sit down and the both of them can discuss their worlds' differences. For now Vanitas can understand elemental powers and how that can define a person. It is that way, in a sense, for many of the true Organization members. In the end, Vanitas does seem to comprehend that Feathers considers Light and Dark just another element like Fire and Water. ]

Depends. Is he the sort of guy that puts others before himself?

[Sandalphon can't help but puff out a vexed sigh. They reach a vacant stretch of soil, and there he kneels, setting their supplies down. Their spot now]

Yes, you could say that.

[And it would be painfully accurate, so far as Sandalphon is concerned. That isn't to say that Lucifer doesn't have desires or goals, as he has learned, but his duties had come first.

Now he understands it better, but he still wants more for Lucifer]

Primals were created to fulfill certain roles. And his responsibility was greater than any other's.

Edited 2019-05-11 21:13 (UTC)

[ Is he supposed to get on the ground with Feathers? Vanitas frowns, uncertain. Then he sighs and just decides to go along with it. He takes a seat next to Sandalphon. ]

Can Primals never be more or less than their role?

[ It is sort of an important question. Perhaps Vanitas hadn't been created or born into a role, but one had been forced upon him. In the end he's never desired anything else because of his singular goal. That's how it had been so easy to accept what he had been forced into. ]

[He wonders how many Primals have struggled with that very thought. How many like himself, and how many who were modified to better suit their roles, or given limiters to curb their intellect, for fear of giving powerful creations too much autonomy...

Surely, many have contemplated it as he has]

Those who made us didn't think so. Rather, they didn't want it to be possible.

[He hands the bag of seeds to Vanitas, picking up a spade so he can start preparing the soil]

But we have dreams and aspirations. We have intellect, and a sense of self. It might be impossible to prevent any being from growing, when these things are true.

[He thinks, or rather suspects, that Vanitas isn't only asking about Primals, whether consciously or not. And to that end, his use of "we" is intentional. In very different ways, they were both made to be what they are. That they can yearn for more has meaning]

[ Vanitas holds the bag of seeds, but his eyes don't leave Feathers' hands. He's observing and taking in every little detail that he can. That's the only way to learn anything, right? Pure observation and perfect mimicry. ]

Because they can't control you properly if you ever become something you weren't intended to be.

[ At least Vanitas so thinks anyway. Why else try to force such things upon someone? Still, the rest of Sandalphon's words are not without merit. A sense of self. Dreams. And it is impossible to be unable to grow. In the end, Vantias appreciates that Feathers does pick up on these things, such as Vanitas asking a question on his behalf without actually saying as much. ]

What bout you.

[ What does Feathers aspire to? What does he dream? ]

I spent most of my existence just wanting to matter to someone.

[ The wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips suggests what his words don't. He wanted something he'd had all along, and struggled needlessly because of it. He'd also done a great deal of damage that may well have been avoided.

His hands continue their work, methodical and well-practiced, as he continues. ]

Spending time freely with Lucifer has been something of a dream, already. [ He thought it would be an incredibly long time before he'd have that opportunity. Much as he'd yearned for it, there were people who needed him still. But that too doesn't answer Vanitas' question. ] Of all the things I might do... The first thought that came to mind was opening a cafe.

[ And others had emphatically nudged him toward making it a reality. Even Lucifer thought he should try in this place, for that matter. ]

[ Lucifer, probably. If Vanitas had to venture a guess. He could have figured that one out just by the first time he had seen them together. Lucifer is clearly an important person to Feathers. ]

Spending time together is something you wanted for a while, right?

[ The way that Sandalphon moves his hands does indicate that he's had some experience with this. Vanitas just soaks it up like sponge. ]

Do you think you'll end up growing your own coffee here too?

It had been millennia since we had more than a few minutes.

[ Over two thousand years, in fact. And chances are, whenever he does return home, it will be a long wait. He'll appreciate what he has in this place, however long it may last. ]

I've already started cultivating some, actually... Though only a few for now, since I don't have land to work with.

[ Once he's finished with their patch of soil, he brushes the dirt from his hands and gestures to the waiting holes in the ground. ]

One seed each.

Has the wait been worth it?

[ Figures he might as well ask. No harm in that, right? Otherwise Vanitas follows instructions pretty well. One seed for each little hole in the ground. With every one, Vanitas can't help but inspect it before moving on. ]

Gonna buy up some land with your Chroma?

It has.

[ That and more. Sandalphon would be hard-pressed to articulate it, but he feels he's been given more than he could have known to wish for.

He notes the way Vanitas checks his own work, though he says nothing about it, imagining how he might respond to the suggestion that he's carrying that task out with care. ]

I've considered it, if we're in this place that long.

[ Feathers doesn't really need to articulate it. The answer that is supplied is enough. Besides... Whether Sandalphon knows it or not he has quite the disgustingly soft look on his face that tells Vanitas more than he cares to know anyway. ]

You think you're going to o back soon?

[ Vanitas isn't sure what happens to the people that disappear from here... ]

Who's to say?

[ Their hosts claim to be entirely ignorant as to how they came to be here, much less how they might return. Sandalphon knows they can't linger here forever, but he can't say how long they can be here.

Not to mention, the moons affect them so dramatically. ]

It would take me a good while to save that much.

[ Vanitas also isn't so convinced that the inhabitants of this World don't know more than what they are telling them. However that's not really something he can prove, though he would like to. Being validated in his concerns would be a nice change in pace. ]

Not as long as one would imagine. All anyone has to do is simply hold hands. Of course you get more if you do other things, but point is you get Chroma for basically doing nothing.

[ They're both suspicious of their hosts. He considers pleading ignorance a convenient excuse to keep people who are essentially living batteries to them around.

At some point, they're bound to discuss it. ]

Lucifer and I do that often enough, I suppose. [ That is, hold hands, as Vanitas has seen. ] I don't know about "other things", but if that's all it takes, it's a matter of time.

[ Vanitas blinks. Feathers doesn't know about other ways of obtaining Chroma? Let him just... Never explain that. Ever. ]

Just sit on the couch and I don't know. Cuddle.

[ Poor Van, knowing his ancient, sassy dad's a virgin. ]

I've never done so on the couch. When it's time to sleep, however...

[ He and Lucifer had discovered it to be a warm, comforting way to rest. But he finds it strangely uneasy to discuss such a thing, and as their work is done, he abruptly stands up. ]

Come, let's claim our dubious reward.

[ At least he has a thimbleful of social grace and offers Vanitas a hand to help him up. ]

[ Yeah all right. Knowing that Sandalphon is a sassy sort and then seeing him kind of falter over something like that brings a wry little grin to Van's face.

Birds of a feather really must snuggle together. The mental image makes him snicker. Though he covers his mouth to hide it. ]

That's it? That's all we got to do?

[ He notices that amusement, eyeing Vanitas but uncertain of what prompted it after brief speculation.

Well, no matter. ]

Yes, they only require assistance with planting. From there, they'll cultivate the meas themselves... Though I'm sure they could generate further tasks if you wish.

That felt... Really easy?

[ Like there's really nothing to it. Why did these people need assistance in the first place? ]

It helps to have experience. I spent so long on such tasks, I need very little time.

[ Although, with that said as they pick their way through the area, he supposes there's something to add. ]

Actually cultivating the plants requires much more time, effort, and precision. The more one expends on the plants as they grow, the better the results.

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