autumn catch-all (open)

[unchainer]

WHO: Vanitas and you!
WHAT: Catch-all with open prompts
WHEN: Throughout autumn
WHERE: Various
WARNINGS: There will be eventual NSFW!

cruise ship - general.

[ Vanitas' designated date from the auction is Amber, and while he can't say he's having a bad time, there are moments in which he can be caught without her around the ship.

Sampling the wine is something he's not opposed to, and he may or may not be tipsy when someone approaches. He can also be found at the buffet, squinting at a dessert dish...that looks like Tarte Tatin?? Wow, he's going to scrutinize the hell out of it. It'd better be good. ]

chocolates.

[ He's not a fan of chocolate, especially if it's too sweet. He's got zero idea about the bonus effects, too, but while he's out in town square, he idly pops a piece into his mouth.

He grimaces a bit. Too sweet, too sweet – but he starts to realize something was terribly wrong with it when he sees the next person and instinctively approaches. And then, without warning, he will pick them up bridal style. (Effort will vary depending on the individual.)

He blinks down at whoever he's just scooped up. ]

...Huh?

[ And then he'll promptly drop them. Oops. ]

wildcard.

[ I am down for anything! Tasks, Bingo, etc.! ]

Comments

[unchainer]

[ Ellis...buddy... Vanitas was extremely reluctant to partake in all of the spa activities, but the staff (?? assuming there is one) hardly gave him a choice when Gaku brought him over, so here he is...sitting in a mud bath. Of course it's relaxing, and he does mean to talk to Gaku about something, but he'd much rather do it at the bar or the buffet. Whatever. ]

It's fine. [ Eh, he's enjoying it, but Vanitas isn't quite in the mood to get too loud about it. Matters of the heart are complicated. ] Amber is a lot more energetic than I realized she'd be.

[ ... ] Does your lover not like partaking in these kinds of activities?

[associative]

[ Lover, huh? Gaku tries not to blush at the term, closing his eyes and facing forward instead. ]

No, he doesn't really like it. Besides, he already did a few things in the spa with me earlier, so I figured I'd let him explore on his own while I did everything else.

[ And this way, Ellis can misbehave as much as he pleases without Gaku getting on his case. ]

Amber does have a lot of energy. I like that about her.

[unchainer]

So you dragged me here instead...

[ RIP. He lets out a quiet sigh and grumbles a little before he starts mulling over Amber. She may be energetic, but Vanitas can also be loud, brazen and full of it – and Gaku's seen some of that in the mines. He's mellowed out somewhat since arriving here, though. Crescentview doesn't have much to offer for his goals, so there's nothing to get all that excited about...

...is what he tells himself. Never mind that he'd perked up when she tried some of his Tarte Tatin!! ]

She's interesting, but a handful. [ He says that like he isn't one, too – ] I'll have to keep on finding ways to keep her entertained.

[associative]

Not really.

[ Which sounds like a weird thing to say, probably? But Gaku expands on that thought soon enough— ]

She might be high energy, but it isn't like she's demanding or expects everything out of everyone else either. Just treat her well and she'll have a good time.

[ Gaku has spent a bit of time with her, and that's the impression he's gotten. She's incredibly sweet, so he doesn't think she would be a hard date whatsoever. ]

[unchainer]

Yeah, yeah. I'll try not to disappoint.

[ He says it dryly, but there's no malice in his tone, either. He's out of his element right now and it's very tiring, but he made her dessert and went out of his way to dress so nicely, too!!! Look at him go.

There's a quiet moment that goes by, though. Vanitas looks like he wants to say something, with how he looks away while his brow furrows. He's pouting a little, too. ]

...Noé talks about you like you're an expert in these sorts of affairs.

[associative]

Did he?

[ Don't mind the shocked look, Vanitas... he's used to being called pathetic and people thinking he's crazy. ]

...I just know what I feel when I feel it. That's all.

[unchainer]

That's it?

[ He can't help but laugh a little. Gaku, you've met them both, they are absolute morons. ]

Well, that explains the logic behind that list you gave him to help him figure things out.

[ Why is he bringing this up? Don't worry about it. ]

[associative]

[ They sure are... love that for him. ]

The list?

[ Give him a second. When did he write a list?

...Oh. That list? ]

It really helped him? And he told you about it?

[unchainer]

He did.

[ Don't worry about it!!! ]

It's how he figured out that he fell in love with that girl, at least.

[associative]

With Lucia? Really?

[ What???? He helped with that? Honestly, Gaku can't really believe it. ]

[unchainer]

Yes, her.

[ He's pretty sure that's her name, anyway? And he may be a little pink, now, since they're getting further into this conversation – but he'll do his best to continue deflecting as much as he can, so he doesn't have to say what he's really thinking.

He laughs again. ]

You sound so surprised. Is it really that much of a shock to you?

[associative]

Yeah, it is.

[ Look, he’ll be upfront about that. ]

My luck with romance hasn’t ever been great. I’ve never had anyone take my advice seriously.

[ But he’s glad for it, because his advice has made both Lucia and Noé happy. ]

[unchainer]

Is that so?

[ Gaku has the looks and charm to play with people's hearts (he would know), but it seems like his life hasn't panned out that way. How amusing.

He'd laugh it up and say something along the lines of pathetic, but this is getting a little closer to home, so his heartbeat starts to pick up speed. ]

Well, you're going to enlighten me, regardless. [ ... ] Is attraction supposed to feel horrible?

[associative]

[ Pathetic...

Gaku blinks. ]

No? I mean, I guess it could if you're not sure of their feelings.

[ However, Gaku is the sort of guy that has a lot of confidence, so he doesn't tend to let that sort of thing get to him. If he gets rejected, he can usually move on with ease. ]

But attraction is supposed to be exciting.

[unchainer]

How is it supposed to be exciting?!

[ Indoor voices, Vani. He also realizes his mistake and quickly sinks lower into his mud bath. ]

...Asking for a friend.

[associative]

Sure you are...

[ Vanitas, please. It's so obvious that you aren't??? ]

But you get butterflies in your stomach, or just the thought of seeing them is exciting. [ A pause. ] Touching them is exciting too, even if it's just holding their hand.

[unchainer]

You think all of that is exciting?

[ Wow, why won't you buy his obvious lie, Gaku?? ]

It feels like you're being rewritten from the inside out! The thought of being close to them is so strange and mortifying, it makes me sick. And when all you can think of is them, it's – it's so distracting!

[ ... ]

Or, so I've heard. I. Wouldn't know.

[associative]

Bullshit.

[ There's no heat behind his words, at least, but he does affix Vanitas with a Look. ]

So, who do you like?

[unchainer]

...

[ One-Hit KO: Being perceived. ]

Someone from the auction.

[ don't worry about it ]

[associative]

[ Seriously? Gaku makes a face. ]

Most of the island was at the auction. [ A pause. ] Is it Amber?

[unchainer]

No.

[ And there's no indication that he's lying, here! ]

[associative]

[ Well! That doesn't make this any easier. ]

Then tell me. I'm not going through every single person that put in an application.

[unchainer]

It's not that big of a deal, trust me. I doubt he's interested in me to begin with.

[ Which makes him feel some kind of way, in all honesty. But for Amb's sake, he'll just come out and say it: ]

He went through all the trouble to make a dramatic appeal for his friend's application, anyway.

[associative]

...

[ Huh. A dramatic appeal? There were only two of those, and one was definitely more dramatic than the other. ]

He Xuan?

[unchainer]

[ HELP????????? GAKU, PURE OF HEART, DUMB OF ASS ]

AETHER! It's Aether, okay?!