Because I can't stand knowing that a beautiful woman laid eyes on someone like me!
[ He blurts it out without giving it much thought. He's frowning deeply, cheeks still red, and his face is angled more upward, which will give Amber a better view of his expression.
Gone is the bravado Vanitas had when they slept together; instead is the face of someone who's anxious, embarrassed with himself. ]
I had no idea what I was doing -- I didn't even know if you enjoyed it -- [ Clearly, he's been overthinking this. ] and that you gave me a gift, on top of it... It's...it's more than I'm used to.
( Oh, that is ... not the reaction she expected. Amber widens her eyes a little, expression softening while she lowers her voice. )
Hey ... it's okay. ( She sinks herself down until she is kneeling in the grass, still keeping her distance from him. ) Um ... I don't know if it'll make you feel better or not, but ... ( Amber slips one of her hands beneath her hair, averting her gaze with a small flood of colour filling her cheeks. ) I did enjoy it.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overwhelm you. I've been sewing gifts for people I've gotten to know here, since one of the tasks for the month involves showing people we care about them. ( And whether he likes it or not, she does care. ) That's why I made this for you ...
[ He also averts his gaze. He still looks quite troubled, but her answer alleviates some of his worries, just a little. Vanitas doesn't have any romantic interest in Amber, but knowing that she actually had a good time and it wasn't solely due to the laced items -- it helps.
His shoulders relax a little. ]
It's fine. [ He doesn't comment on the gift, but he's still holding onto it, along with the note. That, hopefully, says enough.
He picked up on something from earlier, though. ]
I'll admit, it's surprising that you've had people react unfavorably towards you.
( Still averting her gaze, she sighs, leaning her back against the tree. )
It's not all that surprising to me. ( She fidgets with a dandelion that she picks from the grass. ) I don't know about boys, or love, or anything. I was a handful when I was young, I always made a mess of things. Seems I'm doing the same as an adult.
( Why is she rambling about this...? She came to check if he was okay, not to dwell on her own love quarrels. )
But, uh, sorry. I've just had some bad luck in this place. I shouldn't take it out on you. You are feeling better after fainting, right?
[ He hates to admit it, and he will not do so verbally, but honestly, Amber? Yeah, same. He's got a lot going on from his childhood, but he knows nothing about love, boys, girls, what have you. He's dealing with his own feelings as they speak, he can't help her there...nor will his pride let him admit to anything more right now.
However, at her question, he nods. ]
I told you, I'm fine.
[ What a grump. ]
Look, I don't know anything about any of that, either. All I know is that this place isn't what the goddess wants us to think it is, so who cares if you're making a mess of things. It's not like it's your fault, you were brought here against your will.
[ ...Is he trying to help? Maybe. ]
I'm sure there are a lot of us that are in the same boat.
( She's relieved to hear that he's okay - and she listens intently to what he has to say after. It's a comfort to hear, and one she didn't know she needed. Some tears swell in her lower lash line, but she prompts wipes them and flicks them away with a thumb and a sniff. She'll just blame it on allergies. )
... Yeah.
You're right. I get so swept up wondering why it's working out for everyone else ... ( Clearly, she hasn't witnessed all the drama happening elsewhere. ) I haven't been thinking about anyone else who might be struggling, too. I'm sorry you know how it feels.
[ He gets it. Ohhhh, does he get it. And he absolutely loathes that he does, too. The thought of wanting someone to return his affections was pretty repulsive, and he's spent many nights wondering what's gotten into him -- since talking to others, though, he's stopped doing that so much.
Idly, he hopes Amber can do the same. He's gotten much further here by letting his instincts guide him rather than trying to calculate every move.
Doesn't mean he won't try to sweep his own feelings under the rug, though. ]
That's not important.
[ He'd much rather not discuss how he feels, if he can help it. ]
If the goddess truly intends on having all of us get married at some point, inevitably, someone will appear who'll suit your needs. It's pointless to get worked up about it.
[ Which is just a ruder way of saying "don't worry so much". ]
I-I'm not so sure about that ... ( She was doing so well at keeping it together - but the dam has broken. Her cheeks stream with tears as she hiccups out a small sob. )
[ Oh...oh, no. How does he deal with this. He's used to crying children, but he's not a child anymore, and this...this is. This is making him short-circuit again. ]
Hey-
[ Help. ]
s-snap out of it! What's gotten you all worked up, anyway?!
[ He will vehemently deny this, always has since he was a child. There's still something humane in him, though, despite everything he's been through, and it shows through little moments like these.
And hey...at least it got her to stop crying? ]
Just eat it. ... It probably won't be as good as the first one.
( Giving a woman some tarte while she's upset is a kind thing to do, Vanitas!!! Whether u like it or not!!
But, no. Amber is not the kind of person who will let this act of kindness go without its recognition. )
That's very humble of you to say, but I don't agree with you. ( Sorry! She tells it how it is. ) And I just need you to know how much I appreciate this. ( Even if he doesn't want to hear it!! Too bad!! She's the kindness police, binch 🚓🚨 )
Sorry again for getting all emotional back there ... I promise I'm not usually so high-strung. It's just been a difficult month. And ... please don't worry about our date. I had fun, but it's cool if you'd rather forget about it. We'll just call it a one time thing.
( Suppose she better have a bite of this tarte, huh ... and lo and behold, it manages to make her smile. )
Mm ... It's incredible. ( Just what she needs tbh. )
[ She's the kindness police and he's getting arrested, apparently. ]
Remember it, forget it -- you choose what you'd like to do with it. Regardless, it...could've been a lot worse.
[ He's not saying it outright, but he enjoyed himself. It was one of the more exciting times he's had on this island, and Vanitas can absolutely be a thrill-seeker, so he's not going to make it a point to forget it ever happened. He was trying to before this, but he's come to accept that he can't. ]
( She starts digging in and, when he says that, she blinks owlishly and muffles a laugh with the tarte in her mouth. There's something so mysterious and sweet about this guy ... he reminds her of Eula in the strangest way. She's stern, but affectionate. Amber really can't help but smile. )
You know, you sound just like my best friend from back home when you say that.
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outride) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crescentview2023-02-02 06:03 am
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( :'( )
Anyway, here. Water for you. ( Take a sip, babes. )
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[ He'll take it, but he won't drink it. He's in agony, apparently.
And he would much rather her forget about him than do all of these nice things for him. ]
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If it's "not me", then why do you want me to leave?
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[ He blurts it out without giving it much thought. He's frowning deeply, cheeks still red, and his face is angled more upward, which will give Amber a better view of his expression.
Gone is the bravado Vanitas had when they slept together; instead is the face of someone who's anxious, embarrassed with himself. ]
I had no idea what I was doing -- I didn't even know if you enjoyed it -- [ Clearly, he's been overthinking this. ] and that you gave me a gift, on top of it... It's...it's more than I'm used to.
no subject
( Oh, that is ... not the reaction she expected. Amber widens her eyes a little, expression softening while she lowers her voice. )
Hey ... it's okay. ( She sinks herself down until she is kneeling in the grass, still keeping her distance from him. ) Um ... I don't know if it'll make you feel better or not, but ... ( Amber slips one of her hands beneath her hair, averting her gaze with a small flood of colour filling her cheeks. ) I did enjoy it.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overwhelm you. I've been sewing gifts for people I've gotten to know here, since one of the tasks for the month involves showing people we care about them. ( And whether he likes it or not, she does care. ) That's why I made this for you ...
no subject
[ He also averts his gaze. He still looks quite troubled, but her answer alleviates some of his worries, just a little. Vanitas doesn't have any romantic interest in Amber, but knowing that she actually had a good time and it wasn't solely due to the laced items -- it helps.
His shoulders relax a little. ]
It's fine. [ He doesn't comment on the gift, but he's still holding onto it, along with the note. That, hopefully, says enough.
He picked up on something from earlier, though. ]
I'll admit, it's surprising that you've had people react unfavorably towards you.
no subject
It's not all that surprising to me. ( She fidgets with a dandelion that she picks from the grass. ) I don't know about boys, or love, or anything. I was a handful when I was young, I always made a mess of things. Seems I'm doing the same as an adult.
( Why is she rambling about this...? She came to check if he was okay, not to dwell on her own love quarrels. )
But, uh, sorry. I've just had some bad luck in this place. I shouldn't take it out on you. You are feeling better after fainting, right?
no subject
However, at her question, he nods. ]
I told you, I'm fine.
[ What a grump. ]
Look, I don't know anything about any of that, either. All I know is that this place isn't what the goddess wants us to think it is, so who cares if you're making a mess of things. It's not like it's your fault, you were brought here against your will.
[ ...Is he trying to help? Maybe. ]
I'm sure there are a lot of us that are in the same boat.
[ Himself included. ]
no subject
... Yeah.
You're right. I get so swept up wondering why it's working out for everyone else ... ( Clearly, she hasn't witnessed all the drama happening elsewhere. ) I haven't been thinking about anyone else who might be struggling, too. I'm sorry you know how it feels.
no subject
Idly, he hopes Amber can do the same. He's gotten much further here by letting his instincts guide him rather than trying to calculate every move.
Doesn't mean he won't try to sweep his own feelings under the rug, though. ]
That's not important.
[ He'd much rather not discuss how he feels, if he can help it. ]
If the goddess truly intends on having all of us get married at some point, inevitably, someone will appear who'll suit your needs. It's pointless to get worked up about it.
[ Which is just a ruder way of saying "don't worry so much". ]
no subject
( Her voice cracks into a whimper. )
I-I'm not so sure about that ... ( She was doing so well at keeping it together - but the dam has broken. Her cheeks stream with tears as she hiccups out a small sob. )
no subject
Hey-
[ Help. ]
s-snap out of it! What's gotten you all worked up, anyway?!
no subject
Uh ... ( She takes in a deep, shaky breath. ) Just several things, you know ...
I met a guy here that I really liked. I kissed him, then ... he spent all of Summer avoiding me afterwards. So ... stuff like that.
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So instead of saying anything profound, he just gets up...and looks like he's about to walk away. But he stops a few feet in front of her and says: ]
Follow me.
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Uh, okay ... ( She follows! )
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Wait here.
[ And he walks inside without saying anything else.
Should she stay put, when he emerges...he's got a plate of tarte tatin! He holds it out towards her, still grimacing. ]
Take it. Leftovers from the other day.
no subject
Aww, Vanitas ... ( She takes the plate off him, smiling just that little bit brighter. )
That's really kind of you. Thank you.
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[ He will vehemently deny this, always has since he was a child. There's still something humane in him, though, despite everything he's been through, and it shows through little moments like these.
And hey...at least it got her to stop crying? ]
Just eat it. ... It probably won't be as good as the first one.
no subject
But, no. Amber is not the kind of person who will let this act of kindness go without its recognition. )
That's very humble of you to say, but I don't agree with you. ( Sorry! She tells it how it is. ) And I just need you to know how much I appreciate this. ( Even if he doesn't want to hear it!! Too bad!! She's the kindness police, binch 🚓🚨 )
Sorry again for getting all emotional back there ... I promise I'm not usually so high-strung. It's just been a difficult month. And ... please don't worry about our date. I had fun, but it's cool if you'd rather forget about it. We'll just call it a one time thing.
( Suppose she better have a bite of this tarte, huh ... and lo and behold, it manages to make her smile. )
Mm ... It's incredible. ( Just what she needs tbh. )
no subject
Remember it, forget it -- you choose what you'd like to do with it. Regardless, it...could've been a lot worse.
[ He's not saying it outright, but he enjoyed himself. It was one of the more exciting times he's had on this island, and Vanitas can absolutely be a thrill-seeker, so he's not going to make it a point to forget it ever happened. He was trying to before this, but he's come to accept that he can't. ]
Stop apologizing and finish your food.
no subject
( She starts digging in and, when he says that, she blinks owlishly and muffles a laugh with the tarte in her mouth. There's something so mysterious and sweet about this guy ... he reminds her of Eula in the strangest way. She's stern, but affectionate. Amber really can't help but smile. )
You know, you sound just like my best friend from back home when you say that.