crescentview | autumn catch-all

autumn catch-all

WHO: Aether and you!
WHAT: Open prompts
WHEN: Throughout autumn
WHERE: Various
WARNINGS: None for now

A. Arco Lunar
[The date with Steinbeck aside, Aether is curious to explore Arco Lunar on his own. You may see him looking at the sea while leaning against the railing, trying out different dishes in the buffet and peeking inside the spa or massage studio.

It's really rare for him to be surrounded by such luxury. He's just a traveler, after all and the best he can usually get is a comfy, but modest room in an inn... or his current home.]

B. The Dulces Sueños Resort
[Obviously, Aether wouldn't be himself if he wasn't curious about the resort. Perhaps you are the one who invited him to go, perhaps the two of you just bumped into each other and now venture into the resort together.

If you use the open bath together with Aether you will pick up that beneath the optimistic demeanour, there's actually a lot of lingering loneliness and exhaustion.

If the two of you end up spending the night in the same room, you will see one of Aether's memories. Was it a good one of fun festivals? Or was a sad memory of something lost?]

C. Chocolates
[Perhaps you are minding your own business, when suddenly someone hugs you. A sheepish voice quickly says:]

Sorry! I didn't really mean that...

[The traveler laughs softly, if not a bit awkwardly and pulls away. The chocolates he received seem to cause the person who has eaten them to want to hug others. Aether wasn't aware of that, of course, so he tried one in the morning and its effect seems to linger for the time being. It's a bit awkward, but he doesn't mind too much.

He may be giving some away depending if you're fine with such an effect or not. Or maybe he'll just decide that you need all the hugs you can get and will gift you one without an explanation.]

D. Wildcard
[If you'd like your own starter, a completely different prompt, etc feel free to contact me at discord Ashka#4609 or plurk (spiritualwhisper)! Or just go for it. Also if you'd like to do something from his bingo that's also fine! :D ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ And just like that, the kiss to the top of his head turns the water warm again. The feeling is comforting, longing, like he's been wanting something so gentle for so long.

The notch on his affection meter moves up. He leans forward and rests his forehead on Aether's shoulder, and leaves it there for a few long moments. Eventually, he raises an arm and wraps it around Aether's waist.

It's a small, quiet exchange. ]

[The moment is quiet and the warm affection easily seeps from both of them. Aether closes his eyes and softly brushes Vanitas' hair with his gentle fingers. If this is all the other needed, then the traveler is content to give him all the tender attention.

He's completely silent, too, feeling that words are unnecessary now and could only ruin the moment.]

[ He feels Aether's gentle touch, the way his fingers brush against his hair. It's reminiscent of another time in which the affection he received was so caring and kind. This is different by nature, though, because he's starting to feel those butterflies Gaku talked so fondly about before.

He doesn't like it. ]

...You keep treating me like this, lately.

[ A deep breath. There's no indication in the water that Vanitas particularly hates Aether's touch or anything, at least. ]

Why?

And why shouldn't I?

[It's simple, really. He has a lot of heart to give and Vanitas seems to need it. Aether is happy to offer him soft attention and reassure him that he is worth the gentle treatment.]

I can stop if it's bothering you.

[There's a lot of care beaming from Aether and he can pick up that Vanitas doesn't seem to hate his touch. But he still asks.]

It's fine.

[ He closes his eyes and relaxes a little. He's not sure if he likes the ambiguity of Aether's answer, but it's easier to stomach than something closer to the truth. ]

Sit back down, will you?

Sure...

[Without any protests, Aether lets go of his roommate and sits down, sinking into water.

Yet, he remains close.]

[ His arm lightly brushes against Aether's as he shifts his weight, and places his head on Aether's shoulder. His eyes are closed, and he's a little flushed in the face. But...this is fine, and makes sense of his request.

It's relaxed. Vanitas hasn't been so relaxed in a while. ]

[Aether smiles when he sees his roommate get so comfortable against him. There's relief emanating from him, along with fondness.

He stays silent, his own eyes closing. They can't stay in the water all day, but Aether too enjoys the closeness. It helps chase away the loneliness that gnaws at the core of his heart.]

[ Vanitas feels some of that loneliness radiating from his roommate, and he's not sure what to do with this information. He understands it. He, too, is lonely and has so much that he has hidden away from the rest of the world. He's gone too long without a family, without companionship to keep him grounded, and took on so much by himself prior to Noé entering his life. And even then, opening up to Noé took a lot.

Needless to say, it's hard to open up to Aether more than he already has, but even so, feeling that loneliness is uncomfortable. It makes him realize that there's more to Aether than what meets the eye, and a part of him wants to know more and, perhaps, fill more of the hollowness that Aether's experiencing beneath all of his affection.

Strange, that. He's always been the type to not want others to get hurt because of him, but wanting to more than just that is beyond his comprehension. He's not sure how to express this, nor does he know if he should. Still, the back of his hand nudges against Aether's wrist. ]

Are we done in here?

[Aether thinks that he can hide it. That for as long as he stays positive and caring he can chase away the loneliness in his heart and the exhaustion that lingers. He isn't aware how in vain his attempts are, but he, too, feels that staying in the water for too long may not be a good idea.

The moment Vanitas touches his writs, Aether stirs and gives his roommate a soft smile.]

Oh... sure.

[He turns around to grab a towel, before pushing himself up from the water and wrapping the towel around himself. His hair is dripping, but he'll take care of that a little later.]

I think... I'm a little tired. Want to find a room and get some rest?

[It's already so late, they may as well spent the night in the resort and use this opportunity to the fullest.]

Alright.

[ He glances away when Aether rises, and quickly puts a towel around his own waist. At Aether's suggestion, he turns a little pink, but it should be fine. They can just sleep, and it'll pass. Never mind that he's been thinking about sleeping next to his roommate for a while, now.

He goes to get dressed, and waits for Aether. When Aether's ready, Vanitas will fall to his side and walk to one of the rooms.

There's only one bed. ]

[Aether dries his hair and gets dressed. But once they search for a room for tonight hm... there is only one bed in this room.

He glances at his roommate, a soft, albeit a bit awkward smile on his face.]

I don't mind... but if you're not comfortable then we can look for a different room?

...

[ Before, he may have wanted a different room. But now? ]

I don't mind.

[That's not the kind of answer he thought he'd hear, but Aether nods and smiles softly.]

If you're sure... then okay.

[And the tired traveler lets a small yawn, stretching a bit before he removes the pieces of his clothing that would get in the way of his rest and lies down on the bed.]

[ Vanitas does the same, and when he gets into bed, he hesitates. He's on his back at first, mulling over his options...

And then he turns to face Aether. He places a hand on Aether's wrist and gives him a gentle tug towards him. ]

[Oh.

He didn't see that coming either, but Aether doesn't protest much. He moves a little closer, facing Vanitas as they lie together like this.

The traveler's cheeks warm up a little, but he tries to close his eyes.]

[ He's gentle with Aether as he raises his arm and wraps it around the other boy's waist. He pulls him a little closer.

Then, he uses his other hand to brush some of Aether's bangs away, and presses a soft kiss to his forehead. It mirrors what Aether did for him in the bath. ]

[His breath catches in his throat, unsure how to react to such a soft, gentle treatment. He knows that Vanitas is just giving him the same kind of affection that Aether had given him earlier and yet...

It feels surreal somehow, to be lying here with him, close, feeling Vanitas' warmth, having a soft kiss planted on his forehead. Aether's heart beats faster in his chest, but at the same time the hollow hole in his heart doesn't seem to bother him so much anymore.

There's something very comforting in Vanitas.]

[ He'd be shocked if Aether said any of that. The thought that he could be someone's source of comfort seems so false that he wouldn't be able to comprehend it. Even so, though, he pulls back and looks down as his hand gently finds Aether's. If Aether will allow it, he'll thread his fingers in between the other's, for the first time since any of this started.

He's not sure why he feels the need to hold Aether's hand in such a personal way, but it feels like the right thing to do. Funny, that. He's been trying to do right by him since their first date. It's a first for him. ]

[He takes a slow, deep breath, realizing how unused he is to this kind of treatment, when the only person who's ever held his hand like this was his sister.

But again, he doesn't pull away. He doesn't want to. Vanitas has been nothing but gentle with him and he's soaking in his warmth like a sponge. He would've thought that he's so starved of affection? Aether wants to laugh at himself, but again, he makes no sound. He doesn't move either.

Relaxing against Vanitas, he wishes to just fall asleep and not think about anything anymore.]

[ Luckily for Aether, Vani will be the first to fall asleep, with how relaxed he is. His eyes flutter shut and he keeps his hand in Aether's throughout the night.

Aether may have an unusual dream, though. It's one of a young, feverish boy lying in bed, recounting his family history. His mother died giving birth to him, and his father died in a...vampire attack? How peculiar.

It's all his fault, though, he insists. His arms are covered in bandages and his eyes are welled up with tears. He shouldn't have been born. And despite how a voice from beside him says he's a kind child, he vehemently denies it, and cries himself to sleep.

...What a strange dream. ]

[A strange dream indeed, one that makes Aether incredibly sad. Meanwhile, Vanitas will see an even stranger dream of Aether and his sister finding each other, yet parting ways much to Aether's dismay.

It's obvious from this that the traveler is much more than just a human. That there are many secrets to him.

In the real world, Aether awakes, eyes wide open, before he frowns to himself. He doesn't know what to make of what he's just seen, but his hand squeezes his roommate's as if trying to comfort him.]

[ Vanitas wakes up not long after Aether does, in the middle of the night. His eyes shoot open, and he stares at Aether, trying to process what he'd just seen. A blonde girl with features that mirrored his roommate's. Something about an Abyss...500 years...Aether's voice, ringing in his ears.

There's no way that was...

..He shakes his head. He's going to hope that was all just a strange dream, and that he'd woken Aether up because of it. ]

Go back to sleep. Don't mind me.

[He can see that something is wrong, that Vanitas must have seen something in his dreams as well. Aether gives him an concerned look, moving their joined hands closer to his own chest, cradling Vanitas' close to provide some sort of reassurance.]

I... I had a strange dream.

[His voice is quiet, but in the silence of the night it's enough.]

I saw a young boy who was lying in bed. He looked sick and had his hands bandaged. He was recounting the tragedy that had befallen his parents... and he cried.

[Aether's own eyes don't even hide the sadness. He's witnessed many memories before, so in a way he can guess that what he's seen is something from Vanitas' past.]

Edited 2023-02-08 11:32 (UTC)

[ Vanitas definitely has at least one hand he keeps bandaged at all times, and given that both he and the young boy share similar features, that is most certainly Vanitas' memory that Aether saw. His expression gives it away, too.

It's not a pleasant one.

He's silent as his eyes widen. His hand starts shaking. There's no doubt about it now, he'd seen Aether's memory, which means..

...

I don't think Aether's in any danger.

Noé's words ring in Vanitas' head. He remembers attacking Noé that night, out for his blood, and it was only his genuine care and affection for Noé that kept him from ending the other man's life. It was a choice that startled him, but one he doesn't regret. Now, though, when he's faced with Aether –

the instinctual voice inside him tells him to destroy him. Attack him while he's vulnerable. Vanitas can do it. He can end this, end his feelings once and for all... ]

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spoilers! 1/2