THE CLOCK STRIKES HELL HOUR

[vapidus]

Vanitas is a bit iffy about dark corridors right now, given the real estate he's currently loaning. It's a pain, because they're just so easy to make and come naturally to him. He can use the lanes at least though, which is good, because otherwise the only way to the orange town bolted onto Yen Sid's tower would be the train, and Vanitas doesn't want to walk. Or really interact with people right now.

He just needs a fresh air today. The tower's getting way too full and Sora's friendly, but also a little too much at times, and also a reminder of just how far and close Ventus is right now. Lea looks like he's thinking the exact same thing, whenever they're in the same room together, Riku talks to him without meeting his (current) face, and Kairi... well actually there's nothing wrong there. But the cooped up feeling is still enough to get him wanting out for a bit. The increasing oppressive feeling of knowing the clock is ticking hasn't been helping.

The clocktower is picked arbitrarily. It's the highest point in the town he can see, and he likes to be tall, and there's probably not going to be anyone there. Perfect. And later he can see if there's any interesting rocks in the hills and woods nearby. He's going to have to start all over with his collection, thanks Ventus.

Unbeknownst to him, trying to use a Lane within a world isn't really what they're intended for. The result is a kind of universal hiccup trying to smooth over the contradictory commands to go to a different world that is also the same world.

Sorry, Roxen.

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[vapidus]

"It was like this when I got here," Vanitas says with practiced defensiveness that suggests he's said this a lot - he's assuming this statement is in reference to the scars. This is mostly true. He stretches his arm across his chest, briefly locking it in with the other before they return to his sides. "I don't know what he was doing with it but all the joints hurt just before it rains." It's a pain, quite literally. This is a secondhand lemon of a body, and he's going to kvetch as much as he likes about it. Also he was just going to a clocktower! And this is an exactly-the-same clocktower.

Roxas got a Ventus-heart makeover so maybe that hit the reset button? Who knows. A mystery.

Vanitas's face gets the grumpy sour expression common to those who know a good point is being made at them that they will only begrudgingly accept. Much as he dislikes Xehanort (most of the ire squarely at the feet of having to live with and never see Terra for a year) and would not trust the man or anything he says out of principle, Roxen has a point.

"I'll see if Lea can get me one." Vanitas does have a nose for who can or will enable shenaniganry and he has not incorrectly pegged Lea as the sort who would let him sneak out to do this despite technically not being allowed to, without telling anyone. So he is useful, and this is Vanitas low key saying as much because his pride can inflict him with obliqueness sometimes. He leans forward, interested. "Where did you get it?" It was actually pretty good. He wouldn't mind getting more for himself, later. (He's going to eat like twenty bars in quick succession and regret it soundly).