text; anonymous

[darkcharge]

Name: Anonymous | Vanitas
Date: 3/1
Format: Text



[ So Vanitas has been terribly frustrated for the last few days trying to figure this out himself. Unfortunately, he isn't really equipped to come to the answers on his own. ]

Normally I wouldn't bother with things like this, but it would appear that all my other options are exhausted or unavailable.

A little while ago I found myself experiencing some strong urges. I can't say that they are entirely unfamiliar, but the circumstances and conditions are different. Wanting to throttle someone and make them pay is nothing new, but because they hurt someone I am acquainted with is. So I suppose my question there is why. This person is perfectly capable of handling it themselves so why is it that I also want to?

Which brings me to the second issue since this is all tied to the same situation. The look this person had on their face? I didn't like it and I don't want to see it again. That is new and I don't know what that means or what it is at all.

This is probably a waste of time, but I can't figure it out. So here we are.

[ tl;dr: Vanitas might actually care about someone - or at least have something of an urge to protect them - but he can't recognize it at all because pfft he's not the sort that does that, right? ]

Comments

[Not Here]

[inlikethebrume]

[She sees this message and at first thinks nothing of it. But looking at it again and reading deeper, this feels familiar.

Because it was. Or so she believes. There can be many who don't deal with emotions but she can't help but wonder...maybe she should ask him soon.]

text.

[cardtrick]

it sounds like you care about this person a lot!

1/2

[darkcharge]

[ WHAT. WHY IS THAT THE FIRST THING ANYONE SAYS???

Because pffft. No. No way. That's not possible. Caring - and he uses the term lightly here - about someone whose existence isn't tied to his own is...

They're just allies. That's all. Right? ]

text.

[darkcharge]

And just how did you reach that conclusion?

[text] un: enkidu

[enkidoh]

i do not know if friendship is unusual to you, but you might have made a platonic friend.

[And just to clear this up...]it is important to not mistake this friend for a boy friend.

[darkcharge]

[ Van won't respond to this in its entirety... Because if he says something like "I don't have friends" or "I don't do friendship" it will be painfully obvious. ]

The "boy friend" part won't happen. Though I'm not sure that this qualifies as "platonic friendship" either.

[itsjiaheng]

uhuhu
you caught some feelings huh~

[darkcharge]

I've always had feelings. Who doesn't.

[ Just not these sorts of feelings. Rude! ]

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose isn’t sure who exactly sent out this message, but she has a few ideas.]

[If she’s right, this might be fun. If she’s wrong, this will probably still be fun.]

Congratulations, you have emotions.

Now you can be as miserable as the rest of us.

[darkcharge]

[ Go away Rose. ]

Like I said to the genius above, I've always had emotions. That isn't in question here.

text | un: wangxian

[taciturnly]

( okay, lan wangji never felt the urge to throttle anyone for absolutely no reason, but. widely different situations, widely different people, and yet this sounds oddly familiar. )

There are worse fates than compassion.

[darkcharge]

So you're telling me wanting to go out and beat down a whole bunch of people - people I probably already know - is showing compassion.

text; un: sylphid

[sylphid]

did you hit your head recently?

[darkcharge]

No, but if I had then this would be much easier to explain away.

text | un: ven

[callmeven]

it sounds like you really care about them a lot!

there's nothing wrong with that

[darkcharge]

[ Augh... Ventus. ]

There's so much wrong with that but I'm not even going to explain why.

text | un: reddeer

[rightfoot]

Sounds like you're in like with someone.

[darkcharge]

Define "like." I maybe can admit that I don't dislike them at the very least.

un: shiro

[blackbonded]

You care for them.

[darkcharge]

[ So, so many people are saying this. Maybe it is true, but he's wanted to avoid that? ]

Just what defines "caring" for you people?

text;

[unsundered]

[Normally, Emet-Selch reads these sorts of things and moves on. The incidental whinings and small-talks from the residents of the city held no interest for him.

Something about the tone, though- the way words are emphasized. The language. The style. Even the topic. Especially the topic, considering it's about the confusion of emotions. He can hear Vanitas' voice in it. The real question was who this was about.

So, curious, he responds.]

'Tis only natural to wish to harm those who've harmed yours. Whether the object of your protection can take care of it themselves is irrelevant. Unnecessary, perhaps, irrational, likely- but natural all the same.

If you feel they would do the same for you... then you could see your response as an expression of a pact towards mutual vengeance. Perhaps you or they can handle things as they are now- but that may not always be the case. Or perhaps some targets are too personal to be handled alone, and require an outsider's touch to remedy.

[He's not sure he wants to touch the latter question....]

[darkcharge]

[ He is fully aware that some people might be able to figure this out. Emet-Selch is definitely one of those people. Vanitas had relied upon the old man just thinking it's someone's trifle little problem and move on without being interested.

But of course it doesn't work out that way. ]

I know they'd do the same and I've seen them do it for others. Not sure I'd call it a pact, but rather that's just who they are. It's never been who I am.

Between you and me this does require an "outsider's touch" because everyone was too blinded by their own stupidity.

text | un: kiva

[kivatteru]

It's very likely, as other people here said, that you are developing feelings of fondness and protective instinct towards this person. You don't want to see them hurt or upset, so you want to do everything in your power to eliminate the situation that had them in that state.

If I can suggest something... you should hold onto this feeling. It's a positive one that will gain you experience and, more importantly, a friend you can form an important bond with.

For clarification, I don't mean bond as part of the system here. Just a simple one with no given obligations or limits. People can form those an indefinite amount of times.

1/2

[darkcharge]

[ Okay, okay. So some of that makes sense. Vanitas would probably eliminate the situation if he could but because that's clearly the solution. Does that really qualify as protective?

He thinks about it and the examples that he's seen. Vanitas hadn't thought it the same as when Aqua and Ventus would have done anything to "save" those they hold close. But... How different is it really? Aqua would have immediately put Vanitas down even here if he had continued to be a threat.

And doesn't their protective nature for each other stem from fondness? So, perhaps, it's not such a stretch.

Augh. To think that he'd share any commonality with them. ]

[fiddlestick]

[This post is oddly adorable. It reminds him a little other other people learning what feelings are. ]

I think it means you're growing a little as a person. You're either learning empathy or you care about someone. It's not a bad thing!

[darkcharge]

[ :[ !!!! ]

How is this not a bad thing.

text; un: vivelafrance

[thejoyrider]

[Nope, she doesn’t catch whose post is this. But it doesn’t matter, since she would have reacted in similar way no matter who it was]

That’s... normal? You do not want to see a friend hurt

[No, really, what was this person’s problem? Marie cannot tell...]

[darkcharge]

[ Marie... Marie please. ]

The topic of friendship was never discussed.

text; un: lanceylance

[loverboi]

welcome to the power of friendship, buddy.

lance no

[darkcharge]

[ WRONG PHRASE TO USE. ]

No.

text; (network name: "Stiles")

[mensrea]

I thought you were just a troll, but I glanced through the other responses. Either you're really dedicated to maintaining the act, or you're the sorriest bastard in this city.

[darkcharge]

And you can see yourself out, thanks.

text. un: triskele

[scyldig]

[ squints... at this whole thing... ]

Just how old are you?

[darkcharge]

If I am being perfectly honest?

No idea.

text; un: kadaj

[aremnant]

You should get rid of them. :)

[darkcharge]

[ Now there's a response Vanitas himself might have given. Before this, that is. ]

Nah. Too much effort.

[ And too many allies. ]

text; un: kor

[spirialink]

Isn't it obvious? Of course you want to fight for your friends. There's no feeling worse than being unable to support your friends.

[darkcharge]

It wasn’t all that obvious to me. Wanting to have anything to do with people in general is foreign to me.

un: aqua

[lightblooming]

It sounds like you really care about this person - that you don't want to see them hurt.

[darkcharge]

So it may appear. Then when and how still isn’t clear to me.

text; un: braveheart

[shadowsthedawn]

[Here are the answers to all your questions Van Anon, in handy list format.]

1) You care about them enough to want to protect them. It doesn't matter if they're strong enough to handle it themselves because they shouldn't have to when you're around to do it for them.

2) I'm assuming the look they had was something bad? Or sad? You don't want to see that kind of look on their face because, again, you care about them and want them to be happy always.

1/2

[darkcharge]

[ Wow. Another who is actually taking the time to explain rather than just point out an answer with no evidence to back their claims up. And some of it makes sense, he supposes. Though Vanitas wonders if it is less ‘he’s around’ and more ‘she shouldn’t have to deal with it.’ Because she shouldn’t. She has enough to deal with.

And Van doesn’t know it is that he wants to see her happy... But definitely not upset for similar reasons as above ]

[wordsinthesoul]

It sounds as though you want to protect them. It's not an uncommon feeling.

[darkcharge]

Not uncommon for who, exactly?

[escardos]

oh!!!!!!!!!! i know this!!!!!

you want to protect them!

you made a friend!!!!!

[darkcharge]

That’s your answer? That I made a friend?