derping: (•event• Lead in my gut not in my spine)
Sora ([personal profile] derping) wrote in [community profile] towerofanimus2012-09-17 05:34 pm

hey, are you listening, what is the sound-

Characters: Sora (in Vanitas' body), AU!Vanitas, AU!Terra, and OPEN.
Setting: Dorm floors and Floor 25
Format: Starting with action, but I will follow your lead!
Summary: Sora awakens in Vanitas' body, and has a tough time dealing with all that it entails.
Warnings: Darkness issues; otherwise, nothing too serious. Will update if that changes.
Notes: Comments may come from [profile] forgingoblivon.



From Room 1-06 to the 4th Dorm Floor - Locked to AU!Vanitas

[There were many things wrong when Sora woke up that morning. There was a long list of details that were out of place and all too easy to notice. He wasn't in his bed, for one, and he wasn't in his room, either. A quick look at his hands would reveal that they were covered, along with the rest of him, in the black and red material of an all-too-familiar (but certainly not his) outfit. His limbs were a little too long and, though his body was similar, a lot of the details felt a bit off, as if - and there was no way he could phrase it this way to himself - he just hadn't grown into them yet.

None of these, however, were what he noticed when he first opened his eyes.

Instead, he woke up feeling...sick. That wasn't exactly the right word, though. It was an overwhelming sort of wrongness, as if something important was missing and nothing but a void had appeared to take it's place. He kept reaching for it, but "it", whatever it was, stayed too far away to feel. His thoughts, his feelings, his heart, they all felt...wrong.

So he sat upright in bed, one look at his outfit enough to confirm what he had already begun to fear. It had happened again. He looked like Vanitas. Only this time it felt a whole lot worse, somehow.

What had happened? What was going on? He didn't know what to do. It dawned on him that he was scared. Panicking a little, even. He had to do something, anything.

So he ran. Out of the room, down the hallway, to the stairs, wanting to keep going until he can't anymore but realizing that no, he can't, because that's a bad idea for a lot of reasons and he knows it. So he forces himself to stop, stepping out into the hallway of the fourth dorm floor and trying to focus, to make his mind calm down. But it doesn't. His thoughts are a whirl of fear and negativity and a sense of being lost. No matter what, calm - the sort of calm he's used to, at least - is beyond him.]


After the conversation with AU!Vanitas - locked to Terra.

[That hadn't helped. At all.

The passage of time was only making him feel worse, and he didn't know what else to do. It wasn't as simple as just being worried; it was feeling awful, and feeling as if there was no other he could feel. The only thing that he had figured out for sure was that he couldn't figure this out alone. He needed one of his friends.

So that's how he ended up at the door of Riku's door, knocking as hard as he can (except this body he a lot stronger, he's realizing, so he should maybe be more careful) and sounding just as panicked as he feels when he speaks.]


Riku, are you there? I need to talk to you!

Meadow (Floor 25), open to all!

[Even if his own body and heart didn't feel familiar, at least he had spent enough time here - among friends, especially - that the place did. It was still impossible to describe what was going through his head. Sora wanted to calm down, to cheer himself up with the thought that this wasn't just happening to him, that there would be a way to fix this soon. But, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make himself feel that way.

Right now, being angry was a lot easier. A relief, even, because it felt more natural. He was angry at the tower, at Jason, who probably caused this. He was at Vanitas for...well, for a lot of reasons, but right now mostly because he was an easy, obvious target. But he tried not to indulge this anger too much, either. There was no telling what would happen if he let his emotions spiral out of control right now, but he didn't feel like it could lead anywhere good.

He had placed Vanitas' mask nearby, and every now and then he reaches over, wanting to put it on out of...habit? That's what it felt like, but it definitely wasn't his habit. Otherwise, he's mostly just staring out into empty space, trying to figure out what to do with himself.]


shore_leave: (pic#4760606)

Riku's Room | 1/2

[personal profile] shore_leave 2012-09-18 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Probably a good thing he had eventually returned to Riku's room and try to memorize the feel of his heart (and try to calm it the hell down, he's not here because he wants to be), otherwise he would have entirely missed the knock.

The voice sends a shiver up his spine, but... why would Vanitas ask for Riku while sounding like a scared kid? It didn't make sense.

Unless this was a friend of Riku's that ended up in Vanitas's body. In which case... this was going to be very, very confusing.

Well. Opening the door-- don't mind the wary look on his face. All of that negativity in Vanitas's heart puts him on edge.]
Can I--
shore_leave: (pic#4774362)

2/2

[personal profile] shore_leave 2012-09-18 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
[... that face. Not once has he ever seen Vanitas's face, so seeing Sora's face with those colors has made what little color he has on his face drain away.] ... Riku's... not here right now.

[Light above, why did he have to look like Sora? And sound like Sora-- ... wait.

Sound like Sora. Who is Riku's best friend. Calm down, Terra. It doesn't hurt to ask, especially given whose face he's wearing.]
... Sora?
Edited 2012-09-18 02:06 (UTC)
forgingoblivion: (face • Disbelief)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
[He should have been expecting the shock on Riku's face when he opened the door, but Sora hadn't really thought this through, so it catches him off guard. The guilty feeling, though maybe not as strong as it would be if Sora had his own heart, hit almost instantly, leading to an expression that Terra would not expect to see from someone like Vanitas.

Still, a lot of what Terra said - especially the "Riku's not here" part - went right over his head for the time being, since he's too distracted to process everything perfectly. But he nods when he hears his name, releaved that Riku figured it out.]


Yeah. Something's...wrong.

[To put it lightly.]
worldlycheckmate: (bored ♛ in your eyes)

gods why does everyone pick where his shadow appeared- meadow.

[personal profile] worldlycheckmate 2012-09-18 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
[He tended to avoid this floor for his own reasons now, especially since he could remember well what happened here the last time. And yet he could not find a real reason to be concerned by it. Instead he was just... indifferent? Lelouch's emotions made no sense compared to his, and he was beginning to worry about what would come to be because of it.

that was when he recognized the suit, but instead of the white lines it was...red? What even?

Yeah, he's going to be wary of this and possibly keep a hand close to where he kept a certain pistol on him... just in case.

What the hell?]
shore_leave: (pic#4760607)

[personal profile] shore_leave 2012-09-18 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
[... definitely not an expression that would ever appear on Vanitas's face. The fact that he answered to Sora's name helps put Terra slightly at ease.

Only slightly.

He had to bite his tongue to keep himself from using what he's sure would've been an inappropriate quip, given Sora's current mood.

It takes him almost a full minute to compose himself; he closes his eyes, hangs his head slightly and takes a deep breath, trying to keep in mind that this is Sora and not Vanitas.]
That's an understatement.

[Right. Professional. Straight to the point. He can do this. Keep it together, Terra, you have a scared Sora that needs answers.] You're not the only one affected by this. A lot of people have woken up in a body that doesn't belong to them; not surprising, given who's in charge this month. I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
forgingoblivion: (face • You burn and burn)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Sitting here wasn't helping, either. In fact, Sora just found himself getting restless. He wanted to do something - to fight, maybe, for some reason? - but he wasn't sure if he should. Nervously he looked around, trying to settle on some comfortable line of thought when he realized that he wasn't alone.

But this wasn't someone he recognized. Or...maybe it was someone he should have recognized, but he couldn't tell. So Sora just stares, finding that a lot of his comfort with (or, to be honest, his desire to) approaching strangers is lacking.

He stands up, absentmindly picking up the mask when he does, and tries to tell himself that he should at least say something.]


...Hello?
worldlycheckmate: (shock ♛ i can't win)

[personal profile] worldlycheckmate 2012-09-18 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
[Okay, that one word got him to pause. It did not quite(?) have the same tone as Vanitas, just like he didn't have the same inflections as Lelouch... This was going to be confusing as hell-]

...Sora? Is that-?

[]

[...Pretty much what is going on in his head right now.]
forgingoblivion: (face • Sometimes I Wonder...)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
[That minute feels like ten to Sora, each second dragging out while he wonders if something might be wrong. But he listens, and waits, even though patience isn't coming easily to him right now.

But still, listening makes him feel a little bit better, if only because of who (or, at least, who he thinks) is saying it.]


So...it's happening to a lot of people right now?

[Maybe he should have figured out that much on his own, after running into the other Riku who...wasn't really the other Riku. But in the state he's in right now, having it spelled out is helpful.]

I guess no one knows how to fix it yet, huh?
shore_leave: (pic#4760603)

[personal profile] shore_leave 2012-09-18 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. I don't know how many of us it's hit, but there was a lot of activity on the network when we checked. [He lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding and runs a hand back through his hair in an attempt to get the shaggy mess of silver out of his eyes.

They fall back, and he looks irritated for half a second. This... wasn't going to work.

Well. Going to just lean against the door frame, cross his arms, and shake his head.]
Not yet; people are still trying to figure out what's going on. It might take a couple of days to figure out how to get back to normal.

['Maybe Jason left behind some kind of trace. Anything to give us a clue about how he did this...' He'll have to make his way up to a lab or see if anyone has built a working bio-chemical scanner.]
forgingoblivion: (face • Familiar Face)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
Ah...yeah, it's me.

[Okay, so it WAS someone who knew him. Honestly, he was glad to have some company, even if his new darkness-filled heart was trying to tell him he shouldn't be. The more help he got, the better.

Now the only problem was figuring out who this was. Which was easy enough to do the old fashioned way.]


But I...don't recognize you. I mean, I can't tell who you really are.

[If there was any doubt left that this was Sora, that derpy confused look he has right now should help in easing it.]
worldlycheckmate: (glasses ♛ let me have what's left)

[personal profile] worldlycheckmate 2012-09-18 04:03 am (UTC)(link)
[THANK ALL OF THE GODS IN ALL OF THE PANTHEONS. No seriously, because uh... not an athletic body and he's almost completely defenseless like this? It would definitely be a bad time for him to run into the actual Vanitas.]

...It's Yu Narukami.

[He sighs, and if the way he's holding himself is any indication.... he's being honest? Because yeah, forget staying in character around a friend. This was ridiculous.]
forgingoblivion: (face • A Certain Void)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
So I just have to wait it out again, huh.

[It wasn't the first time he had been stuck looking like Vanitas, though it was something he had hoped he would never have to relive. But the way he looked right now was less of a problem than how he felt. How he couldn't feel, too.

He wasn't sure how to deal with this for another minute, much less another few days.]


But I don't just look like him. Everything feels...really off. I don't know what's going on.

[Unfortunately, he doesn't know how else to describe it - he doesn't know much about what Darkness and Light even are, much less how to tell them apart.]
forgingoblivion: (face • Vanish)

there are no appropriate icons for smiling Vanitas, okay

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
Yu?

[Though Sora doesn't light up the way he usually would, he definitely gets excited...or, close to it, anyway. This is a friend he's happy to see right now.]

Boy, am I glad to see you!

[He tries to sound as enthusiastic as usual and...fails a bit. But he really is happy, okay?]

It's been a long day.
shore_leave: (pic#4761024)

[personal profile] shore_leave 2012-09-18 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
For now. [His expression says 'I don't like this any more than you do.' And he doesn't. He plans on figuring out how to fix this, but he'll need help.

But he sure sees the appeal of punching Jason in the face now.]


[Oh... oh, Sora. His eyes widen slightly as he inhales sharply from surprise at hearing that. The shock turns to an odd look; hesitation and sadness, and... something else. Sympathy? He... isn't sure how to explain this, either. But in the end, he decides to stick with what he's been doing; just tell the truth as he knows it.

There's some guilt entering that expression now, too.]
... It's probably his heart doing it. I doubt you're used to handling so much darkness; even a little bit can throw you off if you're not careful. Dealing with a heart that's nothing but darkness...

[... now he really wants to fix this.]
forgingoblivion: (face • Other Memories)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
So that's what it is.

[Darkness. Calling it that seemed to explain things a bit, even though he had nothing even close to a full understanding.]

I had no idea.

[About Vanitas' heart, about what darkness felt like, about...a lot of things. That meant that what was missing, right now, must be light. Maybe that's what makes him feel the way he usually does, and not like this, as if every thought or emotion is the start of a chaotic downward spiral.]

Where did you find that out about his heart, anyway, Riku?

[...by the way, guess who never quite figured out that you aren't his best bro?]
shore_leave: (O O what?!)

1/?

[personal profile] shore_leave 2012-09-18 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
[... did he just--]
shore_leave: (/palmface)

2/?

[personal profile] shore_leave 2012-09-18 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
[He did, didn't he? Sora, did you not hear him say--]
shore_leave: (Give me a break Aqua...)

3/3

[personal profile] shore_leave 2012-09-18 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
[... okay. Breathe. Remember how panicked Sora was. He... probably didn't hear that part.] I'm not Riku, I'm Terra.

[Did... he really sound like Riku when he talked? Was this a thing he should keep in mind?]
inaquate: (SHIT IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE)

[personal profile] inaquate 2012-09-18 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
[Time to take a break. He's starting to get the hang of moving around with a lower centre of gravity and wider hips. He doesn't look so strange walking anymore, at least, though it's still a bit stiff as he hasn't mastered the stride yet. The meadow is convenient, if nothing else...

... until he sees an all-too familiar face there. He stops, not certain if he should be concerned - if it's really Vanitas, or if it's someone in Vanitas' body...]

... who...
lamentless: (hmph)

dat meadow

[personal profile] lamentless 2012-09-18 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
[Roxas body was almost completely dumb to sensing Light and Darkness-- Ven's ability wasn't as developed as Aqua's or Xehanort's, but it still felt like he'd just lost one of his sense. He had lost his connection to Vanitas as well; which was... just as well, really.

Which is why when he sees Vanitas in the Meadow, his anger and defensive response was much... less than it usually was. Still there! But enough to give Ven room to think that hey-- it might not be Vanitas. And whoever was stuck in Vanitas' body.... was, unfortunate.

It's half out of a sense of duty and responsibility that still remains that he steps onto the floor, though it's with extreme caution, and he remains a good amount of feet away from the other.]


Are you Vanitas...? Or someone else?

[At least, the real Vanitas would be too full of himself to pretend to be someone else.]
worldlycheckmate: (smile ♛ begins to rise)

it's okay I had to glitch mine--

[personal profile] worldlycheckmate 2012-09-18 09:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Yeah, Yu is just going to take Sora's word on that one because you still look a tad bit menacing there, student. He nods, chuckling. At the very least, he still has the same voice- not many of the traits of his less-than-sane 'twin' have begun to surface.]

I can tell. [His gaze softens slightly.] How are you holding up?
endinsentiment: (◘ {Time Passing} ◘ [event])

ahahaha okay let's do this shit

[personal profile] endinsentiment 2012-09-18 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[He doesn't--]

[Understand. What it means when he can walk over to himself, sit down in front of the other, all fumbling motions and crossed legs and he's so small again.]

[He's not angry. He's not scared or worried or-- perhaps a tad worried. But the fact that a slight sensation of anxiety is all that's there keeps a crease in his brow, Sora's expression far older than anything that's appeared on his face before. It takes one look at his own expression to understand what he's feeling, but his answer to Sora's troubles probably isn't helpful at all.]


You'll get used to it.
forgingoblivion: (face • And tear your soul apart)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
What? You're not Riku?!

[Why yes, Sora. He did just say that, didn't he?

...his expression right now can only be described as some sort of shocked and sad kicked-puppy stare.

Didn't think Vanitas could make a face like that? WELL HE CAN NOW. Excuse Sora while he just kind of. Slumps.]


I...didn't even notice.
forgingoblivion: (face • Sometimes I Wonder...)

Re: it's okay I had to glitch mine--

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I've, um...been better.

[It's hard to keep the traits of his 'twin' in check, and that has nothing to do with the memory bleed. With nothing but darkness in his heart, it's an uphill battle to make himself act normal when even feeling the way he usually does is impossible.

It would be a lot easier to hate Yu right now than to think of him as a friend. But he won't let himself do that. Not if he can help it.]


Let's just say I'm not really feeling like myself.
Edited 2012-09-18 16:57 (UTC)
forgingoblivion: (face • You burn and burn)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[The familiar voice catches Sora's attention, and he searches for the source, thankful for the distraction. And it is someone he knows...and hasn't seen in a long while. Or, at least, it looks like her. Right now, it's impossible to know for sure.

Was this really Aqua? Or somebody else?

He doesn't stand, but he tenses, finding it easier to be suspicious right now than cautiously optimistic.]


...Aqua?
forgingoblivion: (face • The Reveal)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[Roxas' senses may not have been strong, but Vanitas' were, especially when it came to this particular heart. Sora wasn't used to it, so he couldn't define what he was sensing right away, but he could tell that someone important. It was...different than it should have been, somehow? But what was...?

Ventus.

That's what he was sensing, but he didn't know how he knew that. It wasn't long after he figured out what was going on that Sora heard him, and tried to figure out what to say. For that matter, who was this? Those were Roxas' clothes, but he couldn't be sure.

Considering who he looked like right now, though, it might be more important to explain himself first. He shakes his head.]


I'm not Vanitas. I'm Sora.
forgingoblivion: (face • Reconsidering)

aw yeah

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-18 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[Meanwhile, Sora is angry.

All of his efforts to calm himself down amount to nothing when he sees his own body sitting down across from him, knowing full well who's in there right now, and he can sense what he knows is his own heart and he wants it back and he wants to-

To not finish that sentence, for one. For another...]


I don't think I want to.
shore_leave: (/palmface)

[personal profile] shore_leave 2012-09-18 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
No, I'm not. [... seriously? You didn't--

... not the Sad/Kicked Puppy stare. He hates it; Ven's a master of it, but this rendition isn't any less powerful. Somehow.]
I'm sorry; I wasn't trying to trick you.

[A pause, and a head-tilt.] ... do we really sound that much alike?
Edited 2012-09-18 23:25 (UTC)
keymains: (Nuuuu)

[personal profile] keymains 2012-09-19 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
[And here we have the body of AU Vanitas, except... Vanitas usually doesn't look extremely cautious and uncomfortable. But here, this 'Vanitas' appears to be clutching onto his chest and sluggishly limping towards his lookalike. The meadow floor is peaceful, so it's strange to see another Vanitas there, but... who's to say that it's him? He could've just as easily switched, too.

It's worth a shot, at any rate.]


Are you-- you're not... Vanitas, right?
Edited 2012-09-19 02:38 (UTC)
forgingoblivion: (face • Good Times)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-19 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
[A deep breath, and he shakes his head.]

Nah, don't be sorry. I'm the one who wasn't paying attention.

[But did they really sound all that alike? Maybe, but that couldn't be the only reason why he didn't even think about whether or not this was happening to Riku, too. Even Sora would admit - to himself, at least - that he could be a little slow every now and then, but this...there was more to it than that. He was having so much trouble calming down and thinking right now that he was going on autopilot, and there was no way that could be a good thing.

...they did sound the same, though.]


I really couldn't tell, though!

[But considering his state of mind right now, take that with a grain of salt.]
keychanged: (Are you  that stupid?)

[personal profile] keychanged 2012-09-19 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well, if it isn't Sora's lucky day. Vanitas woke up that morning and realized that he was in the body of his world's Riku, but due to his downtime? He's become a little bit calmer, but not by much. He knows complacency will only be his downfall.

So, perhaps it's a chance that Sora will run into "Riku" as he raises his hand and waves at the kid in front of him. ]


What's with the long look, huh? Found out someone drowned your goldfish?
forgingoblivion: (face • Other Memories)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-19 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Considering all of the current...happenings...the last thing Sora expected to see when he looked was Vanitas. It took him a minute to remember that there were two around, and that the other one had switched with...oh!]

Riku?

[Was it? He hoped so! But it takes Sora a few seconds to remember that he had a question to answer.]

I mean...nah, I'm not Vanitas.
forgingoblivion: (face • Disbelief)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-19 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
[Sora was essentially frozen in place by this point, staring at a fixed point on the wall and trying to get a grip.

What in the world was wrong with him, anyway? He was scared and confused and it felt like he COULDN'T be anything else. Except maybe upset. But there was no way that was possible, right?

He was just overreacting. He had to stop, figure out a way to fix things, but...

That's when he hears a familiar voice, and tears his eyes away from that spot on the wall.]


...Riku?
inaquate: (think unsexy thoughts)

[personal profile] inaquate 2012-09-19 11:10 am (UTC)(link)
[It's clearly not Vanitas, judging from the reaction. He's not sure if that's better or worse.]

One could ask the same... although it's quite plain that you're not Vanitas.
keymains: (creeeepering)

[personal profile] keymains 2012-09-19 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
...yeah. It's me.

[Sigh. At least he caught on-- that's always a plus.]

Is that you, Sora?

[It's just a guess. Please, please be true.]
forgingoblivion: (face • Familiar Face)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-20 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
[He shakes his head, then finally stands. Whoever this was, they didn't sound much like Aqua, either.] You've got that right.

So...I guess you're not really Aqua, then, are you?
forgingoblivion: (face • Sometimes I Wonder...)

[personal profile] forgingoblivion 2012-09-20 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
[He laughs, but it doesn't sound nearly as...light as it usually would pun definitely intended.] Yeah. I guess being stuck like this once wasn't enough.

[But at least he wasn't the only one dealing with this. Maybe, between himself and Riku, they could figure out how to handle everything that was going on.]

Kind of crazy that we both ended up stuck like this, huh?

inaquate: (I miss being tall)

[personal profile] inaquate 2012-09-20 10:10 am (UTC)(link)
Unfortunately, not. I'm sorry if you wished to speak with her.
keymains: (hmph)

[personal profile] keymains 2012-09-21 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
Seriously. Jason's sense of humor just got even worse.

[Guh. At least Sora can relate, though. Between the two fo them, they can sort things out. Hopefully.]
worldlycheckmate: (defiance ♛ so sacrifice yourself)

[personal profile] worldlycheckmate 2012-09-21 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[He nods thoughtfully at that. To be honest, he's so used to acting that this was just another mask to him aside from what would likely become of it. Still, he frowns. It was hard to keep the act from him, too... especially since he felt.... empty? Compared to the many voices he was used to, at least.]

I know what you mean. It's hard to feel like yourself in a body that isn't yours.
inaquate: (I miss being tall)

[personal profile] inaquate 2012-09-24 11:14 am (UTC)(link)
Which Sora do you mean?

[He knows both of the Soras, but which one this is will definitely colour the future of this conversation.]