[Voice]

[vanitas_veci]

[Gazing down at the book in his hand, he frowns. He's not anxious to work for someone else again, after being freed from Xehanort's influence, but he knows he has to get stronger.]

My name is Vanitas. I wield a Keyblade and I am the student of the greatest Keyblade Master there ever was; Master Xehanort. I'm looking to join the crew with the strongest fighters.

[Ends there, because, obviously, nothing else needs to be said. Everyone knows the more badass you are, the less you say.]

Comments

[makingfriends]

I was enough before. And just like last time, I'll do whatever it takes.

[Not just for Terra and Aqua this time, but because it's his duty -- and because, in a way, Vanitas is his responsibility. At least, that's how he feels.]

[vanitas_veci]

I don't know... while I was fighting you in our heart, I was also fighting Aqua and the King... in your body.

[A lot of this might be talk, but you never know...]

[makingfriends]

[The pause is so heavy you could cut it with a knife.]

You...

You're lying!

[no, no, nonono he has no memory of that so it can't be true right this is just a suckerpunch to try and undermine his confidence or...]

[vanitas_veci]

Have I ever lied to you?

[Tries to think back... Nope, telling the Ventus the truth was always the best way to get reactions out of him from what he recalls]

Technically it's my body too.

[Like they share a heart... ugh, maybe he should stop this line of thought]

[makingfriends]

It is not!

[The retort comes without a hitch, but underneath it there's a mess of flickering emotions -- fear, shame, doubt, anger, disappointment, regret, and concern for Aqua that's laced with unspoken apology and an almost numbing sense of disgrace and something perilously close to self-loathing.

He's determined not to let it show -- not to let Vanitas know how badly he's been rattled, even if he tells himself that he can't just believe everything this jerk says -- but it's futile, anyway the fact that he doesn't say anything, that he can't think of anything, might give it away.]

[vanitas_veci]

[You probably don't need to see him to know Vanitas is smirking. He feels vindicated and satisfied with the encounter. He knows he can't beat Ventus in a fight, but the truth and words seem to work even better.]

You know I'm right.

Anyways, I think I'll be going now. I have a crew to find.

Get stronger, Ventus, because the next time we meet I'll be even stronger. And I would hate to have loose easily.

[makingfriends]

[Ven hesitates, but only for a few seconds.

And this time he's the one to slam the book shut and end the conversation there.]