Shiki and Ventus are gone. Well, Ventus has been gone for awhile, but with Shiki gone I'm free to do what I want. I have all his resources at my disposal. 

Roxas, let's have some fun. Let's make sure we live

[Vanitas is relaxing on the deck of the Golden Lion's ship. He has no idea where they are, as he let Shiki make all the choices. And he doesn't know much about sailing. But the sun feels nice, and Vanitas has never really relaxed before]

Well, that navy invasion was fun to deal with. Almost as fun as the summit, had a lot of good fights there.

Except now I'm bored.

What's fun to do on the sea?

[The usual red cursive pops up onto the journals after who knows, or who cares, how long.]

This may be a private question, so feel free to not answer if you're uncomfortable.

Has anyone experienced the sting of heartache, and yet found someone to give your battered heart to after a long drought? If you haven't, then do you think you ever will?

Gotta say, anybody who goes by 'the Bloody' is just overcompensating.

[someone was almost the target of forcible recruiting on Isla Empieza. And by almost we clearly mean, beat the ever-loving crap out of the poor pirates who were sent after him.]

But it's interesting. Between that guy making a ruckus on Empieza, and the ones that banded together to ambush us last month, the local pirates have been stirred up. Wonder what's behind that.

So more than one crew got hit, I hear. Not just us and the Spades at Serenes, but Hazmats too? They got lucky that so many of us were in one spot, but it's more than just lucky if they managed to find all the outsider crews. Any of the rest of you come up against something metal that drains your strength? Guess they call it annuler or something.

I'm training to withstand it. If it's possible, I'll find a way.

[and that's going about exactly the way anyone would expect it to go. i.e. terribly.]

Maybe I'll have some progress to show at the summit over the weekend.

[no, he really won't.]

 Let it be known...

*Oh dear. Judging by the drawl of Faye's voice, she's a rather unhappy woman indeed*

..that if a person doesn't use a sword, or even magic, in a fight, that doesn't mean they aren't strong. A person can cause serious damage with a gun. Or a fist. Or a hard roundhouse kick to the face.

*There's a pause as Faye takes a rather frustrated drag of her cigarette, frowning as she breathes out smoke*

Equally, chaos can be caused without violence too. It's amazing what can be done with a pair of pretty eyes and a smooth tongue.

*Double entendre that last one, if you please...*

So. Don't forget the pain that a nice girl with a pair of guns can cause. It might land you in serious trouble.

*Oops. Sounds like Faye overheard two of her crew discussing the strength and power of the members of the Roses. And yet neither of them even thought to mention the woman on board who's a great shot. Hmmph*

[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.]

[After glancing around town and staying on the beach for a stretch, it's a while before Ventus finally turns his attention to the strange book he woke up with. He flips through it once more, again finding it blank save for that enigmatic entry, but this time he and his curiosity are a little more lucid. He turns it this way and that, tries closing and opening it at random pages, but all in all it doesn't hit him as anything special. So he leaves it open beside him, unaware that it hears him when he speaks.]

It's been so long... At least, I think it has. [It feels like it. And for the most part, feelings are all he has to go on.] It's... kind of weird, not having anyone close by.

[A beat, and then a sigh and the sound of something heavy hitting the sand.]

I'm not sure where to start. Why am I here?

[He doesn't sound sad, necessarily -- just tired, puzzled and probably really familiar to some of you. After a moment, though, he makes a disgruntled noise.] Ahh, but what am I moping for? [More movement, like he's sitting up, and then his tone's a bit brighter.] I'll just go back to town and... figure something out. Like always.

[SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN. His only plan, but a plan.]