snowblindrpg | [log] It's ice to meet you [open?]

[ Hearing the laughter is nice- and beyond that, it's a good sign. The comment makes him snort in amusement. ]

Oh good. I was worried. Guess I'd better be on my best behavior now, huh?

[ It wouldn't be bad to try this again with Gabriel can actually do it properly. He hesitates for a moment and then carefully removes his hands and steps out of the hug. ]

You can start off by telling me how you died.

[ He's just full of demands. ]

[ He is, isn't he? Well, that's just fine. He figured he'd get interrogated by Vanitas, once the kid was himself again. ]

I was murdered by someone who'd just revived. His death price made him stabby. I swear the hospital's bad luck for me.

[ And they were probably going to end up there tonight unless they booked it to the pharmacy. Ugh. ]

[ It's good he added in about the death price, but he's not happy with the news. He's tense again, crossing his arms as he watches him. Looking for any tells that there might be more to it than that. ]

Who?

[ If they got the drop on him and the other two... ]

Did your little procedure make it difficult to defend yourself?

[ He can't see it, but his eyes are narrowing there. He might be able to pick up in his voice just how he feels about that tidbit. ]

[ He'd been working up to the name, but the last question stops him in his tracks. Sometimes having clever friends can be obnoxious. He glances down at his hands before he replies. ]

I doubt it would've made a difference anyway, but- yeah. I had a chance to maybe pop his eyeball out and my hand stopped.

It was Hannibal Lecter.

[ If only he was one to curse... because he would be cursing now. Balling his hands into fists and squeezing tight. ]

Will you undo it?

[ His tone is cold. Whatever Gabriel decides, he'll respect in the end, even if he thinks it's completely stupid. But it still makes him angry. It still bothers him. ]

[ The question trips him up more than anything else. Would he dare? Maybe he'd be safe enough- maybe he's had enough of a break that he wouldn't be dangerous anymore. But his memory flicks back to Elle's body on the beach, burning in a pyre he made with her own power. ]

I- I don't know. [ The worst answer ever. ] I'll think about it.

[ It is the worst answer, but he's not going to push it. ]

Alright.

[ It bothers him because it means he can't actually defend himself against anyone who might set out to hurt him. Or anyone controlled. ]

I'll stick around then.

What, to babysit me?

[ The question isn't really accusatory, because he's done this to himself. He does sound a little tired. ]

I mean, I appreciate it. But I'd want you around anyway. You know that, right?

[ It's not something they tend to state out loud too much, though, so he does move on. Probably to something Vanitas doesn't want to talk about. ]

So what happened to you? Nobody knew where you went.

[ He almost wants to laugh at that. Babysitting would be a way to put it, but it's not right. He's already thinking about what he's shared on the network already with people he didn't want to share with. Gabriel confirming he wants him around does merit the truth.

But first the easier of the two topics. ]

An Anomaly got the drop on me. [ Not that it needed to surprise him to take him out. Ducking his head as he wrestles with the right wording. ]

I'm staying because I don't want anyone taking you away from me.

[ Gabriel's actually rendered speechless for a moment as that sinks in, but the smile on his face probably says everything he wants to, anyway. It's not at all like the innocent nerdy glee he tends to share with Al, but also more honest than his usual smirk.

It's really, really good to be wanted.

Eventually, he does look down and carefully remove the Wayfinder charm from around his neck. ]

Guess I can give this back to you, then. Since we're sticking together.

[ Yes, he had considered holding it hostage if Vanitas was thinking of bolting. What? ]

[ It feels like it's been a long time since he felt glad to actually give a piece of himself up. Gabriel makes it easier and the smile is contagious, even if Gabriel can't see it with the helmet. He might be able too figure it out from his posture and how he's starting to drop his guard.

He puts a hand over the Wayfinder, but doesn't take it. Even if they are going to stick with each other, he does like the idea of something else keeping Gabriel close. Just a little longer... ]

I'll take it back in a couple of days.

[ Yeah, Gabriel's gotten rather used to Vanitas' expressions, even when he's wearing the helmet. He can tell they understand each other- especially with what Vanitas says next. Gabriel grins briefly and completely reverses direction, putting the charm back on. ]

Sure thing.

[ That settled, it's time to move onto the important matters. ]

You want some cookies? I picked up some at the convenience store. Don't know if 'Ventus' threw away all your good stuff, but...

[ He laughs at the new, very important topic. ]

I knew that I liked you for a reason.

[ There's a touch of warmth to his words. Gabriel gets him, and it still somewhat surprising, but he's glad for it. It's worth it. ]

Billy managed to dissuade him from taking them all out.

[ It's almost odd to refer to that time as another person... but he can't really say it was him acting on Ven's memories. ]

[ Gabriel suspects it was some odd part of Vanitas locked away, or something to that nature. But when someone's changed that much, it's only fair to act like they're a separate person. He knows how that is. ]

Oh good, glad you didn't lose all your jello. Here-

[ He's leaning backward, reaching for his pack. And before long, he produces a pack of small, dry chocolate chip cookies. They're hardly the first things he'd reach for back home, but here? They're practically a delicacy. ]

Enjoy.

[ Looks like he has to make a choice between keeping the helmet on, and grabbing the cookies.

Cookies win. Pulling it off and snagging the bag. He's still covered in red lines and has red eyes. Opening up the cookies and offering it to him. Look, he'll share as thanks. ]

Not the only thing he almost tossed.

[ Billy had to deal with a lot in that short time before they met up with Gabriel. ]

[ Oh, nice. Gabriel reaches into the back and pulls out a couple. It's also good to see Vanitas' face again, looking like it should. ]

Seriously? What, did you have other snacks that were too delicious for him?

[ He actually has to laugh at that. ]

Not snacks, no. [ Pulling out a cookie himself. ]

He wanted to toss the glass and the condoms.

[ One is a trophy and the other is for trading. Munching on the cookie now, and just kind of smiling at it because it's a cookie. He's had the animals ones, but nothing like this. ]

Ventus spent four years in a small world trying to earn the approval of his friends. They babied him.

[ And the smile drops to something of a frown at that last part. ]

He got a little sheltered, you mean. Yeah, I don't doubt it. I bet he got more of the Disney experience I'm used to seeing.

Glad he didn't toss that stuff. It's all important here.

[ He'd been intending to move on, but the frown does bother him a little. And if Vanitas is willing to talk about Ventus- well, maybe he should. ]

What's up?

[ There's a grin there, remembering Gabriel's reaction to that part of his world. ]

He did hang out with the princesses.

[ Maybe he'll share about Cinderella thinking Ven was a mouse...]

My death price. I forgot all about me and was left with the stupid second-hand memories. [ It's a complicated mix of feelings, but it made him think about the conversation with Kesara when he was sharing too much. ]

[ Gabriel snorts lightly at the first comment, but the second has him dropping his smirk. ]

Yeah. That's got to be pretty confusing. Was it all stuff you remembered about him? Or through him?

[ Working on another cookie as he mulls it over. Like looking at sunlight through a small window, huh? ]

Through him. How much did you see on the network?

[ Trying to figure out how many saw Ventus' conversation with Kesara. ]

Not much. Figured you'd rather talk to me about it yourself.

[ He's somewhat wondering if he should've done that, though- did something happen? Should he have kept a closer eye on 'Ventus'? ]

[ He feels both relief and something else at that. Gabriel wanting to wait for him to play sharing is another reason he likes him. At the same time, that waiting might not have been rewarded if things didn't happen this way. He still misses being able to shove out his emotions in the form of Unversed. ]

He doesn't like remembering our past. A couple people here found that out.

[ It might be more than a couple, but he knows Al wouldn't use it against him. Kesara however... ]

[ A look of a realization crosses Gabriel's face and he frowns. ]

It was during that night that people were interrogating the red-lined. Right. I wasn't really online then, and that was probably a good thing.

[ Or he would've been the one prying secrets out of Vanitas. ]

Did they get anything too bad?

[log] It's ice to meet you [open?]

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cw: discussion of eye gouging

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I'm sorry

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words and Gabriel needs a better buddy

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