Should've called in sick today

[lockandkeyblade]

Who: Sora ( lockandkeyblade) and You!
When: July 18 through the week, Backdated for some threads
Where: various locations
Summary: Sora's been body-swapped with Vanitas! This may or may not end badly. Open to all, as well as to those who've plotted with me beforehand. Feel free to plot with me too, or contact me if you have questions!
Warnings: misunderstandings galore, possibly violence Sora getting punched in the face, cat stealing, and Xigbar in PJs

If Sora had known that an encounter with Vanitas and the old lady would end like this, he probably would have taken the long way home. Or even better, taken the day off. Now he's stuck in a body that is definitely not his (even if his face hasn't changed that much) and who even knows if Vanitas is going through the same. He needs to find his friends, or at least an NV to warn them. He needs to find Vanitas and the one who did this to them. 

But at the moment, he'll be wandering the streets as Vanitas, looking uncharacteristically frazzled compared to the usual. He's got to deal with the more pressing, immediate matter: the unsavory creatures that spawned around him the moment he woke up. Now they're wandering the street in broad daylight running amok.

Anyone walking in the streets today might find themselves accosted by a rather large Wild Bruiser. If they're much luckier, they might run into a more subdued Prize Pod, bobbing around harmlessly when smashed, it gives you cake! They might have things pilfered from them by the Archraven or the Floods.

Either way, whether you run into 'Vanitas' or any other of his Unversed creatures, good luck. Because he knows just as much about stopping them as you do.

Comments

[lockandkeyblade]

Well. First, I was kinda hoping I could take you up on that talk we were thinking about having.

[pullsheavendown]

[He nods, not that Sora can see it.]

Yeah. Sure.

[lockandkeyblade]

And if Vanitas drops by Kahve, you should probably let him in.

I've gotten pretty good at keeping the Unversed under wraps, but they'd probably get worked up if you punched me again.

[pullsheavendown]

[He sighs a little, but he's not surprised.]

I will. And I won't. Unless you make me really mad.

[Bad joke? Bad joke.]

[lockandkeyblade]

[Things don't seem as bad at least, if he's still got room to joke around, right?]

Geeze. Remind me to do a a really good job on the dishes.

[pullsheavendown]

You better.

Meet you there?

[lockandkeyblade]

Meet you there.

[So ends the NV call. Sora will be arriving shortly. In twenty minutes, in fact. He travels fast through the darkness; Sora's always been fit, but Vanitas' body is more so, honed by years of training that Sora's doesn't have.

Soon enough, Roxas will have Vanitas standing outside and looking in, very nearly on his tip toes. He'll be dressed casually in jeans and the hoodie Roxas gave him for his birthday.]

[pullsheavendown]

[It's...weird to see 'Vanitas' out there, looking like Sora and dressed like Sora despite not being Sora. Except he is, really. He hurries over to the entrance and ushers him in, moving quickly to avoid too much of the darkness seeping into the coffeehouse.]

Come on in.

[lockandkeyblade]

Thanks.

[He'll be turning around after Roxas lets him in, placing a hand on the door as Roxas closes it, just to make sure its firmly closed. Never hurts to be sure. Then Sora is wandering inside, rubbing his arms from the chill outside.]

[pullsheavendown]

[He shuts the door firmly behind them, then crosses the room to the coffee bar, where two mugs of cocoa-coffee are waiting for them. Just like the last time.]

Here. Made 'em fresh.

[lockandkeyblade]

[Sora's face lights up in a way that he's probably never seen Vanitas's has.]

Thanks for these too.

[He brings the cup towards him, tilting it a little to see that there's swirls of white from the marshmallows melting in the cocoa. There's more marshmallows than any ordinary person would have a mind to put in there.]

Hey... you remembered!

[pullsheavendown]

[It would be a lie to say that Roxas is completely at ease socializing with Vanitas' body, but with every face he makes that's really Sora's, it gets easier.]

Sure. It's good that way. I tried it, too. See?

[He tilts his mug so Sora can see. They match.]

[lockandkeyblade]

[Only for all his initial delight, he's not in a hurry to start at it. And the fact that Roxas is trying it his way should be even more of an incentive. Somewhere along the way, the smile's given way to a more subdued thoughtfulness. Still grateful... but he's considering his own drink a little too much. His face is a billboard for his feelings even in another body.]

It's probably really sweet. Loads of marshmallows. Lots of sugar. Just the way I like it.

[pullsheavendown]

Just the same as before.

[He's no expert on feelings, never has been, but he knows Sora and he can imagine what it might be like to be in his shoes right now.

He leans against the bar, in no hurry to get to any dirty dishes. He'll follow Sora's lead if it seems like the activity might be a comfort, though. Whatever he needs.]

Your nose doesn't still hurt, does it?

[lockandkeyblade]

[The same as before.

Only Sora isn't the same, really. And his stomach turns a little at the sight of something so sweet. He wants to want it. To enjoy it the way he did before.

Roxas' question allows him an out, and to realize how much he's just been ruminating on a dumb cup of cocoa.]

Huh? Oh, no. Axel used a cure spell back then and it's had a few days for the soreness to go away.

[He'll give Roxas a full fledged grin.]

Besides! I've had hard knocks before. One punch isn't gonna slow me down.

[pullsheavendown]

It was a pretty good punch, though. I put everything into it.

[The smile is encouraging, a sign it's okay to joke a little even though there's not much to joke about. That way, they can at least pretend things are a little more normal.]

You know I wouldn't have punched you if I knew.

[It's not a question.]

[lockandkeyblade]

I know.

[They'll both be gravitating towards the couch. There's a table beside it that Sora will be putting his cocoa down on. He won't be wrapping his fingers around the mug to keep his fingers warm, not like before. He'll also be standing instead of sitting, feeling more comfortable upright and leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. It's more of a habit that he's eventually just settled into (or rather, his body just kept doing what it wanted to do and Sora hadn't known he was along for the ride).]

I wouldn't put it past Vanitas to try something like this either.

[pullsheavendown]

[He hovers for a moment; it seems strange to sit down with Sora looming over him. He settled for hopping up on the arm of the couch.]

I wouldn't either. He's tried to mess with our heads before.

[Sora's worse than some.]

[lockandkeyblade]

Mmm. [A nod of acknowledgement.]

I wouldn't be in a hurry for you to hit me all over again. But later on, after I left? The more I thought about it, the more I felt like it was kind of a good thing.

[He runs his thumb past his nose as if in thought of the memory of the hit.]

[pullsheavendown]

How is that a good thing.

[He gives Sora a puzzled look.]

I mean, it's good that I didn't break it, but...

[lockandkeyblade]

[He's smiling a little.]

Well. For one thing, I learned something new.

[He's pretty sure Roxas knows what he's talking about.]

[pullsheavendown]

[He goes quiet again, looking into his pile of marshmallows and cocoa before taking a sip.]

I guess so.

[lockandkeyblade]

[Seemingly out of the blue.] Thanks, Roxas.

[pullsheavendown]

Huh? What for?

[lockandkeyblade]

You stood up for me.

[Enough, in fact, to give 'Vanitas' one good smack right in the kisser.]