melodiesoflife | #1 Settling in

Entry tags:

#1 Settling in

Characters: Vincent Valentine, Open or Closed depending on prompt.
When:June 9th onward
Summary:Vincent is getting used to life in Aquares Ixen, to being 'human' again, and to a little thing called the Blitzball World cup (and vuvuzelas).
Warnings: None yet?

House A02--Yuffie

Vincent was a surprisingly boring person as a housemate. At least that was his opinion, and Ophelia had been surprised by it too. Given his demeanor and appearance, his moogle had expected something else. She'd expected something far more dramatic anyways, but she'd adapted to him well. Vincent was practical, really. He had his own tastes, but he wasn't there to put on a show for anyone.

Once he'd worked through the memories, in his own way, and dealt with a hysterically worried Ophelia, the gunslinger had started to settle in to life here. He'd chosen the Gunner and Red Mage jobs, and Ophelia had helped him retain his gauntlet. It was as much psychological, as well as physical support, for his weakened left arm. From there, it had been shopping.

Food was first, and clothing that was basic and casual. Sheets, and a note book and pencils. The kitchen was now stocked with basics to do a variety of simple meals, quick and normal. His room and clothing favored the darker-hues, as he did like his red and black and dark blue. Ophelia had aided him, as there was a very nice basket in the bathroom. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, washcloth, brush and comb. And smaller fur-comb and soap, as Ophelia insisted. She'd also made part of her bargain, that Vincent read to her.

So they had books now. More often, if Vincent wasn't out and getting used to his new jobs or wandering around the city getting used to things, he was at home. Often in his room, occasionally in the living room in a chair. Reading to Ophelia from a book she picked out. He didn't do funny voices, or act things out; his tone was dry and businesslike. But Ophelia enjoyed hearing him read, and the little moogle had used it to bargain loaning him some gil.

Aquares Ixen, pre-world cup. Open

Supplies. Learning a new city. Vincent is out and about, dressed casually as he stands out enough otherwise. Dark pants and shirt, medium length dark brown jacket over those. His gauntlet covers his left arm, although the sleeves from the jacket help disguise most of it. His hair is loose but the red bandanna keeps it out of his eyes mostly.

Feel free to approach him. Occasionally a little moogle in a bright red long scarf will zip to him. This is Ophelia, as the two are out buying supplies. He'll be in and out of shops, and the library.

Aquares Ixen during the world cup--daytime. Open

Vincent's out and about again although people are giving him a wider berth. Mostly because in the midst of his shopping, he's had to put up with greater crowds. The crowds are not the issue--it's the horrible sound from the long trumpet-like instruments. He is keeping to himself more, as he tries to pick up normal supplies (weekly groceries, a new book, ammo which is guarded jealously).

He doesn't begrudge people their excitement, and has even tried to figure out what this Blitzball is. So you might be able to find him around food and drink stalls, or watching the artistic matches. He looks more annoyed than usual, given the constant buzzing of vuvuzelas and chatter of excited people.

Aquares Ixen during the world cup--nighttime. Open

The noise has not stopped, even if parts of hit have gone from deafening clamor to dull roar. It's definitely given Vincent headaches, and insomnia. Not that he wasn't prone to insomnia before...but the noise isn't helping.

He really is doing his best to not squash other's excitement though. Even if they're being idiots, so long as they're not causing harm? Not his problem.

It does mean he's prowling around the city, lurking on the edges of roofs though, trying to find quieter spots to just observe things. Keep himself busy. If he spots some of the annoyed losers going to ruin things or make trouble, he's likely to intervene. He might also have dabbled in a least one fight-club (sans gauntlet) as a practical means of getting used to his 'human' body again. He's keeping himself very carefully controlled and disciplined through it all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ophelia didn't know her Hero as well as she would like; he was annoyingly private and closed-lipped. But he was exactly as she had hoped in other ways, when she'd hoped to be offered a chance to be a Hero's companion. Now, while the gun was neat, if he had a sword he'd look perfect, in her mind. She focused on her tea, and tried to ignore the two.

She'd guessed that Yuffie didn't like people prying.

Vincent had no clue to her thoughts, and was vaguely puzzled by her wariness around him. He wasn't mad, nor upset. If he was, it was usually quite obvious even as he was controlled with his other emotions. "What makes you think I'm not being honest with you?" Turning, he pulled the rice from the pan, drained it, and added it to the other ingredients to fry it a bit.

"Because you are avoid the question. Its just like lying." Saying that he was the same as ever just sounds like he's never been happy. At least to Yuffie. She's persistent but not overly bratty like she was usually. She had had a long time to grow up in Crystallis.

Her eyes flicked between Vincent and the rice feeling her hunger grow as the smells filled the kitchen.

Mooshoo was also very focused on his tea.

Vincent rolled his eyes, glad that Yuffie could not see it. This was a sign that she'd grown, as if this had happened during the time-period he knew her from, she would've been more bratty. "I answered you're question. You asked if I was alright." Finishing up the food, and bringing over two carefully balanced bowls of fried-rice and his own mug of tea.

"I am as alright as I ever am." His voice was even, reasonable and logical. "It was not the most pleasant of experiences. I thought about it, and have dealt with it in my own way, so I am alright."

She paused looking at the food and tea for a long moment before picking up the tea. "But are you happy?" Her question was quiet because she knew that Vincent would hide behind his logic. To her he didn't answer the question. He answered other questions and so she decided to be more direct with what she wanted to know.

It's not like Yuffie's shy.

She took a sip of the steaming liquid feeling it fill her torso with heat before lifting her chopsticks from their hiding place.

That made Vincent breathe out in a quiet snort, amused at the question. "That's a different question than what you asked, Yuffie." Definite hints of amusement in his voice, as he picked up his own chopsticks.

It was a more complicated question for one.

Ophelia hesitantly came over, careful of her scarf and tea cup. Oddly, she settled more by Yuffie, and draped part of her scarf over the other's arm. It was soft, and she offered a grin. "Part of why I like wrapping up in it, is it's comfy kupo." A pause, and she dug a foot awkwardly at the table. "I thought you might like the comfort for a moment too."

She at least recognized that while Vincent might or might not be unhappy, Yuffie definitely was. The little moogle was trying in her own way, and her scarf was easily long enough to let part of it drape against Yuffie's arm, and for her to drink her tea.

"I'm not unhappy. Happiness is a difficult state to achieve, and takes effort. Were I unhappy though, it would be rather obvious." Even for him.

Yuffie smiled at Ophelia taking her free hand to gently rub the scarf before the pads of her fingers. "It is soft." She sounds surprised at first. "You're cute Ophelia." It was a nice gesture and Yuffie saw it as it was meant. She almost wished that Mooshoo was like that though she liked Mooshoo as he was too.

The moogle didn't see fit to come to Yuffie's side though as Yuffie glanced at him he smiled and raised his tea cup to her before taking a sip. It was an odd gesture but Yuffie knew what it meant from the old moogle.

Her eyes then landed on Vincent. "I think it's call content Vin." She shook her head slowly giggle softly. "You are always a grump but you aren't ever very sad... you're just... there." It didn't seem like a happy way to live. Though Yuffie supposed that if she was content she wouldn't feel happiness or sadness.

Ophelia trilled happily and beamed.

"It's not contentment either, Yuffie." Vincent countered, raising his tea-cup up. "But again, I'm not unhappy. Some people simply aren't as obvious or outgoing as others." He was one of those.

There were things he was content with, and happy with, but overall he was not a happy person. He just was. Moving his attention back to his food, he hoped that might be the end of it for the moment.

Yuffie would drop it for now but she no doubt would bring it up again. Instead she decided to recount events that he had missed up until now. She hummed softly quickly using her chopsticks to shovel food in her mouth.

"So I told you that I was like thirteen when I was first here right? Well, there were a lot more people from Gaia here too. All different times." She waved a hand, "In October some people were taken over. Sephiroth stabbed someone and Tifa almost killed us. She didn't ever say sorry either. She never mentioned it to me anyway. Cloud's being a pansy because he's pre-not really SOLDIER Cloud. Did I tell you about the camera?"

Yuffie was just looking for stuff to talk about. She didn't want for them to lap into silence. Silence brought out uncomfortable memories.

Vincent, in their travels, had quickly grown used to the need some of their group had for noise to fill the silence. For him, silence was an old friend. So long as it wasn't annoying or his companions being too obnoxious, he didn't begrudge others of their need for noise too much. So he listened, and ate, while Yuffie filled him in.

Taking his time, making a non-committal noise or two as he needed, or asking the odd question for more details. Wasn't long until he was finished, as he moved to the sink to start getting stuff ready to clean up. Ophelia noticed and waited for a break to ask "We'll go back to reading right kupo?"

"Yes!"

Yuffie answered before Vincent could and then looked over with a wide smile. "Please." He hadn't ever heard her use that word before so she was sure that it would work. She wasn't exactly humble but words like 'please' and 'sorry' would occasionally appear in her vocabulary time and again.

"Can I sit next to you on the couch?" Yuffie liked to cuddle and listen.

Ophelia nodded excitedly, but it pulled her scarf off from Yuffie's arm where it had been draped. "I don't mind kupo. There were already some creepier ones before you joined us. Dibs on the pillow to hide against kupo!"

Vincent would be using the chair again. He'd raised an eyebrow at the 'please', but really it was Ophelia's answer that mattered. She was the one he'd struck the bargain with. Careful of the claws, he picked up his mug and turned. "When you're finished with your bowl, it goes in the sink to soak."

Then he headed back to the living room to wait.

Yuffie put her bowl in the sink but neglected to put water into it. He should be more clear.

She silently jumped on the couch as close to Vincents seat as she could manage. She curled around a pillow passing one to Ophelia so that they both had something to snuggle against. Then she wiggled into place nuzzling against the couch with a wide smile.

"Okay. I'm ready." Yuffie glanced over at Ophelia. "You good?"

Ophelia was curled up with the pillow, it being almost as big as she was. She adjusted her scarf, and pouted a bit as Yuffie'd taken her seat, before sighing and nodding.

Vincent had settled, and gave a slow blink at their antics. At least Ophelia wasn't usually as excitable as Yuffie. She also was content in her own silence at times. His tea was placed down, and he picked up the book again. His gauntlet gave him no trouble as he turned to the place he'd left off, took a deep breath, and began to read once more.

"A true account from a traveler who remains haunted by the memory, to this day. They related it over a campfire one night on the plains, and brought chills to all." A pause, before he continued with the traveler's perspective. "I check into small hotel on the outskirts of Aerilon. It is late. I am tired. I tell woman at desk I want a room. She tells me room number and give key. “But one more thing stranger; there is one room without number and always lock. Don’t even peek in there.” I take key and go to room to sleep. Night comes and I hear trickling of water. It comes from the room across. I cannot sleep so I open door. It is coming from room with no number. I pound on door. No response. I look in keyhole. I see nothing except red. Water still trickling. I go down to front desk to complain. “By the way who is in that room?” She look at me and begin to tell story. There was woman in there. Murdered by her husband. Skin all white, except her eyes, which were red."

Edited 2015-06-24 02:37 (UTC)

Yuffie's grip on the pillow tighten as her eyes fixated on Vincent. Listening to the story was enough to keep her on edge but hearing it in his deep cool tone gave a whole new creepy edge.

Her dark eyes widened slightly and without realizing it she had reached towards Ophelia for comfort. Yuffie was always the snuggly sort which could be seen in the way she curled around pillows and blankets in her sleep. Even as an eighteen year old she slept like a child who was scared of the dark or a dragon who was trying to protect it's horde.

She glanced down at Ophelia realizing she pulled the little moogle into a hug. "Ah.. sorry." She whispered soft hoping that Vincent would keep telling his story despite her weird interruption.

Ophelia's fur was fluffed up and she'd clutched the pillow tightly and was wringing her scarf in her paws. Her own eyes were wide, and she hadn't objected to the hug. It had helped her too, as she blinked then looked up to Yuffie.

A shake of herself, letting her fur settle back down and she grinned. "It's ok kupo! You didn't squeeze too tightly."

Vincent just raised an eyebrow, closing the book as that was the end of the short tale. "I suspect that's enough for now." As used to being 'creepy' as he was, the effect he'd had on his audience did not go unnoticed.

Yuffie's expression looked VERY disappointed. "No... I want to know what happens next." Vincent needed to realize that being creepy was sometimes a good thing and in this case it made the story far more compelling.

She looked down to Ophelia. "Right? He should read more." She knew that the little moogle had more sway of Vincent's actions than Yuffie did and so she hoped that they could keep reading. At least for a little while longer.

It's not as if it's close to Yuffie's bed time. There were hours until sun up which was when she usually slept.

"That was the end of that tale." Vincent replied easily. Honestly, it didn't bother him that much that it was creepy. It was more he was not pleased Yuffie and Ophelia were unsettled. The little moogle for her part shook herself out a bit, and then blinked as she yawned. "He did read quite a bit before you got here kupo."

Moving over, she patted Yuffie's arm. "I'll make sure to let you know when I get him to read to me next kupo!" She was going to go seek her bed though. It was a long day of running around.

"What?!" Yuffie rose from the couch with a pout. "That can't be the end. Doesn't he go and check? What was really inside the room?" Who wouldn't check that out more?

Yuffie wasn't the sort of person who just believed what she was told and maybe that's what got her into trouble more than she care to admit.

She quickly realized that she was standing and pouting in the middle of a family room she barely used. She looked down at Ophelia and nodded slowly. She wasn't tired. It was still dark out and she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep for a few hours; even if she was tired.

Yuffie slowly shook her head glancing towards the window as if the night might suddenly end. "You guys can do to bed. I'm gonna stay up." She can't really say why but she's sure that Vincent knows.

Vincent nodded to Yuffie, but moved back towards the kitchen. There were dishes to clean up, then he'd see what he felt like doing. He honestly wasn't sure he'd sleep yet either. Sleep wasn't often his friend when he actually dreamed.

Ophelia blinked up at Yuffie, then fluttered up to her eye-level. Tilting her head and trilling to herself, before she nodded. Paws unwrapped her scarf and handed it to the ninja. "I'll want it back later, but you can borrow it for the night kupo!" She had an encouraging smile on her face.

She looked at Ophelia and smiled. "You're waaaaay too nice." She giggled softly. "But thanks." Having the red splash against Yuffie's usual dark gray, black and green was odd. She felt like she stood out but it was comforting feeling the soft fabric against her skin.

Yuffie followed Vincent back into the kitchen peeking in to see if Mooshoo was still there. He had made another cup of tea and was sitting at the table with a book as if waiting for his hero to be finished with story time.

His gaze flicked up at the pair, he nodded and then went back to his book.

Yuffie sat next to Mooshoo waving at her moogle and then watched Vincent work. After a moment Mooshoo placed down his book and made Yuffie tea before going back to his readings.

Ophelia preened, then headed off to bed. She'd been doing a lot, and adapting to being a hero's companion was hard work! Even if her Hero was a night-owl (and normally she was) it was bed-time.

Vincent was silent as he cleaned the dishes. Sleeves rolled up to his elbows, clearly not hampered by his gauntlet as it was used to the wear and tear of chores. Tea-stuff was left out, as the rest was washed and rinsed, then left to dry before it would be put away. Boring.

Yuffie still wanted to watch him even if it was boring. She usually ended up wandering each night but she didn't know what Vincent did. Her fingers wrapped around her tea enjoying the warmth of the beverage before putting her head down on the table. Her eyes were still on Vincent and Mooshoo was still reading his book.

"What do you do most nights? Just wander around?"

"Occasionally." He wasn't surprised that Yuffie broke the silence. That she had been more quiet than usual boded two things to him--and since her confiding in him, he'd learned to see the difference even more.

Firstly, she had grown up some; no longer quite the hyperactive brat who'd stolen their materia. Not that she didn't still have some of those tendencies, but they weren't as strongly obvious.

Secondly, she was quiet when troubled. This was the type of quiet Vincent watched for, and had most picked up on when he'd first encountered her. Because it was unlike how the Yuffie he knew, mature here or not, dealt with problems.

"I've been reading to learn about this world, and our supposed role. I explore occasionally. It's been difficult, as I must conserve ammo until I am able to replace it, but I've also been learning my new abilities against some of the weaker monsters."

Yuffie listened to him curiously happy for the new train of thought that stolen her attention. "Mmmm... why not equip a job with easier ammo?

She didn't notice the sorts of silence that she fell into. Mooshoo had but he found commenting on it to be a fruitless endeavor.

"Because I prefer firearms." Vincent had always been a sharpshooter and marksman. Not one for other sports or games. "Which isn't to say I'm not trained in martial arts, simply that I prefer guns."

#1 Settling in

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