Once Youre Stripped Clean , Whats At Your Core ?

‧₊˚ ⋅ ꒰১ ᯓ ☆ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤOnce you’re stripped clean , what’s at your core ?

flightless bird

the thought of your found family is what motivates you in your own little world. you touch the clouds, and the soil gives way under your footprints... this is utopia. if you were to erase one thing, it would be your memory. experience is important, but ignorance is bliss. identity, in heaven, should give way to happiness. you'd give anything just to sit by the swings and eat ice cream, but this isn't that kind of world. you have to get up and wash the dirt off of your scraped knees. i think you have an escapism problem.

resounding truth

you have a goal in mind, and others brush it off right away... why does everyone always tell you to follow your dreams when it's actually their dreams that they want you to follow? your memory is weak, and your conviction is even weaker on days when you're reminded of how alone you really are. it's hard to go on without someone pushing you forward... is this what life is? a cycle of monotony, fueled only by the desire not to trouble anyone too much with your passing? it would be nice to have something, or someone, to spur you on. i hope you find them.

cauterizing rage

the house has burned around you, and you’re the only one left standing. is it gratifying to be the survivor? fear and anger are weapons in your capable hands, used only to serve your agenda of fighting back when deemed necessary. you're a powerful person, built from the ashes of your despair and your family's mistakes. with time, you'll bloom into someone softer, like the full blossoms that grow each spring and wither away with the leaves in fall. they won't disappear if you take your eyes off of them. you're enough.

Tagged by: @luckquartzed ( thank you ! )

Tagging: Whoever !

frutiger aero aquariums !!

wanna visit?

‧₊˚ ⋅ ꒰১ ᯓ ☆ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤ𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔, it was so easy to see how the boy's lilac hues would practically LIGHT UP. A Nameless ! This man was one of the Nameless ! Sure, he had met lots and lots of travelers who seen far more planets than he ever hadㅤ—ㅤbut the Nameless were SPECIAL.

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ❛ㅤC - certainly ! It'd be an HONOR to lead the Nameless through my home ! You've probably already seen the Square since you know about our local man in the trashcan. Most of the businesses are in Bygonevilleㅤ—ㅤwhich is a really unfortunate name but I PROMISE it's nicer than it soundsㅤ❜

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤThe run down square that surrounded the two of them would have probably put most people on edge. The bellboy seemed to be COMPLETELY comfortable as he began to lead the older man into the tiny little shopping district.

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ❛ㅤYou're probably familiar with the Sweet Dreamㅤ—ㅤbut Dreamflux Reef was established LONG before it ! It's regarded as the center of ALL Dreamscapes ! People here even call the REAL Penaconyㅤ—ㅤbut I guess they're just a little bit bitter about the Sweet Dream.ㅤ❜

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤOnly when the two of them arrived at their destination does the child briefly stop. Most of the shops tucked away in those narrow streets were mere husks of themselves; emptied of everything but dust and trash as well as the occasional Dreamchaser who clearly drank too much Sousa Juice. Though, the shops and bars that were STILL open and the small crowds of people proved there were still fighting to keep it alive. There was even a group of Pepeshi trying to create some street art and bring some color to the place.

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ❛ㅤHere we are ! You're free to LOOK AROUND and ask me any questions ! The shop with the musical staff I mentioned is here too ! ㅤ❜

“They don’t?” That... actually made a bit of sense. Even as he looked over a few of the dilapidated billboards and the skyscrapers, Welt could get that feeling. It was—disorderly. No real sense of control for what they wanted versus what those that lived here put forward. 

Why give it any attention when they could just as easily shove it behind a curtain and pretend it's not there? It felt so very... Emerald City for some reason. Keeping the image of perfection put forward while no one was allowed to be aware of just what was going on behind the scenes. 

“How very ‘Don’t pay attention to the man behind the curtain’ of them.”  Just a bit of an idle observation note for himself—though he eventually gave the boy a short nod of confirmation. No sense in wasting this kind of an opportunity to try and piece together the secrets. “Well then, as one of the Nameless I’d be quite honored to have the residential point of view tour from a rather resourceful young man such as yourself.” 

Maybe the almost borderline old-man brand of flattering was a bit much, but if Dreamflux really was disliked? Welt could imagine that it chipped away at citizen pride just a little. Now why could that be... 

“Since you are the resident of this area, I’ll let you decide where to take me first.” A beat. “If--there’s also some historical facts that you happen to know about Dreamflux Reef, I’d also be interested in hearing them.” 

‧₊˚ ⋅ ꒰১ ᯓ ☆ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤ𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒃𝒖𝒃𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 ? Wellㅤ—ㅤmaybe that shouldn't have been surprising. Grandpaㅤ—ㅤor rather, Mikhail had poured very heart and soul into the bustling utopia that was Penacony. Surely, there would have been more than just the little dream bubble that he had been BORN from.

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤEven if the memories weren't quite so flattering, he still can't help but smile. Though he was still growing used to all these brand new revelations, it was nice to hear about his Grandpa and the LIVES he had touched.

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ❛ㅤYes, I suppose he could have been ! But to his credit, riding a snowmobile into the Taikiyan stadium DOES sound fun if it didn't disrupt anyone ! And maybe ONE Nosewalker cub would make a nice pet ! I can tell you though that even if he DID cause quite a bit of trouble for Pom-pom, he still really cared about them alongside Mister Tiernan and Miss Razalina ! They were all FAMILY to him.ㅤ❜

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤThe other trailblazer's words give him pause. Truth be told, he was still getting used to the idea that he was a mere fragment of his Grandpa's life. He had spent so long believing he was an absolutely normal bellboy born in Dreamflux Reef; not the legacy of one of the most accomplished Trailblazers Akavili ever got to have as a dedicated follower. Maybe SHOCK was the best word for it. He was even surprised he was able to give such a formal and well - spoken explanation to the new generation of Trailblazers when the truth had finally been revealed. Maybe that was his Grandpa's last will guiding him to help the Trailblazers save Penacony.

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ❛ㅤTo tell you the truth, it is a little jarring going from believing you're just an ordinary kid and your Grandpa was just an ordinary seafarer to realizing you're the last remaining legacy of a legendary trailblazer. Whether or not I am my own person or I'm simply some sort of weird not - ghost of his past though, I know it's something to be PROUD of rather than ashamed of. And I'll do my best to live up to his name while I'm with you allㅤ—ㅤWITHOUT the snowmobiles and Nosewalker cubs.ㅤ❜

In a way, he felt as though he could relate to Misha. Both were the reincarnation of someone who had come before. Wistfully, he wished his own past incarnation was someone to be proud of instead of a malevolent and terrible tyrant, but what could be done about that? What mattered the most was what he did in this lifetime, and it was no different with Misha. Penacony was a place dear for the Nameless and this was where the present lay.

Meditative and thoughtful with each sweep of the mop, Dan Heng listened to the boy's story intently. He knew better than to think a simple fairytale of heroism told the entire story. Perhaps it was one he'd learn for himself someday.

It made him wonder: would the day come when a new generation of Nameless told his story? Would he be reborn the Express, and would a new incarnation hear about his past and feel proud for what had come before? Maybe... part of him genuinely hoped so.

"It's funny, but I remember being shown a Dream Bubble that Stelle bought from Dr. Edward. It showed a memory that wasn't fully rendered, but apparently, Mikhail was quite the troublemaker. He tended to fluster the Conductor quite a lot with his antics, but he was more or less made to fulfill a kind of community service as recompense. Probably not the most glamorous story there is."

Mikhail reminded him of his friends. The boisterousness, the laughter, the memories they made... and how they had remained together for so long. And now, he wanted that story to continue, too. But, a question lingered in his mind, one that few besides Misha might understand.

"You were... created by him. An offshoot of him. Maybe you think you're one and the same, but really--you're not. You've branched off and become your own person, unless... you disagree." Dan Heng didn't know if he'd meet someone like Misha again; someone so similar to himself. Hee had to know and see for sure if it was possible to live beyond the person who came before, or... if it was all just folly, in the end.

‧₊˚ ⋅ ꒰১ ᯓ ☆ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤ𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒔 came as a shockㅤ—ㅤand yet somehow, it wasn't even a SURPRISE to him as his trusty dog quickly deflected every single round with its razor sharp tail. A brief look of DISGUST contorts his juvenile visage before he simple chuckles. It was as if that very same rainy night was repeating itself ALL OVER again.

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ( This time, he would make CERTAIN it would go in his favor )

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ❛ㅤReally ? The GUN again ? You're running out of tricks, Brother. And I thought it DIDN'T suit you. Still doesn't, by the way.ㅤ❜

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤTruly, it was a shame that his own BROTHER wanted him dead this badly. It was as if one of those DEMONS he had so firmly believed possessed his mother had claimed his brother's soul too. But he would have been a fool to think that. Clearly, this was the VAMPIRE'S doing.

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤ❛ㅤIt's not as if I have anywhere else to go, Brother. The Comté de Saint Germaine is the only one even willing to TRY to bring Father back.ㅤ❜

˚ʚ ☾ ɞ˚ㅤ˗ˏˋㅤㅤBy now though, he had already realized that the Comté had his OWN motives. But he didn't care. He would do ANYTHING to bring his family back together again.

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ The pity of others has a high irritating potential; it discriminatingly denudes the weakness, real or presumed, of those who attract it. Perhaps, this was partly responsible for what was to happen that night. An unsettling layer of pity had settled at the bottom of Vanitas' blue gaze, the same one worn to satisfy Catherine's request for death and talk to Mikhail at the playground— really a surprise, that he had survived.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀❞ You didn't answer ·̲ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀the doctor advanced.

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ But it was a split second.

𝔽𝕊ℍℍ!!! 𝔹𝔸ℕ𝔾!!!—---

⠀⠀⠀Promptly firing a few gunshots, Vanitas repelled the automaton's tail, sparing himself a whipping. He had robbed Dante again— there was no need to rough him up this time, but he absolutely HAD to resupply himself before he met Mikhail. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀