Vanoé

"Watch him? Watch Vanitas? You hardly need to tell me that... I've watched him. All along my eyes were witnessing..."

- Noé about Vanitas

Vanoé is the slash ship between Vanitas and Noé Archiviste from The Case Study of Vanitas fandom.

Canon
Leading up to their first meeting, Vanitas has traveled with a friend, Dante, to find and heal Amelia Ruth, who is a vampire whose True Name was corrupted. Meanwhile Noé, also a vampire, is making his way to Paris in order to search for the Book of Vanitas; a book which has the power of corrupting a vampire's True Name, the base of their entire existence, their soul and life; under his Teacher's command. The two end up fighting on the airship La Baleine as Noé attempts to protect Amelia from Vanitas, as he thinks he might be there to hurt her. Noé manages to put Vanitas away for a while, and escape with Amelia in his arms. However, later, Amelia's "symptoms" manifest completely, which makes her become a bloodthirsty killer, and drinks Noé's blood and tries to kill him and other humans in the room. After that, Vanitas saves Noé, introducing himself as a doctor that specializes in vampires, and heals Amelia in front of him, which leaves Noé perplexed and amazed.

Shortly afterwards, two police officers arrive and attempt to arrest both Vanitas and Dante. Vanitas is threatening the officers when a large piece of debris from the fight breaks loose and hits him on the head, knocking him through a hole in the airship. Noé rushes to catch Vanitas and managed to grab his ankle but they both end up falling down to the the streets of Paris. As they fall, Noé opens his eyes to see The Blue Moon in the sky. According to the legend of Vanitas of The Blue Moon, that moon is a symbol of misfortune and bad omens, but Noé remembers that he has never feared the Blue Moon ever since he was a child. In fact, the moon was very beautiful to him.

in Japanese, 月が綺麗ですね (tsuki ga kirei desu ne), translating to "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" is a poetic way of saying "I love you". This leaves off some implications due to the similarities between Noé's and this sentence, and Vanitas's heavy link to the Blue Moon, however, it could be a coincidence, though nothing's confirmed yet. Noé saves the two from the fall, landing through the roof of a church. Vanitas wonders how they're both alive, and Noé asks him what had he done to Amelia Ruth. Vanitas explains to him that he used the Book of Vanitas to do a reverse operation upon Amelia's True Name to heal her. Noé is amazed by what he did, saying it was "phenomenal" while acting extremely excited about the subject. Vanitas laughs at him, for that never had he seen anyone look at the Book with such gleam in their eyes. Vanitas says that he has decided that he likes Noé. They talk for a while, learning each other's names, and Vanitas explains he is just a human that wants to help save Vampires from their curse. He asks Noé to help him, but Noé refused. They head back to the ship so that Noé can get his belongings and pet cat, with Vanitas still insisting that Noé becomes his bodyguard, which he keeps on refusing. When they arrive, the security guards quickly identify Vanitas as the intruder in the airship. Noé, injured from the previous fight with Amelia, passes out and they're both shipped to prison.

At the end of the chapter, Noé states that at the end of their journey, he would kill Vanitas for reasons and circumstances yet to be revealed; as the story is a book being written by Noé from the present about the story of him and Vanitas.

On the second chapter, Noé wakes up with Vanitas in prison, and asks him why they are in there. Vanitas explains the situation to him, and tells him that Noé is in prison with him because Vanitas told the police that they were "partners in crime". Noé wonders about what happened to their belongings and Vanitas tells him that they were all confiscated by the police. Noé immediately worries about the Book, and Vanitas tells him that if he wants the book so badly, he should just join him already. Noé then comes to the conclusion that he "simply doesn't like him (Vanitas) very much". A guard comes inside of their prison cell and tells them to leave.

Vanitas comes to the conclusion that the Count has already covered up the incident on La Baleine, as they both receive an invitation to his office, to go pick up their belongings. Vanitas offers to take Noé there. Noé thanks him, as it's his first time in Paris. Noé is then amazed at the beauty of Paris. Vanitas seems surprised, and smiles at his excited face.

When the two arrive at Count Park's residence, Vanitas bargains to retrieve his book back, along with Amelia. He and the count get into an argument about the authenticity of the Book, and Noé, tired of them arguing, smashes the desk and gets the book instead. He tells the Count that he would have Vanitas prove its power to him, right then and there, and then throws the book into his partner's face. Vanitas rebounds with a nosebleed and a gleam in his eye, asking if Noé had finally decided to help him, but the taller man quickly dismisses the thought. Noé emphasizes that he wasn't help Vanitas, that he was helping Noé instead, which causes Vanitas to start laughing.

Noé storms out the building as Vanitas asks if he even knows where he's going. Vanitas ends up introducing him to Dante and pays the information broker for his knowledge. Noé suggests that they take the rooftops because it will be faster, picking up the human and jumping over the buildings immediately. In the air, Vanitas tells Noé about the nine-fold murderer that they are currently chasing. Suddenly, they hear a commotion coming from the Riverside Factory District, to which they find Dante's friend being cornered by the murderer, Thomas Berneux. Vanitas commands Noé to stop him, so he complies and flings Vanitas downwards at the attacker. Vanitas hits Thomas in the head, but when he resurfaces in anger, Noé already has him pinned down. Vanitas uses his book to successfully stun him, but no sooner are they confronted by Luca and Jeanne. Jeanne slashes her gauntlet downwards, breaking apart the path Vanitas and Noé are on. Noé blocks the next attack, saying that he couldn't have Vanitas die yet. Jeanne powers up her attack and Vanitas shouts for Noé to run, and although they successfully escape the attack together, it's not long before Jeanne bursts through the walls. Noé pushes Vanitas away again, taking three claws to his shoulder before Luca stops Jeanne from rampaging. Vanitas tells Noé to take off his coat in order to staunch the bleeding, but Noé reassures him that his ability as a vampire makes the blood clot faster. Vanitas sighs that most vampires are afraid of the Book because it tampers with true names, but suddenly insists with a determined air that just because the book can destroy vampires, it doesn't mean that Vanitas would do that. Vanitas listens to his speech with a blank expression, before beginning to laugh after Noé declares that they would save Amelia. Vanitas smiles and says that he has a plan to win against the witch. He tells Noé to hold Luca as hostage because he will negotiate with Jeanne by using the book to create "a place where vampires cannot fight". Jeanne catches up to Noé who distracts her just as Vanitas jumps out at her from behind a window, but instead, she catches him by the leg and flings him into Noé. Noé catches Vanitas and they flee, him carrying Vanitas by his waist. When Jeanne reappears, Noé covers for Vanitas, refusing to move and fighting on his behalf. Jeanne ends up successfully kicking Noé through a few walls when Vanitas finally reappears. When he calls, Noé enters the battlefield as well, holding Luca hostage. Noé wishes Vanitas the best in defeating Jeanne without fighting.

When Vanitas suddenly kisses Jeanne, Noé, who can't hear anything from his distance, is extremely confused. After Jeanne and Luca leave, Vanitas lies down on the ground, laughing to Noé that "things are about to get exciting!". Noé bends down near him, still looking completely bewildered.

The next morning, when Noé wakes up, he finds Vanitas's face dangling upside-down from his window, calling him for breakfast. While eating, Noé comments on how pretty Paris is. Vanitas replies distractedly while reading a newspaper, casually describing their use of astermite as the new coal. The two set off for Count Orlok's place. Orlok releases Amelia and tells the two to stay together in their hotel for the remainder of their time in Paris. When using Noé's Archiviste ability, he suddenly screams upon seeing Charlatan, Vanitas being the only one not affected by his yell. Noé quickly sketches out a picture of the Parade, and Vanitas remarks that he is a lousy artist. Noé is taken away by Dominique beyond the border through a bookshop with a secret entrance. As they're leaving, he suddenly hears Vanitas call out his name. Knowing that only vampires are able to cross the border by themselves, he grabs on to Vanitas's arm, terrified. All three of them make it, and Noé immediately rebounds onto Vanitas, angrily reprimanding him for jumping without thinking. Vanitas reassures him that he's been to Altus before, and that he knows he is able to cross if he's touching a vampire. He reasons that either way, Noé did grab onto him, so no harm done. A while after Vanitas causes a scene in the ballroom and vampires start becoming insane, Charlatan appears next to Noé, who is remembering the events of his past with Louis. It asks if Noé would like to join Louis, and asks for his true name in return. Noé is nearly about to accept, when he suddenly remembers Vanitas. The real Vanitas appears, breaking apart the manifestation of Charlatan, teasingly asking if Noé had sprained his leg on the ballroom floor. When Vanitas says he is able to fix the curse-bearing vampires, Dominique proposes to guard him. She spots their first victim, and Noe, watching their interaction, grabs Vanitas by the waist and jumps off the balcony. Noé remembers the power that Vanitas holds in the book, and that he is able to save the vampires, unlike Louis. They land on the ground and the sane vampires advance on Vanitas. Noé blocks him from the oncoming horde, and thanks him. Vanitas asks why, but Noé says it's for no reason. They successfully save the vampires except for one, yet when Vanitas arrives, he says it's too late. Noé realizes what he means by that, and tries to stop him, but Vanitas pushes him back with a blast of magic, telling him to stay out of the way. Noé latches onto Vanitas's lapel, angrily asking him why he would do that. Vanitas responds flatly, saying that no matter what they wanted, he would save them anyways. Noé pauses, perplexed, questioning the meaning of "salvation" and what it meant. Vanitas shrugs and says he doesn't know either, telling Noé to figure it out himself when they're interrupted by Veronica, appearing from behind the curtains. They become locked into battle with her, exchanging minor banter throughout. Lord Ruthven come in to stop the fight, and while the guests clamor that Vanitas was spreading the curse-bearers, Noé still tries to change their minds about the human. Vanitas admits to Ruthven that he was the one that killed the girl, and Ruthven grows enraged; reaches out his hand to attack Vanitas. Out of nowhere, Noé skids between them, protecting the ice-encased Vanitas from the Lord's fury. At the man, he yells that he was just talking with Vanitas when they barged in, not knowing anything and yet still trying to put the blame on Vanitas. All of a sudden, Noé realizes that's what he was trying to do with Vanitas as well, shutting him up.

As Ruthven makes to leave, Vanitas, falling into unconsciousness, attempts to linger in awareness because he still wants to apologize to Vanitas. In his dream, he meets his Teacher, and confesses that he had developed expectations for Vanitas on his own and felt betrayed when said "expectations" were not met. The Teacher asks if Noé would just rather not be around Vanitas anymore, which makes him think.

Noé wakes up and looks out the window, confirming that yes, he was still in Altus. A sight outside the window catches his eye, and he climbs out, meeting Vanitas on top of the clock tower. He tries making small talk, asking what happened after he lost consciousness and Vanitas answers simply. Giving up, Noé crouches down to where Vanitas is sitting, confronting him about his current disposition, and whether he was angry or just sulking. Noé guesses that Vanitas has something to say to him, but Vanitas says an outright "no". Continuing on, Noé says that he does. The vampire wants to know what Vanitas meant about taking revenge on the vampire of the Blue Moon, but Vanitas interrupts him, saying that it was a lie. Noé ponders over this for a moment, but quickly dismisses that idea as another lie. He reasons that Vanitas's speech about revenge made sense to him and why Vanitas assumed the face of having already given up on something.

This angers Vanitas, who attempts to bring his pocketknife to Noe's neck. Noé reacts quickly, locking the human's arm into place by grabbing his wrist. Vanitas angrily tells Noé to not size him up with his own ridiculous assumptions, and that he couldn't deal with a simpleton like him anymore. He pledges to leave Noé alone, and that Noé should do the same, but is stopped by a confused Noé who blankly asks why he should even listen to Vanitas. With vigor, Noé plainly states that he doesn't like Vanitas, and has no intent of helping him with his plans. The gong abruptly starts ringing, startling them both. Noé watches as Vanitas holds his hand to his ear, looking angry and wondering if he was angry or cranky. While watching Vanitas, Noé somehow comes to a realization as he holds the wrist and Vanitas covers his ear. After it ends, Noé continues; despite all that, Vanitas interests him an he wants to see through with the goal as he attempts to understand the human. He says that even if Vanitas tries to push him away, he'll stay with him quoting Vanitas's words about "doing as he pleases". Finally, he commits himself to staying with Vanitas. Vanitas is surprised, seemingly struggling to keep in words and he laughs half-heartedly. Noé as the narrator remembers this moment and the rising sun, as well as the end of the story when he "didn't grab [Vanitas's] hand". Suddenly, he remembers his apology to Vanitas, says it, but still gives no reason for it.

A while later, after the group's breakfast together, Dominique finds Noé above the rooftops and asks whats the matter. Noé confesses that ever since he heard that Jeanne had drunk Vanitas's blood, his heart began to ache, and he has been searching for an explanation ever since. Out of the blue, he says it must have been because he was disappointed that Jeanne had beat him to it. Dominique pauses, completely unexpecting it. Noé admits that he had been thinking about trying Vanitas's blood because it smelled good, but now that Jeanne had already tasted it, he should've just asked Vanitas earlier. He reckons that it had been so good that Jeanne wanted to mark him, so therefore it must've been absolutely fantastic. Domi snickers, implying that he is such an idiot, before biting him in exasperation.

Bonus CD Comic
In the CD Comic Vanitas is seen talking to Noé, with a finger pressed to Noé's lip he asks, "are you that interested in kisses?" To which Noe turns away with a blush covering his face unable to respond.

Q&A with the author about Vanoé
Q: We’re fascinated by their relationship (Vanitas's and Noé's) - even though they argued from time to time, these two chose to stay together and watched each others’ back on battlefield. If I may ask, Mochizuki-sensei, what kind of relationship would you describe for them?

Mochizuki: They are not friends, and not quite comrades. They’re too different in so many ways, like oil and water, but that’s why they’re attracted to each other, and that's why one completes the other's missing parts. Vanitas was frustrated by Noé's naivety, but he also had a feeling which was nearly admiration towards his honesty and innocence. For Noé, I think while he viewed Vanitas's power as light - for he could achieve things he couldn’t -, was attracted by his darkness which hidden in the shadow as well.

Moments

 * Vanitas is tired out after having to drag Noé away from all the sights of Paris.
 * Noé sighs, wondering why all the vampires he meets in the city are so violent, to which Vanitas tells him that it's normal for vampires to react like this when referring to "The Book of Vanitas"
 * Noé slams a hand over Vanitas's mouth, shutting him up and warning him that Jeanne would hear them.
 * Vanitas compliments Noé's ability to catch him, and Noé asks if he could throw him back again. Vanitas promptly refuses.
 * Count Orlok incorrectly refers to Noé as Vanitas's guardian. Noé is shocked and disagrees with that claim while Vanitas initially agrees, but then says that he is more of a guardian to Noé than Noé is to him.
 * Dominique confronts Vanitas about his reasons for following them, and he says that it was because he knew that she wanted to separate the two.
 * They enter the world of Altus, and Noé reacts like a enthusiastic puppy again. Vanitas warns him to not wander off again and Dominique explains that that's what the leash was for.
 * After Vanitas's speech at the masquerade ball, Noé frowns, finally understanding his true objective.
 * Vanitas has an angry expression on his face after Noé steps in between him and Ruthven.
 * When Noé wakes up in one of Ruthven's bedrooms, he notices that the seat beside the bed is still warm. It's implied that the person sitting there was Vanitas.
 * Vanitas hands Noé his slice of tarte tatin, pleasing him.
 * Jeanne grabs Vanitas and hauls him out the window, and not soon after does Vanitas jump up from his chair to announce that he is following them. He takes the same window as they did.

Quotes
"Yes you're funny. And I've decided that I like you."

- Vanitas to Noé

"That was the beginning. This is the tale of how I met Vanitas and how we walked together, of all we gained and lost, and of how, at the end of that journey, I would kill him with my own two hands"

- Noé, about Vanitas

"Noé... lend me your strength!"

- Vanitas

"To me... that sight was something overwhelmingly "right"!"

- Noé, about Vanitas

"Stop it... Don't touch him!"

- Noé to Lord Ruthven, about Vanitas

"This thing you're attempting... I want to see it through to the end! So... Even if you push me away... "I'll do as I please. And no matter what you want..." I've decided I'm staying with you... Vanitas."

- Noé, to Vanitas "After I heard that jeanne had drunk Vanitas's blood... ever since then... my heart had been hurting. I was thinking... about why that was. And I've figured it out. I must... have been... chagrined that Jeanne beat me to it!"

- Noé, about Vanitas, to Dominique

Fanon
Vanoé is the most popular ship among the Vanitas no Carte fandom. On AO3, the slash ship currently has nearly 5 times the amount of works than it's closest romantic het rival ship, VaniJeanne. It also far outpaces it's nearest slash rival, NoeAsto. More than 50% of the roughly 600 Vanitas no Carte works on AO3 feature Vanoé, either as a slash ship or as a friends ship. The friends ship is not as popular as the slash ship, however the number of friends only works is still roughly equal to any all other competing ships.

As they are both the protagonists of the story, they have many scenes together. Some people see their relationships as Rivals-to-Lovers, as they argue and banter endlessly about useless things, while they also embody the trope of Battle Couple, seeing as they fight and protect each other when their partner comes in harm's way. Vanitas is sometimes considered a "clueless gay" as he mentions a lot of feelings about Vanitas that could be interpreted as feelings of romantic affection, but he ends up explaining it through some other odd excuse. The fact that they stay together throughout their journey together signifies their close bond together, whether they accept it or not.

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Trivia

 * Vanitas's birthday is on February 7th, making him an Aquarius, and Noé's is on September 28th, making him a Libra. Both Libra and Aquarius are air signs, making them highly compatible.
 * Vanitas is 18 and Noé is 19