PSL for arkfall

[goldenglasses]

[Vash was getting use to his life in the city. Some of it has been pretty bad, but for the most part he really can't complain. He always had enough to eat. He had stopped pouring sand out of his clothing. Could have all the water and shower for however long he wanted. No one had tried to shoot him in months. The people here even didn't care about his scars. In fact some people really liked them!

He was currently without a dominate, but he didn't mind. A small grace period to find another one and he wasn't in a rush. Which is why he was taking a moment to enjoy a bit of people watching in the Down. Munching on a donut and enjoying the day.

The only problem was in times like these his mind tends to wander to thoughts of home. Worry starts to settle in. Hoping that his friends were alright without him. Things certainly looking good when he left. Of course, there wasn't much he could do for them here so he tries not to think too much about it.

Besides, this donut was really tasty. Right now he just wanted to sit and enjoy them. Nothing bad could happen on this day, right?]

Comments

[arkfall]

You do? [Knives doesn't seem as if he's sure that he believes that. Vash's memories of him can't be very pleasant.

And he had backed away from being touched.]

[goldenglasses]

I need a bit more time before we're good. [Possibly harsh. Maybe not fair to this new Knives, but it was the truth and that seemed important.] I apparently don't have the same memories that you have and I need... time. [It was the easiest way to say: I still don't know how to completely forgive you for killing Rem, locking me away in a prison, experimenting on me to destroy a city, cutting off my arm, and generally making my life hell, but I still love you.] You've hurt nearly everyone and everything I've ever cared about. How am I suppose to trust that you're not about to do that again here?

[arkfall]

[Knives is quiet for the rest of the elevator ride. He seems to be really considering that question, giving it the thought that it deserves.

By the time the elevator doors open he has an answer.]

You shouldn't.

[goldenglasses]

Well, doesn't that just make me feel great about signing a contract with you. [Vash sighs dramatically. Waiting for Knives to exit the elevator first before following.

Still, despite his sarcasm an honest answer was nice. He also hopes that this means Knives will understand any uneasiness Vash might show towards his brother.]

You know, without our sisters here, maybe you could use this as a second chance to get to know humans a bit better? [He doesn't sound very confident, but Vash has always been a hopeless dreamer.] I don't mean to go so far as to sleep with them. But, what do you have to lose by trying here?

[arkfall]

[Knives gives Vash an expression that is a cross of 'are you fucking kidding me?' and 'ew gross.'

But he has to admit, Vash isn't the only one of their siblings who tried to get him to see humans in another light. He doesn't share anything about that, though. Instead, he finds the door to their new place and opens it.

He isn't sure what he was expecting, but somehow the luxury here wasn't exactly it. He blinks and then steps in before stepping aside to let Vash in.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash makes a noise that's somewhere between a groan and a sigh. Yeah. That's probably the best answer he could have hoped for. At least Knives wasn't reacting violently to the suggestion and cutting off his other arm.

This was going to be a long three months. Maybe longer if the contract renews, but to keep the people here safe it would be worth it.

Vash doesn't seem as surprised by the luxurious apartment. He's stayed the night at a few different apartments in this building now. Instead of gawking he moves straight to where he knows the kitchen should be. Wondering if maybe they have those pre-stocked for newly arrived dominants.] Pretty swanky, huh?

[arkfall]

[Knives sighs, because there's a part of him that just wants to make a comment about how much humans use each other. This show of wealth is contrasted so starkly with poverty and abuse. But he doesn't.

Instead, he looks through the living room and checks out the bedroom. Then finds some clothes to change into.]

These were mine. From home.

How is that possible?

[goldenglasses]

Don't ask me. [Vash calls from the kitchen. Pleased to find it was already stocked and helping himself. Grabbing out what he needs to make a sandwich.] Oh! You usually get an item or two from home too. [If Knives had given Vash's gun at his hip a close enough look he would have noticed that it was a familiar looking one. Just like his red coat. Although it wasn't the coat he wore for their final battle. It was an older one that he use to wear.]

Did they leave you anything like that?

[arkfall]

[He comes out of the room after pulling his clothes on.]

You mean something like your gun?

[He narrows his eyes just a moment.] My weapons usually walk around on two legs, remember?

[Or, you know, he creates them from his body. He does that too.]

[goldenglasses]

[The fingers of his artificial left hand curl tightly. Squeezing the jar of mayonnaise in his hand little tighter than he intended to. Laughing without any humor to it.] Oh gee. How could I forget?

[He also slams and starts spreading the glob of mayonnaise with a bit more force than intended onto the bread he found.] There's more in life than the people who worked for you. [They're people. Not tools. He won't let Knives forget that.] Did you not have... I dunno. A favourite book or something?

[arkfall]

Vash, don't be stupid. [Knives says as he comes nearer and settles at a chair in the dining area where he can watch Vash easily.]

There was only ever one thing I wanted to keep, and I lost that a long time ago. [There is that note of regret again.]

Everything thing else was about what I wanted to destroy.

[goldenglasses]

You lost something? [Vash seems honestly surprised. His brother seemed to care about so little besides killing and making his own life hell. He hadn't ever stopped to think that his brother might have things he had lost and missed.]

And see; that is what you should focus on changing. [Vash lectures and even swings his handful of meat at his brother to punctuate his point.] You can't have a happy life when it's focused on destroying things. Focus on creating this time! Take up painting or something! [He slaps a mountain worth of meat and cheese onto his sandwich before reaching into a jar of sliced pickles.]

[arkfall]

[Knives stares blankly at Vash. Because, wow. He doesn't even know where to start with this right now.

So instead, he takes a moment to actually consider what his brother is saying.]

Gardening?

[goldenglasses]

Yeah! Gardening is an option! I've started to grow some fl--[Vash's happy mindless chatter finally stumbles as a thought dawns on him.

Was Knives... listening to him? Actually listening? Taking the suggestion to heart?]

Wait, or is this a Plant joke? [Knives making a joke might be just as good as his brother actually listening to him.]

[arkfall]

[Flowers. Of course Vash would want to grow flowers.

Knives shifts his body out of irritation, mind dragged too far down memory lane, and then says, perhaps a bit too forcefully,]

Why don't we grow something useful. Like apples.

And it's not a joke, I told you that was the last thing I did.

[goldenglasses]

You could try growing herbs for cooking or healing too. [Vash saw the way his brother had seemed uncomfortable for a moment, but decides not to comment and moves on. Putting the finishing touches on his sandwich. It's nearly the size of his head now.]

The Down has a few parks that could really use more plant life in it. I think if you were the one looking after it then someone would grow there.

[He takes a giant bite from his food. His cheeks puffing out with how much he stuffs into his mouth.] Plus! Apples means extra food which is a plus! [Yes, he's talking with his mouth full. ARE YOU READY FOR LIVING WITH YOUR BROTHERS TERRIBLE EATING HABITS, KNIVES?!]

[arkfall]

[Knives doesn't seem too grossed out with his display. He just seems a little frustrated by the way that Vash keeps trying to make him be a better person.]

Fine.

I'm not sure how much I can do. I don't have much power left.

I honestly don't even know how this body is remaining in one peice.

[goldenglasses]

Don't use your powers. Use your hands. More satisfying that way! Plus you don't, you know, run the risk of over using yourself then.

[Suddenly Vash loses his appetite. He's seen the aftermath of a final run. Is that what happened to his brother back home? He pushes his sandwich to the side and keeps on smiling like nothing is wrong.] Although it might take longer to grow a tree big enough for apples I think it could be fun watching it naturally grow.

[arkfall]

[Knives stands and moves into the kitchen. He doesn't try to touch his brother, but what he does instead is reach for a knife.

He's not threatening in his stance or expression, but he does hold it up and moves closer to Vash. Or at least next to Vash because it's only to take the sandwich that Vash made and cut off a corner of it.

He puts that on his own plate and then slowly picks at it before putting a piece in his mouth.]

I could do that. [He says finally after chewing and swallowing.]

Once upon a time, I wanted to make our world into a paradise for us and our siblings to share. Part of that dream would have included growing trees.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash tenses when his brother reaches for the knife. He can't help himself. At this point in his life it had been such a long time since his brother has done anything except hurt him. He doesn't make a move for his gun but he's watching his brother carefully.

It's the fact that Knives's body language doesn't suggest that he's about to be violent that keeps Vash from backing right away. He's been fooled by that before so he's still clearly uneasy as he stops moving to watch what his brother is doing.

And it's to cut a piece of sandwich off. Of course it would be. So why was he still tense and staring at that knife?]

Yeah? [Could have fooled me. Is the bitter, sarcastic answer he wants to give, but that knife was still there so he tries to answer a bit more diplomatically.] A paradise sounds nice, but I think we could share it.

[arkfall]

[If Knives notices that Vash is uncomfortable with him holding something that could be used as a weapon, he doesn't show it. At least he doesn't acknowledge it obviously. He does, however, move it to the sink so that it's not close in his reach after that first bite of the sandwich before returning to stand next to his brother and eat a bit more.]

I know.

That's what you wanted, isn't it? To save everyone and to have them all live peacefully. [He makes a soft, annoyed sound as he rips a piece of bread off the top of the sandwich.]

And yet you also just told me that the Down could use more food as if there wasn't plenty of it up here that the Up could share.

I wonder... what stops them from doing that? [He asks in that tone that says he knows exactly why. Because humans need someone to prey on, even if it's other humans - maybe even especially then. He pops the bread into his mouth and considers his brother as he chews, as if waiting for him to answer.]

[goldenglasses]

So this place needs a little work. [He might mean a lot.] It can get better. Just need to give people a different perspective is all. I think things have already gotten better since when I first got here.

[arkfall]

Why do they need you to prove they don't have to be animals? Why does it take a superior being to show them the way? If they are worth saving, shouldn't they be able to see that on their own?

[goldenglasses]

Well, we all need help sometimes. Us included and if you really think we're superior beings-- [He can keep his dislike for that idea completely out of his tone, but he tries.] --then aren't we the best ones to show them that better way? It's our responsibility.

[arkfall]

[Knives just sort of glares in response, but it's not really directed at Vash. Instead, he bends his head and focuses on the sandwich he stole from his brother. Because Vash piled on so much, it still manages to be three or four bites.

A part of him wants to respond with 'No, it's our responsibility to protect the rest of the universe from their infection' but he doesn't. Instead, he just sorts of deflates and then picks up the entire rest of the corner of the sandwich.]

How was it that you ate this again? You just shoved so much of it into your mouth.

[He takes the sandwich piece and shoves the whole thing into his own mouth, puffing up his cheeks as he does. Everything about how he moves is clearly meant to be comical, but it comes off in a stilted, painful way that shows he isn't used to trying to be humorous.

Then he looks at Vash and tries to chew but can't, and that turns out to be a much funnier thing to look at.]