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

[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.]

1/3

[goldenglasses]

[Vash opens his mouth then shuts it again. Clearly ready for a fight with words if not a physical one. Only a fight doesn't come and it leaves him scrambling to follow the change in conversation.] What? [He doesn't understand the question. How did this relate to how awful humans are? How... how...]

2/3

[goldenglasses]

[What was his brother doing........?????]

3/3

[goldenglasses]

[Vash at first just looks completely and utterly confused. Maybe a bit concerned that his brother has gone completely mad.

Then those cheeks get filled and then he tries to chew that mouthful and Vash just starts to laugh. Laugh long and hard to the point that tears start to collect in his eyes. His stomach starts to hurt and although the laugh isn't nearly as manic and loud as his normal laugh can be the difference is this laughter is real. Real and sorely needed.]

[arkfall]

[Some of the tension leaves Knives at that sound. He lifts a hand to his mouth to hide how he has to chew with his mouth open and then chuckles gently when he's able to get the food down.

This moment feels so cherished and perfect for the sound of his brother's laughter, but he isn't sure he deserves to hear it.

He wants to memorize everything about it. For later, when things get bad again.

He thinks they probably will. Sooner or later. He still has so much anger buried in his stomach that he wasn't sure he'd ever really be able to let go of it.

But at least they had this moment.]

How do you manage that? [He asks, as Vash's laughter dies down, and there's still a bit of warmth in his voice.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash gives his eyes a quick wipe. Wishing their whole lives had been like this moment.] Spent years developing my cheek muscles! It's all about compartmentalizing and shifting the food around as you chew until you can swallow it down! I'm sure with dedicated practice you too can one day master the full mouth technique!

[arkfall]

Maybe you can teach me?

I don't... usually eat if I can help it. [Too much like being human.] I'd be willing to try.

[goldenglasses]

You... don't? [It's honest confusion and curiosity from Vash. So much about his own body and abilities that he doesn't know about. He remembered trying to starve himself to death after finding out about Tessla. He knows he can go longer than humans without eating, but the hunger pains sure were there if he went long enough without eating.] But, we have to eat. [Don't they? Had Knives found another way?]

[arkfall]

We do, and so I will when required. [There's a lot of things he doesn't say here, but he isn't sure how much Vash can really stomach.] I don't do it for pleasure. I don't enjoy it like you do.

[A pause, and then he says something that's maybe a little too honest.]

I don't enjoy many things.

[goldenglasses]

Well, we'll just have to find some things you do enjoy. And what foods you like too. [Please let sex be one of them. As much as Vash doesn't want to think about his twin and sex together he knows this world will be a lot easier if Knives finds he likes it.]

Wait. Have you had a donut before? [This is very important.]