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]

[Vash doesn't like the sound of that.] What do you mean were? What happened?

[arkfall]

They were attacking me. I used one of them to gain an understanding of their tactics.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash grows silent. Looking away. Afraid to ask. For a bit it may seem like he's not going to, but in the end he can't stop himself.]] Used one? [It should be clear the disgust he has for that word.] As in you viewed her memory? Like what you were just suggesting we do?

[arkfall]

No. What I was suggesting you and I do would have kept us as two separate entities. I adsorped her as I had most of our sisters on the planet.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash should be glad that his brother is being so open and honest with him. That he's not hiding what he's done. A part of him is really glad for that. It is just buried deep below the anger rising up.]

Could you... un-adsorb her? [He sounds calm for the moment, but as Plants Knives can probably feel that things were not as okay as Vash was trying to act like they were. The outlaw feeling like his stomach was slowly being coated in ice as he waits for an answer.]

[arkfall]

No. What was done to her destroyed her individual consciousness. She became part of a collection.

[Which does kind remind him of just what Knives had tried to do with Vash before Legato pulled him away. He had been willing to do that to his brother, thinking it was the only way to get him to be on his side, and Vash's power nearly destroyed him.

He doesn't seem proud of any of this anymore. Before, he might have laughed, called the people he took into himself trash for trying to save the humans. Traitors to their people.

But he doesn't. He doesn't make any excuses for what he's done. He was on that part of destruction for so long but it feels exhausting to try and defend it now.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash leans his weight back onto the counter top. Trying his best to make it seem casual and not like the bench was what was holding him upright.] You... [The first of their kind.] You took her... [The first they have heard of in a century.] Knives you... [At long last others like themselves and what did his twin do?!]

Knives, how could you?! I understand why you'd do that to me. [Yes he had an idea what what happening right before Legato pulled them apart.] We have history. [And Vash doesn't think he's important, but mostly the history.] But you-- you took away what makes us... us! You took herself away from her! How-- how could you do that?! She's one of us.

[Vash understood that Knives hated humans, but he always knew he loved their sisters. To hear he willing harmed one was hard for him to process. An Independent like themselves and he didn't just kill her. He destroyed her.]

[arkfall]

They came to our planet to save the humans.

[He says it simply, as if that fact explained his entire thought process. It probably wouldn't be enough to explain all that he had done, but it was the reason he hadn't felt bad for turning on her.]

[goldenglasses]

Maybe because there was a mad man killing them all! [Vash angrily snaps out the words. Almost immediately he looks horrified by his own outburst and slaps his hand over his mouth. Only it was much too late. His words were already out and his anger at how matter of factly his brother spoke of destroying another person was already clearly displayed.

The only good thing was they were inside. Otherwise Vash would have been fined by someone for speaking back so rudely to a dominant just to rub insult into injury.]

[arkfall]

[Knives responds to the outburst by staring blankly at this brother.

When he does speak his voice is just as bland.]

Exactly. They came to stop me. I did not want to be stopped.

Vash... By that time I had given up on convincing you and thought when everything was over, you'd be dead. I told myself that it was necessary. Losing you had to happen because you couldn't see reason and would insist on standing in my way. I turned off any hint of pain and kept going.

If I was so far gone that I could accept that, accept losing you like that... why do you think I would stop for someone I didn't know who also insisted on standing in my way?

I wasn't just trying to kill the humans. I wanted to tear down everything. I wanted to destory everything.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash stands still with his hand over his mouth for a couple more moments. It seemed like a sane answer. An answer form someone who has had a change of heart towards past actions. It still wasn't easy to believe.]

And you really don't feel the need to go that far again? Have you really lost the desire to burn everything down in order to create your idea of a perfect world?

[arkfall]

Vash... [He stops, and seems to consider his words. He takes a deep breath.] I don't know.

That's why it's better if I'm gone.

[goldenglasses]

Well. [He's angry. He's still so angry. But--] At least you're being honest. We'll work it out. [--Rem would forgive him. Besides, if he didn't contract with his brother who would? Someone who might lead him back down the path of destruction.] There's just probably going to be a few ups and downs is all.

[arkfall]

'A few.'

I'm not sure if that thought is reassuring or fucking asinine. [He's digging more at himself than at Vash. It's bound to be a lot worse than 'a few ups and downs.']

[goldenglasses]

How about we go with optimistic? [Vash finishes off his sandwich one last giant bite.] Alright. We'll get that contract written up, drop it off, and then stop to get some donuts on the way back.

Oh. Guess I'll need to bring my stuff here too.

[arkfall]

[Honestly, Knives hadn't thought that Vash would want to get this done today, but he supposes it makes sense. It's the best way to get the rule in place that he can't hurt anyone.]

It will be an interesting way to see the city. I didn't catch much of it on the ride over.

[goldenglasses]

[Knives figured out Vash's reason in one guess.

He doesn't bother to ask Knives where to find paper. He doesn't expect Knives to know, but after a bit of searching he finds some. It won't take Vash too long to write up a contract with the points they've discussed on it before spinning it for his brother to see.]

What do you think?

[arkfall]

[Knives considers telling Vash he trusts him, but he wonders if that would make it seem like he was being too flippant.

After a moment, he leaned forward to take the paper so he could read it. He reads it without comment then then hands it back to Vash.]

It looks good to me.

[goldenglasses]

Alright. Let's go make it official then. [He really hopes he doesn't regret it. Even with his worry he smiles kindly and does his best to sound optimistic about contracting himself to a madman who has done nothing but hurt him for over a century.] Then let's get some donuts! You have had before, right?

(OOC: Did we want an NPC to try to get Vash to kneel or something for being a submissive? Just to cause havoc?)

[arkfall]

[Knives raises an eyebrow at his brother in a way that says 'are you serious?'

He doesn't respond verbally, just seems like Vash should know the answer.]


[ooc; yeah i need something like that. someone treating vash as inferior.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash just shrugs with his happy smile still on his face as he moves towards the door.] I was just thinking maybe you wouldn't be so grumpy all the time if you had. [A beat.] That was a joke. [Just in case Knives couldn't tell.

Later Vash would angrily berate himself. He should have known better. Should have realized that the train would have been busy at this time of the day. He had just too many things on his mind and had automatically lead them there. It was the fastest way across the city after all.

The start of the journey wasn't the problem. The problem came when the train started to get full and a human looking dominant tapped Vash on his shoulder.] I want your seat. Please go kneel with the others.

[Really, he was being much more polite than most doms can sometimes be. Not that it was going to change the reaction from Vash who quickly turns to gauge his brother's reaction even as he starts to get up to his feet while quickly trying to move the interaction to a quick conclusion.] Of course! It's only polite to give up a seat to someone who's feet are so tired! I'm happy to do it!

[arkfall]

[Knives had been pretty still, almost easy to mistake for relaxed, as they rode the train. He rested his head against his hand and looked out of the window as they went.

Looking at the window, though, meant that he could see the man tap his brother and request he go kneel.

He hated how slow and pointless this body was now. Before, he would have been able to skewer this man by barely giving it a thought. Now, though, he has to reach out and grab the man's arm and squeeze.]

Who told you that you could touch him? [He asked, his voice extremely dangerous, his eyes wide with anger.] Why would you dare put this flithy hand on my brother?

[goldenglasses]

[The man seems startled by Knives's reaction to something he felt was perfectly normal. Vash wastes no time putting his own hand on Knives wrists. Squeezing much like Knives was doing to his possible victim.] Knives, stop! It's fine!

[By then the man has had time to recover a bit more and narrows his eyes at Knives.] I suggest you listen to your brother. Or am I going to have to report the both of you?

[Vash wants to scream at the idiot not to make this situation worse, but he knows doing that won't help.] Our stop is next anyway, Knives. It's. Fine.

[Their stop was not the next stop.]

[arkfall]

Report me? [Knives asks, then he laughs in a manic sort of way. Everything he says next has a note of mirth in it that doesn't match his words at all. His voice is low, meant only for this man, but somehow that doesn't take away from the threat. He may as well have been screaming.] Report me? For not wanting trash to be near me or my brother?

If you had wanted him to move, you should have asked me. If you had wanted to touch him, you should have asked me. If you wanted to even breathe the same air as him, you should have first begged for my permission first.

And you think you're going to report me? How easily do you think you can do that if I rip out your fucking tongue?

[goldenglasses]

You must be new. [Such a frustrating number of LIES subjects lately.] Let me give you some adv--

Don't make me shoot you, brother. [Vash's voice cuts through with much more authority then what the Dom possess. Clear and full of held back anger.] You try to harm this man and I will. Do you know what this place would do to a submissive that harms a dominant? [He turns a cold eye towards his brother to make sure he understands how serious he was right now.] And I'll let them do any punishment they see fit. We're not officially contracted yet. If I brake the law now to stop you then I'll likely be sold to someone. Is that what you want, Knives? See me sold to someone else?

[Vash knows it's a dangerous gamble. He's either heaving more fuel to the fire by mentioning what could happen to him here in this world, but he's hoping that Knives's apparent care over his well being will stay his brother's hand.] So let this man's arm go before things get that far.