museunboxing | PSL for arkfall

[Vash laughs weakly and shrugs his shoulders. Understanding his brother's skepticism about the vampires. Vash had felt the same way about it too until he met his first one.

And, well, Legato had seemed fairly will-- Nope. He's cutting that thought off before he can let it go any further than that. Focusing instead on his brother calling humans garbage again.] You're going to have to make up your mind Knives. Because if you don't make your own choices then they'll take it away from you. They'll come for you and they'll turn off your powers to take you away and then force you into it. Force you into doing something you normally would possibly hate.

If you really want to limit your choices by not giving a lot of nice people a chance because you can't get over your foolish superiority problem then that's your problem. Your the only one getting hurt by it.

I suggest you get an attitude adjustment and fast if you want to live comfortably here. Otherwise you're going to struggle badly. This isn't our home. This isn't our world.

[Knives allows the lecture with minimal complaint. He still seems completely grossed out and uncomfortable with the idea, but at least he's not screaming or threatening to hurt Vash for continuing to suggest he lower himself to doing anything like this with a human.]

No, this world manages to somehow be even more disgusting. [He grumbles, mostly to himself. No Man's Land could have been a paradise for the two of them and their siblings, but humans had ruined it too.

Still, the words don't have the same fire they might have had before because he's a little distracted by the way that Vash is wording all of this. He seems so interested in convincing Knives because he doesn't want his brother taken by the authorities and forced into it.]

You're worried about me.

Of course I'm worried about you. [Knives and his victims he'd leave in his wake. Although he wasn't just thinking about the victims this time. Because despite everything that had been done to Vash over his long life there would always be one truth.] You're my brother.

[No matter how angry and how much hatred he'd felt over the years he didn't wish to see his brother forced to sleep with someone he didn't want to be with.]

Then you should help me while we're here. I'll try to do as you've asked, but only with non-humans.

And you should contract with me to ensure we fulfill that requirement.

[This might be a test to see just how far Vash was willing to go to protect him and others around them.]

Wait. Are you... Are you asking me to help you find people to have sex with as part of a contract? [He's not sure how he feels about that.]

You have experience.

And a habit of knowing far too many people. [Look, this just makes logical sense, Vash.]

[Vash takes a few minutes to run a hand down his face. Contracting to his brother? Giving him that much power over his life? Wouldn't it just be a slightly more comfortable situation he had left back home? Just instead of being locked away in a dark cell it would be an apartment building?

He lets his eyes wander over the city sprawled out below them. No. It wouldn't be like back on the ark because there would still be something he could do for those people down below that he couldn't do back home.]

Alright, Knives. I'll contract with you under two conditions.

One. You have to buy me donuts at least once a day. [Something small and easy to agree to. Ease Knives into the idea of saying yes before the hard condition.]

Two. You can't kill anyone for any reason. You can't hurt anyone except in self defense. [There were a few violent people out there. He didn't want Knives going around terrifying humans, but he also didn't want to leave him defenseless either.] You can't be the first to throw a punch. I mean only when you have no other option. Walking or running away is an option.

[His eyes narrow at such a condition.

It seems so stupid, but then Vash was always like this. He always insisted on following the stupid dreams given to him by Rem.]

You want my body to end up as scarred as yours?

[But, hey, Vash isn't saying anything about getting a new collection of knives, a new Gung Ho Guns, and siccing them on others. Maybe he could rely on that, so long as he wasn't lifting his own hands.]

I'm not asking for you to throw yourself in front of bullets for anyone. And I'm also not putting a bounty on your head either. [He gives his brother a look. One clearly trying to sarcastically ask: and who's fault is it that I had that bounty?] You won't get scarred by walking away from a fight rather than rushing into one.

[Vash doesn't think about that loop hole. He may find himself regretting it in the future.]

Very well. I'll buy you doughnuts and I won't hurt others except in self-defense.

And you will stay with me and help me find people I can stomach touching me to meet my quota.

[Vash is surprised to find that this upsets him a little bit. His last two contracts had let him live on his own in his apartment. He liked having a roommate. Even if they were always coming and going. Moving in and out. That little apartment with its leaky shower had started to become his home.

He doesn't do a good job keeping his disappointment out of his face at the thought of having to live with his brother.] Fine. I'll move in.

I also get to fill my own quota however I see fit. [He's going to keep having sex with humans. He just won't bring them home.]

[Knives makes a face.]

Does that mean you'll bring humans home? If that's the case then forget it, you can still live on your own. [And maybe he felt just the tiniest bit guilty over that disappointment in Vash's face and found this a good excuse to backtrack.]

But you have to come to me to get the doughnuts.

You'll let me live on my own? [The shock is obvious in his voice. Probably pretty clear that Vash had thought that part was a non-negotiable item. He really thought it was more because Knives wanted a way to keep easy tabs and control over what he did each day.

Could it be that Knives just didn't want to stay in an empty apartment on his own? Suddenly Vash starts to rethink that living arrangement.] Of course I wouldn't bring anyone home. [He doesn't want Knives to know what any of his friends look like or who they were.] I just need you to not come looking for me if I don't come home every single night.

[Just as Knives tried to give Vash a chance to back out he tries to put himself back in. If there was one thing Vash understood it was not wanting to be alone.] Just... tell me if you're having someone over so I can find something else to do for awhile.

[Knives makes a face.]

Let's make a deal to leave what we share just between the two of us.

[Because then neither of them have to worry about walking in on something they wouldn't want to see.]

I haven't looked at the apartment yet. Did you want to join me? [Maybe then he can put actual clothes on.]

I'm good with that. [He's really not interested in his twin's sex life. Just thinking of finding people to have sex with him is hard enough. Maybe he could take out a personal ad?

Egotistical maniac seeks someone to fill a quota. Anyone will do. Humans need not apply.

Hm. Maybe.]

Might as well. [If it was to be his new home. He'll head towards the elevator. Waiting for the doors to shut and for the lift to start moving before he'll speak again.] Are we-- or, are things really okay between us back home? [It was hard to picture their century long feud coming to an end.]

[Knives leans against the wall of the elevator as it moves to their new floor.]

Do they seem okay between us right now?

[Were they? If he was being honest with himself Vash was still waiting for this to all come crumbling down. For Knives to prove this was all an act of some sort.]

A bit. [He sighs knowing it's probably not fair. This resentment he was holding onto.] I want things to be okay between us again. [He hopes he doesn't live to regret saying that out loud.]

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.]

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?

[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.

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?

[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.]

[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?

[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?

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?

PSL for arkfall

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