driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Vash and you!
Broadcast: None
Action: At the forest
When: Anytime between Jan 6-31st

[Vash at first was memorized by the planet. Never in his life had he seen so many trees in one place or so strong and healthy. The spa didn't really interest Vash very much. It seemed great and while he did want he did sort of want to try it, there was no way he was taking off his coat and putting on the trunks the machine provided.

So instead he spends all of his time near the forest. The ominous feeling doesn't keep him out for very long. He just cannot explore deeper. Vash listens to the warnings of the sign. Keeping to the path. Seeing more than he has in over a hundred years on the path alone so not too tempted to wander off of it.

At first.

The warm, freshly baked donuts were just too out of place in the forest. So they didn't tempt Vash to wander off the path. That was when the forest played a little dirty. First, soft singing can be heard. Was there a woman singing? If anyone is walking close to Vash at the time, as he's more than happy to have some company on his walk, will see the man suddenly stop. Eyes wide and his breath stopped. It couldn't be. Just like the donuts couldn't be. So he starts walking again and doesn't follow the women's voice into the forest.

Then, despite the cold, the smell of geraniums starts to penetrate the air. They start to become more and more popular around the path the further along. The singing starts again, but this time it seems closer and then, just around the corner sits a woman with long, jet black hair. Wearing a lose white t-shirt and jeans sitting on a blanket in a field of red geraniums with picnic basket next to her. Her singing stops and she smiles with a light, happy laugh.

"Oh! There you are, Vash! I've been waiting for so long!" Vash stands in a stupor. "Well, come on silly, aren't you hungry?" She pats the blanket next to her. The smile never leaving her face and although Vash knows deep down this must be some sort of trick, he can't stop himself. His feet leave the path without hesitation.

"Rem, oh Rem." He swallows, finding his voice suddenly gone and mouth dry. "Please let it be true."

Of course, it's not. It's nothing but a trick and soon she fades away and Vash is left feeling empty again. Eyes wet with tears that he's unashamed for shedding. After the hour of lost wandering Vash thinks he understands just what the message at the start meant.

None of this stops Vash from attempting the path again. Heading right in, but now the end is not his goal. He wanders into the forest and walks until Rem appears again. For awhile he sits down on the path to listen to her singing. To smell her. To see her once more even if she wasn't real. Every so often it's too much to take and he leaves the path to embrace her before she vanishes yet again, he wanders lost once more, and enters the forest without hesitation once he finds the start again.

Vash doesn't bother with anything else the entire time the fleet can land on the planet. Only leaving the forest to make some food to take into the forest with him. He's even taken to sleeping on the path.]

(OOC: Feel free to run into Vash at any point in the forest. Your character can either see/hear Rem or not! Up to you!)

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[it's amazing, how big this forest is. two people could follow the exact same path and never once run into each other. that's how it is for a while, since Robin keeps going in too.

he's fully aware that they are illusions, and he tells himself that he is in control of them. he doesn't leave the path. he wins, technically. he does everything right. but even after getting his little winner's token, he keeps... wandering back in, alone, to feel the forest tug at him, listen to their voices again.

so it's during one of these routine little walks through the forest that he notices something that wasn't there before--geraniums, edging the path. he follows them like a blood trail, confused. this isn't his illusions. he could not have taken a wrong turn... there are no turns.

he finds Vash while they're both still on the path... he comes up quietly, so it might be a surprise when he calls to him.]

Hey, friend.

[It's hard to sneak up on someone like Vash. Even here surrounded by sounds that aren't really there he's still fairly aware of his surroundings. So he doesn't jump Robin comes closer.

He turns with a smile on his face. The way he smiles it's like there are no problems in the world.] Oh, hey there, Robin. Enjoying the forest too?

[Although, Vash isn't sure if enjoyment is really the right word he should use to describe his feelings about this place anymore.]

[his smirk comes just as wide and easy, even if it's entirely out of self-defense. he doesn't like the way that Vash says it--even if he didn't mean to point out they're both here when they shouldn't be. a second person makes him self-conscious. suddenly, being here doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore.]

Something like that. [it's a bad comeback, but he looks back down anyway.] What're all the flowers for? I've never seen them here before.

They're red geraniums. They're beautiful, aren't they? [He turns his head to look back down at the flowers. He sighs softly, unsure of just how much he wants to say about these flowers.] I'm... not exactly sure if they're native here, but I'm not sure they're exactly native.

Mm... [he watches his face. he can feel things that other people can't feel, and from Vash, there's always been this... ah, it changes his mind. he continues to speak very calmly to him, though his smile fades a little.] Vash, would you like to come with me to the end of the path?

[Vash swallows as he looks off into the distance where there's more geraniums. He knows what will be waiting for him further down the line.

She'll be there and he knows once she appears he won't make it to the end of the path. So he looks back towards Robin still with a smile.] Thanks, but I think I'm alright. I know the way so I won't get lost, but thanks for the offer.

Edited 2015-01-31 12:08 (UTC)

[he's quiet for a moment. maybe he's deciding whether or not to just let him go.]

...Why geraniums?

[Vash is quiet for a bit. It may almost seem like he's not going to answer. Finally he speaks up.] Is this your first time walking the path?

[He doesn't even care if Robin made it to the end or not.]

[he waits, very patiently, for Vash to make a decision. he would have waited even longer, were it not for the answer... which has him checking whether or not he wants to answer.]

...No, it's not.

[It's the right answer to get an honest answer from the usually secretive man.]

These flowers, they were the favorite of someone who was very important to me.

[Was. That simple three letter word was still so very hard to say.]

[flowers for loved ones. a funeral. or perhaps they've only gone away... the strange thing is that Robin would normally delight in getting such honesty, such treasured secrets. here, though, it seems too quiet. it's intimate, but somber. Vash has been nothing but kind to him. Robin doesn't have the heart to even begin enjoying his words like he'd hoped he might.

instead, he reaches forward and touches his arm, very gently.]

My brother and sisters, their ghosts... or a shadow of them, linger on in this forest. I would be a hypocrite if I told you to leave.

[So, Robin did understand. Vash nods his head softly at Robin's own honestly.] I'm sorry for your loss.

[He truly is. Nothing but honesty in his voice as he bends over to run his fingers down the stem of a flower near the path. Not daring to pick it.]

What do you think would happen? If we didn't go back to the ships?

[It was question that had been on the gunman's mind for some time now. Even before arriving on this planet. Ever since Nel had tried to stay behind. Before then he had never thought he would want to stay on a planet forever, he knew what he had left undone back home, but now the temptation was there.

He knew she wasn't there. That it was merely a ghost. Rem was still dead, but at least here he got to see her and hear here. How could he leave that?]

I don't know.

[even he hadn't thought to stay there forever. ghosts were just ghosts, no matter how much he loved them. no one believes so strongly in not living for the dead as he does. but...]

We may stay here until we die, or the ship will take us back by force. Either way, I don't think it would be good if we remained in this forest.

Maybe not. [And that's all Vash says on the issue. As he hasn't made a decision if he wants to stay or not. He know she's not real, but once he leaves he'd never get to see Rem again.]

Sometimes I hate that we came here. Then, sometimes, I'm so glad we did.

[...he puts his hand more solidly on his shoulder. he speaks to him as he would speak to a friend.]

We can't stay here, Vash. Neither of us. Let's go back to the ships, among the living who need us.

Yeah. I guess. [He doesn't move to leave. Looking back up at the path instead.] I'll go back in a little bit. [He can't leave without saying goodbye. Even if it is to a ghost.]

[the responsible thing to do would be to stop him. Robin is not a responsible person. he is a selfish person. he understands the appeal of getting to say goodbye.

so he gives Vash a bright smile and pats him on the shoulder.]

I'll catch you at the entrance.

[when he's un-enchanted, when he'll be easier to snatch and drag back to a ship. he'll babysit him until they're off this rock if he has to. for now, he starts walking away--to leave Vash to whatever last illusion he'd like.]

Yeah. See you. [And Vash will put his hands in his pockets and walk away deeper into the forest. His mind in turmoil over the idea that this will mostly likely be the very last time he'll ever get to hear her voice or see Rem again outside of his dreams.

He didn't want to say goodbye.

Yet, if Robin does wait the few hours it will take for Vash to find the entrance, after being lost for awhile, the man will emerge with tears running down his face. Not that he seems at all ashamed of them. Sometimes, you need to cry.

He'll take a deep breath when he sees Robin. Give his cheeks a quick wipe before letting the air out slowly.] Alright, let's head back. [He says it with conviction, but his face says it's honestly the last thing he wants to do.]

[yeah, Robin'll wait for him, like he said. he just walked until he decided it was time to leave the path--and then he was back at the entrance, and remembered what he needed to do.

so when Vash reappears, Robin is there to walk up to him, stand up on his tip-toes (Vash is really tall), and rope an arm over his shoulders. he'll... not say anything about the crying, this time.]

You and me, Cardinal. Let's go back to the Twins; I wanted to say hi to Nel anyway.

Yeah. Alright. [He tries to put a smile to his voice, but it mostly comes out as dull. He didn't really want to go back to the ship. Even the name of the ship just reminded him the whole reason why he couldn't be with Rem right this moment. He at least places an arm around Robin's neck in return.] I bet Nel would enjoy the company.

[and he won't bother him about the less-than-heartfelt expression, either.]

I bet he would. Come on.

[he will happily (?) guide Vash back to his ship and stick around with him for a while--partly to talk to Nel, like he said, but mostly to make sure he doesn't go running off into the forest again.]

[Vash doesn't try to leave the ship once they arrive, but he'll let Robin go talk with Nel. Opting to go sit quietly in his bunk. He won't go back to the forest. He's ready to go as he keeps remembering the promise he made to the real person and not the ghost.]

I'll take care of him. I promise.

[A soft mantra he'll say out loud himself now and then. Needing to remind himself why he's not going back until the fleet is too far to return.]

[Nel made a mistake. he was supposed to stay with whoever he'd followed into the forest, but when they were tempted off the path by something he couldn't see, Nel listened to the robot signpost's warning instead of them. he stayed on the path while they ran off... and that left him all alone.

which is a very alarming thing to someone like him.

so, when he hears singing, and rounds a bend to find two people--one standing on the path and one sitting just a little ways away on a picnic blanket--he hurries toward them.]

--Hey!

[Nel manages to do something that few people ever do. He surprises Vash the Stampede who is so in shock at seeing Rem for the first time in over a hundred years he doesn't notice Nel until he speaks up.]

Huh? [He jumps and turns his head with wide eyes at Nel. Face white with shock.] Oh, Nel... hi... [He drifts off, his head turning back towards the woman smiling on the blanket. Vash swallows and has already seems to have forgotten Nel was there.]

[he kind of jitters to a halt when he catches that look, because the pair had looked happy and safe from a distance. but one glance at Vash's face tells him that something is wrong... so he's much more careful about things when he finally resumes his approach.

stepping quietly over, being as unobtrusive as possible, he hesitates because he can't decide whether interrupting whatever is going on here is a good idea or not.]

...Vash?

[Vash's hands clench and unclench at his sides as he keeps looking at the woman. His voice shaky as he whispers to himself.]

It- it can't be.

[The woman smiles and pats at the blanket.] Come on, Vash. You can bring your friend! There's enough food here for all of us!

[He finally turns towards Nel. His mouth completely dry.] Can you see her too, Nel?

Edited 2015-01-31 12:15 (UTC)

[he's almost afraid to... but he nods a little, eyes wide.

and he just quietly hooks a few fingers onto Vash's sleeve. not pulling him back, but just... adding a little weight. maybe it will ground him a little, maybe it will do nothing. it just seems like the thing to do.]

[It's very slight, but it's still a change, as Vash's breath picks up.] She's there? Rem. Rem, are you really back?

[Once again it's like Vash has forgotten Nel is there until he feels the fingers on his jacket. Vash turns his head towards the elf.] I have to go.

[He hasn't forgotten the warning, but he can't just ignore her sitting there. More so when she starts to look a bit upset and calls out again to him.]

Vash? What's wrong? Don't you want to have lunch with me?

[it's against Nel's training to try and stop someone from doing something, but he's scared. he's just watched what happens when the path is abandoned, and he doesn't want to be left alone again.

quietly, as politely as he can, he scoots around in front of Vash. looking up at him, maybe standing on his tiptoes to try and pull the man's attention to him again.]

Vash-- [quietly, urgently.] Just wait a second, okay?

Wait? [His eyes are starting to look a bit frantic as he looks briefly at Nel before they snap back to Rem. As if looking away even for that brief moment would have made her disappear.] What for? She's right there!

[Yet he stays. His legs trembling to leave, but Nel has him for just a few more moments. Perhaps he too does remember the warning he was told before entering the forest. Somewhere, deep down in his mind. Which he is trying very hard to forget, but a little nagging Elf keeps reminding him.]

I think... it's a trick...

[it's so difficult for him to stay standing there, between Vash and something he wants. he doesn't want to argue. but he hooks a light grip on Vash's other sleeve--one in each hand now. a tiny little blockade.]

You'll disappear if you leave the path, so... just wait, okay?

But what if it's not a trick?

[She was right there. So tantalizingly close. His heart starts breaking as she frowns and looks away.]

It-It's okay, Vash. I understand. You don't need me anymore. I'll go.

[The ghost starts to pack up the picnic and as she attempts to hide her tears it makes Vash more frantic to reach her.]

No, Rem! Wait! Wait, Rem! Don't go! I'm coming!

[He looks at Nel in a panic. He didn't want to upset his new friend, but he couldn't wait any longer. Gently he tries to pull his arms from the elf's grip.] I have to go. I have to go now. [He'll pull his arms with more and more force if Nel doesn't let go.]

[and Nel... can't hold him. even if he'd had the physical strength for it, he doesn't have the will.

there's a pathetic sound when his hands are pried away; it's all he can say. his eyes are still pleading, but he already knows very well that there's nothing he can actually do.]

[Vash feels awful for that sound, but it was hard to ignore Rem's call. Over a hundred years he had dreamed of seeing her again. Trap or not he can't hold back any longer.

He steps off the path and Nel is welcome to follow if he dares, if not Vash will soon be vanishing into the forest. Chasing after Rem as she moves in deeper.]

[and though Nel desperately does not want to be left alone again... he's more afraid of whatever might happen to the people who fall off the path.

so, he lets Vash go, and helplessly watches him vanish into the trees.]

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