driftfleet | (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!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.]