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

[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.]