driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Vash and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Three Twins, Space Bar, and Planet
When: July 21st

[The change in Vash over the past month or so is subtle. Only those who spend a lot of time around him or know him well will have probably noticed. As of late though the smile that’s normally on his face doesn’t quite reach his eyes anymore. It’s still big and there, but just lacking a small something. He’s not as loud and rambunctious as he is normally. Still full of pep and annoyance, but again there’s a slight undertone of simply going through the motions of what’s expected.

He still shows up where expected. Bakeries ordering mountains of donuts. On the beach enjoying the sounds of the ocean. Cooking at the Space Bar. Laughing and enjoying life as normal. Although, if he doesn’t notice someone around at times he can be caught staring off into the distances. The mask nearly breaking for a moment during these moments as a frown tries to break through. Then with a shake of his head it’s gone and the normal Vash is back.

Hopefully people ordering food during Vash’s shifts at the Space Bar like well done food. Whoops.

Then the day he hates every year arrives. July 21st. The anniversary of the destruction of the city of July. Or at least, as best as he can figure by the fleet’s calendar.

Today Vash sits quietly on the beach, uneaten donuts and bottle of whiskey sitting next to him, and he can’t muster the strength to even pretend to smile. Not today; even though he tried earlier.

It’s at this moment Vash’s communicator he had placed in the sand decides to turn on. Catching him just as he stands with the whiskey in his hand. He considers the bottle a moment, twisting it in his hand, before opening it and pouring it slowly out onto the sand.]

I’m sorry, that this is all I can do for now. I promise, I’ll find a way back one day. I’m not running away this time. I’ll make sure it won’t happen again. I’m so sorry.

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[Cole just appears from nowhere, as he does, with a small entourage.

He seems to have acquired fluff slugs. There's four on the edge of his hat, peeking over the brim, and a couple on his shoulders, clinging on and making their soft sound of comfort.

He silently offers out another one that rests in his hands.]

I know it doesn't fix anything, but she'd like to try.

[Thaaaaat sounds like a humanoid trying to make themselves feel better with alcohol. How and why humanoids have that custom she'll never know.]

Vash?

[As much as Vash does enjoy losing himself in drink now and then at least he's not drinking this one. No, today he feels like he should feel the pain and not try to numb it.] Oh? [Although he stops pouring when he hears Pinkie's voice.] Pinkie, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that was on. [Walking over now to pick up the communicator.]

[Vash visibly jumps as Cole does his Cole thing of suddenly showing up. More so as he had been spacing out and lost in his own mind.]

Ah. [Vash reaches out to let the slug crawl it's way from Cole to him. He has spent a bit of time with some of the slugs. They did actually help a little and while Vash isn't sure he deserves their comfort on a day like today it would be rude to deny a kind offer like this.

So he smiles for Cole and pets the slug almost without thinking. How could something called a slug be so soft?] Thanks, I'm sure she'll help out plenty.

[Cole doesn't sit down, because he's not sure that Vash really wants him to stay. Another slug abandons ship, tumbling off the hat to fall onto Vash and start purring.]

You don't have to smile for me.

[Vash sighs and doesn't stop the slug from falling onto him and purring as he continues to pet the slug in his hand. A sad smile on his face still.]

I know. I really can't hide anything from you, can I? I guess; it's just that I... well, I don't really know what I should do. So I just smile. You know?

[He's not really sure that he himself knows.]

You can. But not hurts. I can go away if you prefer. But... I can't say anything to make it better, but I can understand how you feel and tell you that if I was there... I wouldn't blame you.

[It's all he has.]

No, it's alright. You can stay if you want. [He doesn't want to suck Cole down in his hate spiral with him so he wants to give Cole an opening to leave. But, company where he doesn't have to explain the reasons why he feels the way he is today isn't so bad.]

Thanks. [He's not sure the vast majority of July would feel the same.] So, ah, with your... [Powers? Abilities? Just what you are? He settles for abilities.] Ah, abilities can you actually see what happened? [That's not a memory most should have to suffer through.]

[Cole folds himself down next to Vash. Another slug promptly migrates to Vash's shoulder.

He hums and nods.]

Sort of. I know it. I felt it, how it felt for you, how it felt for them because it impacted you, what happened, what people think happened...

[He knows most people find it difficult to grasp.]

I know hurts. Upsets. Big ones are sort of... more abstract to me. Because, Solas told me I don't see the big picture. I see individuals.

Heh, it looks like I'm stealing away all your friends. [Vash reaches over to make sure the slug is settled on his shoulder so it doesn't fall off.]

And seeing individuals isn't always so bad. People tend to over look that sometimes. [Vash himself was very much an individual over bigger picture most of the time.]

Oh, these are just the ones that came with me. I've been staying on their island with them. It's lovely.

[He nodded gently, careful not to dislodge his passengers.]

Cassandra and Madam de Fer told me that I started war, because I killed someone. But, he was using his power to hurt hundreds of people. He was cruelty and he enjoyed it. He liked fostering Despair. And no one else could stop him.

Cassandra admired that I didn't apologise for what I did and Vivienne wasn't going to like me anyway.

I don't think you should have killed him, but I'm glad you stopped him if he was hurting people and he liked it.

[Starting a war... not as good, but he'd rather not focus on that bit.]

He liked hurting them. He liked making people scared so they would hurt each other.

[He hums again and a couple of the slugs climb down into his too big, too long, too skinny hands. He handles them gently, deftly.]

Do you think I'd be allowed to keep some of them with me? Everyone who I called like family is gone.

[There's something compelling about seeing your fellows in emotional pain. Even if it's a stranger, there's always a desire to reach out and wish them the best.

Robin is no different, deep down.]

A rather cryptic message, but I assume that's on purpose. Would it be too intrusive of me to ask what sort of condolences I ought to be giving?

[Well, this is deeply worrying. ]

...You want some company?

[It's not really an offer as a pre-warning. He's coming to find you, buddy.]

That's alright. Are you okay?

Huh? [Voice? Ah, stupid communicator.]

Ah, no! It's okay. I'm alright. [Also not hard to find. He's just a little ways out of town.]

Huh? [Vash turns towards the communicator as the whiskey finishes pouring into the sand.] Oh, sorry. [He walks up and picks it up off the sand.]

It wasn't meant to be cryptic the ah, people, I was talking to understand.

Well; yes and no. [Today calls for a little honesty.]

I'm okay. It's just something really bad happened on my home on this day and it makes me sad to think about it.

I don't see why not. I mean, people kept those foxes from that really cold planet. I didn't think they'd do well on a ship, but they seem to be doing great!

I wouldn't normally take an animal like that. They're usually happier together and I'm not very good at looking after things. But these don't need looking after. Just a supply of food and I can do that.

Yeah. They seem like a really good pet for a small spaces like a space ship. They also seem to have something about them that just makes you feel happy.

[Like how Vash is happy for the change of subject.]

They're mildly empathic, I think.

[Cole lifts one up and peers at it. It touches his nose with its feelers and he smiles slightly.]

They want people to feel good.

I'm sure they do. How long has it been?

Oh. .... Need some company?

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