driftfleet | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Vash and you
Broadcast: The type you regret in the morning!
Action: On the planet, Twin Roses, or The Space Bar
When: Backdated to July 21st

[When the fleet first arrives to the planet Vash for once doesn't look overly excited by finally reaching a populated area. Usually he's so excited to meet the locals and take in the sights. Those who spend a lot of time with Vash regularly may have noticed that his smile doesn't seem to reach as far or seem as genuine over the last few days.

It drops completely when the twinkling lights of the city come into view. It should be breath taking and beautiful, but they had to show up to a large city on that anniversary. Those who sampled the chocolate donut with sprinkles during Vash's calibration room may know that this is the anniversary of Lost July. The day Vash destroyed a city of millions.

Going to one of the food courts in a busy shopping center was a mistake. He thought being around a lot of people would help ease the nightmares of the destroyed city and the terrible silence that followed the destruction, but no, it only made it worse. Which may explain why Vash is sitting with an untouched hamburger in front of him as he grips his right arm tightly. He's not making a scene, but his eyes are starting to fill with tears and his mind has gone for a wander. He probably won't notice if someone walked up close to him right away.

As he is having literal nightmares at night. Luckily he doesn't wake up screaming, but the crew of the Twin Roses with good hearing may pick up that he has been waking up at different points at night with a loud gasp or shouts of STOP! or NO! in his room. He can only do so much to try to hide the tired eyes he has during the day. Or maybe Vash has accidentally fallen asleep in a common area and has suddenly sat bolt upright once someone walks into the room with him.

To try to distract his mind Vash will try to take up extra shifts at The Space Bar. Or if he's really not wanted in the kitchen he'll hang out and have a few drinks. He'll also take his drinking home to the Twin Roses as he feels like the drinking helps him sleep. To his credit he never drinks to the point of being obnoxious, but it will likely be noticeable he's drinking a bit more. Stupid rapid healing making it hard to stay buzzed.

Or at least most of the time he doesn't get completely drunk. There is the one time he drinks a bit too much and opens his communicator.]

Hey. [A long pause.] Do you ever think about big events that happened back on your planet. Maybe it was world changing or- or maybe it just changed your world--

[He trails off for a moment. What was he talking about?] And think about how none of the places we visit have ever heard of it. Life, it just goes on. I suppose that's a good thing...

[He's not drunk. You're drunk.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Vash stands as if he's going to protest or at least help, but then he sways unsteadily on his feet and just sits back down. Whelp. Can't let food go to waste, right?

Besides! It smells great!

So Vash will idly watch Sokka work at tidying up his mess and chew on that first bite thoughtfully for a moment. Perhaps Sokka is about to think he didn't even hear the question.]

No. Not the calibrations. Not really.

[There's another long pause. Vash can almost remember everyone who entered his mind during that time, but not exactly what they saw. But he does remember one thing -- someone actually took on an eating challenge.]

Did you see the city that became known as Lost July? [Who knows? Maybe the taste of a chocolate donut with sprinkles will come back to Sokka's mouth.]

[Sokka pauses in his work and exhales slowly, his shoulders sagging a little. ]

Vash, I saw exactly everything. It was...yeah. A lot. You've been through some things. Your brother seems like a piece of work.

He's... difficult.

[Slowly Vash drags his hand down his face. Staring down that the burger he suddenly lost his appetite for.]

Do you believe them? The hosts? That time stands still at home?

[He had to believe it as otherwise his stomach churned at the idea of his brother running around at home without him. Today thought he had his doubts.]

That's an understatement.

[Sokka nods, moving to sit beside him.]

I mean, I've been home twice now, and it was exactly where I last remembered. So I guess it makes sense. Assuming we actually go home at all, it could be a very clever fabrication- but I don't know.

I haven't been home at all. [He had been a wanderer for most of his life, but it felt so odd to be away from his planet for all this time.]

I think I believe them too. [But it was nice to hear someone else did as well.]

This is a really good burger, by the way.

I mean, I don't know if I totally believe them. I'm on my guard about that one. Whenever I ask about people going back home, I get a hedgy non-answer- they could be lying to us about everything.

[Not what Vash wants to hear, but it's the truth. Sokka hates Atroma so much. ]

Of course it is. It's from my meat supply. Only the best.

Well, they did sort of say that the ultimate prize to win is to go home. Hard to say if those people who have left have "won" [He even holds up his hands to make the air quotes.] or if they're just... somewhere else.

[It's not something he usually like to talk about. Preferring to try to think positive thoughts.]

That was always my worry. That they're being held somewhere else.

[Look, his girlfriend, sister and basically his entire found family are in that possible place. He needs to SAVE THEM. ]

But we don't know much about that yet, got to keep searching.

Keep moving. Keep searching. Always one step behind. [When he wasn't running away at least it always felt like he was. He gives Sokka a rueful smile.]

You know? All I wanted was a quiet and peaceful life. [He chuckles.] It's funny how space likes to make it seem like that's possible.

[Until it all blows up in your face. Hopefully not literally this time.]

Yeah, but one day we'll catch up. Or we'll trip them up and catch up the sneaky underhanded way. Both work for me.

[He lets out a soft chuckle. ]

I get it. This place is really...quiet compared to home. Sure weird stuff still happens, but I don't have to delegate any post-war things. Don't have to stop still warring fractions or rebels. I want to go home, more than anything. But this is still a break.

[Vash sighs and nods along with Sokka's list.] Yeah, I like not having a 6 with... with... Nine? No, ten? Six... Zero... One... Two...

Eh, a lot of zeros. [Good thing he said all that in his head!]

A lot of zeroes.

[Yeah you so did not say that in your head, sorry, friend. ]

...Maybe I should have got more burgers...

Too many zeros. [Vash nods along with the voice inside his head. Oddly it sounds just like Sokka!]

Yeah! You should have! What are you gonna eat?

I meant for you!

[You clearly need more to soak up the booze, buddy. ]

I'll be fine, I ate like, two steaks before coming here. That'll hold me for an hour or two.

Two steaks!? [Why is he acting surprised? He could easily eat that much himself if he really wanted to. Although he starts to grin wickedly.] Did you get them from- did you get them from a Meatier Meteor? [He tilts his head back and laughs loudly at his own joke.] Because we're in space! And that's a lot of meat! Metier! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Sokka laughs at your dumb joke, Vash. Because he thinks it's funny even if most of the population of the Fleet wouldn't. He's a good friend. ]

Oh man, that's a good one. I'll have to remember it. Nah, these are from my old stock on the Blue Fish.

Well, you should tell people you got it from... [What did he call it again? Oh yeah!] A meatier meteor. I bet they'd be really impressed!

But what if they ask for directions? Then they'll learn about my ruse!!!

Tell- tell them that it's a secret location!

Dude, I don't think that'll slide one we move to another star system.

[Asking him to make up a stupid lie while drunk is hard! He hums as he finishes off the burger.]

The meatier- [He snickers at his own "cunning" joke he was about to share.] Tell- tell them that - [Snort!] That the meatier fell in- in LOVE with you and now- now [Snicker!] follows you everywhere!

HAHAHA HAHAHA!

[Sokka stares at him for solid minute. ]

...Yeah, I'm getting you more food. Is there food here?

[He's getting up to look. ]

[Besides the standard paste this place likes to call food there will also be plenty of instant pasta. Bread. Cereal. Some lunch meat in the fridge. Leftovers of some sort. So there is food to be found.]

Of course there's food! But there's no meteor.

[He takes another gulp of his drink as his giggles slow down.

As they leave and Sokka inspects the cupboards Vash's original train of thought sneaks up on him again. As it always does. The booze never does help in the end.]

You know, you don't need to worry about me. I don't really deserve it anyway. [He's actually a little confused as to why Sokka is worried. Didn't he see what Vash had done?]

[Ugh. He'll take it. Whatever will soak up all the booze- he'll take it. He grabs an armful of things as Vash speaks, brow furrowing. ]

Yeah, well, I think I should be the judge of who deserves my worry or not.

[He comes back to sit down, putting the various foodstuff in front of him. ]

Eat before you end up throwing up or something. While I sit here and worry about you if you like it or not.

But you've seen what I did! How-- why...

[Vash shakes his head as if he can clear the drink out of his mind to make his thoughts be less jumbled.]

Are you really okay being around me knowing what I've done? It's okay. I'd understand if you weren't. [Even if Sokka would argue that he didn't want to destroy the city it doesn't change the fact that he lost control of his powers. Accident or not it proved he could be dangerous in his mind.