(no subject)

[goldenglasses]

Who: Vash and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: On the planet
When: Late night on July 21st

[It was the same thing every year around the anniversary. Bad memories leading to night terrors and while he rarely remembers them thanks to the combination of Katie's dream catcher and allowing Baku to eat his dreams; they still make it hard to fall asleep. The city of lost July. Gone in an instant and all because of him.

Maybe that's why he was so quick to offer to help a distraught mother find her daughter who had run off into the mist instead of going to a bar like he had planned. Wanting to help someone rather then thinking of all the death this day meant to him.

Of course, it wasn't suppose to go like this.

A very young alien girl with orange skin is suddenly appearing on Vash's communication device. She's wearing a mask that is clearly too big for her. In fact some may recognize it as the mask that Vash has been wearing when going into the mist. Only, where is the gunslinger? Oh, that's probably him screaming in the background.]

Please, can anyone hear me? [She sounds close to tears.] I need hel--

I TOLD YOU TO GET AWAY FROM ME! [Vash's voice breaks through her plea. It's a mix of angry and terrified as the girl screams in shock. She drops the communication device and as it falls you can catch a quick glance at Vash's arm at the start of it's transformation. Along with a bright light right before the feed cuts out.]

(OOC: Vash will be responding to voice! Or your character can come find him out in the mist! Just look for the bright light! WARNING! If tagging in with action please be aware along with his current glitch there will be hallucinations that have to do with/will talk about death! If you do not want the hallucinations please mention so in your tag!)

Comments

[action]

[passingthrough]

[Kitty had actually just stopped by Vash's room to see if it was okay to spend the night with him only to find him gone. She checks her communicator, not really expecting any kind of message. They are casual after all, but she sees more than she expected. Eyes widening she takes off for a shuttle.

On her way down to the planet she questions whether she should have taken the time or at least sent out a message calling for the rest of her available crew to join her. To do this like a team, but she suspects the only enemy they are up against here is the mist and whatever it's doing to Vash's mind. More of them might just mean more people to save. It could be the same for her. She could have called, but he didn't look like he was in any state to pick up his communicator again.

She also remembers seeing that light after she ate the day old donut when she was in his mind on the Marsiva during calibrations. The memories aren't as clear as they could be, but she remembers how he yelled, "not again" and seemed to force back the transformation. He was afraid of it, of his power, whatever it may be.

Kitty brings the shuttle down as close as she can to where she traced the signal, but the mist interferes. She really hates that mist. It's why she's been avoiding the planet for the most part, sticking to only main areas for occasional shopping. She grabs the mask she had from the poisoned moon that she hasn't even tested for the mist and puts it on. Not ideal, but it's what she had. She disembarks, calling out his name, but mostly just seeking the light. She doesn't have to go too far before she sees it and heads deeper into the mist to follow it.]

Vash!

[action]

[goldenglasses]

[As she gets closer to the light damaged and destroyed buildings start to form from out of nothing. The ground turning into sandy desert under her feet. If Kitty tries to go into any of the buildings she'll find it impossible as they aren't really there.

Which is probably good, because it doesn't really look like much could have survived this destruction.

Keep going and eventually she'll start to hear voices. One that sounds strikingly similar to Vash's tone, but slightly deeper.] Just let it go, Brother. Embrace who and what you are! Join me at last and we can go home to our family!

NO! [Vash's voice is strained, but the reason should be clear once she's close enough. Vash has fallen to his knees, his right arm still attempting to transform and his left gripping near where his forearm should have been as if he could somehow squeeze his arm back into shape.

Standing over him is his twin. Frowning down at him.] Why do you fight me? You could end your suffering if you'd only join me. [Suddenly he snaps his head towards Kitty once the figment notices her.] It's because of her, isn't it?

[Vash doesn't exactly look happy to see Kitty. His eyes a bit wild. Thanks to a mix of the mist's influence and the terror he currently feels.] NO! GET OUT OF HERE!

[action]

[passingthrough]

[She touches the first building she reaches and her hand falls through the structure as if it's not there. For a girl who can choose to be intangible at any time it leaves her unsure if the mist is affecting her vision or her powers which is a startling thought either way. Based on what she's heard it could be either. Both even. Does it mean the mask isn't working? It was never proven here. She should have gotten one from this world, and been more prepared for something like this. She leaves it on for now. She keeps walking. She needs to find Vash. She just hopes she'll be able to help by the time she gets there.

Then she hears voices, muffled at first but clearer as she moves quickly to the sound. They come into focus and she's sure—mostly sure the other man who looks so much like Vash isn't here. Or did the Atroma let Knives in with the most recent group of people? It would have happened recently. She may have only seen him in Vash's mind as a child before, but you don't forget a name like Knives or that someone has an evil twin brother.]

Vash, he's not here. The mist is doing this. It's just you and me. Everything is going to be okay. [As long as he can get his arm back together like he did with Legato. She's seen him do it. She knows he can.]

[action]

[goldenglasses]

No! I can't-- Kitty, please, I don't want to hurt you. [He struggles to get his thoughts and words out. Between the hysteria brought on by the mist, the phantom that's been taunting him, and the pain of keeping so much power contained his mind is a bit fractured.]

July. Not again... please not again. [Too bad months don't work like that. Only it doesn't seem like he means a month.

Not that Knives is making things any easier.] I know it hurts brother, but it won't hurt the moment you stop fighting it. Aim for the sky, blow the fleet out of the air! Show those Atroma why they should have never taken you away from our planet! Besides, do you really think any of them will let you on a ship again once they know what you can do? Do you really think that she- [as he gestures towards Kitty] -will want anything to do with you?

[Vash shakes his head as if this will stop his brother's words from reaching him. It's not very effective.]

[action]

[passingthrough]

[She tries not to even look at Knives. He's not real. He's not real. She doesn't want to make him seem more real by responding to him directly, but when he says it she does wonder if Vash really has the power to blow the fleet out of the air. Of course even if he did under normal circumstances the Atroma probably softened it, right? Like Magneto's powers. Like the way she can't disrupt ship systems with her phasing when that should be a natural byproduct whether she wants it or not. But she can't be sure.]

Then don't hurt me. Focus on your arm. Use the fear to push it back, don't let the fear use you. You're in control here, Vash. No one else.

[action]

[goldenglasses]

I CAN'T! [He was useless. He couldn't control his own powers because if he could he wouldn't be in this destroyed city right now, would he?!] Run away! Please! Run away now before it's too late!!

[He says he can't control it, but it does look like it isn't getting any worse either. At least, it hasn't since she started speaking.]

[action]

[passingthrough]

You can. [Scooting closer to him instead of running away.] I've seen you do it. [She thinks. She's not sure. It was with Legato and what if he was the one who pulled it out of him and put it away? He was controlling that crowd too.] You need to focus. It's not the enemy. It's part of you and you can make it do what you want. [It's a lesson she was taught by more experienced X-Men like Storm and Jean. It's a lesson she passed down to her students like Chamber whose powers were always threatening to engulf him. She wants to believe it applies here.]

[action]

[goldenglasses]

I don't want this. [It was the enemy. It was the symbol of everything he hated about himself.] I never wanted any of this! Please, don't come closer.

Stay away from him! [The Knives surges forward as Kitty tries to get closer to Vash in an intimidation attempt. Perhaps because it doesn't know that he's not real. Or perhaps it has noticed that Vash's arm has grown a little smaller the closer she got.] Stop letting these humans poison your mind! You know they only wish to use you. You've seen for yourself how they've used up our sisters and thrown them away! Stop being so blind to them! She will do the same thing!

[action]

[passingthrough]

He's not real. And I'm not human. But humans aren't the enemy. There are a lot of stupid, small, petty people who do terrible things out of fear and anger. Like this guy. [She nods Knives' way.] But there are a lot of good people too who look at you and see you. Really see you. All of you. [Her eyes are focused on Vash's. Not on his arm. Not on Knives. Not on the buildings around her and she keeps moving closer.]

[hollystrike]

[.......



Perhaps she should be thankful that she's back and whole just in time for this mess. On the one hand, she recognises that shift, that light, from one of the most scarring visits she had during the whole calibrations mess. She has a fair idea of what Vash is reliving.

On the other, she knows how this ends, knows Vash won't live with himself if he manages to kill everyone around him, and also isn't sure if there's any way this can be stopped, except for the most efficient means.

...let's table that for now. She'll see if he can be reached. Katie drops out of her shuttle with her mask on and blinks, flickering across town in half a second to arrive at the source of the light. She knows this is dire, but first she looks to see if the child is still here or has bolted.]

[goldenglasses]

[As she lands near Vash, Katie will find herself in a desert town. One that may look remarkably familiar to her. It's the destroyed city of July she currently finds herself in.

The child has indeed bolted. Taking Vash's mask with her back towards town. A cracked, child sized mask left behind which should explain why Vash wasn't wearing one at the moment.

He's breathing heavily on his knees as he tries his best to keep his arm from fully transforming.] Katie... [Why? Why was she here!?] GET AWAY FROM ME!

She should stay. [A strangely calm voice materializes in the mist along with the form of a blue haired man.] It's time, Vash. Time for you to show these people just who you are.

No. It can't be you! [Yet he seems real enough for Vash to somehow look more terrified then he did before.]

[hollystrike]

[Well, the man is not familiar, but Katie pays him no mind anyway, addressing Vash as if he's not there.]

Do you really think it's possible to destroy the same city twice?

[Harsh words. Delivered gently.]

[goldenglasses]

[That does seem to get through to him.] N-No. [Slowly his arm starts to shrink just a little.

This displeases the figment.] You can't destroy July twice, but you can still destroy this island and the fleet above it. Do it! [Legato may not really be here and he may not be able to do anything to Katie, but Vash is another story. He's so lost in the effects of the mist he actually thinks Legato could have control over his body.]

NO! STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT! [Now his arm strains with the effort from keeping his arm from transforming further and keeping himself from raising it up at the sky.]

[hollystrike]

[Ah. Hmm. That's more power than she thought he'd had; a lot more than just one of Sam's hallucinations, then. But Sam's withdrawal gave her ample opportunity and experience in dealing with such things, and she regards Legato impassively before making a brushing-away motion-- and then, quite literally, he's gone.]

Please be quiet. The adults are talking.

Vash. Out of everyone here, the only person who has power here is you. Stop giving in so easily.

[Not altogether fair, but she's also not being altogether honest. You know. It's Katie.]

[goldenglasses]

[The Legato is easily dispatched as he's on Katie's playing field instead of his own and Vash takes notice. He's surprised in a way. Legato has been such a big force in both his sleeping and waking nightmares that he can hardly comprehend the man being taken care of so easily.

His arm is his own to control again, well, except for the real glitch in his augment that was still trying to cause him to blow everything away.]

I'm not! [Was that true? Was he giving it his all or was he giving up?] I can't-- IT WON'T STOP!

[But it did seem to have stopped getting worse the moment she got rid of Legato. There is some progress being made.]

[hollystrike]

[The key word is temporarily, sadly. Legato will be back, and within maybe a minute. She'll have to work fast, and being out in this mist is Not Great for either of them; it's chock full of nervosa, for a start.]

Vash. Isn't it part of you? Aren't you just panicking?

[She reaches out and lays a hand gently on his cheek.] Do you trust me?

[Because there's something slithering closer in the mist. Vash can't see it, but it's not gonna be very helpful if Katie suddenly, y'know, gets bitten in half while she's trying to talk him down.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash flinches at her touch. Not in pain, but more like someone expecting a touch to be painful.

His face is slick with sweat from the effort of keeping the glitch from exploding. He looks uncertain with each of her questions asked.]

I-- I... [He wants to say yes, but there is just one problem-] You don't know what I am! You should get away from me!

Action

[apurrstate]

[It's definitely the light that draws him. He'd barely caught the tail-end of that girl's post with Vash's device and he'd been trying to figure out how to find them when the light gave him the clue he needed.

Anders booked it as fast as he could, part of him wishing he could learn something like that 'Fade-step' magic he'd been hearing about just so he could get there faster. But he did get there, he barely spared a glance around to see if anyone had gotten hurt as he crosses to Vash, stopping just short of actually going to his friend's side.]

Vash! What's going on? What happened?

Action

[goldenglasses]

[As Anders approaches the area the surrounding view will change. Damaged and destroyed buildings start to appear in a desert setting the closer he gets to Vash and the light.

Vash whips his head towards the sound of Ander's voice as he comes closer. His arm halfway through the transformation.] NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME!

Action

[apurrstate]

[Anders' head whips around, taking in the change to the setting, before his attention settles on Vash. He couldn't be distracted, he knew what this fog did.]

No! [His responding shout practically clips into Vash's warning.]

Tell me how to help you, Vash. I'm not leaving.

Action

[goldenglasses]

You can't! You can't stop it! So just run! Run away now!

[A voice will suddenly speak from directly behind Anders. If he turns to look he'll be looking at someone nearly identical to Vash.]

He won't leave because he wants to study you, Vash. Find out how you work. All doctors do eventually, don't they?

Action

[apurrstate]

[The man speaks and Anders jolts in surprise. Where had he come from and who in the Void was he? But more importantly-]

What!? That's not true!

[The small glance back he'd spared for the guy is lost now as he looks back to his friend and takes a few more steps closer.]

Vash! I'm not going to run. I can-! I'm... Just..stop![He had to think. In a flash of green, a glyph appears under Vash's feet in a panicked attempt to freeze whatever was happening to the other man's arm.]

What is going on?

Action

[goldenglasses]

[The glyph works and Vash's body goes ridged with paralysis. It stops his arm from transforming more, but that power that has been building is still there. It needs somewhere to escape. There is no more back and forth for it to swell and decrease as Vash fought to keep it at bay.

Unable to escape from it's normal route it tries to find a different place to escape. Vash can start to feel his skin start to bubble in other places. The most concerning is the tingling feeling that starts up in the back of his throat.]

S-stop. [He nearly chokes as he speaks. As if afraid that his open mouth will allow something to spill out.] Turn it off!

Action

[apurrstate]

[Panic flared up in Anders' chest even before Vash's plea reached him. He didn't know what was happening, but he could see whatever energy was building up refused to be stopped. Like a spell an enemy mage might cast.]

I'm sorry!

[He mentally cut the glyph's image in half and it broke beneath Vash's feet, freeing the man. The energy was building too fast, if he was going to be able to do anything, it had to be done now.

If he could even do anything, he had no idea what kind of power Vash was wielding. He just had to hope and maybe send a silent plea for help to Andraste.]

Hang on!

[In quick succession, Anders yanked the mana needed from inside himself to cast three spells. He could feel the glass-scraped-flesh feeling of pulling too much too quickly, but he'd deal with the imbalance later; Vash's wellbeing was more important.

The first, a haste spell, had him blinking into position across from his friend and in direct line of fire. The second appeared around Vash himself, excepting the arm that was morphing. The last flashed into place around Anders.]

Vash, listen, whatever the energy is, release it.

Action

[goldenglasses]

[Vash struggles to regain the small bit of control that he once had. The arm transforms just a little bit more before he looks on in shock at Anders's suggestion.] Wha-- I can't! [The very idea of releasing it scars him enough that he struggles back and gains just the smallest bit of control. Not enough to stop it just yet.] G-get out of the way! [He's terrified that he may end up killing Anders unwillingly.]