![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I don't know.
[ At least he's honest. He certainly doesn't feel like he deserves anything more, but also more is too much maybe. ]
Between you and the time my presence is wanted at the Machiya... it's a lot of space. I have a lot of places I know I can be.
[ He'd made a lot of progress when he was here last. A lot of that progress remains, but while what he went home to was only a few hours, it's still a few hours that worked really hard to rip at the ribbons of progress everyone in Visium had worked to lace together. He shoves a smile on his face, apologetic. ]
I don't want anyone to worry.
[ At least he's honest. He certainly doesn't feel like he deserves anything more, but also more is too much maybe. ]
Between you and the time my presence is wanted at the Machiya... it's a lot of space. I have a lot of places I know I can be.
[ He'd made a lot of progress when he was here last. A lot of that progress remains, but while what he went home to was only a few hours, it's still a few hours that worked really hard to rip at the ribbons of progress everyone in Visium had worked to lace together. He shoves a smile on his face, apologetic. ]
I don't want anyone to worry.
[ it's a lot, he knows. what happened in vash's world. what he's still coming to terms with. he doesn't know what answers anyone can give or how anyone can help. it's hard because you don't want your trauma to seep into the spaces you share with others.
of course dolph knows. how could he not?
he moves closer, curling his hand around the back of vash's head to press their foreheads. ]
If that's what you need, that's fine. But if it gets too much . . . don't forget to reach out.
of course dolph knows. how could he not?
he moves closer, curling his hand around the back of vash's head to press their foreheads. ]
If that's what you need, that's fine. But if it gets too much . . . don't forget to reach out.
[ Every time Dolph has done this, it's felt grounding in a way that Vash doesn't really expect. He closes his eyes the moment their foreheads touch and exhales a breath through his nose.
Don't forget.
He'd nod, but instead, he exhales out a quiet hum. A long breath in, then out follows. ]
I won't forget. I know.
Don't forget.
He'd nod, but instead, he exhales out a quiet hum. A long breath in, then out follows. ]
I won't forget. I know.
Thinking about it? You should if it's what the two of you want to do.
[ He reaches out to hold onto the little sapling with Dolph again, letting their fingers brush together. ]
I know I'm welcome. I- [ Crashing into Dolph's life just feels like too much. Needing too much, doing too much. ]
[ He reaches out to hold onto the little sapling with Dolph again, letting their fingers brush together. ]
I know I'm welcome. I- [ Crashing into Dolph's life just feels like too much. Needing too much, doing too much. ]
I'm not sure what I want. I'm doing my best to visualize it but . . . [ he sighs, shaking his head. visualizing it. believing in it. that's so much more than dolph has ever tackled on. before he just left it all to alex. strung himself along to that dream. ]
I do know I want you.
I do know I want you.
Yeah, I can do that.
The cafe across the street has good coffee. There's tables outside.
The cafe across the street has good coffee. There's tables outside.
[ By the time Dolph arrives, Vash is stepping out of the cafe with two paper cups in hand. He grins all lopsided when he spots Dolph, and holds a cup out for him. ]
So what's this about?
So what's this about?
[ dolph takes it with a smile, setting the box down. ]
Well, it's a special day. Maybe not so special here, but I think it's worth celebrating.
[ he taps the box's lid. ]
Open it.
[ inside, vash will find a whole bunch of fancy, artisanal . . . donuts. ]
Well, it's a special day. Maybe not so special here, but I think it's worth celebrating.
[ he taps the box's lid. ]
Open it.
[ inside, vash will find a whole bunch of fancy, artisanal . . . donuts. ]
[ Oh. Vash has a moment where he looks a little like a deer in headlights for a moment. He's not good with special dates. He should know what this one is, right? He blinks after a moment to look at the box, and eventually settles on putting his drink down. ]
You really didn't have to do anything special for me, you know that. I don't have anything to give you.
[ He places his hand on the box though, the touch thoughtful. ]
You really didn't have to do anything special for me, you know that. I don't have anything to give you.
[ He places his hand on the box though, the touch thoughtful. ]
Vash. When have I ever done anything I don't want to do?
[ he hesitates, unsure now. he knows vash is skittish when it comes to gifts. but it was just donuts?
maybe it's him. he's not doing it right.
still. he rests his hand on top of vash's. ]
I like doing special things for you. Because it's you.
[ he hesitates, unsure now. he knows vash is skittish when it comes to gifts. but it was just donuts?
maybe it's him. he's not doing it right.
still. he rests his hand on top of vash's. ]
I like doing special things for you. Because it's you.
[ He laughs. ]
Well, when you put it that way...
[ He glances back at Dolph and immediately tangles their fingers together. He squeezes Dolph's hand a moment later. ]
Sorry. I should be more thankful. I am. Thank you.
[ He means it. Since he has one hand holding Dolph's own, its his prosthetic hand that he uses to flip the lid open, and immediately his expression shifts, his eyes crinkling at the corners with the grin on his face. ]
You really do know me pretty well. These look amazing, Dolph!
Well, when you put it that way...
[ He glances back at Dolph and immediately tangles their fingers together. He squeezes Dolph's hand a moment later. ]
Sorry. I should be more thankful. I am. Thank you.
[ He means it. Since he has one hand holding Dolph's own, its his prosthetic hand that he uses to flip the lid open, and immediately his expression shifts, his eyes crinkling at the corners with the grin on his face. ]
You really do know me pretty well. These look amazing, Dolph!
[ he immediately relaxes, relief coursing down his body. he squeezes back, their knuckles pressed together. ]
You don't have to be thankful, you can just . . . be happy. It's tricky, but I believe you can do it. We'll do it together.
[ his expression softens. ]
I'm glad you like them.
You don't have to be thankful, you can just . . . be happy. It's tricky, but I believe you can do it. We'll do it together.
[ his expression softens. ]
I'm glad you like them.
Edited 2025-02-01 05:44 (UTC)
[ WHY IS HIS MIDDLE NAME ELIZABETH? ]
I'm not being charged or anything...! I help out. It's kind of like bartering.
[ He hesitates a little. ]
...I wasn't sure if I wanted anything permanent.
I'm not being charged or anything...! I help out. It's kind of like bartering.
[ He hesitates a little. ]
...I wasn't sure if I wanted anything permanent.
Maybe you're thinking too hard about it.
[ About what he wants. Vash isn't sure if that's the answer either, anyway. Wanting things is something he's still getting used to. Being wanted is no different and for a moment Vash is struck dumb. Oh. The tops of his ears turn pink almost immediately. ]
I don't have any plans to go anywhere else.
[ About what he wants. Vash isn't sure if that's the answer either, anyway. Wanting things is something he's still getting used to. Being wanted is no different and for a moment Vash is struck dumb. Oh. The tops of his ears turn pink almost immediately. ]
I don't have any plans to go anywhere else.
Happy. Right.
[ Vash so often wears happy on his face like someone would a mask. It's so much easier to slip into "happy" than the genuine feeling. But he likes the sound of trying more often for something genuine, and not doing it on his own. ]
Well, it'd make me happy if you shared one with me.
[ VASH. ]
[ Vash so often wears happy on his face like someone would a mask. It's so much easier to slip into "happy" than the genuine feeling. But he likes the sound of trying more often for something genuine, and not doing it on his own. ]
Well, it'd make me happy if you shared one with me.
[ VASH. ]
Page 3 of 4