[Knives has given Vash some space ever since his curse was lifted a few weeks ago. So, it might seem entirely unprompted to receive a short, sharp message one morning:]
I haven't wished for anything in months, Nai. What are you talking about?
[ There's an edge of panic to his voice as he scrambles to head outside, like that's going to show or tell him anything more than what his brother is implying. ]
[ As he left them? He isn't sure what the context of that could be but it could be worse. ]
Okay. Hold on. I'm coming. We'll figure it out, Nai.
[ He pauses, shutting the door behind him despite being hurried. It's cold here still, he has to wonder if the temperature would be bad for them. Are they just out in the open? ]
[There's a long pause; either Knives is still angry, or the line has been interrupted. But then--]
Fine. I'll be waiting.
[He'll have to take Vash's word he's telling the truth. Unhelpfully, he doesn't bother to give him directions, or to specify that it's a long journey out of the city. If he's truly dedicated to finding them, their brethren will show the way.]
[ How he's getting blamed for this is a mystery, but Vash has started to realize that sometimes, it's impossible to make sense of what his brother is thinking on his own. The best he can do is to try and figure out what is going on.
Which isn't made easy by the way he's left to his own devices on where to go. The moment he sets foot ouside of the city though, one of his tomases in hand, he already hears the familiar call.
It's distant, weak. But it tells him what he needs to know.
He travels quickly thanks to the Tomas, but the moment he catches sight of the ark he freezes, pulling the reins back to stare at the grounded craft like a startled horse himself. ]
[Knives wasn't in doubt Vash would come, sooner rather than later. So it's not long before a hangar door slides open, ominous and uninviting. Whereas once it might have been heavily guarded, it now sits empty; there is, at least, plenty of space for Vash to leave his tomas, should he prefer not to have it stay unattended outside.
Another set of doors lead deeper into the ship, and they hiss open to admit him. Soon the scenery becomes familiar -- it's exactly the same building he'd confronted Knives in back in July.]
This way, Vash.
[Knives' voice echoes down the corridor... though it could just as easily be a trap all over again.]
[ Vash takes a moment to hitch the Tomas to something in the shade and leaves some water with it before he walks towards the other door that’s open. There’s some hesitancy in his stride as he reaches the way inside, but he pushes on anyway, one hand dragging along the metallic walls of the corridor. It’s eerily familiar in a way that feels almost haunting, like setting foot into a memory, but it’s real. The feeling of the metal and grooves underneath his flesh and bone hand is real. ]
Nai? Where are you?
[ it COULD be a trap, but perhaps this time Vash’s optimism and hope for their strained relationship wins out against any danger sense he might have. He follows the corridor towards where he feels their siblings, where he’s certain he feels his brother’s presence. ]
[Many doors are locked along the way, but the open route leads Vash exactly to where Knives is: one of the chambers in the deepest part of the ship where red, ailing plants are stored. He's silent, his hand pressed to the glass of one container, in an almost meditative silence. They're not showing any signs of improvement, but they're no worse, either -- none have opened their petals since the transition to being brought here.
When he hears Vash enter, he turns to glance over his shoulder.]
Cruel, isn't it? [He spreads his arm to indicate the expanse of the chamber.] Even here, they have not been rid of what ails them.
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voice - after the reapening
What have you done, Vash?
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[ Does he sound groggy? Was he napping? Maybe. ]
Nai? What's—
[ there's the sound of rustling and maybe vash talking to someone before he speaks again, this time much more awake. ]
What's wrong?
no subject
You brought our brethren here, didn't you? Used the crystals to do it.
no subject
[ There's an edge of panic to his voice as he scrambles to head outside, like that's going to show or tell him anything more than what his brother is implying. ]
...Where are they? Are they okay?
no subject
['Okay' not really being accurate, considering many he'd held for safekeeping were sick and in decline.]
You swear this wasn't your doing? [His brother is a terrible liar, but he has to be sure. Bringing them here was Vash's idea, after all.]
no subject
Okay. Hold on. I'm coming. We'll figure it out, Nai.
[ He pauses, shutting the door behind him despite being hurried. It's cold here still, he has to wonder if the temperature would be bad for them. Are they just out in the open? ]
I promise. I didn't do this.
no subject
Fine. I'll be waiting.
[He'll have to take Vash's word he's telling the truth. Unhelpfully, he doesn't bother to give him directions, or to specify that it's a long journey out of the city. If he's truly dedicated to finding them, their brethren will show the way.]
no subject
Which isn't made easy by the way he's left to his own devices on where to go. The moment he sets foot ouside of the city though, one of his tomases in hand, he already hears the familiar call.
It's distant, weak. But it tells him what he needs to know.
He travels quickly thanks to the Tomas, but the moment he catches sight of the ark he freezes, pulling the reins back to stare at the grounded craft like a startled horse himself. ]
No way...
no subject
Another set of doors lead deeper into the ship, and they hiss open to admit him. Soon the scenery becomes familiar -- it's exactly the same building he'd confronted Knives in back in July.]
This way, Vash.
[Knives' voice echoes down the corridor... though it could just as easily be a trap all over again.]
no subject
[ Vash takes a moment to hitch the Tomas to something in the shade and leaves some water with it before he walks towards the other door that’s open. There’s some hesitancy in his stride as he reaches the way inside, but he pushes on anyway, one hand dragging along the metallic walls of the corridor. It’s eerily familiar in a way that feels almost haunting, like setting foot into a memory, but it’s real. The feeling of the metal and grooves underneath his flesh and bone hand is real. ]
Nai? Where are you?
[ it COULD be a trap, but perhaps this time Vash’s optimism and hope for their strained relationship wins out against any danger sense he might have. He follows the corridor towards where he feels their siblings, where he’s certain he feels his brother’s presence. ]
no subject
When he hears Vash enter, he turns to glance over his shoulder.]
Cruel, isn't it? [He spreads his arm to indicate the expanse of the chamber.] Even here, they have not been rid of what ails them.