nomans_land | (no subject)

[ he's been awake since before the sun rose and the labors of his training are littered across the desolate landscape in the shape of sliced and diced rocks, old cans, and whatever metal or bits of wood nai could get his hands on. he hadn't wandered too far from the makeshift camp rem had set up, but he didn't want to be too close either.

after all, he needed the space to practice without worry of accidentally hurting her - or anyone - as he practiced using his blades. he was still unsteady in controlling them past the length of his arm, but if he wanted the precision control his perfectionism demanded, then he knew no amount of training was wasted.

now, he stood in front of a tall rock formation. he knew from the top he'd be gifted with the sight of everything spread out in all directions. he wants to see everything.

he just needed to scale it without falling and injuring himself in any way. simple enough.

his progress climbing up is slow as he tries to keep his grip from slipping, nails digging into the rock where he finds purchase. with any luck, he'll make it to the top without any issue. ]

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Really?

[ he can't quite hide the excitement in his voice, nor how it makes him happy to be reassured by vash. ] And I won't get bored. There's a lot that happens on this planet, right?

[ he wants to experience as much as he can of everything he can get his hands on. ] This place reminds me of those western movies you hate. [ and that nai loved, adored even. ]

[ oh. it's. so rare that he can cause such joy. vash smiles brightly back, and there is a helpless emotional feedback of joy that nai can feel. it's not an emotion he shields within himself, one that is important to share, after all. ]

Well. Usually, but mostly where there are settlements. Now, there is nobody around, I think the closest would be Delphinium, though that can be interesting. Other than that, it's walking for many hours on end in the sand. But I can tell stories and such, if you'd like me to.

[ it's a good thing, vash thinks belatedly, that nai didn't get upset over the way he said it. can't think of a reason not to, rather than telling him he wants him to come.

it's the last thing he thinks of, after all, what he wants. ]

Well, yeah. You must have a lot, so I want to hear everything.

[ although he knows it's the future yet to come, he feels the need to catch up to his brother. so much can happen in a hundred and fifty years. how much had his future self been a part of those experiences?

he knows it isn't much at all. ]

Ahahha... Well. Just prepare yourself that some of them you might not like too much. But some will be fun.

[ but even as he's giving this warning, his thumb is rubbing reassuring circles over nai's knuckles, the back of his palm.

it doesn't occur to him, how much nai has already seen, how he might take the statement about dislike of some of it. he just knows that it's so easy to get angry or hurt when one is disappointed.

he also twists his mouth just a little, without letting the smile go. ]

A lot of them have humans in them, for example.

[ nai frowns at that and huffs a sigh. ] That's obvious, isn't it? Not like there's anyone else around for you to talk to.

[ except maybe the worms, something he's starting to learn about through observation. but between the worms and humans, he'd rather hear stories about the worms. ]

Heeey don't underestimate me, I have some stories with plants, too!

[ he knows what nai would like best ]

Edited 2023-06-08 19:19 (UTC)

[ as they walk, nai slowly swings their held hands. ]

Then tell me those stories first.

[ he'll listen regardless of whatever stories vash tells him, made special only because they're experiences his brother has lived through. nothing more or less. ]

All right, though some of them might not be as good out of order.

I'm only starting when we go, though. So there is more for the way.

[ swinging hands is nice. vash's heart is calm, right now, and his aura of it grows fuller, steadier. ]

And you? Do you have stories of your own already?

I have lots of stories.

[ most are okay, not terribly scary, but some...

nai tilts his head, thinking. ]

I got to ride a giant worm.

[ nai ]

Yeaaah? All alone?

[ look

That's better than being eaten by a giant worm. Twice. ]