nomans_land | Tragic Ends VS Bad Ends, Trigun Flavor

Tragic Ends VS Bad Ends, Trigun Flavor

CW: mildly Plantcesty bc of canon end events but mostly toxicity, mindfuck, extreme codependency and.... co-parenting?

Somewhere in the sands is a tall person traveling on bare feet, a cloak of galaxies and roots covering their face from the sun. Vash moves slowly, not because he's tired or struggling, but because he's not really in a hurry. He doesn't get tired anymore, or hungry. Just weak, sometimes, but he's always been weak, hasn't he? That's why his brother has to protect him.

So this place couldn't be bad, because Knives would never leave him somewhere bad.

He stops briefly to collect a bleached skull left in the sand, picking it up with the roots and wisps of shadow and then holding it with the curiosity of a detached scholar rather than a compassionate man. Human, by the looks of it. Not killed by one of their brood, just unlucky in the desert.

Shrugging, Vash lets it drop into the sand again like an unwanted piece of trash and lets all those roots and glimmering energy unfold around him. He makes a little seat for himself, black flowers with shiny blue specks acting as cushions as the rest of his cloak peels away for a canopy. The dark undersuit is an echo of his brother, including the sturdiness of four perfectly fine limbs.

No memories were left, physical or otherwise. Sometimes you just have to remake your little brother to make him understand your point of view, and Vash... doesn't really know any better, anymore. It's fine, all he needs to focus on is making new Independents.

The roots continue to stretch over the sand, slithering over the area to see if they can pick up anything other than old bones of a doomed race.

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[ That doesn't make any sense. ]

No vial?

[ Then how did he heal? That other Vash, he'd shredded Wolfwood. His knees were destroyed, he severed all the tendons in his arm, he gutted him. That's not the kind of damage even an alumni of the Eye could walk away from! Not without help!

But his clothes aren't torn. Wolfwood stares down in shock at his trousers, examining the knees. The material is worn, dusty... but very much intact. Nobody stabbed through these pants, nobody tore them open. The vials just heal people, not pants.

How the hell is he alive, then?

Vash says something about being cold and Wolfwood, barely listening, holds out a hand. He was dead -- or dying, at the very least. He knows what that much shock and bloodloss feels like, knows what it means for a body if it's not healed immediately. This is more than healing, though -- this is like the damage was undone.

His expression, when he finally looks over at Vash, is more than a little frightened, and he's not at all trying to hide it. ]

I was dead. Wasn't I?

[ the hand held out to him gets held in both or Vash's, the right thumb, ungloved, touching the knuckles to make sure they really are working. Warm.

The question is met by the blue eyes so, so wide behind the tinted lenses. But he squeezes the hand he's holding, gently. ]

Yes. I'm... I'm sorry. He did that. He's not himself, but he did that and I was too late.

Do you need. Anything. [ His lips twitch helplessly, remembering the last conversation he had with non-ghost Wolfwood... Whether or not it was even the same one. It doesn't matter. ] Water?

[ He was dead. He was dead, and it wasn't a vial that brought him back. Was he right all along? Is this actually Hell? He'd never given much credence to the idea of an afterlife, or gods, or any of that shit -- it was just the cultists worshipping Knives, and that man wasn't any kind of god that Wolfwood was going to believe in. But how else to explain multiple versions of people, traveling long distances as if by magic, and coming back from the dead?

He shivers again, watching Blondie's fingers working over his own. ]

No.

[ He doesn't need water. He needs answers, and there aren't any to be had. Blondie here at least seems real enough, but what's real in a world where death isn't permanent? Where gods show up as children? Where nightmares can actually hurt you?

He runs his free hand over his face and, with a slow exhale, forces his breathing to even out. ]

This place is really starting to get to me.

Okay.

[ Vash is doing his best, but he doesn't have answers, not beyond that there may be some answers in Octovern. Maybe.

His voice is quieter, and though his fingers slowly still, reassured, he doesn't let go of that hand, just doesn't think to do so. ]

It's really a lot, isn't it. Although if that's what awaits me...

Going back might be a better choice for you. If we find a way.

[ If that's what waits for me... Blondie says, and Wolfwood turns on him, free hand snagging his jacket at the shoulder and pulling the man even closer. ]

That is not what's waiting for you!

[ His eyes are wild, but he's dead serious. ]

Now that you know it's a trap, you tell the version of me in your world to fuck off and you stay the hell out of Julai, you hear me?

[ Contract or no contract, nobody on Noman's would be safe with that Vash roaming the world. Better the other Wolfwood got to deal with the consequences of failure than to allow that nightmare loose. ]

I'm serious!

[ flesh fingers tighten around the other hand as Vash takes in what Wolfwood is saying, what he means, and he huffs in frustration. That also makes sense. If Wolfwood does not deliver him to Julai...

Slowly, he nods. ]

Do you think there is anything I can say to him that will let me help? I'm pretty sure he won't believe me if I try to describe... that to him.

You don't have to tell him a goddamn thing!

[ Who cares what that other Wolfwood thinks? Who cares what happens to him? He's just one of Conrad's monsters, he doesn't fucking matter. Vash matters. Everyone that Thorns would kill if given the chance, they matter. ]

Don't worry about him, worry about finding another way to stop your psycho brother from taking all the plants. Worry about staying alive.

[ Vash, that's who cares about what Wolfwood thinks. What happens to him. Him, those he protects, and everyone.

The last part is the one that gets a response, however. ]

I'd rather die as myself than stay alive like that.

But yeah. I'll. I won't let that happen. I can't.

[ He doesn't let go, still staring hard at Vash like he expects him to say something else. But the moment passes, and Wolfwood nods, finally, and lets go, sitting back heavily and running both hands through his hair to try and ground himself.

Dying would be better than turning into that. He agrees completely. ]

He said something about kids. They've got kids, and they're makin' them 'perfect', just like he was.

[ With his eyes squeezed so tightly shut he can't see anything, other than the memory of Livio, standing in his cell doorway, an unnatural light behind his eye. Kids who won't fight back, kids who will follow every order, kids who can be shaped into any form they please.

He's going to be sick. ]

Knives is a fucking monster. Somebody's gotta...

[ Ah, but he lets that thought trail off without finishing it. Vash doesn't believe in killing, even when it's necessary. Even when it would save his own life. ]

[ the loss of contact barely registers (it still does) in the context of the scale of the horribleness of what they are facing.

Vash hunches, helpless. Even... even with this, he loves his brother. But he can't argue. ]

I couldn't ask about the children. It would have set him off. I had things to do. [ like bury a man who no longer needs it. ] I'm sorry. It's.

He... Millions Knives needs to be stopped. And nobody has the power to do it but me.

That's why I was going to Julai in the first place.

[ he squeezes his eyes for a long moment. Then, very quietly, but with feeling. ]

Fuck.

[ No, he doesn't... don't ask about the kids. He doesn't really want to know, not since there isn't anything he can do for them.

Well. He could find that Vash out here in the middle of nowhere and put a bullet in his head, maybe, but if he came back to life, maybe that thorny bastard would too. ...He'd still be down to test that theory, though, just in case the resurrection thing was a one-off.

Knives needs to be stopped, one way or another, but it's a moot point unless they can get back to where they belong. They...

... and then Vash swears. Wolfwood stares at him, dumbfounded, before folding in half with laughter, clapping Vash on the shoulder and laughing so hard he's tearing up. ]

Oh shit, Blondie, that's two! Two whole swears in one lifetime, they're gonna take your halo away at this rate!

[ Vash stares a wholeass long moment before he realizes what Wolfwood is laughing about, too distracted by the fact that Wolfwood is laughing and he looks and sounds so alive it takes his breath away, but he does register, if only before Wolfwood was clapping him on the shoulder and Vash is blinking, smiling sheepishly. Then tries to go for mock offended even if he's far too shaky for pulling it off properly. ]

I told you I do swear when the situation is serious enough, didn't I?

I, uh, would like to claim it's been more than twice but I'm not sure that would be correct. [ Now he does rub the back of his head, his expression settling into a wondering smile. ]

[ He's a ball of energy right now – if he doesn't laugh, he's going to have to start punching, or running, or something to burn it off. Wolfwood's far too familiar with mind control and torture, but what that Nai had done to Vash... he feels sick just thinking about it. It's unbelievable. Vash, killing people? While laughing? How long did it take him to lose his mind like that?

God, no wonder Vash here looks so shaky. Wolfwood can't help but feel for him. ]

Hey.

[ Getting to his feet will take a second – he's pretty shaky too. But he'll get there. His car isn't far off, and they need to get moving, don't they? They'll be stronger together, and there's a house full of kids that's been attracting every Vash who was ever born. If it finds Rem? That little shithead Nai?

It can't happen. ]

Let's get out of here. [ Maybe that thing remembered it's mom and maybe it didn't. Why take the chance? And it's not like he's needed anywhere else, not really. This whole world's been abandoned – there's no kids at the orphanage in December. They're long gone, and he needs to focus on the people who are still here. ] I'm taking you back to Rem's.

[ Vash will help! With the getting up. His motions are a little jerky because he's been sitting for so long, and before that he was using his Gate with precision that was pushing his practice (or simply had higher stakes than just practice) but he's strong and physically steady. Emotions go every which way.

He winces at the mention of Rem. ]

Oh... She'll not like hearing about that at all. And he... He'll likely... He didn't even remember Tessla. I didn't think Nai-- no. Millions Knives would take that away but I suppose if he wanted complete control, he could not leave that, either.

Uh.

Sorry. Tessla was our sister. The first Independent. They experimented on her until there were just pieces of her left. This world let us make her whole, but she's still been suffering for a long, long time. Fifty years at the very least. If you see a little girl with wings for eyelashes, I'd suggest being very careful. She's terrified of humans, but also very angry at them. And powerful, if young.

So um. Please be careful?

Anyway. Thanks. Rem's would be very kind of you. And, um. Did you make it to December?

[ if he knows about Rem, then it is the Wolfwood whom he made so mad, before.

So getting there would be important.

And, yes, he was babbling but also that was important information. ]

[ He's babbling, but it's okay. Blondie's got every bit as much nervous enemy as he does, sometimes, and after a shock like this it's no surprise at all that he's running his mouth. In a different situation, Wolfwood might even offer a quick fight, just to burn that energy off... but there's been enough fighting for the moment.

Chattering is fine. Wolfwood will just walk quietly next to the guy, hands in his pockets, and let him chatter all he needs to. Besides, it's good to hear about their sister -- Tessla? -- from Vash, too. That brat Nai already told him some, so it's not a shock to hear from Vash's lips, but it's still a fucking monstrosity. People really aren't any good at all, are they? ]

There's nobody in December. [ He didn't make it out that way, but he's been listening to the radio, and what's he's heard has explained a lot about why this world seems so empty. ] Your brother's taken all the plants, and everyone who's still alive has hightailed it to Octovern, apparently.

[ And there's no good he could do for them, even if he changed course and headed for Octovern. He doesn't know these kids, doesn't have the first idea how to find them, doesn't have a damn gun or any way to defend them, doesn't have any resources he could offer... he's pretty much worthless right now, at everything other than playing chauffeur. At least the car still works. ]

Mostly I'm worried that the thorny asshole is going to find out about Nai. The little one. [ And here's the car, still where he left it, thank fuck. ] Given how obsessed he was with his Nai, I don't want to think about what he'd do the the kid.

I keep meaning to go to Octovern, one of the plants that's also but been brought here told me about it, but things keep happening and I never quite reach it.

[ A car. That's. Better than Wolfwood walking all alone, and Vash is relieved.

He's better at maintaining these than driving them, himself, he thinks as he settles on the passenger seat. ]

Yeah... I'll warn him along with Rem. Nai would be either the safest with him or in the worst danger. And not just. Physically. [ that's said with an apologetic look, because Wolfwood was killed, but. Not the worst that can happen. Not anymore. ] There is an older Knives also. I think... he's from a slightly different place than me.

[ Because it's not impossible for Wolfwood to be from a different one, too. ]

He... warned me to not let you go off on your own. You had already left, though, that before wasn't because of him. But he said if I let you leave, when I catch up with you...

[ he turns his head in the direction they came from, then hunches his shoulders down, making himself small in the seat. ]

Though that was supposed to happen in December.

Anyway. I should try to talk with that Knives, too. I don't think that... that Vash is what happened to him. He expected me to fight him, not obey him.

He is probably from after having collected all the plants and what happens? Is happening? at Octovern already happened to him.

He didn't win.

Tell me if you'd rather I am quiet, but I think some of that might be important information for you also. While we're in this place.

[ No, Thorns might not kill Nai, but as they've already established today, sometimes dying isn't the worst thing that can happen to a person. That kid is messed up about what his future's gonna look like as it is -- seeing that, seeing a version of his brother that a version of him tortured into sadism? That might fuck Nai up for the rest of his life.

And speaking of things that'll fuck people up for the rest of their lives, if everyone could stop telling him that he's going to die in December he'd really appreciate it. That wasn't him, won't be him, however the timeline on something like this works. He doesn't do more than shoot Blondie a surly side eye about it, though -- he already knows this version of Stampede can't help but care too much, about everyone. It's nice, kinda. Misplaced, but nice. ]

It's fine. [ They've got a long drive ahead of them, and sitting in silence just sounds boring and uncomfortable. Besides, since they're sharing secrets, he might as well learn some more things about Stampede and his family, right? ] The Knives... the Nai in my world, he wanted to fight you too, as far as I could tell. [ Although he's really got no idea what happened between the time he dropped Stampede off in the tower, and coming back into the city to see the twins fighting. He drums his fingers on the steering wheel, debating whether he wants to say what he wants to say, then shrugs and goes with it. ]

Actually, I can't be sure about that. I ditched him, dumped him off and left him to face Knives alone. I don't know what that lunatic had planned. It coulda been just like this, I don't know.

[ His world's Vash might have opted to die rather than become like Thorns -- that might have been the fight he saw. He hadn't thought he could feel any worse about that, but here they fucking are. ]

[ the look just gets an apologetic shrug, and Vash curling in on himself more. He didn't mean that Wolfwood will die in December. He just watched him die. Once again, failed...

But he tilts his head at Wolfwood at the last part. ]

You know that you wouldn't have had a chance against Knives. I... might have been a little underprepared also. I... When we were little, we thought that only Nai had special powers. And he didn't need to eat or drink or sleep. It was many years after the crash that I found out I even have a Gate also. Like all the plants, where they get all the things they produce, only my Gate kind of runs the opposite direction. I and others almost died, sucked in, when it opened. It was Nai who stopped that from happening. But after that, I've been reluctant to try and use it.

The older Knives, he told me what to focus on. If I am to face off with... my Knives, I'll need that knowledge and skill, so I've been practicing. It's part of why the other me left. I think his Knives may be making him use his Gate as Knives would, but that's not how it's best used. Or something. [ He's looking out over the sands. ] This world, each of our worlds, all of you, you deserve nothing less than the best of me. And I seem to have botched things at JuLai. I'll do better.

[ He wants to protest the hell out of that statement! He doesn't know he'd be worthless against Knives! If Blondie here thinks he's so weak then why's he even bothering to keep him around? ...But Vash keeps talking, so Wolfwood bites the inside of his lip and keeps his damn mouth shut.

Besides. That argument, that he's not too weak to be of any help? Will hold more water when he hasn't just been killed by a plant.

So he stays silent, and listens to Vash talk about gates, and plants, and Knives. And he realizes just how little he knows about a fight that he's been part of his entire life. ]

You didn't botch anything. [ He didn't want to accept the idea that he might have died, that's all. Wolfwood can understand that. ] We're all tryin' to figure out how things work when there's more than one of each of us runnin' around, right? [ Nobody even got punched, so what's the big deal? ] It was barely even a fight. I don't want to hear anything more about it, understand?

Edited 2023-06-16 19:49 (UTC)

[ Vash blinks, frowning at Wolfwood. ] That other me looked like he botched something pretty badly. That's all.

[ If only he could really believe him and Nai died there.

He couldn't, and now with the new information...

Well.

The smile perks again, even if his body absolutely doesn't unfold. ]

I just meant that I heard you loud and clear! I'll learn better and make sure that doesn't happen, and that Millions Knives is stopped! Just making sure you know I do get it and mean it seriously, not just agreeing because it's the right thing to do!

Oi oi oi!

[ He better not have heard that right! ]

You're not trying to take the blame for that thing we just fought, are you?

[ That wasn't another Vash. That thing wasn't a person anymore, and he'll stand by that point forever. ]

I know you think everything is your responsibility, and let me tell you, it pisses me right the fuck off! But that guy? You had nothing to do with what happened to him!

He's still me. Under all of what was done to him, he's still there. And he failed to fight it.

[ Vash lowers his eyes until all he can see are his own knees. ]

It... I don't 'think' it's my fault. I know it is. I was an accomplice. Or, to be precise, if I hadn't given an access code to Nai, the Crash never would have happened. You are all stuck here, in this world, so, so many died. Because of me. So how am I supposed to not know it?

[ For a moment, he just breathes. ]

I don't have anything to do with what that was. I just have the potential to become him. So it's my responsibility not to. Right?

[ He failed to fight it? Nai decided to kill everyone because of what was done to the other plant, and it’s somehow Vash’s fault?

He can’t hear any more of this shit.

Vash’s head is down, which puts him in the perfect position. Wolfwood reaches over without so much as a word of warning and slaps Blondie upside the head, hard. ]

Wrong, on every fucking count!

[ Oh, he’s seething. He’s keeping his eyes on the road – there’s nothing out there for miles, but after today’s excitement he’s playing it cautious – but he doesn’t need to be looking at Vash to be glaring daggers at him. ]

If you try to say that guy’s to blame for what was done to him I’m gonna drag you out of this car and kick your ass until your fucking brother feels it!

[ Getting broken by torture didn’t make you weak! Being tricked by somebody you trusted didn’t make you complicit! Was this really the way his brain’s been working all this time? ]

Wh--

[ Vash's forehead doesn't quite bounce off the dashboard but it's a near thing and he stares at Wolfwood in confusion. Yes, that's exactly how he's been operating for 150 years when it comes to himself.

Only himself.

When Wolfwood makes him think of the other him, though, the falacy of victim blaming becomes rather obvious, and he flushes with guilt and, well, yet another failure.

It takes a long moment before he says anything, and his voice sounds composed and yet sadder somehow. ]

What I am saying is that... If he somehow came to himself, he would consider himself to blame. But no. I don't consider him so.

[ That's a little better, but it's still not the answer he wants to hear. He gives Vash a second, then replies, his voice quieter but no less furious for the lack of volume. ]

Would he say that Rollo kid was to blame for not fighting hard enough?

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