So these two had met that younger Vash as well? Vash just nods as first Wolfwood and then the other Vash talk about him, but his smile's getting more and more fragile at the edges all the time. First memories of Rem, then talk of July, and now the loss of his arm -- this walk back to town might be one of the hardest he's ever taken. And when they arrive, and he and Wolfwood have a sit down?
A small part of him just wants to turn heel right here, right in this very spot, to run into the desert and never return. He could live off worms and mist, make friends with the stones, put away language entirely and just be a simple lunatic out cackling on the sands. It'd be an easier life, that's for certain.
"He's all right." But he doesn't get to do easy. His crimes require more penance than that. "I met him too, that younger Vash? He found a place in Octovern... or near Octovern, he wasn't exactly precise about his address." And of course Vash hadn't pried. Losing first his brother, and then his arm? That Vash hadn't needed an old man poking around in his business. He'd said he had a place to go, and that was all Vash needed to hear.
"And as for the rest... Octovern is full of people right now!" A disturbingly small number of people, given that every refugee on the planet had headed there, but it was still more people than he'd seen since he arrived. It was a relief to know that the world hadn't entirely emptied out, that Knives hadn't entirely succeeded. He'd come close, though. "All the reports that say the fighting ended weeks ago were completely correct. There was a terrible battle, involving some of the ships from Earth, the ark... " Most of the reports agreed on the basics, at least, although he could already tell that some of the more crackpot theories were going to be the ones that made it out into the world. Time travelling aliens was his favorite, if only for the grain of truth in the theory.
"The Vash that was born here survived, and nearly all the plants from the ark have been rescued." Some hadn't made it, which was to be expected, given how the ark had come apart. So much death. So much effort to bring them all here, and for what? They hadn't been able to prevent a single loss. "I think Knives survived too... at least, that's what the rumors say. Apparently the two of them flew off together!" He really hopes that part is true. It's a nice thought, isn't it? After all that, to fly away hand in hand. Maybe they made it someplace safe, and maybe they died out in the desert somewhere... at the end they were together, and Vash can't help but smile at the thought.
"So that's it. The fighting is over, our sisters are being sent back to their towns..." Which means that they won't be able to send anyone back. This is their home now, for better or worse. "...and everyone is excited about the help that the Earth ships might have to offer." Just think of the tech they could provide! Water reclamation! Medicines! Power systems that didn't break down from the dust! There's one concern, though, mostly for Vash rather than Wolfwood.
"The Earth forces have independent plants on their ships, and after all that fighting they certainly know that Vash the Stampede is a plant. I'd stay away from them, at least for now, until we can get a better idea of what their intentions are towards, um. Us."
The Earth forces put chips in the heads of their independents, to limit their actions. While he sees the reasoning behind that idea, it doesn't mean he approves, and it certainly doesn't mean he's going to be volunteering any time soon.
no subject
A small part of him just wants to turn heel right here, right in this very spot, to run into the desert and never return. He could live off worms and mist, make friends with the stones, put away language entirely and just be a simple lunatic out cackling on the sands. It'd be an easier life, that's for certain.
"He's all right." But he doesn't get to do easy. His crimes require more penance than that. "I met him too, that younger Vash? He found a place in Octovern... or near Octovern, he wasn't exactly precise about his address." And of course Vash hadn't pried. Losing first his brother, and then his arm? That Vash hadn't needed an old man poking around in his business. He'd said he had a place to go, and that was all Vash needed to hear.
"And as for the rest... Octovern is full of people right now!" A disturbingly small number of people, given that every refugee on the planet had headed there, but it was still more people than he'd seen since he arrived. It was a relief to know that the world hadn't entirely emptied out, that Knives hadn't entirely succeeded. He'd come close, though. "All the reports that say the fighting ended weeks ago were completely correct. There was a terrible battle, involving some of the ships from Earth, the ark... " Most of the reports agreed on the basics, at least, although he could already tell that some of the more crackpot theories were going to be the ones that made it out into the world. Time travelling aliens was his favorite, if only for the grain of truth in the theory.
"The Vash that was born here survived, and nearly all the plants from the ark have been rescued." Some hadn't made it, which was to be expected, given how the ark had come apart. So much death. So much effort to bring them all here, and for what? They hadn't been able to prevent a single loss. "I think Knives survived too... at least, that's what the rumors say. Apparently the two of them flew off together!" He really hopes that part is true. It's a nice thought, isn't it? After all that, to fly away hand in hand. Maybe they made it someplace safe, and maybe they died out in the desert somewhere... at the end they were together, and Vash can't help but smile at the thought.
"So that's it. The fighting is over, our sisters are being sent back to their towns..." Which means that they won't be able to send anyone back. This is their home now, for better or worse. "...and everyone is excited about the help that the Earth ships might have to offer." Just think of the tech they could provide! Water reclamation! Medicines! Power systems that didn't break down from the dust! There's one concern, though, mostly for Vash rather than Wolfwood.
"The Earth forces have independent plants on their ships, and after all that fighting they certainly know that Vash the Stampede is a plant. I'd stay away from them, at least for now, until we can get a better idea of what their intentions are towards, um. Us."
The Earth forces put chips in the heads of their independents, to limit their actions. While he sees the reasoning behind that idea, it doesn't mean he approves, and it certainly doesn't mean he's going to be volunteering any time soon.