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nomans_land2023-07-15 08:50 am
somatichybrid) wrote in nomans_land2023-07-15 08:50 am
the universe's sandbox
i July
In the dark of the just-set suns, the vast gaping chasm where there was once a city seems to moan, a low and mournful note as the still hot wind sweeps over its edge and down into the blackness below. It wasn't always there. Sometimes it was ruins, sometimes it was light and noise and life. Right now, it's a hole, and the steady breeze plays notes along its broken, ragged edges like a half-forgotten dirge.
It shouldn't be there. It should be ruins, he's certain of it, crumbling outlines of homes and businesses and lives. There still were ruins, just a little further out, the tumbled broken brick and stucco he expected, but this? This is so bewildering he doesn't know what to think about it, he just pulls his long heavy cloak tighter around himself to keep the sand-strewn wind out and stares. He too shouldn't be there, and he strikes a figure that is at once familiar and strange, the shrouding wrap of fabric hiding most but not all of the violently red coat below, or the vague outline of more limbs than there should be. At its hem on one side right along the ground, long protrusions almost like feathery blades or sharpened fingers curl against a brick long separated from its home, absently digging a little furrow into it. More proper feathers trail almost like a peacock's train in the dust, occasionally looping loosely around whatever's nearest. The closer anyone gets, the more tangible his presence is alone, an oppressive weight like a sandstorm on the horizon. It wasn't every day he didn't know how to feel about something. Usually it was feeling too much about something.
Maybe he shouldn't have listened to the message on the radio and set out to investigate it. He picks up the brick with the longer of his arms, strangely articulated blade-fingers finding easy purchase in the stone's surface, and flicks it into the pit, listening for the sound of impact and quietly counting under his breath.
ii Desert, A Lost Steamer
There's no point in hanging around mystery holes! Especially ones that didn't stay holes and profoundly disturbed him on so many levels that he's going elsewhere for a while, scrunching across the sand towards.. whatever was in that general direction. It should be a town or city sooner or later, if the stars weren't also completely screwed up and likely to point him in the wrong direction, a place he could pick up a few supplies, put the mask back on and hopefully get in and out before he had to think about it too much.
But there's the wreck of a sand steamer sitting in the sand, far displaced from its proper routes, half torn open from some kind of internal explosion and by the looks of it thoroughly abandoned. The suns would be up in another hour.
Free shelter! Maybe free supplies!
It's almost with a bounce in his step that he heads for the wreck, humming a little under his breath, train of feathers and sharp edges held at a jaunty, strangely optimistic seeming angle like a rooster's tail.
In the dark of the just-set suns, the vast gaping chasm where there was once a city seems to moan, a low and mournful note as the still hot wind sweeps over its edge and down into the blackness below. It wasn't always there. Sometimes it was ruins, sometimes it was light and noise and life. Right now, it's a hole, and the steady breeze plays notes along its broken, ragged edges like a half-forgotten dirge.
It shouldn't be there. It should be ruins, he's certain of it, crumbling outlines of homes and businesses and lives. There still were ruins, just a little further out, the tumbled broken brick and stucco he expected, but this? This is so bewildering he doesn't know what to think about it, he just pulls his long heavy cloak tighter around himself to keep the sand-strewn wind out and stares. He too shouldn't be there, and he strikes a figure that is at once familiar and strange, the shrouding wrap of fabric hiding most but not all of the violently red coat below, or the vague outline of more limbs than there should be. At its hem on one side right along the ground, long protrusions almost like feathery blades or sharpened fingers curl against a brick long separated from its home, absently digging a little furrow into it. More proper feathers trail almost like a peacock's train in the dust, occasionally looping loosely around whatever's nearest. The closer anyone gets, the more tangible his presence is alone, an oppressive weight like a sandstorm on the horizon. It wasn't every day he didn't know how to feel about something. Usually it was feeling too much about something.
Maybe he shouldn't have listened to the message on the radio and set out to investigate it. He picks up the brick with the longer of his arms, strangely articulated blade-fingers finding easy purchase in the stone's surface, and flicks it into the pit, listening for the sound of impact and quietly counting under his breath.
ii Desert, A Lost Steamer
There's no point in hanging around mystery holes! Especially ones that didn't stay holes and profoundly disturbed him on so many levels that he's going elsewhere for a while, scrunching across the sand towards.. whatever was in that general direction. It should be a town or city sooner or later, if the stars weren't also completely screwed up and likely to point him in the wrong direction, a place he could pick up a few supplies, put the mask back on and hopefully get in and out before he had to think about it too much.
But there's the wreck of a sand steamer sitting in the sand, far displaced from its proper routes, half torn open from some kind of internal explosion and by the looks of it thoroughly abandoned. The suns would be up in another hour.
Free shelter! Maybe free supplies!
It's almost with a bounce in his step that he heads for the wreck, humming a little under his breath, train of feathers and sharp edges held at a jaunty, strangely optimistic seeming angle like a rooster's tail.
no subject
Though now that he's a bit closer, there's.. some small differences, here and there, but it's still definitely Rem. Well, that's good enough for him, and he sets her back down carefully, still thoroughly pleased. Of all the presents this place might offer, giving her a second chance was one of the best gifts there could be!
There's no flinch away from her gentle touch at the spots under each eye, beyond a reflexive blink and a quiet chuckle that isn't quite a giggle. It's definitely new .. and he wasn't about to explain any of that yet, why bring down the mood?? "I'm great now! I didn't think time travel was part of the things going on, this is amazing!" There is a point where many a Vash might tear up in moments of overwhelming happiness, and he ... does not, but it's certainly not a faked emotion either. "I .. I don't even know what to say."
Or do. Somewhere under all of his happiness is the dull ache of ancient resentment and bitterness, pushed aside for later. It wasn't something for reunions and miracles, and there wasn't a part of him that hadn't wanted her to live, once. "Have you been here long? Do you have enough supplies?"
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This is not a threat, though. It can't be, it's... it's one of her boys, even if he's very strange. With the double moles like that, he almost looks like Vash and Nai put together into one.
"So much is going on in this place, it's very strange sometimes." Rem agrees, smiling at him. It was very strange right now, but he seems genuine to her. Then again... she's only human.
"I've been here for months now. I have a little station two hours or so from here, where my small boys live, and I have open beds for the adults. I go here for supplies and one of the Vashes gives me plenty, too. I want for nothing, even if this planet isn't the one I imagined."
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So long as he could maintain his focus, she'd still only see someone oddly similar to both of her twins in one long, lanky frame. It might be a mystery but at least it wouldn't be frightening. And he didn't (well did, a tiny bit) want to frighten her.
"..So that radio broadcast from before, indicating a little station by July, was pointing directly to your home?" He's .. going to find whatever Wolfwood that was and stuff sand down his pants. Or shake him til something rattled loose. "Please tell me some of those visitors you have are also providing security." Not the 'small boys', he's certain, that sounded like she might have come with both of them when they were still very young, but if these 'other Vashes' were hanging around they damn well better or he was going to have to take some idiots to task before OTHER people got hurt. Again. "Or at least brought you a big mean looking dog."
And if that person were Rem? Intolerable. The lapse in concentration at that infuriating thought bites thin blades into his palm when one hand clenches, the sting of pain a sudden reminder to keep control and not let emotions run rampant. Control was always key. Breathe.
no subject
...she's still trying to figure out what he is, but he's definitely her boy. Just... both at the same time? Very much a mystery.
When he mentions the broadcast, Rem tries to smooth it over. She's talked about her place over the radio as well, so Wolfwood isn't the only one making that mistake - and he doesn't really have pants to shove sand in, does he? "I have at least one Vash around most of the time, but we really haven't had any visitors that aren't one of my boys or allies of them since I got here."
She's not going to mention the ghost that stays around like an invisible alarm. At least not yet.
Rem doesn't notice the blades, which is probably a good thing, but she can tell that he's trying to compose himself. "Almost every human on this planet was in Octovern, as far as I understand. They're starting to spread out again, so I guess we might have other visitors." She pauses, thinking of her little ones. "Maybe a dog would be a good idea, if it's nice to the kids."
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His gaze turns back to the hole. There's something odd about the energy here, which he couldn't quite get his teeth around. "Maybe every human won't be in Octovern forever. I've heard rumors of small towns just pop, appearing suddenly out of thin air." And an entire damn city, apparently. "...If you don't mind presents of the more dangerous sort, I ... .. I think I know someone who still makes tasers. Finding a mean looking dog might take longer."
Why is it always thin air, anyway? Would fat air be very humid? The thought is shaken off quickly before it can distract him too much, and slowly, carefully, he unclenches his hand. That stings. "I'll make a present out of it! You deserve a party!" Just him, assorted Vashes, some kids, ..whoever else turns up, and the taser. Or pepper spray. He's pretty sure he can make the latter himself if he wanted to.
no subject
At his(?) mention of towns popping up randomly, her eyes widen slightly. "This world is really unstable, isn't it... between that and people sometimes disappearing from one place to another, it's chaotic. Makes it difficult to plan things." At least more towns popping up might be nice for the displaced people as they return.
She doesn't know just how few humans there are left.
"I could stomach a taser, I think." Rem finally agrees. "I'll set up some alarms too, if I can scavenge some. Maybe a lock pad for the house." It may have been created as a place for needy travelers, but she also needs to keep both her children and said travelers safe.
Then her new-but-not boy then quickly changes to this party idea again and she can't help the small laugh. Vash's excitement, Na... Knives' seriousness. "I really like the idea of a party. It's my birthday in a couple of weeks, so it's a good timing and I think would help everyone cheer up."
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Taser, party, cheer everyone up. 'Everyone' suggested way more than he's thinking of, so he's going to have to find even MORE balloons.. and get better control over hiding his more inhuman traits so he doesn't terrify everyone. Even his own 'brothers' might be frightened. "It's settled then! In a few weeks, a party! I'll bring some nice things, I know where to find balloons on this dustball." Which is of course absolutely required.
Balloons, and maybe a lot of sensor arrays. "You're near here all the time, Rem? Is this always a hole? The air has a strange energy to it, maybe ... electrical discharges or ... I don't know, odd auroras?" He isn't expecting the reality of the entirety of July, two different ones, phasing in and out, just the idea that perhaps he'd ... they'd somehow left it oddly charged and he simply couldn't tell before.
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His excitement for a party is lovely, and it definitely cheers her up a little bit to think about. Balloons definitely seems important to him, so she'll enjoy that, too. "It sounds wonderful. I'll retry the cake idea I had for your birthdays." What she attempted was... terrifying.
As for the mentioned July phenomenon, she glances out over the crater. "Yeah, I come here a lot to see if anyone has shown up that needs help." Her Vashes tended to end up here sooner or later. "But you're right, it's a very strange thing going on here. Sometimes it's just rubble, no crater... and if you're lucky, sometimes it's an intact city full of life." She shakes her head. "I don't know why, but it seems to cycle."
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Part of him thought it was best to let the dead stay dead. The rest of him was more focused on things surviving. ".. I wish there were more old tech around. I'd love to see a network of sensors all around to monitor it. Maybe there'd be some answers, not just for what's going on here but for all of us." And then, maybe how to control it. Or at least keep it from causing harm and see if it can be turned to good things!
Good things, like parties. Time traveling through the multiverse to pick out the very best of gifts and party favors would be a good use of time, but he'll have to do it the old fashioned way instead. "The one announced over the radio? I'm sure you did fine! You had enough people around to help eat it, right?" The one from a century and a half ago was, to his memory, also just fine. But anything she made likely would qualify as far as he was concerned, the effort was more important than the end result.
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...and who knows if the people can be saved. Maybe they'll disappear or turn to dust as soon as they leave.
"Old tech sounds so funny to me, it's still my time's tech. However, it would really help to have a bunch of sensors or something." She looks out over the crater again. "It could help us see if any more people from other realities arrive, as well."
At his kind words about believing in her cake skills, Rem gives a little embarrassed laugh. "This place didn't quite have the ingredients I was used to, so it was... lumpy and weird. Tasted terribly, I had to feed it to the worms." She shakes her head. "I made a nice dinner instead, and a few Vashes popped in."
Oh, right! Speaking of Vashes. "I forgot to ask, what should I call you? Nash? Vai?"
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And he wants to know why there's a giant hole where a city should be. What caused it?!
"I'm sure the worms loved it too," is the prompt, stoically positive response about cakes. Worms like all kinds of things, and some of them were even grateful for free meals! It depended on how much Zazie was paying attention at the moment. "You can teach the birdlike ones to find you stuff in return for food if you get bored enough."
The little flyers would definitely try but they're so little!
There's a long, loooong pause when asked what he should be called. He hasn't decided yet. "You can call me Annatar if you like. I don't really think I should be going by Vash. Nai though, that's adorable. I've only ever heard 'Knives'!"
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She unfortunately knows why there is a hole, but... the rubble is confusing.
The comment that the worms probably likes it has Rem chuckling a bit. She's not sure what to think of the creatures, but maybe she got some good will going there. Saving her house from being eaten, maybe? Or maybe she can do as he says, and train the bird-like ones to fetch her scrap.
His pick of name has Rem raising a brow, amused. "No wonder you're bringing balloons, lord of gifts." It does fully explain that he's not really Vash or Knives. A third kid!
"His name is actually K-N-I but Vash wrote it as N-A-I as a toddler when they learned letters and it sounds the same."
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Still, there were things that could be done in the meantime, like trying to figure out what's happening to July. "I heard New Miami is working on getting old timey airships going, if you get yours flying head that way and you might be able to find some more. I'll grab what looks like it might be good for sensors and drag it over, you might have to teach me what it does though!" He can admit, his life has NOT been focused on figuring out how to make a seismometer or something.
There is a moment of unfeigned delight when the reference is caught - of course she'd know, it was more or less contemporary to her, but to most people, it's a complete mystery! "Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine, especially if I bring some nice rings. A whole set, one for everybody!" He might, now, just to keep it going. "..Huh. And if you removed the K and pronounced it just a bit different, they could have grown up knights." Who saayyyy.. "Kni is awfully close to Knives, so I guess there's some similarities after all. Boy that wound up prophetic, I've heard some stories."
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She looks curious to know that airships are being made, grinning at the idea of some steampunk things flying around. "That's great! If they employ a willing gravity plant, I'm sure they wouldn't have any issues making that work." Consent and the rights of a worker should give a plant some autonomy, right? "I'll be happy to teach you all about the sensors and the work I'll try to get going!"
Except one of her children will go missing, and she doesn't do much of anything other than trying to track him.
The mention of rings has her raise a brow in mock suspicion. "I don't know... last time a bunch of rings started a few wars." Rem winks. "...and I'm sure the Knights of Nai would enjoy a shrubbery, but that might be an issue here."
There's a sigh at those last words, though. "He's such a good boy, my little one. I hope he can make his own path here."
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What if they begin building Hindenburgs instead of relying on plants? He rubs his chin, looking thoughtful. He'll have to get more details on exactly what types of airships these are going to be, because the more he thinks about it the more curious he gets. Surely nothing's about to go wrong and he'll have plenty of free time to dart back and forth and soothe all of his curiosities! "I'll do my best to learn!" He's good at learning! He! .. Totally neglected any kind of real education after about two years old, on all fronts! "...Though speaking of ships sunk into the sand sea, that's where I'll be getting a lot of stuff from. I'm not really sure all of it's going to be useful.."
This issue of wars is negligently waved off. "Don't think of them as wars, think of them as team building exercises, but please keep any and all small people away from my volcano in case lost jewelry finds its way into their hands." It's.. strange, he supposed, how comfortable it was, trying to maintain a human look aside. As if there had been no tearing pain of loss, as if so much time hadn't passed.
"I'm sure he will. The circumstances the rest experienced are impossible to replicate now even if somehow he wanted to. Things can only be brighter." A more sobering topic, but he's certain of it. Things would be better.
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There are a lot of interesting gases that could work in that case, the question was how easy (or possible) that was to find and produce here. If they had to make a plant create helium (safer than hydrogen) it would be a moot point - and probably faster just to use a gravity plant. A lot of things to think about! Several years worth of learning!
How are your calculus skills, Annatar? Or cursive?
"If you can get to them, I'm sure they're the best places to find pieces that have not been scavenged. Even if something seems useless, even the metal in our ships are priceless in a place like this." It could be used as-is, or reforged. Strong enough to keep their ships in space for long over a century.
His quick replies and humor has her smiling again, also feeling quite comfortable like this. It was strangely easier to talk to Annatar than her boys. He didn't seem as weighed down by guilt and sorrow - or maybe he was just better at hiding it. None of her Vashes makes plays at pop culture shenanigans.
"I hope so," Rem says about Nai. "He deserves a chance to be a child for as long as possible."