kaisou | SeeD 6 - Raindrops in the Sand

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SeeD 6 - Raindrops in the Sand

WHO: Vash, + Libra, Rren, Varian, Wolfwood
WHERE: Some places in Kaisou, Kanto Stable Gate, etc
WHEN: Mid-May
WHAT: Vash and his sidequests for the month! Still can't help himself.
WARNINGS: Likely violence for the ones with wolfwood + rren, fighting might be involved. Will update if needed.

(Click on the Arrow to reveal post!)

Do Not Look at the Dog Park👁️ (for Rren)

Honestly, take it from me. While I'm ALL for the kind of nonsense that involves people in need? I can tell you first hand, that there's no such thing as a 'lucky' anything. Unless there's actually a magic spell on that ball that gives them luck, they'd do just as well with ANY of the other balls they have.

[ listen he is an EXPERT when it comes to matters involving LUCK!!! he gives a little sigh, but then turns his head to give his enby buddy a bright smile anyway. ] But hey. You know, I've definitely gone on worse missions and had worse outcomes. Remind me to tell you how I got the bunnies on the farm one day.

[ but that's neither here nor there. ]

So, what's a dog park, anyway. Neither of us are dogs, so... getting in might be a bit troublesome. Might have to be a stealth mission?

Cotton the Act☁️ (for Libra)

You brought those knitting needles those dumb plants spat out at me a week or so ago, right? Those should help out a little, their supplies are a little thin, here...
[ vash is sitting at the table they've been shown by the helpers they signed up to volunteer with, and he's going through piles of very rough looking clothing, torn and with holes in various places...

he's sewn his own clothing together dozens of times and he's not bad at this kind of work! But. The thing was, he didn't think about it until he arrived here... but.

Sewing and knitting was sort of a two-handed task, wasn't it?

He's looking at Libra weakly. ]

Sorry that it looks like you're gonna' be doing the lion's share of the work here. I can work on matching up torn parts and--

[ oh god that's a buneary runnin right across the table, scattering balls of yarn as he goes. Vash is gonna get up and try to grab the thing. ]

Red Hot Chili Peppers🌶️ (for Varian)

[ probably after the meeting with the kid at his farm, the whole fiasco with showing the guy his neat bullet-dodging power as well as testing out a new arm prototype the guy has been making for him--it was easy, as far as vash was concerned, to want to spend some more time with the guy. that's what you do when you're trying to make a friend, right? do things, spend time with them? he remembered the last time he went to Kanto, with Waver, and that'd been a fun trip that had ended with him getting to know the professor a bit better, so.

It was easy enough to suggest to Varian--a man who boasted great skill with gadjets and alchemy--that a trip to the Kanto region might be fun. Both for profit, and to learn more things about the little round friends that came from the stable gate.

And that's how Vash finds himself walking with the shorter man--a tiny little apple-shaped worm sitting carry in his wide coat-collar as they make their way inside. ]

Have you been here before? I mean, you've been in the city longer than I have, right?

Last time I was here it was mostly for a vacation so I didn't spend a lot of time lookin' at the flora or anything like that.
[ are hot peppers in kanto gonna look different than they do back on earth.... ]

Got a Deal for You!💀 (for Wolfwood)

[ he built a hammock between two of the biggest apple trees in the small orchard near the cottage. That's where he's currently sitting, with Applin sitting atop his head, staring at his phone with a measure of discomfort on his face.

It's been about two, three nights since the impromptu campfire party with Dante, and while the memory itself was a fantastically good one--he's having a bit of a worry about the certain part of himself that returned that night.
So, now's a good time to go looking for a distraction. He's brought up the Libra mission board that Yuu had shown him, when he'd first arrived, looking. Looking for... Something fun, something simple to get his mind off it--to pretend he isn't worried about the possibility that exists that he may just one day grow that horrifying cannon--

He shakes his head as he hears the approach of footsteps, trying to quickly erase the growing look of worry off his face as he turns his head to see who it is. Being here for two months, almost three now--he's used to getting random visitors and is always excited to see them. His eyes fall upon his oldest friend, and he places his phone down on his knee--raising his one hand to wave at Wolfwood as he approaches. ]

Did you have a good trip out into town?
I told you, you could take Brad whenever you wanted, you didn't have to walk.

Especially not carrying that thing.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The exact sound that accompanied that was hard to place, and Rren bolted back to check on him.]

Oh shit. Shit. Are you okay?

[They wrinkled their nose up at the distinct ozone smell, and if they weren't so damn worried they might have laughed.

They bristled and then looked up to see what the hooded figures were doing. No way they missed that.]

[ vash is gonna sit up and try to shake out the numbing feeling that's raced up his arm. looking down at how his hand as turned white, how those long, winglike protrusions were flickering around, madly trying to find the source of the damage to prevent it from happening again. ]

--Ach.
I'm fine, I'm fine. [ says the man with literal feathers coming out of half of his face. ] We. Definitely got their attention with that.
I should'a just jumped it without touching it, of course it'd have some weird spell on it if they're trying to keep people out.

Mr The Stampede, you are definitely not fine, but ummm... We should probably get moving. Like. Now.

[They did not want to see how much less fine they might end up]

[ listen hes fine hes fine hes fine, except when he notices a few of those feathers starting to twist and weave around Rren, too, when they get close.

He'd somehow blasted himself clear into the park, and the hooded figures were DEFINITELY starting to move towards them.

Fuck it, he can't sit around and act like everything's fine. His instincts have kicked in and he's gonna snatch Rren up from the ground, and get to his feet. ]

Grab onto my shoulders. Use your claws if you have to, but I'll steady you if you fall. [ HOW, with one hand?? ]

Plan's off, we're gonna both run in and grab the ball, then we're getting the hell outta here.

[ he's gonna take up his gun, and flip it around--not to shoot from it, but to use it like a bludgeoning weapon, if he has to. ]

[Look, when the feathers were coming off Vash they were a question for later. But when they started moving they got... concerning? But not as concerning as those Hooded figures.

They let out a startled sound when Vash picked them up.]

Got it.

[They gripped his shoulder and lay flat on it to make it easier to hold on, facing the back with their tail puffed up where it lay over his chest. Look, they were scared, but they were ready to claw at any if they got too close behind them.]

I... I can see if I can teleport both of us when we're on the way out.

[That way there was no second instance of roast Stampede.]

[ the feathers can definitely be discussed later, later when theyre not being menacingly stalked towards by a bunch of cloaked figures in a creepy dog park.
especially since one of the longer ones near the top of his arm moves to almost curl around rren protectively. ]

A teleport would probably be a great idea. Even if just to get out of dodge with these guys. I don't wanna hurt anyone, but...

[ shit, they're getting close. time to make a break for it, towards the ball.

Where he almost instantly gets cut off by one--instinctively raising his arm to bring the pistol down onto the side of the creature's head.

...which is weird, because it... doesn't connect.

he's not just seeing things, right? ]

--What the--?

[There is a hiss and growl from the shoulder cat as they swat at yet another figure only to miss entirely.]

The hell??

[Right. Rren tried to focus on a spot a ways away to see if they could drag Mr. the Stampede along for the ride.

And... success... kind of. They hadn't made it near as far as Rren had attempted and the figures were still looming right behind them]

Oh Come ON.

[ he's got reflexes that are pinpoint accurate, and eyes that can track almost any movement. And yet these things--the way they move, it's impossible to track, even for him. As if he blinks and they're suddenly somewhere else. He's reminded of a certain woman from back home, but. he doesn't have time to think about it as his entire body goes light.

He's never been teleported before, and it's definitely a strange feeling that he can't quite describe. He'll ask about it later, because the movement is so fast it leaves him almost dizzy. He turns his head and yeah--just like Rren says, come ON. they can't be this fast, right?
Fuck.

The only idea he has left is a stupid one to do in public, but. He makes a break for it as more of those feathers start pouring out of him--materializing through his coat without tearing it apart somehow as a pair of wings start forming against his back--if you can call them wings. The feathers are odd, veined, like the leaves of a plant. slightly greenish-yellow tinged at the edges as they flick and open. He's... admittedly terrible at flying, but he has to at least try, right?

...When he runs almost face-first into another of the hooded figures. what the hell? time to pivot and run the other direction. ]

--Nothing should be able to move that fast, I blink and they're--there?!

Can you teleport us again!?

[Rren doesn't admit how sick they feel after that first teleport. They can't. Not when trying again is the only option they see.]

Yeah just ah, one moment.

[They try to teleport again and... nothing. At all.]

Shit. No.

[And the figures were starting to really swarm them too.]

[ ...without a running start, he can't get the momentum to fly. his wings are useless in this moment, thanks to the fact that they're not magic wings, but biological--part of his body. they had rules. fuck.

He was hoping that, if Rren had maybe managed to teleport them out of the slowly growing crowd of cloaked figures, he could get enough air to jump up and get up.

There's only one thing left, and that's to bring the gun up. he hates to do this, but.
There's a roar of shots as he fires a few rounds at the figures--aiming forever at shoulders, legs, as he usually does--trying to clear a path as he attempts a jump into the air. A hard flap of those wings--

....and then something catches his ankle, and he goes down.

The cloaked figures close in, and everything goes dark. ]

[Rren was freaking out as the swarm closed in, clawing and biting even and getting nothing, doing no good at all and then Vash's leap, hope. And a fall and... darkness.

They woke and were on all fours, hissing all at once, poofed to twice their size and arched up. And then paused, staring around, dazed, blinking. Where were they? Why, why were they so cold?

They nudged at Vash with their nose, getting snow on it in the process. Snow???]

Mr. The Stampede, Vash? Please wake up.

[They aren't panicking, you are.]

[ its a disquieting experience. the idea that he had messed up so badly that he'd not only gotten himself into a dangerous situation--but he'd failed too protect a friend, too. Those were his last thoughts before the world went dark.

Waking up is ... soupy. He feels a haze in his brain, a tingle to his fingers from where he'd grabbed the electric fence, but more than that, he was freezing.
Something was pushing at him, though--nudging and pressing and slowly waking him up from his stupor.

And then he remembered.
Sitting up in a rush, sending snow flying as he reaches out to put a hand on Rren's side, his eyes go wide and then close as he realises they're okay. they're fine.

...They're in a parking lot, but they're fine. ]

OhmygodIthoughtweDied.

[ he gasps out all at once, letting himself lie back down. limbs go in every direction. ]

I'm never going near a dog park. Ever again.
No matter how many people beg me for help.

[Once he woke back up, Rren collapsed again beside him. Now if only their heart would stop pounding.]

Gods. No kidding. Never again.

Are. Are you okay?

[ hes gonna reach down, instinctively patting Rren's cat head with a low, exasperated sigh.

he knows the words on his tongue better than he knows himself: "I'm fine, we survived so we are okay, one hell of a party that was huh",

things like that.

so when he speaks, they'll pour out as easily as usual, right. Positive dishonesty for the sake of being lighthearted, as is his usual m.o. ]

No, I'm horrified that I could have gotten you killed over a stupid ball.

[ uh

that's not what he tried to say. ]

[Perhaps Rren should have been offended, but honestly, nah. They didn't mind contact and as a cat it was even more comforting. So they pushed their head against his hand

...

And then stared at him blankly. Look, they were used to the positivity.]

It was my idea too, don't blame yourself for me. I was so sure it'd be easy.

I'm sorry, I should have thought it through first. I'm... I'm bad at thinking things through.

Edited 2023-05-17 12:27 (UTC)

[ he's gonna take the fact that rren is leaning in as a good sign and just... let his fingers card through orange fur--....brushing snow off their fur with a bit of a raised eyebrow. why is there snow? is that why he's so cold? hurghl.

the outburst of his actual thoughts were weird, too. he never talked like that in front of others, what was going on...? ]

I mean, your plan wasn't a bad one. If we had managed to actually go through with it, I fully believe one of us would have gotten away.

I'm a "leap before you think" kind of guy anyway.
I'm just... relieved you're okay.

Touching that fence was a terrible idea.
...
Going after that ball was a terrible idea.

...

...

[Rren bit his wrist. Not hard. But...

Their ears were back and tail swishing in annoyance.]

One of us??? Why would you listen to me if you only thought one of us would be okay?

[The annoyance shifted to guilt quickly, their voice cracking as they spoke.]

It was all a terrible idea, I was just... so certain it would be easy and so sure I knew what to do. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

[Just... ignore that both of them were being far more candid than normal.]

[ ack ack ack ack, he's being BITTEN. he makes a hissing noise between his teeth as if that really hurt--but it was more just a reaction than actual pain. teeth settling against the leather of his long glove as he lets out a wilting sigh. ]

You, mostly. I was expecting to be a big enough distraction so you could grab it and get out of there. But that was before I knew the ghost. Things. Couldn't be hit or even outran.

[ okay so it wasn't the BEST plan, but like, it also wasn't the worst? also why was he just saying it all so plainly, like it didn't matter ot soften the blow or to pretend that his intention was actually to get out of there?? hes gonna touch his throat. ]

...Hey come on. Don't take on the blame all by yourself.
We were both just trying our best, yeah?
I can't help but to say yes when a human asks me for help.
It's like instinct, honestly. Second nature.

[Rren let out a small sort of growling sound and then flopped down on their side.]

I wanna help people too. Like. A lot. But I don't want to see my friend get hurt or killed, okay?

And I'm pretty sure even those kids would rather get a new ball than see us get hurt trying to fetch the lucky one. ... And if they wouldn't, well, they don't deserve their lucky ball anyway, so.

[ ....hehheheh

of all things that vash could do
say, respond with
he

starts to laugh
flopped back on the parking lot, snow inside his coat and the sky darkening overhead.

he just starts to laugh. ]

You called me your friend for the first time.

[Rren stares at him blankly for a long moment.

And when they opened their mouth to deny it, to say he misheard, oh no.]

Yeah, well, I should have done it sooner, you've been so kind to me since we met.

...

[Perk of being a cat, they couldn't blush bright red like this.]

[ he fully expects them to deny it. just how every time wolfwood calls him Vash lately, he immediately denies having done it.

but rren doesn't deny it.
rather, they double down on it and says something... very sincere.
it makes his heart feel light.
its a feeling he doesn't get often. he'd line to cling to it. ]

I don't mind how long you put it off. Or if you didn't want to say it at all.
The fact that you said it at all, makes me happy.

I don't get to have many friends.

So, thank you.

[And in that moment they could not regret having said it. Any of it.]

I, ah, have to admit I didn't mean to say it. But I am glad I did... and I did mean it.

Ah.
You too, then?
Here I thought I was just on edge.

[ time to laugh a little like a fool again. ]

I think.
Even if I don't remember what happened after they pulled me out of the air after that piss-poor attempt to fly.

I think we definitely got some sort of curse.
...
The worst kind of curse too.
I can't bing myself to lie.

...
I'm still glad you said it too, though. Sorry if that's selfish.

[Huh. They probably should have thought of that.]

Ohhh. Is that what did this? I just thought I was having trouble because of how freaked out I was.

That is... such a weird curse, I mean I guess it makes sense. Not being able to lie kinda... sucks.

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