kaisou | network & log

Entry tags:

network & log | un: kni

WHO: kni & you!
WHERE: network & around the city
WHEN: july 1st
WHAT: kni enters the scene and gets lost almost immediately.
WARNINGS: possible talk of mass murder / genocide, generally bratty behavior, etc.

[ action - the city ]

[nai wakes up to the sound of rain, although he doesn't recognize it for what it is. the droning noise could almost be considered pleasant, compared to the absolute nightmare he was finally pulling himself from-

or not. he sits up from the cafe table he'd been slumped over, his cheek still red from having laid it against the laminate surface for too long. he stares blearily out of the cafe window he was seated beside, brows pulling together as he frowns. the rain captures his attention as he slowly comes to, before all at once the gravity of his situation hits him with full force.

kni jumps up from the table so fast he nearly knocks over the chair, only realizing belatedly that he was holding something. an oddly shaped device and a... book? he decides he'll flip through it later as he rushes for the doors, nearly jumping out of his skin when someone - tall, human - opens the door from the other side. he only gives them a sparing glare before he pushes past them to run outside. right into the rain.

his heart racing, kni stands there. staring up at the sky, the feeling of rain soaking his hair and clothes is so new, he doesn't know what to process first. with his new items clutched to his chest, kni's gaze moves from the storm clouds above to looking around and noticing, with dawning horror, that he was surrounded by humans. this wasn't the desert planet they crashed into, either.

from one nightmare into another, kni picks a direction and starts walking.]

[ text - un: KNI ]

this technology is so old and the interface for this application is ugly.

whoever designed this should be ashamed.

i am looking for someone. is the directory in this device accurate?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ it's an unmistakable connection. one he's felt most of his life, whenever knives was anywhere he could feel him. they always knew where one another was, so long as they listened intensely.

so even now, as they stand next to each other
one very small
one very tall

barely recognizing one another due to the clear age gap
and the differences between them
it's unmistakable that this--this is his brother. This is Kni.

He feels something ache, deep in his chest. The same way it always aches when he sees knives, but this time instead of that deep-seated fear and frustration for a man who never listens to him, who always goes his own way...

Loneliness--is that what it feels like? He's felt it for so long that it hasn't had a proper name for ages. ]

...Yeah. Yeah, that's me.

[ ...he'll move, to settle on one knee so he can be eye-to-eye with his very small brother. Looking at him with a look that... attempts to be cheerful. His hair all wet and floppy, though, he just looks like a sad, wet dog. ]

Looks like we got sent here at wildly different times, huh.

[with vash at proper eye-level (kni will save time later to feel irritated about that), he moves to face vash and stands. grass stains decorate his leggings, intermixed with streaks of soot and dirt he'd acquired before his arrival here.]

How old are you now?

[he doesn't wait for an answer to cup vash's face with both hands. brushing fingers over his brother's cheek, pushing away messy, soaked hair from sticking to his forehead. kni's eyes scour vash's features, taking note of every little difference. he brushes his thumb over their matching birthmark.]

So, they weren't lying...

[ he... almost flinches when Kni takes his face in his hands. It makes their connection feel louder, when they touch. it's almost musical, like wind pushing through strings as the sound fills his ears.

It was a sound that used to be a comfort, but ... ]

Well.
I've lived for about a century and a half at this point.

[ shifting his umbrella to his false hand, he raises his real hand to push it against his own lips, in a shhh motion. ]

...But I usually tell people I'm about twenty-six.

[ but... ah. ]

Who did you think was lying?

[kni seeks out their connection like a child would a security blanket, a well-loved toy that soothes the erratic mess that was his heart. he's felt out of place and mismanaged since he arrived, and even before that, too. emotions without names yet rising up inside him, terrifying in their intensities.

but vash is vash, even at a hundred and fifty years old. that sappy smile coupled with those soft eyes is more than enough proof for kni.]

Have you been alone all that time?

[the important question. kni's expression furrows, one of his thumbs moving to brush under vash's eye. his brother looks tired...]

Someone named Wolfwood. They sounded insane to me.

[ he has a number of emotions too. most of them are uncertain about this--about knives, about what he should do about this. he doesn't know what timeline knives is from. before the big fall? ...after it, given he said the planet they had ... landed on had no name, just dirt and sand...

if that was the case, then Knives--kni had already done that terrible thing. ...But it was his fault, too. That's one thing Vash had shared with Nobody in Kaisou. He may have shared his species with a choice few others. Wolfwood had spat visceral anger about the cult that ruined his life--but not once did Vash even tell Wolfwood that the great fall was caused by him. And if Knives had that awareness that he did it, too...

It'd have to be a secret they kept together.

He closes his eyes for a moment as he feels small fingers brushing under his eyes.

What should he do. ]

I've been alone for a long time. Back on that other planet, let's just... say that things don't go great there, for a long time, Kni.

But we're somewhere else, now.
I'm not sure how, I'm not sure why. But we're actually on Earth.
[ you know, the place Rem told them about. ]

And I'm a little less alone here.
I have a good number of friends. Like Wolfwood.

[things don't go great there, kni knows why. even with all of his hard work to ensure the destruction of the ships, he messed up somewhere. mistakes he would need to rectify if he weren't trapped here.]

This isn't the Earth we were told about.

[he looks like he wants to say more, but he changes his mind. kni shivers faintly, out of the rain long enough that a chill was starting to seep in through his wet clothes.

still, he doesn't move away. doesn't let go of vash, pain lancing through his chest. how is he supposed to feel? his failure as vash's brother, his protector, alongside this strange alienation welling up inside. a hundred and fifty years was a long time to feel alone, so where had he been all that time? leaving strangers like wolfwood to comfort his brother?

there are questions without answers sitting between them, but kni isn't ready to pick them up yet.] I don't like him.

[ it's something neither of them can do anything about. At first, arriving here, Vash felt awful about being somewhere full of food and good things, away from the planet where so many people were abandoned, but... after learning time doesn't turn for them, he's gotten to enjoy life here.
Just like Kni will have to learn how to.

The kid still holds onto him, as if there's nothing else to do BUT hold onto one another. He opens his eyes, finally, and he moves the umbrella to give the other a sort of soft, amused look. ]

He's a difficult guy, but he's been through a lot of scary, terrible things. So he can be a little mean because he's scared, you know?

[ He gives a wistful little sigh. ]

Come on, we should get out of this rain. Can you hold the umbrella? I'll carry you to the place I've been living.

...It's a long walk, so.

Hm...

[kni frowns, face pinched in apprehension. if he lets himself think about it longer, he might understand wolfwood - just a little bit. kni recognizes that feeling, the urge to lash out as his emotions tangle together into some ugly rat's nest sitting heavy inside his chest.

so, wisely, he says nothing regarding wolfwood. his brother cares about him, so... maybe that means something. kni frowns, then. letting go of one of vash's cheeks, kni brings his hand to squeeze at his clothes until water dribbles easily from the soaked fabric.]

I'm going to get you all wet, Vash. [but he takes the umbrella handle anyway, still with that frown that looks more concerning than annoyed.]

[ saying nothing is better than continuing to disparage on the man who's probably having a bad day right now.
There's a lot of emotions he's having, himself, but. Right now he's got three things on his mind: Getting Kni somewhere out of the rain, figuring out what to do about Kni getting here, and then convincing the select few who know about Kni that he isn't a nuclear bomb.

A difficult task, but one Vash is determined to see through.
He gives a little chuckle when the younger plant wrings out his shirt, and he raises up his arm to likewise squeeze his sleeve. Look, he's soaked, too. ]

I kind'a ran around like a madman looking for you. I didn't take the umbrella out until I saw you, so I'm already soaked.

So we'll be soaked together.

[kni hums quietly, watching vash while he slowly spins the umbrella by its handle.]

You're going to catch a cold like that. [weaker, less-plant-like brother at far more of a risk of getting sick than kni. he can't help but worry about his brother, even if he towers over him now.]

Promise me something first. [kni meets his eyes.] Okay?

Come on, I'm a little tougher than that, you know? [ he grins, a crooked little smile that... doesn't quite reach his eyes.

He hasn't gotten a cold yet, at least, but. Last thing he wants is for him to get a cold BECAUSE he's standing out in the rain with Kni. Man... ]

....

[ being asked to promise the young man something, though...

Why... does it make his heart feel like it's in his throat? He's not afraid, he's just... ]

What kind of promise is it. I'll listen to what you have to say.

[ ...but not yet agreeing. ]

[kni sighs through his nose.]

Tell me the truth. Whatever it is - I only want the truth.

[whatever is in store for him here, kni couldn't handle the thought of being coddled, purposefully left in the dark.

he's at a disadvantage here.]

That's all.

[ ......ah.

That's... not what he was expecting from him. At all.
he looks... troubled. Especially because of the questions Kni COULD ask.

So, while he doesn't intend on rejecting the request, he does have to mention... ]

...Even if that means hearing things you might not want to hear?

You'll accept that I... might say things that you won't like, while they are the truth?

Yes, obviously.

[he rolls his eyes, exasperated by vash's reluctance. he knocks the umbrella handle against vash's head, holding back a shiver.]

So, promise me.

[straight to the point, as always.]

If you don't, I'll run away.

D'aah--Hey!!!

Hey!
Don't donk me, you little... [ he's gonna reach out to pinch Kni's cheek!!! ]

....Alright.
If you promise not to get upset if I say something you don't like.
Then, I promise I'll tell you the truth about things when you ask.

[ and he'll stop pinching his cheek. And offer him a hand. ]

Deal?

[kni swats at vash's hand, if his brother were any smaller kni would have knocked him into the ground for something like that.

but now he just glowers at him, huffing.]

Fine, [rolling his eyes again, because that's all he wants. well, that and a few other things, but they can start with this.

kni takes his hand, still frowning, although the heat behind it is gone.]

Deal.

[ god, why are you such a fighty little guy!!!! vash makes such a face at Kni after being swatted, donked and all the like. Letting out a low huff that's... oddly reminiscent of how he used to huff and puff whenever Kni was being a bully.

He'll still shake his hand, though, before moving to open his arms. ]

Come on then. We should get walking.

I live uh. Pretty far outside the city, away from all the crowds.

[pacifism just ain't in his blood like it is for you, vash.]

Did you run all the way from there to here?

[he doesn't know yet that vash's clothes are actually a uniform. holding the umbrella over their heads, kni moves into vash's open arms, hesitating only briefly before putting his arm around his neck.]

Who else lives with you? [he already knows about wolfwood, but he's hoping beyond hope the b****** was fibbing to get under kni's skin.]

[ it isn't, but it can be learned. it wasn't in his blood from the start either. not until he stabbed rem, and realised what it meant to hurt someone. ]

I didn't. I was actually at work when I saw your network post.
I ran here from there, which is from the mid-city.

[ he'll pick the younger version of his brother up, hefting him between his two arms--trying not to pin him with the fake one too hard, as the metal of it can be a little unforgiving. ]

I live with two people. Wolfwood is one of them, but he'll be staying with a friend tonight.
I also live with a dragon-man named Libra. He's a priest.

...I also have a few pets staying at the house, too.

You're working? Show me where - later.

[he wants to know! but after he's dry and no longer shivering. kni adjusts his grip on the umbrella handle as vash lifts him up. he glances out across the park, noting with some mild irritation that vash really was tall.

kni only wrinkles his nose at the mention of wolfwood. he raises an eyebrow at the mention of a dragon-man. what.] A dragon... like in storybooks?

[he's already seen a few strange-looking persons here and now that the shock of that has worn off, he's more inquisitive now.]

What kind of pets? Do you have a dog? [will he get to pet a dog for the first time?]

Haha. Yeah, I work. I have to. While I live in a garden where food literally grows out of the ground, I still need money to buy things like clothes and other things.

I work at a theatre. [ with the amount of reading he and Kni did as kids, there's no way the kid doesn't know what that means.
He's already starting to walk--a few paces off a brisk jog, really, determined to get home and get them both out of the rain.
He knew he'd have to buy kni some clothing later, too, but. ...Later. ]

Like in storybooks. He looks kind of like us, most of the time--but he's got scales on his skin, and wings on his back. And these pretty fern-like horns on his head, you'll see.
He can turn into a big dragon, too. Big as a horse...

[ ...it's odd, how he's falling into a weird ... comfort, answering questions for his brother, like he wasn't holding a kid who attempted genocide in his arms.
...they can just not think of it, for a long time. ]

There's one that's a little like a dog, yes. He's got a big fluffy tail. There's also three rabbits--one is yellow, the other two are brown and white. Then there's a little seal, and my favorite is Fritter, he's a little worm who lives inside an apple...

That's convenient for you. [because vash needs to eat, unlike him.

kni leans against vash, knocking his head against his brother's. he's still cold and shivery, but vash is warm at least.]

Do you play movies there? [it'd be fun to watch his favorite movies on a 'big screen', super vintage!] Or is it like plays? I never liked musicals. [especially when vash would try to sing, off-key, to the dance numbers.]

How did you become friends with a dragon? Is he like the dragons in stories? [all big, sharp teeth that love treasure and slurping up knights in shining armor like tasty treats. probably not, but it's all kni has to go by.] Has he ever eaten someone?

[he hopes it's a yes.]

... Fritter? Wait- is he really a worm? [kni narrows his eyes at vash.] You named him after a dessert?

Very convenient. There's a lot of plants there, you'll like it, I think. It was a little like that room on the ship where we spent most of our days, except it's got way more flowers and plants.

[ he chuckles when the kid keeps... asking questions. It's easy to forget his stress when things feel eerily... okay? Now? That the fear of having millions knives show up and ruin everything is gone. ...Does he feel happy? The way his connection to the other plant hums in a way it hasn't in a long time. ]

Plays. It's a theatre that has live acted out shows and, unfortunately for you, musicals.
But don't worry, I'm not one of the actors. I work in the section where snacks and drinks are prepared for people watching the shows. I mix up drinks for people and bring them things to eat while they're watching the plays happen.

[ so don't worry, you won't have to suffer vash's terrible off-key singing. ]

When I first showed up here, I landed in the park we were just in. Libra was one of the first people to find me, and he bought me food because I was seriously starving. We became friends after that, and he's staying with me because he doesn't like the city. Too noisy for him.
I'm not sure if he's ever eaten anyone, you'd have to ask him that yourself.

[ ...he's not... sure... man... ]

He's a worm, he's a worm! He just lives in an apple! I've caught him switching apples before, and--
Well!
He--I.
Fritter is a cute name...

Hmm... [he's already seen so much while stuck in the middle of the city, but a garden reminiscent of their old home...?

the sound of the rain rolling off the umbrella is almost hypnotic. if he wasn't still so keyed up from everything, he could doze off to the rhythm.]

You serve them? [vash says people, but the idea of being subservient in any way to a human churns his guts. it's easier to fall back into feelings of hate, especially when that's all he wants to feel.

kni listens, quiet as vash hurries through the park, the city. there's so much to look at, but what eventually catches his attention are the black streaks intermixed with blonde in vash's hair.]

Worms belong in a garden, not as your pet. [because he's thinking of a garden-variety worm and not a pokemon, of course.]

If they're at the bar. Usually people don't sit at the bar unless they're between shows. I mostly just mix up the drinks and snacks, and there's actually a serving person who brings the drinks and food around.

[ he doesnt even think of the job as being subservient--he makes good tips!!! and he gets a nice paycheck from zules for it, too. the guy was one of his best buddies and all.

giving him a job without even needing an interview or anything had been amazing of him, after all.

he doesn't for a moment notice kni glancing at his darkening hair.

He's making good time through the city--knowing the way out to the main road that led outside of the city limits itself; Kni would see much on their way out. Restaurants and shops, cars of many different shapes and sizes. He might even catch a glance of a few more inhuman beings that live in kaisou alongside the humanoid ones--maybe even a person or two flying overhead in their hurry to get somewhere.

All that mixed in with a sky that flickered and weaved with beautiful colours up in the sky, even with the rainclouds cloaking everything.

It won't take long before they're outside the city limits, walking down a long dirt road between some wide open green fields, with a forest coming up in the distance. ]

He's a big worm, though, you see. Bigger than your hand. Maybe bigger.

[ he grins. ]

You'll see soon. We'll be home in a bit.
...Libra might be home, so you'll be able to meet him, too, maybe.

You'll be nice, yeah?

Edited 2023-07-03 04:11 (UTC)

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