collateraldamage | IC Inbox

[ sorry Mr. Kraken SORRY-- she knows you were rather enthralled in your task of firewood-gathering, but... Vash would find his task rather unceremoniously interrupted by the collision of a tiny Apostle into his side WELP...

it seems he isn't the only totally graceful person occupying Haven after all, right?? she goes down with a surprised 'AH!' and lands right on her butt, the fog and darkness obscuring vision. she isn't sure who she hit, stammering a hasty apology through tears. ]

S- sorry! I'm very s... sorry...

[A kraken has to keep his fire burning for cute girls to rest beside, okay? He's usually the one running into people, so it startles him when he feels something hit his legs and then fall back. He's about to make some silly comment when...

Ah.

Is she crying?

His heart lurches in his chest, going cold with worry that she's been hurt somehow. His hand is somehow steady when it comes to rest on top of her head, crouching in front of her with a little smile at his lips.]

Hey... what's this face for?

[ --Mr. Kraken? Azmaria looks super surprised when he crouches down and becomes more visible among the fog, and hastily wipes at her face. it doesn't help much, because her eyes keep welling over anyway. ]

N-nothing! [ not like she's running away from Gannicus or anything BECAUSE THAT'S JUST SILLY. ] Nothing, I-- I just fell a-and scared myself... s-so...

[ ...so...

:( he was normal too, wasn't he? what if he was going to get mad at her, too? ]

[He has no idea what's going on here, but he knows that these tears aren't for a simple fall in the fog. Gloved fingers come up and brush some of the wetness from her cheek, keeping that gentle smile at his lips to reassure her.]

I'd be pretty scared if I fell too.

[He rubs his free hand at the back of his head, even giving a little chuckle.]

It always hurts so much when I fall, I'd probably cry too

[ he's so... normal and silly when everything seems like it's getting more and more crazy and strange...

she doesn't know what to say. it's such an overwhelming relief to see him being him, but at the same time it makes her that much more scared of it all disappearing forever. she hesitates before she's trying to get up and dust herself off. ]

I-I'm okay... um- thank you very much.

[ 'thank you for being my friend.' ]

I have to go...

[If she thinks that he will let her run off when she's in this state then she's sadly mistaken, not that he would have been happy letting her run off into the fog even if she weren't crying and obviously shaken up.]

Go?

[He frowns a bit in confusion, picking at one ear a bit absent mindedly.]

Where do you have to go?

To th... the campfire!

[ YES. the campfire. you know the one. with a camp. and fire. in it. ]

B-but, I will come and see you again later... o-okay?

That's a coincidence, I have to go back there too.

[He beams and gives her a thumbs up as though it weren't totally obvious she was lying.]

We can go together!

I mean- [ oh no... she feels guilty enough as it is, her lies having gotten her in trouble with Gannicus when he found out what she was. she doesn't want to be lying to Vash, too... ]

I- mean...

[ ... ]

Mr. Kraken... please don't follow me...

I can't let you go by yourself.

[There's the barest hint of something firm in his voice, even if it's hidden behind his usual smile and easy-going nature.]

I'm your bodyguard, I have a job to do! And Krakens never go back on their word, especially not to cute girls.

[His smile widens a bit more and he rests a hand on her head.]

[ she shrinks a little under his hand and her eyes are feeling hot again. she's really tired, and scared... he is too- everyone is, aren't they? but... ]

I don't want you to get mad, too...

[His heart breaks when he hears that, and for once the smile slides away to reveal a more serious expression. He takes a seat on the ground in front of her, uncaring of the fog or dirt, looking into her face steadily.]

Why would I get mad? Why don't you tell me what this is all about?

[ ahh... maybe it's too late. this is exactly why she wanted to get away from people - if she didn't see her friends, then this wouldn't happen. there was no way anyone could know about her, right? she wouldn't have to lie or hide anything and her powers were already gone.

she shakes her head quickly. ]

Mr. Kr-Kraken... everyone is very angry at one another right now...

You noticed that too, huh?

[He doesn't deny it, it would be pointless and might make her distrust him to lie at a time like this.]

But I'm not angry, so why would you think I'd be mad at you?

[ she drops her eyes to the ground, unable to look at him as she clasps her hands anxiously in front of her. Vash... ]

...are you...

[ 'special?' ]

[He knows what she's asking instinctively, if only because it's the same issue that's on everyone's lips at the moment, but he pretends not to know what she's talking about.]

No, of course I'm not mad.

[Sorry, Az, he's a coward at heart.]

[ it's okay, Vash. she can't claim to be any different.

she deflates a little, but shakes her head, still unable to meet him in the eye. ]

Are you... different?

[That question was much more direct, but he can't bring himself to give her an honest answer.]

Everyone is different, that doesn't mean we should be mad at each other for our differences.

[ he doesn't want to answer? she's going to guess that's what this all comes down to in the end.

if he is 'normal,' would he be scared? angry, like Gannicus had been because she didn't tell him? ]

But-

[ no, why ISN'T he answering? her eyes lift tentatively in her hesitation, and she's not sure what to do now... ]

[He can't... he just can't, he's sorry Azmaria, it just isn't that easy.]

I'm not as special as all that.

[It's not exactly a lie, although it might as well be one for how he knows she'll take it. But he can't tell her, he wouldn't know how and she was too young and innocent for that sort of story. He makes sure a warm smile comes to his lips again to reassure her.]

But I always knew you were special, nobody will a face that cute could be anything but.

[Special, not having anything to do with powers. But he hopes she understands that he cares either way.]

[ 'not as special'... he is 'normal' like Gannicus, isn't he? she's taking a little step back, and the look of a fearful, tentative pang passing through her is something she can't help. she isn't afraid of him -- how could anyone be afraid of someone as harmless as Vash? -- but she's afraid of losing their friendship, of seeing him reject her, of hating her, like the others. ]

Y... you don't understand...

[ and she doesn't want him to. if she did, what would happen? ]

[No, Azmaria, don't step back from him... His heart just about breaks and he can tell there's only one way to stop her from feeling so scared like this.]

I do. You've lost something too, haven't you?

['Too', it was his one concession to admitting he wasn't just a normal guy.]

[ her feet stall just like that, confusion and surprise in her eyes. 'you've lost something too'

too...?

...

the bloom of hope lights up, followed by a pang of guilt- before she's nodding. ]

You... as well...?

[ he has something inside of him? she never would have thought that he was 'different,' but- like Chrono, like Father Remington and even Lady Mary... the things that make you 'different' don't make you TOO different, after all. ]

[He nods, though there's a gleam of something in his eyes that says he really doesn't want to discuss it further, not even with her.

He reaches a hand out towards her again, palm up, but he leaves it up to her whether she wants to take it or not.]

Do you still have somewhere to be?

[ ...he's like her? ]

[ ... ]

[ ahh, forget his hand! she's going straight in for the hug... she's so relieved, had been so worried he would hate her or get angry, or... or SOMEthing, okay?! it was very overwhelming...! ]

[Ah--!

She hits him with all the strength of a bullet to the heart, and he can't help his eyes widening in surprise behind those tinted glasses. But then his own arms come up and wind around her with fondness, and a genuine smile, bereft of any silliness, touches his lips.]

Hey now... what did I say about tears on a cute face?

[But it's not a real chide, hand rubbing down her back comfortingly.]

[ nope nope sorry, she's just going to blubber here into his coat for a while... is that okay? well, a little late to be asking that now, um-- sorry, Mr. Kraken... :(

she's just overwhelmingly grateful and relieved. she really likes him, and being afraid of chasing off or hurting her friends is always in the back of her mind.

it's something he must be too familiar with himself, actually... :( ]

[When it becomes clear that she's not going to stop any time soon, he shifts his embrace to become more supportive and lifts her right up into his arms.

He'll carry her back to the campfire and hope she will fall asleep soon, she is obviously overtired and stressed and frightened, the least he can do is protect her while she gets some much needed rest.]

[ she doesn't protest or wiggle in a sign of disapproval, instead clinging fingers into that big red coat. somehow, he's come to be so nice to her... no matter what happens, he's always smiling like everything is going to be okay.

she is so glad that she met him, and now more than ever she's sure that Mary was right - that Vash is one of the strongest and kindest people in Haven. ]

[He would argue that point if it was ever raised to him, he had ruined a lot of lives despite trying his hardest not to, he was far from strong or kind.

But at least he can protect one little girl tonight, and give her comfort while she slept.]

[ she does indeed stop sniffling and getting his shoulder all wet about half-way to Vash's campfire, and by the time they get there - she's well on her way to mellowing out into sleep.

but her voice peeps up in the silence, quiet as a mouse; hopefully he hears her anyway. ]

...thank you... for being my friend.

[He hears and it stirs up a mix of regret, sadness, guilt, fear, and warmth... He's glad to be her friend and to offer her any comfort that he can, but he fears she is getting too close. He is allowing her to, because he cares for her too.

If she gets hurt now, it will be all his fault for allowing her to hang around him. He should be sending her off, trying to scare her away, but he can't bring himself to. Neither can he bring himself to encourage her to stay so, like a coward, he stays silent as though he heard nothing.

Sleep now, and let your fail guard keep watch.]

[ it's okay. he doesn't have to say anything... she doesn't even know if he heard her, but that's okay too.

it's only a few more minutes before droopy eyes get droopier, and she's asleep. maybe one day, Vash will learn the same thing Azmaria believes now and can be happy too. if she ever knew how much he was hurting like that inside, she wouldn't leave it be until he was.

but it's nice like this, anyway... whether or not he thinks he's dangerous, she just about finds him the safest place to be she's found since all of this started. ]

[ ooc: from here ]

The physical contact breaks the burgeoning loop, and there's another little smile and nod of thanks before his expression blanks again and he sighs.

"I...we went to the Haven, to get the computers from the town hall. It-- so much stuff happened." None of it good, clearly. "I saw my best friend, he was in the room a-and was going to take me home. I mean I know it really wasn't him because this place..."

He closes his eyes and shakes his head. "He saved me from something, a-and it killed him, and then."

And then he stops short.

The usual free and easy attitude that Vash seemed to adopt towards everything in life abruptly disappeared on hearing that, putting an uncharacteristic grave look on his face. Tinted sunglasses reflected the light to hide the sorrow deep in his eyes at another senseless death, a tragedy that couldn't even be mitigated by the victim returning to life.

"Did any of the others die?"

This was terrible.

So much death and destruction, and he seemed to always be in the wrong place to stop it. No, that wasn't quite accurate, he was in the right place, but there were so many right places that he couldn't be in them all at the same time.

((Sorry about the wait, I've been on hiatus for the majority of May.))

Glitch shakes his head, then shrugs.

"I I don't know, I...Vera was there, I was trying to keep her safe but--"

He looks at Vash then quickly out the window again, one hand going up to cover his mouth. To stop then words, or in reflexive memory of the Sorceress taking his life, he's not sure. In any case when he speaks again it's slightly muffled.

"Me, the Witch was-- that's where I've been. Dead. Again. D-d'you know if they got anything from the computers?"

Was it worth it?

His heart sinks even further hearing that Vera was there, and he makes an urgent mental note to check up on her as soon as he was done talking to Glitch.

There were so many of them...

So many people that he needed to protect and save, and they all seemed determined to scatter and put themselves in as much danger as possible. He couldn't follow them all and he had seemingly made a mistake in not going along this time, instead staying to protect those left behind.

"I haven't seen any of the others yet."

His reply oddly serious for once, sober with the situation.

"Oh." Glitch lets out a little huff of breath and lowers his hand, blinking. "I'll probably see if I can find Ed or Al, then, they'll know stuff. I think."

Oh if only he knew. He picks at a stray thread on his sleeve and frowns, trying to think past the horror of those last(ish) moments. Concentrate outward, he has other questions.

"Did...anything happen here? There were those messages, I was afraid we'd provoke a thing."

"Ed and Al?"

These are two people that Vash has (obviously) never had the joy of being introduced to, but if they were knowledgeable about Haven then he felt he should know at least more about them.

"They were the ringleaders of this?"

"Sort of." Glitch fusses with the cuffs of his sleeves. "Ed more, I think. Every few months we try these raids to...see if we can find out more about this place. I wanted to help out but they say the store's awful so I thought it'd be okay if I wasn't actually going there."

He laughs at himself, shakes his head. "Sure showed me."

He should have been there, he made the wrong choice and now people had suffered for it. He wanted to howl, to apologise over and over, but that wasn't what Glitch needed right now.

"You know, I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to stay in where it's safe for a while."

Hint. Hint.

IC Inbox

april 19th : action

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/3

2/3

3/3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

/sneaks on in here finally

/touches

sloooow taaaaags this forever <3

<333

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject