[ Even towel-dried, Vash can feel some of it against his dress shirt. It'd definitely leave some kind of impression, which he groans about before relenting.
He cups both cheeks and forces Wolfwood to tilt his head back up and look at him, now squishing his cheeks a little like you would good dogs. Except Wolfwood is not a good dog, he's a naughty dog. ]
Where was all this affection in the Underground, huh?
[ A laugh as he continues to squish him into chubby cheeks. ]
[ He is manhandled like a dog, as he deserves. He's all sinew, very little for way of fat, but Vash can make his attempts. ]
Sorry that I don't feel like it in a shit place where people are out to kill each other.
[ When death is around the corner, it's hard to settle and be soft. He'll allow it here though.
He's seen their new world while he was traveling, the way the Earth ships are here, how bandits still roam. The planet is still dangerous, but at least it's perfectly human troubles.
No Knives, no end of the world in sight. He still means to ask what happened to his orphanage, where they went since Vash and Livio both said they're safe, but he'll play catchup later. He believes in both of their words that this is something that can wait a little.
Tries to pull away from Vash screwing with his cheeks, though he doesn't bother pulling off the rest of his body weight. ]
[ There's onboarding for those who wish to make a living on Earth, though it will be in waves. No Man's Land is a beast to be reckoned with where the fleet can't easily instate their authority or influence.
This planet has its own culture. People who stay are too accustomed to it, but it's been a little better thanks to modified genshin technology. It's slow progress, though, but surely it's spreading. ]
You could have at least snuggled with me a bit more when we were sleeping.
[ The lowest bar, but he understands. As Wolfwood tries to pull away, he catches him again, but doesn't squish his cheeks. Instead he caresses, smoothing over his skin with calloused thumbs.
Slowly the ends of his lips stop curling, though curiosity colors his features. Wolfwood might think to catch up later, but Vash has his own questions. ]
... How did it happen? Did you suddenly wake up somewhere?
[ TOUCH WEEK AND ALL THAT. And also grappling with emotions and stuff on the side. Shit was rough. ]
Yeah, something like that. Came to in the sorta wrecks of someplace quiet.
[ Halfway to Carcasses, en route to the orphanage. A medium ground of the place he was last at on the Ark, and where his story theoretically ended in the world. Pretend he said a place. He lets his body weight comfortably sag between the hollows of Vash, dispersing some weight off of him to the mattress below so he can avoid allegations of crushing the other.
Would he mind if he reached over to grab one of his smokes. ]
[ Wolfwood, you were grappling with so many emotions in those 8 weeks, damn. Vash won't be asking about the location because we're going to assume he knows what Wolfwood is referencing.
Locations don't matter here because the manga barely labels them and references where they are relative to everywhere else. ]
With your own Punisher...?
[ Vash scoots closer to the wall, trying to make space on the small bed for Wolfwood to lounge a little more comfortably.
No, he doesn't mind. Have as many smokes as you want. ]
[ He's having one, changing around a bit to lie more comfortably for the both of them especially if he's going to finally be lighting up. Assumes Vash just put the one he tapped out earlier out of habit with the rest of his shit. ]
I had to go pick it up.
[ He leaves it vague enough because he imagines neither of them want to talk about it in detail anyway. ]
[ It's vague, but... If it didn't come with him, there's only one other place to get it. Vash doesn't freeze up from the mention, even if the memory plays in his mind.
At most, his fingers flex, curling into a loose fist as he lies beside him. ]
... You okay?
[ He's making sure—seeing your own grave can be a strange experience, possibly put you in a different headspace. Small, obvious worries and fussing. ]
[ Like... it's weird enough, for sure, but he could be a lot worse about it. It's probably not something he wants to think that hard on, but he's here right now and that's what really matters. He already had the whole death reveal and talk W0 after all. Two months is a decent amount of time to come to terms with your own death that you then proceeded to sort of avoid, sort of not.
Like a bad dream. He's used to those. Exhaling smoke. He may as well ask now. ]
Where'd you take the kids?
[ Since it was at his old orphanage and all, now abandoned. ]
[ Well, that's good. Vash hasn't visited the grave yet and now he isn't sure if he should... He might anyway because at least he wants to honor the Wolfwood in his memories.
Shifting a little bit closer, but now too close, he sets his forehead pressed against the point of Wolfwood's shoulder. ]
They're with the colony. [ Family meets family! ] Did you want to visit them?
[ As much and little visiting as Wolfwood wants. Vash also hasn't seen his family since the apocalypse. ]
[ Something in his chest cavity curls at the thought of visitation. The same issues still stand, that they wouldn't recognise him for who he used to be, the heavy guilt of holding children with his bloodied hands suffocating him like a collar attached to weights. He lies there, staring at the mottled ceiling, letting burning smoke accrue in his lungs as he counts backwards from seven before exhaling. ]
I'll think about it.
[ Which is as honest as it gets. He'd like to. That's different from wanting to. He'll definitely be thinking about it though. ]
Don't thank me. I'm not the one taking care of them right now.
[ Though he is the connection.
This comes with a small frown. Even though he just rested his head, he lifts it up to search Wolfwood's face and posture. ]
... We can visit and we can watch them from afar, if you want.
[ Vash tries for a small push. It's obvious from his expression that what he wants is for Wolfwood to be reunited with his family... Or at least to talk to Melanie. Tell her that he's doing okay.
[ He's not particularly tense but it's not like he's totally relaxed either. In a bit of a stalemate, caught between wants and shouldn'ts. ]
You comin' with?
[ He would've asked if Vash was gonna go revisit the colony separately but 'we' maybe implies that...? He can't imagine Vash is just going to ignore the ship if they bother to go back all the way over there, since it seemed like the colony is one of the few existences that the guy doesn't actively avoid. And he spoke to Luida, and saw the way Jessica looked at him -- they miss him too. ]
Of course I am! What's the other option? Let you go alone?
[ After Wolfwood left him, then died? Sure, this visit is not as grave, but he has little intention of letting Wolfwood visit the colony on his own. He could tell the last time they were there, Wolfwood was some unsettled.
Vash is going. ]
... They told me to visit more, no matter what happened at the end of it all.
[ Back to resting his forehead on the point of Wolfwood's shoulder. Prodigal son returns meme is him, but he doesn't spend lavishly. He just doesn't hold onto money.
[ He doesn't consider these the same, so. Surely they don't have to stick together like they're glued every step of the way, even if for this particular example, he was indeed hoping that Vash would say yes.
He lets Vash rest where he likes, smoking this cigarette down to the stub before he goes for another. It's also been a little weird having his unnatural body back, making him cognisant of the lack of restriction in his lungs after chainsmoking so hard in the UG. Back to being a vice that won't hurt him in the long run because his body will patch it up even if he doesn't want it to. ]
We can think about it then. Sometime. If we're nearby.
[ He trails his free hand idly, hooking fingers around Vash's waist. They don't have a direction to head now, purely wanderers. It makes him feel a little hollow, chained animal suddenly freed but having a hard time deciding how to step out. ]
If you want to go on your own, I don't mind waiting in a town nearby.
[ Vash doesn't intend to be joined at the hip to Wolfwood. They'll likely end up doing what they want more often enough, then convene for the night or halfway through the day.
The scent of familiar smoke comforts him despite his deteriorated health, lulling him until he feels a grasp around his waist. The touch makes him lean in closer, back arching forward. ]
Did you cross Livio yet? I haven't ran into the crybaby.
Hmmm. He would visit a lot and he knows how to get there.
[ Vash doesn't comment on how it's likely Livio visits Wolfwood's grave quite often... Doesn't mention he has some time to play with the orphans, how they gently asked him about Wolfwood, searching for answers to things they don't understand. He kept those secrets much like Wolfwood asked and wanted.
He'll keep these locked away, too. Wolfwood might see when they visit, anyway. For now, he lifts his head so he can nest his chin on Wolfwood's shoulder, peering at him. ]
[ It'd been a while since her last crash, urgency of getting to the Ark much more important. And then the better part of a year on said Ark. And then two months in the UG...
[ Vash drums his fingers against Wolfwood's chest in a rhythm, a pause between each chord. ]
Sounds like we might pay a visit soon.
[ He was never that partial to cars or bikes himself, but... He enjoyed being on the attachment seat. Not so much driving himself and some dread weighs on him when that may be part of his life again.
... It's worth Wolfwood's joy. ]
Having a ride makes things a little more convenient, anyway.
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He cups both cheeks and forces Wolfwood to tilt his head back up and look at him, now squishing his cheeks a little like you would good dogs. Except Wolfwood is not a good dog, he's a naughty dog. ]
Where was all this affection in the Underground, huh?
[ A laugh as he continues to squish him into chubby cheeks. ]
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Sorry that I don't feel like it in a shit place where people are out to kill each other.
[ When death is around the corner, it's hard to settle and be soft. He'll allow it here though.
He's seen their new world while he was traveling, the way the Earth ships are here, how bandits still roam. The planet is still dangerous, but at least it's perfectly human troubles.
No Knives, no end of the world in sight. He still means to ask what happened to his orphanage, where they went since Vash and Livio both said they're safe, but he'll play catchup later. He believes in both of their words that this is something that can wait a little.
Tries to pull away from Vash screwing with his cheeks, though he doesn't bother pulling off the rest of his body weight. ]
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This planet has its own culture. People who stay are too accustomed to it, but it's been a little better thanks to modified genshin technology. It's slow progress, though, but surely it's spreading. ]
You could have at least snuggled with me a bit more when we were sleeping.
[ The lowest bar, but he understands. As Wolfwood tries to pull away, he catches him again, but doesn't squish his cheeks. Instead he caresses, smoothing over his skin with calloused thumbs.
Slowly the ends of his lips stop curling, though curiosity colors his features. Wolfwood might think to catch up later, but Vash has his own questions. ]
... How did it happen? Did you suddenly wake up somewhere?
[ How did you come back? ]
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[ TOUCH WEEK AND ALL THAT. And also grappling with emotions and stuff on the side. Shit was rough. ]
Yeah, something like that. Came to in the sorta wrecks of someplace quiet.
[ Halfway to Carcasses, en route to the orphanage. A medium ground of the place he was last at on the Ark, and where his story theoretically ended in the world. Pretend he said a place. He lets his body weight comfortably sag between the hollows of Vash, dispersing some weight off of him to the mattress below so he can avoid allegations of crushing the other.
Would he mind if he reached over to grab one of his smokes. ]
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Locations don't matter here because the manga barely labels them and references where they are relative to everywhere else. ]
With your own Punisher...?
[ Vash scoots closer to the wall, trying to make space on the small bed for Wolfwood to lounge a little more comfortably.
No, he doesn't mind. Have as many smokes as you want. ]
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I had to go pick it up.
[ He leaves it vague enough because he imagines neither of them want to talk about it in detail anyway. ]
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At most, his fingers flex, curling into a loose fist as he lies beside him. ]
... You okay?
[ He's making sure—seeing your own grave can be a strange experience, possibly put you in a different headspace. Small, obvious worries and fussing. ]
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[ Like... it's weird enough, for sure, but he could be a lot worse about it. It's probably not something he wants to think that hard on, but he's here right now and that's what really matters. He already had the whole death reveal and talk W0 after all. Two months is a decent amount of time to come to terms with your own death that you then proceeded to sort of avoid, sort of not.
Like a bad dream. He's used to those. Exhaling smoke. He may as well ask now. ]
Where'd you take the kids?
[ Since it was at his old orphanage and all, now abandoned. ]
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Shifting a little bit closer, but now too close, he sets his forehead pressed against the point of Wolfwood's shoulder. ]
They're with the colony. [ Family meets family! ] Did you want to visit them?
[ As much and little visiting as Wolfwood wants. Vash also hasn't seen his family since the apocalypse. ]
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I'll think about it.
[ Which is as honest as it gets. He'd like to. That's different from wanting to. He'll definitely be thinking about it though. ]
...Thanks. For takin' care of 'em.
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[ Though he is the connection.
This comes with a small frown. Even though he just rested his head, he lifts it up to search Wolfwood's face and posture. ]
... We can visit and we can watch them from afar, if you want.
[ Vash tries for a small push. It's obvious from his expression that what he wants is for Wolfwood to be reunited with his family... Or at least to talk to Melanie. Tell her that he's doing okay.
One single gentle push. ]
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[ He's not particularly tense but it's not like he's totally relaxed either. In a bit of a stalemate, caught between wants and shouldn'ts. ]
You comin' with?
[ He would've asked if Vash was gonna go revisit the colony separately but 'we' maybe implies that...? He can't imagine Vash is just going to ignore the ship if they bother to go back all the way over there, since it seemed like the colony is one of the few existences that the guy doesn't actively avoid. And he spoke to Luida, and saw the way Jessica looked at him -- they miss him too. ]
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[ After Wolfwood left him, then died? Sure, this visit is not as grave, but he has little intention of letting Wolfwood visit the colony on his own. He could tell the last time they were there, Wolfwood was some unsettled.
Vash is going. ]
... They told me to visit more, no matter what happened at the end of it all.
[ Back to resting his forehead on the point of Wolfwood's shoulder. Prodigal son returns meme is him, but he doesn't spend lavishly. He just doesn't hold onto money.
Which simply leaves him with being a bad son. ]
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We're both adults, aren't we.
[ He doesn't consider these the same, so. Surely they don't have to stick together like they're glued every step of the way, even if for this particular example, he was indeed hoping that Vash would say yes.
He lets Vash rest where he likes, smoking this cigarette down to the stub before he goes for another. It's also been a little weird having his unnatural body back, making him cognisant of the lack of restriction in his lungs after chainsmoking so hard in the UG. Back to being a vice that won't hurt him in the long run because his body will patch it up even if he doesn't want it to. ]
We can think about it then. Sometime. If we're nearby.
[ He trails his free hand idly, hooking fingers around Vash's waist. They don't have a direction to head now, purely wanderers. It makes him feel a little hollow, chained animal suddenly freed but having a hard time deciding how to step out. ]
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If you want to go on your own, I don't mind waiting in a town nearby.
[ Vash doesn't intend to be joined at the hip to Wolfwood. They'll likely end up doing what they want more often enough, then convene for the night or halfway through the day.
The scent of familiar smoke comforts him despite his deteriorated health, lulling him until he feels a grasp around his waist. The touch makes him lean in closer, back arching forward. ]
Did you cross Livio yet? I haven't ran into the crybaby.
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Nah. You can be there.
[ He might rather that, though he'd prefer to talk to Melanie privately probably. It'd help. ]
And I think the kids would like you.
[ He idly kneads his fingers lightly into Vash's side, over the cloth. ]
I haven't, figured he'd be doin' something like workin' odd jobs somewhere too. Or maybe I'll see him at the orphanage.
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[ Vash doesn't comment on how it's likely Livio visits Wolfwood's grave quite often... Doesn't mention he has some time to play with the orphans, how they gently asked him about Wolfwood, searching for answers to things they don't understand. He kept those secrets much like Wolfwood asked and wanted.
He'll keep these locked away, too. Wolfwood might see when they visit, anyway. For now, he lifts his head so he can nest his chin on Wolfwood's shoulder, peering at him. ]
You know what else is at the colony right now?
[ Guess time! ]
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Surprise me. What is it?
[ As long as the surprise isn't Knives. ]
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[ HEHE!! ]
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[ HIS BABY!! Wait. ]
What's her condition...?
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[ Won't know until they stop by, but that's exciting, isn't it? ]
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He will believe Vash about this even if Brad is meh to him. If Marlon can fix the Punisher though, and Brad is a studier under Marlon, he can hope...
BUT... TOTALED... ]
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She'll be fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine.
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...
I miss takin' her out to ride.
[ It'd been a while since her last crash, urgency of getting to the Ark much more important. And then the better part of a year on said Ark. And then two months in the UG...
Joyride... ]
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Sounds like we might pay a visit soon.
[ He was never that partial to cars or bikes himself, but... He enjoyed being on the attachment seat. Not so much driving himself and some dread weighs on him when that may be part of his life again.
... It's worth Wolfwood's joy. ]
Having a ride makes things a little more convenient, anyway.
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