oleaeuropaea: (Default)
oleaeuropaea ([personal profile] oleaeuropaea) wrote in [community profile] sticksandbones2024-03-23 02:24 pm

Back Up The Stairs Again

Who: The April Fool Himself, Vash the STampede
What: Vash returns to the Grove
When: Early, early morning, April 1st.
Where: Around the Grove
Warnings: Sibling death, Vash related Vashing, gradual mentions of corruption. Brief mentions of eye changes possibly verging on eye horror?

i. Running in Shoes that ShineOutside the Church, OTA

[When Vash emerges from the woods, it’s well past midnight. Most anyone in the grove would likely be asleep, and he wouldn’t blame them for it. In fact, he’s counting on it. The last thing he wants is to be disturbed like this. He has a task to complete, and the last thing he wants is to field questions.

Nai’s body is laid down beside the grave that holds Wolfwood. He doesn’t yet process that space has collapsed in on itself, too focused on making sure his brother is properly secured. His jacket is removed, and set to the side. The knife tendrils are laid out like wings behind him. It almost looks like he’s sleeping in the moonlight. Almost.

The conversation he has with Heimr is quick. Just a shovel, please don’t ask any questions. He’s sure the shopkeeper knows he’s been gone for weeks. He doesn’t want to hear any of it. He takes the shovel and trudges back to the church.

Digging the grave takes ages. It’s slowed by the wounds still clinging to Vash’s body. The newer ones, ones that cropped up when he strayed too far from the path in his exhaustion, tear themselves open anew. His already torn thermal becomes wet with blood and sweat. But still he digs.

By the time the sun rises, Nai has been placed into the dirt and covered up anew. Vash stares down at his work with an unreadable expression. He still wears Wolfwood’s glasses. He refuses to take them off. It means his vision is darkened to an almost crippling degree. If someone approached, he wouldn’t know it.]


ii. With Blood that isn't Mine Inside the Church, Closed to [personal profile] livlaughlove and [personal profile] lupusxylem

[At some point, Vash shakes off whoever has approached him. He enters the church, movements stiff, pained, and robotic. He kneels before the cross, his head bowed low. He’s never believed in this particular god. In a lot of ways, it feels wrong to kneel and pray to Him, when he’s already cast his faith behind a different divine. But Nick did believe, as far as Vash knew, and Nai had at least seemed interested in the teachings of this faith. And so to this God he prays.

Forgive them. Let them rest peacefully. Let them find comfort.

It’s short, all things considered. He doesn’t want to linger here overlong, not after everything that’s happened. Not when he still isn’t ready for questions. But when he tries to rise, he finds his legs locking up on him. All at once, his body feels weak. Instead of standing, he collapses against the cold ground. He stares up at the cross, wondering if this is spite somehow.

And then his vision darkens.]



iii. A Stinging Trophy Around the Grove

[A few days and reunions later, Vash at least seems capable of walking around the grove on his own. Wolfwood’s glasses have been replaced with his own. These aren’t quite as capable of hiding the changes that the darker lenses might have. His eyes have shifted, almost as if the sky blue hue of his iris had begun to bleed into the sclera. The faint, pastel blue hint might even be imperceptible at first glance.

If you’re caught staring, Vash will simply look away, waving anyone off with a half-smile.]


It’s nothing. Just picked up a little something while I was lost in the woods. It’ll fade, I’m sure.

iv. Of the Battles I've SurvivedWildcard

[Vash is going to be throwing himself back into the Grove like nothing happened. Feel free to encounter him anywhere around the town. Or, reach out to me and we can plot something out!]

v. SUPER SECRET BONUS PROMPT

[A few days after his arrival and subsequent chat on the Netbook, something new appears in the grove. Where once Beiwe's statue stood alone, now a second statue joins her. Which means over the next few days, Vash can be found trying to make sure she's well-cared for in her new home. He brings a cutting from his Geranium, still growing strong, and tries to get it to root within the dirt there. A few other flowers are gathered for her as well.

Anyone on the Netbooks will find a short note in their pages. "Ourania is home. Please come say hi!"

More importantly, he can be found sitting in front of her every evening, just as the moon reaches its highest point within the sky. He isn't sure if he's praying so much as he is just talking, but Vash can be heard speaking to her all the same. It's usually casual conversation, but there's plenty of praise being heaped on as well.

He's new to this! Don't judge him!]


livlaughlove: and that i'm not there (226)

[personal profile] livlaughlove 2024-03-28 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
[it isn't that liv is avoiding wolfwood's gaze, necessarily, just that he's growing more confused by the second, and staring helplessly back at him. and then at vash, for good measure.

a proper place.]


"With us?" What -- what're you sayin'? [congrats, y'all broke his brain.]
lupusxylem: (3)

[personal profile] lupusxylem 2024-03-28 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Granted...this is something he should have talked with Vash about a little more seriously before just saying it aloud just now. Wolfwood phrased it in a way that meant more like "you don't have to leave" while leaving the particulars open ended. So.

Having Vash bookend that with "Heimr can get you a place" sort of underscores that they were, in fact, on the same page.]


We're sayin' that you ain't goin back to the inn.

[...]

Not unless you want to, anyway.
livlaughlove: my own paratrooper (060)

[personal profile] livlaughlove 2024-03-28 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
[well, it's about time that it's livio's turn to tear up. the idea of removing himself when vash came home was a no-brainer to liv from the start... but to hear that vash wants him around as much as nick... well. he has to fight back the urge to cry. somebody's got to get these boys home safe, after all. can't do that all blurry-visioned.]

Y-yeah. If that's what you two want. [maybe he does choke up, just for a moment.] Shit. I don't wanna leave her either. That's a good girl y'all got. [of course, it isn't just about the dog, judging by the way he squeezes them both ever so slightly in their makeshift hug.]
lupusxylem: (62)

[personal profile] lupusxylem 2024-03-28 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
[Wolfwood huffs under his breath, wishing he could just stay enveloped in their arms for much longer. But leaning forward while still sitting in his chair is a bit difficult, and he doesn't want to keep them both trapped if they're feeling similarly.

...he will, however, stop long enough to give them both a kiss where he's able to reach, which ends up being Vash's temple and Livio's cheek.]


Hell yeah it is.

[Wolfwood looks back over at Vash now, pulling back one of his hands to quickly scrub at his eyes with the heel of his palm before the two of them notice he's been teared up this entire time.]

Is Add makin' you stay longer? Or can you come home?
livlaughlove: my salvation (045)

[personal profile] livlaughlove 2024-03-29 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
[livio is inclined to agree, as he straightens up.]

Not a bad idea, all told. I -- appreciate what he's done to help, but, uh... [he feels like he maybe shouldn't say this to wolfwood, for fear of him trying to rip add a new one, but...] ... he's real fond of needles, and not fond of askin' permission.
lupusxylem: (24)

[personal profile] lupusxylem 2024-03-29 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
[Luckily for Livio, Wolfwood is assuming he's talking about when Add needled him right before he died, so as long as he doesn't mention Add trying to steal his blood...

He does huff though, rolling his eyes as he draws back a little from the edge of the bed.]


Yeah. With varying results.

[Or no results at all. He's still not even sure what it was Add injected into him, back then. It seemed to delay the inevitable, but even still...]

Let's get outta here, then. I'm sick and tired of bein' in this clinic.
succiduous: (122 @anniao4)

[personal profile] succiduous 2024-03-29 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[It is indeed essentially a Kjeragi "amen", yes.]

...I've lost people before, so I understand. Kjeragi prayers are wordy, but I still didn't feel your brother deserved something short and sweet. [He shakes his head. Kjeragandr isn't even here, yet Gnosis has to hope that it reached something pure-hearted anyway. If not her, maybe one of the other Gods.] I wouldn't send off the relative of a friend so rudely besides.
livlaughlove: now there's only me (144)

[personal profile] livlaughlove 2024-03-29 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
If it's alright with Nick, I got it, no problem.

[the river is an issue they can cross when they get to it. literally.]
lupusxylem: (73)

[personal profile] lupusxylem 2024-03-29 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
...tch. Yeah, yeah. S'fine.

[He can't exactly make room for Vash in his chair, but...Vash can sit across his lap, bridal style. Assuming the seat in question won't be bothersome.]
succiduous: (082)

[personal profile] succiduous 2024-04-08 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
It isn't about me. Not now, anyhow. You're older than me, so I don't believe I need to preach to you about how age comes with loss.

[He leans against the wall of the church, sticking around while Vash works. He'd help, but it's often better to let direct family members handle their own business. That's his belief, anyhow. Still, it doesn't mean he can't be around to at least listen.]

Forgive me for prying... I don't know if you're the sort who wants to fester in his sadness or focus on the joyful times. But, if you have any happy stories you want to share with me, I'll be here to listen.

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