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sticksandbones2024-05-03 12:02 pm
oleaeuropaea) wrote in sticksandbones2024-05-03 12:02 pm
Relent or Resist
Who: Vash the Stampede and YOU
What: Something strange is happening to Vash
When: Mid April to Mid May
Where: Throughout the grove
Warnings: Transformation horror/trauma. Finger/nail trauma in prompt 2, please be mindful!
[It starts as aches in his joints. To him, it feels not unlike the growing pains in his early years. Aging rapidly over the course of several years was, in a word, painful. It leaves him wondering if this is just another phase of that plan. The only other Independent he knew, aside from his brother, had met an untimely end. Anything else he knew had come from strictly lived experience. Grappling with the strange bumps and curves along the way had just become second nature.
Hence why, at first, he thinks nothing of it.
For his loved ones, the changes likely aren’t noticeable at first. His ankles have always shown a little in his pants, after all — though now he’s coming scandalously close to showing a little calf. He’s also always looked lanky, even if it’s not quite the case. So if his waist seems just that little bit narrower, who’s to say? Plus, he’s always changing out outfits now. The boots he’s wearing probably just gave him that extra few centimeters.
For others, ones that don’t see him every single day, the changes might be more obvious. He looks taller, more willowy. And as he bends over in the middle of town to rub at an aching knee, you might just catch the way his ears have grown just the faintest bit pointier.
Of course, if caught staring, Vash might just wave with a bright smile. Did his teeth always look so sharp?]
Is something wrong? Have I got something on my face?
ii. You're the War that I Wage — End of April, CW: FINGER/NAIL TRAUMA
[Vash is sitting in the Inn, eating breakfast when there’s a tink upon the table. There’s no warning, nor is there any pain. When he looks down, blood drips gradually onto the table, circling where the nail of his middle finger has fallen off.]
Uh - that’s new. [He laughs, a fluttering noise that sounds only a little nervous at the edges. He stands quickly, aiming for the paper towels. The less mess he makes in a public area, the better, right?
Unfortunately, by the time he reaches them, the ring and index fingers have suffered similar injuries. It leaves him a hell of a sight, right hand now streaked with blood, as he tries to frantically wrap his hand and clean up the mess.]
Bad time for the doctor to be gone! Way to go, body!
iii. Can you change me? — Beginning of May
[By the time the middle of the month rolls around, Vash looks altogether different. The height has become more obvious. The nails on his hand have been replaced with sharp claws. And yet somehow, someway, Vash just keeps smiling. Those that know him know just how false the grin is — it’s too wide, showing off sharpened teeth — and it never reaches those now alien looking eyes.
The changes aren’t just physical, either. With the shifts in his vision, the world has begun to look a lot different. It leaves him stumbling into doorways, or tripping over otherwise obvious objects. Every time, he’ll look up with a sheepish smile and wave off any concerns, even as he sits with his face in the grass or wipes away the blood from a busted nose.]
Oh, don’t go worryin’ about me! It’s all okay.
[He’ll probably try to walk away after that. And then promptly trip again.]
iv. From the Monster You’ve Made Me — Mid May
[Despite doing his best to bluster through whatever changes have begun to consume him, there comes a point where he simply can’t do so any longer. Namely, it happens one day when he’s working on Ourania’s statue. He strips off his jacket, aiming to lay it carefully over the Moon Goddess’s lap. Unfortunately, with his altered depth perception, he’s been dropping things more often than not lately, and it winds up splayed out against the ground.
No matter. It’s simple enough to bend down and pick it up, right?
Unfortunately, as he does so, a horrific tearing sensation rips itself along not one, but both shoulderblades. The bulge of fabric will become immediately obvious as something begins to wrench itself out from beneath his skin. And taken by surprise as he is, Vash can only scream as the pain erupts through him.
He collapses in that instant, crumbling to his knees as the waves of pain radiate through him. With each agonizing inch, fresh nerves seem to tear and come alight. He tries to reach back and rip at whatever seems to be attacking him, because surely that’s what it is, but to no avail.
He’ll have to wallow in the dirt on his face until someone comes to help, it would seem.]
What: Something strange is happening to Vash
When: Mid April to Mid May
Where: Throughout the grove
Warnings: Transformation horror/trauma. Finger/nail trauma in prompt 2, please be mindful!
[It starts as aches in his joints. To him, it feels not unlike the growing pains in his early years. Aging rapidly over the course of several years was, in a word, painful. It leaves him wondering if this is just another phase of that plan. The only other Independent he knew, aside from his brother, had met an untimely end. Anything else he knew had come from strictly lived experience. Grappling with the strange bumps and curves along the way had just become second nature.
Hence why, at first, he thinks nothing of it.
For his loved ones, the changes likely aren’t noticeable at first. His ankles have always shown a little in his pants, after all — though now he’s coming scandalously close to showing a little calf. He’s also always looked lanky, even if it’s not quite the case. So if his waist seems just that little bit narrower, who’s to say? Plus, he’s always changing out outfits now. The boots he’s wearing probably just gave him that extra few centimeters.
For others, ones that don’t see him every single day, the changes might be more obvious. He looks taller, more willowy. And as he bends over in the middle of town to rub at an aching knee, you might just catch the way his ears have grown just the faintest bit pointier.
Of course, if caught staring, Vash might just wave with a bright smile. Did his teeth always look so sharp?]
Is something wrong? Have I got something on my face?
ii. You're the War that I Wage — End of April, CW: FINGER/NAIL TRAUMA
[Vash is sitting in the Inn, eating breakfast when there’s a tink upon the table. There’s no warning, nor is there any pain. When he looks down, blood drips gradually onto the table, circling where the nail of his middle finger has fallen off.]
Uh - that’s new. [He laughs, a fluttering noise that sounds only a little nervous at the edges. He stands quickly, aiming for the paper towels. The less mess he makes in a public area, the better, right?
Unfortunately, by the time he reaches them, the ring and index fingers have suffered similar injuries. It leaves him a hell of a sight, right hand now streaked with blood, as he tries to frantically wrap his hand and clean up the mess.]
Bad time for the doctor to be gone! Way to go, body!
iii. Can you change me? — Beginning of May
[By the time the middle of the month rolls around, Vash looks altogether different. The height has become more obvious. The nails on his hand have been replaced with sharp claws. And yet somehow, someway, Vash just keeps smiling. Those that know him know just how false the grin is — it’s too wide, showing off sharpened teeth — and it never reaches those now alien looking eyes.
The changes aren’t just physical, either. With the shifts in his vision, the world has begun to look a lot different. It leaves him stumbling into doorways, or tripping over otherwise obvious objects. Every time, he’ll look up with a sheepish smile and wave off any concerns, even as he sits with his face in the grass or wipes away the blood from a busted nose.]
Oh, don’t go worryin’ about me! It’s all okay.
[He’ll probably try to walk away after that. And then promptly trip again.]
iv. From the Monster You’ve Made Me — Mid May
[Despite doing his best to bluster through whatever changes have begun to consume him, there comes a point where he simply can’t do so any longer. Namely, it happens one day when he’s working on Ourania’s statue. He strips off his jacket, aiming to lay it carefully over the Moon Goddess’s lap. Unfortunately, with his altered depth perception, he’s been dropping things more often than not lately, and it winds up splayed out against the ground.
No matter. It’s simple enough to bend down and pick it up, right?
Unfortunately, as he does so, a horrific tearing sensation rips itself along not one, but both shoulderblades. The bulge of fabric will become immediately obvious as something begins to wrench itself out from beneath his skin. And taken by surprise as he is, Vash can only scream as the pain erupts through him.
He collapses in that instant, crumbling to his knees as the waves of pain radiate through him. With each agonizing inch, fresh nerves seem to tear and come alight. He tries to reach back and rip at whatever seems to be attacking him, because surely that’s what it is, but to no avail.
He’ll have to wallow in the dirt on his face until someone comes to help, it would seem.]
no subject
[ He sounds thoughtful about the idea, raising a hand to his own cheek to tap a finger there in thought. Vash's spirits are raising, and honestly... it makes Vanilla happier than it should be. He loves seeing Vash happy. There's a sweetness that rolls off the other when he's happy, that wasn't there moments before.
It warms him, it makes him want to coax it out further.
And maybe. Just maybe. Vash makes him feel younger himself when the other is happy. ]
... Do I? Why, I don't seem to recall anything particular of importance I was doing...
no subject
Of course, a few small reminders still work their way up. Namely the soft, if slightly amused way he points out their current situation.]
There's quite a bit of blood on the ground. And I should probably wash my hands up and get them bandaged at the clinic while I'm at it, don't you think?
[He doesn't sound entirely convinced. He knows it's what should be done, yes. But the comfort there is hard to pull back from.]
no subject
Or what else might become corrupted in the meantime.
Shoving that thought aside, he offers a sweet smile. ]
Divide and conquer? Why don't you head for the clinic, and I shall finish cleaning up here.
[ And to keep the mood light, his smiling turning playful: ]
Or, should you be keen on more hugs, my friend, we can work together and head over to the clinic together. I do warn you, however, the latter option might take longer.
no subject
[He's already well acquainted with the place, but good lord is that going to get worse over the next few days.]
Not that I wouldn't mind more hugs. Just... oughta let you focus and start working on myself.
[There's an awkward laugh, fingers fussing with one another. He winces as some of the skin pulls at the newly raw area. He makes a point of stopping rather quickly, ideally before Pure Vanilla really picks up on it.]
I do owe you for getting all this cleaned up. Promise, I'll figure out something good. Like more pizza, or something.
no subject
[ He reaches out and smooths his hand over Vash's hair again, once more sweeping aside those bangs, expression tender. ]
Go. If you need me, you know where to find me. I will be here a while yet. If you are still hungry, I will bring you food as well.
[ Though he understands that uh... his appetite might be long gone by now, all things considering. He plants a kiss on his forehead. ]