ext_245362 (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
mildlyreckless.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
tampered2007-09-09 02:45 am
mildlyreckless.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2007-09-09 02:45 am
Log; complete
When; September 9th, evening
Rating; PG for mild language.
Characters; Meryl (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
inyourbusiness) and Vash (mildlyreckless)
Summary; Vash goes to pick up Meryl after her arrival in the City. Bitching and lulz are had.
Log;
She'd only just barely read what was given to her by Vash and the other before that sinking feeling from her initial arrival returned. Deities, curses, a city that abducts people from their homes and throws them into it? It was just too much. She'd put on a strong face for Vash when he got there, but in the meantime, she had loped her way to the fountain's side (having been only near it at the time) and slowly sat down on the ground by it. She wasn't touching that thing, from her skim over that second guide.
Head in her hands, Meryl kind of wished Milly was around. It was relatively a good thing that Vash was there, of course [read: fantastic], but that was going to resort in a slapfight of epic proportions. She was still convinced he caused this, somehow, after all. "...he better get here soon," she grunted aloud. Switching gears to mentally snarking the gunman, Meryl hoped to take her mind off the thoughts that were making her feel so queasy. He'd never let her live it down if she lost her stomach over something so silly as nerves!
~*~
Vash had hardly sent his last message to Meryl before he was out the apartment door, calling a promise over his shoulder to L that he'd be back soon. He really hadn't been this excited in a while, and the past week had managed to become hell (topped off by worry and grief caused by Wolfwood's disappearance), so seeing the familiar short girl post on the Network acted as quite the emotional pick-up.
He was practically darting down the street towards the fountain and didn't bother to try and hide any of his enthusiasm as he bounded up to the welcome sight of Meryl sitting by the fountain.
"Meryl!" he cheered happily, wondering if she would punch him if he hugged her. "There you are!"
~*~
Meryl's eyes lit up for a split moment in hearing that cheerful, familiar voice that she'd been searching for back home for so long. It was enough to get her straightening and that worked better than any of the snarking in her mind that she had started to ramble off before he arrived. However, that was quick to change as she caught herself, and the small woman scrambled to her feet and placed her hands on her hips.
She tried to act crass, though her eyes were still smiling. He looked so different with that hair of his--solid black, which was something that worried her based on the things she learned back home--but he was still happy and... "Well, it's certainly about time you got here!" She closed her eyes; goddamn things were betraying her, and she added a swinging finger in the air for emphasis. "I was just about ready to leave!"
~*~
Vash cocked an eyebrow at her. "Oh, really?" he said with a grin. "And where would you go, exactly? Wander around the City until you figured out where I lived so you could come yell at me for not coming to find you?"
She'd probably do it, too, knowing her... Twelve apartment buildings to search or not.
~*~
Meryl snorted and tossed her head to the side. Damn him. That would be something she would do, too. He was just lucky she liked him on some remote level, because that right there was why Meryl Stryfe didn't have many friends. Nothing like someone knowing exactly what you would do in a given situation.
"Well, I guess I'm at your mercy, then." She returned her eyes to fixing on him, and gesturing at him with both hands, as if to say she was pushing control over to him. "Where to first, Localized Disaster Man?"
~*~
"I can get you some ice cream at the café if you like!" Vash said brightly. "It's really nice! It's called Café Juliet and you can get all kinds of neat stuff there like fancy coffee and cake and sandwiches..."
As he rambled, Vash began to walk, motioning for Meryl to follow him. Suddenly it occurred to him that he really should tell her about some of the things that were directly relevant to her in terms of who was in the City... He trailed off and frowned a little for the briefest of moments before smiling back down at Meryl brightly.
"Guess I should also tell you about who's here and stuff, huh?"
~*~
Meryl didn't catch the frown, though she did catch the trail off. However, by the time she'd gotten to his side and got a look at his face, he was already smiling at her as much as before. She folded her arms over her chest and replied, "Ice cream would be lovely, thank you. However, an update would be most welcome."
The way he said it, though, caused her to pause and click her tongue. "How many are here? That is, who I know?" She recognized two. Could more be around?
~*~
Vash looked at the path ahead of them thoughtfully and considered his next answer carefully. There really wasn't an easy way of telling her, and she should know before she found out from someone else or from the parties themselves...
"...Knives and Legato are both here," he said evenly.
~*~
And that's when Meryl just... stopped. Right there, dead in her place. It took a moment to process it all. Not having any idea about some of the events that followed between her own side of the story and Vash's, Meryl just... She had to remind herself to breathe, her hands dropping to her sides to ball together. Knives and Legato...
"I... see." There wasn't even a loud, incredulous shout to be had at that point. That made four on the other side that were present. She could only hope the blood didn't drain from her face (which was why she made a deliberate point to breathe and rectify it quickly if it had). "You seem so calm about it," Meryl replied after making sure she could match his even tone. She was not going to overreact. Vash didn't seem worried, so should she articulate her own worries?
~*~
Vash stopped and turned to smiled at her, a little sadder this time.
"Knives and I have a sort of truce," he explained. "We have our difficulties, but... If you stay clear of him, you won't have to worry about them, okay? Not so long as I'm around."
He started walking again, slower this time. "My little sister Tessla is here as well. And my...mother, Rem." Vash paused. "Milly and Livio were here for a while, but they left. ...Same with Wolfwood."
~*~
The sick feeling returned. Meryl told herself to trust him, because he always did make good on his word, didn't he? Even if... Milly. Wolfwood.
Meryl went with the first reaction to the first name of the two, and hauled off and slammed the heel of her palm in his hand. "Milly was here, and you didn't tell me before?! Hmph, and here I thought you were being good about this!" The light-heartedness was an attempt for both of them, really. Arms wrapped around her stomach, Meryl's eyes dropped to the ground. "Well, it's nice to know you've had a whole army looking out for you. What happened? Did you annoy the preacher that bad?" He was dead, how could he be there? Meryl was beside herself, but how would she ask that? She knew Vash felt him a best friend.
~*~
"Hey, hey, it's a little early for violence!" Vash protested. "You only just got here! And I only didn't tell you because, well, I didn't want you to be disappointed or anything!"
He winced a little at the inquiry about Wolfwood, but it wasn't really that bad coming from Meryl...
"I guess so," he said sheepishly. "...And dead people get pulled here a lot. I mean... Just in case you were wondering what he was doing here and stuff..."
~*~
Meryl drew silent from his explanation, a hand taking to rubbing at the back of her neck. Vash just never caught a break, did he? Ever. Anywhere he went, it seemed. Even back home, after everything he'd done, there were still people hunting for him (a ghost hunt, it seemed now). And now his friends were coming back from the dead, only to disappear on him.
"Well," she finally said, as she squared off at the shoulders. "When he gets back from wherever he went to, I'll just have to give him a piece of my mind!" Positive thoughts, right? "He should have at least stuck around long enough to say 'hello'." It was such a raw attempt at lightening the mood. She could only hope Vash would see it that way.
~*~
Vash grinned at her. "Maybe he left because he knew you were coming~" he teased. "He always did think you were pushy!"
He was surprised at how nice it was having Meryl around. She'd only been with him for a few minutes and he was already feeling better about things. He considered hugging her again, or at least patting her shoulder, but there were still too many negative associations that came with reaching out to touch her. He hadn't forgotten how she'd recoiled back when...
"I'd bet you anything they'll come back, though," he said easily, pushing the too-much-thinking from his mind. "Things to do and all that, you know."
~*~
"I am not pushy!" Meryl declared, furrowing her brow. "And you had better not make any allusion about that again!" Oh, irony.
He took the joke though, as a lead in, and she was appreciative about it. It was making her stomach calm as well, and she allowed an amused grin to slip on her face as she tromped beside him, trying to take in what was around them the best they could. "I'm sure they will. They're all very dependable, after all. Even the priest." Although Meryl was unsure, and actually thinking very pessimistically about them returning, she'd put on the front for him. As irritating as she swore he was... he didn't deserve her downing him at that point. "How long have you been here, Vash?"
~*~
"Getting close to six months," Vash replied, opening the café door for her. "Wolfwood's been here with me the entire time up until yesterday. I left for a few days once and went home, and though it was only two days here, it was ten months back home. And I went back to the exact moment I'd left, even though I was here almost four months!"
Vash's mind automatically began to sift through what had happened over the months. Notably dying and being brought back to life and sleeping with his best friend. He wondered how much information was too much at once... Then his brain clicked to the pleasant things someone from a desert planet could experience for the first time here.
"And guess what! They have an ocean here! You can go swimming! Wolfwood and I went a lot together!"
~*~
Meryl's eye twitched at the time explanation he gave. Not at any fault of his, of course. Just because... it was all so confusing. She had just barely broken into the sciences that were offered following that war against Knives, so if there was some sort of scientific formula involved, or some mathematic equasion, it was well beyond her and it made her head hurt trying to guess.
She stepped through the door carefully, nodding to Vash in thanks as she stepped in. It was a nice place, well beyond anything back home, and she was about to comment when Vash mentioned an ocean. She whirled around to him, her eyes wide. "An... ocean?" She'd only read about them in old books. "Are you serious?" She should have gauged that from the plant life she saw, she chastized herself. "Like... a real ocean? Or just something like a lake or the like?" Even a lake would have been amazing, though.
~*~
"A real ocean," Vash said warmly, following her into the café. "It goes all the way around the City. And there is a lake too! And hot springs! And a huge garden with a zoo! It's amazing here! I can show you around a little tomorrow, if you like!"
It would be good to get out... Do something pleasant and normal... Though he'd probably be bringing L along with them. ...L. Right. Bodyguard job. Right. Ah, well.
"It's really confusing here sometimes, but I really do like it. There are lots of good people and fascinating places to visit... When there's not a curse going on, it's really nice!" He suddenly paused. "Ah, you read about the curses, right?"
~*~
To lie or not to lie? She skimmed it? That counted as reading, right? Well, Meryl never claimed to be good with reading assignments. "I--" Sigh. She clicked her tongue. "I skimmed it. I was too busy--" trying not to throw up "--trying to make sure no one was going to mug me or something."
Her attention went to searching around the cafe for a menu to glance at. "Besides, can curses--aside from knowing you, that is--even be real?" Meryl made sure to throw the smallest side-grin at him to assure the bite was in jest.
~*~
"Well, I can't blame you for that, I suppose," Vash mused. Then made a face at her jab, handing her a menu. "First of all, har har. Second of all, yes they can, and they are. They generally last exactly twenty-four hours, from midnight to midnight, but a few of them go on for a few days. Like today's, for example. It's been going on since yesterday. People are thinking of inanimate objects as children. There are all sorts of curses, really... Some are funny, some are weird, and others are pretty horrible... But they never last forever."
Vash reflected on the recent curse that had turned him and Wolfwood into kids and grinned slightly.
"Some make for really good blackmail material. Just so you know."
~*~
Meryl listened to him, her eyes on the menu in her hands, though she wasn't exactly reading it. She'd have to make it a point to study what was offered to her by more than just Vash. She really would, because it was just sounding...
"Deities. Curses. People being pulled here regardless of if they're dead or alive." The brunette spoke idly, as though thinking aloud. One finger teased a slightly bent edge of the menu. "Sounds like some really screwed up version of purgatory. Come to the City, where you'll strive for redemption you'll never actually achieve." That's exactly what it sounded like, considering all who had ended up there.
Blinking to snap herself out of it, Meryl flipped the menu around quickly to study its backside, because she went weird and realized it. "I'm not sure if I want vanilla and marshmallow if that was something you tasted like, four your information."
~*~
Vash snorted. "At least the food's better here than I think it would be in purgatory?"
He blinked and stared at her in response to her last remark before remembering what he had told her earlier on the Network about the ice cream flavor curse. "Oh! With the-- Right! Yeah, well, to each their own."
It hadn't really occurred to Vash how talking about that curse out of context could sound so wrong... Honestly.
"You can get whatever you like. Believe it or not, I'm holding down a job that pays pretty well, so I actually have enough cash to spare for treats and stuff."
He was mildly surprised by how comfortable this was. He'd never stopped to think about it before, but he and Meryl had never really sat down alone together to do anything that didn't involve a lecture and lots of whining.
~*~
Meryl stopped.
And stared.
Before reaching to her chest with both hands and dragging in a staggered breath as her eyes grew wide, as though she had witnessed a horrible, horrifying scene play before her. The act was rather convincing, in fast, until she stammered out, "V-Vash the Stampede--has a real job? That he's being paid for? That he hasn't quit or been almost assassinated, causing him to be without a job again? I do declare and bestill my heart, I think Hell has frozen over and forgot to post notice!"
~*~
Vash began to panic when Meryl suddenly had her fake shock, but his eyes quickly narrowed as she spoke.
"You know, I've held down jobs before!" Before he blew up July and became too infamous to hold one that didn't involve something ridiculous... "I don't see why it's such a shock! Believe it or not, I can be responsible!"
He was ignoring the fact that he was supposed to be in his apartment 'working' that very moment... Meryl didn't need to know that.
~*~
"You can?" She seemed so interested, like it was a newsflash across the Satellite or something. She leant towards him, eyes still wide and studying his face. "I don't see how this can be... You look like the same Vash. Granted, it seems like there was a bit of an argument over a pen--" Jab, jab, that time at his hair color, all in jest, and it made it easier for her to look at his black hair, anyway. She only caught the basic concept of that, and out of her not fully comprehending, it was rather frightening. "--but otherwise, you look like the same Vash the Stampede."
Quirking an eyebrow, and keeping with the act, she pointed a finger accusingly at him. "Did someone infect you with a brainworm?"
~*~
"You don't like it?" Vash said sweetly, pointedly ignoring her attempts to bait him and touching at his hair. "I guess I got sort of tired of being called the 'blond typhoon' and wanted something a little different."
He wondered how much she knew about what his hair color meant. How much she'd seen of him when he was bleeding from everywhere as his body tried to keep up with all that crap he'd had to do to keep Knives and Legato at bay that one last time back home.
~*~
Meryl's response was to simply close her eyes and tut at him. "I think it looks silly. Those fair eyes and that dark hair? Besides, you notice how you can't hold a tan? I remain entirely unconvinced of that hair color."
And back to the menu she went. She wasn't going to ask for the real details, not some textbook summary given to her by scientists. What did they know that Vash or Knives wouldn't, after all? But she wasn't going to ask. Vash was there, Vash was alright, and Vash was still smiling. That's all that mattered. "Considering I'm not nearly the bum you are, I'll only ask for ice cream as was offered and no more. You can pay me back for the fact that my being here is entirely your fault at a later day." Sadly, Meryl wasn't entirely convinced that this wasn't his fault, just yet.
~*~
Vash pouted. "Maybe you just need some time to get used to it."
He made an offended choking sound at her parting shot.
"It's not my fault! Geez, reporter girl, if I were able to bring you here at will, I would've brought you months ago just for entertainment purposes!"
He contemplated for a while and then added "Heck, if I could bring people here, I'd probably bring someone who wouldn't start badmouthing me to people on the Network five minutes after they arrived..." Which wasn't many people, he had to admit...
~*~
"Well, that's what you get when you do things you know I don't like." It was because of him that she was going to have half the city familiar with her, she feared, and then she'd have to hurt him. "Unlike you, I don't need everyone paying attention to me. The occassional interaction is just fine, but I'm not so silly as to think everyone out there means well."
That's what got you looking the way you do, she thought to herself, albeit the comment was at Vash. She would never forget seeing all those horrible wounds on his body from years long passed, because the man never fought back if he didn't have to. Meryl found herself thinking on a number of occassions that humans... well, they just didn't deserve someone like that. Plopping the menu down blindly, she regarded Vash carefully. "I really should make money off of your comical woes for this. And for being AWOL like you were!"
~*~
Vash blinked at her and a sly smile slowly crept its way onto his face. There was a good possibility he might get slapped for what he was about to say, but it was worth the risk.
"Why, Meryl," he said with false surprise, "Were you actually looking for me? Did you miss me?"
~*~
Meryl's jaw nearly hit the floor, and she was cursing herself a blue streak because she had slipped, and that was entirely her fault... but damn him for exploiting that! She would have totally slapped him, if she could have reached from where she was. Damn... being short!
"Yes! Yes, I was!" And out the finger went at to point at him. "Do you know how big a newsbreak it'd be to find Vash the Stampede and follow him around?! Even just the possibility lingering of potentially finding you kept my ratings up!" Not to mention the fact that, oh, Meryl was legitimately worried for him. That she was worried that he failed his promise, and desperately wanted to make sure the rumors were true. To say nothing about that at all. "You should feel priviledged!"
~*~
Vash laughed. For the first time in several days, he really laughed.
"I've always been great for ratings!" he said cheerfully. "Though you could've just called or something, Meryl. Honestly."
His smile softened a little and he held his fist out to her in a familiar and friendly gesture.
"Sorry if I made you worry," he said gently.
~*~
Meryl was very close to puffing up and insisting that she really wasn't worried, but unfortunately for her, it was one of those moments that her emotions were getting the best of her. She reached over and gently swatted at his fist. "Yeah, well. A lot of people have been worried about you.
"Rumors aren't comforting when there are a ton of people who would gladly pretend to be you to get people to do what they want."
~*~
"Those posers could never be me," Vash said lightly. "I've never met anyone who claimed to be Vash the Stampede who was nearly as good-looking as I am. Honestly, when will people learn? You can't just pick up someone else's charm! Now come on and order already, I need to get home. I've got two kittens and a fish waiting for me. Not to mention a roommate."
Who was paying him to stay with him at all times. Oops.
~*~
Getting back into her bantering mode quickly, Meryl batted at him again. "What? You're not even going to be gentlemanly enough to do the ordering for me? Well, isn't that just fine."
It wasn't like she was sure about how cafes ran their ordering service, but Vash told her to order. So she assumed walk to the counter and order. And she did so, yapping the entire time. "Minding my own business when the Humanoid Typhoon does some sort of voodoo mumbo-jumbo, and makes me end up here where I am, no doubt, going to be jobless and miserable, and he can't even place the order for me? That's fine!" Hands crashing to the counter boldly, Meryl announced, "I would like chocolate ice cream, please, because the ass behind me has ruined vanilla for me forever, and he'd like... I don't know what." She looked over her shoulder to him. "And no caffeine! You remember what happened last time."
~*~
"You're always blaming things on me!" Vash whined loudly, then turned his attention to the cashier. "I'll have vanilla ice cream, because it's still my favorite, and now it's even better since I ruined it for the short girl in front of me!"
He looked back down at Meryl. "Voodoo?! How would I know voodoo?! Maybe YOU brought YOURSELF here just to make my life more difficult! I wouldn't put that past you, you know!"
He put down some money on the counter without looking and continued bitching.
"You could say 'thank you for coming to find me and feeding me, Vash!' But nooo, instead I get blamed for tasting like vanilla and marshmallow when it wasn't my fault and I bet you're just jealous you never got to have a flavor of your own!"
~*~
Meryl stepped up on her tip toes and braced a hand on the counter. It sucked, for the simple fact that even doing that only brought her just to chin level to him. "You do seem to boast about how you're so full of surprises, so how do I know that you don't know voodoo? I think you do and play that dumb card so we'll never suspect you're sitting in a room by yourself, shoving pins into the groin of a doll modeled after some guy who had the audacity to be married to one of the many girls you mercilessly hit on."
The poor cashier and server that was having to deal with them standing, probably driving away customers. "And I have no idea what you're talking about, I would be embarassed to taste like anything! Is something wrong with you? That's not something to be proud of! Vanilla and marshmallows. That is dirty and wrong!"
~*~
"DOING WHAT?!" Vash doubled over with laughter. "That's the weirdest mental image ever! What is wrong with yo-- How is that dirty and wrong?! It's VANILLA! And marshmallows are all fluffy and pure! Or something!"
He paused to look at the server. "Could we get those to go? Thanks, we really should get home anyway."
Then turned his attention back to Meryl. "You always taste like something! Wouldn't it be better to taste like ice cream?!"
~*~
She had to admit that watching him laugh like that made her almost lose her composure, and while she grinned, she also bit at her lip. They were actually getting along like old friends, weren't they? It was such a... Well, it was kind of foreign, for her, but it felt comfortable considering who it was.
Had it been back years ago when they first met, this would not be happening. After making sure to give the server time to acknowledge Vash's request, she jutted a finger at him and wagged it in his face. "I don't taste like anything, thank you! And even if I did, I--no, I'm not going there. Maybe in your perverted brain, we all taste like something, but I beg to differ!" A momentary glance was given as the server prepared her part of the order to be placed on the counter for her. Meryl took that as a cue to turn and start tugging out napkins from the dispenser next to the register. "You really are a special soul, Vash the Stampede. Helmet special."
~*~
Vash grinned and grabbed two plastic spoons out of a basket, offering one to Meryl. "I don't need a helmet, I've got my hair."
He picked up the bowls of ice cream and held out the chocolate serving to his companion. "Come on, I'll take you home. Close as home gets in this place anyway..."
~*~
Meryl took the bowl, and in exchange passed him some of the napkins she pulled. It was a bit of an obsessive collection of napkins, but Meryl felt one could never have too many napkins.
It was then that she grew a bit more serious, and she bowed her head slightly. "Thank you." It was heartfelt, because when it came down to it, he really didn't have to be so gracious. After all, Meryl was resourceful and had no doubt she'd pick herself up in this world as quick as could be, but he was still offering a hand.
Gesturing politely at the door, she grinned. "Lead the way, Mr. Vash!"
~*~
"Don't mention it," Vash said with a smile. He really was the one who should be saying that... This had been the first time he'd smiled since Wolfwood had left, and the first time he'd laughed in about a week. But he didn't want Meryl suddenly feeling awkward when they'd been getting on so well.
"Out we go!" he announced cheerfully, leading the way out the door. Yeah, this was definitely the best day he'd had in a while. And it was looking like it was going to stay good for a while.
Rating; PG for mild language.
Characters; Meryl (
inyourbusiness) and Vash (mildlyreckless)Summary; Vash goes to pick up Meryl after her arrival in the City. Bitching and lulz are had.
Log;
She'd only just barely read what was given to her by Vash and the other before that sinking feeling from her initial arrival returned. Deities, curses, a city that abducts people from their homes and throws them into it? It was just too much. She'd put on a strong face for Vash when he got there, but in the meantime, she had loped her way to the fountain's side (having been only near it at the time) and slowly sat down on the ground by it. She wasn't touching that thing, from her skim over that second guide.
Head in her hands, Meryl kind of wished Milly was around. It was relatively a good thing that Vash was there, of course [read: fantastic], but that was going to resort in a slapfight of epic proportions. She was still convinced he caused this, somehow, after all. "...he better get here soon," she grunted aloud. Switching gears to mentally snarking the gunman, Meryl hoped to take her mind off the thoughts that were making her feel so queasy. He'd never let her live it down if she lost her stomach over something so silly as nerves!
~*~
Vash had hardly sent his last message to Meryl before he was out the apartment door, calling a promise over his shoulder to L that he'd be back soon. He really hadn't been this excited in a while, and the past week had managed to become hell (topped off by worry and grief caused by Wolfwood's disappearance), so seeing the familiar short girl post on the Network acted as quite the emotional pick-up.
He was practically darting down the street towards the fountain and didn't bother to try and hide any of his enthusiasm as he bounded up to the welcome sight of Meryl sitting by the fountain.
"Meryl!" he cheered happily, wondering if she would punch him if he hugged her. "There you are!"
~*~
Meryl's eyes lit up for a split moment in hearing that cheerful, familiar voice that she'd been searching for back home for so long. It was enough to get her straightening and that worked better than any of the snarking in her mind that she had started to ramble off before he arrived. However, that was quick to change as she caught herself, and the small woman scrambled to her feet and placed her hands on her hips.
She tried to act crass, though her eyes were still smiling. He looked so different with that hair of his--solid black, which was something that worried her based on the things she learned back home--but he was still happy and... "Well, it's certainly about time you got here!" She closed her eyes; goddamn things were betraying her, and she added a swinging finger in the air for emphasis. "I was just about ready to leave!"
~*~
Vash cocked an eyebrow at her. "Oh, really?" he said with a grin. "And where would you go, exactly? Wander around the City until you figured out where I lived so you could come yell at me for not coming to find you?"
She'd probably do it, too, knowing her... Twelve apartment buildings to search or not.
~*~
Meryl snorted and tossed her head to the side. Damn him. That would be something she would do, too. He was just lucky she liked him on some remote level, because that right there was why Meryl Stryfe didn't have many friends. Nothing like someone knowing exactly what you would do in a given situation.
"Well, I guess I'm at your mercy, then." She returned her eyes to fixing on him, and gesturing at him with both hands, as if to say she was pushing control over to him. "Where to first, Localized Disaster Man?"
~*~
"I can get you some ice cream at the café if you like!" Vash said brightly. "It's really nice! It's called Café Juliet and you can get all kinds of neat stuff there like fancy coffee and cake and sandwiches..."
As he rambled, Vash began to walk, motioning for Meryl to follow him. Suddenly it occurred to him that he really should tell her about some of the things that were directly relevant to her in terms of who was in the City... He trailed off and frowned a little for the briefest of moments before smiling back down at Meryl brightly.
"Guess I should also tell you about who's here and stuff, huh?"
~*~
Meryl didn't catch the frown, though she did catch the trail off. However, by the time she'd gotten to his side and got a look at his face, he was already smiling at her as much as before. She folded her arms over her chest and replied, "Ice cream would be lovely, thank you. However, an update would be most welcome."
The way he said it, though, caused her to pause and click her tongue. "How many are here? That is, who I know?" She recognized two. Could more be around?
~*~
Vash looked at the path ahead of them thoughtfully and considered his next answer carefully. There really wasn't an easy way of telling her, and she should know before she found out from someone else or from the parties themselves...
"...Knives and Legato are both here," he said evenly.
~*~
And that's when Meryl just... stopped. Right there, dead in her place. It took a moment to process it all. Not having any idea about some of the events that followed between her own side of the story and Vash's, Meryl just... She had to remind herself to breathe, her hands dropping to her sides to ball together. Knives and Legato...
"I... see." There wasn't even a loud, incredulous shout to be had at that point. That made four on the other side that were present. She could only hope the blood didn't drain from her face (which was why she made a deliberate point to breathe and rectify it quickly if it had). "You seem so calm about it," Meryl replied after making sure she could match his even tone. She was not going to overreact. Vash didn't seem worried, so should she articulate her own worries?
~*~
Vash stopped and turned to smiled at her, a little sadder this time.
"Knives and I have a sort of truce," he explained. "We have our difficulties, but... If you stay clear of him, you won't have to worry about them, okay? Not so long as I'm around."
He started walking again, slower this time. "My little sister Tessla is here as well. And my...mother, Rem." Vash paused. "Milly and Livio were here for a while, but they left. ...Same with Wolfwood."
~*~
The sick feeling returned. Meryl told herself to trust him, because he always did make good on his word, didn't he? Even if... Milly. Wolfwood.
Meryl went with the first reaction to the first name of the two, and hauled off and slammed the heel of her palm in his hand. "Milly was here, and you didn't tell me before?! Hmph, and here I thought you were being good about this!" The light-heartedness was an attempt for both of them, really. Arms wrapped around her stomach, Meryl's eyes dropped to the ground. "Well, it's nice to know you've had a whole army looking out for you. What happened? Did you annoy the preacher that bad?" He was dead, how could he be there? Meryl was beside herself, but how would she ask that? She knew Vash felt him a best friend.
~*~
"Hey, hey, it's a little early for violence!" Vash protested. "You only just got here! And I only didn't tell you because, well, I didn't want you to be disappointed or anything!"
He winced a little at the inquiry about Wolfwood, but it wasn't really that bad coming from Meryl...
"I guess so," he said sheepishly. "...And dead people get pulled here a lot. I mean... Just in case you were wondering what he was doing here and stuff..."
~*~
Meryl drew silent from his explanation, a hand taking to rubbing at the back of her neck. Vash just never caught a break, did he? Ever. Anywhere he went, it seemed. Even back home, after everything he'd done, there were still people hunting for him (a ghost hunt, it seemed now). And now his friends were coming back from the dead, only to disappear on him.
"Well," she finally said, as she squared off at the shoulders. "When he gets back from wherever he went to, I'll just have to give him a piece of my mind!" Positive thoughts, right? "He should have at least stuck around long enough to say 'hello'." It was such a raw attempt at lightening the mood. She could only hope Vash would see it that way.
~*~
Vash grinned at her. "Maybe he left because he knew you were coming~" he teased. "He always did think you were pushy!"
He was surprised at how nice it was having Meryl around. She'd only been with him for a few minutes and he was already feeling better about things. He considered hugging her again, or at least patting her shoulder, but there were still too many negative associations that came with reaching out to touch her. He hadn't forgotten how she'd recoiled back when...
"I'd bet you anything they'll come back, though," he said easily, pushing the too-much-thinking from his mind. "Things to do and all that, you know."
~*~
"I am not pushy!" Meryl declared, furrowing her brow. "And you had better not make any allusion about that again!" Oh, irony.
He took the joke though, as a lead in, and she was appreciative about it. It was making her stomach calm as well, and she allowed an amused grin to slip on her face as she tromped beside him, trying to take in what was around them the best they could. "I'm sure they will. They're all very dependable, after all. Even the priest." Although Meryl was unsure, and actually thinking very pessimistically about them returning, she'd put on the front for him. As irritating as she swore he was... he didn't deserve her downing him at that point. "How long have you been here, Vash?"
~*~
"Getting close to six months," Vash replied, opening the café door for her. "Wolfwood's been here with me the entire time up until yesterday. I left for a few days once and went home, and though it was only two days here, it was ten months back home. And I went back to the exact moment I'd left, even though I was here almost four months!"
Vash's mind automatically began to sift through what had happened over the months. Notably dying and being brought back to life and sleeping with his best friend. He wondered how much information was too much at once... Then his brain clicked to the pleasant things someone from a desert planet could experience for the first time here.
"And guess what! They have an ocean here! You can go swimming! Wolfwood and I went a lot together!"
~*~
Meryl's eye twitched at the time explanation he gave. Not at any fault of his, of course. Just because... it was all so confusing. She had just barely broken into the sciences that were offered following that war against Knives, so if there was some sort of scientific formula involved, or some mathematic equasion, it was well beyond her and it made her head hurt trying to guess.
She stepped through the door carefully, nodding to Vash in thanks as she stepped in. It was a nice place, well beyond anything back home, and she was about to comment when Vash mentioned an ocean. She whirled around to him, her eyes wide. "An... ocean?" She'd only read about them in old books. "Are you serious?" She should have gauged that from the plant life she saw, she chastized herself. "Like... a real ocean? Or just something like a lake or the like?" Even a lake would have been amazing, though.
~*~
"A real ocean," Vash said warmly, following her into the café. "It goes all the way around the City. And there is a lake too! And hot springs! And a huge garden with a zoo! It's amazing here! I can show you around a little tomorrow, if you like!"
It would be good to get out... Do something pleasant and normal... Though he'd probably be bringing L along with them. ...L. Right. Bodyguard job. Right. Ah, well.
"It's really confusing here sometimes, but I really do like it. There are lots of good people and fascinating places to visit... When there's not a curse going on, it's really nice!" He suddenly paused. "Ah, you read about the curses, right?"
~*~
To lie or not to lie? She skimmed it? That counted as reading, right? Well, Meryl never claimed to be good with reading assignments. "I--" Sigh. She clicked her tongue. "I skimmed it. I was too busy--" trying not to throw up "--trying to make sure no one was going to mug me or something."
Her attention went to searching around the cafe for a menu to glance at. "Besides, can curses--aside from knowing you, that is--even be real?" Meryl made sure to throw the smallest side-grin at him to assure the bite was in jest.
~*~
"Well, I can't blame you for that, I suppose," Vash mused. Then made a face at her jab, handing her a menu. "First of all, har har. Second of all, yes they can, and they are. They generally last exactly twenty-four hours, from midnight to midnight, but a few of them go on for a few days. Like today's, for example. It's been going on since yesterday. People are thinking of inanimate objects as children. There are all sorts of curses, really... Some are funny, some are weird, and others are pretty horrible... But they never last forever."
Vash reflected on the recent curse that had turned him and Wolfwood into kids and grinned slightly.
"Some make for really good blackmail material. Just so you know."
~*~
Meryl listened to him, her eyes on the menu in her hands, though she wasn't exactly reading it. She'd have to make it a point to study what was offered to her by more than just Vash. She really would, because it was just sounding...
"Deities. Curses. People being pulled here regardless of if they're dead or alive." The brunette spoke idly, as though thinking aloud. One finger teased a slightly bent edge of the menu. "Sounds like some really screwed up version of purgatory. Come to the City, where you'll strive for redemption you'll never actually achieve." That's exactly what it sounded like, considering all who had ended up there.
Blinking to snap herself out of it, Meryl flipped the menu around quickly to study its backside, because she went weird and realized it. "I'm not sure if I want vanilla and marshmallow if that was something you tasted like, four your information."
~*~
Vash snorted. "At least the food's better here than I think it would be in purgatory?"
He blinked and stared at her in response to her last remark before remembering what he had told her earlier on the Network about the ice cream flavor curse. "Oh! With the-- Right! Yeah, well, to each their own."
It hadn't really occurred to Vash how talking about that curse out of context could sound so wrong... Honestly.
"You can get whatever you like. Believe it or not, I'm holding down a job that pays pretty well, so I actually have enough cash to spare for treats and stuff."
He was mildly surprised by how comfortable this was. He'd never stopped to think about it before, but he and Meryl had never really sat down alone together to do anything that didn't involve a lecture and lots of whining.
~*~
Meryl stopped.
And stared.
Before reaching to her chest with both hands and dragging in a staggered breath as her eyes grew wide, as though she had witnessed a horrible, horrifying scene play before her. The act was rather convincing, in fast, until she stammered out, "V-Vash the Stampede--has a real job? That he's being paid for? That he hasn't quit or been almost assassinated, causing him to be without a job again? I do declare and bestill my heart, I think Hell has frozen over and forgot to post notice!"
~*~
Vash began to panic when Meryl suddenly had her fake shock, but his eyes quickly narrowed as she spoke.
"You know, I've held down jobs before!" Before he blew up July and became too infamous to hold one that didn't involve something ridiculous... "I don't see why it's such a shock! Believe it or not, I can be responsible!"
He was ignoring the fact that he was supposed to be in his apartment 'working' that very moment... Meryl didn't need to know that.
~*~
"You can?" She seemed so interested, like it was a newsflash across the Satellite or something. She leant towards him, eyes still wide and studying his face. "I don't see how this can be... You look like the same Vash. Granted, it seems like there was a bit of an argument over a pen--" Jab, jab, that time at his hair color, all in jest, and it made it easier for her to look at his black hair, anyway. She only caught the basic concept of that, and out of her not fully comprehending, it was rather frightening. "--but otherwise, you look like the same Vash the Stampede."
Quirking an eyebrow, and keeping with the act, she pointed a finger accusingly at him. "Did someone infect you with a brainworm?"
~*~
"You don't like it?" Vash said sweetly, pointedly ignoring her attempts to bait him and touching at his hair. "I guess I got sort of tired of being called the 'blond typhoon' and wanted something a little different."
He wondered how much she knew about what his hair color meant. How much she'd seen of him when he was bleeding from everywhere as his body tried to keep up with all that crap he'd had to do to keep Knives and Legato at bay that one last time back home.
~*~
Meryl's response was to simply close her eyes and tut at him. "I think it looks silly. Those fair eyes and that dark hair? Besides, you notice how you can't hold a tan? I remain entirely unconvinced of that hair color."
And back to the menu she went. She wasn't going to ask for the real details, not some textbook summary given to her by scientists. What did they know that Vash or Knives wouldn't, after all? But she wasn't going to ask. Vash was there, Vash was alright, and Vash was still smiling. That's all that mattered. "Considering I'm not nearly the bum you are, I'll only ask for ice cream as was offered and no more. You can pay me back for the fact that my being here is entirely your fault at a later day." Sadly, Meryl wasn't entirely convinced that this wasn't his fault, just yet.
~*~
Vash pouted. "Maybe you just need some time to get used to it."
He made an offended choking sound at her parting shot.
"It's not my fault! Geez, reporter girl, if I were able to bring you here at will, I would've brought you months ago just for entertainment purposes!"
He contemplated for a while and then added "Heck, if I could bring people here, I'd probably bring someone who wouldn't start badmouthing me to people on the Network five minutes after they arrived..." Which wasn't many people, he had to admit...
~*~
"Well, that's what you get when you do things you know I don't like." It was because of him that she was going to have half the city familiar with her, she feared, and then she'd have to hurt him. "Unlike you, I don't need everyone paying attention to me. The occassional interaction is just fine, but I'm not so silly as to think everyone out there means well."
That's what got you looking the way you do, she thought to herself, albeit the comment was at Vash. She would never forget seeing all those horrible wounds on his body from years long passed, because the man never fought back if he didn't have to. Meryl found herself thinking on a number of occassions that humans... well, they just didn't deserve someone like that. Plopping the menu down blindly, she regarded Vash carefully. "I really should make money off of your comical woes for this. And for being AWOL like you were!"
~*~
Vash blinked at her and a sly smile slowly crept its way onto his face. There was a good possibility he might get slapped for what he was about to say, but it was worth the risk.
"Why, Meryl," he said with false surprise, "Were you actually looking for me? Did you miss me?"
~*~
Meryl's jaw nearly hit the floor, and she was cursing herself a blue streak because she had slipped, and that was entirely her fault... but damn him for exploiting that! She would have totally slapped him, if she could have reached from where she was. Damn... being short!
"Yes! Yes, I was!" And out the finger went at to point at him. "Do you know how big a newsbreak it'd be to find Vash the Stampede and follow him around?! Even just the possibility lingering of potentially finding you kept my ratings up!" Not to mention the fact that, oh, Meryl was legitimately worried for him. That she was worried that he failed his promise, and desperately wanted to make sure the rumors were true. To say nothing about that at all. "You should feel priviledged!"
~*~
Vash laughed. For the first time in several days, he really laughed.
"I've always been great for ratings!" he said cheerfully. "Though you could've just called or something, Meryl. Honestly."
His smile softened a little and he held his fist out to her in a familiar and friendly gesture.
"Sorry if I made you worry," he said gently.
~*~
Meryl was very close to puffing up and insisting that she really wasn't worried, but unfortunately for her, it was one of those moments that her emotions were getting the best of her. She reached over and gently swatted at his fist. "Yeah, well. A lot of people have been worried about you.
"Rumors aren't comforting when there are a ton of people who would gladly pretend to be you to get people to do what they want."
~*~
"Those posers could never be me," Vash said lightly. "I've never met anyone who claimed to be Vash the Stampede who was nearly as good-looking as I am. Honestly, when will people learn? You can't just pick up someone else's charm! Now come on and order already, I need to get home. I've got two kittens and a fish waiting for me. Not to mention a roommate."
Who was paying him to stay with him at all times. Oops.
~*~
Getting back into her bantering mode quickly, Meryl batted at him again. "What? You're not even going to be gentlemanly enough to do the ordering for me? Well, isn't that just fine."
It wasn't like she was sure about how cafes ran their ordering service, but Vash told her to order. So she assumed walk to the counter and order. And she did so, yapping the entire time. "Minding my own business when the Humanoid Typhoon does some sort of voodoo mumbo-jumbo, and makes me end up here where I am, no doubt, going to be jobless and miserable, and he can't even place the order for me? That's fine!" Hands crashing to the counter boldly, Meryl announced, "I would like chocolate ice cream, please, because the ass behind me has ruined vanilla for me forever, and he'd like... I don't know what." She looked over her shoulder to him. "And no caffeine! You remember what happened last time."
~*~
"You're always blaming things on me!" Vash whined loudly, then turned his attention to the cashier. "I'll have vanilla ice cream, because it's still my favorite, and now it's even better since I ruined it for the short girl in front of me!"
He looked back down at Meryl. "Voodoo?! How would I know voodoo?! Maybe YOU brought YOURSELF here just to make my life more difficult! I wouldn't put that past you, you know!"
He put down some money on the counter without looking and continued bitching.
"You could say 'thank you for coming to find me and feeding me, Vash!' But nooo, instead I get blamed for tasting like vanilla and marshmallow when it wasn't my fault and I bet you're just jealous you never got to have a flavor of your own!"
~*~
Meryl stepped up on her tip toes and braced a hand on the counter. It sucked, for the simple fact that even doing that only brought her just to chin level to him. "You do seem to boast about how you're so full of surprises, so how do I know that you don't know voodoo? I think you do and play that dumb card so we'll never suspect you're sitting in a room by yourself, shoving pins into the groin of a doll modeled after some guy who had the audacity to be married to one of the many girls you mercilessly hit on."
The poor cashier and server that was having to deal with them standing, probably driving away customers. "And I have no idea what you're talking about, I would be embarassed to taste like anything! Is something wrong with you? That's not something to be proud of! Vanilla and marshmallows. That is dirty and wrong!"
~*~
"DOING WHAT?!" Vash doubled over with laughter. "That's the weirdest mental image ever! What is wrong with yo-- How is that dirty and wrong?! It's VANILLA! And marshmallows are all fluffy and pure! Or something!"
He paused to look at the server. "Could we get those to go? Thanks, we really should get home anyway."
Then turned his attention back to Meryl. "You always taste like something! Wouldn't it be better to taste like ice cream?!"
~*~
She had to admit that watching him laugh like that made her almost lose her composure, and while she grinned, she also bit at her lip. They were actually getting along like old friends, weren't they? It was such a... Well, it was kind of foreign, for her, but it felt comfortable considering who it was.
Had it been back years ago when they first met, this would not be happening. After making sure to give the server time to acknowledge Vash's request, she jutted a finger at him and wagged it in his face. "I don't taste like anything, thank you! And even if I did, I--no, I'm not going there. Maybe in your perverted brain, we all taste like something, but I beg to differ!" A momentary glance was given as the server prepared her part of the order to be placed on the counter for her. Meryl took that as a cue to turn and start tugging out napkins from the dispenser next to the register. "You really are a special soul, Vash the Stampede. Helmet special."
~*~
Vash grinned and grabbed two plastic spoons out of a basket, offering one to Meryl. "I don't need a helmet, I've got my hair."
He picked up the bowls of ice cream and held out the chocolate serving to his companion. "Come on, I'll take you home. Close as home gets in this place anyway..."
~*~
Meryl took the bowl, and in exchange passed him some of the napkins she pulled. It was a bit of an obsessive collection of napkins, but Meryl felt one could never have too many napkins.
It was then that she grew a bit more serious, and she bowed her head slightly. "Thank you." It was heartfelt, because when it came down to it, he really didn't have to be so gracious. After all, Meryl was resourceful and had no doubt she'd pick herself up in this world as quick as could be, but he was still offering a hand.
Gesturing politely at the door, she grinned. "Lead the way, Mr. Vash!"
~*~
"Don't mention it," Vash said with a smile. He really was the one who should be saying that... This had been the first time he'd smiled since Wolfwood had left, and the first time he'd laughed in about a week. But he didn't want Meryl suddenly feeling awkward when they'd been getting on so well.
"Out we go!" he announced cheerfully, leading the way out the door. Yeah, this was definitely the best day he'd had in a while. And it was looking like it was going to stay good for a while.