Inbox for sticksandbones

[lupusxylem]

I will not make this look pretty later, don't believe me it's all a lie

====

INVENTORY:

-The Punisher: Wolfwood's cross gun, normally covered in wrappings.
INFO from the mods on use so I don't forget: The cross-gun will be able to fire regular bullets (regains of these can be handwaved; silvered bullets can be purchased in the bonus AC store) just fine, without any special nerfs. The laser feature will be usable a max of 3 times a month.

-4 Vials of his Drugs(tm)
Info from the mods on use so I don't forget: Wolfwood can start with up to 5 vials of his Lab Drugs. More of these can be regained for the price of a Small Item (a maximum of 5 at once), but they will not work on other player characters for obvious reasons. Their healing ability will also be slightly nerfed to not heal anything instantaneously, but rather over a few minutes.
3/7: All Vials have been used. Will need to purchase replacements if he wants to use them again.
???: Forgot to put the date here but he's purchased more Vials, one has been used to he has 4 currently.

-A lighter

-A carton of cigarettes, more can be purchased/handwaved

-A winter coat that Heimr bullied him into purchasing

-A matching pair of boots for the coat

-A little knit wolf with sunglasses from Elsword.

-A blanket from Livio.

-A handgun with a wolf engraved on the handle.

-A black husky named Angelina

-A belt pouch to carry his regeneration vials with a cross emblazoned into the leather.

-Authentic rosary beads, with beads made from black glass and a heavy, silver cross pendant

-A black leather choker with a silver cross pendant, similar to the rosary

-A whole church(tm)

-A wool knit cat plushie from Pure Vanilla

-3 tomas chicks that currently live in Kiera's barn

-3 londonites

-Wolf skull shaped cufflinks

-A dagger for his "birthday" from Gnosis

Comments

[lupusxylem]

[It was the answer he knew was coming. I can fix it, I can stop it, I can do something-

But Wolfwood knows, for a god damn fact, Vash won't be able to stop this from happening. Largely because Nai was involved. Nai, the catalyst for it all, the nuke waiting to go off. For as much as Wolfwood believes in Vash's ability, it pales in comparison to his twin brother. And...honestly? He hates to say it, he really does, but.

The most believable thing Zazie told him about all of that was the concept that the two of them actually fighting would cause enough of a temporal shift to blow up an entire city.

So what, then, is he meant to do with that information? Vash is begging to be told, and Wolfwood doesn't want to be the person to tell him.

He is struggling, but he's just barely holding it in, even if that means he's started to breathe heavier. Vash won't at least be able to feel how his grip on his prosthetic has become crushing in his panic, his nails scratching at the steel as his heart throbs between his ears.]

Vash. This ain't...somethin' I was ever meant to know. It ain't right. You know it ain't.

Don't make me do this.

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash might not be able to feel it, but the faint shift in Wolfwood's hands draws his eyes downward. he can see the way Wolfwood's knuckles shine white against his skin. It makes his stomach churn. Wolfwood wouldn't react this way if it weren't anything small or simple. Truthfully, Vash can't even think of the last time he'd ever seen Nick look this scared.

It makes him want to step back from the edge. Surely he could swallow his own fear for the sake of someone else. He's so good at putting others above him, after all. This wouldn't be any different. And yet even as he tries to insist as much within his own mind, something tells him otherwise.

Compromise, then. He won't put Wolfwood through this. But he can still find answers.]

It's - it's okay, Nick. [He squeezes that hand as careful as he can.]

I'll go talk to Zazie. I can get the truth from them. I just... wanted to see you first.

[Does it hurt that Wolfwood would continue to hide this from him? Maybe. But he can't blame him, either.]

[eidxiety]

Okay, hold on. [And then he brings his hands up to either side of Wolfwood's face and makes the "magician putting a coin in your ear" finger-waggles at him.] I'm removing the cotton from your ears real quick...

[Okay, joke over. Ain leans back against where he's sitting. Sighs.]

I like our back-and-forth. It's fun to me. It reminds me a lot of Mr. Ancient, you know, the person who you know here as a doctor. Mine's not a doctor, he's just a dumbass. [Ain, the way you say things brings up more questions than answers.] Back home, Mr. Ancient and I spent years ribbing each other, and after a while, we saw eye-to-eye and it became more playful. I thought you were like that when we first met, and I like teasing you because you react so strongly to it. I think it's fun.

But then you got all grouchy at the café. Mr. Fluffy said not all h— [humans] people will react like Mr. Ancient does. I don't really get it. You guys are pretty much the same person, other than the fact he's a tech nerd and you're like, religious. [lmfao] You reacting negatively and me being confused didn't stop me from liking you, though. It takes a lot for me to hate someone. You have to be a demon, a really bad demon at that, or someone who's out to destroy the world or hurt others. You don't strike me as that, unless you're really good at lying.

I dunno, Mr. Priest. I might not know how to interact with you, or anyone else for that matter, but... I like boys like you. I like how you react to being teased, and I like being the fuel to your fire.

[lupusxylem]

[It's not okay, he wants to snap back, but he doesn't. He bites his tongue because he's trying so hard to do what he feels is right, until Vash says that.

Then it snaps. He forgets his therapy.

Though he doesn't let Vash's hand go (they're kindof holding on too tightly for that to be easy right now), he does suddenly sit up, unable to keep laying down now that the conversation has taken this kind of turn. His fear and trepidation has a funny way of melting immediately into anger once he has something to funnel it into, and right now it's Zazie.

If that bug were here right now, he'd kill them. He'd find and squash every last god damn bug until they went extinct.

Instead, he struggles. He fights to control his voice as it trembles on his words when he speaks.]

Don't you fucking. Dare. If you're gonna go ask them anyway, then I'd rather you hear it from me.

[He knows Zazie would be stupid about it. Wouldn't offer it the proper care it needed. Not that Wolfwood thinks HE can do much better, but at least he isn't going to just be like "lol tee hee your brother's dead you both blew up a city and killed thousands lmao"

Fucker. Mother fucker.]

[lupusxylem]

[Well...he thinks he can clear up Ain's confusion in that respect, at least. Maybe he even owes it to him, at this point.]

I reacted that way 'cause I didn't know you. You can't really just go up to people you just met sayin' whatever shit you want and expect 'em t'not punch you.

[Just putting that out there.

I like boys like you. Jesus. What the fuck. Is Ain flirting with him??

He huffs and looks away for a moment, unable to take Ain being...so...he's not sure he even has a word for it. Genuine? Whimsical? A fruity little bitch he wants to-]

But I don't...hate you or nothin'. You drive me fuckin' insane, but...in less of a bad way than a lot of people I've had t'deal with.

[Not in the way Zazie drives him insane. The bad way, at least until such a time that they're able to convince him to be a good guy.]

[oleaeuropaea]

[Wolfwood really deserves praise for how long he's held out. Even Vash, shaken up as he is, has to (distantly) admire how much restraint he has. He an see the anger in his form, hear it in the quaver of his voice. If he were in better shape, maybe Vash might have praised him. Unfortunately, he has worse things to grapple with.

Like Wolfwood, Vash sits up. Once he's steady, he leans forward. He almost can't find it in himself to breathe. Each inhale makes the coil of fear within his gut tighten that little bit more, while his head spins almost fast enough to knock Vash back onto his ass. Yet still, he waits, desperate to hear what Nick has to say.

If he needs a little encouragement - ]

Then, please... Please tell me. [He swallows. Those stupid bug eyes of his burn.] I'm sorry. But I need to know.

[eidxiety]

Can't say I understand why — I mean, you say whatever you want to people, haha.

[Yeah sorry Wolfwood he's not human he does not quiiiiite understand that. He sort of gets how to check other people's tones, but not his own. It's, uh... listen, okay, he's trying.

Anyway, looking away is a fantastic sign (is it??) and Ain stretches out further like a cat.]

Wow, you're more genuine than Mr. Ancient is! He'd be all— [raises his voice because believe it or not Add's voice is actually a higher pitch than Ain's,] —"Ain you annoy the shit out of me and I hate you". Just like that.

If you didn't make it so easy to mess with you, I wouldn't bother, though. Too bad for you~!

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood no doubt looks as distraught as he feels right now, because as hard as he's trying to keep his emotions behind a mask of distant coldness, he can't exactly do that anymore now that Vash is his partner. He doesn't have that same level of disconnect that he once did, when Vash was just a means to an end. The guy he needed to get to so that he could keep the orphanage safe.

He means everything to him now, and knowing that he's going to be the one to tear him down to the foundation again is the cruelest thing he can imagine.

But he knows Vash would hate him more if he didn't. So...he really has no choice.]

You make it to JuLai. You and Nai...fight, there. And destroy the city.

You both went missin'.

[Zazie specifically said they "think Nai is dead" but he isn't saying that, Zazie can blab about how they can't ~sense~ him or whatever. He isn't going to get into those weeds because he doesn't have to, this is bad enough as it is.]

Are you fuckin' happy now, Vash?

[That part...slips out, and is nasty and raw and thick with emotion, but he never wanted to have to say it to begin with. He just hopes Vash is prepared to deal with that.]

[oleaeuropaea]

[It is, on so many levels, worse than he could have imagined. It's a failure on so many levels. He couldn't convince his brother to back down. A whole city was left destroyed in his wake. Jeneora Rock had been bad enough, but this reality? Millions called JuLai home.

He can't believe it. He can't.]

No. No, no. They're lying -

[And yet even with just a handful of words, the truth feels so obvious. Of course he and Nai would fight. Even here, his brother had clung steadfast to those beliefs, no matter how desperately Vash had begged him to stand down. And how many times had cities been damaged just because Vash was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Maybe Wolfwood is lucky, in that Vash doesn't really process what he says. The downside is that Vash finally, finally seems to pull away. He lets go of Wolfwood's hand, trying to draw back into himself. The upper set of hands draw into his hair, nails pressing into his scalp enough to sting. The other pair, if allowed, will twine around themselves.]

They got out, right? They evacuated the city? They wouldn't just - seeing people like us fight, they'd run. The Military Police would round everyone up and - and -

[Where would they go? Would they have time? Or would Nai cut them all down without mercy.]

[lupusxylem]

How should I know!?

[He cannot take much more. He's glad that Vash pulled away because he fears he would have actually broken his knuckles with how hard he was holding his hand at that point. It's Wolfwood's turn to draw away, shucking a hand fast through his hair as he looks away, unable to look at the brokenly devastated expression on Vash's face that he just knew he would have.]

I told you, I told you but you won't listen, you never fuckin'-

[His voice snaps on the last word, breaking off into silence like he's ready to scream himself hoarse but something is managing to hold him back (it's the therapy, and also the fact these cabanas aren't soundproof, people will hear him if he starts screaming at Vash now).]

I don't know what happened. That's just what Zazie told me. Because they're a piece of god damn horse shit.

[And even he, truly, does not mean that deep down. He's just so livid, so upset that he has to direct it somewhere other than Vash. Because as hard as it might be to believe, Wolfwood doesn't want to believe this could truly be the outcome of their world either.

It sounds like the end. Like it could truly just be the beginning of total societal collapse, if this is left to continue completely unchecked. And then...

There's no reason for anything. There's no people left to protect. No world left to save.

But he could have lived with that knowledge alone for the rest of his life, if he had to. He would have.]

[lupusxylem]

[..........okay Ain you do kindof have him there.]

Tch, yeah. That ain't surprisin'.

[Wolfwood sighs, leaning back against the edge of whatever he's sitting by in the sand. Maybe it's one of the logs they've been using as a seat around the bonfire, or something.]

I guess if nothin' else, you're easier to respond to than a lotta the people here. I don't really know what to do with people bein' nice to me.

[But Ain, oh Ain. He can get REAL feisty with you and it feels...natural, somehow.]

[oleaeuropaea]

[In this moment, Vash has never felt so alone. Wolfwood yells at him, and even though the Plant knows he can't be blamed for it, it still cuts deep. Some part of him can't blame Wolfwood for trying to keep the information hidden. The Punisher has always known Vash so well. He must have seen this outcome from a mile away. And yet -

And yet...]

You should have told me.

[It hurts. He's scared. And even if he knows Wolfwood is feeling the same way, he can't help but feel angry. Not enough to lash out in kind, but enough to feel a familiar itch in his feet, a tingling in the tips of his fingers.

He clambers back off the bed, nearly stumbling as the sheets catch him. He's barefoot, but it doesn't matter. He fumbles about, blindly, trying to find the door.]

I can't - I just need to -

[He can't form words. His throat feels too tight. His chest feels like it's about to burst. He can't look at Wolfwood without feeling angry and guilty, all t once. There's too much in his head, and there's only one thing that's ever helped him clear it.

It's the wrong thing, mind you, but it's the only thing his grief stricken brain can process.]

[eidxiety]

Really? Why not? Do you want me to heal you meanly next time?

[Ain is on those couch thingies that are outside of the cabanas, Wolfwood can be in the sand if he wants. That said, he'll lean forward and steal one of Wolfwood's hands real quick.]

Aren't your partners nice to you? And Mr. Jellyfish? When they're holding your hand like this, isn't it gentle? Don't tell me they're crushing your hand and bullying you for real...

[lupusxylem]

[You should have told me.

Wolfwood feels those words as real and painful as if they were a spear being shoved through his ribs. And because of his worst fears coming true, he's left unable to respond as Vash suddenly rushes to stand, to leave. It leaves Wolfwood unable to do...anything. He doesn't know what the best thing to do in this situation is, and Vash isn't exactly giving him a chance to figure that out.

He's running away.]

Vash-

[But he doesn't stop. He's already turning, he can see him bolting, and now that he's able to fly there's no way Wolfwood could stop him now.

So he screams after him, not caring if the rest of the Grove hears, his voice breaking on how loud and sharp he yells it.]

VASH!

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash hears that desperate cry. How could he not, when they're still so close. Some part of him yearns to stop, but the rest of him is so bitter, so angry, so scared that he can't bring himself to. It's hard to really fly in the cave, but he does so just to put enough distance between them.

He isn't sure where he's going, how far he'll go, or what he'll do when he gets there. But he is going. He's Vash the Stampede, after all. And all he's ever done is run.]

[lupusxylem]

I mean...they are. That ain't quite what I mean. I guess it's more...

[He sighs, gesturing weakly with the hand that didn't get healed.]

Yaknow that thing some people do where they're like...polite out of obligation? That kind of shit I don't really know what to do with.

[eidxiety]

Oh, kind of! But not really. I don't get why humans do that. [Ain you are so bad at this,] I don't know how to do that anyway. It seems too complicated, and I'm the sort of person who makes my opinions known about someone immediately. I'm not gonna pretend to be someone's friend, that's annoying.

[He will give Wolfwood his hand back. Here you go.]

I'm being nice 'cause I like you. I tease you 'cause I like you, and your reactions to things. It's pretty simple!

[lupusxylem]

And that is why it's easier for me t'deal with you. You're...genuine.

[And given the context around it, that definitely sounds like the most backhanded compliment ever, but he really means it he swears.]

But uh...thanks for not completely writin' me off when I almost punched you.

[eidxiety]

Huh...? Oh, is that bad? Mr. Ancient and I would slug each other every day practically.

[The difference is that Add's punches actually pack enough force to where Ain has to shield himself or his arm bruises, and Ain's are... well, there's a reason he throws spears and not punches, let's just say that. Anyway they've gotten less hostile as time has gone on but still.]

It was how we are! If you punched me, I wouldn't have been that mad. I would've hit back!

[lupusxylem]

...Pffft. You serious?

[Look at you Ain, you actually made him laugh. Good job.]

I'll hafta keep that in mind. I fought Elsword too, yaknow.

[eidxiety]

Wow, you're that feisty? I thought I was special!

[Pouts... (fake pout) but pouts...]

[lupusxylem]

I mean, you are. You're special in that I didn't punch yer lights out, so consider that a good thing.

[Only because Enciodes stopped him though-]

But I mean. If you ever wanna get in line...

[eidxiety]

Mm...

[That hum is very playful. Very devious. Ain is thinking thoughts, Wolfwood will never know what they are... and then Ain playfully nudges Wolfwood's thigh with his foot. Kicks u kicks u—]

...sure, Mr. Priest. I'll line up and wait my turn for all your attention to be on me for a little while.

[Winks :)]

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood clicks his tongue, and- in a rare moment- he smirks and nudges Ain back.]

Bet you'd like that, wouldn't ya?

[eidxiety]

[Thank god he rolled a 15 or he would've become a little gay(er) mess—]

Mm! Well, not the waiting in line part, but getting you all to myself for a little? I wonder what kinds of things we'd get up to?