ohmyarceus | Test drive meme

[The coat is certainly different, just as much as anything else is, but that could just be a product of the environment -- there's new clothes a'plenty around here, after all. What really ends up giving it away, though, is the "love and peace." Livio gets up to follow Vash with a hearty laugh, and refrains from clapping him on the back only because of the little one nestled in his hood.]

Aw, c'mon now, Mister the Stampede, y'can't just go runnin' off on me, now! Y'really had me goin' there fer a second, what with the new getup. Where ya off to all in a hurry -- an' fer that matter, how'd ya end up here, too?

[The line of Vash's shoulders visibly goes rigid, the moment he hears his "name." The balls of his feet itch with the need to run, to flee full tilt into the nearest patch of grass, plans and work be damned. But given the fact that this man hasn't taken a hint so far... he doesn't think he'll be given the mercy of a clean getaway.

Instead, he waits until he's outside at least, out of the way of any poor dining citizens, and in full view of any nearby Jennys. It's only then that he turns and pushes himself up to his full height.]

Whoever you are... whatever you're doing. That's not the way this place works. [His voice is even, but low, and laced with a very clear warning.] You woke up without guns, same as me. It's not how things work. So leave your bounty in the past, and let me go. For the good of everyone else in town, okay?

[As much as his stature might not be intimidating compared to Livio, Vash's overly hostile attitude deflates him a little bit. His head tilts and he stares for a moment, not unlike a giant puppy, before he scratches at the back of his neck.]

Uh... I dunno what yer talkin' about, Vash. Even if we were home, I'd never try t'turn ya in after everythin' ya did fer me.

Did for you...?

[Those shoulders relax, but only just a hint. His eyes remain narrowed, but it's more out of focus than suspicion at this point, at least? He racks his brain, trying to find anyone that matches the profile that this man presents. He's... pretty sure he'd remember someone of this sheer amount of size. Never mind the distinctive tattoos on his face.]

Ah, I'm real sorry buddy but... that's not really ringin' a bell. You got a name, maybe?

[Is it silly for him to feel guilty over something like this? Maybe. Yet it stabs sharply into his gut all the same. Surely no one with ill intent would manage a puppy dog look like that, right?]

[Well, this is getting more confusing by the second. This clearly is Vash, despite everything, but... he's either playing dumb or actually lost some memories? Livio wouldn't blame anyone for wanting to distance themselves from him, but this would seem an especially cruel manner of doing so from Vash of all people. So, that just leaves the alternative, somehow.]

Y'really don't remember me? Alright, then... I'm Livio. Nice t'meet ya, uh... again?

Livio?!

[Vash's eyes all but bulge out of his skull. Of course he knows the name — how could he forget. But the last he'd seen of that man, he'd had a gun to his head and, well...

He doesn't want to think about that any longer than necessary, thank you!

Instead, Vash lifts his hands up into the air. He forms a V with them — the vague body type of the Livio he knew. Then he takes a step back and widens his posture, framing the Livio in front of him instead. The gesture repeats itself a few times before - ]

Eh?!

[Vash's response is enough to get a little jolt out of Livio, who is now, of course, even more flabbergasted than ever. Is this some sort of face-blindness?

... And now Vash is trying to say something about his shape?]

Look, all I had since that lil town was some trail mix an' one tiny lunch, so I was real hungry. But I don't think this made me that much bigger...

Wh - no, that's not...

[Vash lifts his hand, palming at his face several times. He ends up wincing, because of course he'd use the metal hand for something like that. Idiot behavior.]

You... I just saw you before - on the Sand Steamer and...

[He leans over to the side, peering at Livio's right temple. And when peering isn't enough, he outright squints.]

I watched you die, Livio. Wolfwood and I were trying to pull you out, and instead...

[He winces at the memory.]

Never mind the fact that you were way smaller. Like... you could break, uh, you over your knee, small.

[Something about this is very not right. To his knowledge, Livio was never on a sand steamer with Vash. And Vash should know despite Elendira's best efforts, he never actually died. He has a mind to remind Vash, but then his blood runs cold. Once more, he's staring, but it's out of shock.]

Nico...?

[His head suddenly throbs, and he lifts a hand to rub idly at his temple. He tries to focus on drowning out the ringing in his ears, unsure of how long he stands there before swallowing and finding his voice again, quiet as it is.]

I don't know what's goin' on, but that ain't right. Can't be.

[Well, if anything assuages the lingering doubts at the back of Vash's mind, it's that nickname. He swallows, looking unsteady as his shoulders finally droop. He, too, takes the time to rub at his head, ruffling his own hair before dropping his arms entirely.]

You're telling me...

[And with a tip of his head, he motions toward the nearby bay.]

Maybe we oughta sit down and start from the beginning?

[That sounds fair enough. Livio gives a wordless nod, and follows after Vash. Some childish part of him wants to put off this conversation, or avoid it entirely. He doesn't want to think about it any more than is absolutely necessary; it's still too fresh.

At least for now, he can keep his mind occupied by observing the Mimikyu in Vash's hood.]

Cute critter y'got. [Even if it is uncanny that it never blinks.]

[It isn't too far of a walk, at least. A walk that said critter spends staring at Livio. Her head lolls side to side from time to time, rolling at uncanny and eerie angles, just for the fun of it. She's absolutely sizing Livio up, thank you. If Vash could be bold enough to try and peek under her disguise, then whatever actually managed to frighten him was probably a big deal.

In any case, she scuttles around to Vash's lap as he settles onto a bench. He allows a hand to drop, patting at where her "back" might be, going strictly based off the disguise.]

Don't let her fool you. She's a real spitfire. [Naturally, he sounds distracted as he speaks.]

You got one too, didn't you?

[He's just going to... look away for a second. That little creature does not seem okay. Even if she could fit in one of his hands.]

Reckon she is...

[Rather than test the bench, Livio chooses to sit right on the ground. He unclips a ball from his belt and after a brief flash of light, there's a little bear cub sitting on his lap and tilting her head at Vash and his partner.]

Sure did. She's just as cuddly as she looks, though. [And boy does she give a content little smile when he pats her head carefully.]

[Should it alarm Vash that there's just a bear sitting in this ~~bear's~~ hands? Maybe not. He reaches over, careful not to disturb his own little critter, and offers his hand for a little sniff.]

Awful cute aren't they? Nothing like the worms I'm used to. [He sniffs.] Even reading about Earth couldn't have prepared me for something like this.

[He's rambling, now. Vash might have been the one to propose this particular conversation, but he's not particularly eager to kick it off.]

Honestly, I don't think anything could have prepared me for this.

[Teddiursa gives the offered hand a sniff, then a tentative lick -- but instead of some kind of food, she tastes metal. Blech! She isn't exactly snooty, per se, in turning her head away, she's just... no longer interested.]

Yer tellin' me. Didn't really expect to wake up in a big, green paradise after stoppin' somebody's plans to bring about just that.

[His eyes fall despite the beauty of the water he stares off into.]

Doubt I much deserve it, though. Lotta others do.

[Vash lets out a laugh, clearly delighted by the display. In penance, he fishes around in a pocket until he pulls out a stray bit of trail mix, then offers it over to Livio instead. He can inspect it and be sure it's good for his little friend, then pass it along.]

Yeah, you can say that again.

[He turns his eyes up toward the blue sky. At least that is familiar, even if it lacks a distinct amount of extra moons.]

I don't know. From what I saw you went through enough to earn your stay in paradise.

[Even if some pieces don't quite fit, Livio trusts Vash implicitly, and doesn't hesitate to feed his fuzzy little friend. She, in turn, blinks up at Vash in thanks.]

Yeah, 'bout that... [He gives a quiet, nervous laugh.] I dunno if we saw the same things. Hell if I know how that works, but... I don't recall any'a that stuff.

But you're still Livio. You grew up with Nicholas D. Wolfwood at Hopeland Orphanage, right?

[Maybe there's just two dudes with white hair named Livio out there! It could happen.]

Sure I did. Last time I saw you 'n him together, though... [Something tells him that the less he says for now, the better. It may be best to find out what Vash knows first.] ... well, it wasn't on a sand steamer.

Sounds like both of our last group meetings didn't go so great.

[He leans forward on the bench, pulling his knees up to his chest.]

Honestly, it's one of the last things I remember. The thing was racing toward Hopeland. I promised Wolfwood I'd keep the orphanage and the passengers safe.

I don't know if I managed it.

[Truth be told, this is making Livio's brain hurt a little bit.]

Guess things mighta gone a lil differently fer us... maybe like some sorta butterfly effect? That a real thing?

Although -- y'all protected Hopeland, far as I'm concerned. Maybe not from a runaway steamer, but all the same.

Could be something like that.

[Vash isn't sure how the butterfly effect could create such drastic differences between the Livio he met and this one but... maybe that's not for him to know.]

You were still in the Eye back then. We were trying to free you and it... didn't go so well. [He gives Livio a once over now.] Guessing by the fact that you're not trying to haul me off that it took eventually?

Huh...

[The similarities are there, at least. Though from what Vash has said, there's a chance he might have died?

... That would probably be for the better, actually.]

Well... Yeah. Nick... got through t'me eventually.

I'm glad...

Where we were from, I really pushed him to get through to you. And when he did... [He hugs those knees just a little tighter.]

I'm glad it ends up okay somehow. And I'm sure he is too!

[Maybe it is easier to think of it as being from somewhere else. Just... eerily similar somewhere elses.

Rubbing one of Teddiursa's ears between his fingers, Livio wonders if keeping quiet is more cruel than he thought at first. It isn't the same as being told he died... after all, they both cared about Wolfwood. In some messed up way, doesn't Vash deserve to know?]

Actually... Y'know, I'm glad things went different for ya. Where I came from... ah. He's the one who didn't make it.

Test drive meme - July & August

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just gonna slap a blanket cw: suicide imagery going forward.

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