krispykremefan | Just a Slight Calibration

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Just a Slight Calibration

There was a bit of a malfunction. Nothing to be too concerned over and would be fixed right away. One would hardly notice at all. After all, it only happened when you were asleep and dreaming. Nothing to worry about. It was just a hardly worth mentioning malfunction that opened your subconscious up to anyone dreaming or who could travel freely through dreams. With or without your permission. But, really now, who would do something like that? Don't even bother thinking about it.

Which is why Vash's mind is open for anyone interested in rummaging around up there. After all, how could a guy as happy and carefree as Vash have anything hiding around up there that would be interesting in taking a look at anyway?

There are so many rooms on entry. Way more than a normal human should have at the age Vash looks. Instead of the amount expected for roughly 30 years of life there's enough for over a 130 years.

Most rooms are covered in dirt and dust. The smell of gunpowder lingers all around. The doors here look like they were made from hand. Mostly pieces of misshapen scrap nailed together, a few wooden ones, even a few made from hard clay. All have names craved into them. Countless names. A few, however, do repeat. Wolfwood, Meryl, and Milly being the ones that seem to appear the most among others that repeat, but not nearly the same amount. The other name that appears often is Knives. Always painted in blood red.

Then there are others that have wanted posters tacked onto them. Surprisingly most actually feature Vash himself. Yet there are others for people with such creative names like Gasback, Brilliant Dynamites Neon, The Nebraska Family, and group of people that go by the titled The Gun-Ho-Guns. One name appears over and over in that group. Legato.

Then there are two doors. One simply labeled as July in the same fashion as the others. Then there a second door labeled Lost July. This one looks like some sort of wallpaper had covered the door that has has only just been recently ripped away. A bright light glow can be seen around the edges of the door. This same glow can be found behind another door labeled as Fifth Moon.

Then there is a small section of rooms down a side hall with the label Project SEEDS above all of them. The doors here appear much more advanced and the smell of gun smoke vanishes. They open with a electronic switch instead of a poorly made door knob. Almost as if they are from a space ship from science fiction. These have only a handful of names appearing on them: Rem, Knives, Joey, Brad, Steve, Mary, and Rowan. Except for Knives these names do not appear on the dusty doors. The final room labeled as: The Big Fall.

The biggest question is - which door do you try first?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Well, first Bill's going to take a moment to cackle like a hyena. The sheer amount of damage he could do in here is staggering.

He splits like a bead of mercury into dozens of smaller Bills that go around throwing open doors and gleefully diving inside.

For ease of narration, the Bill we follow goes straight to Lost July.

"ALRIGHT, SUNSHINE! SHOW ME WHAT YOU'VE GOT!"

Since the wallpaper has been ripped away and this memory returned to Vash this memory comes in crystal clear now.

The bright light is blinding for a moment. Then Bill is in what appears to be an office. Vash enters, excitement clearly on his face, but as soon as he steps in it changes to utter shock and horror.

There's a dead man dressed in a business suit slumped over a desk with a pool of his own blood gathering and spilling over the sides. Another man sits calmly on the desk, without a touch of blood on him, a soft smile on his face. He appears to be wearing what could possibly be called a space suit. He also looks remarkably a lot like Vash.

This other man, with his back turned towards Vash, turns and raises his hand up in a wave. "Oh, hey there Vash." Vash stands, now with tears streaming down his face, still in complete shock. "Now everything that joined you and Rem together is finally gone." The man continues with a clear hint of joy in his tone.

Vash finally snaps out of his shock as his face quickly turns to rage. "Is that your excuse for killing?!"

The man doesn't roll his eyes, but it can be practically heard when he speaks again. "Haven't you learned anything over the past hundred years? The scars they've carved into your body will never regenerate. Symbolic of your foolish wasted energy on this human garbage."

"Regardless of how you feel about them, they are living beings. They deserve to live!" Vash retorts quickly. His voice of stubborn conviction.

Would Bill like to watch a bit more? It's clear that things are escalating quickly between the two. As the man who has been speaking so calmly up to now starts to scowl.

Hell fucking yes he would. He's even going to conjure a bucket of popcorn over here behind Vash's back.

That's the brother. Definitely. The one from the dream with the beach.

Yes, it very much is. Bill picked a good spot behind Vash. He doesn't notice the demon behind him at all and Knives doesn't seem to notice either. Probably because he's just a memory and not the one reliving it.

Knives has stood up from the desk. Back towards Vash as he slowly starts to turn around. His voice starts off as if he's going to keep his calm composure, but breaks into anger as he continues. "What's the point of growing older, if the only thing that grows is your useless sentimentalism?" He's full on scowling now. Eyes full of betrayed rage as he glares at Vash. "You're still a good for nothing pathetic wimp!" Knives suddenly raises his gun and aims at Vash.

Twenty years of experience later Vash might have been able to dodge that bullet, but right now he's younger and less experienced. He's not ready when Knives suddenly aims at him. He raises both guns that he holds, one silver and one black, in his hands to prepare to shoot back, but it's too late and Knives has already fired.

Bill may need to move as the force of the gun shot sends Vash's flying backwards as he smashes into the wall behind him. His left arm flying off and away. Landing dead on the other side of the room. Still clutching the black revolver in it's grip.

Vash slumps over onto his right side in pain. He hasn't let go of the silver weapon. Not foolish enough to completely leave himself vulnerable to an attack, but he can't help himself. He attempts to cradle an arm that is no longer there as his brother smiles down at him. Slowly walking forward.

But that strange glow that was around the door frame is still missing. Is Bill still enjoying his popcorn? Or would he like to get involved?

Edited 2016-09-12 23:19 (UTC)

Popcorn all the way, son.

He's going to watch this memory until July goes up in flames, unless he's noticed. Collect information now, use it later.

He does need to teleport away from Vash as he falls down, and suppress a snicker. He relocates, invisible, to behind Knives. Better view!

Knives raises his hand as he stops just a little bit away still from Vash. With a snap of his fingers the barrel of Vash's gun suddenly pops off and a flare of white light erupts from the inner workings. There's something long and black that had been hidden inside the gun, but whatever it is is quickly engulfed in the light.

Vash stares at the light that gives off a sharp shrill of noise from his weapon. Finding he can no longer let it go. "What- what the hell is that?"

Knives looks overjoyed. Reaching out his arms wide. "This is our gift, brother! Now it's time to take out this worthless human garbage forever!" He shouts as Vash's arm suddenly grows. It turns white and fuses itself with his gun. His hand and gun completely vanishing into something new.

Power radiates off of his arm as it continues to grow. Shaping into a large gun. A bright light in the middle grows and glows brightly. It hot and Vash starts to scream. More from surprised horror than pain. Feathers burst forth and even some faces. His skin shifting as it tries to form the full weapon but Vash fighting against it and keeping it only about half his body size.

Knives is enjoying watching his brother struggle. Almost about to speak again to tell his brother to simply let go when Vash swings the weapon at him. His enjoyment quickly changes to a look of surprised betrayal yet again. He points to himself with a small hint of amusement. "Are you going to shoot me again?" There's just no way Vash would do that again, yet there he was. Struggling to keep the weapon pointed at Knives.

He really was going to shoot him again! No! They should not be fighting each other! It was the humans who they were suppose to be fighting! Knives simply cannot believe it. "Are you really going to shoot me again!? VASH!!!!!"

His enraged shout is drowned out as the power in Vash's arm is let loose. Hitting Knives nearly dead center. Cutting through the man, the room, and out into the city. Everything goes white. There is no escaping it. The sound of collapsing buildings and people screaming is deafening.

Then suddenly everything goes black. Vash passes out. He doesn't know what happens immediately after. It picks up again as he comes to. Laying on the ground, clothing in tatters, and still bleeding in a destroyed city. Cries of agony and pain as people try to make sense of what just happened.

"Wh- where am I?" He tries to sit up and a wave of pain shoots through him. "WHAT HAPPENED TO MY ARM!?" Knives is no where to be seen or even thought of at this point. "Oh, Rem. Rem. What have I done, Rem?"

The man who Vash is now remembers what happened. If Bill interacts now he will be eventually able to recall. Unless Bill wishes to continue to watch as this Vash struggles with his missing memory and the start of the legend of Vash the Stampede. Or of course, there are other doors he can play with.

Well, well, well.

Bill forgets his popcorn to stare. Well, he can't stop here. He has to know what that is, why it did that, how?

More importantly, how did Knives force Vash to use it? Could it be done again?

Bill slips out of this door, twirling his cane and singing under his breath.

"SHOT THROUGH THE HEART, AND YOU'RE TO BLAME~"

He's an expert at navigating minds by now - he just needs to find another door with that strange cannon arm.

[It shouldn't be too hard for Bill to find. The other door similar to that is labeled The Fifth Moon. Not as well hidden as the one marked Lost July had clearly once been, but also only recently uncovered. The strange glow is also there.

There is another door with a picture of the two weapons Vash held in the last memory on it. There is a slight glow there, not near the intensity of the other two doors. It also doesn't appear to have been hidden away like the other two either. It's also an order door where with Lost July in the middle and The Fifth Moon as the newest in appearance.

Bill can take his pick.]

Edited 2016-09-14 00:13 (UTC)

[Bill heads for the door with the two weapons. Let's see the beginning of the story!]

[Vash sits in what looks like a very old and abandoned piece of technology. It doesn't look at all like it belongs in the world that July was in. Far too advanced. A tattered brown cloak around him with a space suit similar to the one his brother wears underneath instead of his normal red duster. He sits and waits until Knives steps out from the shadows.]

Knives! You're back!

All done. [Knives makes a small motion that tell Vash that he should follow and he scrambles to his feet to follow his brother out into the burning light of the twin suns. Desert all around what appears to be a crashed space ship that Vash had been waiting inside.] Hey, where are you going now?

[Knives doesn't answer. Reaching to the top of a sand dune and firing into the distance. He aims and shoots a black handgun that looks brand new. A large bright light travels far across the land and explodes into a giant white ball of power. Vash brings his arms up to cover his eyes and face and wind from the blast whips around him. Knives stands firm with a grin. As the dust settles he finally turns to Vash.] Just a thirteen percent output. That's as good as these get.

What-- what is that?! [Vash stares stunned at the giant hole in the ground that wasn't there before.]

These are our new siblings. [Vash holds up two handguns. One black and one silver. The two Vash had carried with him in the last memory. Knives holds the white one out towards Vash.] This one is yours. We will use these to wipe out all mankind from this planet.

[Vash just stares at his brother and doesn't move at all to take it. Unable to believe what he's hearing. Until Knives mentioned wiping out humanity. Vash angrily pushes the gun away, refusing to take it.] I'm not going to do that!

[Knives yanks the gun back to shove the handle of the gun back up into Vash's face.] Take it.

Never!

[Knives's mouth turns into a grin at Vash's stubbornness.] Then why did you follow me around and wait for me all this time? It's because you're hopeless on your own, isn't it? [Vash doesn't answer. Just stares back at his brother.] Alright, fine. [Knives starts to turn away from his brother; knowing he has won once again.] Just watch me then.

[As Knives starts to walk away Vash finally snaps into action.] No! Don't! [He rushes forward and tackles his brother to the ground. The twins roll around, struggling for control of the two guns. They topple head over heels until Vash finally knocks both guns out of Knives's hand. They skid apart from each other and each brother breaks away to grab each for a different gun.

Knives is faster, grabbing the black gun and on his knees just as Vash is reaching the silver one. He aims at his brother's back and Vash freezes on his hands and knees still. Slowly Knives gets back up to his feet still aiming at Vash.] Are you still hung up on that nonsense after fifteen years? That self-contradicting nonsense of a stupid woman? [Knives lowers his aim. He had no intention of actually shooting his brother anyway. Vash, however, becomes angry at his brother's words and grabs the gun now turning and aiming at his brother from the ground.]

I won't let you kill anymore!

[Knives chuckles. Not believing for a second that he's in any danger.] You've gotten the wrong idea, brother. I'm not the one you should be aiming at.

They're all alive! Alive! And I promised Rem. I promised that I would make this land-

[Knives interrupts and opens his arms.] I know, and that's right! We're going to make this land into a paradise. Just like you promised her. Just for us.

[Vash is shaking as he snarls at his brother. Knives still stands smiling with open arms. This is wrong. Everything his brother says is wrong! He knows this! But what can he do? If only they hadn't been born! Then everything would have--

There's a loud bang that fills the air before Vash even realizes completely that he had pulled the trigger. He had been aiming for Knives's forehead, but he's never fired a gun before and instead a red welt starts to bloom on Knives's thigh as he falls to his knees and clutches at his injured leg.]

My leg. It hurts. My leg. Why is there so much pain in my leg? [He is in complete and utter shock. Unable to believe the brother he loves so much just shot him.] Did you just shoot me? [Vash looks panicked and shocked himself. Unable to believe he really did just pull the trigger himself. Despite the smell of gunfire in the air.] Did you really just shoot me!?

[Vash can't take the accusation anymore. He screams and runs up towards his brother. He leans down and grabs the other weapon before rushing past his brother who is still screaming out in pain.]

Vash! Wait! Don't go-Ack! [Knives collapses from the pain and Vash keeps on running and he doesn't look back once.]

Knives. What a cute kid. What's going on with that damn spaceship, though? That's interesting.

He'll slip into the ship if he can, invisible. The memory won't last long now that Vash has left the area, but maybe there's a little time.

A quick look will show a shuttle that appears to have very recently been landed from space close by.

Inside part of the main ship is damaged from what appears to be a crash landing by the way it's partly impacted into the sand. Most of the ship has been abandoned. Years worth of dust gathering. A small area, however, is different. It looks as if someone has been living in a couple rooms on their own. They don't seen to own anything, but it's clear by the dust these areas have been lived in. A small stock pile of food and the bed has been slept in.

Not much else besides the shuttle and a couple lights seem to be working.

When Bill does leave this memory he best be careful. In the hallway of rooms Vash, not a memory, but the sleeping man himself is starting to look for an intruder. He may still have time to view a couple more memories before he's noticed.

Does he want to go even earlier in Vash's memories? Those seem to be in the area all labelled Project SEEDS. Most seem pleasant and we'll kept. Others not so much. Most of those have the name Steve attached to them. Another has an image of a spider and a butterfly. There's also one labled "The Big Fall" which may be a give away. A few listed with Plant in this area as well.

Of course there is still the door that use to be hidden away with The Fifth Moon labelled on it with that odd glow that Bill can check out.

Or there is pestering Vash right now and giving himself away. Or any of the rooms listed before.

Edited 2016-09-26 13:48 (UTC)

He's going to stick with the original plan of checking the Fifth Moon - but, just to be sure, he splits himself into three duplicates. They tip hats at each other briefly - hello, Bill. Yes, hello to you too, Bill. Then they split up.

One each heads for the Fifth Moon door, the Big Fall door, and whichever door looks most important in SEEDS.

Edited 2016-09-28 01:50 (UTC)

The Bill that goes into the door that looks like the most important in SEEDs finds one that probably won't be overly exciting to Bill, however, it's one of the most important to Vash. Bill finds himself in a large space ship. If he looks around there's a room full of thousands of people cryogenically frozen. Only four adults wonder around awake and two children.

One of those is Vash who sits in a small room with a young woman with long silky hair. Vash is just a boy who looks to be around the age of nine or so. He's dressed in what appears to be a light blue hospital gown of some sort for adults. The sleeves and legs are rolled over and over and it's still giant on the small boy. His hair still in it's iconic broom look.

Vash and the woman are looking at an image of a red geranium on a hologram in the middle of the small round table the two sit at. The two seem to both be in a bit of serious thought over something. Quietly looking at the flower until Vash finally speaks. "Rem, why can't everyone just get along with each other?"

Rem hums to herself before answering the boy's question. "I suppose it's because we all have so many different ways of thinking. But even if we do make mistakes we have the ability to do something about it and make better choices next time." Vash turns, looking at Rem and soaking in every word that she says. "And if you keep your vision clear you will see the future. What happens in our future is our own responsibility. After all, the ticket to the future is always blank. It's up to us to decide where that ticket will take us."

Vash nods his head with a soft smile. Clearly something happened just before that might have upset the boy, but hearing Rem's words has calmed him a bit. Rem smiles back and gives the boy a soft hug. Happy to see that he was listening and at least appeared to be understanding.

~~(OOC: Journal change because I can and the other two memories will come when I have a moment!)~~

Aha. There she is.

Bill's going to try to find out who the other three adults are. Pilots? More caretakers?

Bill won't have to go far to see one of the adults as Knives enters the room with Joey who says he's glad that they seemed ready for their lesson. Despite the events earlier that day. Joey is a tall man with black hair, mustache and beard. He wears what looks like an official greenish blue uniform as compared to Rem's white t-shirt and jeans.

Joey and Knives join the pair at the circular table as Rem brightens the room a bit and lowers the image of the flower. Joey and Rem go over some of the differences between Earth and the recent planet they have discovered. That based on what the scan finds for their initial analysis will be how much output the Plants will need expend in order to make the terraforming possible. That way the humans can safely live on the planet. Of course, if it's too difficult then they may need to move onto a different planet.

Rem and Vash are excited and hopeful. Knives is a bit more grounded. Asking about the damage to the Plants with such a task ahead. Joey is honest, saying that if they push the Plants too hard that they can die so it's important to treat them right. He continues and thanks the boys for all their hard work with the Plants. Saying how with all their help that there really shouldn't be too much to worry about with the Plants.

While this is going on the other two adults are elsewhere. Vash wasn't there so he doesn't hear their conversation or really know for certain where they are. Right or wrong, they're not in any of the five bedrooms, one of the bedrooms has three beds in it, that appear to be lived in. Instead they're out of the way in a cargo room full of boxes. Vash really isn't sure what happened there.

There's another woman with short brown hair, freckles on her face, and thin rimmed glasses. She seems worried about another man in the room with her also in a blue uniform with thick squared glasses.

They stay in that room motionless as if waiting for their cue. It comes after Joey ends the lesson for the day saying the trio should meet him in the bridge later so they can see the results. Vash, Rem, and Knives were walking down towards another room when finally the two figures move and the sound of gunfire fills the ship as the man shoots the other woman who was with him.

Rem calls out to Joey who tells her where the monitors are cut and she races towards the area. The two boys following quickly behind her. Vash sees Rem open the door and he can already tell by her gasp that whatever has happened isn't good. Confirmed as he finally gets to the door and peers around Rem. Laying in a pool of her own blood was the woman and the other man still standing over her with the gun in his hand.

"Rowan..." Rem doesn't know what to say and she trails off. Unable to comprehend what was in front of her.

"It's her own fault. She betrayed me. I only helped her because she said she didn't like Steve. She said she loved me. It's unbelievable!" A ring lay forgotten by his feet as he looks towards Rem for confirmation. "Isn't it unbelievable?" But as Rowan looks towards Rem he spots something that turns his face white. In response he raises his weapon so the laser guide lands squarely in the middle of Knives's forehead.

The boy looks petrified and stops breathing. Vash stands unsure what to do. This had to all be a dream right? "Oh, I see. Yes, it was him. It's his fault that Mary is dead."

Only Rem is the one not too frightens to take action. She throws herself in the sight's path with her arms spread out. "What are you talking about Rowan? Put the gun down." Joey's voice breaks in over the intercom asking what was going on, but he remains unanswered.

Rowan doesn't back down to Rem. Gun steady in his hands. "I have the right to shoot that monster." Vash finally moves, possibly inspired by Rem's own action to stand in front of his brother. The word monster always hurt, but even more so now. Rowan had never called them that to their faces before.

"Get out of the way, Rem!" Joey's voice cracks out over the intercom. Apparently the monitors working again

He can't see her face, but Vash can hear the calm and confidant tone in Rem's voice. "No one has the right to take the life of another." Words that would become Vash's motto for the next 130 years. Bill had picked a very important door to Vash. "Please put the gun down." With arms still outstretched she takes a step towards Rowan.

Now panicked with fear in his eyes Rowan takes a stumbling step back as she comes closer. Hands starting to shake. "No! Stay back!"

"Roawn! What are you doing!?" Joey shouts as Rowan is backed up to the wall.

"Something inside of me is broken. I can't stop." His voice trembles as Rem continues her slow pace towards him.

"It's alright." Rem's voice is soothing. Calm, as if she was relaxing someone after a bad dream and that she could make everything alright again.

"Rem! Get out of there!"

Vash stands back with his brother. Unable to look away as the three adults try to get a handle on the situation.

"You can start over. Here, let me help you."

Rowan trembles. Eyes wide in pure fear as if it was Rem holding the weapon and he was the one unarmed. "Please stay back." He pleads, but she continues forward and starts to reach out with her arm. "Don't do it, Rem. STAY BACK!"

Suddenly there's a rush of wind and icy cold that almost fills the room instantly. The wall Rowan had his back against was actually an air lock and it was opening. Without any warning Rowan was being whisked out into space. "Rowan, no!" Rem makes a desperate grasp for the man, but she's not fast enough as safety bars activate with only moments to spare to keep her from being sucked out into the cold vacuum of space with him.

Vash feels his brother's hand in his in a vice grip. He'll have marks from his brother's fingernails later, but so would Knives. They brace each other in the door way to avoid being sucked in further. It's over in moments as Joey locks the airlock doors again as the wind and suction stop.

Once the twins relax enough to let go Vash rushes forwards to where Rem falls to the ground in tears. He doesn't even notice as Knives wanders off elsewhere.

Okay, no idea what all of this is about.

Bill prods the body on the floor with his cane. Anything unusual about it?

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lmk if this is boring and if you want more interaction?? he's. biding his time.

Sorry! I was just worried about throwing a wall of text at you without giving you a chance to tag

<3

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/vomits words

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And then suddenly remembering giving options for someone who doesn't know Vash's life could help lol

haha it's cool <3

1/3 A SEEDs Memory

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2/3 The Big Fall

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3/3 The Fifth Moon

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