Open | Power Plant and Hotel

[goldenglasses]

Who: Vash and company!
What: Arrival and exploring the city
When: Anytime
Where: The hotel, power plant, but happy to have him anywhere

[Vash had been laying a little low when he first arrived. He was suppose to be going home so waking up here was a surprise and he decided to stay quiet at first. As he saw and met more and more people he remembered from the fleet then he starts to come out more.

He's set himself up a nice place in one of the hotel rooms. He's stored his food and small belongings there. Dressed in his usual red coat anyone who knew Vash well from his time in the fleet might find it strange that a small streak of his blond hair has turned black near his right ear. He's also wearing a bracelet that was gifted to him by Kitty.

Today he's mostly checking out the power plant with his black cat Kuroneko not too far away from him. He's been tinkering with something he THINKS looks like a generator. Trying to fix it and today after a bit more elbow grease he thinks he's ready to try his plan.

When he thinks no one is looking he shuts his eyes and places a hand on the generator. Willing his own power forth and into the machinery of the power plant. If his sister could power whole cities he should be able to as well right? Except of course his sisters knew what he was doing and weren't trying to work with alien tech. Vash hardly knows what he's doing when it comes to his abilities.

Except something that sounds like it's powering on starts to whirl! A hum fills the air and it looks like Vash may be successful! For all of two seconds. Something down the hall pops and bursts. With a yelp Vash falls backwards onto his back side gasping for air like he's just run a marathon. Legs too weak to get back up right away.] Well... that didn't work.

Comments

[goldenglasses]

Oh! I'm sorry! That I think that was my fault. [Vash scratches at his head in embarrassment.] I might have overloaded something. Did you get hurt by any sparks?

[pileofspirits]

"Did you get hurt... get hurt?" they idly repeat while they look down at themself, brushing their hands over their raggedy cloak, looking for damage. Then they check their arms, which are wrapped up in layers of cloth and what look suspiciously like bandages, but they don't seem to think those are injured either.

Finally, they look back up at him and recycle the words one more time. "Did you get hurt by any sparks?"

[goldenglasses]

Vash tilts his head slightly as he watches the display. Making a soft hum noise under his breath. It seemed like this person understood what he asked, but they were also only repeating what Vash had said. So... did they understand?

"No, I didn't get hurt." He gives this new figure what he hopes they will see as a friendly smile. "My name is Vash. What's yours?" Wondering how he'll do with a question that requires additional information.

[pileofspirits]

Their weird, flat-black eyes don't blink, but they do mimic Vash's smile. They at least look more friendly and less startled this way.

"What's yours? May name is--" and they seem to catch themself before automatically parroting Vash's own name. They finally blink a few times then, and try again.

"My names... I don't remember. I don't remember my names."

[goldenglasses]

Vash holds out a hand and takes a step forward. Wanting to offer some sort of comfort before he stops himself. Would they want physical contact? "Hey, it's okay. It's okay that you don't remember. Do you, um, do you remember if you're from this city?"

[pileofspirits]

"We're from..." They trail off again when an easy answer doesn't fall out of their mouth, and it takes a moment for them to try and finish the thought anyway. "Houses. Fields? Shops, shapes... sheds..."

Ending with a small frown, they can tell their own words aren't lining up very well. They seem disappointed, maybe.

But then, several seconds after Vash stops himself from reaching out, the figure very belatedly notices his hand. Blinking in light surprise, they shrug off their frown and suddenly reach for his hand instead! Apparently, physical contact is welcomed.

[goldenglasses]

"Oh!!" Vash is surprised by the sudden grab for his hand. Chuckling in light amusement her takes this person's hand in his own. "It's good to meet you. I know you don't know your name, but is there something you'd like me to call you by? Like a temporary name or something?"

[pileofspirits]

Dirty fingers nearly obscured by wrappings happily latch onto his. And the question gets them thinking...

"Called me by... they did. They, um..." And a few seconds later, it clicks! "Phalanx! They called us Phalanx."

[goldenglasses]

"Phalanx?" Vash tests out the name and gives his head a nod. "Phalanx it is then. Good to meet you Phalanx."

[pileofspirits]

"Good to meet us!" they agree, their hand compulsively squeezing his like a happy child might.

"All of us. And all of your names?" They seem like they're expecting an answer then, even though he'd already told them his name.

[goldenglasses]

"Oh, ah, I only have the one name?" Is that the right answer to give? "Should I call you by a couple different names then?"

[pileofspirits]

When he corrects them about having only one name, the expression on their face changes to confusion. They shake their head and point their free hand at him.

"Lots. You have lots?"

[goldenglasses]

"No, I'm just Vash. Do you have lots?" He tries again patiently.

gdi I accidentally deleted this notif

[pileofspirits]

Phalanx nods, also seemingly trying to be patient.

"Lots. Like you." They seem pretty insistent on this, poking their finger lightly into the center of Vash's chest.

All good!

[goldenglasses]

[Vash blinks down at the finger jabbing him in the chest.] No, I'm afraid I just have the one name. Vash. And I'm okay with that. I happen to think Vash is a very good name.

[pileofspirits]

They nod like they're trying to believe him but are having a hard time doing so. Almost suspicious now as they look him over. Taking back the hand that they'd been poking him with, they fold up their fingers and pull it up to hide in the layers of their sleeve.

"Just Vash? You're... you're not Ericks? And John, and..."

[goldenglasses]

Vash's smile suddenly falters as he hears the aliases that he's used in the past. Names he's only used back home and no one else should know of. "How-- where have you heard those named before?"

[pileofspirits]

"I don't know." It seems like a pretty sure answer, but their eyes fall to where they're still holding onto one of Vash's hands. Thoughtfully, they squeeze his fingers a little bit, and they change their answer.

"From you. You said them. Were you lying?"

[goldenglasses]

"They were briefly my name back then, but not anymore." Vash doesn't try to pull his hand away when his fingers are squeezed. Not wanting to be intimidated. "Can you see my past?"

[pileofspirits]

"I can see... hmm." Phalanx has to think about this one, and that is difficult to do when all the different pieces of yourself are clamoring with different things. It jams things up a little when they try to put it into words.

"You. I see... you. And this place. And some sand? Sands... Hands."

And that thought of 'hands' seems to stick out to them, as they blink as if it's surprising that the word left their own mouth. They look around, following something that isn't there, until their attention finally settles on Vash's left hand.

They reach for his metal wrist. "Hands!"

[goldenglasses]

Vash allows Phalanx to gather his thoughts? Vash isn't sure if that's the right term to use or not, but it's the best he has. Sand must be home there was no doubt about that. At first at the mention of hands Vash's heart leaps. Thinking they saw his angel arm, but then he relaxes slightly and holds up his metal arm for inspection once he sees that Phalanx isn't seeing his angel arm. "Yeah. My left arm is a replacement."

[pileofspirits]

"Yeah, it's not yours."

And they look around for a moment like they're searching for something (maybe his arm?) before focusing on the prosthetic limb he's holding up again. Like a child, their grubby hands reach for his arm without reservation, squeezing at it curiously.

"My arms are replacements too. And my legs. And my head." They laugh a little. Maybe they're making a joke..?

[goldenglasses]

"Uhhhh..." Vash has no idea what to make of a sentence like that. He smiles like a dork as is his default when he's not sure how to feel. Gently joining in with the laughter even if he doesn't understand the joke at all. "Ah, sorry, did you say your head? Because where I'm from that's not something people can usually survive replacing."

[pileofspirits]

Their laughing grows, like the two of them are sharing a nice little joke. Just two friends sharing a funny moment, while they continue to fidget with his fake arm.

"Ha... no, we didn't survive anything," said as pleasantly as anything else.

[goldenglasses]

"Oh..." Vash doesn't try to take back his fake arm, but he does reach up with his real hand to scratch at the back of his head. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize that." Thanks to his time on the Fleet Vash has gotten use to speaking to those who had died back home.