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

[pileofspirits]

[apparently someone else was snooping around nearby, but that doesn't become clear until that pop of electricity and the startled yelp that follows.

the small shower of sparks chases someone out from that place in the dark, throwing up their arms to shield themself from it. they seem to be almost entirely covered in some kind of big, raggedy cloak, so they're probably unhurt, but they're at least frightened.]

[goldenglasses]

Oh! [Vash is surprised to find that someone is here. Peering over at the creature covered in a cloak.] Sorry about that! I didn't think there was anyone else here. Are you alright?

[pileofspirits]

[the pale figure turns, and impossibly dark eyes fix on Vash. they hug their cloak closer around their body, still seeming nervous about what just happened.]

We're... sparked.

[...and then they frown, because they quickly realize that the words that have just left their mouth don't make much sense.]

[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.

hey friend!

[ladiesss]

[Krista has been sneaking around ever since she got here. she pokes her head into things, tries to observe people without being noticed. it's safer that way, until she figures out what's going on. that's why she hasn't gone and approached Vash when she happened to spot him somewhere around the generator, especially once he started looking like he was focusing on something.

she startles when something down the hall pops, though. she can't yell (or else Vash might have heard a shriek), but it's enough to keep her quiet for a moment or two while she tries to figure out what just happened.

she's up on a nearby scaffolding, about ten feet off the ground. easy to miss. but gathering her courage, she stands up, trying to call down to the man in the coat below.]

What did you just do?

[again, she can't actually... yell, though. her voice is quiet, even when she tries to raise it--so he might not even be able to hear what she just asked.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash doesn't hear her. Maybe normally his sharp ears would have picked up the sound of her voice, but he's too shocked by what he's just done that he completely misses it.] Oh shit! That wasn't suppose to happen!

[ladiesss]

Uuuh...

[oh... boy, she's immediately torn between wanting to try again, and wanting to hide and pretend she never said anything. maybe this guy won't even notice she was ever there. she can go back to creeping in the shadows and everything will be fine!

...but magic. fuck it, if it looks like no one else is around, she'll pick up a small chip of nearby rubble and just throw it at him to get his attention.

(she is not very strong, but she hopes he'll at least notice it.)]

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.

[goldenglasses]

[Perhaps it was because of the way his nerves were one edge thanks to overloading the circuits with his power. He knew it was a bad idea, but felt he should at least try. Or maybe it was because he was alone and long learned habits of staying safe as an outlaw back home simply took over. Truth is probably a bit of both.

Either way when the small chip nearly hits Vash's head he side steps out of the way at the last possible second. An unknown object flying at his head thrown by an unknown source? Best to dodge and ask questions. Although his anxious worry dies down a little at seeing it was a bit of rubble and clearly not something intended to actually hurt him.]

Hello? Who's there?

[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..."

[ladiesss]

[...wow, this guy. she really hopes that making her presence known isn't a mistake.

but she waves a little from her spot on the walkway, and then--finally getting a good idea--she raps on the metal railing with her fingernails to make an audible, almost chime-like sound instead.]

Ss... Sorry, up here.

[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?"