Early in the morning

[cowgoesmoo]

[ Just before dawn, anyone monitoring the low-band station that Rem's transmitter is usually set to might hear the following short message from a child who is clearly trying not to panic. ]

Blades, this is Feathers-home, Feathers-home calling Blades, what's your twenty? Where are you!?

[ There's a pause of about a minute, then the message repeats three more times, and finally the transmission ends with: ]

If anyone out there knows who this is and you see my brother, tell me right away!

Comments

[tallredridinghood]

[ it takes Vash a long moment to figure out the code names, though with the information about and from the other Vash...

His eyes go wide, and he scrambles to the radio. ]

Wait, he's missing [ again ] ...?

What happened? Are you hurt? Is -- [ code names

... Nope, too worried to come up with one for Rem. ] -- anyone else there hurt?

[cowgoesmoo]

[ The voice is familiar -- that's the Vash who lives here sometimes, isn't it? It sure sounds like him. ]

Nobody's hurt! I mean, I'm not hurt, and... [ Ugh, codenames! ] ...and Mom is okay too. It's just us here. I woke up and he was gone! He wouldn't just leave!

[tallredridinghood]

Oh. I'm glad of that, at least, please stay safe.

I know it's happened to him a couple of times before - it's how he showed up where you are, as far as I know. He is probably all right, and might reply to you soon, even, but I'll keep an eye out for him. He kind of could be anywhere, but if these relocations are done by the ... plants that brought us here, they should not be harmful.

[ He hopes. ]

[cowgoesmoo]

[ "I don't know where he is but I'm sure he's fine!" is absolutely not what he wanted to hear! ]

It's not safe for him to be on his own! What if somebody recognizes him?

[tallredridinghood]

[ He knows but it's the most he can give. ]

He is so young, people won't be considering a child. But no, I'll look for him and let you know if I find him. All right?

Please stay where you are, because if he returns there and doesn't find you, it'll be just as bad for him.

[ornamentals]

[ it took him some time, but he manages to find a radio beneath dark roots, following the muffled sounds of his brother calling for him over the waves. ]

Feathers? This is, um- this is Blades. I'm okay, are you okay?

[cowgoesmoo]

[ It took too much time! He's been waiting and waiting, for hours! ]

Where the hell are you?

[ Sorry Rem, but serious situations call for serious language! ]

[ornamentals]

[ there's a huff on nai's end, wow rude! ]

I... don't know - yet.

[ some shuffling... ]

It's hard to tell...

[cowgoesmoo]

[ Disappearing in the middle of the night is ruder! Also, "I'm okay but I don't know where I am" sounds like he's maybe in trouble? If he's got a radio he can't be out in the sands, but if he doesn't know where he is... ]

Why? Is it dark? Are you trapped? ...Is there somebody else there?

[ When he's back safe they're going to talk about code words and phrases, ways to communicate when they can't talk clearly, and ways to find each other if one goes missing! For now, he'll just have to be direct. ]

[ornamentals]

I'm not trapped! I'm sure I can leave, if I wanted to, but... um-

[ they really need code words to get through this conversation. he knows well and good that it'd be a bad idea to talk openly over a public radio wave exactly what was happening right now. ]

But, I'm not alone either.

[ a pause ]

... I'm sorry, Feathers. I didn't want to leave you.

[dontdeserve]

[ When the radio cracks back to life, the younger Vash is temporarily not there, but the older one is. Because he's making sure the radio does not remain unmanned. ]

Blades? Feathers will be back shortly.

[ The voice is both similar to the Vash where Nai is, quieter, and rougher. And there is worry in it, as opposed to, well, fawning. ]

[ornamentals]

[ keeping the radio away from thorns' listening ears is harder than he thought, but he's trying.

he just... doesn't want to upset his brother. any of them, which is proving to be nigh impossible. ]

Where did he go? Is he okay?

[dontdeserve]

He's all right, just a little tired, a little hungry, and very worried.

Nai... I think I know where you are. And that it may be difficult for you to choose much of anything, with the one who's there. But ... he is not as he seems to be. The real him is still inside, in pain.

I have... thoughts on how to help him, the one inside. But if you're there, his pain will just get worse, even as the trap that is in control is happier. I'm sorry.

[ Vash hesitates for a bit. ]

I could come and get you, though he won't like that.

[ It is an offer. Though his voice suggests that there may be another option. ]

[dontdeserve]

[ Well. That sure is a burst of sadness from the radio room, on the heels of relief, after the panic.

He's stayed out of the way of his little self after their conversation, strongly suspecting that his presence is unwelcome, but this kind of sadness, loss even. He knows it far too well to not ... try to help.

So he sets down the bag he'd been holding ready in order to follow in the 'steps' of the ghost and go looking, waits until the words trail off, and comes to knock on the door of the radio room. ]

Vash? Is it all right for me to come in?

[ Soft voice, so soft, and slight soothing energy, just so that the little him is not hurting so much. ]

[cowgoesmoo]

[ He knows which older him it is without even having to open the door. It's the one he'd yelled at the other day about Knives, the one who walks around feeling niceness and good things at people. It doesn't seem right, having somebody he yelled at come and make sure he's okay, but it seems even more not already to tell him to go away, so...

The door is opened by a little Vash still in his sleep clothes, hair mussed and eyes bloodshot. ]

Sorry. Was I too loud?

[ It is still pretty early. ]

[dontdeserve]

[ Vash shakes his head, managing a small, soft smile, though his eyes are concerned. ]

Not your voice, and I was already awake. You have nothing to apologize for.

[ He crouches down, so that he's not making Vash stare up at him. Or look at his legs or something. ]

I know I'm probably the last person you want to try to help, but it's ... easier to not be completely alone. Even if you don't say anything at all.

[cowgoesmoo]

[ Completely alone gets another big sniff, and Vash's eyes are definitely getting teary. He was able to be strong for Nai, but Nai's not here. ]

It's okay. [ His feelings were too loud? Crap. That's one more thing to work on! Vash rubs the tears out of his eyes with the back of his hand, and tries to look -- and feel -- like he's fine. ] I found Nai! He's okay.

[ If everything was okay then his chin wouldn't be trembling like that, probably. ]

He'll be home soon! I think.

[aplantandherboy]

[One of the responses is!! Someone completely unfamiliar with any Vash. He sounds like he's not entirely sure what's going on, based on the bits of static and occasional clanks from his end.]

Hello? Feathers? I was told by Delphi to say, if you are looking ... hang on, let me ask again.

....

Looking for your brother, he might have popped up in the Innnnnnnnnnnnnn..... around. Near Alba Scutum but not actually here. She says you are too far away to tell you herself and it would only come out as a lot of beep boops.

[cowgoesmoo]

[ Delphi? Alba Scutum? Vash quickly pours over the nearby map, getting more and more worried as his search radius takes him further and further from July. But finally he spots it! Alba Scutum, way far away to the southwest.

His heart sinks. It's way too far to walk, he can't fly, he can't reach the pedals in Rem's car... how can he get there? ]

Uh, Delphi? This is Feathers-home. Please confirm identity, repeat, can you please confirm that you really saw him?

[aplantandherboy]

Delphi's my plant! Or I'm her human. I'll pass all that on.

[There's delays. He's doing his best but radios are really best left in the hands of people who know what they're doing.

She says she hasn't actually seen any of you except for two, but that you feel samey and that sameyness is now over there except different and a lot younger. She says it's a plant thing and she can tell, and I should think about it like petting a soft blanket, or a different soft blanket.

Does that make any sense? It doesn't to me.

[cowgoesmoo]

[ Plants have humans? ...Like pets? ]

That doesn't make any sense at all! How're people like blankets?

[ Well, okay, maybe Helpful Vash is like a blanket. He's always around the station being, well, helpful and thinking love thoughts at everyone! That's kinda like a person being a soft blanket? Maybe?

Or maybe Delphi's human is nutso. ]

An' how're you her human?

[nurturing]

[ Rem steps into the room with her data pad in her hand, sleep-mussed and bleary-eyed as she sits down next to Vash and puts an arm around him. ]

I checked my tracker, he's not on this side of the sand ocean.

[cowgoesmoo]

[ Worst-case scenario: confirmed. Vash's chin is trembling again, but he's not going to cry. He can't find Nai if he's crying like a baby. ]

I can't... um. Boost the signal any more. [ His is not going to cry! ] It's already set to max, so...

[ So Nai may be out of range. The station's transmitter is a strong one, but the sand ocean is so big! They may have no way to contact him.

A week ago Vash would be worried, but not panicking. But then a week ago, he didn't know that every person on the planet might hate his brother for something the local version of him did. What if somebody figures out who he is? Being stuck in the sand sea by himself is terrifying, even for a plant that doesn't need water, but if he ends up with humans? They could kill him. They could kill him and Vash would never know. ]

I don't know what else to do, Rem.

[nurturing]

I know... I know.

[ She sees that tremble and it breaks her heart. ]

I was really hoping the trackers would help if someone was relocated like this. I'm sorry, honey. We'll find another way.

[ Rem hugs him to her side, putting down the data pad so she has two arms to work with. ]

He's going to be okay, Vash. He's just a little boy, people aren't going to recognize him.

[cowgoesmoo]

[ He's not a baby, but he's still going to cling to Rem like if he holds her tight enough it'll make Nai appear. ]

I told him I'd look after him. That we'd stay together.

[ How's he supposed to keep his word when things like this can happen? ]

We're supposed to stay together!