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

[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.

[cowgoesmoo]

[ What? Why wouldn't he want to leave? Why would he want to stay wherever he is? Who could possibly be there that would make him want to stay?! It's another Vash, probably, but there's lots of those! Why would he...?

Oh, and then an awful thought occurs to him. Is it Nai's brother? Is his real brother here, is that why...?

He doesn't want to ask, not over the radio. But who else could it be?

His voice is a lot quieter when he finally replies. ]

Okay. So long as you're okay. I'll be here.

[ornamentals]

[ if only. then nai wouldn't hesitate in leaving, but he wouldn't be alone either. if only...

he doesn't like hearing vash sound like this. even as far apart as they are now, he knows what vash might be feeling right now. his voice is quieter, too. he doesn't want to wake vash in the other room. ]

I miss you. I promise I'm going to come back as soon as I can, okay? As soon as I can find a map...

[ vash travelled the desert for over a hundred years, right? so could he! ]

There's so much I need to tell you, but I can't until I can see you again.

[cowgoesmoo]

I have a map!

[ But as soon as he says it, he understands why that won't help. They can't just say on an open band where they are and how to get to the station, huh. And Nai said he doesn't know where he is anyway, so it's not like Vash can direct him to the nearest town. ]

I mean... crap.

[ He hates this, for the record! All of this! ]

How can I help? What can I do?

[ornamentals]

[ it sucks! ]

Stay close to the radio? Maybe I can tie a letter to a worm or... or something...

[ even with rooted vash so close by, he still feels lacking in warmth. there's something missing and he knows what it is. ]

They're asleep right now, but I'm going to ask more questions when they wake up. I'll find out where I am and come back as soon as I can. [ another pause, ]

Try not to be too much of a crybaby while I'm gone, got it?

[cowgoesmoo]

[ They? A them-they or is Nai trying not to tell him who's there?Ugh he has so many questions, so many things he wants to say! He wants to talk to that person! He wants Nai to come home! He wants to be able to reach the pedals of Rem's car! ]

We'll see who's a crybaby when you get back, jerk!

[ Please come home soon. ]

[ornamentals]

[ nai wishes he was there to see vash try and drive a car by himself. if only. ]

Yeah, you. I bet you'll cry the moment we see each other, too.

[ he will. he promises he will. ]

[cowgoesmoo]

[ Come home, and they can try out driving on big brother Knives's jeep thing! Can they use feathers or blades to reach the pedals? Only one way to find out!

But okay, if Nai is talking quietly, then maybe... maybe something's wrong. If he's talking about sending a letter by worm? Then maybe he can't leave. Maybe he really is is trouble. ]

I bet I'll knock you down the moment we see each other!

[ He'll be right here by the radio until Nai's back, promise. ]

[ornamentals]

[ or one of them can sit on the pedals and the other can turn the steering wheel! this won't end poorly at all, they are very coordinated. ]

You better not, I refuse to get my clothes dirty because you can't control yourself!

[ he better be, because when nai calls him again he has to answer right away! ]

[procreation]

[ A slithering, cracking sound is heard in the background as the vines move, followed by footsteps as Vash enters the living room where the radio was. It wasn't hard to hear the transmission, especially with all his roots being all over the place. ]

Who are you talking to?

[ Vash asks, kneeling down next to the boy and wrapping an arm around him. It's just on the side of possessive, as if he wants to stake his claim. ]

[cowgoesmoo]

[ He's going to eat and sleep right next to this radio until Nai's home! Or until they find out where Nai is and go running to the rescue!

At least Nai sounds like himself, which is a huge relief. If he's feeling good enough to be a jerk, then he's got to be okay, and that's really all that mat--

There's a sound on Nai's end that Vash can't place. It's like... something stretching? Like a cartoon sound effect, almost! It's weird. And the voice on the other end is weird too. It sounds like one of his older selves, but... but different.

It's not a little Vash though! His fears about being replaced are relieved, at least! ]

I'm his brother! Who're you?

[ornamentals]

[ and just like that, nai flips the switch on the radio to off, cutting off the broadcast before either of his brother's can talk more. he moves on impulse, a jerk reaction made out of some instinct to protect.

vash or... vash, he isn't sure.

his brother's arms around him are warm, strong, and nai's heart is hammering away inside his chest. ]

I was just letting him know I was okay. That's all.

[procreation]

[ That was an abrupt end to the call, and Vash clicks his tongue slightly in mild annoyance. Were they keeping secrets? ]

Hmm... you know, he should come here.

[ Vash says softly, putting his head on top of his brother's with an almost-purr of happiness instead. Sure, he doesn't want to compete with some other version of himself, but it was a little Vash.

Not sick and broken yet. He could probably still be saved. ]

He should be with his people.

[ornamentals]

[ no secrets! but he... worries. he can't yet put words to what he's feeling right now, but it feels like worry.

he tilts his head to peer up at vash as his brother settles over him, nose brushing his brother's jaw. his hands come up to wrap around vash's arm, index finger tracing along the markings they both shared. ]

Really? [ nai could agree to that, a place free from humans and surrounded by their own kind sounds like a kind of paradise, but... ]

What about Rem?

[procreation]

[ Cuddling like this is so nice, like a brother and one of his kids in one. Vash is so content, his whole soul feeling so much more at ease with Nai around. He's not alone and the babies are safe as long as his other half is right here... so he'll make sure he stays, no matter what.

There's a pause, though, and he looks at his brother with confusion. ]

...who is Rem?

[ornamentals]

[ nai freezes, eyes slowly widening. ]

Rem. [ he repeats, impulsively, as his mind finally catches up to what vash had just said, asked. ] Rem is-

... Do you... not remember? [ was vash someone who never knew rem or worse... did he forget her? ] She raised us on the ship. Vash.

[procreation]

[ Vash just looks confused, cocking his head a bit to the side. ]

Are you alright? You're the one that has always taken care of me, Nai

[ It doesn't quite make sense, since his brother couldn't exactly take care of him if he was a baby too... but the brainwashing isn't that detailed. ]

I don't know any Rem that raised us, just the one first-born you named that.

[ornamentals]

[ he knew. his older self knew rem, remembered her, but vash didn't. the pieces come together to form a larger picture, one that makes his blood run cold as it comes into view.

he'd hurt vash in ways even his brother didn't realize. ]

Why did I name them Rem? Did I... ever say why?

[procreation]

[ Older Nai cut away a lot of pieces from Vash that made him sad, and look how much better Vash feels! No loss of Rem, no pain of lost friends, no endless years of being hurt by humanity. ]

You said it was a good name. She's a sweet girl, getting really good at her gate control.

[ He smiles proudly, just like a parent bragging about their kid. ]

[ornamentals]

[ nai could understand himself, his future self. the things he does for the sake of vash make sense to him. if there was a way to help his brother find happiness and peace, far from the endless reach of humanity that sought to hurt them, then of course nai wanted to see that future through.

but vash wasn't happy, at least not the brothers he'd come across so far here. nai's actions had only hurt him even more and intentions could be good, but that didn't make it right.

nai was still trying to understand what was right here. ]

It is a good name. [ he looks away, down at his hands as he tangles his fingers together. he turns himself to rest his cheek against vash's chest. ] How old is she now?

[procreation]

[ Vash just keeps happily talking, not aware of all the thoughts in Nai's head. Sometimes you just have to make sure your brother is happy and protected, even if that means sacrifices.

Vash can't miss what he doesn't know. ]

You came up with a lot of good names! It was so hard to pick...

[ How do you name 600 children? So, so many probably have bible names. ]

She's 17 already. Such a smart girl. They all are, honestly. The second generation are about your age? 1? Then the current is about five months along in gestation. [ Pause. ] Maybe six, now.

[ornamentals]

I'm almost two now, actually. [ only someone who is one and a half would clarify that. ] Seventeen...

[ seventeen years of paradise. seventeen years of vash being happy. it was more than any of his other brothers had. ]

Current? Are you pregnant now? [ he knows what a human pregnancy looks like, from medical textbooks and basic sex education, but when he tilts his head to look at vash's middle he doesn't see the typical swell associated with pregnancy. ]

[procreation]

[ That typical child clarification makes Vash feel all warm inside, and he gently strokes his fingers through the light-blonde hair. ]

Two! My bad.

[ Seventeen years of their Eden. 16 years of reworking the system to spare the sisters any more strain. One year since the second generation almost made him go red. This time it was the best one. A masterpiece.

Vash smiles at the question and then chuckles as he sees the look at his stomach. ] I am. I don't have them in there, though - I don't have the bits for that. [ Even if did have said bits, it would take far too long to grow as many as they have now, and he's be very vulnerable the whole time. ] They're in my gate.

[ornamentals]

[ he tilts his head on impulse as vash runs fingers through his hair. he'd been letting it grow out, bangs falling over his brows and tickling his ears. ]

Oh. [ all of this is raising more questions than nai can keep up with. he'd have to write everything down later. ] Wait- Your gate? [ he visibly perks up, that was new. ] You know how to use your gate now?

[ and they could store children in it? ]