nomansland_broadcasting

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[ The feed turns on, sent without any security and to all channels, the voice already screaming even before the recording starts. ]

-him back, bring him back, bring him back!! I will rip this disgusting world apart if you do not return him to me!

You can't do this, not again, not again, I need him, I need him!

Bring me my brother back or every dirty human settlement I see while looking for him, I will destroy and leave the corpses for the worms!

How dare you. How dare you, I'll get him back, he needs to stay with me, he's only safe with me!

[ Something big crashes in the background and Vash snarls in rage, slamming his hand on the radio. ]

Bring him back!

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I don't care, I don't care, I need him back!

[ It does snap something back into reality for him, though. ]

Why would the sisters do this?!

[The voice's tone is flat.]

Apparently they collectively decided something is more important than what you want. Maybe you should spend some time thinking about that instead of letting the entire planet eavesdrop on every single conversation you're having about it.

That can't be... they should understand, I need him... he's just a boy, what would they need him to do?

[ He doesn't seem to listen or care about the fact that anyone can hear them. ]

Are you capable of holding more than one thought at a time?

[That annoyance is creeping back.]

I can't, I can't think without him. He made me perfect like him but it all falls apart!

[ He sounds more unhinged... something about this man's voice is setting his brain off in a weird way. ]

Little brother is so little, though. He's not Nai but him at the same time and I need him.

You need to stop. Now.

[Knives isn't known for his patience in the best of days, and today, woken up too damn early by a panicking moron is not about to make him more patient and kind. If he's snarly, well. He's snarly.

It sounds almost like a Vash, a bit like the younger one that hadn't actually been aggressive upon meeting, who helped with Tessla. But not.. quite right. Distorted. Almost l--

Oh. Oh. Him.]

If he matters to you so much you'll stop putting him in danger and stop talking about him over the planetary emergency network.

[ That has him frozen for a moment, and only the panicked breaths are heard for a while. Of course he doesn't want his brother in danger. Did he do that? Is he hurting Nai?

...and how did this person make him just stop like that? ]

Who are you?

I am nobody of relevance.

[That's not a name.]

Names do not go out on this frequency. Locations do not go out on this frequency. This is public. And if any of my little siblings are put in danger because of you, I will find you and instruct you on the finer points discretion myself.

[There's edges of ice to his tone. He doesn't shout. That's saved for in person.]

I will do everything in my power to ensure you survive the lesson.

[ Each of those words already feel like a strike, and Vash sinks to the vine-covered floor. He's been bad. It's a long time since he's been bad. Years and years.

Now he's going to be punished.

...but why? What is going on? Why is he reacting like this?

and if any of my little siblings are put in danger because of you

Oh. ]

Yes, brother. I understand. I'm sorry.

Take it as a learning opportunity.

[He didn't expect capitulation. But if there had been significant rewiring of this creature's mind, by a counterpart of himself, should it really be a surprise?

Miles and miles away, he frowns at his radio. What else had he been told? Did any of it matter? ... Nah.]

Safety must come first, always. Be mindful of what you say and where you say it, and think before acting. Really think, try to use as much logic and common sense as you can. If you feel like it's going to lead to blind panic again, sit down and practice breathing until you can think clearly.

[His voice drops to an annoyed mutter.]

Do all of you just blindly react without bothering with thinking it through first?

It's... hard to make decisions without you. You're always the one who does them for me. I panicked when the little one was just... gone. I didn't know another existed.

[ Sorry, Knives. You're going to be his new obsession just by managing to activate that submission. ]

I will try to think more before I act. It's been a long time since I was scared.

[ His Knives takes care of everything, Vash is the attic wife. ]

When will you come to pick me up?

[Knives is never going to take responsibility for another Vash over the age of ten. This one is much too old to qualify, and a danger to his little siblings besides.

He's going to have to see to their safety, one way or another.]

Fear is nature's gift, it teaches us how to survive the impossible. Do not avoid it. You are in the city full of Independents?

I... I will try to not avoid it.

[ Older, perhaps, but rather pathetic. Can he take care of himself if this is how he reacts just to Knives' voice? ]

I am. It's beautiful here... almost like our Eden.

It's hard. But everything worth having is worth struggling for, don't you think?

[It's civility. He could be kinder, he could be gentle and coercive, abuse the twisted bond his other-self forced to manipulate this ... thing ... into doing exactly what he wants when he wants.]

I must see to the care of the first of our sisters, and she is not yet able to travel such a distance. You will be safe where you are. In time, I will come find you.

[And end the threat to his dear ones.]

In the interim, it would be good to practice being discreet.

Yes, brother. I will try my best.

[ Knives doesn't even have to abuse the bond for it to fuck Vash up. ]

Is a sister hurt? [ It's been some time since he was allowed to heal or soothe their sisters, having to keep his energy for their children. ] I can wait for you. I'm just worried about the babies.

Good. Do your best. It is all anyone can be expected to do.

[Most importantly, names and locations are no longer being thrown about, which was a tiny measure of safety for children only protected by a god damned pacifist woman with no weapons or defenses but pretty words.

Nobody's there to see him twitch with revulsion at the mention of babies, all it brought was what he'd been told was the method they came into being through. Solid control means it never enters his voice.]

.... Not anymore. But she is very frightened and does not do well when I am gone long. There should be trained professionals in town who may be able to help in the interim. We are all kin, however distantly so, I'm certain they can be trusted with such an ... important task. Extend faith to them, as I have to you.

I know. [ Knives is the MVP today, most likely stopping some human settlements to feel the frustrated insanity of one very volatile Vash. ]

I'm sorry she's not doing well. I'm glad she's with you.

[ Something he's completely honest about, too. Vash loves their sisters almost as much as their children. He's used to walk along their giant tank walls, talking to them while followed by a trail of children that also wants to speak to their aunts. Eden was - is - beautiful. ]

You're still the only one that can open my gate, brother. As nice as it is to be among equals, it's doubtful that anyone else can learn that.

...You assume so, without finding out otherwise. The vast, endless variety the many universes have is not limited by our inability to imagine it. You would also do well to open yourself to those infinite possibilities, sometimes they can be a wonderful surprise.

[And sometimes they're numbing, nauseating surprises, ones he could have done without ever considering even for a moment. EVER.

He'd rather shut the radio off and stick his head in the sand and scream himself hoarse, but given what he's already seen, this is an opportunity to defuse the risk to those he did actually love and care about, without beheading anyone in the doing.

It does not feel comfortable to use the same tone he normally reserved for nervous Tesslas on such a creature as this.]

You yourself are a surprise. Wouldn't it be a terrible thing if I rejected your existence merely because such a place as Eden or was not possible in my time? But anything else must wait until we're not using these ... crude machines to speak. The world has many ears, and it would be unfortunate if I'd have to excise them all because of a misunderstanding.

It could be true. Who knows in this place. However, you did say... well, he said he made sure he was the only one who could. For safety.

[ Because you're obviously not his Nai, brother-voice. Close enough, however - just like the little one had been.

Sorry for the frustrations brought upon you by a completely different Knives. All for wiping out humanity, but you sure had very different ways about going for it. ]

Do not reject me, brother. [ He says, pain in his voice. ] Our worlds might be different, out paths might be different, but it's still possible to build our Eden right here.

We'll speak more of it when I see you.

Your brother does not plan well for contingencies. Those who do not plan for misfortune invite it. It's a good thing I do; I will correct this error in due time.

[A threat, to anyone else. He'd need time to work through those contingencies. Figure out what would be required to eliminate this threat to his dear ones. Would he even be able to challenge his lack of desire to fight Vash, any Vash? Even one like this?

He sighs. He'll find a way. He always has before.

It sat terribly bitterly that when he finally finds a Vash that isn't a child and still doesn't hate him is ... this.]

I don't intend to. I never have, no matter what world my kin come from. We are, in the end, all still brethren. You are unique here, for all that you share a name and likely an appearance with others, I expect you to remain safe and well until I find you. If this means avoiding violence as much as you can, then do your best.

The existence of alternate realities and me getting trapped in one is a surprise, but I'm certain he's working on fixing it right now. I'll welcome your help as well, brother.

[ He sounds so certain, so convinced in his brother's ability to do so that it's bordering on worship. Clearly his Knives has put himself in there as the flawless older brother who will take care of everything, leaving Vash to concentrate on their children.

Having an adult version of his brother here, even if just by voice, is better than even the kid version in his arms. It doesn't mess with his parent-vs-brother instinct, where he had to guide the child. Here, all he needs to do is follow what Nai says. ]

Yes, brother. I will keep myself from any harm. I will stay in my home as much as possible. I will not risk myself of the children. I promise.

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