doubledollar | IC INBOX

[ its a difficult topic to breach. he gives his friend the best smile he can, though, all the same.

pointing with a free hand over to one of the wooden cupboards. ]

I don't know what you brought in the kettle, but there's some nice cups there if you want to us them.

[ but... you know. ]

It is complicated. Probably the weirdest thing this world has thrown at me to date. And that's including the growing-flowers thing, and turning into a bird.

...This is Kni. My twin brother.
[ twin ]

I'm... not sure why this world decided to have such an age gap between us.

[Rose scurries over to the kitchen, trying to be as quiet as she can. For all that she claims not to care about other people, she is trying incredibly hard not to wake Kni up.]

[Once she has what she needs, she pours a cup of tea and pushes it towards Vash.]

I...see.

[There's an unreadable expression on her face. Is she happy? Sad? Is something else going on?]

He certainly seems very attached to you. Are you happy to see him?

[ it's fine, he's exhausted, and a pretty heavy sleeper, looks like. The kid doesn't move an inch even while Vash isn't bothering to whisper, when he responds to Rose, settling in with that cup of tea in his hand now. Taking a long, quiet inhale as he closes his eyes. ]

...Smells good. Thank you for bringing this.

[ but then, that question... he does have to think about it. ]

When we were kids, we were inseparable. We couldn't go anywhere without following one another around. We did everything together. Kni was my reason for getting up in the morning, and I was the reason Kni absorbed himself in learning so hard--so he could always protect me.

I was always the weaker of the two of us, see. So he always made it his priority to make sure I was taken care of.

[ he laughs a little, breathless. ]

...Ne, Rose.
How old do you think I am...?

[Rose prepares her own cup of tea before taking her seat again. She offers Vash a sad smile. Sad, perhaps, because she's remembering something she once forgot.]

I have a sister. I understand. We...haven't talked in a long time, but that's here nor there. It's hard to imagine you as being weak, though. Your brother must be incredibly strong.

[She suppresses the urge to ruffle Kni's hair. Must stop big sister tendencies.]

I'm not sure, so I'll say four hundred summers.

[ okay, while the emotion here was definitely somber--the age that Rose threw out makes him LAUGH. he has to corral it in so he doesn't jostle the younger of the two plants around too much, keeping it to a light wheeze after a few moments. ]

F, four hundred! Do I seem that old! Talk about ouch...

[ ...and yet, he seems amused. he'd expected her to say something like! twenty, thirty! but... ]

You figured out I'm a bit older than I look, huh. Cat's out of the bag...

I'll be 151 on the 21st of this month.

[Rose chuckles before sipping her tea. The very image of an oujou-sama, she is.]

What can I say? I know a variety of people.

[Don't ask her about the despair death bird. Please don't.]

But 151? I wouldn't peg you as a day over fifty.

[ he'll also take a sip of the drink--it's warm, good on a night like this. The rain still hasn't fully let up, the clouds still thick overhead. A warm drink is exactly what he'd needed. ]

I know how the Warrior of Light affects the life of many, such has been mentioned to me before by others in your situation. I guess it would give you a good read on others.

[ he laughs again. ]

Fifty! That's better. It's because my hair is going dark, isn't it. At least it's not going grey...

[ he sighs. ]

...Anyway, the point of asking that, was. Well.
I was about Eighty when me and Kni went our separate ways in the world. We.... stopped seeing eye-to-eye on many things.

We fought terribly, over our views, and the way we saw the world. But it left a huge hole in my head, where he'd torn himself out.
...Having him back, like this? Feels like cheating.

Yes, there are certainly many ways being the Warrior of Light affects your life. At least I was never wanting for interesting stories in my travels.

[The bonds of family were another matter. There were many times she wanted to see her family, to talk to her family, but she couldn't. It didn't start with a fight, and she doesn't understand the depth of it, but she can at least begin to relate to how Vash is feeling.]

Ita always turns out like that, doesn't it? The friction with the ones you love.

[She frowns, sitting her tea cup down.]

Even if it is cheating, I don't think it matters. The time you spend with him here is real. Whatever memories you make with him here are real. That's all that matters in the end, isn't it?

I'm interested in hearing some of your interesting stories, honestly. I'm sure you've got your fair share of them.

[ he'll cut her a crooked grin as he takes another sip of the tea, letting the warmth spread down to his neck as he rests a hand atop Kni's head. ]

I'd rather there not be any friction. ...If I'm honest with you, I usually don't get to keep people in my life long enough for them to become 'beloved;' Kaisou is the first time in a long time...

[ he closes his eyes.
And he shakes his head. ]

It does matter, you're right.
I'm hoping Kaisou will give him a better life, so he can be a happier person than he was when we grew up together.

He has such a big heart, I know he can learn how to use it.

Perhaps another time. I wouldn't want to wake him.

[She's mostly concerned about Vash's wellbeing now, anyway. She doesn't know everything that happened, but it's rare to see him so openly confused. Is he scared? It's likely, even if she's not sure what he's scared of.]

I don't plan on going anywhere, at least. [And that's one person on his side.]

With such a supportive older brother, I would be shocked if he became anything other than the embodiment of sunshine itself. You do tend to have a positive influence on people, Vash.

[ it's almost scary how well Rose can pick up on emotions. He is scared--he is, in more ways than one. He's scared things won't go right, he's scared Kni will start lashing out against people. He's scared he'll start losing people again because he'll be too late to stop him if he ever goes down the same path he did when they were walking the desert, alone--

and he's scared that he won't be able to protect him if something goes wrong.
His grip tightens on the hat a little. ]

I know. ...A few months ago, I might not have believed you, but I trust you, implicitly. So long as I'm allowed to stay in this world, I'll always consider you to be one of my dearest friends.

...I just hope Kni will be able to make friends, too.
He's scared of humans, you see.

And I consider you to be one of mine.

[Regardless of whether or not he believes her, it's going to stay true. Not that she understands what's at stake particularly, or why Kni in particular hates humans. But she has belief, and that should count for something, right?]

I see. Honestly, I'm not sure I can blame him. When I grew up, I trusted people, but I've seen more on my journey than I'd like to admit. I'm sure the same is true for you.

[ the smile on his face isn't subtle when rose returns the sentiment, and it makes him feel warm. Almost as warm as the cup of tea in his hand, which he's taking a long drink from, once again. ]

You're not wrong.
I've seen quite a bit in my life. Some which I would rather not have seen. But it hasn't made me lose faith in humanity as a whole, if I'm honest.

I've seen far more good than I have bad.

Especially in this world.
I want to show that to Kni, too.

[Rose takes a moment to respond. She plays the cynic, and to some degree it's true, but there's always been a part of her that was a dreamer. The part that believes that everything will be okay eventually. The part that believes in fairytale endings.]

[Well, she can't very well go around showing that part in public, can she? She'd never live it down. But maybe, letting just a bit slip here would be fine.]

If anywhere can do it, this place certainly can. Kni certainly won't be wanting for good role models.

That's what I'm hoping for. I know there might be people who... won't want to. [ he gives her a bit of a look, a hand on the back of his neck. He doesn't want to explain that, just... in case the guy wakes up, but for now, he'll leave it vague. ]

But I'm hoping those who I've befriended and have helped me become comfortable with the idea of teaching him that ...humans aren't scary.

[ he gives a bit of a sheepish laugh. admitting that was still difficult. ]

He's got it in his heart to love others. He does.
He just needs to be given the chance.

Well, regardless of what anyone says, I think he's a fine child.

[And of course, she is never wrong. She is also blissfully unaware of the atrocities that he has committed.]

He seemed nice enough at the cafe, at least.

[ ...he can't help it, he can't help but to smile when she says that. ]

He's a good kid.
We both really didn't know much, when we were this age.

[ he pauses, thinking about it. ]

I'm sure you already figured it out, but.
We're not human.

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/slams back into this

hello ilu