#[ VERSE ] ── * MAIN ( 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 )

[melpcmene-arch]

continued / @misplacedreporter

"Mhm," she hums absently, not looking up from the papers and notebooks spread around her as she scribbled notes. "I do have a job. Don't touch anything, I have an system–" Not that one could tell in the chaos of the desk. "...Did you need something?" she asks after a moment, lifting her head to blink at him.

He was in the middle of reaching out, fingers itching to touch what he shouldn't touch. Tongue poking out, right between the lips as Vash concentrated a little. Then the warning came: Don't touch anything, and Vash instinctively yanked his hand back and whistled; an act of pretend, to be perceived as innocent.

"Pfah, nooo. I just got curious, that's all. So what'cha writing about? Is it about little ol' me?" He's overdramatically fluttering his eyelashes when saying that. "And my incredible wit and talent?"

[melpcmene-arch]

"Yeah, some do, don't they──" Uh oh, it's clear as day that he crossed the line. Maybe he crossed it much further with how Meryl reacted. "Eh?!" Vash stepped back a little. "Wait, wait, waitwaitwait! You can't kick me out over that!"

"Made up?" Irritation snapped across her face, expression full of offense. "Journalists tell the truth! We have integrity and standards and–" Well, a whole host of things he clearly didn't understand if he thought she could just make up an interview!

"Out! Out!"

[melpcmene-arch]

"i always found it hard getting close to anyone." @ vash

@forgivenpunishment

the walking dead season 7. ( accepting. )

Vash nursed his drink; swishing it around instead of gulping it in a rush. Not when Wolfwood was speaking. He felt something akin to Wolfwood's words, and yet Vash has proven to be the opposite. "..." The gunslinger knew how Wolfwood felt. But Vash didn't frown, no, Vash went for the opposite, which was typical of him to do so. He smiles.

"In this day and age, I can't really blame you. Not when people are dropping like flies. The survival rate is slipping. People turning on one another. But you've accomplished something. You got close to me. I think that's a big improvement. Especially since I'm the opposite of you. You befriended the one who gets close to anyone." He barks with laughter.

"But you know what they say? Opposites attract. But I get you, you don't know the half of it. But I can't help but understand that feeling so well." To constantly lose people. It hurts, but Vash keeps moving on. It's a rinse and repeat, a lesson learned and then a lesson forgotten.

"We're that close, that I do very much trust you, Wolfwood. I trust you because I truly see a good person underneath it all." He added with some seriousness, but to dilate it down, Vash simply added another thing: "And since we are friends, I now must include the friendship fee. You can pay me in doughnuts, and you can do that in installments at any given time. However, I will include a love and peace discount."

[melpcmene-arch]

@stellarhistoria ( wolfwood! ) / vash-centric starter call

He's glaring right at Wolfwood, mentally trying to blow his head with his mind. Was it successful? Of course it wasn't. No lick of success. "Y'know. If you wanted something to eat, I could've gotten you something as well! Look! Plate! Empty! You rob me off sating my hunger!"

[melpcmene-arch]

@wastelandsrunaway / vash-centric starter call

"Well, ain't you a pretty lady. Carrying quite a few things I see, you going anywhere? Do you need some escorting? I can happily offer my services to you, of course."

[melpcmene-arch]

He laid there, defeated, starving. ( Even though his stomach was sort of full. Vash wasn't starving starving; yet he was sure peckish. ) Fake ( and overdramatic ) tears began to well in his eyes. A typical one of a kind Vash moment. "Yeah, yeah. Next town. I--" Then he lifts his head up. "Wait! Hold up! Next town?" Vash pouts, half-glaring at Wolfwood. "You can't be serious! Trekking through the desert. On an empty-ish stomach! No way! No how! No! You're going to treat me in this town! Or I'll die." He goes back to resting, deflating almost on the table. Again, defeated. Doesn't that make your heart just weep? Don't you want to be a good man of god and help?

"Oh, boo hoo." he leans back in his seat, resting his hands behind his head as the cigarette in his mouth dangles and dances from his lips, the smoke in his mouth now tasting a little like something better than nicotine. he looks down at the moping wanted man, and he can't help but scoff, turning his head a little to not burst out laughing. "It was great. I'll front you, reasonably, at the next town I find ya at."

[melpcmene-arch]

@climatact / vash-centric starter call

His eyes practically sparkled, can't you see the shimmer in his eyes? It was like he was in love! "Whoaaaaaaaah! Hello! I see we've bumped into each other again. Must be fate all over again, huh. Vash, I'm Vash. I don't think I introduced myself the last time."

[melpcmene-arch]

@stellarhistoria ( lex! ) / vash-centric starter call

"──Excuse meeeee, excuse me. Vash the Stampede is coming through! I highly recommend y'all run off now, scram!" The outlaw shouted out, not wanting anyone to get caught in the crossfire. Then Vash skids, cutting the corner to hopefully escape only to bump into someone. And without a second thought, Vash scrambles behind the stranger. "You think you can do a favour and attempt to hide me? I'll give you all of my money." Pause. "At least half of my money." Pause. Back to reconsidering. "At least some..."

[melpcmene-arch]

‘  what’s  the  deal  with  you?  ’ / cross to vash!

QUESTION STARTERS. ( ACCEPTING )

Vash lets out a hearty laugh. "You want a list or somethin? Though, I'm just minding my business. Not my fault that I accidentally stopped whatever you were doing!" The plant waved it off, laughing still. "Nothin' too important, I hope?"

[melpcmene-arch]

You pretend to get close to anyone. Vash listened, then laughed sheepishly; scratching the back of his head as he did so. "Am I that obvious?" That smile of his remains. But it doesn't reach his eyes. Like there's a subtle pain underneath them. "Then I suppose we're opposites for different reasons then. Ha. But if I'm that obvious, then you've clearly became close to me. Not everyone sees that. But sometimes I do genuinely get close. I don't think I ever learn."

He sets the drink on the table. He props his elbow up, cheek in palm as Vash looked at Wolfwood. The gunslinger noticed the colour in Wolfwood's cheeks. Amused, Vash laughed along to Wolfwood's words. Adorable.

"What if I am proud? Sounds like you don't get enough of that in your life. Especially if it makes you blush more." He pointed out, all straight-forward and obviously smug about it. Looking at Wolfwood with such smug eyes. All confident-like. Then he clapped his hands. "Good! I'd expect a dozen of them at any time, and you better be sweet." His smile soon reached his eyes.

This man is someone Vash will trust with his life. There's no doubt about it, even if there's any secrets lurking underneath. Perhaps Wolfwood might be a Wolf disguised in Sheep's Clothing. Or Vash was the Red Riding Hood to Wolfwood's Wolf. Either way. It did not matter. He trusts his gut and his heart when it came to the priest. His heart never fails him.

He downed his drink and sighed happily. "Let's get another round!"

"Tch," Wolfwood looks off to the side—anywhere but Vash's face—and runs his fingers through his hair, "Me? Close to you? I don't know what you're talking about." A bold faced lie; Vash caught him red handed and he knows it. After a low grumble, he looks back at the blond to resume the conversation.

"Hey, not so fast—you pretend to get close to anyone. The more open you seem, the closer someone thinks they are to knowing you. Can't be further from the truth," he punctuates his thought with a sip of coffee as they sit, "Wouldn't quite say we're opposites when it comes to keeping our distance—"

He suddenly realizes how Vash phrased his words—he is praising him. His cheeks tint with auburn and his jaw clenches, embarrassed. Flustered, he loses a bit of his composure as he speaks, "What the hell—why are you sayin' that like you're proud or somethin'? C-close?"

There's a long pause as he considers Vash's wisdom... and the price of it. Trust? That's a mistake but... the man has been alive a long enough time to know who to trust and who not to trust. It at least means something to him.

His blush doesn't falter, even after the doughnut remark, "Yeah Needles, I think I can do that for ya. Maybe I'll even be sweet about it."

A slow blink; a smirk.

[melpcmene-arch]

@hauntedreality liked this post for a vash starter !!

"——AAAAAAA," You yelp loudly like a startled cat with its fur standing up. "PUT THAT GUN AWAY. ARE YOU TRYIN' TO KILL SOMEONE?"

[melpcmene-arch]

@vulpesse liked this post for a vash starter !!

You peek your head around the corner, a friendly smile upon your lips. You found your latest victim: a plate of goodies. "Are you gonna eat that?" You're practically drooling. They look so, soooooooo, delicious. "Y'know, I heard sharing is caring and all that, soooo, you knoooow."

[melpcmene-arch]

Wolfwood standing nose to nose with Vash: “Why are you so short?” 

 I actually don't know who's taller. I just know they're both tall. XD

Send “Why are you so short?” for my muse’s reaction. Or send “Why are you so TALL?” for my muse’s reaction.  ( accepting. )

Short? Short?! The audacity! "That's funny coming from your short ass. Incredibly short that you honestly make Meryl look tall when she's standing next to you!" He adds, standing nose to nose with the other, painfully pressing their foreheads together as punishment to Wolfwood for calling him short.

[melpcmene-arch]

"Nowhere in particular?" He repeated that, and then a sudden dazzling smile appeared on his face. "Would you look at that. Same here! We already have so much in common." And she looks sort of familiar. Wasn't there some kind of missing poster of that face? Or some sort of radio message? He wasn't too sure. But he's sure that it'll eventually come to mind! One day or another.

"Still, the offer still stands. If you need any help crossing these cruel dunes. It can be dangerous for a lady such as yourself."

"Huh?" She turned towards the voice but also instinctively took a tiny step back. "Me?" Yes, her. There was nobody else around he could possibly be talking to.

"Oh, uh, nowhere... Nowhere in particular." She was a bit wary of the stranger but also wasn't used to people actually asking where she was heading. Although, that was the truth...

Nowhere in particular.

[melpcmene-arch]

{@ Vash} He was originally going to just pick his pocket like all the other blow-ins that very obviously weren't local and didn't belong, seeing how the guy seemed to bumble his way around town in that flashy red jacket... he couldn't be all that clever, right? An easy mark, for sure. But admittedly he couldn't help but pause and stare at that unnatural robotic arm when he got close and saw him from the right angle, not subtle at all about how he tipped his head at it. It was... very glittery and shiny and not at all like anything he'd personally seen before, his curiosity for once outweighing his impulse to steal. Just where did someone get a prosthetic like that?

He casually walked around, a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He whistles a tune, appearing casual and carefree. But deep down, Vash had a feeling. Someone was looking at him. He didn't appear to notice it, feigning obliviousness as Vash continued to walk. He continues to whistle, looking for the nearest inn, and hoping that the inn served food. If not, he'll be looking extra hard for some restaurant.

Then the whistling comes to an end, slowly fading, as Vash failed to shrug off the feeling. Someone was staring. Someone was near or so he felt. Then he managed to found out who. Hm. The corners of his lips curled, forming a smile. "Why, hello there friend." He said so naturally, smiling. "Oh, I see my prosthetic caught your eye? Bit of a fancy one; hand-made. Useful in my travels. I hope you don't plan on nickin' it. It'll be troublesome, y'know. Nicking an entire arm off someone. Doubt it'll sell a lot."

[melpcmene-arch]

it is a spectacle kaen has only seen once or twice afore ( the memory comes unbidden; the gleaming glory, the winged herald who stood untouched by forces of destruction, her empyreal grace imprinted in their mind for the last several years-- ) . they did not suppose they would see it again, at least, nothing quite like it. and not from vash. nervous, they are, to be greeted by furls and threads of sprawling plumes. but even in fear, kaen is awestruck, is curious. saying nothing, they approach, slowly, cautiously-- scarred hand outreaching and grazing ruined fingers along the intricate feathers. their path is tender, gentle... almost loving. they let out a breath, blue eyes blinking wide up at his face before offering a small smile. " 's beautiful, innit?" rhetorical. he ought to know how lovely he is; how lovely they find him. now even more so.

It's not something that Vash is used too. On that note, Vash felt a little embarrassed by the feathers. How the plumes would sprout somewhere, not even on his back. Like they had a mind of their own, unfurling by accident. Whenever this happens, it meant that the feathers themselves were summoned by Vash's feeling of overwhelmingness. Like they're connected to a certain weave of emotions. There's also an ick feeling to them; a form of hatred, disgust, the way other people felt towards them when they saw them. The plumes themselves formed across the cheek, in a pattern, along with forming somewhere else, in various places; small patches worth of feathers. Then there was the wing; just a wing, singular, that had sprouted off his back, where the shoulder blade is.

A hand is pressed over his eyes, an act of embarrassment and a show of shame displayed in his actions. Then his fingers parted, peeking through the split. Beautiful? His own blue eye met similar blues. He was very aware of fingers that have tenderness against his feathers. He breathed in, slowly, almost very deeply as if keeping it together. He's not used to this. Consider Vash as heavily touchstarved. Because that's what he is. A touchstarved man. Decades of being hurt, but still living with idealism thoughts and feelings. Keeping certain memories of Rem to heart. Keeping her memory and her smile alive. Yet that loving tender touch doesn't make him recoil.

"Is it?" He said, a strained smile on his face. "Not sure if it is. It's just another part of me that is..." He doesn't finish the word. "Either way, I don't think it's that beautiful. It's... dangerous. What will they call me next? The Angel of Death?"