#Meryl stryfe I miss you

[newtsnaturethings]

Trigun doodle page of my favs

[nouverx]

GET LOVED AND CHERISHED IDIOT

I can't wait for TriStamp season 2 I miss it so much I wan't these three reunited so bad

[raepliica]

tristamp post-timeskip woowoo!! injecting him with cowboy swag baybiee

also, a little bit of a redraw

[thelightningstreak]

Chapter 10 for Trigun Fic, Love and Violence

Available on AO3: Start from Chapter 1 | Go to Newest Chapter

Summary: A town of humans accidentally rehabilitate a floundering, injured Knives after his deadly battle with Vash. Canon divergent gen fic.

Rated: T

[joshisodd]

Originally was going to just draw vashwood but I got kinda carried away lmao. If you wanna see more of this stuff lmk

[brutermonger]

He’s such a sleezy Bastard (affectionate) 😏🐺

[goathag]

She's a TV star, he's a bum

Just a little thingie because what if Meryl lost her previous earrings after the Ark launch

[ID: A post-canon Trigun comic that starts with Meryl fixing her earrings in a mirror. The mirror has many things tacked to it, including photos of landscapes and the core four. She walks out as someone calls, “Miss Stryfe, there’s a man who claims to be your friend. His name is John Smith.”

She says, “Tell him to wait, Patricia. I’m almost... ...ready.” Her words trail off when she sees Vash standing leaning at a receptionist’s desk, grinning widely at her. He’s in casual clothing and wearing a very tall and skinny hat with an  absurdly big brim lined with stars.

A panel which is just a line of the word “why” repeating in all caps with no spaces then transitions to Meryl and Vash walking together on the street. She frowns, “Why are you wearing this... thing?” Vash smiles, “It’s a disguse! Looking at this no one will think that Meryl’s friend is Vash the Stampede.”

She replies, “Yeah, instead they will think that my friend is a doofus in an ugly hat.” He exclaims, “It’s not ugly, it’s bizarre. Anyway, did you like the earrings?” The final panel shows someone looking through closed window blinds at them, squinting and saying, “I think Miss Stryfe’s boyfriend is Vash the Stampede in a bizarre hat.” End ID]

The description was made by  @princess-of-purple-prose . Thank you! 💙

[tnt-tourney]

welcome one and all to the 2023 t+t tournament!! despite the long wait for the final bracket, the day has finally arrived. due to the size of the text, the list of contestants will be under the cut. due to how many contestants there are, i wont be able to tag everything, but i will tag as much as i can.

now, since it's been a while, a quick rehashing of the relevant rules!

1. be polite to others participating in the vote

2. do not Rig the vote -- propaganda is more than welcome and the askbox is always open for it! i just dont have the energy to deal with botting

3. dont be rude if the contestants youre rooting for are voted out!! sometimes thats just the way things go. theres always next time!

4. have fun !

the polls will start rolling out sometime next week. thank you!!

left:

Hexsquad (The Owl House) VS. Vault Hunters (Borderlands 1+2)

The Bad Kids (D20: Fantasy High) VS. FloweringPassionFruit (Ride the Cyclone)

Barbie + Ken (Barbie) VS. Dwarves (Deep Rock Galactic)

Mabel Pines + Dipper Pines (Gravity Falls) VS. The Fantastic 4 (Marvel)

Klaus Hargreeves + Viktor Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy) VS. Spiderband (Spider-Man: Into/Across the Spiderverse)

Lup + Barry Bluejeans (The Adventure Zone) VS. Cleo de Nile + Deuce Gorgon (Monster High)

Spideypool (Marvel) VS. Gomez Addams + Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)

Team Rocket (Pokémon) VS. Rashmi Jamil + Amelie Macon + Loam Arnault (Entropic Float)

Link + Zelda (The Legend of Zelda) VS. Peter Parker + Harry Osborn (Marvel)

Huey Duck + B.O.Y.D. (Ducktales 2017) VS. Golf Ball + Tennis Ball (Battle for Dream Island)

Lewis + Vivi + Arthur (Mystery Skulls Animate) VS. Horokeu Usui + Pirica Usui (Shaman King)

Paulkins (Hatchetfield) VS. Magnus Chase + Alex Fierro (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard)

Bill Preston + Ted Logan (Bill and Ted) VS. Leonard Church + Agent Texas (Red vs. Blue)

Ariel + Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid) VS. Polypirates (JRWI: Riptide)

Cody Goodwin + May Goodwin (It Takes Two) VS. Frank-N-Furter + Magenta + Columbia + Riff Raff (The Rocky Horror Show)

SpaceDolls (Ride the Cyclone) VS. Kim Possible + Ron Stoppable (Kim Possible)

---

right:

The Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel) VS. Julian Bashir + Miles O'Brien + Jadzia Dax (Star Trek: Deep Space 9)

The Murder Crew (Clue) VS. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Vash the Stampede + Nicolas D. Wolfwood + Meryl Stryfe + Milly Thompson (Trigun) VS. Team Chaotix (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Steve + Alex (Minecraft) VS. Gyro Gearloose + Lil Bulb (Ducktales 2017)

Phantom Thieves (Persona 5) VS. Wright Anything Agency + Apollo Justice + Klavier Gavin (Ace Attorney)

Westley + Buttercup (The Princess Bride) VS. Shin + Noi (Dorohedoro)

Kermit + Miss Piggy (The Muppets) VS. The Mechanisms

Jeremy Heere + Michael Mell + Christine Canigula (Be More Chill) VS. The Solve It Squad (The Solve It Squad Returns)

Harleyberts + Crockenglishes (Homestuck) VS. Sonic & co. (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Mulder + Scully (The X-Files) VS. Steph Lauter + Pete Spankoffski (Hatchetfield)

Main Cast (Omori) VS. Ben Tennyson + Gwen Tennyson + Kevin Levin (Ben 10)

Ashe Ubert + Claude Von Riegan + Sylvain Jose Gautier (Fire Emblem: Three Houses) VS. Birdetta + Yoshi (Mario)

Prime Defenders (JRWI: Prime Defenders) VS. Strilondes (Homestuck)

The Mystery Gang (Scooby Doo) VS. Billie Logan + Thea Preston (Bill and Ted)

Splatoon Idols VS. Lexthan (Hatchetfield)

Sex Bob-omb + Ramona Flowers (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) VS. Jonathan Sims + Martin K. Blackwood (The Magnus Archives)

[scoundrels-in-love]

This could be the one (Could this be the one?) Our new year

When Meryl storms to scold her grumpy old neighbor for misfire of fireworks, who she meets instead might just change the trajectory of her new year. | VashMeryl | First meeting | Fluff | Also on Ao3 | | Commission me! |

Meryl’s evening goes from bad to worse with a sudden burst of noise and color in her neighbor’s garden.

She’s been fighting a headache the entire day while three articles demand her full focus, tomorrow’s work party looms over her like an axe and her general dim mood around holidays gnaws away at a hole in her chest. 

“For fuck’s sake,” she exclaims to no one in particular and pushes her chair away from the table angrily, sparks still firing off beyond the window. Her boots and winter coat are put on with equal annoyance and Meryl practically stomps over to the gate of the property next to her.

She’s never gotten along well with the old man next door, not since he decided he had any say in how she kept her garden and generally poking his nose in her business. Nothing she did was half as disruptive as this, Meryl groused as she rang the bell with more force than needed.

But instead of the expected grump, a young man with messy mop of blond hair near tumbles out of the house and down the driveaway. He is bundled up in a bright red coat and when he skid-halts at the gate, huffing and puffing, she has to tilt her back to have a proper look at his face, that’s how tall he is. But it’s a pretty face, Meryl has to admit, even through her annoyance. Angular, brightened by his awkward smile and expressive blue-green eyes. He looks nothing like her neighbor and she hadn’t known he had any family in the first place.

Still. She’s here for a reason. With her hands on her hips, Meryl juts her chin out: “Excuse me, could you please tell Mr. Geoff to wait until New Year’s for his obnoxious fireworks? Some of us would like some peace and quiet when the calendar doesn’t dictate otherwise.” 

The man flushes and shrinks a little on himself, a hand scratching at the back of his neck. “Oh no, that was me. Mr. Geoff doesn’t live here anymore, I moved in last week.”

Oh.

Shit.

Well, actually.

It’s not like she’s in the wrong, even if this is one hell of a first impression to make.

“My statement still stands,” she doubles down in the typical Stryfe fashion, as Roberto calls it. 

Her new neighbor shrinks beneath her stare and his whole face falls. It’s almost the theatrical perfection of misery.  “I am very sorry about that, miss. But I can explain, I swear. There’s this kitten that lives in my backyard, I keep trying to capture it to bring inside, but she always eludes me. And while my friend was helping me set up the fireworks ahead of time, we noticed her again and in the rush to get a hold of her, he dropped his cigarette and accidentally ignited the chain we’d just set up. It wasn’t on purpose at all!”

He speaks so fast she barely catches everything, gesturing to accompany his story, and now he’s giving her unreasonably effective puppy eyes. The combination of it all is somewhere in the miracle zone between annoying and oddly charming (closer to the latter) and Meryl feels her disposition shifting accordingly.

“Well, if that’s the case, you’ve definitely scared her off with fireworks for the night if not more,” she states and watches the man’s shoulders slump. “However, if she does come back, you’d have more chances in the future with a trap, rather than chasing her around the yard. If you want, I could help you set one up.”

Bright blue eyes widen almost comically as he gasps, clasping hands together, which is when she notices his left is curiously clad in black leather glove while the other is bare: “Really? You could?”

“Yes, I’ve written an article on it, so people would know how to set up traps for local TNRs,” she nods, confidently.

In return, she gets an almost blindingly bright smile from the blond. “That’s wonderful, miss! You're a reporter? Amazing! Would you like to come in? Oh, I forgot to introduce myself - my name’s Vash Saverem.” He fires it all off all the while opening the gate and gesturing an invite and extending hand for a shake, all of which Meryl accepts. 

“Meryl Stryfe,” she says as he leads her further inside and realizes that despite everything, her headache has eased as if Vash has miraculously melted it with his overeager energy.

Maybe there is something to look forward to in the next year, after all.

[swimming-karyss]

I just finished TriStamp and have nothing smart to say

and also Millie! Yay!! I miss her (wait how do you spell her name.....)

"Meryl Stryfe is so cool" "Can't wait to meet her in person!!"

[chibivesicle]

Asks that I will never really answer. My apologies; life gets busy and I get distracted.

I'm dropping these here today, so I can clear out some of the asks from my inbox. Apologies for some of these going back to when Trigun Stampede was still airing. >_< If I don't have a clear and concise answer, I'll let things sit in the inbox but they occasionally do fall off my radar.

Uuummm sorry Anon, I meant to give this more of a response but as I got angrier at Stampede, I just couldn't bring myself to give you a well thought out reply. My overall vibes for the Christian themes that were missing in Stampede had to do how they kept a lot of the surface content, images/style/design from the original but with the sci-fi emphasis removed the weird esoteric Christian stuff and made it look that way. Vash was more willing to engage with others in the original manga/'98 anime based on what Rem taught him. Yet, we never get why he does what he does in Stampede. By changing Wolfwood from being a traveling preacher where Vash lambasts him with 'thou shall not kill' the nuance of his character's moral conflict is lost. He's a trained killer for a quasi-religious organization that might be using a Zia in a really not cool way. We also do not see him act in a self-sacrificing way, which he does from the get go in the original. The angelic body horror was gone, replaced by a sci-fi reading of plants and the concept of plant worship was missing in there as well. There is a lot of internal dialogue that many of the characters pose through the anime and manga and its just gone from Stampede and it revolves around forgiveness, violence, and justice.

For me, the complete re-interpretation of the world and loss of the moral conflict that all characters show hurt the Christian (and Buddhist) themes that underpinned the original. It really came down to how the characters acted and talked. There is no point to a gunslinger who is almost completely passive when one who is active but uses a non-lethal method based on principle. There is a chapter where Vash gets taunted by some enemy for how bad his target practice is until they determine he was that accurate at shooting someone but not killing them. The best way to summarize is that they took some of the aesthetics of the original and didn't follow through on how the characters acted. There is so much contemplation in the original and that is missing in the remake.

Let's just make this a list: 1.) Leo would actually have a real girlfriend. I already have issues with White, I think adding her in as a quasi-girlfriend was a disservice to Leo's character. 2.) Zapp would be white. Less of a manwhore perhaps? 3.) Chain would be cute as opposed to cold and distant. No drinking assholes under the table and vomiting in her bathroom later. See Meryl Stryfe.

4.) K.K. would have boobs, and somehow be more sexy than an awkward and doting mother. See Rem and Luida. 5.) Steven's scar would be smaller or missing to make him a real lady killer. Either they'd lean way too far into Steven's shady side or they'd clean it up completely. Like he'd wink at women as opposed to sleeping with them to get intel. Be Klaus #1 fan! But like all the time, making himself to work too much. His hangry side would either be missing or played up for laughs. 6.) Zed would be dropped because he's the non-human team member. What's the point of having him? 7.) Luciana Estevez would only appear in her super sexy doctor form not her silly clone or normal form.

8.) They would try to create lore and filler to explain things that you have to assume are just how things work. Or they would info dump as opposed to leaving it up to you to worry about things and figure it out from the context. 9.) The entire cast gets aged down, because having a bunch of 30+ cast members who don't have all their shit together is too embarrassing aka very realistic. e.g. K.K. has a house husband (not a good mother like Rem and Luida in Stampede), Steven will die single and alone, Daniel will die single and alone, Patrick carries a torch for Guinness but is single, Abrams is a walking disaster.

10.) Character designs which are super unique and fun, especially in the manga all get 'isekai treatment' were they look homogeneous. The whole point of the diversity of the cast is lost. Women are short and cute, men are tall and slender or tall and buff. No other options.

11.) They attempt to rationalize the 13 Kings and give deep meaning behind their behaviors. Which maybe we will get that someday, but part of the fun is how fucking chaotic they are.

12.) Hellsalem's Lot is an empty city. Somehow, the city lacks people on the streets and we don't get the rooftop betting scene between the giant stomping creature and super-sized Riel. Sex, drugs, gambling are minimized in their version.

13.) The entire Prosfair story line is cut because it is so fucking bizarre and awesome; they wouldn't understand the point of the entire game.

14.) The OST is bad.

[fullcry]

@theaba12: Prompt maybe for the LP&G fic um i Sufi at these but maybe Meryl writing being seen by vash or I don’t know would she share her writings?

A/N: This one also got away from me, lol. But I hope you enjoy! Set in the universe of Love and Peace and Gunsmoke.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

He stared at the door, wide smile still in place, her half-eaten plate of eggs and toast sitting on the table opposite him. He waited a moment to see if she came back—forgot something, had something else to add to her long list of meticulous instructions. But when her footsteps down the stairs fell into silence he let his smile fall and his shoulders relax.

He ran a hand over his face, letting out a heavy sigh.

Well. Here he was. In Meryl’s apartment. She let him come with her, just like he’d asked.

God, what was he thinking?

He pushed his chair out of the table and stood, moving into the small adjoining living room where he looked around, taking in a life well lived. She had a worn two seater couch, an armchair, an oval coffee table littered with knitted coasters sitting atop a ratty rug, the edges of which were beginning to fray.

Along the walls hung photographs, some of which he recognized from their travels: Jeneora Rock, before its destruction. Enora Ravine. Rostrum.

But there were others he didn’t recognize.

A photo of a city skyline–December, maybe? A long shot of a modest plant array, all the bulbs clean and healthy. Then there was one that really drew his attention, at the far end of the wall near the window.

It was a large photo in a decorative frame of Meryl holding an award wearing a fancy blue dress. Milly was holding her tight around the shoulders, face split in a grin, the photo taken close up but far enough away to see the plaque Meryl held up next to them. It read, in large gold letters:

Meryl Stryfe November Journalist Society Journalist of the Year

She looked different: her dark hair was long and thick, cascading over her shoulders in gentle waves. There was a glow about her face, though he supposed that could simply have been due to the cause for the occasion.

But unlike Milly, she wore a sad smile, at odds with the happy scene.

He frowned, uncertain for a moment when in the timeline of his absence this could have been. When realization hit him he sucked in a sharp breath and agonized, once again, over everything he had missed.

He turned to the opposite wall, deciding instead to investigate her bookcase and hoping it had fewer unintentional guilt traps waiting for him. The shelf was small, but filled to the brim with books and journals and magazines and old newspapers. To his delight there was a whole row of aging dime novels and he plucked one off the shelf, grinning widely when he saw the author’s name at the bottom.

C.C. James.

He jumped onto the couch and settled with his head over one armrest, legs dangling over the other, eagerly flipping it open. He hadn’t read a dime novel in ages, but he knew all of hers by heart. He’d been a fan since long before he found out she had written them.

To this day he still didn’t know what she was so embarrassed about.

He glanced quickly at the clock in the kitchen, noting the time. He had about an hour—plenty of time to read through one short story. With a smile, he turned to the first page, and began to read.

[freedfromthegalactichivemind]

Here's a cute little head canon you might enjoy

So lately I've been coming up with the strange idea that after the war Adora starts to "Find herself" and realizes that the Brightmoon aesthetic isn't for her, and as a "Horde Baby" she misses the blacks, the gothic designs and even some of the more harsher elements of the Fright Zone (Minus of course the trauma and what not)

So Adora begins going her own Adams family route and having a gothic aesthetic to her. Black gowns spikes crowns, spooky fortress for a house etc etc.

Anyway to the part you might like.

I just imagine Adora spending a lot of time in Dryl and Hordak teaching her how to properly apply black eyeliner she can wear daily, and maybe loaning a big cape or two.

This is so funny! An online friend of mine / long term Facebook friend with whom I exchange art and crafting stuff sent me a cape. A full-on cape! I'd expressed interest in it and it arrived today. It's red. It's not exactly a proper villain-cape, though. It's a short-cape and in-model resembles somewhat the cape worn by Meryl Stryfe in the original run of Trigun (anime), like a half-cape. But, you know, I know what it's like to have a friend who will give you a handmade adcape. Which is pretty cool. It would be funny to have an innocent / benevolent take on the "Despara" idea! You know, I've had an idea long-term regarding Adora and "Fright Zone things" in terms of food of all things. Like, we all know that Adora discovers regular Etherian food and is all over it, but I always liked the thought that "she misses ration bars sometimes" and finds a way to procure them. This thought struck me when I was contemplating my love of the McRib along with my knowledge that it was originally developed as an army-ration before it became a fast food item. I thought of my love of "crappy" poor-people food born out of being a poor person that would probably continue on in my life if were were to ever by some improbable stroke of luck become rich. I just sort of thought "the girl grew up on army rations, so maybe she'd have this inexplicable love for them that would gross out her Princess friends." Except Entrapta - she likes how small and efficient they are. An entire aesthetic? Yeah, works too. I see this going double for Catra, who absolutely does not strike me as the pink and sparkly Barbie-aesthetic princess-type!

[crimson-amarone]

Chapter 10: How I Met Your Milly

Chapter Summary:

Previously, Clark and Meryl began traveling together to December, getting to know one another. Clark is still recovering from his encounter with the Grand Worm. The next day, Zazie appeared with more warnings.

Now, Clark gets a clue on Mxy’s whereabouts, learning about the LOLL’s involvement. Arriving in December, Clark’s powers begin acting up. Meryl heads to Bernardelli and meets with the Chief and her new partner.

Start reading chapter 10

——————————————————————————

Chapters: 10/? (see chapter 10 snippet below)

Fandom: Trigun Stampede (Anime 2023), Trigun (Anime & Manga 1995-2008), My Adventures with Superman (Cartoon), Superman - All Media Types 

Rating: Mature (Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Language, Adult Themes)

Pairings: Clark Kent/Lois Lane, Meryl Stryfe/Vash the Stampede 

Characters: Clark Kent, Vash the Stampede, Meryl Stryfe,  Lois Lane & Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas D. Wolfwood, Milly Thompson, League of Lois Lanes

Story Summary:

Two years after Lost July, an interdimensional rift becomes dangerously unstable, opening a portal between universes—the worlds of No Man’s Land and Earth-12.

Outlaw Vash the Stampede is still MIA, although rumors abound. Despite not knowing if Vash is truly alive, both Meryl Stryfe and Wolfwood catch a lead pointing them to a remote town iles away.

Elsewhere, young Clark Kent’s life is turned upside down when he’s dragged to an unfamiliar planet to help as Superman. Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen follow his trail with some unlikely assistance.

Two heroes must make new allies to fight ruthless villains in a three-way conflict. All while trying to find where they both belong, face their inner demons, and make a better future for their worlds.

Start reading from the beginning

Chapter Snippet:

Meryl raised a hand to knock on the Chief’s door, but a looming figure knocked her over instead. The figure was that of a very tall, brownish-blond-haired woman. 

A large stack of papers went flying all over the hallway. Apparently, she hadn’t seen the uncommonly short woman.

The tall woman wore a simple, loose-fitting white button-up blouse with a red tie and brown trousers. Not only was she at least six feelz tall, but she was also rather broad in the chest and shoulders—her loose clothes didn’t help to slim her. 

Except for that, she was quite doll-faced, with crystal blue eyes and the friendliest of smiles. Her long hair framed her face charmingly and curled up at the ends. Her locks bounced cutely when she tilted her head.

The tall woman yelped and bent down, flustered about whether to start picking up the papers or help Meryl up. 

When the two caught each other's eyes, the woman lit up, eyes sparkling and mouth in a wide open smile.

“Oh my gosh! You’re Miss Meryl Stryfe, aren’t you? I’m terribly sorry for bumping into you, silly me!”

The taller woman grabbed Meryl with both hands and pulled the shorter woman back to her feet as if she weighed nothing. 

“I just can’t believe I ran into you! I hoped to meet you yesterday, but the Chief said you caught trouble on the road and would be a day late. I do hope you are alright, ma’am! The roads are a very dangerous place to be all on your own.” She shook a pointer finger at Meryl like a mother would a child. 

Meryl straightened her clothes and brushed them off. “Um, yes, I’m just fine. Uh, have we met before?”

Start reading chapter 10

[klcthebookworm]

WIP Wednesday

Vash has finally led them to the mysterious upstairs he has been referencing.

Vash insisted on them packing their coats and jackets on this trip to a surprise destination that was supposed to end with him getting a new arm. Hannah was still suspicious if that was actually going to happen, but she humored her bro and wore the tan duster as they climbed up a cliff out of sight of New Oregon. It covered up the gun she had belted on. None of the adults commented on it as they hiked, which was only fair since they were all armed.

Vash peered over the edge. “There it is.” Then he looked looked back at the group, slightly panicked. “I may have miscalculated.”

“What did you forget?” Meryl asked with a sigh.

“That not everybody should take a flying leap into our transport. Especially you.”

“Then why are you?” Meryl looked alarmed. “How many times have you done this?”

Bike turned on Hannah’s face shield. “Picking up radio control frequency. Take control of the skiff?”

“Sounds good if you can do it,” Hannah told her.

“It has always been a good way for me to test if the ticker is still running good.” Vash tapped his chest and turned from Meryl to Hannah. “What sounds good?”

A flying platform halted even with the cliff edge and an opening slid open in its wall. The bike beeped and rolled onto it.

“Taking control of our ride if that’s our ride,” Hannah answered.

“Typical,” Chuck said. “She never lets us steer.”

“Yes, that’s our ride but she’s not supposed to come upstairs. It’s not constructed for wheeled transportation,” Vash said.

Bike honked loudly. “Your bro Vash is not allowed to take you out of my protection range. He is statistically unable to chose a location to visit that does not involve your endangerment.”

“I think you’re exaggerating. Nothing happened in December City.”

“Meryl Stryfe-ma’am chose that location. Calculations now?”

“Never tell me the odds.”

“Why are we betting now? Vash asked.

“Hey, Han Solo! Are we expecting asteroids?” Chuck asked.

Wolfwood shifted his cloth-wrapped Punisher. “Who’s Han Solo?”

“Movie or music?” Milly asked.

“Movies!” Chuck answered. “Star Wars! Aww, we’re gonna miss the next one.”

Wolfwood looked at Milly. “I’m starting to understand why you ask that first with these two.”

“I don’t understand why no one else has yet.”

Hannah looked up at Vash. “She’s objecting to us leaving her protection range, so she has to come with. Otherwise this thing won’t go.” She tapped the metal railing.

“Because now that she has control of it, she won’t let go of it. And I have to depend on what is programmed in the skiff.” Vash crossed his arms.

“It has a radio frequency expecting input. Why don’t you have a controller for it?” Hannah asked.

Vash looked sheepish.

“It got shot, didn’t it?” Meryl asked.

Vash dropped his arm. “I didn’t shoot it! It’s completely not my fault my belongings take bullets aimed at me.” He looked at the bike. “Okay fine. But no weapons! It’s a delicate ecosystem and one wrong boom could have thousands of lives at risk.”

Chuck giggled. “One wrong boom.”

“Limitations acknowledged.”

“She’s good with that,” Hannah said.

Vash led the way onto the skiff, holding Meryl’s hand and then Chuck’s as they stepped off the stone onto the metal. He wagged a finger at Wolfwood when Preacher Man boarded. “No booms for you too.”

Wolfwood sat next to Milly and rested his cross on his other side. “I’m merely prepared for any trouble that might find you. I’d rather be wrong about that.”

Hannah sat down next to the bike’s handlebars and the skiff began to climb into the sky. Vash perched on the edge of the skiff seating and his knee bounced. “Please just everyone be on your best behavior,” he said.

Chuck tilted his head. “What’s that?”

“That long list that Mom tells us and Uncle Vinnie to do,” Hannah said.

“Got it. And no booms.”

Vash rolled his eyes and looked up at the sky. “So the disaster you’re all predicting is me bringing company home.”

Milly grinned, “But we’re fun disasters.”

Meryl squeezed Vash’s hand. “Are you really worried about us? Or are you distracting yourself from something else?”

“I want this to go well?” Vash sighed. “They don’t leave very often and they accepted me and I want them to accept all of you.”

“We’ll be good,” Hannah promised him.

“And we’re like able,” Chuck said. “Unless you’re Limburger. He can’t stand us.”

[fastfishloosefish]

BEEP BEEP !

21. a long text // 17. a comforting text

A letter is neatly folded and tucked into Meryl's mailbox. In scribbled cursive handwriting, sentences crossed out here and there, it reads:

Dear Miss Stryfe, The shambling ghosts crowding around your doorway in the past few days have given me cause for concern. I remembered your question to me about the spirit-nature of sea nettles. Good lord! Your shores must be haunted indeed, regardless of how watery they may be. It's strange to walk down the halls to see these souls unable to rest. I've no answer, madam, to the question of why you are being so mobbed by these creatures. But life is strange, often bringing vengeance down on those who don't deserve it, or let those who do get away unscathed. Such are the whims of justice. Once I stood on the deck of a whaling ship and watched my captain sail our crew to their deaths for the sake of his own pride and ambition, and yet I lived, only one soul out of many, one limb of a whole body, out of no one's will but God's. Miss Stryfe, I told you once the water's the most haunted place under this sky, but it seems your ghosts are of a more land-walking sort. But you cling still to the life-buoy. Ah, I've prattled on again. I wish your journeys well, unimpeded by wand'ring death, or else let your grip be firm. My regards, Ishmael. P.S. Have you heard of this card game named "Uno"? I've discovered it recently. I knocked on your door the other day but you didn't seem to be home, and neither was half the building! Funny that. I thought it might have been the ghosts, given they were out in throngs that morning. P.P.S. The ghosts, it seems, do not like the card game; I've asked.