#whats.... livio's last name...??

[karlydraws]

"You are too slow" / "guys... Please don't fight :')" / "Shut up!"

What if they were all just childhood friends

City boys spending their summer break at Granny's house, making friends with local kids

[rennyrose]

Weird eyes

[buccellato]

Fucks me up to think about how Legato's legacy in-universe after his death in Trimax (and presumably Tristamp) is probably gonna be how much he sucked and nothing else....

Like, nobody will like Knives but Vash will be long-lived enough to be able to eventually talk about his good qualities from when he was a child and his quasi-redemption in his last days. But who remembers Legato? Livio and Vash are the only living people with any extended memory of him and neither of them would have anything nice to say (and rightfully so). Neither of them probably knew he was a slave, either—as far as Vash can tell this dude showed up one day and hated his guts, for all he knows he's just another survivor from July! Outside of Knives, Elendira, Legato, and maybe Conrad, I don't think any other character knows his actual life story.

And to add on to that, there's no way of looking up that past either—he had no name or personhood before he was effectively rescued, so who could investigators or reporters or archivists track down for information? The human being that was Legato only existed for as long as he knew Knives, before that he was something to be kept and abused as an object. There's presumably no surviving family they can reliably contact, nobody to really say "yes I knew him, here's what his life was like, here's how we can prevent something like this from happening again".

His entire existence will be reduced down to "a human weapon that was freakishly loyal to public enemy #1" without any reflection on the mechanisms that made him the way he was because there's just no actual knowledge of his life.

[akilikesbread]

quotes from watching trigun stampede with my friends so SPOILERS:

“Bro he even falls zestily” (in reference to wolfwood)

“oh cool flashback” “more like a VASHBACK am i right? ZINGER” “kys.”

“my lawyers have advised me to not discuss what i would do to his stupid fluffy blonde hair”

WW: “the big man upstairs made me strong” “The big man upstairs made me like people with wires and mandibles.”

*vashs arm gets sucked into a blackhole* “bro wtf, hollow purple”

“boy why you so ����”

“motherfucker so gay the cigarette bends the second it touches his mouth”

“this is just a documentary of california”

*BadLads gang shows up* “BL? Boys love? They kiss men?”

*Livio standing menacingly* “SANS???”

*in reference to eye of Michael* “Why’s their logo literally new mexico”

*Legato appearance* “blue hair AND PRONOUNS??” “whats with daman mills and voicing gay men”

*Woowoo getting tortured* “theyre injecting 🏳️‍🌈 into his bloodstream”

*First wolfwood appearance* “He better hit people with that fucking cross”

“he looks hot when hes troubled”

*In reference to Rosa* “If pregnant lady dies i’m leaving the call

“OH MY GOD HES REDPILLED.” “Vashed and redpilled”

“Tricum stampede”

*we were watching on an illegal site so it kept opening new tabs* “AHHHH PORN”

*wolfwood gets fucking bent in half by legato* “Bro where can i get a massage like that”

“Roberto looks like. hold on.” The image sent:

“if the animation was a person i’d make out with them sloppy style. with tongue.”

*in Rollo’s old town with the biblical radio shit* “Guys this sounds just like something my bus driver would say”

*zazie turns into a swarm* “would you still love me if i was a worm :(“

“vash’s mom is pretty” “i’m gonna stop you right there.”

*vash.* “LOOK AT HIS SLUTTY WAIST”

“yeah nai just really liked taking out arms this episode”

*knives playing the piano in the distance* “IS THAT THE GRIM REAPER😨😨😨”

EG Bomber: “MASTER KNIVES😈” my friend in the zestiest voice ever: “master😳”

Vash: *reloading* “THATS SO FUCKING HOOOOTTT” “i wish i was that gun.”

*wolfwood gets fucking run over* “i think hes my new favorite character”

*vash getting chased by the residents of jenora rock* “california has never looked livelier”

“Call me Millions Knives.” “edgy ass emo name, he sounds like hes a 13 year old emo who listens to panic at the disco and cries himself to sleep at night.”

“is this prophetic stress dream bothering you queen”

“i wish Californian sand looked as good here, dont eat the californian sand, its chunky”

*conrad appears* “LUIGI???”

“so this is julai…” “its still may dude, idk how to tell you this”

*Julai screenpan.* “THIS IS JUST VEGAS.”

*wolfwood and vash running away* “me when i skeddadle”

*vash gets shot and walks away* “bros like ‘damn i just got shot :(‘“

“Nicholas the Punisher.” “he can punish me if he wants I MEAN WHAAAAAT”

*That Roberto Scene™️* “*through tears* SO HOW ARE YOU GUYS ENJOYING THE SHOW?”

*Knives dramatically playing piano* “You and that fuckin church organ.”

“5gum stampede”

“Why is nai so jacked???” “theyre both built like brick shithouses”

*Meryl points a gun at conrad* “KILL YOURSELF OLD MAN.”

“WHYS NAI CLENCHING HIS ASS SO HARD…”

“Vash wake up!!” “THIS ISNT LIKE YOU POOKIE”

*Wolfwood steals one last cigarette from Roberto* “Rare cigarette that wasnt fucked up”

“WHO CUT THEIR HAIR.” “Xinqiu.” “Yelan ass haircuts.”

*talking about vash* “hes such a shonen protag. Food friendship and (avoiding) fighting”

“Knives, ur literally gay. i dont wanna hear it.”

“The entrance to the higher plane!” “it looks like a butthole.”

*Knives fucking just floating into the higher dimension* “*cackling*” “WHY HE SLIDE LIKE THAAAT” “stone scraping sound effect”

“Vash shouldve been called damian”

“Prepare mentally for episode twelve, take a deep breath, take a sip of water-“ “KISS A MAN” “DONT KISS A MAN” “KISS A MAN!!!”

*start of episode twelve.* “surely this wont be horrifying”

“I promise to protect you both.” “well you really sucked at that, huh.” “yeah fuck you rem” “HELP???”

*looks at Nai* “Whys he wearing a speedo…”

*Red geranium sprouts in tint Vash’s hand* “NAI LOOK DO YOU WANNA SEE A MAGIC TWICK”

*Running through field of red geraniums* “this reminds me of the angry birds logo”

“metal wing?” “its made of knives, yk, like his name :D” “shut up.” “alright then.”

*chanting* “CUBE!!!!”

“HES GONNA STAMPEDE!!!”

“kiss my vash!!”

[fuck-you-upmusicbracket]

Sunlight (Hozier)

All the tales the same/Told before and told again/A soul that's born in cold and rain/Knows sunlight, sunlight, sunlight/And at last can grant a name/To a buried and a burning flame/As love and its decisive pain/Oh, my sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

But whose heart would not take flight/Betray the moon as acolyte/On first and fierce affirming sight of/Sunlight, sunlight, sunlight/I had been lost to you, sunlight/And flew like a moth to you, sunlight, oh, sunlight/Oh, your love is sunlight

"I come down with the shivers and start hyperventilating when i hear this song and it makes me want to go outside which is the scariest part"

"I'm not gonna go full infodump here but this song is Peak Vash and Nicholas D. Wolfwood from Trigun-- specifically Nick's feelings towards Vash. Vash's (literal) evil twin brother Knives hired (read: threatened to eradicate the orphanage he kidnapped Nick from as a child if he didn't do what he was told) Nick to act as bodyguard for Vash and guide him to where Knives wants him to go so he can manipulate him for his own gain. Like, he chose the name Knives. This bitch is crazy beyond crazy but this ain't about him. Nick starts out 100% willing to guide Vash like a lamb to slaughter because he HAS to for the orphanage, and this is just some random guy he doesn't know or care about. But then he gets to know Vash, how good of a person he is despite the shit the world (and Knives) has put him through. How he'd rather risk his own life and health than kill another person because he believes he doesn't get to make that choice for people. And despite being someone who'd rather shoot first, pray for them after, Nick starts trying to wound rather than kill just because Vash doesn't like it. It puts them both at risk and he fusses and argues about it and still kills sometimes but he tries anyways. Eventually he decides that he'll do what he can to protect Vash from Knives without provoking him to destroy the orphanage. He ends up caring about him deeply against his own will to the point that his idea of Eden would be to live with Vash and their friends in a peaceful world where none of them have to fight and die. In the manga, Nick's dying request is to see Vash smile again- the genuine smile that he's complimented every time he's seen it. Vash can't give him that, because he knows Nick would see that it was a forced smile. Instead, he just sits with him until he dies. Afterwards, Vash kills willingly for the first time in his entire life (over 150 years. He's not human btw) in order to protect Nick's childhood friend Livio. He wouldn't just do that for just any friend or ally, no, that was out of love. Love so strong he could go against his own mother's teachings that all life matters and people don't get to choose when a life ends, the thing that has kept Vash pacifist all these years, to keep someone that mattered to Nick alive. So while Nick never knew that Vash cared for him the same way he did him, the fact matters that he does."

A Good Song Never Dies (Saint Motel)

There was a moment, a hole opened in the sky/A chance to join their pantheon/For all the times they never heard your battle cry/Now even angels sing along/'Cause a good song never dies/It just reminds you of where you were/The first time it made you cry, the first time you felt alive/No, a good song never dies

"Listen. Listen. It has so many LAYERS, so many fucking. It can be seen from so many angles, for so many characters. It can be an egotistical maniac who doesn't want to die, a sad angsty man who's looking beyond the grave, you can make this song you BITCH and it WORKS."

[macncherries]

hello little art blog Hello Mario,

Shit on this blog is SUGGESTIVE IN NATURE. I post what i want. If it is explicit NSFW it is censored. I will draw porn/NSFW, only the ugly bits are covered. If you want to see the ugly bits check my Patreon.

DNI ➫

◘ If you are not 16+. Yes its redundant, but people still wont listen anyways. ◘ Pro/Anti fuckers. ◘ Fetish content. ◘ Shotacon fuckers, Lolicon fuckers, & the like. Dont fuck with me. I know what you are. ◘ Plantcest fuckers. ◘ Republicans ♡ ◘ Christians unless its the 'Bible Fandom' Christians. ◘ Adult/Minor shippers. ◘ Blogs dedicated to glorifying/romanticizing self-harm in any format. ◘ Zionists ◘ Obvious things; racists, homophobes, transphobes, radfems, terfs, incest shippers, pedos, etc.

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⃝𖤐 Anyways. Hello, i am Adam, you can call me "Mac" too if that tickles your fancy. I prefer Adam because it is my real name, but Mac is just the shortened version of my user, so both are ok. ⛧ I am technicality Queer-identifying, but i may use the MLM flag out of convenience. ⛧ I am transsexual, FTM. ⛧ I have autism (AUDHD), so i may respond to you in weird ways and/or not pick up on social queues. ⛧ I am Caucasian ദ്ദി(╹-╹) ⛧ I am not religious and do not like particularly like religions. ⛧ I have a cat. Her name is Stinky. ⛧ My boyfriend is @halfbakedpenguin he does neat stuff. (˶˘ ³˘(´͈ ᵕ `͈˶)

My first language is English. I can speak/understand Japanese "well" conversationally, but reading it is more difficult, as i am still learning more kanji. Please speak to me in Japanese, i enjoy it.

Because of the ADHD/'Tism wombo combo, i switch from fandom to fandom with great intensity. There is no promise that what you follow for i will draw forever. Some hyperfixes last weeks, some months, some years. I am sorry ૮๑ˊᯅˋ๑ა

Here is my Carrd.

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Hello. You made it to the bottom. Here are fun factz.

◘ · · ─ I have aphantasia (I cannot see things in my brain, what people call "an imagination") (Yes, it makes art difficult) (No, i cannot imagine books/written media when i read them) (No, i cannot see my dreams. Dreams do affect my other senses though) ◘ · · ─ I have 7 piercings and 2 tattoos. I had 8 piercings, until my 1-year-old, completely healed nostril piercing closed on a random Tuesday afternoon. So technically the one in my intro art is a Lie. I mourn the loss of her every day. ◘ · · ─ I really love the word 'Soup'. ◘ · · ─ My favourite animal (and favourite isopod) are Giant Isopods. Specifically Bathynomus Giganteus. My second favourite is Ukrainian Skycutter pigeons. ◘ · · ─ Ive owned two budgies before, Lance and Rin. Theyve both passed now, but my second ever special interest was birds, and i still hold occasional hyperfixes on them ^_^ So, I am planning to adopt/rescue a pigeon! ◘ · · ─ If youre wondering, my first ever special interest was Minecraft. Again, it still possesses me every so often. I am also very good at BedWars because of it. Ive been playing it since Version 1.2 (Not to be confused with 1.20). ◘ · · ─ I have an uncanny ability to pitch & tone-match. As long as it is within my vocal range, i can imitate it to the degree it sounds like a recording. Thank you autism, very cool

[guiltypleasureswriting]

Day 37: Written Apr 25, 2024

CW: Wolfwood's rough childhood (but not as rough as canon)

Nick knew what musicians were like. He was left behind so his father could chase his country star dreams. He was six years old. His Ma died a year later. He spent half his life hating music and everything that came with it. But you don’t choose music; it chooses you. When Livio found a busted guitar in a dumpster and fought Nick tooth and nail to bring it home, Nick had lost. He learned the taste of steel and how it felt to split the skin of his fingertips. He learned that music wasn’t just sound but the air he breathed and the life force running in every human. He would never forgive his bastard of a father, but he understood some of his insanity now.

For the first few years he only played for the other children at the orphanage and Ms. Melanie. His stage was the dinner table and his spotlight the setting sun shining through the window. When he was old enough for the bigger kids to sneak him out to the bars in town, he was a skilled guitarist. Not that he knew it. 

It all started when the entertainment of the evening at Nick’s favorite bar caught him eye the man’s fluid playing. Later that night the man’s guitar was thrust into Nick’s hands.

“Give it eh’ try, kid.”

“I can’- I don’-“ Nick stumbled.

“Just play the damn guitar, boy.” 

So he did. He played around with the strings, plucking out a tune he’d been working on lately. When he finished, he looked to a roomful of adults staring at him.

“How old did ya say you were?” A man at another table asked. He had thick stubble on his face and a thick cigar between his teeth.

“Fourteen.”

There was a moment of whispers, gasps. and then a woman in the back whistled and cheered prompting half the other patrons to join with applause. That was what caught him. After that night, Nick spent the rest of his teenage years chasing the high of applause focused on him.

After last call, the man with the cigar approached Nick and said, “Ya seem angry, kid.” Nick shrugged, it was true. He had completely shattered that first guitar when his clumsy fingers drove him to violent frustration. The man stuck a rough hand out. “The name’s Roberto, but ya can call me Mr. De Niro.”

Nick shook it reluctantly. He had learned from the other orphans and his own life to be wary of calloused men. 

“Ya got talent there, kid.”

“…thanks.”

“How would you feel about getting your hands on an instrument ya can really beat the shit outta?” De Niro asked. And that’s how Nick started drumming. Roberto was right. Nick did have the anger it took to put his while heart into the drums. Plus it calmed him down for the rest of his life.

Nick spent two years learning how to hold a beat and support a rhythm. He had the most fun learning sick-ass fills though. He didn’t get anywhere with his chosen instrument until he was sixteen. Because he was sixteen when he met Milly.

They got so close everybody thought they were an item. They didn’t deny it because they were too scared to admit they were both raging queers.

Notes/thoughts under the cut

Can you tell I'm a musician?? I got a little sucked in by this idea and I definitely feel like WW would play at least guitar if he ever got the chance. Imagine the setting as the southwest U.S. (new Mexico, Arizona) not that I am very familiar with the area at all

[chris-continues]

Trigun Band AU

General HC’s + how you meet

TW: suggestive (just heavy kissing)

SPECIAL THANKS TO @h4venpha @sapphirescience @linkdedruid and @beanibon FOR HELPING ME BRAINSTORM ILY GUYS AND IF U WRITE ANYTHING BAND AU PLS TAG ME <333 (in all caps to indicate enthusiasm) (shakes violently)

TAGS: @millionsvash @macncherries @lune010 @astrathecowboy @captaintweet

Let me know if you want to be added or removed from the taglist!

You’re a classmate of Wolfwood’s in college and find out he’s apart of a rock/alt garage band named Gunsmoke with some of his friends- one day he’s frustrated that it’s his turn to do some of the managerial stuff and as he’s complaining to you about it, you suggest that you can take it up. You’re interested after all, and he seems chill enough so.. why not?

You meet him there with his brother, Livio (singer), who’s wildly cute and sticks to him like a social anchor, then meet Vash (drummer), Meryl (second vocalist), and Milly (guitarist) who are inside setting up (Wolfwood is a bassist)

Over time you do more gigs with them and have fun, soon pining after all of them lowk…

Wolfwood guides you with a hand on your back, Livio uses his hand to prevent you from bumping into anything, Meryl lectures you (she’s just worried about you!!), Milly grabs sweets for you, and Vash sometimes stands a bit close to you, gaze lasting a bit too long.

Also Livio’s lyrics start sounding a bit more romantic too :0 (I wonder why??)

Polycule begins!! (Livio and Wolfwood are platonic since they’re brothers) and they’re the best partners you could ever ask for

While getting ready for a show, you’re their “good luck charm” (meaning they kiss you right before a show)

Milly kisses your cheek, Meryl is too shy to do anything but will give your cheek a kiss if she’s nervous, Vash peppers kisses over your face, Livio is also usually too shy but Wolfwood teases him about it like “what, too shy to kiss your own partner Liv?” And then Livio pecks your lips and hides his face, Wolfwood pulls you in by the waist and kisses you then tickles you cause he’s a piece of shit (affectionate)

Vash will cheekily go, “And this song is for you, mayfly.” And wink at you. Whenever this happens, Meryl usually feels part of your secondhand embarrassment and adoration and facepalms

Songwriting sessions with them consist of Wolfwood and Vash tapping their knees and making dumb noises to make a beat that somehow eventually works?? And Meryl is like, “how do you guys do it?? >:0” cause she’s been tryna construct something for a hot minute.

Livio is actually pretty good at coming up with lyrics, constantly humming under his breath with headphones and finding inspiration. It’s really cute. Him, with his hair up and knees curled to his chest as he sits on the floor, hand tapping as he hums.

Milly does something similar w/ drum beats! Sometimes they’ll be sitting next to each other and doing it and their hands touch. He gets really flustered and she’s like, “Awww”

During these sessions Milly, Livio, and you often go on snack runs (they both have sweet tooth’s)

Making out with Wolfwood in the back room.. his tongue piercing is cool against your lip

Also both him and Vash have matching tongue piercings, they fucking love to tease their partners with it because GOD it’s something

Livio gets one a bit later (so far for piercings he has snake bites, vertical labaret, his eyebrow, + industrial and other ear piercings), no tattoo’s though.

Vash has a smiley, a bellybutton piercing, along with a few ear piercings (and his tongue piercing), but one drunken night Wolfwood dares him to get a tramp stamp. He also has an inner lip tattoo saying, “babygirl” in cursive lettering

Wolfwood has spider bites + tongue piercing and has a matching tramp stamp with Vash (it’s a heart design with flames coming from the sides)

Wolfwood and Vash asko have matching nipple piercings

Milly would have an industrial, Meryl with a septum + a few ear piercings. I think they both would keep it pretty light.

You guys potentially get matching tattoos? (Smth w/ angel wings?)

Wolfwood gets it on his back, Vash on his wrist (so he can always look at it) Livio also gets it on his wrist, Meryl on her sternum and Milly on her shoulder/bicep

[the-nysh]

I think a lot about how Vash took a really long time to call Meryl by her name in the manga/98 and even then would still flip flop between that and 'Insurance Girl', but he was calling her Meryl by episode 4 in Tristamp and in fact is the *only* character to call her By Her Proper Name until Roberto does. And like yeah 'she's not an insurance agent in tristamp', but if he wanted he could have just easily substituted in 'reporter girl' or something. But no, she's Meryl. (thank you, Meryl).

Stampede Vash makes it so easy!!!! ;o; Cause he really was the only one in their party to respectfully call her by name early on without having that problem. Especially with the way Meryl was always so irritated with Roberto not calling her by name, demanding not to be teased even by Wolfwood's silly nicknames (Meryl wants to be Seen and taken seriously without being demeaned or dismissed! hhh authentic short woman struggles) so here we are with Vash--who likely Noticed that, being the polite-mannered, observant genuine nice guy who actually listens to her respecting her preferences, aaaa!!!

Cause I also think about how....the typical (Japanese) way of addressing someone new would be Last Name basis + honorific to show respect (and/or familiarity levels)....which in Meryl's case would be....'Stryfe-san' - like 'Ms. Stryfe,' blerghghg which sounds so...severe. So in her case, actually listening to what SHE wants to be called actually takes precedence. Hooray for Stampede Vash actually following that, almost to a super casual degree too (bam--First Name basis), since Meryl never really had to correct him on what to call her, unlike the others (so I think she's secretly grateful for that.) You can also interpret in a way...where Meryl comes from a formal (Japanese) university educated background, down to her ways of speaking, Vash's upbringing is not the same--so him going the more 'western' way casually using (first) names without honorifics probably comes that much easier/natural to him.

While we're on the subject, she calls Vash 'Vash-san' (since he doesn't really have a last name...unless you go by like...Mr. Stampede, which to her would be weird too, so lol. Dub Wolfwood can pointedly call him 'Stampede' when he's lecturing.) And Wolfwood's only referred to by his Last Name by everyone (close first name privileges + abbreviations are only reserved for those from his orphanage, like Livio)...but meanwhile he rudely calls everyone else whatever nickname he wants, respect/honorifics be damned! :P

In the 98 anime, dub Vash flip-flopped calling her Meryl sometimes, but in the subs, I really listened hard for it, but even for his same lines (addressing her with casual questions), I don't think he ever got the chance to call her by name there! :O Then when you go to the manga, 'insurance-san' is his basic form of address for the girls, which isn't even teasing or anything--it's distant but still respectful....until he calls her by name when things ~Get Serious~ and he earnestly wants her to listen (she is shook!!!!) Eventually Trimax Vash does keep a closer first name basis for her, especially in his most sincere/tender/considerate moments, which is waah. :'3

So if Stampede Vash wanted to keep that same occupation form of address, then something like 'reporter-san' would've been the closest equivalent...but even then, because he Doesn't...it's actually Really Nice!?!! that out of all the guys who keep on teasing/dismissing her, he instead actually listens and treats her seriously with the respect she wants from the get-go. :')) (RAAA!!!! Stampede Vash and Trimax Vash are sweet gentlemen!!!! ;o;)

[hikennosabo]

#tristampparty day 6, episode 6: once upon a time in hopeland

THE HALFWAY POINT OF @tristampparty BABY!!! this is another episode i've watched multiple times on its own so... LET'S GOOOOO

and we start right out the gate with

wolfwood vial count: 2

i don't think i need to keep saying that masaya onosaka is the radio dj... he's been a constant...

LOL, LMAO, EVEN

"disposal," though... we know all about the last run, but what else does disposal entail. like what do they do with the. um. the corpse? and the word "disposal"... yeesh...

so they say, even though it's obvious bullshit. but i do wonder. conrad is in charge of july, EoM's base is in july, etc etc... but how many people actually know what's going on? who does "the july government" consist of besides conrad? what about the civilians living in the city? EoM's cover is flimsy at best, they're suspicious as hell, so how deep and how far does the propaganda machine reach that this can just... keep going on?

all this planet has is radio and newspapers, no TV, no internet, and everyone is struggling just to survive... we saw just last ep how EoM had a grip on one village to the point where it was normalized to sacrifice children... just how good are they at controlling information? jeez. roberto and meryl's job as reporters is more important than ever.

we see that part of wolfwood's designated role is to go after deserters and traitors, so that's another way of controlling information, but. he's just one guy. so they probably have more assassins than just him. maybe the rest of the ghg that we haven't seen yet? there's livio, too, but... how long has he been with EoM at this point? the timeline's so unclear on this, i don't know... we know it took "months" between wolfwood being taken by them and his escape attempt + livio(/razlo) joining, but we don't know how long ago that was either... presumably it would also take "months" for the experiments to be done on livio, or maybe even less time? uhhhhh (steam comes out of my ears from thinking too hard)

......i'm less than 3 minutes into the episode. let's continue.

it's cute that they shrug simultaneously. mad at each other but still in sync... :')

no idea why the orphanage would be highlighted on the map except for foreshadowing purposes, but it looks like the steamer stops at... uh... *squints* taradiddlescoast... deucedump?!... orange bazoo... who tf is naming these places?!

:') aha. ahahahahaha. ahahhahahahaha. ah. uah. ue. ueeeeeeaaahhh

we already know that the sandsteamer route passes by the orphanage. so i like that there's a sandsteamer visible in the distance. very nice subtle attention to detail here

i feel like people are always quick to point out that livio and wolfwood being siblings is specific to stampede only but i DON'T care, this is my FAVORITE interpretation of their relationship, i really love it so much and think it enhances the narrative and nicely contrasts the relationship between vash and knives. orange was SO big brained for this and i'm not kidding. they're brothers in the manga too, to me.

the dub line here is "stop, livio! he's not who hurt you!" which just tears me into a million pieces, thanks!

...if i remember correctly... the "great sand ocean" is called as such because things just sink into it, right? (hmm... wonder how many crashed ships sank into the sand ocean...) hence the boat-like vehicles that are used to cross it. as we can see, the bad lads gang uses what look like windsurfers. and yet wheeled vehicles seem to fare just fine...?!

we never see what the test is. huh... i'm reminded of the promised neverland all of a sudden

nicholas gets selected and the bell rings... can i point something out? the bell's presence in scenes... what the bell represents... it has the EoM logo on it. well, so does the building. but notably, we see the bell in the scene with livio and wolfwood on the roof at night and also in the scene of them cuddling which i posted above. they're bonding and they love each other but the eye of michael is quite literally looming over them... and over the orphanage as a whole...

i've already talked about this in my bookclub posts but i want to talk about the orphanage's relationship with EoM again. it's literally run by them... there's NO cover story here, they're CLEARLY suspicious as hell. in the manga, chapel came by himself to pick wolfwood up and the cover story was that they would be repairing churches, right? and everyone genuinely believed he was going off to live a better life. here it's just. a bunch of guys in suits and masks. obviously suspicious. they run the place, so i guess there's no need for a cover story...? but iirc in the manga EoM was also using the orphanage as a "source" for soldiers, right? like i think chapel says something like that, doesn't he? am i misremembering?

i have so many questions. there's no confetti. what does that mean. this is a lot more lowkey than wolfwood's departure in the manga. no cheering, no invitation to come back/saying this is always his home, just... polite waves. and melanie looks... unhappy. how much does she know? how much of a choice does she have here? ...huh. i'm reminded of the promised neverland again.

what does this mean for... y'know. The Scene. like. the confetti is important. the kids loving nicholas so much and cheering while saying goodbye is important. why did orange take those out what are they planning what does it MEAN!!!!

wolfwood is "test subject HL1-06" and i have no idea what that means and we can't determine from this how many kids came before him either.

wolfwood vial count: 3

hi sweetieeeee i love youuuuuu i love youuuuuu

see this gets the gears turning in my head regarding the timeline again. legato says this, and we see some flashforwards (i guess in this context that's what they are) to wolfwood killing people, including the guy from the beginning of this episode and monev from the last episode... (over which legato calls him a loser, lol?! even though that's very much not the reason why wolfwood killed him, and we know it) so how long was wolfwood working for EoM before he was given the job to "babysit" vash?

i already talked about this in one of my bookclub posts but there's the change in livio's motivations, too... he's chasing after wolfwood... as opposed to (razlo) wanting to be needed... what does it mean. man, i really hope orange doesn't do razlo dirty whenever he shows up for real.

THIS CLEARLY ISN'T STRINGS. WHY IS LEGATO'S POWER DIFFERENT IN EVERY VERSION OF TRIGUN I SWEAR TO GOD like it's telekinesis, right?! what does this mean for legato?! and his backstory?! strings are so fitting for him thematically, so i don't know what they could be planning here!!

kouki uchiyama will see a guy with blue hair covering one eye and say "is anyone gonna voice him" and not wait for an answer (and then fight akira ishida over it)

CONRAD I'M GOING TO THROTTLE YOU. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR EXPERIMENTS ARE DOING HUH. HUH!!!!

HGORHGHGHG.GHG. AHGHGGG.HGH.

thinking about the previous episode and eating rocks

livio hears wolfwood's name and that's when he opens his eyes and kicks vash off him... i initially thought maybe he just took the opportunity because vash was distracted, but he was distracted by the military guys right before this, so...?!

say that to knives and see what happens. also hello pretty boy you are so pretty i love you i'm blowing you kisses mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah

whenever legato talks about his confusion over fraternal love i can't help but remember nightow's comment about him maybe having a younger sister. which is interesting to think about but has never been relevant for any version of legato ever... buuuut... with orange's attention to detail, hmmm, who knows...

also i'm obsessed with legato driving hands-free and I AM ONCE AGAIN ASKING HOW HIS POWERS WORK IN THIS VERSION.

*wipes brow* let's end it there i wrote too much. i know i'll have a lot to say about the next episode too. they don't stop coming and they don't stop coming and they don't stop coming

[wytchsbrew]

"Oh my GOD, SHE IS SO CUTE."

The sound of Livio's barely stifled cries of happiness filled the small room with vibrant, happy noise, and Wolfwood thought he'd never been happier in his entire life. No, in any possible life imaginable. There existed not a single version of himself that could top this level of happiness.

Because, he'd never expected to see this. He thought he'd meet his end, die alone in the middle of the desert before experiencing this small piece of life and love he'd stolen for himself, but there it was, standing in front of him.

It all started last night within a small, private, comfortable room toward the backend of the orphanage, in a flurry of Miss Melanie shoving Wolfwood out of the way and her own maternal instincts taking over as things became hectic and bloody in a way Wolfwood decidedly was not used to.

No guns. No death. No murder.

Instead, last night, the love of his life had given birth to his child. A baby girl. A daughter. With dark hair and blue eyes, and tiny, pudgy little hands and the sweetest, most beautiful cry in the entire universe.

Just when he thought he had seen everything he ever needed to see, the visitors began pouring in, one after the other. Milly and Meryl were first, then Livio came sauntering in shortly after, and he had the opportunity to see all his friends, and his brother, meet his baby girl.

And Wolfwood got to watch every single second of it, as he stood quietly in the corner by the door. With his heart full and soaring, full of praises and love, he watched Meryl fuss around Vash, giving him water and food and adjusting his pillows, pushing his hair away from his forehead and giving him more attention than she'd given the baby.

Milly had taken to baby duty immediately, before Livio walked in. Teaching Wolfwood how to change a diaper, how to bottle feed, how to swaddle - until Livio's eyes filled with tears and he begged to hold the baby girl. Milly relented, though with a pinch of hesitance because Wolfwood thought Milly may have held the baby forever if they allowed her.

"Isn't she?" Vash was already sitting up in bed, wearing an oversized shirt with a blanket tossed over his lap and looked absolutely stunning, as though he hadn't just given birth. Meryl sat perched on the bed at his side, arm draped over his shoulders, and Milly sat the end of the bed, hands folded in her lap.

Livio had moved to stand beside the bed, too, holding the baby girl wrapped tight in a hand knitted pink blanket, a gift from Melanie.

"Wait until you hear her name," Vash continued, and a small began spreading across his beautiful face.

"Hmm?" Livio glanced up, at Vash, then towards Wolfwood's position several steps away. "What's her name?"

Vash met Wolfwood's gaze. "Would you like to tell him, Nick?"

Wolfwood pushed away from the wall, pride and excitement filling his chest. He'd been waiting for this all night and all morning. Hell, he'd probably been waiting for this his entire life, and just hadn't realized it yet.

"Her name is Livi," Wolfwood said. "We named her after you."

The reaction felt immediate, as Livio's entire face collapsed in on itself and his mouth slowly fell open. "What? No, are you serious?" he whispered. His frantic eyes darted between himself and Vash, then to the girls, who just smiled bright like they had no idea what was going on.

Then, tears began streaming along his cheeks, and one shaking hand, the one not holding Livi, curled around the back of Vash's head. He dropped a kiss to the top of his hair.

Vash beamed up at him, tears of his own filling along the lines of his thick lashes, and he leaned into the kiss like they were lifelong best friends.

"I love her so much already," Livio sobbed. "And I love you so much, too."

When the two of them finished their moment, though, Livio handed the baby off to Vash, and pointed a sharp finger across the room at Wolfwood. "And you! I fucking love you!"

Livio launched himself at Wolfwood with his arms wide open and ready to grab him in a tight, big hug. Wolfwood ran from it, at first - though, it was all for show, as he relented fast, and let himself be gathered into Livio's big arms.

A hug that made him think back to two small boys, lonely and sad, and afraid they'd never live to see a brighter day.

But, they had.

In that small, little room, in the back of his orphanage, Wolfwood watched a gaggle of misfits and unlikely loved ones heal at the hands of a six pound baby girl, with bright blue eyes and a beauty mark on one cheek.

[duncanor]

i feel really dumb for having to ask but what is the post about the trigun stampede menu thing about? 😭

Don't feel dumb, it's something you can only get if you read the manga so if you're an anime only, it's normal you're confused ^^`

[So huh, HEAVY spoilers for Trigun, specifically Trimax]

To explain it quickly, it's a lot of references to Wolfwood death in Trimax.

The long, more detailed, story is:

Starting with Wolfwood. His chibi has a bottle of alcool labeled 'Bride' and two shot glasses in his hands. When Wolfwood dies in the manga, he drinks one last time with Vash.

One drink is named 'overdose' which is a reference to the 2 or 3 doses of serum he took in a row that ended up killing him.

The other drink is named 'welcome home' which refers to the kids from his orphanage 'welcoming him home' as they leave safe and sound because of Wolfwood sacrifice.

And the meal looks like his grave lmao..

Lastly, Vash's chibi got a meal that he cooks after burying Wolfwood alone. He eats it with Livio to ' regain strength' before moving on to the end game.

Bonus one because I didn't see many people pointing this one out,

One of Nai drinks has slices of apple in it. It's a reference to the end of the manga when Knives choses to disappear(die?) and leave behind him nothing but an apple tree.

So yeah, That's why Trimax readers losed their fuckin' mind over the menu lmao x)

[pancake-breakfast]

Finishing this volume up earlier than usual isn't going to lessen the pain, but it might free me up to do a few more write-ups I need to do.

Stream-of-consciousness thoughts for TriMax Vol. 10, Chapters 6-8 below.

Chapter 6: The Return

The return of what?? What is there to return??? Are they just gonna go back to the orphanage? The return of Livio?? I ask all these things like Nightow's not gonna answer that in the next however many pages.

Yeah, I imagine punches hurt a lot more when YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SKIN.

Ugh, Vash just... standing there, listening to Wolfwood beat the shit out of Razlo. I'm not sure what he's thinking or feeling, but I'm not sure I want to know.

I like Livio... but I think I'd be ok with Razlo never being whole again.

Vash.... Wolfwood, stop punching and go hug your mans or something. He's not doing so well.

Oh, Raz. Chapel wouldn't help you if he could. He never cared enough about you for that.

Dear lord, that's not a healthy thing to do, Wolfwood. I realize you don't have any control over it, but maybe it's time to just stop for a bit. (Side note: props to Nightow for not having his characters just arbitrarily coughing up blood all the time. Really increases the impact when they finally do.)

THE FUCK. DON'T DOWN THE LAST VIAL. YOU'RE JUST SPEEDING UP THE INEVITABLE.

Gods, Raz regenerates quickly.

Huh, his living minions have names, and he knows them. I wonder if the one he turned into chaff had a name.

I dunno if Vash is gonna tolerate this.

Yeah, Vash says no. Kicks for you. He'll allow Wolfwood to finish his business with Raz because he knows this is important to Wolfwood, but if he doesn't get to interfere, then neither does anyone else.

In this moment, I fully believe Vash will kill them if they don't lay off. That said, I'm not sure they're fully human and not some sort of construct.

Raz is doing a great job talking despite not having lips. *mumbles something indistinct about episode 12 of Stampede*

Huh???

LIVIO!!! My boi is here to save his big bro!

Gods, I love these panels. I love how they're set up like two different characters.

Wolfwood knows something's up.

Where the hell did the other Punisher come from? That's Chapel's Punisher. Isn't he dead??

DAMMIT, FUCK THIS GUY SO HARD WITH A *redacted* RIGHT IN THE *redacted* UNTIL HE *redacted* AND *redacted, AND THEN *redacted* HIS *redacted* WITH A *redacted* UNTIL IT LOOKS LIKE SWISS CHEESE!!! FUUUUUUUCCCCKKK!!!!

Ugh, I told you, Raz. I'm sorry, my guy. I know how much it sucks to find out someone you thought was there to take care of you and who you thought valued your life only ever saw you as a pawn toward a different end.

What's more, Raz, is I just skimmed back and what you probably thought was a half-hearted attempt by Wolfwood to smack you away from himself in fear probably just saved your life.

Finish that bastard off. Please. Make sure he doesn't get up again. Make sure he never hurts anyone else again. Finish what your brother started.

Honestly, Nightow could have put absolutely no dialogue on these panels and I'd still be able to hear Raz scream.

Nah, scale it back, Razlo. I know you don't know the meaning of the words, but to quote Stampede Wolfwood, he's not the one who hurt you.

Freaking Livio, man. (affectionate, full of admiration)

Listen to him, Raz. You exist to protect him. If he says you're done, you're done.

Yes. If it weren't for you, Livio would be dead. But the fight is over. It's time to end this, Razlo.

There's something very important about apologizing to yourself for the unhealthy and/or dangerous coping mechanisms you forced yourself to build up... and in forgiving yourself for for them, too.

Ah, the little peons have gone passive now that their master has receded.

Freaking Wolfwood took this time to find and light another of his terribly crushed cigarettes. Freaking addict.

Chapter 7: Wolfwood

No no no no. I know where this chapter goes. I'm not ready.

For the record, I'm just gonna play take a little hand by yoko kanno on repeat the whole time I read this chapter. It's literally been stuck in my head since I got hit with the volume's feels last night, so I'm gonna just ride it out.

"Sleep on a proper bed as much as you can." This is such a good wish. If one has ever been poor enough not to have a proper bed for any length of time, they get it. It's a wish for the luxury of simple comforts, like wishing for someone to have a full stomach or clean clothes.

He thought he was joining a good organization, a group that would help others. He was just a child.

TBH, he looks younger here than he looks in some of the other flashbacks. Here, he looks like he's eight, but in some of the others, he looks like he's 12-14.

We don't have time for the ark now, Brad! And by "time," I mean "emotional energy for whatever those crazies intend to do next." Make 'em go away!

Vash opens the door for the people from the orphanage to come out... but we don't see his face. That feels ominous. I wonder if he's managing one of his fake smiles at this point, or if he's not even bothering for once. (I say "for once," but it feels like his mask falls a lot more these days than it used to.)

Yyyyeah, it might have been a good idea to clean up some of the bodies first. Or let the kids out through the back or something.

*sigh* Vash just wanted to give them some time together.

Man, Livio looks wrecked. Not physically. Emotionally.

Ah, Brad dropped Vash off. That explains that. I remember the ship and I remember thinking it looked like one of Home's vessels, but I wasn't sure if Vash had driven it or what. I like to imagine Vash just jumped out of it from way too high up.

Heh. Wolfwood knows he can't fool Miss Melanie, but he's still trying to protect the kids. Or... maybe he's trying to protect himself. He doesn't want them to see him like this, to think of him like this.

Honestly, given how young some of these kids were, it's a wonder so many of them remember him.

Vash, still holding out hope that maybe, just maybe, they can save him.

Nicholas Dickolas Wolfwood! You're only giving Vash that coin and saying, "This is who I really am," and all that bullshit because you're trying to make your passing easier on Vash, to drive him away so it maybe hurts him less. But you are too late for that. Idiot. He LOVES YOU. Deeply. It doesn't matter if or even need to be romantic. HE LOVES YOU.

LOL, Livio. Bless this man. Also maybe get him a shirt.

*sigh* Klutz.

Damn Nightow for adding this comic relief here. I know it's a lie.

*more sighing* Aaaaand there's the bottle.

Freaking couch....

Gods. Remember... remember waaaaay back when they first met, and Wolfwood went out of his way to make Vash smile? He truly loves Vash's smile. But there's no way in hell Vash could give him a genuine one right now, and that's the smile Wolfwood truly loves.

Well... dammit, Wolfwood would of course be thinking of that, too. Here I thought I was being all smart about the callback, but Nightow just spelled it out for us.

Vash is about to have a full breakdown here. Usually, it's Wolfwood praying, but this time, it's Vash. He doesn't want apologies. He just... he just wants this person who means so much to him to be here. To keep being here. For as long as possible.

Them throwing ticker tape, just like when he left before. Just like you would for a celebration, like a wedding. You... you know Stampede's opening Tombi references this, too??

Heh. Six years, and they saved all this for when he came back. He was well-loved.

Brad's incensed face in the background.

Miss Melanie went against Wolfwood's request... but she's worked with kids a lot. Desperate, hurt kids. Kids who've had to grow up before their time even if they don't show it on the outside the way Wolfwood does. She knows they're smarter than most give them credit for. And she knows some part of Wolfwood's heart needs this. He needs to know that in spite of everything, he's still loved, even by them.

Wolfwood doesn't strike me as much of a crier, unlike Vash. But... hey, now's as good a time as any, huh?

The iron bell in the tower is ringing.

Yeah. Yeah, I knew this would be the next page.

Livio knows. Vash knows. Vash can't hold it in anymore.

Aaaand the ark is here. This is going to go very, very poorly for someone.

Chapter 8: Final Parting

I'd guess Livio's about to have a very different relationship with the ark than he had before.

Ah, the ark is either not as close as the final page of the last chapter made it seem, or it passed them by for now.

Vash is stress cooking.

Livio, you moron. What did you think was happening??

Side note: I like how Livio's hair has gone from, "I am dead inside and don't care about anything," to something that's almost quirky and childlike.

This is the face of someone who's checked the hell out for the foreseeable future.

TBH, it's probably a good thing Livio clarified his "why." If he hadn't, I dunno if Vash would have been able to stay calm. He's doing his best right now, even if he's checked out.

Yeah, they better animate this in Stampede. They've already set it up to hit like a runaway train.

Gods, I wish it wasn't a billion degrees. I could really go for some tea right now. Hot tea. Coping tea.

Uhh, what happened to Vash's hair?? "But when" is right!

Ah, he took out his grief on the ark. Well, that explains why that big-ass ship is somehow missing.

WTH is so fucking funny, Knives?? Your brother is dying.

Ah, brief return of I-Hate-My-Life Livio hair. Man, this guy talks with his hair. I love it. He really does feel bad about all this now. This isn't what he wanted. Like Wolfwood at the beginning of the story, he just didn't know he could have it any other way.

Vash is right. Eat.

Heh. Vash's little smile as Livio starts eating. Livio's not Wolfwood, but he's someone Wolfwood cared deeply about, and it seems like some part of Vash is willing to accept that, despite everything, a friend of Wolfwood's is a friend of his, especially when said friend is so eager to take up Wolfwood's mantle.

Side note: it amuses me that Livio's left his shredded sleeves on. Like, my boi, your whole shirt is missing. You can probably take those off, too.

This panel. It feels like it snuck in from a completely different manga.

Heh. Vash remembering eating with Wolfwood like this.

Oh, my boi Livio. Sobbing through his food. I imagine Vash is already all cried out for now.

They're just gonna eat their sorrows away. Silverware optional. This is a hand salad now.

LOL, yeah... I had a feeling they were gonna overeat.

Hells, I don't think Livio could forget Wolfwood if he wanted to. But I get the gesture. Vash is reminding Livio that Wolfwood died to save him. And Livio's picking up what he's putting down.

Mm, Razlo is the one used to carrying Punishers, and even he didn't cart around his own. BTW, what happened to those guys?

It's definitely a fitting tombstone.

Props to all y'all who read this the first time in book form and had to turn that last page to see a full frontal of Wolfwood's blow-up doll on the couch at the end. I'm sure that's what y'all wanted to see when you were still up to your eyes in The Feels.

Archive

Trigun Vol. 1: Covers + 1-3, 4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 || Vol. 2: Covers + Extras, 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-8

TriMax Vol. 1: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 2: Covers + 1, 2-4, 5, 6-7 || Vol. 3: Covers + 1-3, 4-5, 6-7 || Vol. 4: Covers + 1-2, 3-5, 6-7 || Vol. 5: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 6: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 7: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 8: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5 + Bonus || Vol. 9: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 10: Covers + 1-3, 4-5

Extra Credit: Trigun Vol. 1: Nebraska vs. Vash's Motivations, Vash's Loneliness, Vash's Depression (pt 2 of post), Soupy Brains || Vol. 2: Coin Factoids || TriMax Vol. 1: Lina, Vash, and a Haircut || Meryl, Vash, and the Pursuit of Happiness || Vol. 5: Knives, Vash, and Hatred for Humanity || Vol. 6: Coping Series: Wolfwood, Meryl, Vash || Vol. 8: The Uncoordinated Counterattack || Vol. 9: Justice, Punishment, and Mercy, The Tolling of an Iron Bell

[deludedfantasy]

Trimax Volume 14 Ch 1-5

I briefly pop in from my vacation to bring you some thoughts on volume 14 because apparently nothing can stop the Trigun brainrot. Parts of this were written while incredibly jet lagged or on a train, so hopefully this makes sense.

Ch 1

Awww, sometimes Vash is a little too honest. And he forgets that he doesn’t look as old as he is. Also, what a throwback: full blond Vash with his original coat. The nostalgia is hitting hard.

The contradictions of Vash’s life and philosophy are spelled out so succinctly. He picked up a weapon of violence in the name of peace and he’s lived by that complicated word for so many years. And he did what it took to keep his own word. He covered himself in scars for it, doing things no rational person would do all in order to avoid harm.

The repetition of “That is how I lived my life” paired against the training montage and Vash shooting the coin case is so evocative. As is the past tense. He’s officially throwing that aside and making a choice. A choice to kill.

You know what I noticed? We haven’t seen Vash’s eyes once this chapter in the present, just the reflection of his glasses. He’s made his choice but he’s hiding behind a facade because the choice is killing him on the inside.

Vash is no longer playing Legato’s game but by destroying the coin case, he’s also given Legato a lot of power over him. I wonder if that was also on purpose?

Also, why is Legato suddenly saying he held Vash under control for 8 months? It definitely said 7 earlier in the manga.

Oh my god??? Vash slipped out of Legato’s control!!!! Truly, he’s so powerful when he’s not stuck in a hole for months on end. Also, spending that much time under Legato’s control let him learn it intimately and probably let him discover the weak spots so he could slip out of it he needed to later.

So Legato sees it too. That Vash has decided to set aside his ideals. And of course, Legato still wins because that’s what he wanted—to break Vash if he couldn’t kill him.

VASH WHAT THE HELL.

He’s destroying his left arm to get closer to Legato???? That is…at once a very Vash thing to do and not.

Knives’s approving smile from Legato’s memories is everything he wanted and it’s what Legato sees at the moment of his death. But part of me wonders how much of this is memory and how much is wishful thinking, Legato projecting his own wants and desires onto this memory.

I’m also obsessed with the brief glance we get of a child Elendira. Who is she? Where did Knives find her? Why did she follow him and why did he let her? She’s the only GHG we don’t get ANY backstory on. Not even a snippet. NIGHTOW I WANNA KNOW.

Argh!!! Vash gets so close but he hesitates! A hundred and fifty years of conditioning stay his hand at the last second. Even though he’s said he’s made his choice. But he was hiding from it too. His glasses have closed him off. He hasn’t faced the choice.

Well, he’s pissed Legato off and now he’s going to make him face it.

This is an eerie mirror of the “shoot” scene with Wolfwood. The way Legato holds the gun to his forehead, telling Vash to shoot. That scene almost works like foreshadowing. Wolfwood even said that his death would make it worthwhile if he knew Vash could make a decision like that. And well…the need for that has come to fruition.

I hate to say it, but Legato is right. Holding the gun to his head and not shooting is kinda cruel. That’s just letting someone feel all the fear, let it ramp up, instead of finishing it quickly.

And in the end, all Vash accomplished by hesitating is putting someone else’s life in danger.

With Livio’s life on the line, suddenly we see Vash’s eyes again. They’re a little wild and on edge. He can’t let his new friend die, the person Wolfwood sacrificed himself to save.

Legato knows exactly what he’s doing to torment Vash. He knows all of Vash’s weak points and he’s not afraid to use them.

I hate giving Legato any credit whatsoever but…he’s kinda right again. Look, Vash’s ideals are wonderful. He seeks to make the world a better place by not killing people. But the root of those ideals comes from something so twisted and idealized, it’s done nothing but cause him and the people around him harm and strife. His scars, his inability to connect with humanity despite his mission to protect them, it comes down to his downright saintly principles which force him to live a life that is removed from reality.

Sometimes, you have to make a choice, to kill, to do the hard thing. Because standing down isn’t an option. Standing down is the worse result. Vash’s ideals are beautiful but in the end, by keeping them, he is a dreaming saint. And saints don’t get to live. Saints are saints because they are martyred and completely inhuman. And does he really want to be inhuman?

BUT THEN. Who does Vash think of before he shoots, before he makes his final decision? Wolfwood! Perhaps the most human man of all. He certainly wasn’t a saint, but he wasn’t a sinner either, and he came to mean so much to Vash. His death hurt so much Vash couldn’t speak his name or think of his face. But now, for the first time in four volumes, we see him fully. Wolfwood, who killed to protect and died in order to save someone he loved, who also in the end, finally got to make his choice.

And now, so does Vash. And he does it for Wolfwood.

Ch 2

Does Livio even understand what’s happening? Because Elendira suddenly rose from the dead and went for his throat, and then she collapsed just as quickly. Does he know that it’s Legato? Does Livio know Vash killed Legato for him? This question haunts me daily.

You know what else haunts me? Vash’s face right afterwards. It’s so difficult to look at. For the first time in almost 2 chapters, we see his eyes and they are big and glassy. He has this terrible pained…smile, grimace? I’m not sure how to describe it.

Nor will it ever stop haunting me that Vash didn’t kill to protect himself or to get closer to Knives. He did it for Wolfwood, to honor his sacrifice, to save Livio. He took on Wolfwood’s ideals just like Wolfwood took on his. They changed each other…

I’m experiencing so many emotions, I don’t even know what to say. Vash is realizing how difficult killing really is and he wonders if it hurt Wolfwood this much too. Is he regretting calling him a coward? Vash didn’t understand Wolfwood or his motivations back then, but now he does, and he realizes what he said was so wrong. And knowing Vash, he probably wonders if calling him a hopeless coward was what set Wolfwood down the path to his death.

Also, did Livio find Vash somehow? I didn’t think they were close together at all.

I like that nothing is simple in Trigun. Technically, the Earth Fleet came to help, but they’re willing to do anything to stop Knives, including bombing and irradiating the planet and killing thousands of people in the process.

So Livio does know what Vash did for him? That’s gonna give him a lot of feelings and complexes to work through later…

The juxtaposition in this story always gets me. As Vash struggles with killing one person, the Earth Fleet easily decides to sacrifice millions in the name of peace. How can they, who are not part of this world, understand anything about it? How can they make that kind of decision not knowing anything about the people struggling and living on the planet’s surface? Killing is not the easy way out and it never was, as Vash has just intimately discovered.

Continuation of everyone telling Vash to stop carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and actually ask for help! Will he do it? No, but saying it to his face is a good first step in getting him to understand.

Ch 3

Oh, this is one of my favorite parts of the manga. I remember this vividly from my first read. The first time the dependent Plants truly communicate with humanity.

The moment with the little girl just…oh my heart. For a moment, she saw the Plant’s memories but she also projected her own feelings. And that could have gone a lot of ways. People could’ve gotten scared or violent or taken advantage of a scared kid, but everyone’s immediate reaction is kindness. They help her find her mother. It just proves that humanity has a great capacity for goodness, especially when they can understand each other. Because every one of those adults has been a scared kid before and feeling those feelings again reminded them of that.

What they show is the history of humanity and Plants on No Man’s Land, the highs and lows, the good and the bad. The gratefulness of those first desperate people when they managed to get water from a Plant and the chaos and desperation that followed. How slowly towns and cities grew up around Plants.

Knives is experiencing all these memories in full. He might have to contend with the fact that the relationship between Plants and humanity isn’t so black and white. There is hurt and abuse for sure, but there is always kindness and gratefulness. One doesn’t negate the other, but it turns his strict worldview on its head. It should anyway.

People have warred and killed over Plants, but they’ve also venerated them, and taken care of them. They fixed them and cleaned their bulbs, had meaningful meetings there. And the Plants were always watching, remembering all their faces, and interestingly, there’s no malice or hatred for humanity in these memories. Despite how they sometimes waste the Plants’ gifts and abuse them, the Plants seem to care about humans in their own way.

Ch 4

It’s terrible that the Earth Fleet cares more about stopping Knives than saving the people of the planet. They’re really scared of Independents, and sure, Knives is more powerful than they’ve ever seen, but they took the nuclear option very quickly. It makes you question what Earth’s relationship with Independents is really like.

Vash’s hair it completely black now. He’s used up most of his power. He’s done and at his lowest point here. And now he’s haunted by everyone he’s lost, everyone he couldn’t save, whether they were friends or enemies.

It says something that he’s faced first with Legato, his first kill, but right behind him it’s Wolfwood, and he’s smiling. I can’t figure out what it means, but there’s something to it, like Wolfwood is the one who makes what he did okay.

But still, he feels like he’s alone with all of this, that this is his endless burden. And makes me so sad because he’s not! He’s been told that over and over, but it’s like he’s not hearing it.

What kind of victory is it to destroy an entire planet to defeat Knives? It’s certainly a sin like the Fleet commander says. Asking God for His blessing is certainly a decision in this case, one almost bordering on blasphemy, asking God for His blessing to commit a sin.

Of course, Knives is so powerful he keeps that from happening. But he’s become so inhuman to get that powerful. It’s been happening for ages, but I feel like he’s reached his peak now. Just look at him.

Vance loses hope when he sees the Fleet go down, but when Meryl and Milly see they’re still alive, they get right back to work. I love them so much. Life on No Man’s Land is hard but it’s also what makes them so resilient. They make their own hope and they’re used to working for the hard times. As long as they’re still alive, they’re not done.

Say it, Meryl! Despite Vash’s efforts, he can’t do it alone. The only way to succeed is by working together. Not just humans working together, but humans and Plants together as well.

Whoa, what did Vash do? Also where is he? Meryl and Milly found him but where did they put him? Did they just dump him somewhere while they kept working on making contact with the dependent Plants?

Ch 5

“What’s there left to see?” → Coming from Vash, that thought is so hopeless. It means he’s given up on Rem’s promise of a blank ticket, the very core of his ideals. It’s fitting then, that this chapter is called, Ticket to the Future.

Ok, I see, they put him on the floor in the room they’re working in. I’m happy he at least heard Meryl’s conviction to stand with him even if he probably doesn’t believe it wholeheartedly.

He wants to keep going even though he feels like he can’t. Some small part of him doesn’t want to die.

Vash hears the Plants! That’s why he shoots up like that. And they can hear him too.

I wonder what Knives plan is for after he’s done destroying humanity. Is it to find another planet for Plants to live on their own, away from the influence of humanity?

That’s an insane plan, but that’s Vash for you. His face in this section makes me think he isn’t planning on surviving this either. He’s broken his ideals, he’s lost the future he saw for a moment, he doesn’t think there’s anything left for him to see. But to his dying breath, he’ll fight to make sure humanity at least has a future.

Something about the way Knives screams, “Don’t touch me!” really gets to me. Vash is connecting to the dependent Plants, not him, but since Knives is fused with them, he thinks of them as himself. The thing is…I still don’t think they’re him. He’s taken away their autonomy and made them himself, but they are their own separate beings and in the pursuit of his mission, he’s forgotten that.

Oh, wait, Knives is actually trying to do that now to keep Vash from winning. He’s planning on fully incorporating the Dependents so they have no will of their own at all anymore. Which goes counter to his whole point of giving Plants freedom but when has Knives been anything but the world’s biggest hypocrite in the name of assuaging his own fears?

Vash’s beliefs have kept him going for 150 years. It’s what kept him alive and allowed him to do good. It’s sad that he never lived his life truly for himself, but there’s also something beautiful in him believing so strongly in the Plants and their own will, their power to make their own decision, whatever it might be. It’s a stark contrast to Knives, who isn’t even pretending to give them any choice anymore.

In their own way, Vash and Knives are trying to be saviors and saints. Vash for humanity and Plants and Knives just for Plants. While I think Vash goes about it in such a way that hurts him more than helps him, you can’t say that his efforts have been for nothing, that he hasn’t accomplished any good. He’s definitely saved people and Plants, unlike Knives who claims to do those things, but is really fulfilling his own selfish goals and acting out of fear rather than benevolence or actual belief.

But suddenly, somewhere, Vash has found some hope again. He wants to take that blank ticket for himself. He wants to make a better future and see what that world looks like. The only thing is I can’t figure out what caused this change of heart after he’s spent nearly four volumes now being passively suicidal. My best guess is that connecting with the Plants like that gave him some perspective and reminded him of everything he’d dedicated his life to, everything he’d been fighting for.

[the-puniisher]

grgrgehrgrg okay so like

college au shit... like. majors and roomies and shenanigans...

❝COLLEGE AU❞

I am CRAZY for college AU's.. LETS GOOO!!! After writing this all up I might make some drabbles based off of it...

❝VASH❞

Majors in Conservation/Research, studies Anthropology, the history of humans and their development.

Top of his class, the nice kid that's always offering tutoring to his classmates.

Dating Nick, always talking him up at any point in time. When people see Nick for the first time they're like "wtf.. this is your guy??" looking up and down a greaseball of a man. Vash is like omg.. yes.. isn't he wonderful.. as he permeates cigarette smoke.

THE definition of broke college student. He has $5 to his name after nessesities.

Absolute soft spot for anything living, has taken in a few strays into his dorm room. Nick is absolutely against taking in animals because Vash doesn't even have enough money to feed himself, and animals can be given to shelters. Nick always lectures him but doesn't have the heart to take the cats away from him... and he started to like them, too.

Obligatory plants around the room, loves to take care of things.

Absolute party pooper, prefers to study in the library alone than go to parties.

Hides behind bookshelves in the library to avoid Knives, how the hell is he supposed to study when his brother won't shut the fuck up about how proud he is of him for studying, anyways?

❝WOLFWOOD❞

Majors in Philosophy/Religious Studies.

Loves Philosophy/Religious Studies OUTSIDE of school, but the second he has to read the bible for class he wants to commit several sins.

Absolutely sick of studying, always hosting room parties.

Undefeated keg stand pro.

SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS. Drinks the hardest ass liquor.

Dorm room is a fucking man cave. Curtains always drawn, lights always off. Dude hisses when you open his door. Clothes all over the floor, bed unmade.

Last to his classes, bedhead and pajamas. Who the hell gives a damn about keeping up appearances, anyways?

Walks with Livio to shared classes, always late and always together. They scheme shit like "Okay you walk in first and I'll walk in a few minutes later so it's not noticable." (Everyone always knew, they're inseparable.)

Shares a room with Livio.

❝MERYL❞

Majors in Journalism.

Absolute teachers pet. Knows all of the hard shit that she realistically won't use in her future career.

Girlfriends with Milly... She is the book smart to Milly's street smart. The brains to her brawn, if you will.

Always hounding everyone to study, but is the first to get wasted at parties.

Known for being a vommitter at parties.

Minimalistic and very clean dorm room. Whenever the gang hangs out or has sleepovers, it's usually there because it's the cleanest and has the most room.

She's always taking polaroid pictures of the group, hanging them up on her walls.

❝MILLY❞

Majors in Mechanics.

Criticized for being in "a man's field" but can do more than the men in her classes can.

Girlfriends with Meryl.

If anyone in the friend group needs to figure out how to do an oil change or jumpstart a car, she's your gal.

The sober friend, takes care of Meryl at parties.

Dorm room is a stuffie paradise, she has tens of plushes that each have names and backstories. She can tell you the year she got them and why. Silly names like shmoopkins..

❝KNIVES❞

Majors in Psychology with Botany on the side.

"Ugh.. I don't do parties." Goes to the library to study because he's above everyone, spots Vash and gives him a proud lecture about how he's being responsible and studying.. And not wasting his time with those losers..

The mom friend. Not in the sense that he cares, but is the one who sits back while everyone goofs off like "What the fuck are you doing."

Very punctual with top marks. Always early to class, fully prepared, reads in his free time. Probably never uses his phone.

Poor eyesight, takes the fucking grandpa glasses out to read or use his phone. "Hey Nai, look at this!" He slowly pulls his glasses out and squints at your phone.

Phone kept in one of those wallet phone cases for convenience.

Dorm room adorned with plants everywhere.

Also prefers to stay sober. Absolutely hates that he and Vash are the same because he can't excuse his brothers behavior with "He's drunk, he's not thinking right."

His room smells and looks like bleach... But he also uses citrus scents. He is a complete germaphobe and refuses to let ANYONE enter his room because they would tarnish it.

Has a roomba named "Vacuum" to keep his company because at least he knows it cleans and doesn't get everything dirty. Paces and rants to it like it's sentient, but gets sad when he remembers it can't speak to him and soon enough he needs to talk to real people.

Absolutely hates the friend group but has no one else, dropping them all would leave him with no one.

❝LIVIO❞

Majors in Childcare/Social Services.

Has been at Nick's hip his entire life, wanting to follow in his footsteps. Nick has to very sternly remind him to "be his own man" and "walk his own path" hence why he isn't also majoring in Philosophy.

At parties Livio tries to drink the same alcohol as Nick, but one shot makes him pass out.

Also a lover of stuffies, he and Milly often make them have playdates.

Lowest marks of the friend group, but way too stubborn to ask for help.

Best cook of the group, loves to cook and take care of everyone.

People often confide in him because of his gentle nature, he has a big soft spot for people.

Shares a dorm room with Nick, they cuddled to fall asleep growing up together, so they can't sleep away from each other.

Room reeks of cigarettes and axe.

[fuck-you-upmusicbracket]

Sunlight (Hozier)

All the tales the same/Told before and told again/A soul that's born in cold and rain/Knows sunlight, sunlight, sunlight/And at last can grant a name/To a buried and a burning flame/As love and its decisive pain/Oh, my sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

But whose heart would not take flight/Betray the moon as acolyte/On first and fierce affirming sight of/Sunlight, sunlight, sunlight/I had been lost to you, sunlight/And flew like a moth to you, sunlight, oh, sunlight/Oh, your love is sunlight

"I come down with the shivers and start hyperventilating when i hear this song and it makes me want to go outside which is the scariest part"

"I'm not gonna go full infodump here but this song is Peak Vash and Nicholas D. Wolfwood from Trigun-- specifically Nick's feelings towards Vash. Vash's (literal) evil twin brother Knives hired (read: threatened to eradicate the orphanage he kidnapped Nick from as a child if he didn't do what he was told) Nick to act as bodyguard for Vash and guide him to where Knives wants him to go so he can manipulate him for his own gain. Like, he chose the name Knives. This bitch is crazy beyond crazy but this ain't about him. Nick starts out 100% willing to guide Vash like a lamb to slaughter because he HAS to for the orphanage, and this is just some random guy he doesn't know or care about. But then he gets to know Vash, how good of a person he is despite the shit the world (and Knives) has put him through. How he'd rather risk his own life and health than kill another person because he believes he doesn't get to make that choice for people. And despite being someone who'd rather shoot first, pray for them after, Nick starts trying to wound rather than kill just because Vash doesn't like it. It puts them both at risk and he fusses and argues about it and still kills sometimes but he tries anyways. Eventually he decides that he'll do what he can to protect Vash from Knives without provoking him to destroy the orphanage. He ends up caring about him deeply against his own will to the point that his idea of Eden would be to live with Vash and their friends in a peaceful world where none of them have to fight and die. In the manga, Nick's dying request is to see Vash smile again- the genuine smile that he's complimented every time he's seen it. Vash can't give him that, because he knows Nick would see that it was a forced smile. Instead, he just sits with him until he dies. Afterwards, Vash kills willingly for the first time in his entire life (over 150 years. He's not human btw) in order to protect Nick's childhood friend Livio. He wouldn't just do that for just any friend or ally, no, that was out of love. Love so strong he could go against his own mother's teachings that all life matters and people don't get to choose when a life ends, the thing that has kept Vash pacifist all these years, to keep someone that mattered to Nick alive. So while Nick never knew that Vash cared for him the same way he did him, the fact matters that he does."

Your Body, My Temple (Will Wood)

So, when the cattle fall dead and the waters run red, I'll be your lamb's blood on the wall/God isn't dead, but that's exactly what I've been dreading after all the meek inherited fuck all/Jesus Christ, I will die for my own damn sins if you help those who help themselves/My superstitions, your visage, my visions furtherin' the fever of your fervor, for believing, I will

I'll be your blessing in disguise, whip the mask off my good side/I'm all stripped down naked for you but still asking you to loosen up my buttons, baby/You've got my whole world in your hands, got that little blue spot/And you really ain't got no idea how much this thing orbits you, now, do you honey?

"the DEDICATION, the DEVOTION to whoever you can imagine is being sung to...the imagery is so so so good 😩 it's so catchy, it gets stuck in my head every time i listen to it, the emotions are just so good...you can imagine an individual so deeply infatuated with their lover to the point of revering them as holy, to the point of death...the way the word choice just flows so smoothly is so good aughhh- its also got surprisingly good loopability, in my opinion. 10/10 i want to beam this song into my brain it makes me froth from the mouth and shiver like a rabid animal and i'll be DAMNED if i don't make an oc inspired by it eventually. all the lyrics are peak. i am getting riled up just thinking about this song, will wood is elite"

"1. I want to sing this to my Muse. (If I had one...) 2. Will Wood songs just slap. 3. I've listened to the CHnT podcast, and get *all* the references! (Pink Elephant Man starts a cult dedicated to the camp nurse) 4. I'm using this song for the antagonist of my story, who gives yandere vibes."