[Wolfwood and Vash's discussion had gone just as horribly as Wolfwood had feared, Vash has once again disappeared, and instead of going to be with Livio like Wolfwood should be doing at a time like this, he is self destructing in his own way. A different way.
He makes good on his promises, and he warned Zazie there would be consequences if they opened their big mouth.
Now, he's out on the furthest reaches of the beach with the Punisher under one arm, because as upset as he is, he knows better than to be firing this thing off anywhere near the cabanas. Does that mean people won't hear it? Well...no, they absolutely will, but unless they come running down to see what's going on, they won't be in any danger.
Anyway, he's here, completely alone. But he knows better than that. He knows they've got their bugs all over the place by now, watching from every corner.]
Come out, bug. Don't make me fuckin' come find you.
[ There's no reason to pretend they don't know what Wolfwood is here for. They heard the conversation AND fight. So instead Zazie laughs from......... somewhere. They're not getting shot at thanks. ]
You only said not to tell him, and I didn't! It's not my fault you couldn't find a better way to say it.
[ It's not hard for Wolfwood to find the bugs, however. They tend to Glow Green and all that. Plus they ARE coming together in a certain spot, but not exactly throwing up the illusion of Zazie yet. No point when you're probably going to be gunned at. ]
[Wordlessly, the gun snaps up as Wolfwood lets loose a barrage of bullets into the cloud of bugs congregating there, no doubt taking out a good handful of them before they disperse.]
Shut up. You KNEW I wanted you to keep your god damn mouth shut, but you didn't. I told you what'd happen, and you crossed the line.
[The Punisher is smoking as he lifts it back up onto his shoulder, empty shells falling to the sand around his ankles, both real and metallic.]
The Eye ain't here. Knives ain't here. I answer to no one, and you don't have your protection.
I know I can't kill you, but that don't mean I don't plan on makin' a dent.
[ The man is the Punisher for a reason, and despite them instantly taking off every which way as that weapon comes swinging around, those bullets take out quite a few of their bugs in a splatter of green goo. This is why they didn't bother. ]
Oh please.
[ Around Wolfwood there is no child-like pretense. No innocence, no jokes. The Punisher and the Beast. They are the worms. So while there's still that touch of merriment, their tone shifts. ]
You're just mad because you couldn't figure out how to nicely drop the information, and ended up chasing your poor Plant away. Maybe if you knew the right words to say, knew how to act human and not like a rough attack hound who only knows how to bite, you'd still be beside him.
[ The words are coming from everyone, every bug, with the vibrating of wings. But it's not just the familiar ones. Zazie's networked with the local as well. Ladybugs turn, preying mantises with too many wings flutter them, stare at Wolfwood, watch, vibrate and speak. ]
Besides, it's not like we were wrong to want to tell him. A warning from the future, to prevent a tragedy.
[Wolfwood doesn’t even try to hold back his anger. He grits his teeth, his shoulders and entire upper torso trembling before he lets out a guttural roar of rage, one that continues over the sound of the Punisher firing another barrage of bullets at whatever bugs he can see. Wolfwood may not be able to hit every single one, but the ones he does lock onto will not survive. He can hit a bullseye from nearly a mile away; Zazie knows this, and is doing well to keep their form hidden, lest Wolfwood blast a hole straight through them.
He knows well how inconvenient and slow it would be for them to have to form a new body. He just wishes he could force them to. He wants them to struggle like he now has to struggle, knowing he had no other choice in the matter. The moment Zazie realized this was new information, even they knew…
And now, neither of them are playing games. The way Zazie’s tone has shifted indicates as much.]
He didn’t need to know!! You can’t fucking change the future! Not a future like that!
[His voice rings out over the echo of bullets as more casings fall to the ground around him, his chest heaving from the exertion even though keeping the Punisher lifted barely winds him anymore. No, it’s the emotions pouring out of him that are taking his breath away, making him feel hollowed out and broken.
The fact Zazie is able to speak as if from all around him doesn’t help his nerves, either. It’s a true breakdown if ever there was one, against a creature who knows only what they’ve been taught by humanity, about humanity.]
What good is there in actin’ human anyway!? You should now that better than I do, you piece of SHIT!!!
[ Oh yeah, there's no escaping that weapon. Not entirely. Zazie may cackle and laugh, but quite a few bugs get splattered by the hail of gunfire. Taking out by precision aim and deadly intent.
Oh, Zazie wishes they had their older forms. To swallow and swarm Wolfwood up.
... Though, they can swarm, get in close, get around the distance of the gun. They have to be silent, distract. A few bugs zip by, their voice on every single one, close by Wolfwood's head. Getting in past the main body of the gun one by one is easy enough. ]
Good ol' Punisher. Is that what you told yourself as you walked him towards his brother? There is no changing the future, so why bother to struggle against it at all? I thought you learned. You sure seemed to struggle aboard the sand ship.
[ Get in, cling to hard to reach spots on the mans back. The weapon itself. Distract, so they can come in closer. The mass of them. Fast. They're not here to hurt, but to rile up, to piss Wolfwood off, to get his anger out so it's safe to exist again without becoming yesterdays footnote. ]
You sure struggled to save your little orphanage. To save your lil brother. But I suppose you don't care, do you? I see it in your eyes~ Only what you care about matters. Yourself. Those you've marked as worthy of your affections? You survived. The girl survived. Your orphans are all well and taken care of. So who cares about the others? Those who called JuLai home?
[Wolfwood is a calculated, merciless killer. This is what he was raised for, molded into by careful, meticulous hands. He knows that he’s become exactly what Conrad and Knives always wanted him to be, and he hates himself for it, but it’s been baked into who he is as a person. He is The Punisher, and that’s something he’ll never escape. Not even in death.
Despite his injury, keeping him leaning on the back foot so he can maintain his balance in the sand, Wolfwood hasn’t lost any of his skill during his time in the Grove. When his eyes land on a bug, it’s gone half a second later, blown into bits by his bullets. Zazie is lucky he’s holding on to his lasers, a precious commodity that takes a whole month to recharge when he does use it. Maybe he hasn’t yet deemed this situation worthy enough for it.
…yet.
When he feels a bug or two clinging to the sleeves of his blazer, he throws his arm back to try to shake it off. It makes him stumble, grinding out a frustrated bark of a sound as he picks off another, another, another- all while Zazie whispers, buzzing awful things between his ears.
Though he doesn’t respond verbally (yet), he sure does become more aggressive in his movements. He even pulls out his pistol, firing off a couple haphazard shots as those bugs fly past his ears. If he weren’t packing heat, he might have snatched a couple out of the air just so he could rip them apart with his bare hands.]
Is the entire world my responsibility?!
[He finally breaks, he shouts, sweat dripping from his forehead and down the back of his neck. There’s another voice in the back of his head- his own- that’s warning him not to overdo it. Because you can overdo it, you’re not so invincible anymore…you don’t have your vials to keep you alive. If you were to get hurt, if Zazie really were to decide to fight back…
Well. He’s prepared to deal with the consequences. He’s not sure he cares, at the moment.]
[ Oop, there a few more go. Splat splat POP. It's worth it, however, to let a few get pistoled so they can creep in closer, surprised he doesn't just go for squishing them with his hands.
And they bite, when they land. Those large pincers clamping hard onto skin, hair, clothing. Strong enough to tear flesh from bone, scavengers that they are, but they don't. They bite, and cling. If he rips them off, he will be the one injuring himself. Mostly they cling to places he has to focus on. A bite to his ear, one to his finger to stop the trigger, to the back of his good calf. Distractions.
And when he finally answers them? Breaks down and screams like that, they scoff. ]
Who said it was? Do you have that much of a complex you think the entire world rests on your shoulders alone? Should I start calling you Million Bullets?
[ One bug lands on the punisher, crawling around it to look at Wolfwood, face to face, wings buzzing. ]
Why are you so upset? He knows, he can take action accordingly. If it doesn't change the future, then it's simply how it is. Wash your hands of it, as you always do.
[ Zazie finally manifests in front of him, close enough the punisher can't hit them with bullets, but if Wolfwood wanted he could still swing the heavy thing around. They're aware. ]
After all, you just said it. Why must it be your responsibility? Do your part, and don't get upset when others do theirs.
[Zazie might not be the kind of direct fighter that Wolfwood is, but they sure do know how to exploit his every weakness. It’s hard to fight back against the bugs landing on and latching onto him, grabbing him in places he can’t easily reach with his arms occupied by his guns. It isn’t long though before the pistol goes back to his side in favor of two-handing the Punisher, knowing that the ammo in it isn’t infinite. He’s going to run out eventually, and that will be it. Maybe he’ll have burnt himself out, maybe not.
He’s still shooting regardless. Anything that moves, nothing gets spared when he knows it’s part of Zazie’s collective, all coming at him at once.
And when Zazie finally coalesces in front of him, he levels the Punisher right at their chest, using the heel of his hand to turn the dial at the center, changing the gun’s configuration. Suddenly, the barrel of the machine gun has pulled back, giving way to the laser he used to split the grand worm in half.
That is what he levels at Zazie now, and when he speaks again, it’s through gritted teeth. Every breath he takes is harsh sounding and painful, his knees shaking now from the exertion of standing that he’s been trying to ignore this entire time. The sand isn’t doing him any favors.]
This ain’t about the fuckin’ future!
[It’s…about Vash.
Vash, who doesn’t want anything to do with him now. He won’t speak to him, won’t come near him. He hasn’t even seen him since their fight, and he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen, and that is driving him over the edge more than anything.
He hates, HATES, how vulnerable it makes him feel.]
Everythin’ woulda’ been FINE if you’d stayed gone! We woulda’ been FINE!!!
[ They don't flinch. Why would they. There's enough of them in other places they can reform. It will take a while, sure, but it won't be the end for them. It's never the end for them. So instead they just let that weapon of destruction be aimed, knowing it'll do far more damage to the area behind them and around them, than actually them.
And they tilt their head as Wolfwood finally admits that he doesn't care about the future. Hm? Because- ]
Ohhhh. You think your boyfriend broke up with you!
[ You don't need to say it, Zazie gets it. They can figure it out when they're not pretending. The why makes them shrug, arms moving to rest behind their head, their mask snapping up. ]
Don't ask me, I'm not the one that brought us here. Point the blame at me all you want. Do you really think you two would remain here, idyllic and carefree forever? That Vash wouldn't go back and face down all the things he has to? You should be mad at him, for being so blind in his ways of saving humanity that he'd willingly walk straight into a trap.
[ The bugs on Wolfwood tighten their grip, biting into his hands, while Zazie thinks, scratching the back of their neck gently. ]
You should also be angry at yourself for being so stupid you don't get how Vash really feels. You really think he ran away cause he's angry at you? Do you really know the plant? He's probably somewhere moping, face down in a puddle of his own tears, because he can't comprehend that he failed again.
[ To be fair Zazie doesn't know Vash personally but they've watched. It's hard not to, when that's the very thing they were sent to do. ]
[Wolfwood keeps the smoking barrel of the Punisher trained on the Beast, and though he's shaking uncontrollably, it never wavers. He does not miss. It's the only thing in the world that he's good at. Shooting. Killing. Passing the blame, running from responsibility, trying and trying to make up excuses for why he does the things he does, only to come to the same conclusion every time.
He's a coward. He knows he is. He doesn't like having to live his life like this, struggling. He would give anything to not be that scared kid they scooped up from the orphanage, but to regain his freedom would be to give up everything, and that would be the same as trading his own life away. So he won't. He can't. He grits his teeth and bears it not because he wants to, but because he's been left with no other alternative.
But deep down, he never really got the chance to grow out of being that scared little kid who was never given a choice. He's turned into a petulant excuse for an adult, unable to properly regulate his emotions because he never learned how. He's angry and bitter over things others can't control, he only knows how to cope by lashing out until he burns himself to smoldering ashes.
He's breathing heavily now, not even realizing that he's been crying this entire time. Not openly, but there's wetness on his cheeks now that causes the wind whipping his face to feel even colder and more unforgiving than normal. And the unfortunate truth is that Zazie has been watching over him for many, many years. He's seen how Wolfwood acts and knows every last tick he has, all of his most intimate struggles and the things that truly upset him. They're hitting every single one, digging their claws in and flaying him open bare for the world to see in the same sort of cruel fascination of a child focusing the light of the sun on ants through a magnifying glass.
He has no rebuttal. No response, knowing that Zazie has said nothing so far that isn't true.
Instead, he just revs the gun, and fires a laser at Zazie point-blank. It will light up the entire beachfront in a massive blue glow for a few seconds before dissipating over the distant water.]
[ The tears are fascinating. Of course Zazie has seen humans cry for many reasons. Anger, pain, joy, frustration. Which one is these? Anger seems too on the nose. Frustration? A little bit of everything? They tilt their head like a curious dog, as if waiting for Wolfwood to dispute their claims.
But of course he can't. Because Zazie isn't wrong.
The gun revving is the only warning Zazie gets and though they quickly disperse, the laser still vaporizes quite a few of them. Point blank and the weapon doesn't need that much of a rev up.
There's an angry pained buzzing from the ones that escape and they quickly head in every which direction, Zazies voice fading with them. There's definitely a pout there. ]
Spoilsport.
[ And then Wolfwood will be left alone, not a bug - not even the local ones - remaining with him. They have to heal, regroup, repopulate. Away from the Punisher. ]
[It isn't quite time for everyone to head home, but it's getting close. Vash has been making himself useful around the Lighthouse. He makes sure things are in good repair, and that Adrian doesn't want for supplies. And when he runs out of that work, he cleans Ourania's statue yet again. Eventually, though, he runs out of things to do, and thoughts to think.
Now, he needs his questions answered.
He takes his time, seeking out the bugs he knows are surely watching. And once he's sure he's found one of Zazie's hosts - ]
[ The green monstrosity of a bug blinks at Vash, clinging upside down to a leaf, before clacking it's jaws. It takes a while for Zazie to approach, and if they seem a little... wary. Well.
Wolfwood vaporized a large portion of them. It hurt them far more than they'd like to admit without their larger hive minds to fall back onto. That was them, the oldest of their remaining hivemind and Wolfwood almost destroyed them. So they're keeping a decent distance from Vash, though they know the Plant is far more dangerous than he often seems. They're also not acting the child anymore. ]
[Vash can tell something has changed with them, even if he has no idea what. From a distance he can sense their wariness, and so he does what he'd do with anyone else. He holds his hands up high, far from his gun. It doesn't do much, when his fingers and teeth are weapons of their own, but he hopes the metaphorical gesture of it all will do what it needs to.
Ultimately, he bears them no ill will. Maybe it had been part of a game, but at least Zazie had been honest with him. He appreciates that.]
I just have... questions. [With his display out of the way, he sits down in the grass. His legs fold, and his hands come to rest in his lap. All told, it's a very casual display.] I know that JuLai was destroyed. But I want to know everything you know about what happened. I have to, if I'm going to prevent it.
[ The show of goodwill from Vash makes Zazie snort but it does seem to remove some wariness. Really. They'll approach closer, but still keep a respectful distance, before Zazie crosses their legs and sits as well. Any sudden movement and they're gone though. ]
Hm. Everything? I have eyes everywhere, after all. There is nothing I don't know.
[ They fold their arms and tilt their head, thoughtful. ]
Okay, ask your questions. Let's see what you really want to know.
[He doesn't like that the onus is on him to ask the right questions, but what can he do? Zazie is the one holding all of the cards right now.]
What exactly happens? Nick said it was because Nai and I fought but... it has to be more than that, right? Us going at it doesn't bring down a whole city.
Oh. He didn't fill you in on the entire thing, huh?
[ Okay, fair. Humans do that thing where they want to spare the other pain and grief. Which is stupid, if you spare them, they can't adjust. Zazie sighs and rests their chin in their hand. ]
Let me ask you something in return. Do you know what Knives is trying to do? Do you truly understand his plans?
[Oooh, that makes him grit his teeth. His whole body tenses up in that moment, fingers gripping at his knees. He doesn't make a move for Zazie though. Whatever anger he bears is directed elsewhere.]
He told me he didn't know the specifics.
[He can't say he loves learning about more things being hidden from him, even after all of this. But there are more things to focus on.]
Nai... wants the plants to live free of human influence. That means stealing from people that really, truly need them. He wants to "build an entire world" of plants.
[ The moment Vash tenses, even though it's not directed at them, the illusion of Zazie fades away, the worms separating. Ready to dart in every which way to avoid an attack. Without the illusion, their voice is far more buzzing and droning. ]
He wants to make Independents. But for that, he needs you. Your power. You can open a gate. And inside that Gate is the plane you Plants draw from. But you don't just create water, or food. You create. Do you get it? Everything. Anything. He can't. You have a big brain in there, Plant. Think. What could wipe an entire city out?
[As much as Vash tries to will that tension to ease, it's hard the longer they speak. He doesn't understand the minuscule details, doesn't know how he could create when he's only ever destroyed. But he can put the pieces together in general.]
Energy from the higher dimension. Pulled through the gate.
[He can picture. Worse than the nuclear bombs of history. The whole city would be destroyed in one catastrophic explosion. Hell, the fact that it was only the city could be described as a miracle.]
So. Remove me from the equation, and Nai has no weapon. Is that right?
Aw, look! You do have thoughts! I was wondering if it was just vapor between your ears.
[ Slowly Zazie forms again, a frown on their face. Decides to be more helpful with their information, fill Vash in all the way, crouching down near him like a wild animal, elbows on their knees. ]
If you don't go to Knives, he can't network with you. He can't make Independents. And the lingering energy of you fighting back can't destroy JuLai. Because you do, you know. Or well, not really fight. You flee, but you're used to that. You try to stop him from using that power he takes, shoot it into space.
[ They make a gun finger with their hand and point it to the sky, pew'ing softly as they shoot. They... also decide to be nice, and not tell Vash it's technically him and his ambient energy that craters JuLai as a result. ]
[Like it always does. He shouldn't be surprised. And while he could ask for more information, he chooses not to. Anything else would just be to intentionally suffer. He has what he needs, and knows what he needs to do.]
You weren't there for it, but awhile back we learned that once it's all said and done here, someone will have to stay back. Close the gate, to prevent it all from happening again.
[He holds his hands out, almost smiling to himself.]
It's kind of poetic, don't you think? Instead of opening a gate and destroying everything, I'll close it and protect millions. More than that, when you think about all the worlds being impacted.
How self-sacrificial. You won't, though. Did the Punisher ever tell you why he's with you? His contract? All those little kids in the Orphanage?
[ Because if Vash doesn't go back, Wolfwood's contract is null, and those kids will continue being used for the Eye project. And can Vash let that hang on his conscience? ]
[Wolfwood had never told him, but Vash had long put the pieces of the puzzle together. With how long they'd been here, though, he'd almost forgotten that little detail. Now, though, it's a very good point made on Zazie's behalf.]
We have time to figure out how to protect them. Between Livio and Nick [Because he doubts Livio will go back to his own reality, not when he faces a world without his beloved.] they'll be able to get them somewhere safe. The ship, maybe. Or somewhere else.
[Can't experiment on the kids if the kids are nowhere to be found.]
Hmmm... you're funny! You think any human will be left standing once Knives realizes you're not there? He may need you to jump start a paradise for plants, but that doesn't mean he won't hesitate to slaughter each and every human on my world. Which is fine by me, they're notorious parasites after all.
[ They push themselves to their feet, stretching and tucking their arms behind their head. ]
You're kind of fucked, Vash. You don't go back, and Knives wipes out the last remains of humanity on that planet. Then the ones that show up due to your little bridge of light you made. Very fancy beacon, by the way. You do go back, and JuLai is wiped out but humanity may yet have a chance. Oh! This is that trolley problem!
[They're right, of course. Staying out of Knives' hands would only do so much. He was still plenty powerful, never mind ten times as smart as Vash had ever been. If he found that Vash was out of his hands, then he'd find another way. Especially if he ever came to know what had befallen them here.
He wouldn't put it past Knives to rip open reality just to chase him down.
The hope had always been feeble, but it still hurts something awful when it's snuffed out. Exhausted as he is, he can't school his expression. It crumples visibly before he can bury his face within his hands. Millions of lives would be lost no matter what he did.
Maybe Wolfwood had been right to hide it from him. Vash had hoped there'd be a way to change fate, but every solution he finds is no better than the future they're hurtling toward. There was no option, there was no way out.]
So what do I do?
[He doesn't mean to ask Zazie this. It comes out more rhetorical than anything.]
[ Watching Vash crumble makes Zazie sigh, and they confer amongst themselves before kicking dirt at Vash to make him stop. ]
Quit moping, for one. It's useless. And I can't really help you, I'm from after the point of JuLai going boom. But-
[ There's a chance, and Zazie is so fucking curious now as to how humans are going to pull themselves up. They grin and sigh. ]
Get me back before that, though, and we can talk to ourselves. Humans may have won me over a little more than your brother. They're so scrappy, fun to watch. Then you can have us on your side. We can eat your brother, if you want.
[Vash... hardly reacts when the dirt hits his face. He feels something impact him, sure, but he doesn't really respond beyond that. It's only once Zazie makes a direct offer that he lifts his head from his hands. He stares at them, waiting for a condition but...
Seemingly there's nothing. At least, not beyond the one he can obviously guess.]
No eating anyone. [He's very quick to say.] But if you can prevent that from happening... if we can find a way... [This promise is easy to make, at least.] I swear I'll find a way to make sure your kind can live peacefully with the humans.
Gosh, why are you so anti-eating people. Though Knives probably would give us a bit of indigestion. Fine. But you better. Because if more of your little humans land, and begin to chew through my world as they did to Earth? I won't be so kind. We are the planet. The only reason we agreed with Knives in the first place is because he promised to leave it alone.
[ Which he wasn't going to, in the end, judging by the giant Plant Mother. They can and will crush Knives in the end if they have to. Vash sort of did that for them, though, as far as they're aware. ]
[Huh. Of all the things Vash expected of this conversation, this certainly wasn't one of them. The corner of his lip tips upward in a quarter of a smile. Gingerly, he holds his hand out to shake.]
I guess you could say that.
[Though now that he has a second to think about what's been said...]
You mentioned something about a beacon? And more humans?
Yay! I suppose no eating the Punisher huh? Despite him deserving it.
[ Zazie slaps their hand into Vash's and shakes vigorously, their grin turning a little before they stick out their tongue. At least they let go and it wasn't some elaborate trap for them to bother Vash more or something.
Maybe. ]
Oh that. Yeah, the little light display you send off into space. I don't know if it's just that, or if it boosted your other ships communications somehow but~ You're about to have friends from Earth!
[ And how Zazie knows that, they will never tell. ]
[He practically squawks it, and absolutely would have snatched his hand away if they didn't grab it so quick. Admittedly he... is a little surprised that it really just was a handshake. Look at them. Character growth. He doesn't know what that is.]
I can't imagine that would have boded well for Nai.
[Maybe it's a good thing that -
Well. He's not going to think about that part, thank you.]
He deserves it, though! He blasted us in half! It's harder to think like this, you know. The babies are just babies so they're not exactly contributing much to thought.
Or, considering how he's hoarding the plants, it would have been just fine for him! Definitely don't know, he sort of-
[ They put their hands together, then dramatically blow them apart while wiggling their fingers. Even they don't know what fully happened to all the bits and pieces of Millions Knives. Burnt away. Blown all over the place. Sprinkled like ashes over all of Nomans.
But also, knowing Knives and that Elendira was a successful half clone- ]
Don't worry about it. Worry instead how you plan on getting me back so I can turn the others. And hope it doesn't take another two years for me to come around. You got a lot to do.
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timeasmymeasure
After the boys fite
Date: 2024-06-26 09:24 pm (UTC)He makes good on his promises, and he warned Zazie there would be consequences if they opened their big mouth.
Now, he's out on the furthest reaches of the beach with the Punisher under one arm, because as upset as he is, he knows better than to be firing this thing off anywhere near the cabanas. Does that mean people won't hear it? Well...no, they absolutely will, but unless they come running down to see what's going on, they won't be in any danger.
Anyway, he's here, completely alone. But he knows better than that. He knows they've got their bugs all over the place by now, watching from every corner.]
Come out, bug. Don't make me fuckin' come find you.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 09:41 pm (UTC)You only said not to tell him, and I didn't! It's not my fault you couldn't find a better way to say it.
[ It's not hard for Wolfwood to find the bugs, however. They tend to Glow Green and all that. Plus they ARE coming together in a certain spot, but not exactly throwing up the illusion of Zazie yet. No point when you're probably going to be gunned at. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 10:17 pm (UTC)Shut up. You KNEW I wanted you to keep your god damn mouth shut, but you didn't. I told you what'd happen, and you crossed the line.
[The Punisher is smoking as he lifts it back up onto his shoulder, empty shells falling to the sand around his ankles, both real and metallic.]
The Eye ain't here. Knives ain't here. I answer to no one, and you don't have your protection.
I know I can't kill you, but that don't mean I don't plan on makin' a dent.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 10:30 pm (UTC)Oh please.
[ Around Wolfwood there is no child-like pretense. No innocence, no jokes. The Punisher and the Beast. They are the worms. So while there's still that touch of merriment, their tone shifts. ]
You're just mad because you couldn't figure out how to nicely drop the information, and ended up chasing your poor Plant away. Maybe if you knew the right words to say, knew how to act human and not like a rough attack hound who only knows how to bite, you'd still be beside him.
[ The words are coming from everyone, every bug, with the vibrating of wings. But it's not just the familiar ones. Zazie's networked with the local as well. Ladybugs turn, preying mantises with too many wings flutter them, stare at Wolfwood, watch, vibrate and speak. ]
Besides, it's not like we were wrong to want to tell him. A warning from the future, to prevent a tragedy.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-26 11:04 pm (UTC)He knows well how inconvenient and slow it would be for them to have to form a new body. He just wishes he could force them to. He wants them to struggle like he now has to struggle, knowing he had no other choice in the matter. The moment Zazie realized this was new information, even they knew…
And now, neither of them are playing games. The way Zazie’s tone has shifted indicates as much.]
He didn’t need to know!! You can’t fucking change the future! Not a future like that!
[His voice rings out over the echo of bullets as more casings fall to the ground around him, his chest heaving from the exertion even though keeping the Punisher lifted barely winds him anymore. No, it’s the emotions pouring out of him that are taking his breath away, making him feel hollowed out and broken.
The fact Zazie is able to speak as if from all around him doesn’t help his nerves, either. It’s a true breakdown if ever there was one, against a creature who knows only what they’ve been taught by humanity, about humanity.]
What good is there in actin’ human anyway!? You should now that better than I do, you piece of SHIT!!!
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Date: 2024-06-27 01:54 am (UTC)Oh, Zazie wishes they had their older forms. To swallow and swarm Wolfwood up.
... Though, they can swarm, get in close, get around the distance of the gun. They have to be silent, distract. A few bugs zip by, their voice on every single one, close by Wolfwood's head. Getting in past the main body of the gun one by one is easy enough. ]
Good ol' Punisher. Is that what you told yourself as you walked him towards his brother? There is no changing the future, so why bother to struggle against it at all? I thought you learned. You sure seemed to struggle aboard the sand ship.
[ Get in, cling to hard to reach spots on the mans back. The weapon itself. Distract, so they can come in closer. The mass of them. Fast. They're not here to hurt, but to rile up, to piss Wolfwood off, to get his anger out so it's safe to exist again without becoming yesterdays footnote. ]
You sure struggled to save your little orphanage. To save your lil brother. But I suppose you don't care, do you? I see it in your eyes~ Only what you care about matters. Yourself. Those you've marked as worthy of your affections? You survived. The girl survived. Your orphans are all well and taken care of. So who cares about the others? Those who called JuLai home?
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Date: 2024-06-27 02:19 am (UTC)Despite his injury, keeping him leaning on the back foot so he can maintain his balance in the sand, Wolfwood hasn’t lost any of his skill during his time in the Grove. When his eyes land on a bug, it’s gone half a second later, blown into bits by his bullets. Zazie is lucky he’s holding on to his lasers, a precious commodity that takes a whole month to recharge when he does use it. Maybe he hasn’t yet deemed this situation worthy enough for it.
…yet.
When he feels a bug or two clinging to the sleeves of his blazer, he throws his arm back to try to shake it off. It makes him stumble, grinding out a frustrated bark of a sound as he picks off another, another, another- all while Zazie whispers, buzzing awful things between his ears.
Though he doesn’t respond verbally (yet), he sure does become more aggressive in his movements. He even pulls out his pistol, firing off a couple haphazard shots as those bugs fly past his ears. If he weren’t packing heat, he might have snatched a couple out of the air just so he could rip them apart with his bare hands.]
Is the entire world my responsibility?!
[He finally breaks, he shouts, sweat dripping from his forehead and down the back of his neck. There’s another voice in the back of his head- his own- that’s warning him not to overdo it. Because you can overdo it, you’re not so invincible anymore…you don’t have your vials to keep you alive. If you were to get hurt, if Zazie really were to decide to fight back…
Well. He’s prepared to deal with the consequences. He’s not sure he cares, at the moment.]
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Date: 2024-06-27 03:10 am (UTC)And they bite, when they land. Those large pincers clamping hard onto skin, hair, clothing. Strong enough to tear flesh from bone, scavengers that they are, but they don't. They bite, and cling. If he rips them off, he will be the one injuring himself. Mostly they cling to places he has to focus on. A bite to his ear, one to his finger to stop the trigger, to the back of his good calf. Distractions.
And when he finally answers them? Breaks down and screams like that, they scoff. ]
Who said it was? Do you have that much of a complex you think the entire world rests on your shoulders alone? Should I start calling you Million Bullets?
[ One bug lands on the punisher, crawling around it to look at Wolfwood, face to face, wings buzzing. ]
Why are you so upset? He knows, he can take action accordingly. If it doesn't change the future, then it's simply how it is. Wash your hands of it, as you always do.
[ Zazie finally manifests in front of him, close enough the punisher can't hit them with bullets, but if Wolfwood wanted he could still swing the heavy thing around. They're aware. ]
After all, you just said it. Why must it be your responsibility? Do your part, and don't get upset when others do theirs.
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Date: 2024-06-27 03:31 am (UTC)He’s still shooting regardless. Anything that moves, nothing gets spared when he knows it’s part of Zazie’s collective, all coming at him at once.
And when Zazie finally coalesces in front of him, he levels the Punisher right at their chest, using the heel of his hand to turn the dial at the center, changing the gun’s configuration. Suddenly, the barrel of the machine gun has pulled back, giving way to the laser he used to split the grand worm in half.
That is what he levels at Zazie now, and when he speaks again, it’s through gritted teeth. Every breath he takes is harsh sounding and painful, his knees shaking now from the exertion of standing that he’s been trying to ignore this entire time. The sand isn’t doing him any favors.]
This ain’t about the fuckin’ future!
[It’s…about Vash.
Vash, who doesn’t want anything to do with him now. He won’t speak to him, won’t come near him. He hasn’t even seen him since their fight, and he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen, and that is driving him over the edge more than anything.
He hates, HATES, how vulnerable it makes him feel.]
Everythin’ woulda’ been FINE if you’d stayed gone! We woulda’ been FINE!!!
Why?!
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Date: 2024-06-27 03:50 am (UTC)And they tilt their head as Wolfwood finally admits that he doesn't care about the future. Hm? Because- ]
Ohhhh. You think your boyfriend broke up with you!
[ You don't need to say it, Zazie gets it. They can figure it out when they're not pretending. The why makes them shrug, arms moving to rest behind their head, their mask snapping up. ]
Don't ask me, I'm not the one that brought us here. Point the blame at me all you want. Do you really think you two would remain here, idyllic and carefree forever? That Vash wouldn't go back and face down all the things he has to? You should be mad at him, for being so blind in his ways of saving humanity that he'd willingly walk straight into a trap.
[ The bugs on Wolfwood tighten their grip, biting into his hands, while Zazie thinks, scratching the back of their neck gently. ]
You should also be angry at yourself for being so stupid you don't get how Vash really feels. You really think he ran away cause he's angry at you? Do you really know the plant? He's probably somewhere moping, face down in a puddle of his own tears, because he can't comprehend that he failed again.
[ To be fair Zazie doesn't know Vash personally but they've watched. It's hard not to, when that's the very thing they were sent to do. ]
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Date: 2024-06-27 11:12 pm (UTC)He's a coward. He knows he is. He doesn't like having to live his life like this, struggling. He would give anything to not be that scared kid they scooped up from the orphanage, but to regain his freedom would be to give up everything, and that would be the same as trading his own life away. So he won't. He can't. He grits his teeth and bears it not because he wants to, but because he's been left with no other alternative.
But deep down, he never really got the chance to grow out of being that scared little kid who was never given a choice. He's turned into a petulant excuse for an adult, unable to properly regulate his emotions because he never learned how. He's angry and bitter over things others can't control, he only knows how to cope by lashing out until he burns himself to smoldering ashes.
He's breathing heavily now, not even realizing that he's been crying this entire time. Not openly, but there's wetness on his cheeks now that causes the wind whipping his face to feel even colder and more unforgiving than normal. And the unfortunate truth is that Zazie has been watching over him for many, many years. He's seen how Wolfwood acts and knows every last tick he has, all of his most intimate struggles and the things that truly upset him. They're hitting every single one, digging their claws in and flaying him open bare for the world to see in the same sort of cruel fascination of a child focusing the light of the sun on ants through a magnifying glass.
He has no rebuttal. No response, knowing that Zazie has said nothing so far that isn't true.
Instead, he just revs the gun, and fires a laser at Zazie point-blank. It will light up the entire beachfront in a massive blue glow for a few seconds before dissipating over the distant water.]
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Date: 2024-06-27 11:37 pm (UTC)But of course he can't. Because Zazie isn't wrong.
The gun revving is the only warning Zazie gets and though they quickly disperse, the laser still vaporizes quite a few of them. Point blank and the weapon doesn't need that much of a rev up.
There's an angry pained buzzing from the ones that escape and they quickly head in every which direction, Zazies voice fading with them. There's definitely a pout there. ]
Spoilsport.
[ And then Wolfwood will be left alone, not a bug - not even the local ones - remaining with him. They have to heal, regroup, repopulate. Away from the Punisher. ]
Before Leaving The Beach
Date: 2024-06-30 07:44 pm (UTC)Now, he needs his questions answered.
He takes his time, seeking out the bugs he knows are surely watching. And once he's sure he's found one of Zazie's hosts - ]
I know you're there. We need to talk.
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Date: 2024-06-30 07:49 pm (UTC)Wolfwood vaporized a large portion of them. It hurt them far more than they'd like to admit without their larger hive minds to fall back onto. That was them, the oldest of their remaining hivemind and Wolfwood almost destroyed them. So they're keeping a decent distance from Vash, though they know the Plant is far more dangerous than he often seems. They're also not acting the child anymore. ]
What do you want from us?
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Date: 2024-06-30 07:57 pm (UTC)Ultimately, he bears them no ill will. Maybe it had been part of a game, but at least Zazie had been honest with him. He appreciates that.]
I just have... questions. [With his display out of the way, he sits down in the grass. His legs fold, and his hands come to rest in his lap. All told, it's a very casual display.] I know that JuLai was destroyed. But I want to know everything you know about what happened. I have to, if I'm going to prevent it.
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Date: 2024-06-30 08:05 pm (UTC)Hm. Everything? I have eyes everywhere, after all. There is nothing I don't know.
[ They fold their arms and tilt their head, thoughtful. ]
Okay, ask your questions. Let's see what you really want to know.
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Date: 2024-06-30 08:10 pm (UTC)What exactly happens? Nick said it was because Nai and I fought but... it has to be more than that, right? Us going at it doesn't bring down a whole city.
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Date: 2024-06-30 08:14 pm (UTC)[ Okay, fair. Humans do that thing where they want to spare the other pain and grief. Which is stupid, if you spare them, they can't adjust. Zazie sighs and rests their chin in their hand. ]
Let me ask you something in return. Do you know what Knives is trying to do? Do you truly understand his plans?
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Date: 2024-06-30 08:24 pm (UTC)He told me he didn't know the specifics.
[He can't say he loves learning about more things being hidden from him, even after all of this. But there are more things to focus on.]
Nai... wants the plants to live free of human influence. That means stealing from people that really, truly need them. He wants to "build an entire world" of plants.
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Date: 2024-06-30 08:37 pm (UTC)He wants to make Independents. But for that, he needs you. Your power. You can open a gate. And inside that Gate is the plane you Plants draw from. But you don't just create water, or food. You create. Do you get it? Everything. Anything. He can't. You have a big brain in there, Plant. Think. What could wipe an entire city out?
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Date: 2024-06-30 08:42 pm (UTC)Energy from the higher dimension. Pulled through the gate.
[He can picture. Worse than the nuclear bombs of history. The whole city would be destroyed in one catastrophic explosion. Hell, the fact that it was only the city could be described as a miracle.]
So. Remove me from the equation, and Nai has no weapon. Is that right?
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Date: 2024-06-30 08:52 pm (UTC)[ Slowly Zazie forms again, a frown on their face. Decides to be more helpful with their information, fill Vash in all the way, crouching down near him like a wild animal, elbows on their knees. ]
If you don't go to Knives, he can't network with you. He can't make Independents. And the lingering energy of you fighting back can't destroy JuLai. Because you do, you know. Or well, not really fight. You flee, but you're used to that. You try to stop him from using that power he takes, shoot it into space.
[ They make a gun finger with their hand and point it to the sky, pew'ing softly as they shoot. They... also decide to be nice, and not tell Vash it's technically him and his ambient energy that craters JuLai as a result. ]
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Date: 2024-06-30 09:02 pm (UTC)[Like it always does. He shouldn't be surprised. And while he could ask for more information, he chooses not to. Anything else would just be to intentionally suffer. He has what he needs, and knows what he needs to do.]
You weren't there for it, but awhile back we learned that once it's all said and done here, someone will have to stay back. Close the gate, to prevent it all from happening again.
[He holds his hands out, almost smiling to himself.]
It's kind of poetic, don't you think? Instead of opening a gate and destroying everything, I'll close it and protect millions. More than that, when you think about all the worlds being impacted.
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Date: 2024-06-30 09:09 pm (UTC)[ Because if Vash doesn't go back, Wolfwood's contract is null, and those kids will continue being used for the Eye project. And can Vash let that hang on his conscience? ]
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Date: 2024-06-30 09:16 pm (UTC)We have time to figure out how to protect them. Between Livio and Nick [Because he doubts Livio will go back to his own reality, not when he faces a world without his beloved.] they'll be able to get them somewhere safe. The ship, maybe. Or somewhere else.
[Can't experiment on the kids if the kids are nowhere to be found.]
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Date: 2024-06-30 09:22 pm (UTC)[ They push themselves to their feet, stretching and tucking their arms behind their head. ]
You're kind of fucked, Vash. You don't go back, and Knives wipes out the last remains of humanity on that planet. Then the ones that show up due to your little bridge of light you made. Very fancy beacon, by the way. You do go back, and JuLai is wiped out but humanity may yet have a chance. Oh! This is that trolley problem!
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Date: 2024-06-30 09:27 pm (UTC)He wouldn't put it past Knives to rip open reality just to chase him down.
The hope had always been feeble, but it still hurts something awful when it's snuffed out. Exhausted as he is, he can't school his expression. It crumples visibly before he can bury his face within his hands. Millions of lives would be lost no matter what he did.
Maybe Wolfwood had been right to hide it from him. Vash had hoped there'd be a way to change fate, but every solution he finds is no better than the future they're hurtling toward. There was no option, there was no way out.]
So what do I do?
[He doesn't mean to ask Zazie this. It comes out more rhetorical than anything.]
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Date: 2024-06-30 09:41 pm (UTC)Quit moping, for one. It's useless. And I can't really help you, I'm from after the point of JuLai going boom. But-
[ There's a chance, and Zazie is so fucking curious now as to how humans are going to pull themselves up. They grin and sigh. ]
Get me back before that, though, and we can talk to ourselves. Humans may have won me over a little more than your brother. They're so scrappy, fun to watch. Then you can have us on your side. We can eat your brother, if you want.
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Date: 2024-06-30 09:49 pm (UTC)Seemingly there's nothing. At least, not beyond the one he can obviously guess.]
No eating anyone. [He's very quick to say.] But if you can prevent that from happening... if we can find a way... [This promise is easy to make, at least.] I swear I'll find a way to make sure your kind can live peacefully with the humans.
It's like you said. It's your world.
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Date: 2024-06-30 10:31 pm (UTC)[ Which he wasn't going to, in the end, judging by the giant Plant Mother. They can and will crush Knives in the end if they have to. Vash sort of did that for them, though, as far as they're aware. ]
I guess this makes us friends~?
[ And they'll even hold one hand out to shake. ]
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Date: 2024-06-30 10:56 pm (UTC)I guess you could say that.
[Though now that he has a second to think about what's been said...]
You mentioned something about a beacon? And more humans?
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Date: 2024-06-30 11:02 pm (UTC)[ Zazie slaps their hand into Vash's and shakes vigorously, their grin turning a little before they stick out their tongue. At least they let go and it wasn't some elaborate trap for them to bother Vash more or something.
Maybe. ]
Oh that. Yeah, the little light display you send off into space. I don't know if it's just that, or if it boosted your other ships communications somehow but~ You're about to have friends from Earth!
[ And how Zazie knows that, they will never tell. ]
Probably means more Plants too.
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Date: 2024-06-30 11:17 pm (UTC)[He practically squawks it, and absolutely would have snatched his hand away if they didn't grab it so quick. Admittedly he... is a little surprised that it really just was a handshake. Look at them. Character growth. He doesn't know what that is.]
I can't imagine that would have boded well for Nai.
[Maybe it's a good thing that -
Well. He's not going to think about that part, thank you.]
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Date: 2024-06-30 11:30 pm (UTC)Or, considering how he's hoarding the plants, it would have been just fine for him! Definitely don't know, he sort of-
[ They put their hands together, then dramatically blow them apart while wiggling their fingers. Even they don't know what fully happened to all the bits and pieces of Millions Knives. Burnt away. Blown all over the place. Sprinkled like ashes over all of Nomans.
But also, knowing Knives and that Elendira was a successful half clone- ]
Don't worry about it. Worry instead how you plan on getting me back so I can turn the others. And hope it doesn't take another two years for me to come around. You got a lot to do.
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Date: 2024-07-01 12:31 am (UTC)[Not the best reasoning, because he knows Zazie might take it the wrong way. He doesn't want Wolfwood to end up with no legs, now does he.
Anyway, he's wincing at Zazie's pantomiming here. Come on! That's his brother.]
I can figure out how to get you back there. Somehow. I just don't know if it's best that I come with. It still feels... risky.