IC Contact for duplicity

[arkfall]

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[goldenglasses]

Are you at the apartment? I can come home. [Memory sharing was usually easier with physical contact.]

[arkfall]

Yes.

I warn you, the other you found it all horrifying...

[goldenglasses]

I want to see all you wish to share with me. Good and bad.

I'll be home soon.

[arkfall]

[It's strange to find comfort in that. Knives waits for Vash at home and tries to figure out exactly what he's going to show Vash.]

[goldenglasses]

[He'll have a little time to think about it. While he takes the most direct route he doesn't rush to get home.

Seeing no reason to knock he walks right into the apartment.] Brother. It is always good to see you again.

[arkfall]

[Knives is at the kitchen table drinking some coffee when Vash comes in. He offers Vash a small smile.]

I could say the same.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash joins him and sits in the closest empty seat.] You've had time to think about it. Did you still wish to share your ark with me?

[arkfall]

Yes, but I think I need to explain it first. Do you want some coffee? I made enough for both of us. [He sets down his mug to get up if Vash wants it.]

[goldenglasses]

Sure. I'll take it black. [A lot different then the way Vash usually takes his coffee full of sugar.]

[arkfall]

[Knives pauses for a moment at that and then focuses on getting a mug and pouring the coffee for Vash.

The coffee tastes as close to what Vash would be used from his Knives as it can when you consider the change of materials and equipment here.]

The world you live on. You showed me a bit of it. It seems difficult, but not as difficult as the one I lived on. The place we ended up on is a desert. It's barren and lifeless and so the humans tax our sisters beyond their means.

Every day, all I could think about was how to save them.

[goldenglasses]

We also landed on a desert planet, but with the crew we were able to make pockets of healthy earth. It's taking a lot time to do so safely with our sister's help.

Your humans sound like awful parasites. No wonder you find them so disgusting. At least we only had to deal with pockets of filth who didn't like how long it took.

Was your Ark to help our sisters?

[arkfall]

No. It... was our sisters. I took each of them into myself.

[goldenglasses]

Wait, you don't mean fully, do you? [Vash had mixed with his sisters before, but never completely removing them from their life support.]

[arkfall]

I spent over a hundred years trying to convince you to save them some other way. It was a last resort.

So, my dear beloved brother, I do mean fully.

[goldenglasses]

That... [Vash's expression changes to awe. Reaching forward to cup his brother's cheek if Knives will allow it.] The power and control that would have required. That is-- that is simply amazing.

Show me! [His excitement quickly grows.] Show me what that must have been like.

[arkfall]

[Knives does allow it, though he tenses for a moment until Vash shows that the touch is gentle, that the expression is one of awe instead of horror.

He nods and then focuses on their connection.

He gives Vash a sense of what it was like to be a massive form, to share his mind with their sisters, to be so unmoored to reality. He shares the sense of never being alone, of having so many minds within his own, and the power of turning himself into a massive floating structure.

He focuses only on the sensation of existing in that state, not trying to weigh Vash down with memories of what he did while he was in it.]

[goldenglasses]

[It is nearly overwhelming. He's never connected with one sister at a time. To feel nearly all of them.

Tears start falling down Vash's face as he lets everything wash over him.] Beautiful...

[arkfall]

[Knives reaches up to wipe the tears off of his cheek.]

Yes. [He agrees with a soft voice.]

All of my siblings are beautiful.

[goldenglasses]

I hadn't ever thought to... [Vash's eyes are filled with love and longing.] These memories I don't understand how how the other Vash could see it as anything except for breathtaking. I wish I could have seen you in your glory.

[arkfall]

[Knives doesn't seem able to process Vash saying such a thing. He just sort of stares at his brother like he can't believe what he's saying. After a moment, he reaches out to take Vash's hand and squeezes it lightly.]

I did terrible things with that power, Vash, and in the end I had used up all of my power.

It was beautiful, but I don't know if it's something I should be proud of.

[He knows his Vash would not want him to be.]

[goldenglasses]

But you did that for our sisters. You risked your life for our family. If you really think it's not something you should be proud of then I will be proud for you.

[arkfall]

[He's quiet for a moment again and takes a shaky breath.]

You've no idea how much it means to hear you say that.

[goldenglasses]

I am so proud of you. Maybe it wasn't the best end result, but I'm proud of how much you did in order to save our family.

[arkfall]

I wish I had been able to do it more effectively.

[goldenglasses]

[Reaching up Vash runs his fingers through his brother's black hair. Frowning sadly at the colour.] I wish that too, but as long as we're careful here we can still have lots of time together.