IC Contact for duplicity

[arkfall]

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[goldenglasses]

I don't know. I have heard some people just sleep for awhile then come back with no new memories. It's just not as common.

Would you like some company? [Vash isn't sure how his brother deals with being alone. All he knows is that he is personally terrible at it. It's part of the reason he asked to stay in an apartment when Knives helped him get a place. He enjoys hearing his noisy neighbours.]

[arkfall]

What I want is for him to wake up.

Then I want to figure out a way to be better for him.

Every moment since he was that bruised little boy has centered around my obsession with you. I raised him to consider my need to be with you above everything else. In his reality, I tore pieces off his body to fashion him into a stronger weapon. In ours, I snapped that body in half for crossing the line when it came to you. Every moment of his time with me has been centered around you.

And here I am doing it all over again. Forcing him to be included in our agreement as I care more about you being with me than considering anything to do with him.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash had been starting to text that Knives caring about that now is one of the reasons he knows his brother has changed. Why he feels confident contracting to him again.

Then the last text comes in. Vash deletes what he was writing and starts again.]

All I've ever asked of him is not to kill. That isn't something that should be so hard to follow for anyone regardless of agreements. Unless there is something else I'm not aware of?

[arkfall]

This isn't about the letter of the rule, it's about how I constantly prioritize everything to do with you over everything to do with him.

I can't keep doing that. I can't hold onto you without being worried about hurting both of you.

It's exhausting.

[goldenglasses]

Our contract wouldn't hinder you that much, would it? I'll stay out of trouble. That way you can focus on Legato.

The only trouble I'll be is when I need to buy something they won't let a submissive buy on their own and I'll make sure to make those requests sparingly.

I could keep them to a weekly grocery shop.

Or maybe bi weekly!

Or monthly!

[It seems a bit surreal to Vash as he rapid fire sends out his text messages. He's nearly begging his brother to contract with him again. When at the start it had felt a bit like a prison sentence.]

[arkfall]

Give me time to consider it, Vash.

Please.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash is left wondering what this means for him if Knives doesn't contract with him again. He'll lose his job, his apartment, and everything that had felt like it was finally becoming stable in his life.]

Yeah. Okay. [It wouldn't be fair to dump these concerns on his brother while he was doing some actual soul searching.]

Would you still like company for tonight? That apartment has to be pretty quiet without Legato being awake.

[arkfall]

I'd like that, yes.

But if he starts to wake up, you need to leave.

[goldenglasses]

Done. [Easily. Vash won't even bring up the contract again during his visit. Even though he'll want to.]

[arkfall]

Have you eaten yet? We can make dinner.

[goldenglasses]

[He has, but for the next three months or however long it takes Knives to agree to contract again good food was about to become scarce again.] I could eat. Not sure what your kitchen is stock with at the moment. [Considering that Legato was out for the count Vash is guessing it is very empty.]

I'm still your submissive for a couple days. If you call in for some groceries or take out and pay for it over the phone just tell them your submissive will pick it up. That way I can grab it on my way.

[arkfall]

I'll do that and send you the address to pick it up.

Then I'll see you soon after.

[goldenglasses]

See you soon.

[arkfall]

[Knives is a little astounded that entire conversation went the way he wanted it to go. He has to dampen his emotions, not wanting to leak anything that Vash will be able to pick up on.

He orders the food and sends Vash the address and then tidies up a bit while waiting for him to arrive.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash will pick up the food before heading over. If the door is unlocked he wanders right in. A smile on his face hiding his trepidation for his immediate future remarkably well. He waves the bag of food with excitement.] Hey bro! Your dinner has arrived!

[arkfall]

[Knives is in the kitchen wiping his hands when Vash comes in.]

Good.

Come over here. Let's cook together.

[goldenglasses]

Great! I'm starved already! [He comes over with his bags and sets them down. Being starved is an exaggeration, but his excitement to cook a meal with Knives isn't. Cooking with his twin were some of his most treasured memories of his childhood.] What did you have in mind?

[arkfall]

Something that we can make together. Maybe a stir fry?

[That way they can prep the veggies together and take turns stirring.]

[goldenglasses]

I was actually thinking the same thing! [Vash can't help the big of honest joy and amusement that crosses his face. It doesn't last forever, he has too much stress on his mind to keep it, and soon enough the it will change back into the pleasant, but false, smile he always wears. Still, for that brief bit of time there is something warmer than usually behind his grin.]

And we should have everything we need! [He starts putting away the groceries they won't need right away while leaving out the vegetables. Grabbing out a wok as he moves around the kitchen.]

[arkfall]

[Knives notices the tension in Vash, but he doesn't comment on it. He knows that he's the reason it's happening, but he can't reassure Vash the way he needs until after the men and women who tortured him are dead.

Instead, he focuses on getting a cutting board and knives for them to cut things.]

I was thinking either that or pizzas.

[Then, after a moment,]

One day, when I can stomach it and you trust me enough with her, we should make individual pizzas with your hu-[A pause as his jaw tightens.] With Meryl.

We could make the dough and pass it out evenly. Then everyone could put their own toppings on.

[There is some part of Knives that actually does feel guilty about all of the ways he's manipulating Vash today.]

[goldenglasses]

[He does his best to hide it. He was going to give Knives time to think about what he wants but it was impossible not to think about what this means as a submissive in this city. Until Knives makes up his mind life was about to get a lot harder for Vash for at least the next little while.

And if Knives chooses not to contract with him again? Then... hopefully... he'll get paired with someone who isn't awful.

Although the suggestion of making pizza with Meryl certainly helps brighten Vash's mood once more.]

Yeah! That sounds like a lot of fun! And then everyone gets their pizza exactly the way they want it! And did you know they have desert pizza? It might be some of the best pizza I've ever had!

[arkfall]

[That's exactly the response Knives was trying to coax Vash to settle in. Looking towards a better future means he won't dwell on Knives's reasons for delaying a new contract.]

You and your sweet tooth...

What do you even put on a dessert pizza?

[goldenglasses]

Lots of different things! Chocolate, strawberries, creme, chocolate, bananas, peanut butter, chocolate, marshmallows, and pretty much anything! [He grabs a vegetable to start slicing for their meal.]

[arkfall]

[Knives starts to do his part to prepare dinner as well, and the brothers end up side by side as they get everything ready.]

Do you use a normal crust for that? Or put it on something sweeter? Oh, like a cookie perhaps? Or a brownie?

[goldenglasses]

[Vash gasps. Stopping mid slice to look at his brother.] That's a great idea! I think they use regular crust, but a cookie or a brownie would work much better! Or maybe even a giant donut!!!