IC Contact for duplicity

[arkfall]

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[goldenglasses]

I think that would be good. As I'm assuming you've seen Legato has arrived?

[arkfall]

Yes.

Did he try anything with you?

[goldenglasses]

Not yet, but it changes what I would like in our contract.

Where would you like to meet?

[arkfall]

You choose. I want you to somewhere that is comfortable for you.

[goldenglasses]

One of the parks. They have tables we can sit at. I'll text you the address.

[arkfall]

Meet you there.

[And Knives shows up at whatever address Vash sent to him with some paperwork for them to form the contract.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash is waiting with a box of donuts. Having shown up a bit early and munching away. Just enjoying the scenery until his brother arrives. When he spots Knives he's quick to put the donuts away and actually have a serious discussion. He was basically about to sign his life and freedom away after all.]

I'm assuming you've contracted with Legato? And that he'll be living with you? [He saw the mark under Legato's chin when he had run into the psychopath earlier today.]

[arkfall]

Of course.

[Knives answers as he settles down.]

Forcing him to contract with someone else would... complicate matters.

They're already complicated by the fact that he's not technically the Legato we know.

[goldenglasses]

Yeah, I'm not surprised. It only makes sense that--

[Wait. Knives did not just say what Vash thought he was going to say.]

You mean he's from earlier than us, right? He's from before you broke his back.

[arkfall]

No. I mean he is from an alternate reality to ours. Things are similar but... very different.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash sits and stares for a moment. Trying to decide if Knives was lying to him for some reason.] He mentioned to me that he had been in another world. Is that what you mean? [Alternate reality? That seemed hard to believe. Travelling to a different world was a little easier to wrap his head around.]

[arkfall]

No.

[But that's... curious. He'll have to ask Legato about it later.]

Listen to what I'm saying, Vash. He is from an alternate reality. This means that his version of our planet is similar but not the same to ours.

For example, his ability has nothing to do with strings. He has telepathic abilities.

Oh, and the version of me from his world transplanted your arm onto him.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash is listening, but it's hard to fully understand or at least believe. An alternate reality? How could that be possible? Then again how could a city like Duplicity be possible?

He's just about ready to accept this when Knives helpfully adds the bit about Vash's arm.]

Uh, what? I think I misheard you. You say he has my arm?!

[Ew. Deep down Vash knows this is true. There had been something off but familiar about Legato when he met him. He just hadn't thought it was his arm. After all, Legato was too young to have been alive when Vash lost that arm of his.]

[arkfall]

Why are you making me repeat myself over and over?

[Knives asks, but he sounds bored more than annoyed.]

I, that is to say, the version of me from his reality, turned Legato into my masterpiece. Having your arm enhanced his superhuman abilities and made it possible for him to do great and terrible things.

It was... beautiful.

[Probably not the right word to use with the person he's trying so hard to convince that he's changed, but it's true. Watching Legato's memories had been like watching a beautiful symphony.]

Though I relied a bit too much on a human, I think. My plan back home was to protect our sisters. In his world... I was far more directly focused on you.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash runs a hand down his face when Knives calls anything Legato does 'beautiful'. Allowing it to hover over his mouth as he tries to muffle his sarcastic reply under his breath.] Poor-other-me.

[Continuing on quickly and deciding to get back to the topic at hand.] Does this mean Legato will be living with you? Or are you getting him his own place? He can still live in the free housing in the Down. Submissives don't have to live with the people they're contracted with.

Or I can move to the Down. If you can't afford two places. I actually don't mind the shared apartments they have. The roof garden makes up for it.

[I don't want to live with Legato. Which is what he's really saying should be easy enough for Knives to pick up on.]

[arkfall]

[Knives narrows his eyes and be briefly does seem annoyed.]

I knew it. [A pause, as he looks away from Vash and considers the greenery around them. He knows before this would have turned into much stronger anger, but now he still feels more irritated than anything.]

I knew you'd figure out some excuse not to hold up your end of the deal...

[goldenglasses]

Can you blame me?! [Vash snaps back. Throwing his hands up in exasperation.] He kept me prisoner in a dark hole for months under your order, Knives. Do you really expect me to be happy about now having to share a bedroom with the guy?!

[Vash has gone ahead and made assumptions. Like how he didn't think Knives would be willing to share a room with a human. Plus an added bonus of a loyal person keeping and eye on Vash all night long.]

[arkfall]

You won't be.

[Knives bites back.]

I've already told him he'll be staying with me. He's not to go into your room.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash leans back and crosses his arms over his chest with a huff. He clearly still wasn't happy with the arrangement, but it was better.] Fine. I'll still live with you. [He'll just try to tell himself it's best that way. That he can keep an eye on the two of them by living together.]

But, I want you to tell Legato not to kill. He'll listen to you.

[arkfall]

Oh? And should I tell a rabid dog not to bite next?

[Knives retorts, but he had been expecting this condition so it's not too out of left field.

A part of him is a little disappointed though. If Vash had kept that loophole open he could have used Legato as a weapon against this world.]

[goldenglasses]

He's not anything like a rabid dog. He's a person. A person who is loyal to someone who doesn't appreciate him the way he should be. [This probably is one of the worst times to be antagonize his brother, but Vash is still bitter about the living arrangements and at the moment can't help himself.]

You ask him not to kill and he will. At worse he'll ask why and you'll tell him it was so I'll contract with you. Because this is not something I'm going to budge on.

[arkfall]

[Knives raises his brow at Vash defending Legato, but he doesn't comment on it.

Instead, he crosses his arms and considers Vash carefully.]

I understand. I'll tell him not to kill and explain what we mean by that.

[After all, it's super easy to fake self-defense when you can control the other person's body so fully.]

[goldenglasses]

Alright. [Vash's eyes glance down at the paperwork. There's still a small smile on his face, but it's so painfully empty that even a blind person could see it.]

I also would still like to request that I can make and spend my own money. So that I don't have to ask you for every little thing I need or want.

And that when I find a new job you'll let me take it. No matter what it is. [For some reason he lost his job as a dishwasher when he misplaced his arm.]

Plus of course, I fill my quota however I need or want to without your help. [He adds the last part on very quickly. Hoping that it means his brother will quickly agree to letting Vash find any job he wants without stipulations. Such as not being allowed to work under humans or something.]

[arkfall]

That goes without saying. [Knives replies, glaring at the idea that he would help with anything like that.

But, he knows it's not Vash's fault. This is something they have to discuss to make sure everyone is on the same page.]

And I'm assuming you'll do so away from the apartment? [He doubts that Vash will want to bring anyone home when 'home' means his brother and Legato are around.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash nods his head and digs a donut out of his box.] Yeah. So no sending Legato out looking for me if I'm not home every night. [He says in a warning tone before gulping his donut down.] After all, I doubt that's something Legato wants to intrupt either. So best not to send Legato out looking for me ever.