arkfall | IC Contact for duplicity

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YES! [Opps. That might have sounded a bit too angry. He tries again.] Yes, of course that is one of a million different things you should have done instead turning to murder and violence! [Nope, still incredibly angry.]

[Knives is quiet for a moment, letting Vash's emotions wash over him.]

Okay.

[For a long time Vash is quiet. He's so angry and so utterly disappointed. He's been trying to defend Knives to people for so long. Thinking Knives really was changing only to be shown that he was so very wrong.]

Do you really not see why? Why just killing them is wrong and for more than just because of how it hurts me? Those people that you killed also have family. They also have people that care about them that are now hurting because of your actions. Do you not see how your actions hurt more than just those that you kill?

[Knives does know that people will be hurt by those actions, he just can't bring himself to care. He still knows that he can't say that to Vash.]

I'll try to be more considerate of that in the future...

Besides, as long as we're contracted it won't happen again.

How am I ever supposed to trust you again without it? [Which might be what hurts him the most at this moment. Is the fact that he doesn't think he can answer that question.]

I don't have a reason to hurt anyone else.

And why should I believe that? And what about tomorrow? Or the day after that? How can I believe those words?

I don't want to hurt people randomly, anymore.

[That makes him feel weak and stupid. His jaw tightens.] I didn't have the urge to kill everyone to get to the few who hurt you. My rage isn't widespread, anymore.

You honestly can't see how that's different?

That is different. [He will admit to that. It's not perfect like he wants it to be, but it is different.] But you still lied to me, Knives. You tried to lead me into believing you weren't contracting with me for good reasons.

That part was...

Difficult. Harder than I expected. [He frowns, realizing he said that aloud and he isn't sure how Vash will react to it.]

Oh, so you thought it would be easy to lie straight to my face?

Yes. [He says it matter of factly.]

I've never had issues trying to manipulate you before, and when I couldn't I would react by hurting you.

Or have you forgotten all of that?

[His prosthetic arm gives a brief twitch.] Of course I haven't. I am just further disappointed that you honestly thought it would be easy to fall back into those old habits again to trick me. [And it had worked.] Next time be honest with me.

I don't want there to be a next time, Vash.

Neither do I.

[He takes a breath and slowly lets it out again.] You can't just get away with their deaths, Knives.

[Knives tilts his head at that. He seems honestly surprised Vash would go this route. Perhaps because he's killed millions and these deaths seem so little compared to what he's already done.]

What are you suggesting, brother? You're going to turn me in to the authorities here?

I-- I-- [He trails off. Unsure of what to do or say next. That would be the right thing to do, wouldn't it? Those lives lost need some sort of justice, don't they? There has to be some sort of punishment for what has happened, shouldn't there be?] I don't know. [He gives his honest answer. Too terrified of the type of punishment they might see fit to give his brother for his actions along with the small part of him that understands why Knives did what he did to turn his brother in. While also feeling as if he should now that he knew the truth.]

Because you know the justice system here is fundamentally corrupt.

How about... Once we find a way out of here, I'll face whatever justice system you think will be just. Not just for this, but for all of my crimes.

Or... or maybe I'll stop coming around. [Because what is something Knives cares about? The only thing that comes to Vash's mind, as self-centered as it may seem, is him.]

[He isn't prepared to control his emotional reaction to that. It shows on his face, and much more embarrassingly, the shock and pain at the suggestion projects outside of his body. He reels it in quickly, glaring at Vash instead.]

If that's what you think is best.

I don't want to do that, Knives. I enjoy having dinner with you. I have been enjoying spending time with you and learning about... [He trails off. Trying to think of the right way to word what he wants to say.] ...being us, but what else can I do? What other action can I take so you understand what you've done is wrong?

You haven't punished that way for the millions I destroyed back home. Why do these lives merit it instead?

Partly because I don't know what happened back home. Maybe I have? You said that you've died back home so... I dunno... [He shrugs. Not really having a good answer.]

Or maybe it's because you knew this time it was wrong. You went behind my back, Knives. You lied to me. You said you've changed and yet here you are still killing as your first answer to a problem you have. What will you do if something like this happens again? Wait for our contract to expire once more?