[Video - Grabbag Virus, Body Swap]

[hunterofpeace]

[In the background of the video is the hum and rumble that sounds like a locomotion, visibility low as is if the primary source of light were the recording device itself. It highlights a shirtless Vash, covered in deep but old lesions, surgical scars, even what appear to be hunks of long missing flesh. All of those appear to be so old as to no longer even hurt; in contrast to the deep, dark splotch of blood smearing over his stomach as he gives up at wiping it to start padding it over with cloth scraps.] 'least it's not gushing anymore. This'll have to do for the short run. [For anyone familiar with Vash, his speech cadence seems off from his usual pattern, along with some of his pronunciations, still entirely coherent, but distinctly... accented. Even if he seems to be talking to himself, he gives a pained grin to the camera as he reaches into a (random) passenger's suitcase for a shirt to use as a bandage to hold the cloth in place.]

But, really, Needle Noggin, if you're doing all this...Ghh! [Jerking the bandage a little too tightly in emphasis on his own body, his eyes roll and his teeth grit before letting some slack loose and panting. He decides an easier means of emphasis is to slap his hand to his chest, leering towards the camera.] ...because some mystery "she" would get her tush in a sling over somebody dying, like that Kaito said, do you think any good woman's going to be happy about you coming home looking like this?

I've... [There's some hesitation as he gathers up the edges of the cloth to wrap it around again, avoiding looking at the camera even though there's no organic gaze in it yet to meet.] ...got three lives to save over here. Yours, mine, and li'l Kaito's. So I'm gonna have to put a black mark on your Saint's record.

Comments

video;

[selene]

[ .. What is this sight even.. he's hurt..? It looks bad, and the way he's talking - well, she doesn't know him well enough to know it's off, but it's still a little weird.. ]

H.. hey, what's going on..?

always video;

[smokepraylove]

Nothing I...he can't handle! He's Vash the Stampede!

[selene]

Well, I've talked to him before and then it was scary too, so I know that! But it.. it still looks super serious!

[smokepraylove]

You remember me! [Though the face is different, there might be something distinct in how he balls his fist, how the tears of joy appear in his eyes.]

[selene]

[ .. H.. uh... Wait, what, she doesn't get this anymore. ]

No way, of course I don't remember you! I've never even seen you before!

[smokepraylove]

No! Don't take it back from me! It's me! We were going to have donuts!

[selene]

.. But you're.. -- and that guy is-- .. and..

[ SO CONFUSED. She's about to start wibbling and then crying here at this rate.. ]

I don't get it anymoooooore!

[smokepraylove]

WAIT, DON'T CRY! IT'S ME! WE'RE FRIENDS!

[selene]

[ STILL WIBBLING. Sorry, Vash.. ]

B-b-but.. we never talked before..!

[smokepraylove]

[His arms open wide, as if waiting for her to come in for a hug.]

I'M VASH!

[selene]

But you're-- [ .. blink.

Staring.. more.. staring.. it's slowly coming to her.. ]

.. You don't even look anything like him!

[smokepraylove]

I know! My beautiful red coat is gone! One second I was in the sandsteamer and then I was on a bike. I almost died.

[selene]

It's not even just your clothes! Your face is all.. weird!

[smokepraylove]

Does that mean you didn't think my old face was weird?!

[hunterofpeace]

Now if we could just get him to take it seriously...

[selene]

Wait, who's supposed to take it seriously?! You're the one who's in trouble, right?

[hunterofpeace]

The little meatball missy understands! Even though I'm the one in this situation, he keeps giving ridiculous orders....!

[selene]

[ This is so confusing.. she's trying so hard to understand, but-- WAIT, HEY. ]

They're not meatballs! You're trying to make fun of my hair, aren't you?!

[hunterofpeace]

[Without thinking he gets sucked up into her pace, going from high strung to defensively comforting.]

Most people like spaghetti and meatballs.

[selene]

But still, calling my hair food.. t-that's like saying you'd want to eat it! Isn't that weird?!

[hunterofpeace]

Angel hair pasta, is it?

[selene]

.. D.. different kinds of food by now, even?! [ she's wibbling.. ]

[hunterofpeace]

Ah! Don't cry, don't cry! It was a joke, a joke! And this isn't the time for them, is it? I'm sorry, I'm sorry! [His head tilts with a smile, strained as if trying to figure out how to flex Vash's sparkle muscle.] See?

[selene]

.. Well, I guess you do look sorry..

[ Is that what you're going to judge off, Usagi? But at least there's only a sniff rather than her downright crying. ]

I just don't like it when people make fun of my hair!

[hunterofpeace]

Especially when they look like bristle-top here, yes? [HAHAHAHAHA... His laughter was contagious with Vash. Maybe it will be for her, too.]