[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

[smokepraylove]

[It was worse than almost dying and being on the outside looking in. That was his body, scarred as it may be. So, this was an answer to his question...to two of his questions. One, if this guy was real and two, who the anonymous person he'd been talking to was.

So, after hearing that, he lost all brownies points he had won for running an orphanage.

When the camera flickers on, he may recognize the background as said orphanage. His stare is unimpressed.]

You can't just kill them.[Now that voice, not quiet his but different from Wolfwood's for it's lack of accent, rises.] Do you know how hard I've worked to not kill them?!

[Video]

[hunterofpeace]

I think I've got a pretty good idea! [So he says with one last jerk on the cloth before looking for a spot to tuck it into itself.] You're like this when I come to here, but you're bandaging up the one who did it to you?! [His gaze keeps flickering back to the screen, the orphanage in the background. But whatever thought was on his mind seems to be interrupted, maybe forcibly, by the topic he pushes once he has the bandaging done.]

Working not to kill them! Do you have any idea what your situation even is over here?!

always video;

[smokepraylove]

[Vash the Stampede is loose in an expecting orphanage. Doesn't that just sound like the key to murder? But everything looks fine behind him.

Instead of answering, he tries to locate the other guy.] How is he?

[hunterofpeace]

Be serious, would you?!

[smokepraylove]

I am serious! How is he?! I shouldn't have shot him there!

[hunterofpeace]

Aa! That's right! A gunman on your level should have been able to kill him quickly in one shot! [He clearly knows that isn't what he means, but that's the point he decidedly wants to push.]

[smokepraylove]

How is he?! [There's something rising in that voice, something nearly panic. If he had this kind of attitude, would he finish treating him? Vash wasn't sure he would live if the blood wasn't stopped.]

[hunterofpeace]

[Both shoulders stiffen as he bristles, on the verge of snapping as if the attitude he'd had to this point could still be considered holding it in.]

[smokepraylove]

Damn. Just tell me if he made it! If you don't know how to finish, I'll walk you through!

[hunterofpeace]

[Pure exasperation hisses out as a sigh, bringing a hand over his face and groaning.] I did what I could. You finished most of it from the looks of it. The bleeding was stopped at least. We brought him to a passenger's room out of the way from the crossfire. [Which would be where the suitcase that he's using for his own first aid kit came from.

The problem is that in finishing his job, he's all but admitting he agrees with not killing them when possible. The problem is that in this situation, walking out a saint is without a doubt impossible, no matter what force of nature one is, Typhoons and all be damned. That's not something that idiot has the right to hold him to. Even he wouldn't be able to do it if he were back here in his own body.]

[smokepraylove]

[He relaxes, moving back from the camera, a hand going to the back of his head.]

It's not fair to make a man worry that way. Just keep going like that!

[hunterofpeace]

What, is that all? Just keep going like this and it'll work out fine? Then, I was all worked up for nothing! Hahahaha ha ha! [It really is more like saying 'ha' over and over than it is like laughing.]

[smokepraylove]

[He'll match every single 'ha' with a louder one.]

Just don't kill anybody!

[hunterofpeace]

And then everyone gets a Happy End?! [HA HA HA HA HA!]

[smokepraylove]

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]

Then you do get it!

[hunterofpeace]

[The laughter comes to a dead stop.]

Impossible.

[smokepraylove]

If you can't shoot, just hit them in the head. That cross is heavy so you should be strong enough to do it.

I'm counting on you.

[hunterofpeace]

To keep the passengers from being killed by the Bad Lads, without killing any of them, either. That's one longshot bet you're placing.

[smokepraylove]

Yeah, I know it sounds crazy but it's important.

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!

[video]

[fightbymoonlight]

...Vash? Are you alright? [Something's definitely off here...]