(i had a night, i had a day, i did one million stupid things)

[skelters]

Who: Vash + YOU????
Where: Around Aldrip
What: Feb catch-all, dealing with month's shenanigans! Please find Vash's plotty comment for some of the related ideas. If we have plans together, please hit me up with a starter or I can write one up. If we don't have plans together, what are you waiting for ...
Warnings: Will update as they come up!

i ➤ REBUILDING

[ the attacks, and the earthquakes, and the explosion that happened not too long ago ... it seems like disaster follows vash wherever he goes. well, the only thing he could do is try his best to help where he's needed!

vash will be around everywhere - so much so that you wouldn't be able to help running into him at any point around aldrip; balanced precariously on a ladder helping to hammer new awnings and windowsills into place, hauling rubble and dragging away rubbish and broken things, and many more physical work besides. it is a workout enough that he has shed his red coat - and would you look at that, he's actually bricked up underneath all that.

anyway ... with all that bulk, plus the shiny augmentation of his left arm, means that the people leading the repair relief has mostly left him alone, trusting him to pull his own weight ... but as you know, sometimes it's just plain impossible to do everything just by yourself. ]

Uh ... [ a voice, awkward and reedy, will stop them as they happen to pass by. vash is leaning his weight on a wheelbarrow on which a heaping pile of broken rocks and stones rest, and it seems like one of the wheels have come off - leaving the cart precariously unbalanced, if he doesn't keep holding onto it. when they make eye contact, vash will start to smile - though the strained frown on his face still remains. ] I'm so sorry to bother you, but would you be able to help me?

ii ➤ PARTY PREP

[ if it isn't rebuilding, it's preparing the town to welcome the guests who are arriving any day now. there seems to be a talk about some kind of misunderstanding, and needing everything to be absolutely perfect for the ketsoran delegation ... now, vash has no idea who or what they are, but if it is all about keeping peace between people, then sign him up!

which is why he is busy running around, ducking in and out under awnings of shops and stalls with a basket full of things that people have asked him to deliver - or maybe his tall height attracts some people to help hang some colourful lanterns and other hangings around the streets for decoration - or even repainting the stalls and signages. some other days he can be found with a fluffy apron tied around him, chopping up mountains of vegetables (watch out for those onions) or covered in flour ... and many other cooking-related mishaps.

you think he is doing enough? not by half, because it seems that he's been roped into learning some kind of trick, to amuse the children who needs supervising (read: babysitting) while the adults are busy. currently, he is balancing handfuls of colourful balls on both hands, apparently learning how to juggle - currently he's graduated to having four that weaves themselves in wobbly circles over his head, and vash wobbles dangerously as his eyes squint, concentrating on not messing up.

now, if they weren't mean, they would try to stay a wide circle clear of his efforts ... or they could try to mess it up. the kids certainly seem to want them to! it's boring when he doesn't drop the balls, okay? ]

iii ➤ TOAD TERRORS

[ look, vash is notorious for never learning from his past mistakes, and the pesky amphibians are no exception. it isn't as though he is exactly looking out for them either, seeing as they are probably seasonal (or so he's been told), and after all the disaster in Aldrip ... well, they wouldn't be as smart as he'd have thought if they still chose to stick around.

in any case, there are plenty of food to go around for the volunteers helping to clear away the rubble and repair what can be fixed up - not to mention the abundance of leftovers from whoever is learning how to cook up a feast for the days ahead as the delegation's visit draws near.

maybe they are the ones who's cooked the food, maybe they're just simply passing by, running their own errands or doing their part to assist in the preparations (or just trying to stay well clear of it) when vash happens to come across them. he's got an armful of food tucked in the crook of one arm, and the other is holding out a drink - hot chocolate, it seems like, smelling sweet and foamy with steam gently rising from the top of the mug from the cold weather. as if that wasn't enough, he's got a big bite of a sweet pastry bulging the side of his cheek like a hamster.

seeing them, vash quickly struggles to chew enough of the mouthful to speak around it: ]

Come on! There's plenty to eat here - why don't you take a break for a bit?

[ note: the effect can be for both of them or just vash, depending! the choice of eating something spiked is up to you :) i'm interested in having vash have all or any of the following: seeing things that aren't there / compulsion to tell the truth / crave the closeness of another person. the chattiness and helping people are a moot point with vash, but feel free to notice that he is over-exaggerated on both! ]

iv ➤ PARTY ROCK

[ it is finally party time!!! all of the hard work and efforts made by everyone to prepare for the event seems like it was all worth it, because everyone seems to be enjoying themselves (hopefully) ... as well as being dressed up nice for it. vash is decked out in red, and his mask is clutsters of flowers that sway and fluff with every movement of his head.

and yes, it is mandatory to have one, but nobody said it was mandatory to keep wearing it! sometimes the characters might find that vash has pushed it up so it rests in an untidy mess at the crown of his head, the wildflowers scattered and mixing blond strands of hair. ]

OPTION A:
[ while he is eyeing everyone dancing and eating and drinking with wide, fascinated stare as though he has never seen something like this before, vash doesn't immediately move to join in on the fun, straying to the edges of the crowd and just observing for now. he's worked hard for this, so let him relax! though perhaps that would be easier achieved by asking him to join in... maybe get him to try some of the fancy food platters that others might be gorging on? do you want to share some of that? or what about some drinks? bully him into sneaking into the kitchens to snag you some top quality hors d'oeuvres? ]

OPTION B:
[ as much fun as it all is, you can't just keep partying forever ... or maybe vash is just enough of a pushover that he is moonlighting as a replacement bartender, complete with a lopsided bowtie and all that he keeps tugging at occasionally. it's not like he really knows how to mix drinks, but hey, he's always up for some experimenting! how about you sit yourself at the bar and order some specials? ]

OPTION C:
[ it won't be a proper party until there are people playing for some pretty high stakes - it's not so serious as life or death as some of the card games that vash has taken part in, and this glittery setting is a far cry from the smoke-stained saloons of noman's land, but the tensions are running pretty high at this table with everyone clutching their cards and glaring at each other ... except for vash, who sits in the middle of all of them with a wide, stupid grin on his face. so much for a poker face, huh. will you help him from getting cheated, or will you watch on? though if you do choose to not interfere, you might realise that there's actually a sizeable collection of chips growing at vash's elbow ... hey, this guy might not actually be so dumb after all? ]

OPTION D:
Hey! Wait! Hold on! Over here! [ this is D for DANGEROUS ... not. it's a scavenger hunt, and the characters might find themselves waved down frantically by this scatty-looking blond man, who hops and weaves through the crowd to make his way to where they are. when vash finally makes it to their side (if they don't walk away, of course), he is going to sheepishly flash a smile and hold out a card, on which it would say something that fits the character's description. wearing a funky hat? is really tall? looks like they'd win at chicken nugget eating contest? go wild. happy to come up with something fun (and awful) myself if you need ;) ] Whew, thank you ... Do you mind helping me with this? It'll just take a minute!

OPTION E:
[ please teach him how to dance before you are stuck with this disaster stepping on your foot or worse ... he is a quick learner, promise! vash will lose his voice for the duration of the dance until they fill out their name on his card, OR he will lose his prosthetic left arm, and that sleeve will hang empty. i'm happy to do either of these for people because what is time but a wobbly space! ]

[ note: the TOAD TERRORS effects are still okay for this party setting! ]

v ➤ WILDCARD

[ happy to do closed prompts for any of the options above, otherwise hit me with disasters - ping me in game discord or find me at plurk for chats! happy to match prompts :) ]

Comments

[laserguy]

Well, about time.

[The flexing of Vash's fixed arm actually draws a smile from him this time, just glad that everything with that whole mess is done with. Besides, it still is kind of a cool arm when it's not almost punching his face in. Or destroying his wall. Maybe when everything is all settled and shit, he'll ask him more about it.

What, he loves his sci-fi, so sue him.]

And yeah, sure. I can do that. Probably just a pin or something that's missing from a wheel, right?

[Although, taking a look--] Actually, I think a whole wheel is missing. Might've rolled off a bit down the street.

[skelters]

[ see, it wasn't that too hard to smile, was it?

vash definitely notices that - it's a nice smile, there's no way he wouldn't!! - but he doesn't draw attention to it, continuing to act as oblivious as he possibly could and hoping that scott doesn't catch on to the fact.

well, also they have something a little more pressing to attend to. ]

What?? [ vash sure can show his distress when he is feeling them, because his whole face crumples, a worried frown catching over his forehead as he too, ducks his head over his arm, trying to peek around to where scott is pointing out the missing piece. ] Oh no, I borrowed this cart, too!

[laserguy]

[Scott's starting to believe that he found the real 'jinx' in this world: this guy. Whenever he shows up, something becomes broken. First his chair (and his wall) and now this cart. Man, that's some terrible luck... maybe he should avoid him in the future for now on. You know, because maybe something will happen to him.

...

Nah, he's not going to abandon someone just for something as dumb as that. Besides, it's clear that he needs help still and Scott's not that kind of a turd. Not to mention, he's probably cool enough to offset Vash's clumsiness and everything. That's definitely how it works. So, with more confidence than he probably should have, with one hand on his hip--]

It's fine, I'll go looking for it, alright? Just continue to hold onto the cart.

[skelters]

[ it seems like no matter where he went a disaster seems to strike all around him like a typhoon ... guess scott better not find out about just what vash is called in his world, because he will never want to associate with him again if he doesn't want any (more) trouble in his life.

it isn't exactly that vash is in any way inviting these troubles into his life judging from his demeanour, because he looks infinitely grateful at scott offering to help. he would give him a big thumbs up, if his hands weren't both occupied. ]

Um, okay! I can do that! I'm really, really sorry for all the trouble!

[laserguy]

Dude, you have to stop apologizing. It's really nothing.

[But with that, Scott runs off! Shouldn't be too hard to find a wheel around this place, right? Maybe it got some distance from its origin point because it's a wheel and all, might've rolled down the street, but he's actually taking this seriously. He doesn't want to leave Vash in that sad state because he can only imagine him being sadder by the minute, but also still apologizing to anyone that breathes in his general direction.

Maybe he should do something about that... at least this is all a good distraction from his own crap.

Luckily, because he's awesome 100%, Scott finds the missing wheel slumped against some barrel- guess it ended its travel by hitting that? Either way, the mutant grabs it before rushing back to Vash with a rather accomplished grin.]

Got it, Vash.

[skelters]

[ lucky thing that scott found it when he did - as well as those people who carelessly left the barrels stacked on the street. otherwise how far would you reckon the wheel could have run off to? anyway, when he gets back to the scene of the crime, scott would find vash in the middle of - you guessed right - another apology spiel, this time to a tradesman with a horse-drawn cart who was having a hard time turning around the corner where vash was jammed into, it seems.

the interaction doesn't last long - the man didn't even seem that mad, just exasperated at all the trouble - and begins to move away as vash turns his head to point in the direction scott has disappeared to, and spots him. ]

Oh! You really found it!! [ from his reaction, it would seem like scott was the finder of some buried treasure worth millions ... ]

How does it look? Do you think it'll fit back in alright?

[laserguy]

[Scott has a feeling that if someone accidentally stepped on Vash's foot, Vash would be the person apologizing because somehow, he was in the way. Maybe he'd toss in an extra comment of how sorry he is for even breathing in the same air-- a bit much, but at this point, as the tradesman leaves Vash, he wouldn't be surprised either. Man, they should do something about that, right? Although, mentoring an adult isn't really his thing...

He should do something though, right? But first, wheel. Gotta relieve that strain that's built up upon his shoulders. Scott would be dying if he had to hold that cart for that long.]

Of course man, I said I'd get it. [With that same cockiness, he walks closer and to the side that's missing the wheel. He holds it up for a moment, as if thinking how this should go, before shrugging.]

How hard can it be, I just put the wheel in, right? Then presto, all done. [With that, he starts trying to jam the wheel in.]