only an eccentric engineer

[plantussy]

CHARACTERS: Vash & Open
TIME: The 20th
LOCATION: B-Level, a lounge
WARNINGS: Just an idiot falling down

[ After the disappearance of the strange alien, Vash found himself looking out the windows a lot more often now and then when he had some time off. Before, it had been beautiful but frightening, but now it was... well, a lot more. A presence that big had really put things at a new perspective.

He's a bit tired after checking over the power generator - he's named her Sheryl, she's great - and the engine, and he kept reading all the engineering backlogs until his eyes were starting to cross. Working himself to the bone was a bit of a reoccurring problem for Vash, but at least he's remembered to eat and... it's not like the first month! Really! He's actually sleeping!

...anyway, it's still pretty nice to lean his forehead against the cool window in one of the lounges. All the colors of the nebula keep painting the interior in purples and pinks, which is still reminding him of flowers. Of his mother.

Sighing, he puts his hands on the window as well, like a small child at a fish tank. It's nice, and it feels familiar.

Very fami-

A sudden rush of images and thoughts flood his mind and make his knees give out, sinking to the floor ungracefully. That was him. That was him as a kid, but with some... floating woman. They were talking. He was glowing. They were family.

Groaning, he flops backwards. What the fuck was that?? ]

Comments

[itdoesntlikeyou]

[Close enough for Rin to look equal parts unimpressed and unsurprised, when they walk over and hold out the water bottle - arm's length, as physically far away as they can get to keep Vash from having to abandon the wall he's currently propped up against.]

Medical can give you something if you're not sleeping.

[plantussy]

[ Vash keeps his hands very much to himself, taking the water and draining half of it in a few gulps. It helps to clear his mind a little and he gives Rin a smile. ]

I know. I should probably go there anyway, just to have a little checkup.

[ You know, after his legs are steady and his head isn't as full of what he just saw. In his head. Damn, this is confusing. ]

...and hey, I'm not gonna touch you without asking, again. I'm sorry.

[ He actually sounds honestly sorry about freaking his crewmate out like that. ]

[itdoesntlikeyou]

[The statement just kind of hangs there, for a few moments. It's a neat diversion, though, because Rin is no longer watching Vash for any signs of further dizziness or weakness or whatever put him on the floor in the first place. The far wall is infinitely fascinating, at the moment.]

I didn't say you should. [Beat.] Potential cryostasis side effects might be exacerbated by overwork.

[plantussy]

[ It seems it's always going to be a bit awkward to talk to Rin, but Vash isn't a quitter and he's already decided they're friends. He's annoying that way. ]

Do you think that'd linger after two months?

[itdoesntlikeyou]

[Oh no, help.

This is the second time this has happened to Rin, but this time they can't flee onto a deep space research vessel to get some space from their confusing feelings about it. Staring at the wall will have to do as a substitute for now.]

Yes. Unless you suspect a different cause for falling on your ass.

[plantussy]

[ He made a friend out of Wolfwood, he'll make one out of all the antisocial people with his intense friendliness and extroverted annoying-ness. ]

It's a possibility, I guess.

[ Honestly, its one of the better explanations. They all had some foggy memories after waking up like that, so it would make sense that some side effects were broken, weird memories.

It just seemed late. ]

I think I'm okay, though. Legs aren't spaghetti any more.

[itdoesntlikeyou]

... Right.

[It would probably be the right time for Rin to step back, let Vash handle scraping himself off the floor and presumably shuffle himself down to the Medbay to get checked out - or to ignore the problem for now and go back to work.

They linger, though. They're not talking any more, but they're not going anywhere, either.]

[plantussy]

[ Rin could step back - hey, even leave now that Vash is obviously standing on his own - but they stay.

It's appreciated, and earns them a smile from the engineer. As standoffish as Rin is, they're still a good person in Vash's eyes.

He starts moving towards the door, making sure his legs work. This was all... well, a lot. Maybe he's going mad, maybe it's some kind of cryo malfunction. Hell, they could all still be frozen and this is a nightmare.

Once he reaches the entrance to the lounge, he gives Rin a wink. ]

Thanks!

[ He's fine, now. He has to be.

...off to medical it is.]

[itdoesntlikeyou]

[Oh, did Vash think he was going to slip away? Nope. They're about as talkative as a wall, but he's getting a green-jumpsuited shadow all the way to medical. You know, just in case he falls - or in case he tries to sneak away to do some more work.]

[plantussy]

[ Vash was... well, he was thinking of taking a moment in his room to at least figure out what he had actually seen in that moment of hallucination or psychotic episode or whatever it was, but he does notice his shadow.

It's kind of Rin, it really is.

Sighing, he heads towards medical instead, hoping he doesn't have some kind of vision again. Maybe Hilbert can get him something to sleep and that'll fix him up. ]