Crusader of love and peace

[It's nearly time to leave. Vash is all packed and ready to leave in the next couple days. So he takes a couple hours out of each day before the departure to do some walking down memory lane. Over five years. Never before had he ever stayed in one location for so long since The Fall.

There's the house where he lived with his family. The bakery that gave him so many donuts and he once broke into with an old man and a pirate. Good Spirits where he spent many nights. Seventh Heaven where had some of the best food of his life. He sits at his favorite spot next to the fountain for people watching. So many hours spent here just watching people.

Walking through the forest to remember what the world looks like in green. A quick teleport to the beach to see the ocean on last time. It was still so breathtaking. The smells, sounds, and the magnitude he'll never forget.

He lingers at the flower shop where he got to spend every day surrounded by flowers. He hopes whoever decides to stay will take care of the place. He takes a few of the flowers and presses them into his journal. He tries to use older entries in the hopes he won't pester everyone else with sudden flowers, but today he just really doesn't care too much. He wants to take some of this color back with him to the desert.

Perhaps it will even catch a moment where Vash talks out loud to himself for your character her hear.]

I... I don't want to go.

(OOC: Literally catch Vash ANYWHERE. He will be visiting all locations of Luceti as he tries to remember it all before he has to make a choice to stay or go.)

[Forest]

[It was getting colder so Vash was spending more time out in the woods. Enjoying the nature that was turning colors and feeling just a little sad watching some of the flowers he had planted in Rem's memory dying once more.] Well, little guys. I suppose it's nearly time for you to sleep again, huh? [Yes, he talks to flowers.] You were very pretty this year. I'll-- [He always sees Rem in his mind when he's out in the forest, but then she's just suddenly there. Vash's heart clenches tight in his chest for a moment as she looks down at something he can't see. Not that he notices, too busy staring at her happy smile.]

R-Rem! You're back! I can't believe it! [She was alive again. Where he can finally see her in person again.] Rem! [Why wasn't she answering him? He steps forward to touch her.] Ah, maybe you don't remember- [Something wasn't right. His eye sight had picked it up right from the start the way she wasn't quiet there. Yet his mind refused to believe it.] It's me, Vash. I've grown-- [Only he can't deny what his eyes see once his hand passes right through her arm. It's also then that he realizes he's been crying the whole time.]

Rem. [Even though she is nothing but a memory he can't look away. Soaking in this rare moment to see her. The ghost of her laughter in his mind. Or did he really hear it? Then the image starts to fade.] No. Don't go, Rem! Please don't go. [The plea is empty. He knows she's not really there. Yet it hurt to watch her go once again.]

[Outside Houses 6 and 5 - All week, any time]

[It didn't take Vash long to figure out what was going on. As soon as he did he parked himself outside houses 6 and 5. Either standing or squatting quietly between the two buildings. Eyes calm as he stares at the empty homes. For hours and hours nothing will happen, but Vash has a hundred and thirty years of practice under his belt. He hardly notices the hours ticking by. Only noticing days by the sun setting and rising which is when he heads home for bed.

Eventually his quiet and patient waiting will be rewarded by brief images throughout the days. A pre-teen Wolfwood dragging his cross behind him gets a smile from the gunman. Then there's a man with a long nose making a snowman in the front yard. He can almost smell the cigarette smoke as he watches Sanji yell from the kitchen window. At one point Meryl walks by. Seems she was upset by something that day, probably something he did. A man with white hair sits quietly on the roof. The roof seems to be a popular spot as Nami suddenly drops in the day after. One of his favorites is watching Milly wrangle a Christmas tree into the house with Noah in her arms.

He's happy to wait for the images to come. These now being the only way to see his family.]

[Accidental Music]

[It's a bit after watching a certain skeleton fade through the front door of house six does Vash think of something to do to pass the time between the next glimpse. He takes a now well used harmonica and starts to play. Of course he doesn't realize that the motion to take out the harmonica has turned the recording to the journal on. At some point the song will slowly change into another song. Eventually he'll catch on his journal is recording, but even after his turns it off he'll continue his vigil and play bits of songs he's heard during his time his time in Luceti as best he can on his humble instrument. Uncaring whatever the weather may be that day.]

[Those who know Vash may have been noticing slight differences about him the past week to two weeks. He's not around as much, taking longer and longer walks through the forest. Visiting the spot where he once fought Wolfwood and Legato more and more.

Today he leaves his house extra early and spends most of the day at that spot. He has his journal and will answer it if someone wants to get a hold of him, but will not be using it himself. He'll return to the village later in the evening and finds a quiet place to sit at Good Spirits with a bottle of cheap whiskey.]

There's so much life in this place... and yet... [No one knows the terrible things I've done.]

[He'll be there until the place looks like it's about to close up before stumbling his way back home. It's on his way that he takes his journal out and speaks into it with the slightest slur to his voice.]

[Voice]

On this day, back home... the city of July was destroyed. I know - I know you all couldn't know the people there. I just, I just don't want them to ever be forgotten and how they lost everything in a single moment. [He stops speaking for a moment. His voice breaking as tears start to fall from his eyes.] And I'm so sorry.

[This early morning the journals are treated to a sight, although it's not exactly a good sight. It's Vash standing in front of the mirror in his room inspecting his wings. Those who know Vash may or not be shocked by his horrible looking scars, as he stands wearing nothing but his pajama pants, but there is something different about him this morning. And it just might be-

A CAT'S FACE!

No, that's just a nearly grown Donut pawing lightly at the page of the journal. Eventually the young cat gets bored and jumps down to go rub himself up against Vash's leg. Vash, however, is far too busy inspecting the new bottom row of red feathers he's seemed to have gotten overnight to notice.]

Huh, that's different. I wonder if it will stay like that.

[Hm? Owner not paying attention to you when hungry? Donut does what his momma taught him. He reaches up and digs his claws into Vash's leg.]

OWWWWWWW! OW! ACK! STOP! STOP!

[He'll only notice that his journal is open when someone tries to get his attention or when he heads out for the day. For those that would like to run into Vash today he'll be headed out from House 5 and wandering the woods most of the day. He's out looking for Wolfwood, Milly, and any New Feathers who may be lost out there. He will take a break at some point in the day for some lunch at Seventh Heaven so can be found around the square then.]

[Vash has been walking out in the woods more so than normal the past few days. Keeping his eyes open for a certain short insurance girl as he walks. Although he's disappointed once again in his search his eyes have noticed something else in the woods today. So amazing that he can't help but to talk out loud to himself.]

Huh, the trees are already starting to change color again? I guess that means it's almost time for fall again. Time sure does fly sometimes.

[Speaking of time flying, that reminds him of something. So he pulls his journal out of his pocket and makes a voice recording.]

[Voice // Filtered from Legato AND Milly 100% Unhackable]

Hey there everyone! I have a very important announcement today! It's Milly's birthday on the 24th so make sure to wish her a happy one then! Oh, and she likes pudding, so I'm sure she'd love it if you happen to stop by with some. [Poor Milly, her best friend is missing and her boyfriend is too young to really remember her for her birthday.] She could use some cheering up, so please try to remember.

[And to keep his thoughts from being too sad.]

And if you just so happen to bring some donuts by with you if you visit that would be great too!

[With that said Vash will wander the forest for a little while longer before he gives up the search for the day. He has a few places to go today. Like hitting Seventh Heaven for some lunch. From there he'll visit the flower shop and bakery before hitting the grocery shop to pick up groceries on his way home. Later that night when little kids should be in bed he'll make a stop to Good Spirits.]

[It’s been a few days since the draft, but even though he hadn’t been sleeping very well the last couple nights, last night was better. Really, it’s hard sometimes to feel down with Milly around again. That unshakable optimism must be contagious. Or maybe it was the fact that he hadn’t had any feeling of Knives being close since he returned from the draft. Maybe he was sent home! That would be nice.

They had all been brought together again. It feels almost like a dream as it would have been impossible back home, but now not only were the four of them together once again, they had a home together. A place they always knew where to find each other at the end of the day. It was also hard to believe, as he thought about it, how many friends he had grown so close to after being here for over a year. Good friends.

Really, it’s hard to hate Luceti when it’s given you all that.

So Vash is visiting his favorite spots. The flower shop is first on his list, then it’s to the bakery for some lunch! He’ll take his haul of donuts to the fountain to catch up on his people watching until they’re all gone. He doesn’t have too long to linger there, with the weather warming up and the snow melting he heads out into the forest to see if any of the flowers he’s planted have started to grow back yet.

Okay… so that’s a bit of a disappointment - BUT IT’S OKAY! The snow is only just starting to melt so they still have time to wake up and start growing. Besides, he likes the snow, he’s a little sad to see it go. He thinks Milly would have loved to play in it.

He had intended to head home after checking on the flowers, but it was so nice out that he changed his mind. Opting to pull his harmonica out and practicing a bit on it. Of course as the journals like to do, it turns on against his will and records the music that he plays for awhile. Then he talks out loud to himself for a bit.]

I can’t wait to see your flowers bloom again, Rem. I know they’ll be beautiful when they do. I’ve been trying to take very good care of them for you.

It’s nice here, when it’s quiet like this. I haven’t forgotten what I have to do back home, but I really like these peaceful days here.

[A pause.]

I did the best I could, Rem, but I’m not sure if I really did anything at all. I wonder what you would have done differently. Was there something I didn’t see? Something else I could have done? I sometimes wish you were here with me again.

[This entry will be locked from Knives, Legato, and Yuber by the end of the day.]

[Today started like most mornings for Vash. He got up, did a little bit of training, took a shower, then started breakfast. There was something missing though as he got started. Wasn’t Rem usually up by now? As his bread turned to toast, he went to check on her to see if she would like anything for breakfast. After not getting any response from some light knocking, he quietly opened the door.]

Rem, are you awa- [All of her things were gone and Rem was nowhere in sight. All that was left were her flowers. He quietly shut the door and picked his journal up off the kitchen table.]

[Voice]

For those that knew her. Rem, she- [Long, long pause.] she’s been sent home.

[Action]

[Meryl, if you’re home you have about forty seconds to come find him before all you’ll have is a note saying that Rem was sent home, he went for a walk and would be back later. Whether Meryl catches him in time or not, he’ll eventually head straight into the forest as he just can’t stay in the apartment right now. He’ll walk for a long time, going deep into the woods before he realizes that this is dangerous. He’s not paying attention to anything around him, so he’ll climb up into a tree in the hopes to stay clear of at least some of the dangers in the woods.]