[Vash has been spending a lot of time out in the woods lately. It's a good place to practice what he's learned from the spirits, see the new flowers, and do a lot of thinking. He's noticed how quiet you've been lately Meryl. It's a bit disheartening. After all the meals they've shared together over the past year and a half here, it hurts that there seems to be something in between them now.
They're finally all together again. Dinners should be much happier than they have been lately. Which is why he finally stops hesitating when he spots you tossing rocks into the lake and walks towards you with a wave and a smile.]
Hey there, insurance girl. How's the water? Getting any warmer yet?
[ Oh that is not the voice she wants to hear, right now. She practically flings HERSELF into the water in surprise. Her hand catches her on the edge and the rock goes flying angrily into the water. She takes a few breaths, swallows, and ducks her head.
[Vash catches those few small signs and stops short of sitting down next to her like he had originally thought of doing. Standing back just a little ways so she didn't have to look at him if she didn't want to.
It was him she was angry at.
He had guessed that might have been the issue, but he wasn't sure until now. Then again, maybe angry wasn't the right word, not that he could settle on any word that did seem right.
This experiment had really messed things up. He can't lie and say he hadn't really enjoyed having such a large and loving family. That he he wishes that would all be erased from their minds, because he had enjoyed that too much to want to lose all those memories. Despite all that, he had managed to really hurt two people because of all of it and he had no idea how to fix it.
Why did he have to think he was so happily married for two weeks? If only that hadn't happened.]The weather is getting warmer. It will be summer soon. Did you know that Milly is already looking for a swimsuit? I guess her and Wolfwood are getting
( ... )
[ Meryl's feet swish a little. She reaches for another rock and smooths it over in her fingers, touching the edges and grooves with delicate care. She hoists it and chucks it hard at the water. Channeling her emotions into these rocks will keep her together.
She thinks to herself, Grow up, Stryfe.
She wishes she could run away to Guy's, to drink tea, to cry to him and private and talk until she feels better. He would put an arm around her shoulder and tell her it's okay. Even if he was scared of women, they'd gained that much trust in each other that he could touch her without hesitation. They had been with each other through so much and, even though Milly was here, losing that deep connection with another person, it--
She chokes a little as she stops a sob and stops her thoughts entirely so she doesn't shatter herself. She grabs another rock, nails digging in the dirt, and throws it, in a harsh, swift motion of her arm, biting her lip.
A breath leaves her and her chin tucks down a little more. ]... They should ask one of the
( ... )
[He hesitates. Switching his weight from each foot for a moment before speaking again.]
Meryl... I- [What? Saying sorry wasn't going to make any of this go away. Maybe there was more to this than he knew. Maybe she was missing the new life they had made for her. Maybe she was upset over something else completely.] -I'm sorry. [Oh well, it's a good place to start. Even if he's off track, he is sorry for the past few weeks and sorry he didn't do anything about it sooner.]
[ She swallows, again. She refuses to lose herself. She has her pride and she refuses to break down in front of him again. So what if he was happy! So what if he'd probably had the best time of his life with that beautiful woman? So what if she was tall and pale and thin and absolutely gorgeous? So what if she was probably sweet and kind and wonderful? So what?
... So what? It hurt, that's what. This is what the girls at work always warned her about. Her attitude was no good for attracting men. She was too rough, too masculine, too loud and too short tempered. She was short, and kept herself covered and didn't wear much make up. She worked for an insurance agency and carried guns. It was no wonder.
She keeps trying to hide her face and get smaller. She can't run anywhere, so why can't she at least disappear? She has the worst luck, she thinks. ]
[ She puts her hands in her lap and folds them together. With a little sigh, she shakes her head. Should she tell him or should she lie to him? Was a half truth okay? Maybe she was just selfish. ]
It's nothing you could help, right? ... I-It isn't your fault, really.
[Sorry, Meryl. Part of falling in love with a Plant. He's sharp when you don't want him to be, and utterly clueless when you need him to be.]
Did you... have a good family during it? [It's hard to talk about Vivi, with her so upset over the whole thing, herself. He's not sure he's ready to talk about it to anyone else if he doesn't have to just yet.]
They're finally all together again. Dinners should be much happier than they have been lately. Which is why he finally stops hesitating when he spots you tossing rocks into the lake and walks towards you with a wave and a smile.]
Hey there, insurance girl. How's the water? Getting any warmer yet?
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She can't look at him. Her voice is quiet. ]
... It is.
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It was him she was angry at.
He had guessed that might have been the issue, but he wasn't sure until now. Then again, maybe angry wasn't the right word, not that he could settle on any word that did seem right.
This experiment had really messed things up. He can't lie and say he hadn't really enjoyed having such a large and loving family. That he he wishes that would all be erased from their minds, because he had enjoyed that too much to want to lose all those memories. Despite all that, he had managed to really hurt two people because of all of it and he had no idea how to fix it.
Why did he have to think he was so happily married for two weeks? If only that hadn't happened.]The weather is getting warmer. It will be summer soon. Did you know that Milly is already looking for a swimsuit? I guess her and Wolfwood are getting ( ... )
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She thinks to herself, Grow up, Stryfe.
She wishes she could run away to Guy's, to drink tea, to cry to him and private and talk until she feels better. He would put an arm around her shoulder and tell her it's okay. Even if he was scared of women, they'd gained that much trust in each other that he could touch her without hesitation. They had been with each other through so much and, even though Milly was here, losing that deep connection with another person, it--
She chokes a little as she stops a sob and stops her thoughts entirely so she doesn't shatter herself. She grabs another rock, nails digging in the dirt, and throws it, in a harsh, swift motion of her arm, biting her lip.
A breath leaves her and her chin tucks down a little more. ]... They should ask one of the ( ... )
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[He hesitates. Switching his weight from each foot for a moment before speaking again.]
Meryl... I- [What? Saying sorry wasn't going to make any of this go away. Maybe there was more to this than he knew. Maybe she was missing the new life they had made for her. Maybe she was upset over something else completely.] -I'm sorry. [Oh well, it's a good place to start. Even if he's off track, he is sorry for the past few weeks and sorry he didn't do anything about it sooner.]
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... So what? It hurt, that's what. This is what the girls at work always warned her about. Her attitude was no good for attracting men. She was too rough, too masculine, too loud and too short tempered. She was short, and kept herself covered and didn't wear much make up. She worked for an insurance agency and carried guns. It was no wonder.
She keeps trying to hide her face and get smaller. She can't run anywhere, so why can't she at least disappear? She has the worst luck, she thinks. ]
Why are you sorry?
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Because you're not okay... and I don't know what to do to help.
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It's nothing you could help, right? ... I-It isn't your fault, really.
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The experiment?
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She curses under her breath and turns her head away. Not opening her mouth again, she thinks. ]
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Did you... have a good family during it? [It's hard to talk about Vivi, with her so upset over the whole thing, herself. He's not sure he's ready to talk about it to anyone else if he doesn't have to just yet.]
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Oh, no... no family. I took care of Luffy, a little, but I was pretty much alone, as far as family goes.
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