✘ 40 ✘ sustained

[notwhatiwas]

[You know that nice place Marco set up for target practice?

Vincent isn't there.

Instead, you'll find him at the buffet, in his full regalia--brassy gauntlet and spike-toed boots included--for the first time since his arrival. He's sitting at a table off to one side and feeding what appears to be bits of shredded meat to a very pretty bright red

Comments

[autodidacticone]

[Ohai. Kim's sporting a rather odd-looking wide-mouthed gun on her hip these days- it's not really a weapon, not in the usual sense, but given the nature of these things...

Well, she's really watching the gauntlet with more interest than anything else. Is....he still mad at her?]

...

....

[Well, he....came after her in all that red mess, didn't he?]

Hi.

[notwhatiwas]

[Vincenter knew Kim was there, but when she actually greets him there's a flash of something in his body language, a familiarity, an interest, something.

He lifts his head from the hungry plant and then inclines it slightly in a nod.]

Kim.

Good to see you out of quarantine.

[autodidacticone]

[Kim shrugs with one shoulder. Ever the woman of science; without the answers she wanted, there was no reason to stay. She'd suffered without complaint through more pain than the acidic cure-compound.]

It didn't take long. I've had worse.

[Which is odd for several important reasons; none of them are testable, given the circumstances.]

You...okay?

[notwhatiwas]

Insomuch as could be expected.

[And he goes back to feeding the plant. He actually seems a little more comfortable than usual; his stance, his expression, something about him is a little less coiled up and twisted.]

...I'm very happy to have my gun back.

[Oh, that explains it.]

[autodidacticone]

[Kim eyes the weapon from the corner of one eye. It's...big? That's about all she knows about such things. Kimiko's is, after all, a quantum disentangler, not a sidearm. Still, she can relate, casting a sidelong look up at his expression.]

It's nice to have my equipment.

[And so much easier to keep her limbs in good repair.]

Is it some kind of hybrid, or just a normal Venus Flytrap?

[notwhatiwas]

[It's almost the length of Vincent's thigh--and he does not have stubby legs--and has three barrels. It's also a physical extension of Chaos, so Vincent LITERALLY feels better having it back in his possession. It feels kind of like he got back a missing limb.]

Normal to an extent. It's been engineered to barely require any sunlight to survive.

[Beat.]

It's...so it could live in my room. Without dying.

[Ask him who made it. : |]

[autodidacticone]

Oh. If you feed the ordinary kind on red meat, it dies.

[Ask her how many plants she's killed, then ask her if she ever managed to save any. Kim doesn't have to ask who made it; she's a smart girl, and the answer's obvious.]

She's gone?

[There is a pause. Kim stares at the plant, which does not seem to mind it in the least.]

They haven't told us what happens to the people who go.

[notwhatiwas]

[Vincent is just quiet for a long moment, expression pulling slightly.]

...They die.

The people who disappear from this place die.

[autodidacticone]

[Oh. She hadn't expected the obvious answer, and visibly winces.]

Then...why... [But she already knows the answer to that, and shuts up. When she speaks again, it's with resignation; it's all they're good for.]

It's just inevitable.

[notwhatiwas]

In the end, it really is.

[He keeps feeding his plant, careful to keep the portions small and relatively even between the specialized leaves.]

There are alternate versions, I'm certain, simply because timelines here don't match. So there's always a chance of people returning.

[He takes a breath and gives his head a shake.]

But then, we haven't had any arrivals in a while, have we?

[autodidacticone]

Not since... [Eiran. Kim decides not to mention the trip directly. He was mad at her.]

'General Kouhe'. Guess Redd closed the borders.

[notwhatiwas]

I wouldn't blame him.

[He puts down the saucer of food and turns to look at Kimiko properly.]

Do you trust him? The Captain. After what we saw, knowing what we know...do you trust him?

[autodidacticone]

[That's a big question. Kim frowns, thoughtfully.]

He's still not telling us everything. Most of them aren't in any position to understand the information, and even if they did, a similar percentage might revolt over it, if the answers are holding to the current pattern.

It's frustrating to be treated like a child; I don't trust him as little as I trust the Red Goo. What about you?

[notwhatiwas]

Eiren and his side offered godhood in exchange for servitude; Redd has doled out humanity, simply because he can.

I think I chose sides a long time ago.

[autodidacticone]

[Kim turns to look at him then sighs heavily, cocking one hip as she relaxes into it. Well, that's alright then.]

Seems logical.

[But then, Vincent likes being human. Kimiko can sometimes be her own age, after all; 22 is very young.]

It never seems to work out that way, for me.

[notwhatiwas]

[Liked, Kim, liked. Past-tense.]

...Why do you say that?