duologs | [OPEN] Library Shenanigans + May Catch-All

[ it's no secret to some that meryl's been having trouble sleeping since she arrived here — there's been some nights where the comforts of this place outweigh the burdens on her mind, but other nights she awakens quickly, with a gasp, the memories of either roberto or vash's situation still sitting firmly in her mind. it's frustrating, when she's normally the type to have a healthy sleep schedule so that she can balance her life properly.

but she's been incapable of bringing herself to talk about any of it with the others, new friends or old, due to a multitude of reasons, not least of which just being chalked up to how hard it is in general to talk about (especially when robert's fate was her fault). she's determined and stubborn, trying to do this on her own.

but tonight, it's around 2am when she awakens from a particularly vivid dream of vash's previous predicament, ending in his complete and utter loss to whatever was overtaking him. she startles herself awake, groaning in frustration as she turns to her side and reminds herself that it was a dream and vash is here. he's in this very building, even. so why is her mind being so illogical and ridiculous?

mm. maybe she'll sleep better if she... ]

hey vash? are you awake?

[ whatever he's doing, his phone will light up with this text message, middle of the night be damned. ]

[ It might be 2am, but Vash is wide awake, sitting up in bed with his back against the headboard and his knees drawn up to his chest. He hasn't slept all that well since Nai's arrival, too anxious that something will go wrong in the middle of the night and he won't be awake to see it. It seems like every time he looks away, someone almost dies.

When his phone goes off, Vash still startles, practically scrambling off the bed to grab it from the nightstand. There's a loud thump as he slides off the edge of the bed, tangled in the sheets, and Vash winces. He really hopes that didn't wake his roommates. He swipes his phone open and squints at the text message. It doesn't really do much to reassure him. ]

Yeah, of course. Is everything okay?

[ it's like a weight lifts off her shoulders when she sees his response come so quickly, clear as day on the screen, dimly lighting up her room momentarily with its arrival.

she lets out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding since she sent the message, sighing to herself and taking a moment before she even responds back.

look. he's totally fine. so cut it out with the nightmares already. ]

oh, yeah, everything's fine. sorry if i worried you.

just wanted to check in, that's all!

[ ... at 2am? meryl. you're too sleepy to think this through. ]

Since you're awake...

[ There's a while two minutes between this message and the next one, where the phone helpfully indicates that Vash has been typing the entire time. What finally comes across is: ] I was going to go for a walk. Do you want to come?

[ she notices his first message right away, and ends up having to stare blearily at the little typing dots for what feels like forever until his other message comes through.

at least it wakes her up a bit. ]

in the middle of the night?

[ well... she assumes he's done stranger. ]

i... guess i'm not opposed to the idea.

[ maybe it'll help. ]

[ The weird things that Vash has done should not be any kind of barometer, Meryl.

He still holds his breath until she responds, and exhales dramatically when she does. ]

I'll be over in ten minutes, if that's okay?

that works.

[ she breathes in deep, placing her phone to the side of her and flopping onto her back to stare at the ceiling for a minute or so.

and then she forces herself out of bed, tiredly throwing on some socks, black leggings and a white tunic sweater, along with some low-cut boots once she reaches the door.

in order to avoid waking any of her roommates up with the sound of him knocking or something, she ends up slipping out the door herself to wait for him in the hallway, kneeling down to squat herself comfortably back against the wall as she waits, arms crossed and resting over her knees with her head resting in them in turn. she looks tired, despite agreeing to doing this. it's not like she's gotten any sleep anyway! ]

[ Vash meets her in the hallway, his hands stuffed deep into the pockets of an oversized red hoodie. Even in the middle of the night, he's still wearing his sunglasses, but they don't hide the darkening circles under his eyes.

He offers her a hand up when he gets near, his voice pitched low to avoid waking anyone else. ] Thanks for coming, Meryl.

[ She looks exhausted, and Vash feels a little bad for dragging her out like this, but he knows there's something bothering her and he doesn't know how else to get it out of her. It's no good if it's just going to keep her up in the middle of the night worrying.

Once she's on her feet, he only lets go of her hand if she pulls away first. ] How have you been? Still overwhelmed?

[ she accepts his hand, pulling a little more than someone normally might because she does actually need the extra bit of help getting up. she's so tired, ugh.

and she then proceeds to... not let go, leaving her hand there almost lazily. sleepily. her generally sharp and reactionary mind isn't running as fast as it normally does, and maybe her own dark circles and the yawn she lets out are proof of that. she at least uses her free hand to cover her mouth there. ]

I... [ he's just coming out with the tough questions, huh. granted, to anyone who hasn't spent a month unable to sleep and quietly suffering, it would be a softball. ] I'm fine, Vash. Really. [ she's not thinking her responses through as thoroughly. mm. her voice drops to something a bit more soft and honest now: ] Maybe I'm a little overwhelmed still, though. There's a lot to get used to, after all.

[ Vash lingers for a moment. He ought to let go of her hand, even if she doesn't let go of his. He tells himself it's okay -- he'd promised to show her around, after all. It's dark, and they're trying to be quiet. (It's okay to have this one small selfish moment of warmth.)

His expression softens when she tells him she's fine. Vash doesn't call her out, but it's clear from his face that he doesn't believe her at all. The fact that she relents soon after is a testament to how much this place has taken a toll on her... This place, or whatever else is bothering her. ]

I still get overwhelmed sometimes, too. [ The admission is softer still. He gives her hand a little squeeze. ] Sometimes you just need to get out of your head for a while -- or at least, it can't hurt to try, right?

Yeah... Yeah, you're right.

[ she doesn't disagree with him — it's often helpful to get out of your head for a while so you can reevaluate things. she's used to the concept being taught to her in university, to help them see the things they're writing a little more clearly.

it, unfortunately, hasn't been something that she's been able to do much with since coming here. turns out dealing with a best friend's near death and a mentor's actual death are harder than just 'take a walk'.

she tries to smile for him, still looking exhausted in the process. ]

If even the Humanoid Typhoon himself is getting overwhelmed, then maybe I never stood a chance, huh?

[ it's... mainly a joke. but maybe it's a little serious. she's too tired to think it out. ]

[ Vash smiles, reflexive. He's used to that name being thrown at him with a sneer, but he knows Meryl doesn't mean anything unkind. ]

It's funny, I was thinking of it the other way around. You always seem like you're ready to throw yourself into whatever comes your way. I get in over my head, and one of you jump in to bail me out every time...

[ It's unfair of him, he knows, but it's true. Any time he's been up against a wall, someone else has been willing to step in, or to trust him.

Every time he'd expected Meryl and Roberto to decide they'd had enough of him and turn around and walk away, they'd kept coming back for more. Even on the Sand Steamer when they'd said their goodbyes, Meryl had insisted on coming after him and Wolfwood, determined to see it all the way through.

He gives her hand a little tug, urging them to move. It'll be easier to talk somewhere that isn't so close to the suites where everyone is asleep. ]

I guess that's why it's strange to see you like this. What's been eating you, really?

[ she certainly doesn't think herself more capable than vash, so it's surprising to hear that come from him. the things he does are beyond comprehension for her, and despite how "in over his head" he claims to be, he always looks the opposite to her — like he's fighting with everything he's got, knows what he's doing, and is able to deal with what's given to him.

of course, aside from her final memories of what was happening in her world, which prick at her thoughts once again, fresh from her sleep. she was the one trying to bail him out, but she's not sure she would've been able to...

she snaps out of it when he finishes his piece, asks his question. she jolts slightly, finally pulling her hand away from his in favor of the reflexive way she puts her hands up in between them, a shield. ]

Wh-What makes you think something else's eating at me? [ he said 'really', which implies he can tell. ugh.

she sighs, shoulders drooping in the next second, still too tired to keep up with things. ] It was that obvious...?

Meryl. [ Vash says, and despite the gentle coaxing in his tone it's clear that he's not going to let the issue drop.

At least she's willing to admit it now, which is better than he would have gotten over text message. He doesn't needle her to keep going right away, just waits for her to continue for now. ]

[ she sighs, after a moment, and considers what she might be getting herself into.

there's not much thinking she's really capable of now — surface level, of course, but much deeper and her mind becomes a tired haze. that's just how it goes when you've gotten little to no sleep for the past month or so. ]

Let's, um — we can talk about this outside, okay?

[ if anything, she'd prefer this conversation happen in a more peaceful area. the garden she's been visiting nearby should suffice, especially since it has benches they can sit on. and she sure as hell doesn't want to be standing for this, if she goes through with it. ]

Come on.

[ she'll go ahead and make her way there with him, if he allows it. ]

[OPEN] Library Shenanigans + May Catch-All

CLOSED TO VASH sad nighttime shenanigans

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject