Though it may not have been easy or fun, your time in the Void was ultimately productive; you've become far stronger than you were when you entered, and you may have even made a friend(?) or two. Shadow insists on remaining behind in the Void because he does not want to interfere with this world or potentially cause problems with this world's Shadow (wherever he may be), but Infinite is free to either accompany you or stay behind and fight Shadow, depending on whatever you guys would like. Surprisingly, he'll respect your wishes without complaint (though this may be because he wants to fight Shadow).
You return to the outskirts of Chicago, and it seems that the city has changed some in your time away...
THE CITY
Eggman's chroma has taken over damn near everything. The buildings, the streets, even the wildlife. It seems that the changes have only hit the city itself, as the outskirts (where the base is located) are mostly chroma-free. Still, it's a stark change - you haven't really been gone for all that long, have you? It's kind of hard to tell judging from your time in the Void, but if you check a calendar you'll find that approximately two weeks have passed. All this in two weeks seems a bit much...
The city itself still retains the same landmarks, shops, and people - though the former two are Eggman-ified. The people are back to going about their business as lifelessly as ever, completely heedless of the robots even if they do get in the way... but even the robots are back to patrolling as usual. There are far more of them now, however, and they aren't the same ones you're used to. Sure, you can still fine drones, B33s, and tanks here and there, but they've mostly been replaced by newer, tougher foes.
You're going to have to fight if you enter the city for any reason. The robots will recognize you as a threat and try to kill you on sight, and there are far more of them now than there ever were. But you're stronger now, so you can certainly keep up, if not destroy them easily.
THE BASE
The new base that Sonic and friends have moved you all into is quite different from the last one. This one seems to have been an office building at some point; a simple two story building with plenty of large rooms and smaller offices that have been repurposed as bedrooms. You can room with the same people as before, or you can even claim your own room! There's plenty of space here, after all. Knuckles will even move beds around if you want to rearrange things and can't lift them yourself.
Unfortunately, this base isn't nearly as furnished as the previous one. Sonic Team has managed to get all the bedrooms functional in the span of a few days, but everything else? Well... You're going to have to help with that, aren't you? The kitchen is barebones, there's no rooms for entertainment, training, or anything else, and security is minimal. Tails is still working on getting his surveillance up and running, let alone all the various research he's been working on. In short, you've got your work cut out for you building this place into something you can truly call your own.
But it is located on the outskirts of Chicago and it is is safe. After all, you've got each other to rely on.
SHARDS
Shadow's test may not have immediately had any sort of effects on you, but as you return to Chicago and resume fighting, you'll realize that controlling your shard and its power is innate at this point. You won't be struggling with it anymore - in fact, you've completely unlocked your shard's power. You're capable of a great many more things with it now than you were before. You should be able to use your shard for offensive and defensive purposes - which yes, means our healers can do the equivalent of averaging their HP with the enemy in order to deal damage to them. Fun times all around. You'll find that bonding with another shardbearer is also easier, and you can bond with many more of them now. You're growing stronger; maybe your time away in the Void did some good after all.
As you fight with your allies - particularly those you have a close bond with, positive or negative - you may feel the tug of something in the back of your head; it tells you that you can do more. Together, you can become more powerful. You can use your shards together. Doing so will grant you a new power, or strengthen the one you already have. The more you trust one another, the easier this power will be to use.
It might be good to experiment with these new powers; after all, you never know when you may need them.
TAILS' TASKS
Returning to the old base is ill-advised, but you can take a ring and hop over there if you've got someone to accompany you. After all, Tails would appreciate more of his old gear back, and you've probably left things behind there too. You'll find that the place is simply swarming with robots - they're on patrol rather than smashing your things, almost as if they were waiting for you all to return. Bring back whatever you need or whatever will prove useful - and be careful about it.
Of course, rings are running low again... so you know what that means. Scour Chicago and the outskirts in search of those pesky rings and make sure to bring them back! As always, they'll be found in increasingly bizarre and frustrating locations, but you'll be able to find them easier now than you could before. You won't even need a radar - your shards will innately draw you toward their location now!
ENEMIES
While you're undoubtedly going to find yourself running into familiar bots from the previous weeks, there are many new ones to contend with - and they are far stronger than the others. Eggman's army has more or less taken over Chicago, meaning that you'll be running into some sort of enemy frequently. The outskirts of the city are practically deserted, with the exception of your old base, that is.
Assault Drones have more or less replaced the majority of weaker patrolling drones. Unlike those, these are built for combat and they will not hesitate to engage in it. Capable of both shooting lasers, exploding, and sending out a loud siren call for reinforcements, they are not fun to fight. Still, they're the weakest of the new enemies by a long shot... though if you aren't quick enough and they get that loud siren out, they're going to be joined by those stronger enemies.
E-1000s are robots with gun arms that want you dead. They're capable of limited flight, shooting many lasers, and are quite durable... and to make matters worse, some of them even have shards allowing them access to a knockoff copy of one of your powers. The E-1000s usually patrol solo, without any other robots for backup, but they can and will call in reinforcements of the previous weeks' smaller robots when necessary.
Shadow Androids are basically what you'd expect. Shadow androids. They not only look like a certain black and red hedgehog, they also act like him, moving quickly and striking with hard hits and utilizing their fake Chaos Emerald shards for Chaos Control to both warp and temporarily freeze any opponent they face. They usually patrol in pairs - two Shadow Androids or a Shadow Android and any other assortment of weaker robots. Chaos Control is far more useful when someone else can take advantage of it, after all!
[ Can't believe they are both withholding further commenting about headpatting; this is extremely funny.
Anyway, Void Archives indeed happened to be hinging their next inquiries on straightforward or a bit complex - with a preference towards the latter. Straight-forward questions can provide quite a bit of insight, but they have on a constant basis asked such things of him.
Though they have asked hard-hitting questions before, it hasn't been in quite a situation like this. ]
Yes, something 'scrubbed clean' - in this case, the act that you have committed - while leaving the effects of everything else you have done remaining the very same, except for this "act" itself.
Edited 2025-03-03 18:06 (UTC)
you can't expect there not to be many spoilers......
[ look, it's worse for him because of the "wolf" of wolfwood.... though on a more serious note, with them clarifying what they had meant with their question, wolfwood sits with his thoughts for a while and says nothing. hope that void archives allows wolfwood to mull over what his answer would be for a question like this. especially if he's meant to be honest about it... which, funnily, might not be the hardest thing for him to answer. still, before wolfwood gives his answer to them, he'll turn to look out of the window. it's much easier to be this open about all of this while not looking at anyone. ]
Nothin'.
[ short. simple. and probably not what void archives is expecting given all things they've talked about thus far. ...or maybe they are. either way, he promised to answer completely honestly: ]
Y'know, my first thought is to go back and say that I'd change ever going with the people who led me down the path I've walked but that's a coward's answer. If I got the chance to change one thing then it'd be nothin'. If I say somethin' as self-servin' as goin' back on all of the times I've fucked up then it just means that someone else is gonna go carryin' my burden.
[ that's why wolfwood was always ready to play the role of villain—be the devil that everyone could hate. no matter how dirty his hands got, it meant that he would be sparing someone else from experiencing the same. (or, at least, that is the lie that he told himself.) ]
And if I pulled the trigger that day and shot Knives instead of playin' right into his hands, would that have solved everythin'? Would Needle-Noggin' really be able to forgive humanity if they killed his only brother?
[ for all of the compassion that vash had for humanity, he was the first person to say that there were limits, and wolfwood doesn't even need to dig very deep to think about what he'd do if someone killed livio. he wouldn't waste a single moment on whether he would kill the person responsible for it. so, for something like that to happen to vash could only end in so many ways. none of them being in ones that he'd want to live with. wolfwood had asked vash to kill knives but only after they've walked side-by-side and seen some of the worst of humanity together.
speaking of— ]
Then if I decide to change up 'n say that I didn't walk Blondie into his brother's trap, that's to assume that he wasn't already plannin' on it himself.
[ the smile on vash's face and how he told wolfwood to take care of himself before walking off to see knives haunts him more than he would ever admit to. the way he thanked him for everything... wolfwood takes a long drag before he's able to finish his answer. his eyes fixed on nothing in particular. ]
...sayin' something as selfish as to change how I feel about Vash doesn't do a damn thing for him. [ other than give vash even more heartache. if vash's feelings remained the same as they were and for only wolfwood's feelings to have changed? sure, he could have expanded it to include changing vash's feelings as well but, as wolfwood thinks more on it, the dice seem to keep falling only one way for the two of them. ] 'sides, there's no promise of that stickin'.
[ which might be the most romantic thing that wolfwood's ever said about him and vash. because in every way that things fall for the two of them, wolfwood sees himself hopeless for the humanoid typhoon. ]
[ No. They aren't expecting Wolfwood to say nothing, and they are in earnest feeling something dissatisfactory, but they can tell that the man is speaking from the heart. It does frustrate them a little that he would earnestly deny himself in even a fictional scenario - because they are still of the opinion that it really wouldn't kill him to be a little more selfish. To reach for something for himself - even in the face of whatever kind of complicated history he has with his own past.
So instead of any sort of marvel or appreciation for him sticking to his guns a first, Void Archives merely folds their arms at every single bit of reasoning the man hands them, letting out a soft huff.
Though...the latter half of that they find reasonable. That sounds more logical than anything - someone would have naturally taken up Wolfwood's position if it weren't him. Vash would have probably turned full of hatred if someone had murdered his brother - maybe. They can't know it, but...
(In some canon alternate universe out there, Welt Yang turned against humanity because he watched his family and his found family be murdered viciously in front of his eyes.)
They let out a sigh. And shake their head regardless. ]
You're right on some points at least. There is no guarantee some of it may 'stick' as it were, and in some instances I suppose it may as well turn you into some kind of coward.
Of all the reasonings I have heard you use to deny yourself an opportunity to take advantage, at least this time it was something I can agree with.
...Even if I am still on the fence in regards to the first portion of it.
Regardless, you also did answer sincerely and honestly. I shall find no fault in the amount of effort you gave to convey that.
Though, I do wish your bravery extended quite a bit farther to help you out more than hinder you~
[ Void Archives says with a tinge of their own usual push or pull kind of tone, but anticipating a perfect reaction from this cube may be much even in how far things have managed to come. Yet, maybe it is a far cry from how they would have handled it in the beginning - they would have scorned more than not. ]
[ void archives not immediately slamming him with disapproval of everything that he has said is a victory that wolfwood isnât too sure he should be happy to have received. not like heâd take back anything he had said, but more that heâs a bit surprised about how things went. of course, theyâre not entirely pleased with what wolfwood answered with and heâs aware of it. the number of times he finds humor in how often they urge wolfwood to ask for more than he ever deems possible for himself is far more often than anyone would think.
if only wolfwood could see the world (and his future) with any kind of light that they suggest he do. isnât it enough that it isnât as bleak as he had previously thought it to be? wolfwood chuckles to himself before he looks away from the window and towards them. ]
Yer askinâ a lot of a man who considered himself walking to his death only a few weeks ago.
[ technically wolfwood is walking to his death but, at least, heâs walking with a whisper of a hope that heâll get the chance to say what he had been too afraid to accept before. ]
Would it have made ya feel better if I said that I would change any of those things? [ even though there was no telling if it would have been a good idea to change any of it. ] Maybe even somethinâ as simple as sayinâ things sooner so I donât have to be racinâ against borrowed time?
[ how differently would things go if vash knew? would that idiot even allow himself to be loved by wolfwood? probably not. or maybe he would. âŚguess if he gets the chance at it, heâll find out for himself. and it's funny how void archives wishes wolfwood to be more selfish when the person he loves is infinitely times worse at it than him. ]
[ Void Archives just flat out scowls now, evident displeasure peeling back the veneer of whatever kind of acceptance mixed with disapproval in there.
Though, it vanishes and they merely let out a sigh. Not in defeat, mind you. But to provide disagreement to the words Wolfwood's sent right on over at them. ]
Saying things sooner wouldn't be a problem if you decided to simply take a chance to live beyond borrowed time, so no. Which, by the way, there is still time for that to change.
Naturally, because of this fact, I will tell you simply that it wouldn't make myself feel anywhere near better if you 'say things sooner'. Besides, rushing things is utterly foolish.
[ Saying this clearly helps in supplementing their argument. ]
You also say you can't, but I don't really think that's true. You're simply just an expert at denying having what is in your grasp.
You're making matters far more difficult for yourself than it really has to be. The 'can't' is more of a 'won't', so I really don't believe much of such insistences, you do know this?
And, I won't mind saying it as many times as necessary. After all, even if you believe certain matters are impossible, I don't. They're only impossible in certain instances if you reject them.
[ Do or do not. There is no try. But in this case there feels like there isn't much of an interest in trying due to that resignation because of Wolfwood's experiences. Though even if Wolfwood is making...small progress, they have faith still that he can get more.
So they will not turn their head away and give into such words. Even when they strike up against a stubborn wall and there may be no resolution. ]
[ and here it is: the disappointment that they feel towards wolfwoodâs reasoning for what he had decided on. itâs not surprising anymore that it happens and wolfwood barely reacts to what they sayâitâs a lecture with a core message that he has heard plenty of times already. âwhy are you giving up before you try?â âwhy resign yourself without trying?â and so many other variations of it. all things that wolfwood has been criticized for independent of void archives.
the irony, of course, is that the person who would nag wolfwood constantly about this was the most resigned about. whether he knew that or not didnât really matter too much as it didnât change things for when wolfwood flipped the argument around, he was also caught on his back foot. (god the two of them were haplessâŚ) nevertheless, wolfwood is curious to know what they think if he had changed the angle of which they were approaching this. ]
Has it crossed yer mind to think about how the other guy is gonna react to all of this? [ wolfwood asks plainly and simply. ] Yer more or less aware of the kind of situation that Iâm inâŚ
[ they donât know the finite details or the exact nuances that make up his situation and why wolfwood seemingly digs his heels into the ground whenever they try to suggest an alternative. they certainly donât know anything about vash other than what they can infer, but wolfwood asks the question. ]
ând what? I just spring these feelinâs on him and expect things to go okay?
[ this isnât some sort of romantic comedy or tale of romance. things arenât as simple as confess feelings and receive positive outcome. wolfwood continues to give them further context to the situation he finds himself in. ]
That guy is the type to run away before allowing anyone to get too attached to him. [ and yet, itâs clear that the two of them have become impossibly attached to one another. wolfwood isnât ignorant to that. ] But if ya want to split hairs over this then fineâI wouldnât say anythinâ sooner to him than I would now.
He has plenty enough on his shoulders than my feelings being thrown into all of that.
[ Void Archives gives pause to Wolfwood's inquiry...has it really? Honestly, the question that Wolfwood asks of them makes them hedge on whether they can say yes or no. But, maybe the fact that they have to consider it at all is an answer on its own.
Though, they did consider how Vash would react to spending more time with Wolfwood before, so doesn't that count? Putting it in terms like that, the answer becomes a bit more muddled. So please enjoy them furrowing their brows at this. ]
It's crossed my mind in some respects? I can't fully imagine how he would in regards to you on the account of the fact in not knowing him as a person, but it isn't like I had limited my imagination on the basis of that lack of information.
And yes, I am aware of your situation. But, it doesn't mean that I have all the pieces of the information. Though I suppose you can be more or less too embarrassed to own up to the option of displaying the proper amount of romantic love towards your ideal partner.
[ They are saying this in idle thought and pause further to give Wolfwood's words some further consideration than before. ]
I never said it was going to be easy, mind you. Taking the next step in a relationship always will require risk. In the event that you are married to the idea of playing with your feet far too much than confessing, I understand that I must be the one to push you.
Do realize that your advantage is that he knows you care deeply for him. I know this, because you know a great deal about him, along with what you've told me of him, and all that I've seen before even if I don't have all the information.
Either way, he has a lot on his shoulders, but he's strong enough to handle more.
Whatever the case, I don't think there's anything wrong with ramping things up a little. [ ... ] For example, have you considered being a little more gay for him than you are currently?
[ wolfwood is perfectly fine to listen to void archives work out their thoughts out loud as he waits to see what they end up as. a lot of what they end up telling him is all things that sounds pretty much to the book. admittedly some of it makes him uncomfortableââromantic loveâ? suppose that is the proper name for what wolfwood feels for vash. what he feels for vash is different than what he feels for livio and everyone else back at the orphanage.
the whole thing isnât a new concept to him but knowing it himself is a new concept and not something he considered for himself. at the end of the day, however, should he really be taking any of this advice from them in the first place? given the number of times that the two of them have clashed over similar topics, they were hardly someone to be talking about this with.
âŚand boy is there not a better demonstration of that than the final question that they ask him which completely blindsides him. itâs not even a record scratchâhis whole train of thought goes crashing into a very solid wall without any hope of recovery. maybe even into the next four walls with the debris being scattered all over his mental space.
god knows what kind of face wolfwood is makingâhe sure doesnâtâbut the cigarette he had been smoking will fall to the ground. ]
[ here is but one wolfwood trying his best as he replays the last bit of what they said in his head to make sure he hadnât been hearing things. oh how unfortunate it is for him that he certainly did not mishear void archives. ...rest in peace his cigarette that now lays on the ground. ]
....huh?
[ running back the track again does not help him. ]
Have I considered—what?
[ is this also the wrong time to question if âgayâ should even be the proper label to use for himself? he has never bothered to care for labels or any of that but.
They wonder if Wolfwood never realized that he was of the homosexual persuasion? Now, everything begins to solidly and firmly fall into place.
It's as if they understand everything all at once immediately (no they don't...or honestly maybe there's small part of it being related, let's be real.)
But really, they had a feeling all along that Wolfwood was gay. ]
Did I surprise you?
[ They weren't sure to expect that entirely. But then again, different worlds and all, they should have figured. ]
But, I shall repeat it for you. Being a little more gay for him. Naturally, as I am saying such things, I am nonjudgmental.
Whatever the case, I feel that it's...a natural progression of events, if you know what I mean.
[ okay, by the time that they're done talking, wolfwood has recovered enough from whatever "crisis" that he was suffering from to move on with what is happening. they really were cheeky enough to ask wolfwood if he was surprised, weren't they? he'll run a hand over his face before he speaks, but when he does, he'll hold out one finger to them. ]
No, I'm not gonna let that one go. Bein' nonjudgmental is part of the life of a priest, so that's not a problem. What people do behind close doors is between God 'nd them until they bring it up with me.
But— [ who the fuck just says these things? clearly they do and it shouldn't be a surprise by this point but somehow...it is. wolfwood's tone isn't accusatory or offended when he asks them his question, but it isn't to say it isn't without him coming off as indignant. ] Where do ya get off on callin' me gay? Obviously, there's no point in me lyin' about what I feel for Blondie...
[ ACTUALLY— ]
Is this really what ya gotta say about this whole situation?
[ And here they were actually going to be surprised if he let them get away with it! That was pretty brazen of them to come out swinging with a comment like that - though, everything else they felt was less that? But then again, for them, words like that come relatively easy.
Well, whatever the case, they don't look all that choked up over it.
They had some serious points in there! And part of that was serious too.
...You know, in a very questionable manner. ]
Are you not gay? Well, if you feel that label does not suit you - or anything else does not, please do feel free to tell me.
[ Unsurprisingly, they also don't look all that sorry, either. ]
I did say other things besides that, didn't I? And it was quite a bit - yet, no less pivotal for you to consider!
[ of all of the different ways that this conversation could have gone and taken a turn, this was definitely not one that wolfwood saw it going. and the more that void archives presses him about whether or not he was gay the more that wolfwood scrunches his face. he doesn't like that label but there's no reason why he shouldn't. (suppose it isn't wrong but it also is...?) what he can answer though is: ]
I've never had to think about it. It has never been important to think about.
[ literally when has it mattered in his life? had he been picky or swayed by the gender or the person he was with? can't say that he had put any amount of thought into it but then none of that mattered. it wasn't for anything serious. oh he can't keep going down this route and so he won't.
he'll stop pointing at them and instead throw his hand up into the air with a loud sigh. ]
And yeah, ya sure did say a bunch of other crap before but I'm not takin' that kind of advice from ya. It should be obvious as to why.
[ Only Wolfwood has himself to blame for this; jokes aside, though, it's definitely at least mostly Void Archives' fault. They're not really going to so much as act like that, though. Rather they will continue to embrace their natural state of being innocent and having caused little to no trouble or crimes at all in any sense of the word. ]
Hmm...I'm not surprised to hear that from you.
[ While Wolfwood continues to theoretically age from the current topic of this conversation alone, Void Archives just seems to look pleased with themselves.
Surely, they've only made him think about good things? They've been a great helper. ]
You do know it is a shame, right? That you are not considering taking such advice?
[ void archives is far from being innocent to any crimes here and wolfwood is absolutely aging far more than he should be on any sort of account. he also will bring his hand to his face again and pull on it. someone should strike him down where he stands just so that he doesn't have to deal with this anymore.
oh how quickly things change between the two of them... wolfwood's exasperation should be palatable in every sense of the word when he speaks again. he starts off summarizing what they told him in the most generous way possible. honestly, people should take a page from his book when dealing with the many words that void archives likes to speak and only bother with the stuff that matters. ]
Yer double-downin' on havin' me say somethin' before there's time for it. [ he has become an expert in tl;dr, void archives edition. ] I tell ya about how the guy's a flight risk and yer here tellin' me to do it anyway.
[ it isn't a terrible idea, probably, for most people. however, wolfwood and vash are far from being "most people" and wolfwood rubs the back of his head and grumbles loudly before explaining himself better. if only there was a way to properly explain to void archives just how flighty vash could be... ]
Listen, if I know I'm gonna have to chase after him then at least it should be when I know I have the chance to.
[ Wolfwood isn't allowed to suddenly wither and die before he can achieve his happiness. Though it doesn't mean he isn't barred from continued suffering at the hands of a cube who believes that they are being absolutely helpful and are learning how to be more and more...well, whatever it is they are being.
There will always be those dubious elements, however those should manifest, but they are using them not just for goal-aligned purposes. So, that's definitely progress. ]
Well, I do believe that events don't have to stand the way that they are. The amount of time you have, gearing yourself up to convey such obvious feelings, and confronting whatever complications may arise.
You say that he's a flight risk, but I have a feeling the relationship between yourself and him is different enough that matters will not go as badly as you think.
[ They can easily imagine it. They didn't think all that well of Vash before, though now it's more neutral; still, the phantasm gives enough of an impression (or so they think, anyway.) ]
Hmm...though, it does make sense to time your potential chasing when that 'chance' is upon you, and you are in his presence when it isn't a life or death situation. I will give you that.
[ no, the natural order of things is that wolfwood ends up six feet under before he gets the chance to do something about this⌠but, of course, void archives wants to go against the natural order of things when it comes to wolfwoodâs fateânot that they make it appealing at all for him as he rolls his eyes at them. they really canât keep going in circles about some things and then show the smallest margins of progress in others it gives him false hope that theyâll make real strides. ]
Yâknow that both things can be true⌠[ because whenever is anything ever so simple with wolfwood? ] Things can go however ya think itâs goinâ to be but it doesnât mean I wonât have to put in a lot of effort to get there.
[ heâll let out a long exhale to focus and cross his arms over his chest. ]
When I say âchaseâ I mean it in the literal sense. [ just for the clarification because wolfwood wants to make it clear that he isnât speaking in metaphors here. sure, there is a metaphorical aspect to what heâs saying but not with this. ] If ya think Iâm obstinate about all of this then I wonder what yaâd say about Blondie.
[ vash was better than him in some regards but far worse in others. what wolfwood noticed is that whenever it came to anything related to vash himself that he had trouble with it. he gave away so much so freely and barely allowed himself to take anything in return. arms still crossed, wolfwood tries something else. ]
Would yer Welt be quick to allow himself to accept these kinds of feelings from someone? To accept that someone could and would want to be there with him regardless of whatever he is or ends up being?
And even if he does, would he allow himself to be around that person?
[ If Void Archives had a development like any other normal person, they could probably give Wolfwood more hope...as for making such changes more palpable? They definitely have a chance in hell in doing exactly that. But they have no way to figure how to conduct this with any finesse. Maybe it will remain that way until they depart as well. ]
Isn't there merit in putting a lot of effort in some things?
Also, fortunately for you, I understood that chase was likely meant in the literal sense...but also I did figure that it was more than just that. My impression thus far from your words - on yourself and him - is that there's bound to be a lot of running away - or running around when it comes to certain situations.
And, I don't believe I'm incorrect in this assessment.
[ Though, there's a pause as he mentions Welt. The man who would deny himself the opportunity of a partner and never confess even if he had deep feelings for that person. In fact, he would play himself down, and ask if there wasn't someone better. . .ugh. ]
...Unfortunately, I will concede that dear Welt would be very slow in accepting such feelings. He would deny that he is an acceptable match, wonder if there might not be someone instead far more suitable, and also perhaps state some nonsense about being too old, I imagine. Among other things.
He doesn't hold himself in very high-esteem, to say least of whatever he believes he deserves.
Though, if he came to accept such feelings with all of his heart - if that person made it clear that this is what they wanted...that he is what they wanted all along, no matter what - then, he would certainly stay by that person. He would never have cause to abandon or leave them. Welt is a loyal man; self-sacrificing and whatever all those soft-hearted heroes so happen to be, but he is not someone who would run away at such a point.
I suspect that your Vash would be the very same, regardless of how flighty he is. [ Then, there's a considering pause, and they ask genuinely: ] Does this man that you know strike you as someone who would abandon another, if he accepted their feelings so thoroughly? That he would wish to never be around such a person at that point? That he would not hold such loyalty?
The only kind of wanted men that stay in one place are the ones who are dead.
[ wolfwood canât help but snort and commentâa throwaway commentâabout the kind of men vash and he are. they were pretty much on the nose about how the of them are used to and do a lot of running in their lives. not that it wouldnât have been too hard to guess given how wolfwood has told them that vash is a wanted manâŚor something like that. probably.
whatever; doesnât matter. wolfwood is getting his answer about what kind of a person welt is and what heâd do in a situation like vashsâ, and unsurprisingly, it is turning out exactly as wolfwood thought it would. given everything that he had learned about welt (or really just guessed given how similar the two of them already seemed to be) he expected that would be a great way to save time explaining things and looks like it did. âŚbetter than he would have thought it would.
some of what void archives tells him making wolfwood huff and shake his head. ]
Yer Welt and Needle-Nogginâ really would get along. Itâs scary how alike they are.
[ how different would things be if either welt or vash were here with them? how different would it be if they were both here with them? well, wolfwood has an idea of how heâd behave if vash was here, at least. unfortunately for them (and everyone really) wolfwood uncrosses his arms with a sigh. ]
And to answer yer questionâI donât know. [ probably not what they were expecting to hear. ] Why would ya run from someone who yer accepted their feelin's? Why would anyone run from in that position?
âŚunless it was because yer scared shitless.
[ because whatâs scarier than accepting someoneâs love for you and your love for them other than everything that came afterwards? to be able to have something that you want so badly at your fingertips but also knowing that once you have it that things will change. wolfwood places a hand on his hip before he continues. ]
So, before I want to say anythinâ to him, I gotta be ready to chase after him and make sure he doesnât leave my sights.
[ Void Archives doesn't see this as a problem. Welt was a wanted man for a very long time, and...well, actually, they don't know where they were going with in regards to that thought. Please, give them a second to think about this for a moment - and you know what, they'll just leave the comment as it is. They still don't see a problem with two wanted men being embroiled in love while on the run. Or something like that.
Listen, they are new at this - though will they acknowledge how their advice is pretty much wonky here? Nope! ]
Somehow, it doesn't surprise me...the sheer notion of the both of them getting along quite well. [ ... ] Though, it just so happens that I don't disagree with this at all. Welt would have truly appreciated the type of attitude your Vash had in his approach to life, even if their methods would not always be one to one - the man truly had the personality to get along quite well with many people, in fact.
[ If Welt was here, it is entirely possible Void Archives would be even more obnoxious than they already were. Though people would see him reigning them in - or trying to at times. It's fine.
It's also correct they weren't expecting an 'I don't know' in response to their question. That makes them give pause, to wonder how wouldn't he know. ]
...I don't believe he would be that much of a coward. Or at least, not for long. But, I do acknowledge I simply don't know him as well as you do. While also being aware that I'm uncertain that if half of your words are because you're afraid of his reaction in turn - which, of course, is a natural fear to have.
[ They sigh and fold their arms in consideration. Void Archives still won't give up on the idea of encouraging him in this, though...they give pause as Wolfwood gives his final statement. Then, they re-evaluate everything he's said so far. ]
Hmm...being prepared, then? Well, I would suggest getting some rope at least. [ An unrepentant grin. ] And I can't really tell how ready you are to act, but...it does sound like progress, hm~?
[ This is why they get the comment that they do next week, am I right. ]
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Anyway, Void Archives indeed happened to be hinging their next inquiries on straightforward or a bit complex - with a preference towards the latter. Straight-forward questions can provide quite a bit of insight, but they have on a constant basis asked such things of him.
Though they have asked hard-hitting questions before, it hasn't been in quite a situation like this. ]
Yes, something 'scrubbed clean' - in this case, the act that you have committed - while leaving the effects of everything else you have done remaining the very same, except for this "act" itself.
you can't expect there not to be many spoilers......
Nothin'.
[ short. simple. and probably not what void archives is expecting given all things they've talked about thus far. ...or maybe they are. either way, he promised to answer completely honestly: ]
Y'know, my first thought is to go back and say that I'd change ever going with the people who led me down the path I've walked but that's a coward's answer. If I got the chance to change one thing then it'd be nothin'. If I say somethin' as self-servin' as goin' back on all of the times I've fucked up then it just means that someone else is gonna go carryin' my burden.
[ that's why wolfwood was always ready to play the role of villain—be the devil that everyone could hate. no matter how dirty his hands got, it meant that he would be sparing someone else from experiencing the same. (or, at least, that is the lie that he told himself.) ]
And if I pulled the trigger that day and shot Knives instead of playin' right into his hands, would that have solved everythin'? Would Needle-Noggin' really be able to forgive humanity if they killed his only brother?
[ for all of the compassion that vash had for humanity, he was the first person to say that there were limits, and wolfwood doesn't even need to dig very deep to think about what he'd do if someone killed livio. he wouldn't waste a single moment on whether he would kill the person responsible for it. so, for something like that to happen to vash could only end in so many ways. none of them being in ones that he'd want to live with. wolfwood had asked vash to kill knives but only after they've walked side-by-side and seen some of the worst of humanity together.
speaking of— ]
Then if I decide to change up 'n say that I didn't walk Blondie into his brother's trap, that's to assume that he wasn't already plannin' on it himself.
[ the smile on vash's face and how he told wolfwood to take care of himself before walking off to see knives haunts him more than he would ever admit to. the way he thanked him for everything... wolfwood takes a long drag before he's able to finish his answer. his eyes fixed on nothing in particular. ]
...sayin' something as selfish as to change how I feel about Vash doesn't do a damn thing for him. [ other than give vash even more heartache. if vash's feelings remained the same as they were and for only wolfwood's feelings to have changed? sure, he could have expanded it to include changing vash's feelings as well but, as wolfwood thinks more on it, the dice seem to keep falling only one way for the two of them. ] 'sides, there's no promise of that stickin'.
[ which might be the most romantic thing that wolfwood's ever said about him and vash. because in every way that things fall for the two of them, wolfwood sees himself hopeless for the humanoid typhoon. ]
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So instead of any sort of marvel or appreciation for him sticking to his guns a first, Void Archives merely folds their arms at every single bit of reasoning the man hands them, letting out a soft huff.
Though...the latter half of that they find reasonable. That sounds more logical than anything - someone would have naturally taken up Wolfwood's position if it weren't him. Vash would have probably turned full of hatred if someone had murdered his brother - maybe. They can't know it, but...
(In some canon alternate universe out there, Welt Yang turned against humanity because he watched his family and his found family be murdered viciously in front of his eyes.)
They let out a sigh. And shake their head regardless. ]
You're right on some points at least. There is no guarantee some of it may 'stick' as it were, and in some instances I suppose it may as well turn you into some kind of coward.
Of all the reasonings I have heard you use to deny yourself an opportunity to take advantage, at least this time it was something I can agree with.
...Even if I am still on the fence in regards to the first portion of it.
Regardless, you also did answer sincerely and honestly. I shall find no fault in the amount of effort you gave to convey that.
Though, I do wish your bravery extended quite a bit farther to help you out more than hinder you~
[ Void Archives says with a tinge of their own usual push or pull kind of tone, but anticipating a perfect reaction from this cube may be much even in how far things have managed to come. Yet, maybe it is a far cry from how they would have handled it in the beginning - they would have scorned more than not. ]
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if only wolfwood could see the world (and his future) with any kind of light that they suggest he do. isnât it enough that it isnât as bleak as he had previously thought it to be? wolfwood chuckles to himself before he looks away from the window and towards them. ]
Yer askinâ a lot of a man who considered himself walking to his death only a few weeks ago.
[ technically wolfwood is walking to his death but, at least, heâs walking with a whisper of a hope that heâll get the chance to say what he had been too afraid to accept before. ]
Would it have made ya feel better if I said that I would change any of those things? [ even though there was no telling if it would have been a good idea to change any of it. ] Maybe even somethinâ as simple as sayinâ things sooner so I donât have to be racinâ against borrowed time?
[ how differently would things go if vash knew? would that idiot even allow himself to be loved by wolfwood? probably not. or maybe he would. âŚguess if he gets the chance at it, heâll find out for himself. and it's funny how void archives wishes wolfwood to be more selfish when the person he loves is infinitely times worse at it than him. ]
I canât do anythinâ like that.
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Though, it vanishes and they merely let out a sigh. Not in defeat, mind you. But to provide disagreement to the words Wolfwood's sent right on over at them. ]
Saying things sooner wouldn't be a problem if you decided to simply take a chance to live beyond borrowed time, so no. Which, by the way, there is still time for that to change.
Naturally, because of this fact, I will tell you simply that it wouldn't make myself feel anywhere near better if you 'say things sooner'. Besides, rushing things is utterly foolish.
[ Saying this clearly helps in supplementing their argument. ]
You also say you can't, but I don't really think that's true. You're simply just an expert at denying having what is in your grasp.
You're making matters far more difficult for yourself than it really has to be. The 'can't' is more of a 'won't', so I really don't believe much of such insistences, you do know this?
And, I won't mind saying it as many times as necessary. After all, even if you believe certain matters are impossible, I don't. They're only impossible in certain instances if you reject them.
[ Do or do not. There is no try. But in this case there feels like there isn't much of an interest in trying due to that resignation because of Wolfwood's experiences. Though even if Wolfwood is making...small progress, they have faith still that he can get more.
So they will not turn their head away and give into such words. Even when they strike up against a stubborn wall and there may be no resolution. ]
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the irony, of course, is that the person who would nag wolfwood constantly about this was the most resigned about. whether he knew that or not didnât really matter too much as it didnât change things for when wolfwood flipped the argument around, he was also caught on his back foot. (god the two of them were haplessâŚ) nevertheless, wolfwood is curious to know what they think if he had changed the angle of which they were approaching this. ]
Has it crossed yer mind to think about how the other guy is gonna react to all of this? [ wolfwood asks plainly and simply. ] Yer more or less aware of the kind of situation that Iâm inâŚ
[ they donât know the finite details or the exact nuances that make up his situation and why wolfwood seemingly digs his heels into the ground whenever they try to suggest an alternative. they certainly donât know anything about vash other than what they can infer, but wolfwood asks the question. ]
ând what? I just spring these feelinâs on him and expect things to go okay?
[ this isnât some sort of romantic comedy or tale of romance. things arenât as simple as confess feelings and receive positive outcome. wolfwood continues to give them further context to the situation he finds himself in. ]
That guy is the type to run away before allowing anyone to get too attached to him. [ and yet, itâs clear that the two of them have become impossibly attached to one another. wolfwood isnât ignorant to that. ] But if ya want to split hairs over this then fineâI wouldnât say anythinâ sooner to him than I would now.
He has plenty enough on his shoulders than my feelings being thrown into all of that.
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Though, they did consider how Vash would react to spending more time with Wolfwood before, so doesn't that count? Putting it in terms like that, the answer becomes a bit more muddled. So please enjoy them furrowing their brows at this. ]
It's crossed my mind in some respects? I can't fully imagine how he would in regards to you on the account of the fact in not knowing him as a person, but it isn't like I had limited my imagination on the basis of that lack of information.
And yes, I am aware of your situation. But, it doesn't mean that I have all the pieces of the information. Though I suppose you can be more or less too embarrassed to own up to the option of displaying the proper amount of romantic love towards your ideal partner.
[ They are saying this in idle thought and pause further to give Wolfwood's words some further consideration than before. ]
I never said it was going to be easy, mind you. Taking the next step in a relationship always will require risk. In the event that you are married to the idea of playing with your feet far too much than confessing, I understand that I must be the one to push you.
Do realize that your advantage is that he knows you care deeply for him. I know this, because you know a great deal about him, along with what you've told me of him, and all that I've seen before even if I don't have all the information.
Either way, he has a lot on his shoulders, but he's strong enough to handle more.
Whatever the case, I don't think there's anything wrong with ramping things up a little. [ ... ] For example, have you considered being a little more gay for him than you are currently?
/2 i knew this was coming and yet.......
the whole thing isnât a new concept to him but knowing it himself is a new concept and not something he considered for himself. at the end of the day, however, should he really be taking any of this advice from them in the first place? given the number of times that the two of them have clashed over similar topics, they were hardly someone to be talking about this with.
âŚand boy is there not a better demonstration of that than the final question that they ask him which completely blindsides him. itâs not even a record scratchâhis whole train of thought goes crashing into a very solid wall without any hope of recovery. maybe even into the next four walls with the debris being scattered all over his mental space.
god knows what kind of face wolfwood is makingâhe sure doesnâtâbut the cigarette he had been smoking will fall to the ground. ]
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....huh?
[ running back the track again does not help him. ]
Have I considered—what?
[ is this also the wrong time to question if âgayâ should even be the proper label to use for himself? he has never bothered to care for labels or any of that but.
IS HE GAY? IS THAT WHAT HE IS??? ]
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They wonder if Wolfwood never realized that he was of the homosexual persuasion? Now, everything begins to solidly and firmly fall into place.
It's as if they understand everything all at once immediately (no they don't...or honestly maybe there's small part of it being related, let's be real.)
But really, they had a feeling all along that Wolfwood was gay. ]
Did I surprise you?
[ They weren't sure to expect that entirely. But then again, different worlds and all, they should have figured. ]
But, I shall repeat it for you. Being a little more gay for him. Naturally, as I am saying such things, I am nonjudgmental.
Whatever the case, I feel that it's...a natural progression of events, if you know what I mean.
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No, I'm not gonna let that one go. Bein' nonjudgmental is part of the life of a priest, so that's not a problem. What people do behind close doors is between God 'nd them until they bring it up with me.
But— [ who the fuck just says these things? clearly they do and it shouldn't be a surprise by this point but somehow...it is. wolfwood's tone isn't accusatory or offended when he asks them his question, but it isn't to say it isn't without him coming off as indignant. ] Where do ya get off on callin' me gay? Obviously, there's no point in me lyin' about what I feel for Blondie...
[ ACTUALLY— ]
Is this really what ya gotta say about this whole situation?
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Well, whatever the case, they don't look all that choked up over it.
They had some serious points in there! And part of that was serious too.
...You know, in a very questionable manner. ]
Are you not gay? Well, if you feel that label does not suit you - or anything else does not, please do feel free to tell me.
[ Unsurprisingly, they also don't look all that sorry, either. ]
I did say other things besides that, didn't I? And it was quite a bit - yet, no less pivotal for you to consider!
[ ...
In other words...kind of? ]
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I've never had to think about it. It has never been important to think about.
[ literally when has it mattered in his life? had he been picky or swayed by the gender or the person he was with? can't say that he had put any amount of thought into it but then none of that mattered. it wasn't for anything serious. oh he can't keep going down this route and so he won't.
he'll stop pointing at them and instead throw his hand up into the air with a loud sigh. ]
And yeah, ya sure did say a bunch of other crap before but I'm not takin' that kind of advice from ya. It should be obvious as to why.
[ please don't make him explain himself. ]
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Hmm...I'm not surprised to hear that from you.
[ While Wolfwood continues to theoretically age from the current topic of this conversation alone, Void Archives just seems to look pleased with themselves.
Surely, they've only made him think about good things? They've been a great helper. ]
You do know it is a shame, right? That you are not considering taking such advice?
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oh how quickly things change between the two of them... wolfwood's exasperation should be palatable in every sense of the word when he speaks again. he starts off summarizing what they told him in the most generous way possible. honestly, people should take a page from his book when dealing with the many words that void archives likes to speak and only bother with the stuff that matters. ]
Yer double-downin' on havin' me say somethin' before there's time for it. [ he has become an expert in tl;dr, void archives edition. ] I tell ya about how the guy's a flight risk and yer here tellin' me to do it anyway.
[ it isn't a terrible idea, probably, for most people. however, wolfwood and vash are far from being "most people" and wolfwood rubs the back of his head and grumbles loudly before explaining himself better. if only there was a way to properly explain to void archives just how flighty vash could be... ]
Listen, if I know I'm gonna have to chase after him then at least it should be when I know I have the chance to.
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There will always be those dubious elements, however those should manifest, but they are using them not just for goal-aligned purposes. So, that's definitely progress. ]
Well, I do believe that events don't have to stand the way that they are. The amount of time you have, gearing yourself up to convey such obvious feelings, and confronting whatever complications may arise.
You say that he's a flight risk, but I have a feeling the relationship between yourself and him is different enough that matters will not go as badly as you think.
[ They can easily imagine it. They didn't think all that well of Vash before, though now it's more neutral; still, the phantasm gives enough of an impression (or so they think, anyway.) ]
Hmm...though, it does make sense to time your potential chasing when that 'chance' is upon you, and you are in his presence when it isn't a life or death situation. I will give you that.
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Yâknow that both things can be true⌠[ because whenever is anything ever so simple with wolfwood? ] Things can go however ya think itâs goinâ to be but it doesnât mean I wonât have to put in a lot of effort to get there.
[ heâll let out a long exhale to focus and cross his arms over his chest. ]
When I say âchaseâ I mean it in the literal sense. [ just for the clarification because wolfwood wants to make it clear that he isnât speaking in metaphors here. sure, there is a metaphorical aspect to what heâs saying but not with this. ] If ya think Iâm obstinate about all of this then I wonder what yaâd say about Blondie.
[ vash was better than him in some regards but far worse in others. what wolfwood noticed is that whenever it came to anything related to vash himself that he had trouble with it. he gave away so much so freely and barely allowed himself to take anything in return. arms still crossed, wolfwood tries something else. ]
Would yer Welt be quick to allow himself to accept these kinds of feelings from someone? To accept that someone could and would want to be there with him regardless of whatever he is or ends up being?
And even if he does, would he allow himself to be around that person?
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Isn't there merit in putting a lot of effort in some things?
Also, fortunately for you, I understood that chase was likely meant in the literal sense...but also I did figure that it was more than just that. My impression thus far from your words - on yourself and him - is that there's bound to be a lot of running away - or running around when it comes to certain situations.
And, I don't believe I'm incorrect in this assessment.
[ Though, there's a pause as he mentions Welt. The man who would deny himself the opportunity of a partner and never confess even if he had deep feelings for that person. In fact, he would play himself down, and ask if there wasn't someone better. . .ugh. ]
...Unfortunately, I will concede that dear Welt would be very slow in accepting such feelings. He would deny that he is an acceptable match, wonder if there might not be someone instead far more suitable, and also perhaps state some nonsense about being too old, I imagine. Among other things.
He doesn't hold himself in very high-esteem, to say least of whatever he believes he deserves.
Though, if he came to accept such feelings with all of his heart - if that person made it clear that this is what they wanted...that he is what they wanted all along, no matter what - then, he would certainly stay by that person. He would never have cause to abandon or leave them. Welt is a loyal man; self-sacrificing and whatever all those soft-hearted heroes so happen to be, but he is not someone who would run away at such a point.
I suspect that your Vash would be the very same, regardless of how flighty he is. [ Then, there's a considering pause, and they ask genuinely: ] Does this man that you know strike you as someone who would abandon another, if he accepted their feelings so thoroughly? That he would wish to never be around such a person at that point? That he would not hold such loyalty?
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[ wolfwood canât help but snort and commentâa throwaway commentâabout the kind of men vash and he are. they were pretty much on the nose about how the of them are used to and do a lot of running in their lives. not that it wouldnât have been too hard to guess given how wolfwood has told them that vash is a wanted manâŚor something like that. probably.
whatever; doesnât matter. wolfwood is getting his answer about what kind of a person welt is and what heâd do in a situation like vashsâ, and unsurprisingly, it is turning out exactly as wolfwood thought it would. given everything that he had learned about welt (or really just guessed given how similar the two of them already seemed to be) he expected that would be a great way to save time explaining things and looks like it did. âŚbetter than he would have thought it would.
some of what void archives tells him making wolfwood huff and shake his head. ]
Yer Welt and Needle-Nogginâ really would get along. Itâs scary how alike they are.
[ how different would things be if either welt or vash were here with them? how different would it be if they were both here with them? well, wolfwood has an idea of how heâd behave if vash was here, at least. unfortunately for them (and everyone really) wolfwood uncrosses his arms with a sigh. ]
And to answer yer questionâI donât know. [ probably not what they were expecting to hear. ] Why would ya run from someone who yer accepted their feelin's? Why would anyone run from in that position?
âŚunless it was because yer scared shitless.
[ because whatâs scarier than accepting someoneâs love for you and your love for them other than everything that came afterwards? to be able to have something that you want so badly at your fingertips but also knowing that once you have it that things will change. wolfwood places a hand on his hip before he continues. ]
So, before I want to say anythinâ to him, I gotta be ready to chase after him and make sure he doesnât leave my sights.
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[ Void Archives doesn't see this as a problem. Welt was a wanted man for a very long time, and...well, actually, they don't know where they were going with in regards to that thought. Please, give them a second to think about this for a moment - and you know what, they'll just leave the comment as it is. They still don't see a problem with two wanted men being embroiled in love while on the run. Or something like that.
Listen, they are new at this - though will they acknowledge how their advice is pretty much wonky here? Nope! ]
Somehow, it doesn't surprise me...the sheer notion of the both of them getting along quite well. [ ... ] Though, it just so happens that I don't disagree with this at all. Welt would have truly appreciated the type of attitude your Vash had in his approach to life, even if their methods would not always be one to one - the man truly had the personality to get along quite well with many people, in fact.
[ If Welt was here, it is entirely possible Void Archives would be even more obnoxious than they already were. Though people would see him reigning them in - or trying to at times. It's fine.
It's also correct they weren't expecting an 'I don't know' in response to their question. That makes them give pause, to wonder how wouldn't he know. ]
...I don't believe he would be that much of a coward. Or at least, not for long. But, I do acknowledge I simply don't know him as well as you do. While also being aware that I'm uncertain that if half of your words are because you're afraid of his reaction in turn - which, of course, is a natural fear to have.
[ They sigh and fold their arms in consideration. Void Archives still won't give up on the idea of encouraging him in this, though...they give pause as Wolfwood gives his final statement. Then, they re-evaluate everything he's said so far. ]
Hmm...being prepared, then? Well, I would suggest getting some rope at least. [ An unrepentant grin. ] And I can't really tell how ready you are to act, but...it does sound like progress, hm~?
[ This is why they get the comment that they do next week, am I right. ]