#【🖎🚬observing the mess】

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"Yo, old man. Wanna go for a drink?"

No one else wants to, and Wolfwood is aching to be stupid. He doesn't offer to pay. Because he can't. Because if they go to the bar, their tab is going to fall to this sad old tabloidist.

Discerning, pale green eyes narrowed at Wolfwood. The old wolf raised his brows. He has been through things and lived to tell about them, and he is sure as Hell this bar visit will not end the way either hoped. It was a hunch since the man liked taking his cigarettes.

"Alright, but I know a place," he said before he headed in the direction of the local saloon he frequented. "I'll pay for the first drinks." It was the polite thing to do.

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@millionsnife replied to your post “"If Vash ever suggests a game of Uno to determine...”:

"I'd win."

​

"True. Therefore, I outlaw him to play the game."

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@livio-the-doublefang :: from here

"Mhm," Roberto nodded. "Cheers!"

As Livio made a move to taste the drink, Roberto took a sip of his own. It felt good to get a good bottle of bourbon whiskey, but it was rare and very expensive. Especially, the vintages from Earth and freshly brewed bottles made in Gunsmoke. He smiled back at Livio with one of his lop-sided smiles.

"Yeah, and they can be expensive," he agreed. "But there are some towns that brew their own. Wanted to congratulate you on your engagement."

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“Wolfwood, stop trying to eat him! What is that thing?” Upon closer inspection it’s Vash in creature form.

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" Master Knives has sent me here to try my hand in defeating you." - @legatusblue

"Ah, you must be... Legato, right? It would still mean the rest of you need to coexist with the humans since he lost. Very well."

He gestured towards a seat in front of him at a table in the bar. For some reason, the old man had a deck of uno cards in one of his pockets. He shuffled and dealt them.

"He let me go first, but this time you can," Roberto offered.

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@butchersbird He was assigned to investigate the current affairs in the village just off of Jeneora Rock. It was not his favorite kind of article to do, but it was at least something until he was assigned another. His last one died from skirmish between the authorities and pirates. The last one was a newbie as well. He shuddered a bit thinking about it.

He placed a new cigarette in his mouth, and lit it. He would just have one more before he stake out the bar for any information. He was likely to find a villager or two to interview, before taking a look around the place. Besides, he could use a refill of his flask.

Roberto pondered what questions he would ask should he manage to find one at the bar. There were a few informants just in case he did not run into one that wanted to share information with him.

He waited until the cigarette burned near the butt before taking it out and stomping it. It marked the end of his cigarette break, he sighed as he walked towards the entrance. He made for the bar.

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@nicholas-wolfwood replied to your post “"If Vash ever suggests a game of Uno to determine...”:

"Nah, it's a great idea! Wait 'til Knives gets a reverse card an' then shoot him in the head while he's gloatin'! Easy peasy!"

​

"You're also disowned if you help out, kid. Besides, as civie, I would want the war to save humanity to be a gripping tale."

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@angelictyphoon :: from here

"Well, that does not look too good," Roberto observed the smoke from the dune buggy. It earned him a "No shit" from Wolfwood and a menacing glare from Meryl.

Roberto peered over at Vash as he reacted to his statement. He was not expecting a laugh, but he could not help but have a hint of a smile curve on his lips.

"Oh, I do, I put water in my flask 'cause I haven't gotten a canteen yet," Roberto answered the Human Typhoon. It just tastes weird because it has been mostly alcoholic beverages. "But nothing beats a good bottle of whiskey."

He glanced at the smoking dune buggy and the glares at Wolfwood and Meryl sent their way. "I should probably save my water," he said. Roberto turned to Vash. "Suppose we should help them? If we can't, we might have to wait till the evening and push the buggy to the next town."

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Leaves a simple silver canteen on the old mans table with a tag hanging on it that said:

Happy Father's Day - Livio

He came back into the car. Sunlight reflected off the silver canteen. His eyes widened. Roberto gingerly checked the tag. He smiled when he read it was from Livio.

Today was Earth's America's Father's Day. Usually, he'd take off from work, but the agency wanted that op-ed. He was not going to leave Meryl alone either.

He did not feel quite as alone as before either thanks to everything that happened so far. He found another family away from home, albeit a strange family, but a family nonetheless. Heck, his ex-bounty hunter wife would probably adopt the Meryl and the Wolfwoods too...

The canteen was just what he needed! He wanted to keep his alcohol separate from his drinking water! Can never have too much water though...

He will be sure to write a thank you note to Livio.

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a curious little sapling eyes the big guy with the funny mustache. vash doesn't know what to make of him yet, but the nice lady says he is a friend of hers. he spots the colorful little box with smelly sticks. " so...can i have one of those? what are they for? " // drops a tiny plant onto roberto's doorstep, sorry roberto dkfjghl

Unprompted Asks :: Always Accepting :D

Oh, Meryl, what did you do this time?

He looks at the little boy with a curious glance. The little boy looks awfully like Vash, although he was not sure what color Vash's eyes were as they were often behind orange-tinted glasses. The little boy looked like he escaped one of the labs, should he return them?

He thought of the Plant he saw and its Final Harvest. He shook his head to that. No, ma'am, not today.

Roberto looks at the cigarettes beside him, and his pale green eyes widened. "No, you may not. Listen, kid, when you're grown up and you know what they do then you can have one. Until that time, you can have some juice instead," he said, quickly picking up the box of tobacco and placing it in his jacket pocket. "Or maybe ice cream, I don't know..."

He looked up and scanned for street vendors. He spotted one. "Ah, they have ice pops. Let's go get you one."

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Livio just glared at the old man before taking a step between the gap between them and lightly pulling the reporter into a gentle yet firm embrace. "...Old fool.'' He breathed out weakly, balling his fists into the old mans jacket at his back.

No words were expressed cause there were none. Even if Roberto could speak there would be none to say. Wolfwood had taken the box of cigarettes and the lone cigarette he tried to light just minutes before his death. Meryl had come back to take his flask.

No words could be said because there were none. Roberto could only listen at this point. He could only see his friend and son figure, Livio pull him into a gentle but firm embrace. He could see the puddle of red at his feet soaking into the younger man's pants legs. The Doublefangs were just out of reach of the blood.

Old fool indeed. He had been warned of what was to come and smiled at Death. Here he was on the floor of the lift nursing a large nail to his abdomen. Pale eyes stared into nothing as if concentrated on the absent cigarette in his hand. There were no apologies spoken, but if he could he would say them.

Don't cry for me. I did what I could. The rest is up to you.

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"How are they. Your merry band." Came Livio's voice behind the old man. How he got there and when? Nobody would know save the ghostly quiet assassin. He was leaning against a pillar, arms crossed and watching the reporter with a side-eyed stare. ''...Are they well. Been awhile since I last checked in on you lot."

Roberto had to jump a bit

He was sure a little bit of whiskey dripped onto his shirt. He had been taking a sip from his flask from the last revelation the group had come across. Perhaps another experiment commissioned by the Eye of Michael.

He looked over his shoulder and sure enough, Livio was there leaning against a pillar.

He let out a chuckle. "Merry alright," he said, wryly. He was not sure what to say it had been a long journey towards July, and with each step they took the party grew tenser. Especially, the other two men. They seemed to know what was in July. Something big would happen the old man was sure about it.

He replaced the cap on his flask and pocketed it.

"They're well," he said, a little louder. "Tense as we move closer to July." He nodded in agreement. It had been a while since Livio checked on them. Each time the assassin made sure to report there had been some attempts on the group's lives, specifically Vash's. Roberto and Meryl had grown used to the chaos but were able to stay out of sight.

Each time Meryl tried to shout or state her concern towards the pacifist and Undertaker, Roberto had to remind her they were just observing. Nothing more. It had been the usual song and dance, but he was also growing used to and fond of the pacifist and Undertaker himself. Not to Meryl's degree, but enough to also show concern for their safety.

"What about you, Livio? How have you been?" he asked.

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" I need your coat for a moment, please? " Hands clasped in front of her & head slightly lowered as she asked Roberto. She knew better than try to tell lies when it came to him.

Roberto nearly dropped his cigarette out of his mouth at the request. He caught it. "W-what? Meredith! Merry! Meryl, it's filthy! It's been through at least ten sandstorms and five haboobs the last time it was dry-cleaned! What do you need for anyway?!"

Of course, he has the jacket off. Made sure his flask, wallet, cigarettes, and lighter were out.

@newsecured

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Take these! Maybe Meryl won't give you such a hard time if you switch to candy! (for Roberto sdjhfsk)

Roberto stared at the cigarette candies and looked at Vash, incredulously. Eyebrow raised, he opened the box and placed it in his mouth.

"Perhaps, I'll try," he said. After a few minutes, he added, "You can have the glow-in-the-dark tattoo."

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MEDIC :  for one muse to show up at the other’s doorstep injured.

a comprehensive list of scenarios

Someone had made an inn from a run-down apartment building. Meryl and Roberto were staying at it while Vash and Wolfwood were out finding more information about Ju Lai. Roberto and Meryl were settling down in their rooms for the night. Roberto got a mug of coffee and was listening to the news on the radio when he heard banging on the door to his room.

He shut the radio off and the knocking got more desperate. There were some other sounds the sound of blood squelching on the cement pathway. He got up, took out his Derringer, and inched his way to the door. He made sure to stay to the side of it, aiming the gun at the door. He prayed that Meryl would not look out her door. And that she was safe in her room.

The knocking continued, but it was lower than it was previously. It was still desperate. He looked out the peephole at a masculine silhouette with a familiar cross weapon.

Shit. It was Wolfwood!

He quickly unlocked the latch and deadbolt before pulling the door open. Sure enough, there was Wolfwood on the sidewalk outside his room. Spilled contents from a shattered vial, with a glowing blue liquid trickling down the assassin's lips. His body was riddled with bullets and his blood was mixing with the drops of blue.

Pushing the door open, but not putting the gun away, he crouched to help the younger male up. "Kid, you look like shit," he commented. He looked around for any threats before pulling Wolfwood into his room. He continued to pull Wolfwood towards one of the beds in the inn and ran to lock the room from deadbolt to latch. He hurriedly took out a blue vial from the toiletries bag he promised to hide from Vash and Meryl. He broke off one side of the vial before opening Wolfwood's mouth and dropping the blue liquid into his mouth.

"C'mon, kid, stay with me," he said.

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SAFEGUARD // for roberto :)

a comprehensive list of scenarios

SAFEGUARD :  for one muse to save the other from being hit by a vehicle or from some other life-threatening event.

He was not sure who saved him of Mari's monsties, but he found himself flying on a wyvern-like being's back away from a worm. The group had opted to leave Roberto's car at a city and trek to the next city by foot in an attempt to tiptoe around the authorities.

Roberto thought it was a mistake, but he was outvoted. If worse came to worse, they reasoned the "newbie" would take care of it. Even though, the newbie was not a newbie, but a professional like Vash and Wolfwood. Meryl seemed to get along with Miram, Marim, Mari! Ah, it was Mari. The peace would eventually end with another worm attack from one of Zazie's beasts.

Streak was commanded to take Roberto and Meryl to safety while Red, Mari, and the others were engulfed by the worm. Meryl was shouting the others' names worriedly, but Roberto let out a curse and told Meryl the three of them would have to regroup for now.

"We need to save them!" Meryl insisted.

"We don't know how at this time! Stryfe, we are not fighters! Remember the last time we were engulfed by one of those things?" Roberto asked. "Besides, they have a way out. The other of Mari's beasts is with them. And we got the other one."

"We don't know how to understand them like Mari can!" Meryl reasoned.

"No, but they likely know when that worm is going to resurface," Roberto looked at the Streak. "We'll need your help. Thank you and Mari for saving us. Was it Scout, Strike, or Streak? Red was it?"

"It's Streak! Streak!" Meryl shouted.