[ Zhongli is a sweet talker. there's a real silver tongue on this guy, and much as Vash knows a good lot of this is just pretty words - he might have the stomach for some of that right now. there isn't all too much that's 'pretty' nor 'appetizing' in the suffering, the shared state of lament that seems to hover thickly like a veil in the air around them. it's almost palpable, isn't it? a physical thing that makes it a little bit harder to breathe.
maybe it makes him selfish or a coward. he's been called both those things and worse; he doesn't much mind whatever moniker he'd get this time for how nice it is to have someone sit next to him in offering of something he needs, and to take away something he doesn't. it hurts, too - of course it does. Vash knows what he'd be giving up and giving to Zhongli means that they're 'enemies' in the eyes of others around them, and that the day might come when serving their factions doesn't result in so gentle an exchange.
but more importantly, he knows it means Zhongli has given up on 'home,' and that hurts far more than seeing a friend on the other side of things.
everyone has their reasons. he knows that better than most, and he'd be the last person to judge anyone for making a choice that doesn't align with his. it isn't like he's got this figured out. he'd be the first to admit he isn't even close and probably never will be; he's just A Guy. people aren't meant to Know the fate of the universe, or whether everything can be saved, whether it's too far gone on such an existential, enormous scale. but-- ]
Hm.
[ rubbing his chin further as if in deep, solid consideration of this prospect of partnership, soup-making and wares-perusing aside, Vash tilts his head one way, then the other... making a good show as if hemming and hawwing over this choice. ]
Alright; you got me. You've got some pretty useful skills and I might be willing to deal, but we gotta lay out some ground rules, first. I already know you're a man who likes a fair trade so I figure this won't be too tough to negotiate, yeah?
[ he doesn't need to have the answers. he just needs to believe there's a chance it hasn't all been for nothing. that it isn't too late.
and he needs to know why Zhongli - practical and kind Zhongli - has decided that chance isn't there. ]
no subject
maybe it makes him selfish or a coward. he's been called both those things and worse; he doesn't much mind whatever moniker he'd get this time for how nice it is to have someone sit next to him in offering of something he needs, and to take away something he doesn't. it hurts, too - of course it does. Vash knows what he'd be giving up and giving to Zhongli means that they're 'enemies' in the eyes of others around them, and that the day might come when serving their factions doesn't result in so gentle an exchange.
but more importantly, he knows it means Zhongli has given up on 'home,' and that hurts far more than seeing a friend on the other side of things.
everyone has their reasons. he knows that better than most, and he'd be the last person to judge anyone for making a choice that doesn't align with his. it isn't like he's got this figured out. he'd be the first to admit he isn't even close and probably never will be; he's just A Guy. people aren't meant to Know the fate of the universe, or whether everything can be saved, whether it's too far gone on such an existential, enormous scale. but-- ]
Hm.
[ rubbing his chin further as if in deep, solid consideration of this prospect of partnership, soup-making and wares-perusing aside, Vash tilts his head one way, then the other... making a good show as if hemming and hawwing over this choice. ]
Alright; you got me. You've got some pretty useful skills and I might be willing to deal, but we gotta lay out some ground rules, first. I already know you're a man who likes a fair trade so I figure this won't be too tough to negotiate, yeah?
[ he doesn't need to have the answers. he just needs to believe there's a chance it hasn't all been for nothing. that it isn't too late.
and he needs to know why Zhongli - practical and kind Zhongli - has decided that chance isn't there. ]