estoria | [01] [Closed] ♚ A Briefs Visit

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[01] [Closed] ♚ A Briefs Visit

Who:

timepatroller
When: Backdated to 1/13 (6/1), closely following this call
Where: Vegeta and Bulma's Apartment
What: Time for the parents to chat up their future son
Rating/Warning: None, besides Vegeta's bad attitude

[Though the pair hadn't quite yet settled into life on Cerealia in the handful of days that had passed since their absurd orientation, there was no reason to put off this conversation with Trunks any longer. It had been about ten years now since they'd last seen the boy, the fatherless half-Saiyan from that bleak future, so now was as good a time as any to catch up and trade stories.

It also couldn't hurt to see what information he'd managed to gather on the colony and those who had brought them here as well.

Whenever Trunks would finally make his appearance, he'd see that the apartment has barely seen a change since the couple's arrival, one of the few exceptions being the expensive heels sitting by the door. However much or little time the pair actually spent in their living quarters, it was obvious neither had taken to 'settling' in.]

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[It's... not that long after Vegeta calls him that Trunks shows up. He's been working with the Time Patrol he's honestly forgotten he has to actually go at the right time to things- he's used to just always appearing when he needs to be there.

So it's the next day when he finally flies to the building with the surging Saiyan power level he can detect inside. He makes his way to the door, and knocks, and... well, it's family, right? He lets himself in after knocking.]

... It's Trunks. Anyone home?

[There's a gasp from the main body of the apartment, immediately followed by the muffled thump of Bulma throwing her CereVice onto the couch after shooting to her feet.]

Trunks!?

[Rapid footfalls precede her appearance in the short hallway leading to the door. She hesitates just long enough for her eyes to confirm what her ears told her before darting forward.] Trunks! [Sorry, kid, you're in for the hugging of your life if you don't move quick.] What took you so long!?

[Gosh a WHOLE DAY.]

Give the boy space to breathe, woman. [Unsurprisingly, Vegeta is content in keeping out of his wife and son's sappy reunion, arms crossed and leaning casually against the wall behind them. Dressed down in the clothing Bulma picked up for him--even if he was happy enough to remain in his battle gear, he hadn't bothered to argue when presented with the much more informal garments--the Saiyan is staring over his wife's head at Trunks, regarding his son's youthful face carefully.

They hadn't had much time to speak during the 'battle' with the paparazzi, so now the man is using the moment to take in the other's appearance, looking for signs that may clue him into how much time has passed for this Trunks.]

M-mother, it's-- oof! [He doesn't move in time. He is so bad at that!! He just gets hugged like mad.]

It's only been a little while, you know.

[He notes his father staring at him after not too long and... well, he gives Vegeta a curt nod. ... Yeah, that's a suitably badass greeting. He'll put that one in the book for later. ... And then wonder why Vegeta's staring at him so intensely.]

... Father.

[Good thing he's a Saiyan and she's got a measly power level of 12. She shoots Vegeta a dirty look, but relents and steps back with a final squeeze.]

Cut me some slack, I haven't seen you since those rabid animals attacked. Looks like you got out of it unscathed. [She grins proudly. As if she expected anything less.] Can't say I'm surprised.

Trunks. [Always with the sentimental greeting.

This whole meeting must look a little odd to Trunks. His last encounter with his parents had been different. Very different. Vegeta and Bulma had been as far apart as possible the last time he'd been around, their relationship basically nonexistent. Yet here they were, cohabiting in relative peace. Even with the glimpses the time patroller must have seen through his alternate timeline journeys, it must have been quite a sight to see his parents actually together like this.]

Come in. [Gruffly as always,] Don't just stand there in the hallway like idiots.

[It's very strange. He's never actually seen his parents together, really- he knew it had happened, of course, he has the view of all of time. ... But to actually be here, for real, in a timeline where it was real- It's a little strange.

He awkwardly takes his shoes off and nods to Vegeta, stepping inside. ... It's pretty nice, if bare. His own is a little smaller, because of course it is.]

... It's good to see you both again. ... You know. The you that's you, not- you know. Time travel.

[Annnnd that's another glare for Vegeta. Man, he's on a roll today.]

It does complicate things, doesn't it. [She's all smiles for Trunks, though, breezing by on her way to the kitchen.] Do you want a snack? Something to drink?

[Hostess mode: engaged.]

[Oh please, woman. A Super Saiyan does not feel the fury of your glare. He is immune! ...Until Trunks walks out the door and she rounds on him in private.

Once Bulma mentions snacks, Vegeta pushes himself off from the wall, turning to enter the small living room of their apartment, waving Trunks along with him.]

Sit. [Pick a seat, boy. Your father will be standing here to the side for now, arms crossed and looking as unpleasant as ever.] You've come ready to spar after this, haven't you?

... S-sure. Uh, whatever you have is fine. ... You know I'm not picky.

[dont you dare break out the hetap mother

He goes to sit down. ... He'd stand too, but. He was told to sit. He sits in the seat that gives him the clearest eye contact to Vegeta- when he mentions sparring, he finally perks up a bit. Now that's a topic they can talk about.]

Of course! I've got my sword- though, uh, I don't have to use it if you don't want, I don't know if you want weapons involved- and I've been training every day. ... I've been looking forward to it.

[In the kitchen, Bulma listens to the low voices from the living area with an affectionate smile. The last time this version of Trunks and Vegeta had met they'd barely spoken to each other, as far as she's aware. It's good to hear them exchanging more than one or two words, and civil ones at that.

Saiyans and their training. Some things will never change. She shakes her head and finishes filling up a tray with enough food to feed a much larger group, if that group didn't include two Saiyans.]

So, Trunks... what have you been up to? Settling in okay?

[She sets the tray on the low coffee table in front of the couch and takes a seat, watching Trunks carefully. Neither question is as important as the one that's sitting just on the tip of her tongue, but it can wait a minute.]

Without. For now. You said you've progressed since we last met. I want to see just how far. [Ah! Perfect timing, Bulma! The subjects Vegeta had been carefully saving for small talk had just been depleted after one question.

As Bulma settles on the couch opposite of where Trunks is planted, Vegeta moves to take the spot beside her, arms still crossed. If it were anyone else visiting the couple, he would have remained standing to the side, keeping his distance, but for Trunks, he'll make the gesture to show he's actively participating in this conversation. For the most part.

Though for the moment, he's content to let Bulma take the reigns and get things started.]

Figured. [He shrugs the sword off his shoulders and sets it aside on a table or something. Literally the only two people he'd trust with it sitting around, besides maybe some of his Patrollers.]

Oh, uh... yeah, I suppose so. I've just been scouting around and making sure I know where everything is-- old habits die hard. Got to make sure I know where to make my patrols.

Patrols, huh? It sounds like you're in it for the long haul. [She tries to sound enthusiastic, she really does, but she can't quite keep the dubious note out of her voice. It isn't that she doubts Trunks. It's their whole situation; she refuses to settle in and make herself comfortable, convinced that they'll find a way home sooner rather than later.

That's always how it works, right. Bad things happen, they find a solution, everyone is alive and happy again. So what if there aren't any Dragon Balls this time around.] Maybe you can give me the grand tour later.

[But for right now... she glances at Vegeta, then turns back to Trunks.] What do you think of the situation here, Trunks?

[While that old sword of Trunks' is set aside, Vegeta leans forward to swipe up a half of a sandwich off of the prepared tray of food, his head inclining enough to meet with Bulma's gaze once she looks his way, but he is just as quickly looking back to Trunks as well.]

What she means to say is, what do you think of CERES and their--[the corner of his mouth twitches]--presentation. I've traveled the universe over, but my experience with time falls short.

[How would they be able to take people from different realities and timelines as they had? What kind of ungodly technology or powers did these people have access too?]

[Trunks idly grabs another half a sandwich and stuffs it in hos mouth, sighing and scratching his chin. He swallows it and leans in a bit.]

... I don't know. This isn't something we've ever encountered before. ... I guess I should probably tell you what I've been doing, but- point is, we've never run into anyone with this amount of power. The only being I know of who could take people from all across time is the Supreme Kai herself, and even she can't do it from multiple worlds, or at this level of efficiency.

[It isn't the definitive answer she'd hoped for, but it is what she expected. Bulma lets out a slow breath, sitting back.]

So CERES isn't like anything any of us have encountered before. We'll just keep digging. [Actually, now that she thinks about it...] ... It might be a mistake to think in terms of innate abilities. They said that we were... downloaded, right? From data? Clearly they have access to advanced technology. I mean, just look around!

[She waves a hand at her CereVice where it sits beside the tray.] Capsule Corp is years away from developing anything this complex. What I wouldn't give for two minutes with their R&D department...

[The man huffs at Bulma's bursting enthusiasm, as expected as it may have been.]

If they aren't lying. [He had his doubts. Downloaded? Turned into data or some complete gibberish like that? It couldn't be. He felt like himself. Bulma and Trunks seemed just the same to him as before. How could they not be real? If a Kai couldn't pull off a feat like that, then who could possibly have the power or resources to?

Vegeta's gaze flickered up to Trunks.] What have you been doing? 'Time patroller'. It stated that on your phone. Was one trip through time not enough for you?

... To be honest, I hoped it was.

[He shrugs, shoulders slumping a bit. This is embarrassing.]

Turns out? Time travel is illegal. ... So I got arrested by the Supreme Kai of Time. In order to get off the hook, she appointed me as commander of the Time Patrol, a group dedicated to ensuring that time travel isn't abused to cause trouble with history, or throw anything into chaos.

... I've seen everything, now. Every fight the Z-Fighters ever fought in, and more. I've fought in most of them, too. Trying to keep people from destroying the world with time travel.

[He sighs again, heavier this time.]

I guess we disregarded a bigger threat, though.

[Bulma glances at her husband with a slight frown, nodding once in agreement. There is that. Still, she's trying to keep an open mind. She isn't going to be blindsided by the truth when it comes. And it will come, even if she has to drag it out of CERES herself.

She listens to them talk, only interjecting when she hears that heavy sigh from her son.]

It's not your fault, Trunks. I don't believe for a second that you and your Time Patrol didn't do everything you could to save everyone. [Spoken with the confidence and pride of a mother who knows her son is far too brave and heroic to do anything less.]

Arrested! [he spits with a frown, clearly disgusted by just the mere thought. A Super Saiyan under arrest? Handcuffed and taken away? Even if it had taken a Supreme Kai to draw up the charges, it still made for the most shameful imagery he could conjure up. After decades of crumbling under Frieza's heel, the idea of his own son bowing down to someone else (even if the work was far more noble) has the prince's jaw clench.

Still, the rest of what Trunks has to say--his involvement in every fight over every timeline, his knowledge of every event that Kakarot and his friends had been through--Vegeta finds fascinating, though a little hard to grasp the full extent of it. Just how far did Trunks' experience into the future go? Had he seen events that had yet to transpire on Earth before CERES had interfered? Would that have caused even more rippling changes to the timeline? There was just too much to consider.]

Hmph, but even with that ability, you never saw yourself ending up in this place, did you? [Just going to be stuffing his face now with that sandwich,]

... I've more than paid my debt. I stay because I choose to, now.

[He pauses. He's tempted to argue, to defend himself, but-- Vegeta's right, isn't he? None of the Time Scrolls showed this coming.]

... No, you're right. I never did. I've seen so much else, in the past and the future, and yet-- we didn't have any idea about this. ... Which shouldn't be possible. That's why it's so worrying.

That is strange... The Kais are always watching over everything, so why wouldn't they warn everyone about this before it happened?

[She frowns and rubs at her temple. Unless it hadn't happened at all, or... maybe the Flamines went after them first? That's just too horrible to contemplate.

She does anyway.]

[Whenever that slow, deliberate chewing finally comes to a stop, Vegeta somehow manages to sit even straighter beside his petite wife, gracing his son and wife with a royal glower.]

This is all pointless hearsay and I won't sit around debating hypothetical situations. We know nothing of this colony besides what we've been told. That must be rectified.

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[01] [Closed] ♚ A Briefs Visit

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