Disclaimer: Don't own Trigun.
A/N: Do not bother me about Doors Will Not Reopen. I have Writer's Block on that right now. Anyway, I've been working on this for over a year, adding, editing, tearing my hair out, etc. Remember A Prelude? Yeah, that one: it's the preview to this.
Behold, my drabble series in which Knives kills Vash in the final battle in the anime. The "chapters" will almost all be memories of Meryl. Plot is non-existent here; these are mainly character snapshots. I'm flexing my fingers!
At this point, Meryl realizes that she will just have to go to sleep hungry again, and for some odd reason, it no longer bothers her.
Earlier that day, she had done the rounds with Milly and Jake, footsteps shuffling as they walked in a neat row, down the endless tunnels. Jake's eyes darted around continuously, his pupils round and huge. Milly slightly lagged behind and clutched her stun gun tightly while smiling, and Meryl kicked at stray pebbles in her path, derringers bouncing against her body in rhythm.
"Milly, did you manage to find something for tonight?" she found herself asking. Should I even bother?
The smile slid off of her face. "There are enough for the children, but Sempai…"
Meryl waved her hand at Milly, noticing the dirt and filth collecting under her nails. "It's fine."
"At least they'll have something to eat," the brunette replied.
The petite woman nodded, and Jake coughed and stared straight ahead.
So here Meryl sits, watching scrawny little people stuff food into their mouths. Her stomach stirs, a longing to reach out and grab whatever is on the table. Mine, you cannot have it. But she suppresses her hunger, turns away, and wills herself to think about anything else. Milly is probably in their room already, which is shared by four other tenants; yes, the six of them squeeze into that hot, cramped room.
After dinner, Meryl wanders back through the dirty system of corridors (lit only by cheap lanterns), brushes her teeth in the communal bathroom, changes into an oversized T-shirt, and goes straight to bed. She might feel better in the morning. There is no point staying up.
Her roommates eventually file in; they complete their own nighttime ritual and lumber to bed. Someone turns the light off, shifts restlessly between the covers. Cough, cough, rustle, rustle, and then sleep.
"Meryl." A poor excuse for a whisper.
She does not bother trying to adjust to the dark and speaks out loud with her eyes closed. "What is it, Milly?"
"Good night." It is more of a question than a guarantee.
The dark-haired woman smiles grimly and turns on her side. "You too."
Still, they live with it.
And yet, she wonders how.
Okay, at this point everyone wants to go: Bzuh? But I have explanation for you so listen up. Knives has taken over after hysterically mourning over Vash's death, the plants are free, most of the humans are dead by now, but—! A small resistance lies underground, driven by people like Milly and Meryl and whoever. They scavenge for food, supplies, and the occasional weapon. Blah-blah-blah, use your imagination. I certainly did.Okay, now you can review.