Disclaimer: I don't own Trigun but Legato's family is up for adoption.
C-E: My friend and I got together and when that happens, bad things come forth. Coupled with the fact that our band director was babbling on about something that I forgot and our sheet music was staring back at us, we delved into the Italian phrases and came to an indefinite conclusion. So, I give you a once in a lifetime experience:
Legato's Family ReunionChapter One:
It All Comes Down To One Letter…
((((Start))))
((Fallen SEEDs Ship))
The sweet summer sun sat on its haunches, yawning with its late rise. The slender fingers of light reached up the sky and touched the glistening metal of the ship sending an orange sheen down it spine as the warmth washed away last night's frost. A blissful silence rang it's way through cold halls as all it's occupants twirled themselves in the warmth of their blankets, like baby's fresh from the womb.
Legato stood in the kitchen, drinking his morning cup of java and eating his morning bucket of cream puffs. Although the rest of the ship (even Master Knives) still lay in their beds getting ready for another eventful day of wrecking havoc of the human populace, Legato awoke early in the morning in order to eat a wholesome breakfast and think of ways to torture his lesser (if they should ever anger him or his Master). A knock echoed through the ship and nearly made Legato spill his coffee as he growled and walked to the front door to issue ultimate pain and suffering on whoever dared to interrupt his "me" time.
Legato swung the door open and glared at the innocent mailman and his impatient Thomas behind him. The young man (about mid twenties) handed Legato a letter as he held a brown box tied with rough twine beneath his other arm. The young man, wearing the old postman uniforms from earth, smiled and handed Legato the box.
"Are you Mr. Bluesummers?"
Legato glared at him, balancing his coffee on top of the box. "Yes." he finally growled.
"Please sign for this," the man said, shoving a clipboard with, at least, fifty documents waiting to be signed. Legato growled, as he smelled the cooling remnants of his coffee teetering beneath his nose.
"You sign it," he glared and managed to slam the door on the young man, who obediently signed Legato's name on every paper as he rode off past the horizon.
Legato walked back to the kitchen and set the box on the table so he could sip the last of his coffee before the rest of the Gung-ho Guns came in for breakfast. He grabbed the letter and walked to the "living room" or, as the rest of the Gung-ho Guns put it, that one place where Master Knives doesn't chew you out. The blue-haired man with piercing golden eyes plopped down on his favorite cushy chair and looked at the envelope's address.
Vivace & John Bluesummers
1432 Broadway Avenue
July City
79054 - 6728
Legato's eyes furrowed as he stared at the red wax seal with a writhing snake etched in it's middle on the envelope's opening. "No way," he muttered as Vash's hand broke the seal, "They should've died in the incident…"
Legato began reading to himself unaware that he had broken out in a cold sweat as his eyes floated across the calligraphy letters.
"Dear Son,
You're father and I are overwhelmed that we finally found you. It is unfortunate that our home was destroyed by that horrible man Vash the Stampede. We we're so worried when you ran away from us after July was destroyed but I had complete faith in your abilities and knew I would find you again, someday.
I understand you work for a man named Knives. Your father and I would love to meet him, which brings me to the meaning of this letter. The Bluesummers family has grown apart for lack of family reunions. My dearest son, I implore you to host this year's reunion. I have already sent you the addresses of every family member and a budget to set up the party. I expect nothing but the best from you and so does your father.
With Caring Love and Absolute Concern,
Mother and Father Bluesummers"
Legato stared at the letter, not believing it was real. He shook it. He yanked on its edges and stared at the careful lettering until he thought he would go blind. But, no matter what he did, the letter would not disappear and his mind came to its last unnerving conclusion….
His parents have found him and the family was coming to visit.
By this time, the entire Gung-ho gang filled around Legato as he sat on his couch and shivered with unfocused eyes. Never before had any of them seen such a sight. Legato muttering to himself was a regular; but, shivering like a sick man who has just seen death? That was new.
Dominique managed to pry the culprit letter from Legato's clammy hand. She read it out loud and the Gung-ho gang stared at each other, followed by a collective stare at Legato. A silence fell into the room, amplified by the thought that crossed everybody's mind. A thought that the pajama-ed Zazie spoke aloud, "Legato has a family?"
"I thought he would've killed them off or something like that," Midvalley continued, wearing a pair of black sweat pants.
"If he didn't kill them, they must be as powerful as he is," Dominique rationalized, already in her daily clothing.
"Maybe we should tell Master Knives about this," the Gauntlet offered.
Once again the room fell silent as Legato stood up and snatched the letter from Dominique's hand. "No! This is my problem and I will speak to Master about it myself. The only thing I'm worried about is Mother…"
Everyone stared at Legato completely missing the hint. Dominique sighed, "What about your mother, Legato?"
His golden eyes twitched and his hand crumpled the letter. "Every year I went to a family reunion Mother tries to get me a wife. This year will be no different."
Dominique gently guided Legato down to his couch as the other Gung-ho's gathered around in a circle. She sat down beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Alright, Legato. Let's calm down for your sake and the sake of everyone else. We're going to talk through this and see if we can't find a solution."
Legato nodded and relaxed as the group lost its tension. Midvalley spoke first, pulling out a cigarette from his back pocket and lighting it. "Why doesn't Dominique pose as your wife? I mean, it's not like your parents are going to know the difference."
Legato shook his head, "No, that won't work. Mother has the ability to control anything associated with music. That's how come she named me Legato. If my wife doesn't have any musical talent then mother will hone in on me and force out the truth."
The Gauntlet sniffed and everyone turned to him, "You know, I never knew my mother. She was killed by a rabid Thomas and never sang to me at night or made me hot milk when I couldn't sleep-"
Zazie growled and crossed his arms. "Ha! You never knew your mother? I don't even know if I have one! For all I know, I could be a clone of some weird psychopath!"
Dominique cleared her throat and patted Legato on the back as his eyes began to twitch again. "This isn't about who doesn't have a mother and who does, this is about Legato and his family crisis."
Midvalley chuckled and blew a puff of smoke before he spoke. "Hey Legato, you said your mother can control music, right? Think she can make me play my Silvia any better than I already do?"
Legato glared at Midvalley then smiled. His head fell and he hunched his shoulders as his back shook with unnerving laughter. The Gung-ho Guns slowly left their spots to retreat to a safe distance as Legato looked up and ambled towards the stiff Midvalley with a confused glare on his face. Legato draped an arm over the saxophonist's shoulder and smiled.
"You know, Midvalley," he drawled. The rest of the Gung-ho gang flinched at the voice they knew too well. "Mother would love to hear you play on your precious 'Silvia' and… well, I need a wife-"
Midvalley threw off Legato's arm, fell over the table he leaned against, jumped back to his feet and stormed towards the kitchen door yelling, "Screw you, Legato!! I am NOT posing as your wife! No matter WHAT you do to me!" he finished, thrusting his arms into the air.
Legato chuckled and drawled, "You sure about that?"
Midvalley stopped halfway to his safety zone and spun around to face the living room. He painted a bright smile on his face and squealed, "Oh Legato! Look how famished you are! Let me make you some cookies. Oh! But first, I'd better put on my apron!"
The rest of the Gung-ho Guns stared as Midvalley pranced down the hall toward his room. They turned their glance to Legato who grinned and held his chin in Vash's hand.
"You know, I think I might want a child, to keep the illusion…"
"Oh! Look at the time! I'm going to be late for my dentist appointment!" Dominique yells walking towards the front door soon followed by Gauntlet.
"Maybe I should come with you Dominique! You know how you are around those needles and whatnot…" he said as his voice dissipated behind the front door slamming shut.
Zazie stared at Legato who stared back. The boy smiled and ran out the door, yelling something about school… Legato stood in the living room with the letter still choked in his hand. Somewhere behind him, Midvalley was in his room complaining about nothing to wear. The blue-haired man sighed, coming to the inevitable conclusion:
He must ask Master Knives for use of the ship this weekend.
He squared his shoulders and walked to the forbidden room of the temperamental plant. The large metal door, splattered with red handprints sliding down its front, glinted in the luminescent bulbs above with a benevolent glow of foreboding. Legato breathed deeply twice before raising Vash's hand to strike the door. But before he could-
"Come in Legato." The calmness of the voice made Legato jump but he soon gained composure and opened the door. Master Knives lounged in a Victorian couch with only one arm, surrounded by draped walls of stark burgundy and bristling fire set in a polished marble house. Legato never failed to marvel at the explosive transition of style and sophistication of Knives' room.
The plant leaned against the velvet arm of the couch, a book in one hand and the other propped up against his chin. His satin navy eyes glanced at Legato as the door closed behind his minion. For a few seconds, Legato stood before those prying eyes as if he were a medieval statue being surveyed by the finest connoisseur for authenticity.
Master Knives sighed and placed his book on his lap, letting his other arm rest on the couches back as he twisted to watch Legato's monotone body. His gloved finger motioned for Legato to come closer like pulling a puppy by its collar. The plant smiled as he came into view of Vash's hand, still holding the letter.
His milky face fell back into superiority as he spoke straight into Legato's form. "Why have you disturbed me, Legato?"
Legato shifted, wanting to leave. "I have come to ask for advice…"
Master Knives knew his correct answer, "Inept human," he hissed, "You dare lie to me? Now, tell me why you're here."
Legato forced out the truth unsure of any consequences, "I have been contacted by my mother who wishes me to host this year's family reunion. I come to your abode to request the use of the ship this weekend."
Knives chuckled, shifting back to his reading position. "Sure, why not? I was thinking of visiting Vash anyway. I'll leave tonight and be gone for a week. Heh, it will be a nice surprise for Chapel."
Legato bowed and left the room. He walked down the hallway and into the kitchen, passing by Midvalley who was busy cooking cookies. The blue-haired man sat at the table as Midvalley placed a plate of steaming cookies in front of him, patting his head and telling him to eat up. As Midvalley left to cook more, Legato turned his attention to the box that came with the letter.
"…and a budget to set up the party…" Legato pulled the box close to him and opened the brown box.
"What the-!" the man said as he stared inside at the collective amount of about 50 billion double dollars.
So, Legato spent the next two days preparing the SEEDs ship for his coming family. Master Knives was away and the Gung-ho Guns took voluntary vacations, which left Legato and Midvalley and a large sum of money to prepare for the coming hailstorm of relatives….
((((End))))
C-E: A nice chapter to start off on, ne? I hope this story will tickle your fancy and get you thinking of what the other members of the Bluesummers family will be like. Knowing me, it's bound to be a surprise!! Stay alert for this story!