& where will you go with your blank ticket?

"You're a coward." He isn't looking at her, staring out into the sands and vegetable patches. Hasn't looked at her since he arrived home to find Rem in his kitchen with his–with Mona.

It's funny, Knives thinks. Because he's one too. Maybe he learned that from her. (It's not fair, that Vash got all of the best of her and he's left with the worst. Left with the dregs, clinging to them because it's all he has left of Rem even when he doesn't want it.)

He's made a point of keeping a minimum of five feet between them at all times. Every step Rem takes in his direction is responded to with a step away in kind. His fingers tingle and ache, and its a herculean effort not to start biting, to not start peeling skin off of his fingers. He stuffs his hands into his pockets to stem the urge, though it doesn't really help. But Knives isn't giving this to Rem, isn't letting her see his walls down.

Nai was all grown up now. Much taller than she would have thought, with sharp features that held onto his pain. A far cry from the sensitive boy she knew.

God, she ached and wished and mourned. The twins grew so quickly, too quickly for her (as if she dared to think they were alive for her). To her benefit, Rem wasn't scared of him, not now. While she certainly had much to live for at present, with the need to find Vash, she wasn't afraid of dying. Far from it, even. So his words cut as deep as they deserve to without so much as a flinch from Rem.

The door is reopened slowly, with caution as one hands holds a basket of supplies, a glass of water in the other. The chair that had been nestled beneath the desk in the room is pulled over to the bedside as she places the water down by Rem. The tears are noted quietly, causing a moment of pause as she glances over the woman before her, but Mona decides not to dwell. Probably wouldn't do her any good to ask on it.

"I'm going to remove your cloak, alright..?" Her hands are slow, both not wanting to move too suddenly or cause any further discomfort as the linen is removed from Rem's shoulders. At a quick glance, there are no glaring injuries; must just be sore or bruised. But the earlier breathlessness and sluggishness clearly means something is wrong. Start simple, maybe.

A small glass jar is plucked from her basket, screwing the top off before scooping some of the ointment inside onto two fingers. "You have a pretty bad sunburn, this should make it feel much better." Mona hesitates a moment, silently ensuring she has time to brace for the contact before lightly dabbing the almost lotion-like medication to her reddened cheeks. No better time to inform her, she supposes.

"My name is Mona Coulter. Doctor, to some. I am-- was a researcher in Plant sciences." Eyelids rest just a bit lower as she recounts some recent events, as well as trying to decide what else to tell her.

"I've known Knives... two, perhaps getting closer to three years now. We're... close. We both live here, tending to his... our farm." The idea of them living together is still foreign to her tongue, having only been sheltered by him for a month now. Her hand is wiped clean, replacing the lid on the jar as she finishes tending to the blemishes on Rem's face. A small capsule is offered to her.

"For the pain." She waits patiently for the medication to be taken before she pulls free her worn and rudimentary stethoscope to take a listen to her breathing a bit better.

Plant sciences, huh? She wondered about the little baby and how identical he was to the twins when they were born. They were the only independents she'd ever seen as infants, so she wasn't completely sure if Independents just shared features by nature of being plants or if it was more than a coincidence here.

...Perhaps there was no coincidence after all. Mona and...Knives (she would struggle not to call him Nai) were close by her account. A smile ghosted Rem's face as she listened, imagining him growing up and having a family. If they were close, and this was their farm they tended together...then was the child...?

Rem takes the offered medication to cope with the pain gratefully. She wasn't looking forward to the physical crash she could feel coming.

"You've seen...he still has it, then? I- yes, I understand that it may be difficult to believe at first, but I am that person in the video, and I am fully aware of what he is. I can explain the story if you care to hear it," Rem's eyes brightened a little as she looked at Mona, the temptation too great to hold back her own questioning.

She would have to worry about Luca, who was clearly beginning to feel the negativity welling up in her. Even a human child would. Plus Knives' estranged mother... And Knives himself, eventually, if he were to happen to return home while Rem was there. Goodness, what was she getting herself into...

Thankfully she wasn't insistent on seeing him. But Mona is very concerned at her physical state as she fusses over the state of Knives, reaching out to support her at first before remembering how tender she was before. "Please, don't talk more than you need to," she attempts to console her softly. "He is well, I promise. But we need to worry about you now, okay..?" Hopefully it would be enough to placate the woman for now, if she kept fretting like this Mona worried that she might not make the trek back to the house.

"It's a long way to the house, maybe about an hour, think you can make it..?"

And is the trek ever long. The two remain silent for the most part, Mona mostly occupying herself ensuring they aren't being followed at all, along with managing Luca, who's fussing has calmed but not dissipated. The walk is longer than predicted, a slowed pace to account for her oddly acquired companion's injuries, but soon the small house is forming just over the ridgeline. Soon the door is creaking open and then shut again, Mona holding it for Rem and taking one last look outside for good measure. The lock is quickly engaged.

"This way--" She guides Rem to one of their spare bedrooms, pausing every few steps to make sure she's following okay. Once they have arrived, Mona gestures for her to sit, and is about to begin her usual routine for a medical examination when she realizes Luca is still wrapped around her, clinging to her shirt gently as he dozes off. She slowly creeps back towards the door.

Rem nodded and followed the woman's directions, her concern for her well-being placating any remnant doubts. She kept pace as best as her body allowed. Truthfully, Rem struggled with the trek, feeling the effects of the environmental heat from the overbearing suns bare down on her frail frame, but she kept it to herself. When a house began to creep into view, relief filled her. So close, and so far.

Reality dazed her. She could barely breathe, chest tight and jaw tense. Rem gratefully follows her lead, though she walks as if she were in a dream. She sits as instructed and nods, fists weakly gripping the cloth of her cloak.

Now that she is sitting down, waiting for her guide to return without the baby, the adrenaline begins to wear off. All the aches and pains return to her attention. She knew better than to let things go like this, but desperation was one hell of a drug. It clouded her judgment of herself; how could she tend to her own wounds beyond what would keep her moving while her boys were out here, presumably alone? Anything could be happening. They were clearly separated, too, which drove her into a wild panic whenever she lingered on it too long.

The twins weren't together. They were supposed to protect each other.

".........No."

"He tried to feed him to a space monster!" Rem, this is a betrayal! Are you taking Vash's side? Is she choosing Vash over Mr Pasta?