voidtreckerexpress | [Closed] Digging in and digging up

Vegeta is not overly enthused about this all, he’s not one to really talk about his past. He’s well aware of what he’s done, and was trying his best to make up for it. However between Trunks’ questions regarding his newly regained tail and bigger ones on their heritage, and Bulma finding that damn book during the mission and trying to be sneaky about his story, only for it to fail, he supposes he can handle at least this. Worse case he will just give a hard ‘no’ to questions he doesn’t want to answer.

It may also help feeding him during this, once they are settled in and the first part of food dished out, Vegeta easily going through a couple of plates worth to first fill that void of a stomach of his, before slowing down enough to both enjoy the rest of the meal, and to be able to talk more comfortably without a mouth full of food.

At least someone was; Trunks was more nervous and distracted. Not that he didn't have questions and want answers. But Bulla had been acting strange--and hadn't been responding properly. Did that mean she was going to leave? He was also nervous about asking Vegeta questions, even if he was determined too.

But how did one even start that conversation?

So, he was enjoying the food too--but not nearly as much as he normally would. There were times he did just push it around his plate. Definitely not normal for a saiyan.

Bulma isn't entirely sure how all of this would go, if she's honest. Of course, they've talked about Vegeta's past in bits and pieces through the years, though mostly late at night when he couldn't sleep and she was bold enough to ask what he dreamt about so often. Other things came in fits and starts, a by-product of living together for years and years and now sharing multiple children.

So she is excited to see if anything new comes out of this as well, though a part of her in nervous about what she may hear as well. Bulma isn't foolish enough to think that everything would be unicorns and rainbows when it comes to Vegeta's past, either.

Her plates are, of course, much smaller than the boys', but that's to be expected, happily watching them plow through a few plates. She'd hardly expected them to start talking right away - at the very least not until Vegeta's eaten more than enough of his share. "So did you find anything interesting at the last stop, Trunks? I've already been tipped off about an interesting radio that Entrapta wants me to look at."

It was a good thing for Bulma to start, Vegeta regaining enough focus now he wasn't starving to notice her trying to get the conversation going, rather than just being background noise. Not that he plans to interrupt just yet, instead taking a drink as he waits for Trunks to answer. He has his own questions about what happened with the Purple Team after talking to Cassie directly after their mission had been a success.

And he's also just as aware of Bulla's situation as his son is. He just... is trying not to think about it too much. It's been made clear they can't do anything about it, just had to wait until she left.

"Not really, as I was on the front lines more often than not with purple. When I wasn't, I was probably getting a break by making sure someone else took a break too. I didn't get a chance to look for or at any equipment. Not even the siege engines the demons used, as I was a bit distracted by other things in battle. What radio?"

"Ah, that's a shame." Of course she kind of expected that. Trunks was always thinking of others more than himself, and that's what made him so different from his parents, in the long and short of it. Not that Bulma couldn't be selfless, she just... tended to want some sort of return for her output.

"Entrapta mentioned it to me. Apparently it's a Void radio? She wants me to take a look at it and see what I can make of it. I also got a really interesting book." It wasn't very interesting for Vegeta, but it wasn't like she could read the information it provided anyway.

"Some of us were actually fighting rather than having the time to window shop." A bit of a prod at Bulma for that question, however there is no real bite behind it despite the level of snark to it. He still hasn't forgotten her trying to be sneaky about that damn book she got, and how she tried to use it on him.

"What's interesting about the book?" Trunks asked, curious. "Entrapta is good to work with. I've been helping her a bit with her dinosaur robot."

"Would you like me to have gotten in to a fight, Vegeta?" Bulma reaches over to shove her elbow in to Vegeta's ribs for that smart assed little comment. Of course, they all know that only if they'd like to witness Vegeta have a mental break down she could get in to a battle and get hurt - but that's not the point.

"It gives you the story on whoever you're touching with it when it's open." Bulma reaches to a random page in her book, opening it to show it to Trunks. It's all written in an alien language - saiyan language, it would seem. "I can only read a little bit of this, though. Too little to understand it."

He is not going to answer that, just giving her a look as she well knew the answer to that already, instead stuffing several more mouthfuls of food into his mouth as they spoke. Ughh, he doesn't want to do this, but Vegeta guesses it's time. Both of them really wanted to know more, so may as well start dealing with their questions. Especially now that book was brought out. Was it the worst thing to happen? He guesses not. It's just... he, his people, have done a lot over the years... none of it good.

It's asked with a heavy sigh, "What do you want to know?" The question directed at both of them. Then remembering who he was talking to and delivered another look at Bulma. "One question at a time from you both." Because Vegeta knows what she's like once she gets going on a new topic of knowledge.

Trunks blinked at the shift from Mom telling him about the book, to his Father's sudden willingness to answer questions. One question at a time? He could do that because his brain was still trying to follow the lightening shift of moods.

"Why does her having the book bother you?"

"It tells a person's full story." Bulma supplies as if that is answer enough, brows raising ever so slightly as if saying 'you understand' without actually saying it. After all, despite all of their years together, and Bulma knowing far more about the Saiyan Prince than the others in their world, she still does not know the entire story. And in the end, she is largely fine with that. Who Vegeta was then is most definitely not the same man as he is now.. but Bulma is curious. Naturally, considering everything involved with being Bulma Briefs.

"Even though your father and I have been together a long time, it's.. " Bulma pauses, thinking about how to word what she wants to say, here. After all, her own husband hadn't known she had an older sister, so it isn't like the secrets are one-sided.

"We didn't really focus on giving each other and full, whole story either way. It seemed more important to just move forward." Especially after Majin Buu.

In saying that, Vegeta hadn't mentioned to anyone he had a younger brother. Then again, he also had thought he would never see Tarble again since he had no clue where he had been sent off to. Nor really cared. They had been separated as young children, and a closeness to one's kin wasn't the strongest of Saiyan traits. Vegeta also decides to expand on what Bulma started, though with a look to her as both a silent agreement, but also that he understood that unspoken event. That... had not been one of his finest moments. An important one to help him move forward, but it had been a painful step to take. For everyone.

"I don't see the point in recording all the lives I have taken and worlds I've destroyed. Enough people know what I was like when I first came to Earth, so what's the point in putting a body count to it?" As for his childhood, "And some stories are better lost to time. The Saiyans did enough damage to the universe that they don't need to be glorified in recordings." He prodded at his food as he spoke, not comfortable with, well, any talk like this, but also well aware of what he and his people were like.

"I'd...still like to know more about my heritage. Even if it's not pleasant." Trunks said, also pushing his food around his plate. He'd been nervous asking that, and it showed. Mostly because while he did very much want to know, he also knew he couldn't push his father too much or he'd shut down.

"Personally I'm not interested in the body count or the worlds. What's done is done in that respect." Look, she'd known what she was getting into when she'd gotten into bed with Vegeta. Granted, she hadn't ever planned on it becoming a long-term thing and yet, here they sat around a table with a son between them and now a daughter, all of them still wondering after Vegeta.

But, of course, with that said -

"I'm more curious about your father. How planet Vegeta was.. that kind of thing."

Vegeta can't really blame Trunks for wanting to know, he's had so much of his history taken from him, everyone in his world killed off, and any records of history basically destroyed by the androids. He looked over to his son before letting out a sigh, "It's almost a shame Nappa didn't survive, he would be able to tell you more." Because at the end of the day, Vegeta had only been a child when he lost his planet, and while he had been schooled in preparation for taking up the throne, his knowledge was still limited compared to an adult at the time.

Bulma's comments however took Vegeta off guard, his fist instinctively clenching enough to snap the chopsticks he was using. He stopped to look down at what he had done, then discarded them to the side of his current plate. Of course that would come up at some point. It's... understandable, but it doesn't mean he would like it. Focusing on brushing the remains of them from his fingers, Vegeta muttered out. "He was a Saiyan king. And just a Saiyan king." He hoped it would be enough to tell... but if she, or Trunks, did want more... he would try.

"What makes a Saiyan King different?" Trunks asked. Knowing he might be pushing it, but staring back at his father with a determined expression all the same.

"He means that he wasn't a father. I think?" Bulma of course turns to Vegeta to confirm or deny. She's heard enough to understand that Vegeta's childhood was far from what she had been able to give Trunks in either version. Hell, by those standards, Trunks in their current timeline, as well as Bulla, was hellaciously spoiled and doted on. She realizes they are walking in very tender grass, now, though -

And reaches over to place her hand on Vegeta's arm, a small token of comfort.

He would claim he didn't need it, but Bulma knew better by now. "Somehow, I don't think you'll be surprised to know I'm not sad that Nappa didn't survive."

A glance back to Bulma to confirm to her she was correct, and Vegeta made no motion to remove her hand from his arm. It was nice, even if he wouldn't admit it out loud, however it helped enough for him to reach over and steal her cutlery for the moment, and maybe a piece of food off her plate. Almost as payment for her comment causing him to break his way of eating. "I'm not. Nappa certainly held a level of blood lust that I never managed to reach." Nappa in battle... was a sight. He found a level of joy out of getting his hands dirty in a way Vegeta never did. There was a reason he had been so highly ranked in their army.

Vegeta takes a moment, a breath in, then a slow huff out before chewing on the food item he stole from Bulma. He can do this. "The purpose of a Saiyan king is two fold; to serve the people, and to be the strongest. They are not fathers, they are not family, they do everything that is needed to maintain control over their people and to keep a balance with allies." Mostly Cold, then Freeza after him. Freeza in a way was worse, he loved any excuse to kill someone off, something King Vegeta had been very aware about. "The purpose of an heir is to train to replace the king when the time comes. And in Tarbles case, he was a back up in case I fell before I could take control. Until it was decided he was not worth the time to train and sent off."

"My father did what was right as a king, but I held no regret or sadness upon his death with our planet. Only that I lost my chance to become king." Vegeta now knows this sounds cold, but at the time he held no connections to anyone who had been on his home planet. As far as he was concerned there was nothing there for him, and with it gone he had lost the purpose for his existence. After that it had just became about destruction. And to find a way free of Freeza.

"So, how DID one become king?" Trunks had a sneaking suspicion it was done through assassination. Or trial by combat, knowing what he did now about Saiyans.

"So like I said - no Nappa." Of course, Vegeta had his own level of blood lust, but not one that Bulma necessarily disagreed with at all times. She hadn't agreed many times when an enemy had been allowed to live, though, happily, the decision to let Vegeta live and wish him back hadn't been all bad in the end. At least not when it came to them and Trunks. Bulma's life would certainly have been much different.

"Tarble would have been too kind for that position, anyway." And, well. Vegeta might've been too, to a point. She certainly knew that there was someone softer under there than he was willing to admit. All she'd had to give was a little TLC when he had stayed on Earth to learn a little bit more than the gruff outside that Vegeta so constantly offered.

"Death of the former king, I would bet?" Here again Bulma is turning to Vegeta for confirmation. She'd learned enough through little anecdotes to sort of have an idea, at least, of what would be required. "Did people challenge for the throne sometimes? I would think that saiyans like Broly's father would attempt to make a change of hands happen."

"You act like I can control what this damn train does." Vegeta throws back at Bulma, an unamused expression crossing his face as all of them knew this was hardly the best of situations they had been dragged into, and all knew how Bulma felt about it.

He agreed silently about Bulma's take on Tarble as he poked at his food again, nodding his agreement to it before focusing on Trunks, a bit of a smile appearing at Trunks' tone behind that question. "Inheritance typically. Believe it or not, while Saiyans are always ready to fight, we did have a clear line of command and caste system. It was rare for it to be questioned." It's why Vegeta had such issues with Goku for so long, according to Saiyan customs Goku should had never been able to reach Vegeta's level. Shows how well that truly was. Broly too actually... "For the most it's passed down to the oldest legitimate heir, though I believe somewhere in my family line there had been at least one case of a king being overthrown by their brother."

A bit of a shrugged followed as Vegeta shoveled another mouthful of food into his mouth, willing to admit it was difficult to give a full answer on. "The issue is that we don't have a clear records of history since arriving on what would become planet Vegeta. It took time for us to adapt and take the planet before we were able to get back to same level we had on Sadala."

"So, why aren't you King? Because he couldn't pass it on to you officially or something?" Trunks is still a bit confused by that. And ignoring the little thought in his brain that he's illegitimate, which means he probably wouldn't even count as a prince. Not that he's ever thought about being a prince before, so that thought is kind of baffling too.

"I'll personally take on Nappa if he shows up." And don't doubt her even the littlest, tiniest bit, Vegeta. Your tiny little wife absolutely would just to make a man point and there's no denying that it would happen, either. At any rate, Bulma quiets down as Vegeta speaks, eager to hear more about the saiyans' civilization. It had long been destroyed by the time Vegeta showed up on Earth, and when they had reached a level of being decent to each other...

There was much more going on than quizzing Vegeta about his previous home.

Bulma immediately wants to say 'what is there to be king of?' when Trunks asks about why Vegeta isn't king. Of course, she just barely keeps her mouth shut, instead turning her eyes to Vegeta.

"Well, I don't think they'd be very happy with me as Queen at any rate." Not very strong at all, and everything.

"No." Vegeta snapped back at Bulma, ignoring Trunks for the moment due to the stupid comment from her. "Don't assume he will have the same restraint I did for you during Namek." She had been such a pain at the time during it, but also not a threat to him. Nappa... Vegeta could see him losing his cool with her very quickly.

An annoyed 'hmph' of a sound to finish that off before Vegeta make himself switch back to what Trunks had asked him, though still with a shake of his head and one more snark at Bulma. "You really didn't tell him anything." And by 'you' he means her other self from Trunks' timeline. "Planet Vegeta along with most of the Saiyans were destroyed when I was still a child. I had been off world with a handful of other Saiyans when a call had gone out for us to all return back, and I ordered my team to ignore it." A sigh followed. "I can't believe so many fell for it, however we had long learned that Freeza had little patience for those who didn't follow his rules. Not that it helped in the end." Vegeta's tone gaining more anger and sarcasm as he went on about Freeza's actions. "Technically I would had been 'king' with the death of my father and the destruction of my planet, but there was no point since there was nothing to rule over. Those of us that remained were brought in under Freeza's command as part of his army, and slowly started to die off during missions. Only myself, Nappa, and Raditz, Kakarot's brother, remained by the time we discovered Earth."

Vegeta also can't help one more parting shot at Bulma for her silly idea about taking on Nappa. "No, you wouldn't had even been considered as an option for my mate. Maybe a mistress." He adding a smirk onto the end of that towards her.

Trunks listened, then raised an eyebrow. Because Vegeta was usually very insistent on his title. Then of course, he added that part and was smirking at Bulma and Trunks just... Nope, he was done. Pushing his plate away.

"I think I'm overdue at the training gym. One of the lessons. Maybe."

"I never asked you to show restraint on Namek." If anything, she'd been near-on terrified of him in the worst way. But to also be fair, he'd been intent on killing Goku then, so can she really be blamed? At any rate, Vegeta had certainly calmed down more than a little since then.

Still, since they're on the subject of other saiyans, and with the fact that more saiyans seem to conveniently come out of the woodwork whenever anyone feels like it... Bulma can't help him hum and ruminate a little on he and Goku being the 'last' of their race. "Are you sure that you two are the only ones, though? Couldn't there be more just sort of.. spread through the universe?" It's an interesting thing to think about at the very least. The possibility of other saiyans in the universe. Interesting if only because she knows if they come to Earth it will not be a great time for them with Vegeta and Goku already there.

Though - that mistress comment. Bulma turns to sharply punch Vegeta in his armor, unamused and not even pretending to take it on the chin this time around. "Take that back."

Sorry, Trunks, she's not taking this bit of snark from your father this time. Though she will turn to ask :

"I thought you were here to learn something, Trunks?"

It was a good question, regarding other Saiyans, and one Vegeta had considered before. So many children had been sent out who were still too young to had returned at Freeza's announcement, so there could be more out there on random planets. That or they died during their attempted conquering. Either way, it wouldn't be a great outcome; either dead or on a planet that was void of other life and left to survive. Vegeta doubted many lived.

Yet any answer he would give to Bulma's question was quickly distracted by that punch. It may had been serious from her but all it gets is a bark of a 'ha!' before continuing with laughter from Vegeta, amused that he managed to push her far enough to get that reaction. He didn't mean it, she should know that, and he's sure she's not really angry at him, just very annoyed that he made that joke. A smile lingered at his amusement over it, though started to drop away as Trunks reacted, until it was back to Vegeta's normal expression.

"Let him go, he knows where to come if he has more questions." Part of Vegeta is a little annoyed, they had made a fuss wanting to know more and he had actually tried to answer stuff he generally wouldn't talking about... but the bigger part wasn't going to force Trunks to stay. He didn't have choice for much of his life, but Vegeta would make damn sure his kids had it, even if it did end up with them doing stupid things. It at least was their choice. Also, maybe this was all still a bit too much for Trunks, they were still getting used to their relationship here, too many years difference between when they had last interacted.

[Closed] Digging in and digging up

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