[ vash's shoulders bob with a brief laugh when the young boy latches onto claude. that the kids here clearly trust and enjoy claude's company warms vash to him considerably. what can he say? he has a soft spot for kids and the people who are good to them.

he tilts his chin to look down at the girl, whose crying has fizzled to sniffles. he rubs at her dirty, tear-tracked face with his thumb; a maternal gesture. ]

You must be tired. Want a piggyback ride to the popsicle stand?

[ her red-rimmed eyes brighten at the offer, and she nods. with his hands under her arms, he helps her to her feet while he gets back on his own. then he turns his back on her and drops to one knee, arms angled behind him.

once she's situated, he threads his fingers together to cradle under her backside and easily lifts her with a playful bounce and a "hup!" she giggles into his fluffy blonde hair. ]

I'm new around here, so you'll have to lead the way.

[ he indicates to claude with his chin. then he realizes he has yet to introduce himself-- ]

I'm Vash, by the way. Summoned. Twice now, actually!