[ If vash noticed the subtle shift in Knives' gait or the strain in his face he doesn't make it obvious. Instead he just regards what his brother says quietly. It's funny how the context of just a couple of sentences can hit entirely differently when the tone and atmosphere around them aren't as fraught.

His expression remains soft, if a little sad. His grip on the fishing poles tightens a little, and though he glances in Knives' direction briefly he's ALSO avoiding eye contact. He doesn't close his eyes because he's almost certain if he did he'd fall on his face but... the sigh that is breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth might as well illustrate him with a closed eyed expression. ]

I know. [ To which? Both? Probably. ] But it's all some people have, so it's real to them. Going home just means to die for some people. [ There's a pointed glance over in his brother's direction. ]

Dolph's found a whole new life here. Something for himself when he didn't have anything like that where he came from. So if it's real to him, then it's real to me.

[ He stops as they come to a slope that means either they're going to have to shimmy down slowly or slide down on their butts. He turns to look at Knives, and without much of a word he holds his arm out, crooked, to offer support. Or maybe to just work in tandem so they don't both take a tumble. ]