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Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2022-09-09 09:25 pm

all i know is i don't know nothing

SEPTEMBER 2022 EVENT
A SPECIAL NOTE NOW THAT THE GAME HAS BEEN OPEN FOR A YEAR: Due to the cyclical nature of the world, during certain months, prompts from the previous year may be available to use. You can see September 2021's prompts here. Please make sure to note if you are using a prompt from last year, so that others will know where to look for the original content.

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Prompt One
[Image One: Black birds flying in front of a church shrouded in heavy fog. ]
[Image Two: Red tinted clouds with a flash of red lightning piercing through them. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A stack of leather bound books. ]
[Image Two: A close up on the detailed arches of a Gothic/Neo-Gothic building. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A path in the woods with fallen leaves and bare trees. ]
[Image Two: Two swords covered in blood laying across one another in an X pattern. ]

Leap of Faith
WHEN: September
WHERE: Alternate Dimension
CONTENT WARNINGS: Parallel worlds, violence, possible death, religious cults


Throughout the month, people seem to just be... disappearing. It starts off as just a few locals here and there: maybe it's a butcher that's become a staple in the community, or a textile merchant that some Sleepers have come to rely upon in their time here. These disappearances seem to vary in how long they last. Some people are only gone a few days, others may never be seen again. The ones who return refuse to talk about where they've been or what has happened to them and will adamantly shut down any attempts to find out information. Rumors spread around the city at what could be going on and there's the occasional bit of conversation that mentions the possibility of reality bending Pthumerians being behind the ordeal.

It doesn't take long before it's Sleepers who start to disappear as well. It can happen at what appears to be any moment: sometimes during the middle of the night, a bed will simply swallow them up. Others might be walking along a path or road and suddenly drop through the ground, even when there's no hole to fall into. If a Sleeper with the ability to see invisible supernatural forces sees this in action, they will notice what looks like black, charred hands reaching up out of the earth and latching on to their victim before dragging them into black mist.

Sleepers who have been grabbed will find they've been yanked into a pocket dimension, a version of Trench that seems to be even more corrupt, even more polluted, and covered in dark fog that is difficult to see through. There's a heavy humidity in the air, the sound of constantly rolling thunder, and the occasional flashes of lightning across the sky. Bright bolts occasionally crash down through the fog and hit the earth, cracking it open and creating deep caverns filled with tar that is hot enough to melt a human being. Beasts larger and even more dangerous than those regularly seen back in Trench roam the streets, ready to tear apart and devour anything in their path.

The buildings are also crumbling to pieces and many of the staple locations of the city of Trench have been completely turned to rubble in this alternate world. Only religious buildings seem to be left standing and they have become crowded by locals who have yet to escape this new world. Sleepers will find that these religious buildings are the only ones that are completely safe from the beasts in the streets, offering themselves as Sanctuary from the out of control corrupted forces of this new world.

The locals in this place aren't here to make Sleepers feel safe and cozy while they wait to get out of this dimension. They're here to convert and it becomes obvious quickly. They claim this universe is the True World, the world that the Old Ones had wanted Sodder to create, one that they think the Nightmare could have evolved into if Sodder had been given the proper guidance. They believe that a Pthumerian by Riteoir brought about the perfect world that punishes those who have done wrong swiftly and spares those who are righteous and dedicated to a just path. This cult has elevated Riteoir to a God-like status in their eyes and they will do their best to try and convince all who gather in the buildings for safety that they are protected here because of their faith and dedicated to Riteoir's ideals.

They also become highly violent towards anyone who dares to insult Riteoir or who questions their beliefs in any way. Killing the non-believers is a perfectly justified reaction to these worshippers, convinced that any doubt in Riteoir's power to protect them will cause their safety net to collapse. They justify brutal murders of those they deem unrighteous as being necessary to keep the peace they have found for themselves in an otherwise clearly bleak world.

Playing along might be the best bet, but isn't required for people who would rather fight monsters over people. Sleepers may run in to other locals who also chose to get away from the cult madness out on the roads and these locals are more than willing to share the knowledge they've found while exploring this dimension. There's only one means of escape: finding a weak spot in the veil between worlds and performing a ritual to break it open.

Two Sleepers of differing blood types must find and gather together the claw of a large beast, a silver bowl, a piece of rubble, and a single red rose. Roses are hard to come by in this alternate world, but there is a small garden that grows in one of the churches. It requires sneaking around the cult members in order to obtain and they will attack anyone they find trying to cut the rose from the bushes. Once these object are found, the Sleepers must bring them to the area that would have been known as Sleepytown in the original Trench. Here, it is now a vast, open wasteland, with smoke rising from the crack in the ground, and a never ending fire burning beneath the ground. The faint sounds of screaming can be heard under the ground, but there isn't any way to determine if they're real or simply echoes from the past.

The claw can be ground down with the piece of rubble inside the silver bowl. The rose petals should be carefully plucked and placed on top of the claw. Finally, each Sleeper must cut themselves, and add equal amounts of blood until it begins to thicken. It doesn't take much, the magic working quickly to turn the mixture into a substance almost like slime. Each Sleeper must dip their hands in the slime and spread it onto the chest of the other, right above where the heart would be located. If the Sleeper has their heart located in a different area of their body than normal, then the slime must be spread there instead. Once this is complete, it will feel like acid burning against the skin, before it glows brightly. The lights will join together, forming a laser like beam that will then slice a hole in the air in front of them.

This hole will show the original Trench on the other side. It will only remain open for a few moments before closing up again. Sleepers must jump through the hole together in order to return to Trench. If the ritual fails, they will have to wait three days to try again, and will have to find a way to continue to survive in this alternate world. If it succeeds, the Sleepers will find themselves in the original Sleepytown, and will be able to return to Trench from there.

Bringing up the alternate universe, the ritual, or even Riteoir will put the locals on edge and they will quickly close the door of their shop or turn their backs on anyone who tries. Apparently this is a touchy subject that they'd rather ignore.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
WHEN: September
WHERE: The Gaze
CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A


The Never Mind believes in knowledge and learning above all else. He can be found beckoning many towards the Gaze, encouraging them to attend the School of Mutter or visit the Archives to expand their knowledge. His ravens will try to guide people here as well and many Sleepers will start to feel a compulsion to follow.

There's talk of a prize being given by the Never Mind himself for those who learn something new while inside the Gaze. A bracelet shaped like golden wheat that can rid a small patch of land (roughly 4 square feet) completely of pollution, allowing the area to properly grow a small amount of plants. In Trench, this is almost as priceless as the gold itself, and so many are quick to encourage anyone to go and get one for themselves.

People can't just learn anything, though. When Sleepers arrive in the Gaze to claim their prize, they will be given a specific task: get to know someone new. There's no wiggle room for interpretation in the words. The only way to obtain the bracelet is for a Sleeper to talk to another person that they have never spoken to before. Casual small talk won't earn them this prize either. Sleepers must dive into a deep conversation that forces them to truly learn about the other person. It can be about their feelings, their past, their hopes and dreams... So long as it's something that they truly learn about the other and should, ideally, no longer make them feel like a stranger.

Bracelets will appear magically on the writs of each Sleeper once their conversation ends, so long as the criteria is met. Happy gardening!

THE GREAT HUNT
WHEN: Mid-to-Late September
WHERE: Trenchwood
CONTENT WARNINGS: Hunting themes, possible death, large beasts, descriptions of gore.


An excerpt from Ancient Notable Beasts:
The story goes that as the Blood Moon rises and the farmers begin to hope for a bountiful harvest, Trenchwood begins to hear the growls of the Bugge through the trees. One of the largest beasts to ever roam the lands, it seems to only plague the woods in the autumn months, just before the leaves begin to change their color. Legend has it that the blood shed by the Bugge falls onto the green leaves from summer and poisons them, changing their colors, and slowly killing them until they fall to the ground. The Bugge hunts and feeds on any who enter the forest, but particularly enjoys to devour those who have let corruption touch their souls.

Hunters try to bring down the Bugge every year, many losing their lives in the process. The creature stands as tall as the old pine trees, covered in gray fur, and has claws said to be sharp enough to slice through diamonds. Drool pours from its mouth, matting the fur along its jaw and chest, and dying it a deep, rusty brown. Looking into the eyes of the Bugge can make a person paralyzed with fear, forcing them to relive their worst fears, and some say even freezing them into solid ice if they do not break free quickly enough. It is said that it is most important to track the beast as quickly as possible, for if you do not hunt the Bugge first, than the Bugge will find its way behind you and hunt you instead.

No one has ever managed to truly put an end to the Bugge. Even when it is slain, the shrieks of the creature are heard again mere hours later, and more who go into the woods unprepared end up never returning. Despite the danger, the farmers do no wish to be rid of the Bugge as the Hunters do. The blood spilled by both the Bugge and the Hunters who attempt to slay it does not seem to pollute the ground as it does other times of year: instead, the Blood Moon shines brighter, and the crops for the September harvest become richer than they were before. The farmers see the Bugge not just as a necessary evil for good crops, but as a blessing, a reward for all their hard work during the year.

Sleepers who go near Trenchwood will hear the Bugge from the trees. Getting too close to the woods will cause the cycle of needing to track the Bugge to begin. It does not matter if the Sleeper leaves the woods after, the Bugge will be willing to stalk them into the city, and kill them in the streets if it is not found first. Killing the Bugge is the quickest and easiest option, but the Bugge can be healed by those willing to put in the work. If a Sleeper has the ability to see souls, they will notice that the beast seems to holds a presence similar to that of a fairly large bear. However, if healed, it will run off before the Sleepers can see its true form.

Unfortunately, those who choose to heal the Bugge will find that there are consequences. Where killing the Bugge brings about a more bountiful harvest, healing the Bugge causes the crops and other plants in the farming district to suffer and wilt. The local farmers will be furious if they find out who has chosen to heal over kill and will deny any further trade with the individual in the future, seeing them as a weak link in the natural balance of this world.

Those who choose to shed blood through September, whether the Bugge's or others, will find that the legend is honest about its impact on the earth during a blood moon: while it won't rid the ground of pollution, it seems to make life around it stronger and more durable. This includes not only the harvest but all life forms, including Sleepers.

CODING
onekindsoul: (When we trust in love)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2022-09-13 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[If there's one thing Ruby likes to see, it's growth. And honestly the fact that Ange felt comfortable enough to do this in public make Ruby absolutely weak in the knees. She really was the luckiest girl in the world.

That is until they fall the ground and wind up in a weird alternate version of Trench. This felt like a blast from the past. She had seen a few alternate versions of Deerington back in the day, but this was the first time it had happened with Trench.

It takes her a moment to gain her footing but she hears the creature charging toward them. She tries to reach for Crescent Rose but she's too unbalanced to get a handle of it.

It's when she hears Ange cry out that she turns her head toward the beast. Her silver eye shines blue before it lights up the entire area with a blinding blue shine. The light dies down and the area in front of Ruby and beyond toward the beast is flash frozen with a thin sheet of ice.

She let's out a gasp as she comes to her senses and realizes what she's done. And she quickly looks to Ange.]


Are- Are you okay?

[The ice around the beast wiggles and starts to crack. This is only a temporary fix.]
entreats: (and see the lightning crack)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-09-15 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ Everything happens so much, doesn't it. It's not even like Ange hasn't seen Ruby use this power multiple times before, though she's pretty sure - then again, Ruby used it back in that weird human sacrifice tower, didn't she, and Ange had been so out of it back there that she isn't sure what exactly its effect had been back there - that this is the first time she's actually seen it causing ice of any kind.

.. there's no time to think about it though. Not with the monster-turned-temporary-popsicle starting to move again already. ]


Fine!

[ It's all Ange can say when she's back on her feet. The next moment she's already grabbing the other girl's hand to start dragging her along, running in the opposite direction of where the monster is.

They have to get away. Figuring out what's going on can wait until later. Ange can't waste the slight advantage Ruby gave them here. ]


We just--

[ Ange pauses, breathing hard as she runs. It's not even that she's out of shape - Ange may not be an excellent fighter, but she's pretty used to running for her life - as much as this action is all a little too sudden for her, with no moment for them to prepare. Now they're just improvising together. ]

We have to find some place where we can shake this thing off! Maybe some alley it can't fit through!

[ This monster is a whole lot bigger than the two of them are, after all. Which is the exact reason why she doesn't want to risk fighting it just yet, if they can find a more clever solution.

Whatever the hell is going on, they might have to save their powers for the rest of it, and Ange isn't too sure whether Ruby's eye power tires her out as much still as it had before. ]
onekindsoul: (And you’re sure all hope is gone)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2022-09-17 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Ruby feels the hand tug on hers and lets herself get pulled along. Her free hand is already reaching for her scythe and allowing it to unfold into it's rifle form. Her eyes are on the monster as it tries to break free from the ice. It doesn't quite get it right away but the time it's bought them wont last long.

Her eye shift back in the direction Ange is looking and she gives a nod.]


It's worth a shot! I've got an idea to slow it down too.

[As they round the corner, Ruby will focus her cold blood powers into her weapon. Focusing on the bullets as she fires them off. When they hit the ground the burst up into little walls and blockades of ice. They aren't super thick but it might by them a few more precious seconds or make it harder for the beast to follow if it can break through.]
entreats: (or else a love with intuition)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-09-18 09:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ When Ange sees Ruby reach for her weapon like she's about to fire it, she releases her hold on the other's hand so Ruby actually has two hands ready to fire with. Ange doesn't even bother to ask what the other girl's plan is - she just relies on the fact that Ruby has got to know what she's doing here. She's much more of an expert when it comes to monsters like these than Ange herself is, after all.

Instead Ange focuses her attention on the rest of their situation. Her Omen appears as smoke from her chest while Ruby is busy firing and forming those ice walls that ought to buy them some time. Ange's eagle Omen, meanwhile, flies up before returning back to her.

It doesn't say anything out loud, but it must have some connection with Ange's mind, since she turns back to Ruby when the other is done firing and says: ]


There's a building up ahead that doesn't seem abandoned. Maybe we can take shelter from this thing there.

[ If they're quick, anyway. Ruby might have slowed the beast down, but it's not like it'll be held back forever.

(And it's not like Ange knows that building is a church full of weird cultists, especially not when they're still new to this world and have no clue what's going on other than that they're being chased by a monster.) ]
Edited 2022-09-18 09:51 (UTC)
onekindsoul: (pic#15025904)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2022-09-24 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
[Ruby uses her now two free hands to grip Crescent Rose properly and focuses on covering their retreat.

She glances back to Ange and gives a little nod.]


Hopefully there are some more hunters there- If we can't kill it maybe we can scare it off.

[Not that Ruby didn't have complete faith in her abilities. But she knew when something was too big for her to take on her own.]

Lead the way! I've got our backs.
entreats: (i know you know the cruelty of love)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-09-26 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Got it!

[ In some situations you've just got to have a little bit of trust. Trust that Ruby can at least hold off the creature by herself without Ange having to super fuss over the other.

.. not that she doesn't still fuss a little, but Ange knows Ruby is strong enough that she can actually tear her attention away from the girl and the monster and just start sprinting in the right direction, knowing that Ruby will follow her while covering their retreat.

It's why she doesn't look back as she runs. Instead she looks ahead, trying to recall the Omen's directions, until she arrives at a building that seems to be in a better state than most of the other ones around. It seems like their only hope right now, so Ange just runs right at it, pushing the door open with a shoulder and holding it open as she finally glances back to see if Ruby is still following. ]


Come on, hurry inside..!

[ Maybe blocking the door once they're in will be enough to hold off the monster.

Hopefully it will. ]
onekindsoul: (And we'll catch that)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2022-10-03 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
[Ruby does her best to keep the creature at bay. But despite her best effort and barriers that she's setting up. The creature seems to be adapting and closing the distance a bit better between her.

It's frustrating but there's a part of her that thinks it's incredibly cool at the same time. But her focus is staying alive and keep Ange alive at the same time. So when she hears the call from the other girl, she'll activate her semblance and make a break for the doorway. Leaving a trail of ice for to hopefully trip up the beast along the way there.

Once inside she'll quickly grab for one of the doors and move to push it closed.]


Is there anything here we can use as a barricade?
entreats: (that has been calling you)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-10-03 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ange turns at the question, looking around to see if there's something they could use. Even if it's just a candlestick, something they could wedge between the doorknobs--

But it's not a candlestick she finds. Or anything else that would be handy to block the door with, really.

Instead there's an entire congegration's worth of people staring at the two girls that just wandered into the church, Ange only realising they're there in this moment due to the adrenaline she felt upon running in, not really noticing anything but safety.

Ange turns her head back towards the other girl. ]


.. Ruby, we're.. not alone.

[ Clearly.

Just a "mildly" ominous cult church they ran into. No biggie. ]
onekindsoul: (pic#15218821)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2022-10-14 10:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ruby holds the door as best she can, preparing incase the beast were to try and break the door down. The push doesn't come- at least not yet but it leaves Ruby a little slow to react to Ange's comment.]

I know- I know. It's going to be here any second-

[And she turns around and sees the cultists staring over them and she stares back for a minute.]

Oh.

Yeah. There's a lot of them, you think they're friendly?

[And it's about then that Ruby feels a little prick on her neck. She reaches up and feels thin dart sticking out there. It had been shot from somewhere up in the rafters.

She gives a slightly slurred response as she realizes this.]


Guess not.
entreats: (who held me under)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-10-16 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh god.

Even with all of her Deerington and Trench experience, it's really hard to surpress that internal 'oh god' reaction whenever things start escalating rather rapidly - like the way they do right now. It's one thing to be faced with this group of suspicious people, and it's anothing thing to hear an odd little noise, like something zooming through the air, and then hearing Ruby slur like that.

Still, it's a temporary moment of surprise. Ange moves her hands forward, and with the lack of time to think of a more elegant solution, she just summons forth a cloud of butterflies that surround the two of them, making it really hard for anyone to spot them, let alone fire a second dart.

(Or something even worse.)

Granted, she doesn't even know just yet how bad this first dart was. Ange frowns with concern as she quickly wraps an arm around the other girl's waist, just in case that slurring means Ruby is threatening to pass out or drop down. ]


Ruby! Ruby, are you okay?!
onekindsoul: (But we've got a dream to catch!)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2022-10-21 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
[Ruby has a hard time putting into words exactly how she feels right at this second. It was sort of like she was in the room but more observing what was going on- the sounds felt a touch distant. She could feel Ange take a hold of her but it felt oddly numb. More so than her cold blood normally felt. She doesn't quite ragdoll in Ange's grip but there's a sense that she could topple over at any second.]

Y- yeah. Jus-a-just a second.

[That numbness had spread to her tongue and she certainly wasn't okay despite her words.

The cultists on the other hand were blinded by the light but were working to try and regain their senses and possibly regroup. Whether it was to retreat or launch an attack wasn't fully obvious yet.]
entreats: (as if death itself was undone)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-10-23 12:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A second isn't going to cut it. Ange can tell. Even if she can't fully know what's Ruby dealing with in this moment, it's very clear that the girl isn't just momentarily dazed and then getting better. This isn't something just waiting for a moment can solve.

For a moment Ange isn't too sure on what to do here. She has to get Ruby away from here - but where can she go, when there's a potential monster on one side of this door, and a group of clearly crazy people on this side of it? It's like she's stuck between a rock and a hard place, and with Ruby in the state she's currently in, it's up to Ange to think of a way out.

First things first - keeping Ruby safe is the top priority. Keeping her from falling over included. And while Ange certainly isn't strong enough to just carry the other girl the way Ruby does for her so often, she can cheat a little. Her blood magic can make things levitate, after all, and so she leaves most of Ruby's weight up to magic as she scroops the girl up in her arms, lifting her off the ground - holding her close.

When the light she created disappears, Ange just glares at the cultists. She'll take them over the monster outside for a moment. She knows she can't intimidate a monster, but at least she can attempt it in front of people. ]


Back off. All of you.
onekindsoul: (The sky is turning black)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2022-11-11 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
[Ruby is just dazed enough by what's going on that she doesn't quite realize how Ange is lifting her like that. So her eyes go a little wide at first, which really her focus should be more on the cultists or the monster. But clearly she has her priorities right.

The cultists on the other hand don't seem too particularly threatened by Ange at the moment. But they're still cautious given the light show. A few slowly start to step closer but don't outright attack.

That is until one person loses their patience and dashes over one of the pews to try and take a swing at her with a knife.]
entreats: (and all you do is rescue)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-11-13 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ Maybe Ange should be hesitating a little more. These people aren't monsters in the sense that the creature chasing them around outside was, after all.

But she knows she can't take chances here. It's them or her and Ruby, and nothing about this world or the people here screams that they're welcoming. If they're willing to attack her like this in the first place, they should accept the consequences.

So without blinking or hesitating, Ange just calls out: ]


Mammon!

[ The demonic stake manifests in the air a moment later, already heading for its target - and plunging itself straight into the cultist's chest, emerging on the other side, having completely pierced the heart. Ange just watches as the body slumps over onto the floor, dead.

Her gaze quickly slips over to the others, just to watch their reaction. Shifting her hold on Ruby a little to make sure she's still holding onto the other.

The girl's tone is calm when she speaks up. Even, as if she didn't just kill one of these people here. ]


Do any of you still feel like trying anything funny now?
onekindsoul: (6B3Y0Z9gOjrz8Qp42vOKck1)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2022-11-20 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
[The cultist Ange attacked hit the ground an audible thump after the stake plunged through them. The rest gave only a moments pause to comprehend what had just had happened.

Then with weapons still drawn on the defensive they start to back off. There is probably a chance they could overwhelm the two of them if they tried. But they'd lose more members and they might not be worth it.

...Ruby on the other hand starts to feel a bit of sensation return to her limbs. Not enough to rise on her own. But her head luls to get a look at the body of the one cultist. She blinks briefly in surprise. She wasn't a stranger to death- She wasn't a stranger to what Ange was capable of. But it feels a touch different to see this sort of harm caused on her behalf.

And the oddest part is. She completely gets it.]
entreats: (in some dreaming state)

[personal profile] entreats 2022-11-22 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ At least she doesn't seem inclined to resort to violence again now they're backing off. This is all just about keeping them safe here, after all, rather than Ange being aggressive for no reason.

All she does is stare to make sure they are properly backing off and staying back for a moment. It's then that Ange registers that Ruby is actually moving a little again, and she glances down at the other girl. She's not sure if she can put Ruby back down yet, if the other can stand on her own feet again, but..

Rather than asking out of that specific concern, it's more general worry about the other that makes her softly ask: ]


Are you okay?

[ Her tone is little more than a whisper. Maybe that's why there's a more gentle tone in it - because it's reserved just for Ruby.

Sure, she could have asked it over their bond, but something about the situation makes it feel a little better to just say it out loud, to let the sound of her voice - and hopefully Ruby's voice in reply - root her a little again. ]
onekindsoul: (6B3Y0Z229gOjrz8Qp42vOsfsfsKck1)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2023-01-05 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Ruby's eyes blearily take in the scene around her as she regains her own senses. Ange's voice is just a whisper but it pulls her back to reality. It takes her a moment to muster the strength to look up at the other, but she manages a hint of a smile.]

Yeah, I... think so.

Thanks to you.
entreats: (fell onto the dry ground)

[personal profile] entreats 2023-01-06 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It feels like a relief just to hear her girlfriend's voice. Sure, it doesn't make everything okay instantly - not when they're still stuck in a crappy and dangerous situation - but at least it does remind Ange of the fact that it's okay. That not all is lost yet. Ruby can still talk and think, so-- it'll be alright. (It has to be alright.)

She wordlessly buries her face against the crook of the other's neck for just a moment, just to experience Ruby's physical presence for a moment, feeling more shaky on the inside than she's daring to show on the outside while they're still surrounded by people who could turn hostile at any moment.

.. it's the reminder of the latter fact though that gets Ange to breathe in and pull back again, straightening herself. ]


Can you walk? We shouldn't stay here.

[ Even now Ange has managed to intimidate these people, she doesn't trust them. Not around the person most important to her.

She'd rather face whatever monsters are out there. At least they're predictable.

(It's not like she wouldn't fight this entire twisted world though, if that's what would be needed to keep Ruby safe.) ]