[ Apparently she's not letting that one go, since she's quick to point it out. Even though the statement doesn't match her facial expression, since she doesn't look too surprised anymore.
.. but she does look a touch pouty, and really, sometimes that's just the way Ange expresses surprise in the first place.
She does take the offered arm. ]
It feels weird. You're supposed to be all cute.
[ Well, at least she's saying it to his face, rather than just thinking it in her head.. What happened to cute little Falco. :( ]
[ it’s so hard to beat her at a staring contest . . . ]
I thought I could pull it off.
[ but this is him joking around until the very end of the line for them. they’re at the mouth of an entertainment pub, one that’s not so full at the moment but definitely cozy and inviting to drinks and live music. after a short pause, he shows off the place and leads them in. ]
[ Her head dips into a nod, apparently not minding having to wait for him for a little bit. Especially since it means she gets to pick where she sits - which is definitely what Ange prefers.
Mostly so she can pick a spot that's kind of out of the way. A spot where it's easy to see the entire place from, but enough in a corner that there's not too many people around them. Exactly the way Ange likes it.
[ ya boy returns with just one set in his hands— a violin and bow to play with. where he got it, well, you could say he borrowed it from one of the musicians (after a lot of begging and negotiating). but once he returns, he takes his seat on a stool pulled up from where she sits just enough for him to have some playing room. ]
I wished I could’ve played for your wedding, so here it is— even if I’m a few years late.
[ better late than never, right?
but he chooses a piece and makes the instrument sing. ]
[ At least it's only a few years late for him, right. For Ange it's only a few months - and even with that, the sentiment matters enough to her that it absolutely doesn't matter to her how late or on time it is.
And it's not often that Ange just sits down to listen to music like this. If anything, she was probably forced to go to a few of those elite classical music concerts when she was little and absolutely hated it.
But this?
She finds herself not minding it. Maybe it's since it's Falco playing - and playing for her, at that. It allows her to sit still the entire time, just listening to the violin until he's done.
(And even then she waits a moment or two, just to make sure he's really done. She's not going to be the awkward person interrupting someone during a rest mid-song, okay!!)
But when she's sure he's done, she smiles at him, tucking some hair behind her ear. ]
It's nice.
[ A simple compliment, but considering Ange doesn't do fake polite compliments - this is already a lot. ]
Did you already do this when you were younger, or is it a recent thing..? [ She doesn't recall ever having seen him play before, after all. ]
[ wow, a compliment from miss ange . . . now he could die with one more thing off his bucket list (only half kidding)! falco beams bright and cheery, even offers a bow as he finishes up. ]
I started around . . . A little more than ten years ago, here. [ here, in trench. but he shakes his head in a sheepish manner, despite still keeping his smile and tapping the bow over his leg. ] I don’t think it’d be a good idea to ask him to play, though . . .
[ little falco was still learning, and in all honesty! was quite awful! ]
[ See how much younger Falco could've gotten away with.. Just because Ange happens to be weak to kids, especially when she's fond of them in the first place - and Falco certainly falls into that category.
.. it's also a little more open than usual by Ange standards to say this so easily. Maybe she can't help it.
Maybe she's hoping that Falco won't remember by the time he goes back to his usual self. Because this has to be temporary, right?
Just another Trench thing. ]
.. does he really feel like ten years away from you right now?
[ endearing!! he knows little him would be embarrassed, but big falco himself kind of agrees. his sheepish grin is giving it away. it’s embarrassing when you’re in the little guy’s shoes, but it’s cute when you’re outside. ]
I’m taking a guess. Might be a few years give or take. [ but a really educated one! ] I’m . . . Really happy I could see you.
[ It's hard to pierce together what things must have been like from Falco's experience - especially since to Ange he was so young one day, and then the next day like this. But it sounds like in Falco's own experience, he did go through all that time. Like he returned home for years and years, maybe, and only now showed up back here?
Talk about skewed timelines.
It's a thought Ange is drawn out of only by the last thing he says, which makes her look awkward in a semi-flustered sort of way, momentarily ducking her head and inhaling to try and surpress a blush before she can look back at him. ]
What, did you miss me?
[ If it really has been years away from his point of view. ]
[ he’s even quick to say it, proud of his feelings for an aunty-sister that’s helped him far too much throughout the years. the silence is even behaving and it’s been that way for quite a while. ]
—Ah, Sorry, if that was—
[ he’s going to fluster her to hell, isn’t he??? look at her boy!! ]
[ There's fluster. Definite fluster. And Falco is definitely old enough at this point where Ange could take it out on him in the way she usually does with people, raising her voice and huffing and threatening to throw things when she actually never will--
But it's still Falco. Even if he's older, he's still being so tooth-rottingly sweet. Maybe some things never change - and it's enough to keep Ange's fluster turning inward instead, making the girl very much look like she's hoping the earth will open up and swallow her whole. ]
W-Why are you putting it like that?
[ See, this is clearly the safer route. Don't focus on the sweetness of that statement, and instead try to poke a hole into semantics.
Not like Ange realises those semantics are actually in place for a reason here. ]
I'm right here. It's not like you have to miss me anymore, you dummy. [ See, this is the problem with Falco being too sweet and good for any world out there.. She can't even scold him with a word worse than dummy. Truly weak. ]
[ falco ducks his head and allows the padded prodding to poke around him in full. he really tries his hardest to pull his lips down and cover his teeth, but there will be some remains anyway! it was . . . nice. it was alright to relish a bit in it, even if for only a minute.
but when that minute is over, he wishes he could go back. the silence is telling as he plays with the strings on the violin in his lap. it was a good show. ]
[ Ange frowns as she says it. The fluster slowly fades - at first naturally, but then a little faster as the sheer ominious quality of those words seems to fully hit the girl. ]
Because.. you might go back to your younger self? [ That's how things usually seem to work here in Trench, after all. And sure, that'd still be Falco, but not.. this Falco. Technically.
That's the sort of thing Ange can wrap her mind around, considering the shenanigans with multiple versions of people back home. And it sure feels more comfortable to her than any alternate answer to that question, like she'd rather think of this than acknowledge the possibility of something worse. ]
[ this was always the hardest part to spill, even when he's come to terms of it. he never liked the pained expressions that would come of it. the silence as he prepares his words and sucks his lips in was already telling. ]
[ There's a brief pause after he says it, though with something hanging in the air. Almost as if the girl is waiting for him to say that it was some sort of crude joke. Sure - it wouldn't be Falco's style, pulling off that sort of thing, but imagining that is better than having to embrace the truth.
.. except nothing follows. Even as Ange feels herself breathing in and out, nothing about the situation changes, Falco's words still hanging in the air, untouched. ]
Why..?
[ Maybe it's a dumb question. It feels a little inane in the face of what he just said, but what else is Ange supposed to say? Even though she - mostly - got over her own family's deaths, it's not like that completely numbed her to the concept of loss, and she can feel a nauseating feeling growing in the pit of her stomach already. ]
I always have been. [ which. kind of stings, now that he says it out loud. it squeezes his heart all the more to see her features fight to keep from contorting. ] I just . . . Never told you, I guess.
[ he supposes that hurts in its own right. he wished he had. now he sees the problem with keeping quiet. ]
[ At least it doesn't feel like betrayal to Ange. It might have to the girl she was years upon years ago, someone who was much more sensitive to these things. Someone who was still so wrapped up in her family's fate that all of this would hit a rather nasty note with her.
But she's grown over time. She knows that Falco must have had his reasons for keeping quiet - maybe not wanting to worry everyone around them, or not wanting them to be sad for such a long time. The Falco sitting here with her is quite a bit older than the one she knows, after all.
She sucks in a breath of air. It hurts in other ways - like loss - but she tries hard to seem strong in this moment.
Some days . . . Maybe a few more weeks. [ or anywhere in between. his shoulders lump, and he feels his bones ache something dull and faraway— but it was an ache that was getting closer. ] I just know I turned twenty-six. It should be soon.
[ he doesn't know what else to say before wetting his lips and hating the quiet he would leave if he kept silent. ]
That close, huh. The younger Falco would still have had quite a bit more time - though it doesn't feel like enough, no one who isn't having the crappiest life ever should die at twenty-six - but this one is already there. Even though Ange only just learned about it.
Her lips feel dry, and she nervously licks them very slightly as she thinks. What does she even say when it feels like her heart has been drawn straight into a black hole? ]
But-- this place..
[ She slowly starts.
Maybe she's just desperate. ]
There's no death here. I mean-- no one dies forever. So even if something like that happens, you should just come right back.. right? [ Maybe she's desperate for hope.
If not for his sake, then for her own. She doesn't want to lose Falco, especially not to something like this. The desperation is reflected in her eyes as she looks at him. Even if the rest of Ange's expression hasn't twisted that far, the look in her eyes makes her emotion so clear all the same. ]
[ he wondered that for the longest time, and he too hoped to return the way trench has offered. falco pushes a smile out, apologetic and hurt to see her pained that way, coming closer to hold her arms and squeeze them with a gentle grip. the flutter of a white that falls like snow, and on his shoulder, perle appears. ]
I thought about it like that for a long time.
[ she isn't alert. the little falcon is sickly and her feathers are wrong, no shine to them. her eyes are small and sleepy, and she doesn't bother to speak up and say hello. she needs the energy to stay alive. ]
[ Maybe it's a childish thing to say. It's not like it's Falco's decision either, after all. If anything, he's the biggest victim here, and the way his Omen appears is just a stark reminder of it all.
If she already looks like she's on the verge of death, then it truly can't be much different for Falco, even if he might look better for now.
But still, despite it being childish, despite it being useless to utter these words-- Ange still can't help but do it, directly looking at Falco, her eyes pleading. ]
You can't just go forever. There are too many people here who care about you.
[ his heart has gone beyond aching. it hurts. it hurts to see and to hear, it hurts to accept. part of him doesn't want to. it doesn't take long— falco holds his arms out to wrap her into the tightest hug his long arms could give, and the tightest ones his bones could manage. ]
That's why— If my younger self comes back instead of me . . . Can I ask you for just one more thing?
[ it almost feels selfish to ask— but something inside him is yelling. he has to. he has to do this. ]
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[ and, well.
you know. at least he offers his arm to lead her around, now. ]
I guess it wouldn’t have been a surprise if I did, either.
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[ Apparently she's not letting that one go, since she's quick to point it out. Even though the statement doesn't match her facial expression, since she doesn't look too surprised anymore.
.. but she does look a touch pouty, and really, sometimes that's just the way Ange expresses surprise in the first place.
She does take the offered arm. ]
It feels weird. You're supposed to be all cute.
[ Well, at least she's saying it to his face, rather than just thinking it in her head.. What happened to cute little Falco. :( ]
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You’re saying I’m not cute anymore?
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A stare. It says so much more than words ever could. What answer do you expect to your dramatics, Falco!!
.. though she does seem to grace him with actual words after a moment of said Stare. ]
Being cute kind of becomes impossible when you're an adult, don't you think?
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I thought I could pull it off.
[ but this is him joking around until the very end of the line for them. they’re at the mouth of an entertainment pub, one that’s not so full at the moment but definitely cozy and inviting to drinks and live music. after a short pause, he shows off the place and leads them in. ]
Wherever you want to sit— I’ll be right back.
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[ Her head dips into a nod, apparently not minding having to wait for him for a little bit. Especially since it means she gets to pick where she sits - which is definitely what Ange prefers.
Mostly so she can pick a spot that's kind of out of the way. A spot where it's easy to see the entire place from, but enough in a corner that there's not too many people around them. Exactly the way Ange likes it.
She settles in there to wait. ]
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I wished I could’ve played for your wedding, so here it is— even if I’m a few years late.
[ better late than never, right?
but he chooses a piece and makes the instrument sing. ]
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And it's not often that Ange just sits down to listen to music like this. If anything, she was probably forced to go to a few of those elite classical music concerts when she was little and absolutely hated it.
But this?
She finds herself not minding it. Maybe it's since it's Falco playing - and playing for her, at that. It allows her to sit still the entire time, just listening to the violin until he's done.
(And even then she waits a moment or two, just to make sure he's really done. She's not going to be the awkward person interrupting someone during a rest mid-song, okay!!)
But when she's sure he's done, she smiles at him, tucking some hair behind her ear. ]
It's nice.
[ A simple compliment, but considering Ange doesn't do fake polite compliments - this is already a lot. ]
Did you already do this when you were younger, or is it a recent thing..? [ She doesn't recall ever having seen him play before, after all. ]
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I started around . . . A little more than ten years ago, here. [ here, in trench. but he shakes his head in a sheepish manner, despite still keeping his smile and tapping the bow over his leg. ] I don’t think it’d be a good idea to ask him to play, though . . .
[ little falco was still learning, and in all honesty! was quite awful! ]
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[ See how much younger Falco could've gotten away with.. Just because Ange happens to be weak to kids, especially when she's fond of them in the first place - and Falco certainly falls into that category.
.. it's also a little more open than usual by Ange standards to say this so easily. Maybe she can't help it.
Maybe she's hoping that Falco won't remember by the time he goes back to his usual self. Because this has to be temporary, right?
Just another Trench thing. ]
.. does he really feel like ten years away from you right now?
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I’m taking a guess. Might be a few years give or take. [ but a really educated one! ] I’m . . . Really happy I could see you.
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Talk about skewed timelines.
It's a thought Ange is drawn out of only by the last thing he says, which makes her look awkward in a semi-flustered sort of way, momentarily ducking her head and inhaling to try and surpress a blush before she can look back at him. ]
What, did you miss me?
[ If it really has been years away from his point of view. ]
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[ he’s even quick to say it, proud of his feelings for an aunty-sister that’s helped him far too much throughout the years. the silence is even behaving and it’s been that way for quite a while. ]
—Ah, Sorry, if that was—
[ he’s going to fluster her to hell, isn’t he??? look at her boy!! ]
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But it's still Falco. Even if he's older, he's still being so tooth-rottingly sweet. Maybe some things never change - and it's enough to keep Ange's fluster turning inward instead, making the girl very much look like she's hoping the earth will open up and swallow her whole. ]
W-Why are you putting it like that?
[ See, this is clearly the safer route. Don't focus on the sweetness of that statement, and instead try to poke a hole into semantics.
Not like Ange realises those semantics are actually in place for a reason here. ]
I'm right here. It's not like you have to miss me anymore, you dummy. [ See, this is the problem with Falco being too sweet and good for any world out there.. She can't even scold him with a word worse than dummy. Truly weak. ]
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[ falco ducks his head and allows the padded prodding to poke around him in full. he really tries his hardest to pull his lips down and cover his teeth, but there will be some remains anyway! it was . . . nice. it was alright to relish a bit in it, even if for only a minute.
but when that minute is over, he wishes he could go back. the silence is telling as he plays with the strings on the violin in his lap. it was a good show. ]
I don’t— think I’ll be here for much longer.
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[ Ange frowns as she says it. The fluster slowly fades - at first naturally, but then a little faster as the sheer ominious quality of those words seems to fully hit the girl. ]
Because.. you might go back to your younger self? [ That's how things usually seem to work here in Trench, after all. And sure, that'd still be Falco, but not.. this Falco. Technically.
That's the sort of thing Ange can wrap her mind around, considering the shenanigans with multiple versions of people back home. And it sure feels more comfortable to her than any alternate answer to that question, like she'd rather think of this than acknowledge the possibility of something worse. ]
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Because . . . I'm dying.
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.. except nothing follows. Even as Ange feels herself breathing in and out, nothing about the situation changes, Falco's words still hanging in the air, untouched. ]
Why..?
[ Maybe it's a dumb question. It feels a little inane in the face of what he just said, but what else is Ange supposed to say? Even though she - mostly - got over her own family's deaths, it's not like that completely numbed her to the concept of loss, and she can feel a nauseating feeling growing in the pit of her stomach already. ]
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[ he supposes that hurts in its own right. he wished he had. now he sees the problem with keeping quiet. ]
It's a downside to the ability I have.
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But she's grown over time. She knows that Falco must have had his reasons for keeping quiet - maybe not wanting to worry everyone around them, or not wanting them to be sad for such a long time. The Falco sitting here with her is quite a bit older than the one she knows, after all.
She sucks in a breath of air. It hurts in other ways - like loss - but she tries hard to seem strong in this moment.
That's something Ange is good at, at least. ]
How long do you have left?
[ Does he know? Is he just guessing? ]
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Some days . . . Maybe a few more weeks. [ or anywhere in between. his shoulders lump, and he feels his bones ache something dull and faraway— but it was an ache that was getting closer. ] I just know I turned twenty-six. It should be soon.
[ he doesn't know what else to say before wetting his lips and hating the quiet he would leave if he kept silent. ]
I'm sorry.
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That close, huh. The younger Falco would still have had quite a bit more time - though it doesn't feel like enough, no one who isn't having the crappiest life ever should die at twenty-six - but this one is already there. Even though Ange only just learned about it.
Her lips feel dry, and she nervously licks them very slightly as she thinks. What does she even say when it feels like her heart has been drawn straight into a black hole? ]
But-- this place..
[ She slowly starts.
Maybe she's just desperate. ]
There's no death here. I mean-- no one dies forever. So even if something like that happens, you should just come right back.. right? [ Maybe she's desperate for hope.
If not for his sake, then for her own. She doesn't want to lose Falco, especially not to something like this. The desperation is reflected in her eyes as she looks at him. Even if the rest of Ange's expression hasn't twisted that far, the look in her eyes makes her emotion so clear all the same. ]
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I thought about it like that for a long time.
[ she isn't alert. the little falcon is sickly and her feathers are wrong, no shine to them. her eyes are small and sleepy, and she doesn't bother to speak up and say hello. she needs the energy to stay alive. ]
I . . . don't know.
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[ Maybe it's a childish thing to say. It's not like it's Falco's decision either, after all. If anything, he's the biggest victim here, and the way his Omen appears is just a stark reminder of it all.
If she already looks like she's on the verge of death, then it truly can't be much different for Falco, even if he might look better for now.
But still, despite it being childish, despite it being useless to utter these words-- Ange still can't help but do it, directly looking at Falco, her eyes pleading. ]
You can't just go forever. There are too many people here who care about you.
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That's why— If my younger self comes back instead of me . . . Can I ask you for just one more thing?
[ it almost feels selfish to ask— but something inside him is yelling. he has to. he has to do this. ]
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a wrap maybe—?! ❤️ 😭