(open) you're looking at me like you don't know who i am

[entreats]

Who: Ange, Ruby, Break, and anyone who knows any of them.
What: Corruption turned Ange into a true Umineko witch who decided the best way to keep the people she loves safe from this town is to drag them into a pocket dimension.
When: For a while in March.
Where: Ange and Ruby's house-turned-small-pocket-dimension.

Content Warnings: Potential violence if anyone acts particularly antagonistic. Potential talk of violence or gore. Other warnings will be added when things pop up.



Perhaps you have seen Ruby's odd network post and decided to check things out. Or maybe you're just wandering around Trench and notice that Ange and Ruby's house suddenly looks.. different.

The house has been completely overgrown by way oversized roses, big thorns growing out of all the stems, completely obscuring the structure that's supposed to be underneath it. If you get close enough to the cluster of roses, you may feel your connection to any of the three people inside suddenly pull you in. (Please note: only people who know either Ange, Ruby or Break will be able to enter the pocket dimension because of this!)

If you give in to the sensation, everything around you might go black, and when the light returns, you seem to find yourself in.. a hedge maze. A rather odd one, though. As you stumble through it, you may suddenly find yourself in random rooms, and then back out of them into the hedge maze once more. The Moss King's wild plants seem to have even invaded corners of this place, so you might want to watch out you avoid having those snap at you. Retracing your steps through the labyrinth feels impossible, like the way is changing up behind you with every step. Some rooms make perfect sense - like a neat and elaborate kitchen, or a library - and others seem to consist of nonsense with stairs leading upside down or to nowhere, or gravity not working in a specific room at all.

Flying throughout the entire maze are golden butterflies. They seem to fly with direction, and if you follow them, you might find them leading you to one of the people you were looking for..

Comments

[payingfordeliverance]

It's only forever, not long at all

[Being a devoted piece of furniture — in his right mind he would object to this term, but as it is he's just shrugged and accepted his position as Ange's personal singing, dancing candlestick who cares a lot about dinner — of course Break is doing his part to watch over the little world she's created. He's been a servant all his life and thrives in the role, and it's a genuine relief to be getting back to things properly on behalf of someone he treasures. Life is so unnerving for a servant who's not serving, and Break falls into cooking and making tea and patrolling the grounds for troublemakers and all that with genuine delight.

Just now, he's out on patrol. The whole point of this place is safety in the face of Trench's cruelty, and he'll definitely, definitely protect this place, which Ange built out of love, from those who would seek to undermine it.

Encounters with him in this state won't be especially violent. He has always defaulted to not causing trouble for Rainsworth, and now for Ange. Since he doesn't actually know her full feelings about half these people, anyone who seems inclined to make a mess will be unceremoniously snatched up and thrown into one of the many rooms within the hedge maze and locked inside for safekeeping. After all, if Break kills somebody and Ange is sad about it, he can't fix it. But, you can always go back and kill somebody later! No need to be hasty. Despite that, though, he really can't resist messing with whoever he comes across, which nobody wants.

Break is a darkblood.

He never shows himself straight away. In the distant past, he was a prolific serial killer. He still possesses the ability to stalk people in silence and remain unseen until the very last second. So instead of realizing they are being followed, most will find that the hedge maze just…starts getting weirder, really. Waves of color suddenly wash across the plant life, perhaps, smack in front of you. Try to backtrack, and you may find the hole you just walked through is closed now. Little tricks like these just keep happening, almost as though someone is herding visitors around, trying to lead them into this or that room within the maze.

Ideally, Break's victims will amuse him. How exactly to accomplish that, unfortunately, will depend entirely on his whims at any given moment.]



Come in and have a nice spot of tea~

[Devoted he may be, but Break is an independent creature, too. Somewhere within the maze, he's carved out his own space for himself, distinct from the rest of the dimension because the roses are all purple and black, rather than red and gold. Follow the butterflies past them and you'll find the workshop he's built to play around in, which looks rather like someone blew up a gothic craft store and then decided to throw a tea party on top of it. Everything is in shades of black and silver and violet, lace and pins and velvets and pearls, and the glow to Break's red eye is even worse than it was in Ruby's video. But despite the dramatically dark look of the whole place, the atmosphere is cheery, festive music emanating from somewhere in the room. Teapots and cups and ornate filigree trays go dancing around on legs Break has given them, trundling across his work table in time to the music, occasionally hopping down to the floor by way of plush velvet chairs and scurrying off to fetch more macarons and such. His omen is having his own fun off in one corner, gleefully shredding a throw pillow Break has picked the trim off of and spinning around about it. And Break himself sits in the center of the chaos, perched on the edge of the table, staring down the fetching top hat he's been putting together.]

It wants more baubles. [He drawls the words, without bothering to look up at whoever's just walked in.] I don't suppose you've brought me any.

[Ruby, bless her, is doing her best in her new role. But given that even Ozpin McOldasballz apparently hasn't managed to learn manners enough not to be a dick at someone else's wedding yet, Break doesn't trust the Remnant people to be quick at learning the tact and poise necessary to serve as Ange's voice when she is feeling like hiding. So, it's obvious that this role will fall to him, and so he needs to look good and proper. After all, in a way, this is a return to his former glory, and a Mad Hatter can't be without the correct hat.]



But I'll be there for you as the world falls down

[Break is the first of the three to "wake up" from the dream Ange has built, his corruption easing all on its own. For him, the worst trigger of it is grief and loss -- and, likewise, it's eased simply by being around his loved ones. Because of that, despite all the corruption that seems to be permeating the very air, existing here as one of Ange's treasures is enough to heal his recent paints just as she promised.

So, even after he's come to his senses, Break stays.

Ange has made this place out of love, and Break isn't about to shred it around her. But, he also knows they can't stay, and Ange needs help too. The trick is going to be getting it to her without setting Ruby off, to say nothing of helping Ruby as well. So, his eye finally dimmed back down to its normal shade of red and his magic much more under control, Break continues his patrols and waits patiently to chat up people who seem, you know.

Sensible.]

So you've made it in, have you? Mm, you must care about someone in here very much, isn't that so...?

But I'll Be There (or, honestly, whatever you think fits best)

[justoscar]

Of course I did; they're my sisters.

[And, after encountering Ruby, Oscar had no idea what type of Xerxes Break he was dealing with. He hadn't forgotten their conversation once about Remnant sharing fairy tales in common with the various Earths or Earth-like worlds, and the tale of a girl lost in a fantastical realm was one of them.

Oscar, with Diggs standing between him and Break in the labyrinth, didn't fight to hide the obvious wariness that had started wrapping itself like ten thousand thorny vines around his chest and stomach. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears, but he mustered his own fortitude to keep him going.

Once upon a time, Xerxes Break had compared himself to the Mad Hatter. While he didn't know Alice's story as well as he knew Alyx's, he understood the idea of the role.

He knew he had to be careful.]

I just want to make sure Ruby and Ange are okay, [ he said diplomatically.] I really don't want Yang to kill me if she ever makes it back, or for Battler and Beatrice to kill me if anything happens.

[payingfordeliverance]

Mm. "Okay," I think, is perhaps not the correct word.

[Break notices the tension in the boy, the way his omen is standing protectively in between them. Rather than being offended, Break approves. Oscar is right to be cautious. By this point, Break may be far more in his right mind. But that just means he's realized he ought to be horrified at what Ruby in particular has been getting up to, and he knows she herself is going to feel like garbage once this is all sorted out.

Now, protecting Ruby and Ange also means manipulating everyone involved elegantly enough that no further regrets are added to the pile. Break smiles at Oscar, the expression cunning.]

However, I think that…they are both still very much themselves, you know? Even now.

[justoscar]

[He didn't know what to say-- but, he knew that diplomacy was going to be key. After Ruby's declaration that even the house was unfit to live in, his own worries had intensified.

Oscar knew that he was at least safe... as long as he didn't push his limits.]

They know the people they love, [he said uncertainly,] And they know that they would do anything to keep those people safe. That's definitely a core part of who the both of them are.

[payingfordeliverance]

Just so.

[At this point in the proceedings, this is the first direction Break always steers the conversation to. Nobody's going to get through to Ange in her current state by trying to convince her that her love is wrong. She's lost so much in the past and had to suffer for so many years to move forward despite those scars that the notion of anyone telling her that the depth of her love is a wicked thing just seems too cruel.

This is a massive amount of hypocrisy on Break's part, given that he's told himself exactly that about similar griefs for most of Ange's lifetime. However, as is his wont, Break is carefully ignoring this.]

I think we can all agree that the world outside of this one is certainly not safe. So, then, when one is a young witch strong enough to build a new place and have done with it, the question becomes: Why not?

[When everyone precious to you was slaughtered behind your back in the span of an afternoon, and a Chain comes to you with an offer as you stand helplessly before their graves, the question becomes -- ]

⸻teatime

[fromshadows]

[ Blake hadn't exactly wanted to go into the maze, certain that she wouldn't find Ruby there and she'd probably waste an afternoon getting lost, but the faint sounds from within had lured her in, hopeful of finding her friend. The sight she's greeted with feels like something out of her wistful preteen dream house doodles; as the resident purple-and-black themed member of team RWBY, she can't help but think it's the most well designed part of this little dimension.

Carefully, she steps around an errant teacup as it skitters by on little legs, her hands wringing in a touch of anxiety. The man sitting on the table is the same man she'd seen in the video, though Ruby hadn't mentioned a name. And she can't be certain if he's behaving oddly like Ruby is, since she doesn't exactly know what his normal is.

She can only assume that, if he was here in the video, he's important to Ruby and Ange. ]

I'm sorry to barge in. I... didn't bring any baubles.

[ Blake's voice is low, apologetic, though her yellow gaze is keen, flicking from the long-snouted omen and back to the man. Something's wrong here, despite Ruby and this man being so overtly cheerful. The best she can do is play along for the moment. ]

I'm looking for Ruby? [ A pause, and then: ] I'm Blake. I'm a friend, one that's only just arrived in Trench.

[payingfordeliverance]

[There is a brief pause, as Break bothers to turn and gaze at her. You can almost hear the gears in his head churning as he sifts through his mental list of Ruby Facts. His omen pauses to stare, too, a pair of pointed ears perking up with interest. This makes the noodle dog look more like a fluffy horse. A horse with a lot of teeth.

Then, quite suddenly, Break lights up with glee.]

— oh! One of the Remnant kids!

[Tossing the hat carelessly aside, he hops to his feet — on the table — and marches toward the entryway. Given that he's at "home", he's wearing an oversized stripey cardigan rather than one of his fine coats, but the thing flares dramatically like a pair of bat wings behind him all the same.]

Come in, do come in! Nobody told me you'd arrived. [This is because his loved ones care about his emotional well-being and none of them were going to rub the fact of a dear friend's arrival in his face when he just lost the last of his own close companions from home. Teacups scatter before him as he tromps, and one of the teapots runs in a circle before stopping to toss a few furious whistles his way. Break ignores this in favor of hopping to the floor and twining his elbow through Blake's, hauling her off to the other end of the table.] There's nothing for it; we'll have to take this chance to get acquainted over tea, as is proper.

[fromshadows]

[ Blake's eyes go wide and her ears go flat briefly as her arm is taken, her metaphorical hackles rising. She's never responded well to people that she doesn't know just grabbing her, but she tells herself to go along with it. Her weapon's on her back, and it's going to stay there, definitely not in her hand.

If he recognizes her name and/or her description well enough to recognize her as one of the Remnant kids, Ruby obviously trusts him enough to tell him at least some parts of her story, which is reassuring. It lets Blake know that, despite the furiously glowing eye and the whirling tea pots and the dog with too many teeth, he's probably friendly. Probably. She's going to reserve some amount of distrust, as is her nature.

For now, she'll just be mildly flustered as she's tugged along, doing her best to avoid stepping on something that might get mad about it. ]

I'm, um. I was on her team, alongside her sister, and her best friend.

[ Has Ruby told him that much? She doesn't know. But by sharing a fact about herself, she can probe for information. ]

But all I know about you is that you're an amazing pie decorator. [ Seriously. Blake is kind of jealous. Her own attempts at baking have never been nearly as pretty. ] Are you a friend of theirs?

[payingfordeliverance]

Yes! The B in Team Ruuuuby, as I recall.

[Having had the whole "teams" business explained to him, mostly Break has taken it as one of the gentler things he can judge and heckle Ozpin about. If that guy thinks a "W" is good pronounced as a vowel, then dammit, he will treat it as a literal double U.

To his credit, the arm grabbing is probably the worst Blake will get out of him. Corruption affects him in such a way that his inhibitions drop severely, and one effect of that is a total lack of consideration for personal space. Even so, Break is well trained and has the proper manners of a gentleman. Once he's led her back to the proper end of the table, he releases her in favor of pulling her chair out for her. An elegant wave of his hand brings multiple pots, cups, and a tray of snacks scurrying over, lining up to stand at attention at her place.]

Flattery will get you everywhere, my dear, but there's no need. My name is Xerxes Break, and as Miss Ange and Miss Ruby are the Nieces, so too are dear Qrow and I the Uncles. Since that's the case, you're one of mine to look after as well.

a nice spot of tea

[entreats]

[ Ange tends to stick to her carefully picked spot in the middle of the maze - perhaps not wanting to encounter anyone who might stumble into this world, making sure to stay in the most hidden and secluded place. It might be why her dear furniture are working so hard to keep anyone too bothersome away from her in the first place.

But it's not like she doesn't want to see her own people. Very occasionally she wanders out from her own little hiding spot with the exact purpose of looking for Ruby or Break. Sure, she could just call them to her with the wave of a hand, but maybe she wants to see what they're doing, or if there's something she can do for them, make this world more comfortable in any way.

It's how the witch finds herself making her way over to Break's little corner - one that's not too hard to find, considering the roses. Ange doesn't even need her innate knowledge of this world she's created to be able to find it, a smile on her face as she glances between the man and the creature. ]

I could, if you wanted some. [ It's an almost playful offer, since of course she'd gladly provide that for Break if he wanted, but she can also imagine him wanting to make this on his own without it being something about this place she's created.

Hence why Ange doesn't make anything appear just yet, instead stepping further into the room, squatting down next to Baltus to pet the Omen, if he'll allow it in the middle of his zoomies.

It looks a little ridiculous, since Ange looks less like the young lady she is in her full on corrupted witch outfit, but Ange sure doesn't seem to mind. Would she let that stop her from loving on the people she cares for? Of course not. ]

Are you having fun? [ It's hard to tell whether she's asking Baltus or Break that, given that she's looking at the Omen.. Maybe she's asking both at the same time, considering their joint nature. ]

1/2

[payingfordeliverance]

I am having fun.

[It's Baltus who answers first, dropping the pillow and wriggling gleefully as Ange approaches. Once she's knelt down, he politely holds himself as still as he can, but the wild swishing of his tail betrays how pleased he is to see her.

Normally, Baltus is far more on top of things than Break is, regarding his mental state. Now for the first time his bout of corruption has come in conjunction with adoration and happiness, rather than loneliness or rage. The omen can't be the voice of reason when Break's pleasure is so all-encompassing, drowning reason out entirely.

Break usually has reason to fight corruption. Not now.]

To worry about so little is a grand thing. There is more room in people's heads to love so many things.

2/2

[payingfordeliverance]

Mm, that's how it is.

[Break appears much more reserved than Baltus as he sets the hat aside and slides from the table to approach his witch. But, the fact remains that even with his hands clasped behind him and standing politely at attention, he is still essentially waiting in line for affections here.]

There's been fewer and fewer reasons to be self-indulgent these past few months, you know? With half your people disappearing and the other half nearly getting eaten, it starts to feel like hopeless folly to make a pretty pie or some such. It's not so much fun unless it can make somebody smile properly.

[And there's the reason it was so easy for Ange to draw him into all this. That's a genuine sentiment. The sense of loneliness Break feels when he hasn't got anyone to do things for, whether because they aren't there at all or because they aren't in the mood, is so keen as to be debilitating at times. Even outside of his loved ones vanishing from Trench he's pined terribly for the chance to show Sharon a movie he knows she'd love or watch Reim experiencing a spicy cheeto. Sometimes he hasn't got the heart to watch movies alone, in the face of such things.]

[entreats]

[ Baltus' answer gets the witch - even though in this moment, she more just seems like the girl - to laugh in a very genuine way, moving even a little closer to properly run her hands through the sweet doggy fur, not even minding how close those teeth are to her right now.

She knows Baltus won't hurt her, because Break won't hurt her. Nothing will hurt her here in her own perfect little world. And with so much safety around - what's there left to fear? Why hold back her emotions when she's in the company of the two people she trusts more than anything else in the world?

Before she can give the Omen any reply though, her attention is instead drawn towards the man when Break speaks up. One of her hand still idly runs through the creature's fur, but she's looking at Break as he speaks, seemingly paying close attention to his words.

The reminder of what they suffered in Trench - the things they won't have to suffer again, Ange reminds herself - make her laughter pull back to a faint smile instead, but it's a smile all the same as she pulls herself back up to her feet. She steps over towards Break, holding out her hand, like she's wordlessly asking him for one of his own, out of reach while they're behind his back like that.

(And sure, technically she could command him, even if he could still terribly tease her about it all the same - but Ange isn't here to use her power as a witch that way. Not with these two.) ]

You're making me smile properly right now.

[ And he doesn't even have to make her a cake!

.. though cookies would be nice. Later, when she isn't bothering him in the middle of his hat-making. ]

And if there is anything you wish to indulge in here, you can let me know. I will give you anything. [ Anything, if it's to make Break happy. It just feels nice to be able to do so much more to accomplish that than she ever could in Trench, if not just due to the reasons he himself mentioned just now. ]

teatime 🍵

[possessum]

( Even Peter isn't oblivious to the fact that something is off, here (actually, maybe especially Peter would know that, sensitive to each dreamscape brightness that borders on "nightmarish", in its ways.) It's beautiful, and it's unnatural, and it feels like stepping through a painting. Sometimes, he has dreams of something his spirit knows is Hell, and the sensation isn't always dissimilar to this..... Paimon's House in Hell is a sparkling cacophony of golden, both wonderful and terrible.

But this place is like a little dream. If he closes his eyes and breathes it in, he could almost relax here. When he opens them again, he feels pinpricks of anxiety at the corners of himself, like he knows he shouldn't stay here for long. Magic has always intimidated him, continues to, and this place bleeds the feel of it.... but at the center of everything is a trust in Ange Ushiromiya. Whatever this world is, if she's created it, if it's come from her spirit — it isn't something bad. Ruby's here too, another dear friend, the type that feels like family.

And then, of course, there's— Mister Break. Peter, channeling all of the wide-eyed lost wonder of Alice (but so much less of the storybook sweetness, considering his dark-circled, mournful wet eyes and the way his tongue randomly gives odd clipped cluck-sounds due to severe demonic possession) finds his way to that space with the black and purple roses, all fancy lace and ornamental, as though he's walking through swirls of filigree. Things move and dance on their own, and there's Break looking all the part of the maddest hatter...

Peter stares, both parts intimidated and impressed, blinking up as the man speaks without so much as glancing up. It all continues to feel like a dream. And Peter might stay frozen, except..... he does just have baubles on hand to offer, weirdly, thanks to a demon king with a magpie penchant for nicking any shiny things it can get its hands on. Said demon is delighted by every single thing about this (a magical teaparty!) and Peter is only maybe slightly himself as he reaches deep into the pocket of his coat to extract an antique earring. No matter that it lacks its partner; Paimon planned to break it apart and repurpose each tiny piece into something new. However, the request from Break is met with a need to provide, the demon more than thrilled to offer him Something Nice.....

And so Peter, wordlessly, and with eyes wide and pupils blown, looking like he's in some weird trance, slowly holds up the little trinket to the man, letting it drape over his palm. We're all mad here, right? )

[payingfordeliverance]

[When there's no response from the presence at his entryway, Break looks up, and watches Peter's approach with keen red-eyed interest. He's seen enough weirdness — and enough shy anxiety — from the boy before to be certain there is something deeply strange about him. But, he does not know what that might be, and hasn't actively pursued the matter. He's vaguely aware that Peter is connected to Ange, and if he's made it in here, he must be close with her or Ruby. That's enough for Break to be satisfied that there's nothing going on here that would warrant his meddling.

So, in the past, he's been content to watch and wait, and see what is to be seen. Now, corrupt and comfortable within Ange's protection, Break's inhibitions are down. He is someone who, while in his right mind, once stared the man who had just revealed his past and could have easily had him executed right in the face and addressed him as "Duke Stupid Hair". For anyone who knows Break is like that anyway, probably it's no surprise that in his current state, all his tendency to bide his time flies out the window in the face of one overpowering urge:

Mess with him.

When Peter has come close enough, Break sets the hat aside and solemnly accepts the earring, as though it's an offering or a tribute to him as the master of this tea party. Then, he stares the boy directly in his wild eyes as he runs his fingers over it, carefully, taking in the shape and texture.]

Now, there's a usefulness I didn't expect from you, Young Master Peter. If, indeed, it's you behind those eyes at present…?

[He's conjured in front of Peter before, but it was a knife, something simple and easy for him. Other things are generally much more difficult for him, requiring a great deal of concentration. Now, he has no reason to believe he can't just do whatever the hell he wants and get away with it, another particular recklessness that has been woven into who he is for as long as he can remember and which has been amplified here. With casual ease, he holds the earring up in one hand. With the other, he remembers the way the bauble felt between his fingers and pulls until that memory is something tangible.

With a few flickers of violet light, a copy of the earring appears, Break's magic filling in the absence to complete the pair.]

[possessum]

( It's as Break finally looks up that the redness of that eye really makes itself known — glowing like a gemstone there in his face, such a startling contrast to the ashen of the man's hair. It should alarm Peter, and it does, but in this dreamlike moment, there are two things looking back at Break and Peter's shaky little spirit is not the strongest of the pair, by far. Pupils dilate and contract again, slowly, an odd oscillating expression on that dazed face, almost hypnotised. For a moment, a flicker of Peter's fear — in the next moment, a swell of Paimon's curiosity.

And it's that swell that blossoms further, for Break's behaviour and the nature of all of this calls to Paimon so intensely. The man takes the offering from his palm and the demon king watches him, pleased that he has accepted the little trinket, and just as solemn about it, if not equally thrilled to earn favour. As important as it is for offering to be made to him, he is also a being that is meant to provide. To give is as important as to receive — reciprocation, exchange, energy channeled and re-formed and shared. To Paimon, this is incredibly Serious and Significant, and he presents the bauble to Break with a dip of the head, respectful. This is his place, his table, his throne at the head of it. Paimon recognises that it is a great privilege to be here in this magical place with its dancing things.

Hearing his name spoken aloud may help coax Peter from disappearing completely (albeit with a wave of quiet horror as to the man's words), but it mostly makes the Other dominate further, strengthened by being seen by Break in any capacity. Certainly, Paimon's been watching him over time, and making connection here and there but never in a way that has properly introduced himself to Break. The doll was left for him like a secret. A whisper whose voice was never identified.

But now... the man sees him, or something of him (recognises that perhaps this isn't Peter at least, which is a start), and the demon tilts its head like a bird more than a person, just a little too far to one side. He says nothing in response just yet, neither confirms nor denies what Break alludes to, which perhaps is an answer all in itself. And then he feels the magic seconds before he sees it, the display rippling against the very core of his spirit, and how his spirit breathes in response. Hushed and wide-eyed, gaze shimmering with a glint of gold that might be perceptible for a moment or two, gold that rises up to meet that violet energy — the demon watches as Break duplicates the earring.

And while physical reactions are extremely odd for Paimon, he has absorbed enough from the people around him to know how to clap his hands together, or... attempt to. It's a weighted gesture, palms meeting each other a couple of times, like he isn't quite sure how hard or gently to actually do the thing. The effect might be similar to one of those monkeys with the cymbals... He's trying.....

But then, finally, he speaks. It's only one word, but it's said like praise, as though the word itself is something worthy of merit. Delight sparkles again in his eyes, brightening them up. But no, he isn't Peter. He's something that feels validated to be here, now that Break has addressed his presence, no matter how vaguely. He's something that never blinks. )

Magician.

two for tea

[lludw]

[Really, Break, you're terribly obvious. Though in this case, commitment to the color theme is distinctly helpful. There was no way Lucius wasn't going to scout out this world after that alarming network post. The black and purple roses, though, mean that Emrys only had to take a brief look from overhead before settling back on his human's shoulder to give a few directions.]

More baubles? [The boy similarly drawls] You know, it won't hurt you to keep some things more classically simple.

[Lucius will be the first to admit he's embraced the Victorian tendencies towards layers and fabrics with lovely patterns. He's resisted most of the trimmings, though, finding them impractical and an aesthetic step too far for someone who's studying ancient Greek and Roman architecture for the love of it.

And if the protest to adding more things has a double meaning - well, it's more than plausibly deniable.]

[payingfordeliverance]

[Ah. It is Break's favorite judgmental tween viking warlord. His alarmingly bright eye turns to Lucius, faintly disgusted.]

Do I really seem like a classically simple guy to you? I must not be putting enough things where they don't belong, of late.

[If the boy has ever wondered whether Break genuinely thinks it looks good to do things like combine polka dots with checks or if he is well aware of his own fashion sins and commits them completely on purpose, here is the answer.

The answer is yes. To both options. Break is well aware he commits fashion sins and he does it because he likes them.]

Well, I suppose it's to be expected, with how rotten things have been. How is one supposed to have energy for anything fun when the world keeps sending man-eating giant snakes after you and stealing your kids? [Break shrugs carelessly, grabs a teapot that happens to be meandering by, and proceeds to go rummaging around in it for -- baubles, evidently. After a moment's investigation, he pours a string of pearls out of the spout, letting them clink into a teacup.] It's fine. Miss Ange's looking after me now, so I'll be right as rain soon enough.

[lludw]

[Lucius has, indeed, never doubted that Break's fashion crimes are a deliberate statement. One, that Break thinks it's fun, and two, that if anyone is scandalized by it he also thinks that is fun. And, really, Lucius respects at least statement two, whatever his own aesthetic tastes.

He's ready to ask about the man-eating giant snake when the second part of that sentence clamps his mouth shut. Stealing your kids. It's only Echo left, and Break has clearly never had the kind of connection to her he had with white Alice, or black Alice, or Oz, or Gilbert (though Gilbert was older). Lucius knows that white Alice is having a grand time in the sea, and so he knows black Alice must be now, too. But that probably doesn't make much of a difference to Break, who likely feels as if people keep slipping through his fingers. Why wouldn't he want to stay in a little world his "niece" made, if in her surely corrupted state Ange convinced him that no one could be harmed and no one could be lost? Who would ever want to leave paradise, a warm land of healing and beautiful greenery? This isn't Lucius's place. But he can't blame Break for making it his.

Lucius's skin itches, and he rubs at his arm with annoyance. On the backs of his hands, patches of skin are turning Coldblood-blue to match his fingernails.

He sits down in one of the chairs, bracing his feet against the table to rock it backwards onto two legs, carefully casual. There is still the matter of Ange. A paradise created by someone corrupted can only stay a paradise for so long before the people in it start falling apart.]

It seems like Ange is doing a lot of work. Especially if she's taking care of you and your supply of baubles.

Tea

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby doesn't tend to take much time away from her own patrols, or efforts to keep their little realm nice and clean. She had mostly fallen deep into the role of being good furniture, along with the core ideal of being a Huntress. Protection of everything in the realm, especially Ange, over herself.

So it's a few days into their little adventure before she actually makes her way into Break's little domain for a visit.

She's brought a handful of different coloured roses that she's found on her patrols- Imperfections in an otherwise perfect world. And those are the baubles she's brought for Baltus to play with.]

I have- But I was hoping we could discuss the gift we're to give our Golden Witch for her efforts.

[payingfordeliverance]

Ah! Excellent.

[Break and Ruby are both utterly devoted to the Golden Witch, and that means helping one another, too. Break had already been fond of Ruby, independently of both Ange and Qrow. Since that's the case he'd be looking out for her regardless, even corrupted. But here, supporting her can only benefit Ange, too. Everyone wins in their weird little family.

Baltus trots over to greet her, and politely does not knock her over. Break spins a little and shakes the hat he's holding over the table. A pile of bullets he's collected while scrounging around fall out, bouncing as they hit. He will trade these for the roses.]

I've an idea or three, but nothing that satisfies me as of yet. Since she can conjure whatever she likes, we'll have to come up with something she'll not know she likes until we've made it, I suspect.

[onekindsoul]

[On a normal day. Ruby would be more concerned about anyone outside of Ange, but... There was a certain sense of Ruby that was lacking. It had to do with her aura being drained throughout the month- Her actual soul being pulled out of body. Ange had managed to prevent it from getting any worse, but a lot of what made her state of being was Ange's power. She was utterly devoted to Ange as her furniture first and foremost.

It's why her hand only lightly grazes across Baltus in return for his greeting before she lightly dusts herself off. She'll take the bullets and gently place them in her blazer's pocket, though it's a wonder how they all fit in there.]

That could be the trick.

Perhaps we'll have to find something that she likes but does not often think of.

As the World Falls Down

[manyone]

[ Beatrice has had her tea with the Golden Witch. This time, though, even if she's entered this place it's different. There's an edge to her--she cannot deny the other's magic, and here of all places it will be powerful. Almost certainly more powerful than Beatrice's own. And yet abandoning Ange seems a heartless thing to do. When she encounters Break, Beatrice is staring up at the new portrait of Ange and Ruby that dominates the main hall, smoke curling upwards from her usual pipe. At Break's approach, she tilts her head to look at him, expression flat and unhappy. ]

Don't let her know that I care, she'll never believe it.

[ Said wryly, with a sarcastic drawl. ]

[payingfordeliverance]

No need to worry. I'll keep any mention of you to disparaging comments at your expense, as always.

[He comes to rest at the witch's side, somehow looking entirely relaxed despite standing at attention. He is always well dressed when Beatrice encounters him out and about, but just now Break is in a proper tailcoat and a cravat ruffly enough to make Ronove look reasonable — and he pulls them off so comfortably he may as well be in pajamas. Probably it's no surprise that Ruby has taken up the role of defender and Break is acting as Ange's social buffer. He clearly came pre-trained.]

It's remarkable, isn't it? What she's put together here.

[manyone]

It truly is something else. Not quite what I would have expected from Ange, of all people.

[ The pipe is tapped distractedly against the opposite hand, almost more as a fidget tool than something she actually smokes. ]

Battler was worried about her, even though I thought it was about time she did something for herself. Still, I thought it might be best if I came and took a look. As her predecessor to the title of Golden Witch it's right for me to look in on my junior, don't you think?

[ Translation: I'm also worried about her but I can't just say that. ]