(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

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby was working quickly to dispatch all of the plants when she hears Ange's voice from behind her. She jumps with sudden surprise and turns in mid-air to face her wife.

She hadn't should have sensed her approach. Or done a better job cleaning up the Garden of imperfections. This was absolutely embarrassing.]

Unfortunately! The creatures who run the outside world seem determined to reach you.

But worry not, My Golden Witch.

I'll make sure none of them get close to harm a hair on your head. I promise.

[entreats]

Hmm, I'm not worried.

[ Her voice is very calm and even. It may not be the most gentle, but there's no rejection or even anything stern in it. Instead it just sounds like Ange is speaking the truth here.

A moment later she's extending a hand towards the other, beckoning Ruby closer. ]

I know you will protect me, no matter what. I just wanted to make sure you weren't working yourself too hard. [ Look, is Ruby Ange's furniture like this? Sure.

But this is also still her wife, and there's no way Ange isn't going to look out for her as well. It's why she bothered to come look for the other in the first place, after all, rather than staying in the middle of the maze. ]

[onekindsoul]

[If there was one thing Ruby didn't doubt. It was the bond between her and Ange. She had never felt it quite so strong now that Ange had literally given her the strength to stand. ...But was that because her own soul had been mostly sucked out and Ange's magic was filling the void? Well that's where things might get a little more complicated.

Either way she sees the hand and is quick to retract her scythe and move to close the space between the two of them. She let's one hand wrap around the small of Ange's back and the other takes her hand.]

Really? With all the work you're doing here, this already feels like a vacation in comparison to Trench and my home.

[entreats]

[ There's absolutely zero embarrassment in any of this. Ange just lets Ruby embrace her like that without putting up any protest about it. Instead she even just smiles at the physical contact.

Which, sure, isn't all that strange when they're in private, unless Ange ever gets overloaded by too much of it at once. But in this place there feels even less need for it. Why care about how she comes across when she's in a world with her most important people?

It makes it feel so much easier to be openly loving. Without worrying. ]

Does it?

[ Ange sounds pleased about it. This is supposed to be the perfect place for all of them, after all.

So she leans in to press a happy kiss against Ruby's lips, face lingering close to her wife's even after she pulls away enough to speak. Ange uses her free arm to wrap itself around Ruby's shoulders, keeping her close. ]

Then you should let me know if there's anything else you want. I will keep expanding this place and make it perfect for us.

[onekindsoul]

[There's something more subdued about Ruby's actions. Like she is much more consciously aware of when to stop so as not to overload Ange with too much affection all at once. Even if the threshold for it were further, she's careful to make sure everything is just right.

It's the same when they kiss. There's still love and affection behind it, but there's something more subdued to the whole act. She presses in just to match the affection she's been given but not quite to surpass it.

After all, she was furniture and her partner was the witch. She falls in with the touch and lets herself lean in against Ange. A hand sliding up to rest against her wife's back.]

What more could I want?

Well- If I had to choose. We could probably use a games room in the mansion.

[entreats]

I can do that.

[ If Ange notices anything at all odd about Ruby's behaviour, then she sure doesn't seem to react to it in the slightest - though it's much more likely that she isn't noticing it at all, given her own current state.

Everything feels too perfect right now to think about anything too hard. She just.. wants to stay here, just like this. Day after day after day. ]

.. though I suppose Break would have something to say about it if I were to use my power again before properly resting. [ Usually that sort of thing would have come with a deadpan tone or an eyeroll when it's coming from Ange, but right now it's delivered much more calmly. A little inhuman.

At least the idea of Break gently scolding her doesn't seem all that weird to Ange, given what kind of furniture Break is. A little more likely to speak his mind in such cases than Ruby herself. ]

Hopefully I should have enough of my power back soon to make this place even bigger though. And give you your games room.

[onekindsoul]

Break is historically not very fun at all.

[It's said with a light hint of teasing but a fondness at the same time. But she doesn't push for it.]

But- I wouldn't be a proper protector if I let you push yourself beyond what you're ready for. So we'll let him have his way for now.

[She props herself in to let herself support her witch a bit more with her own weight. Trying to carry whatever burden she could for her witch.]

It will be nice to have more room to stretch out legs. But this world is already perfect the way it is.

[entreats]

[ Ange hums contently. Placing both of her hands on Ruby's cheeks when Ruby is taking care of all of the holding here, she kisses the other, allowing herself to linger in it for a few moments.

It's not like they have anything else to do, after all. Nothing here for Ange to do but to enjoy safety, and to enjoy Ruby being right there. ]

I'm so glad my magic has made you your usual energetic self again. [ .. is Ruby really her usual self though, Ange..

It seems like she's totally unable to perceive that in her current state. ]

It's so good when you're being so sweet to me.. I really like it. [ Apparently turning into a witch also takes away your tsun, huh.

.. when you're Ange, at least. Seems like the original Beatrice is still very much capable of it. ]

It just makes me want more of it.

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby let's the kiss linger for as long as Ange will, then lightly pulls back. Letting her head rest against Ange's so she whisper lightly into her ear.]

I should be thanking you for giving me the strength to stand again. For the chance to serve you in this capacity.

[While on any day acts of service might be Ruby's love language. There was still something a little off about how she said it. It there was a certain lack of independence to it.

She smiles lightly, but professionally as she considers her next words.]

If that's what you desire. Then that's all I shall give you, my witch. My love.

For all I wish is to please you.

[entreats]

In that case...

[ .. yeah, totally not addressing half of what Ruby is saying here, huh. Or rather - she's not addressing the way it doesn't quite sound like Ruby, or the way it might sound problematic to anyone else's ears.

But to Ange's own? She seems completely unbothered in this moment, still just smiling. ]

We should go have some tea together.

[ Because Ange feels like it, and she knows that it's not like Ruby would dislike it either. ]

You're done here for now, right?

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby surveys the area and notes that there aren't any more plants here for her to deal with.

Then she turns and gives a polite little bow and curtsey to her witch.]

This area has been cleared of nuisances, yes.

[And then she raises a hand for Ange to take if she wishes. Her tone, her movements. They all lack a sense of "Ruby" to them. Like she's simply filling a role that needed to be played.]

I would be honored to have tea with you, my witch.

I'll lead the way back to your seat, if you'd like.

[entreats]

[ Ange takes the hand without hesitation. A little more elegantly than she usually would, too. ]

Thank you.

[ There's still a lack of a reaction to anything else though. It's not like there's anything here to worry about, after all. Right. ]

Break seems like he has been too busy in his own little corner to come over and bring some cookies to have with the tea, but I will just summon them to us once we're having the tea.

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby's hand grips Ange's hand delicately. But there's a little something missing- The attempt to let her fingers slide betweeen Ange's a comforting squeeze. There are just little touches of what made Ruby, Ruby that were missing.

Either way. She is gallantly stepping forward and navigating the maze to take them back to Ange's garden.

She gives a hint of a scoff at the mention of Break being busy, it's not fully serious though.]

He'd better be busy making something to truly please you if he's going to make you prepare your own food.

But- I am lucky to be getting cookies from you, personally.

I'll have to thank him for that.