(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

gardening 🌹

[possessum]

( Per Ruby's instruction on that network post, Peter finds his way into the odd other-world, the realm to be found behind the house he once helped to rebuild. He's spoken to the golden-eyed Ange by now, and stumbled into Break's dreamscape teaparty, and he does mean to make contact with Ruby, as well. He wanders for a little while through bright green hedges, until she seems almost to find him, and the boy blinks before offering a smile and a wave in response to his friend's extremely cheerful one.

Yes, Peter's learned that all of this is... odd, and there is something to Ruby's smile that is a little unsettling (he's almost reminded of Paimon, trying to imitate the way laughing sounds, unable to quite reach it), but Peter isn't afraid. Not really. No, this is something created from Ange, and he trusts his friends, trusts their spirits. Worry does sit in his gut somewhere, but he's not here to convince anyone of anything. )

Hey, Ruby! Golden Land's a good name for it... ( He means it, smile warming a little, and then immediately perking up at that last bit, because of course it does. )

There's snacks here?

[onekindsoul]

[The feeling of joy at the sight of Peter is dulled compared to what it should be. Ruby's emotions just weren't all there for some reason. But she does feel her smile brighten just a touch.]

It is, isn't it? I wish I could say it was original, but if it's not broken there's no point in fixing it.

[She then steps aside and gestures for him to continue along the path.]

Of course there are snacks. It would be rude to host as many tea parties as we do and not offer something to eat.

Do you have any preferences?

[possessum]

( Peter moves to follow the direction, moving slowly along the pathway and glancing around at everything as he does. Really, it is beautiful.... and safe. He can see why Ange would create it, and want to stay. ...And Peter of all people knows what it is to tuck one's self in somewhere safe, away from everything. There's no judgment here. )

Hey, you know me — I'll eat anything.

( He grins, glancing back over at his friend. But, given teaparties: )

What kinds of cake do y'all have here?

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby gently touches off the ground and floats alongside him. Something... She normally wasn't capable of doing, but she seemed to be owning it now. There's a faint little professional chuckle when he says he'll eat anything. But it feels a little hollow and it's not matched with the normal friendly nudge to his arm that Ruby might normally give.

Instead she still seems focused on the goal of protecting this place. Like she's only really half there.

But she does look thoughtful at the mention of cakes.]

All kinds. I'm sure Break could put together anything you'd like.

[There's a pause and there's almost a bit of a struggle in her good eye before she manages to say.]

If I were to make a recommendation, it would be for Strawberry Shortcake or maybe chocolate cheesecake.

[possessum]

( Oh, Ruby's floating— oh this is fine....! (Is it? Has he ever seen Ruby float like a ghost, before?) Peter can't... recall as much, but then again, he's very sure there's a lot about his friend he has yet to learn (and Paimon probably thinks this is all extremely cool and valid for Ruby to be able to do).

Still.... it's definitely a bit unsettling to witness. Peter's been told he can get up to some floating when the possession hits, but he's never conscious of it. Is... this what it looks like? God, it really is spooky.

Peter shifts, manages to smile a little, but he's keeping an eye on Ruby to make sure she's really.... okay. )

Oh yeah, I uh... saw him a little while ago. At least, I think it was a little while ago. I'm not sure how long I've actually... been here. ( Time seems to pass by slowly in this place, strangely. )

How about both? Then we can pig out together like old times.

[onekindsoul]

[Okay is an interesting word to use with Ruby. Outside of the floating, the weird attitude, and sudden makeover, she does seem to be about as Ruby like as she could be.]

I suppose it is a little difficult to say. The sun only really goes down when Ange is getting ready to retire for the day.

[Like the world actually revolved around her or something.

She gives a grin and offers a hand for him to take.]

That sounds like a great idea. If you come with me. I know a short cut to pantry.

[possessum]

( Peter gives a smile as he reaches for Ruby's hand, letting her lead him. And as he walks along with the girl, he chews over what she's just said. The sun goes down when Ange's going to sleep...? That's definitely kind of wild, but maybe that's just how her magic works here...? Clearly, it's all very powerful. He'd seen what Ange looks like here, after all. )

She's... really powerful in this place, isn't she? I've never seen her looking like this before. With her eyes completely gold, for so long.

[onekindsoul]

Someone on the network compared what she had done to a god. I think that's very fitting for her here.

And I'm not saying that just as her furniture.

[Except she mostly was. She was incredibly impressed with what her witch had done.

She's careful as she floats along. The part of her that's still her is aware that Peter might a little fragile- And she doesn't want any visitors here to be hurt. It would be rude if the Pthumerian's hurt any of their guets.]

She is testing the limits of her powers I would say. But I think she's shown the world just how powerful she really is.

[possessum]

( A god. It's definitely not far off from his immediate assumption of the girl — he'd thought to that word. God, goddess. Something more.

In this place, he's known a few beings like that. Even Paimon... it's an uncomfortable thought for a few different reasons, but right now, the one that's beginning to bloom deeper within Peter is a sort of worry. There's more than a few people in this place who've made it known their opinions of anything god-like. Surely no one would try to.... harm Ange for this, right?

It's a worry he tucks away for now, but one he won't forget about. No, he'll keep an eye on this, too. But he's looking over at Ruby, brows lifting. He'd seen the girl refer to herself as Ange's furniture on the network post, in others' conversations, but hadn't questioned it at the time. )

Hey Ruby, what exactly do you mean when you say that you're her.... furniture?

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby raises a brow at the question. She had got it more than once over the last few days. She hadn't quite expected as many people to make such a big deal about it.]

I serve as her familiar. A trusted aide to help her complete her will. My life belongs to her and I serve her with all that I am.

That's the basics of it anyways.

[That had been the answer that seemed to calm people down the most at the moment.]

It's also my duty to protect her should anyone try to cross or harm her.

[possessum]

( Oh, familiar... he's heard of that before, yeah. "Furniture" is definitely a new way to put it, but maybe that's A Thing where Ange or Ruby are from...?

"Serve" is also kind of an odd term to use for one's romantic partner, but he's not here to judge! This whole thing is odd, like some dream, and it's clear that the rules are a little different here. Peter's not about to make any kind of trouble. )

Do you think anyone would really try to cross or harm her, here?

( It's a worrisome thought, and he's glancing around for a moment as though in attempt to spot any trouble-makers.... )

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby taps her chin thought briefly. It's a little odd that she has to think of it.]

I think there are people who might be jealous of what we made, yes.

I've put a few people in a "time out" I suppose you'd call it. To reconsider how they talk to her or think of this place.

So we're safe for now.