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

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

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..

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Oh! Oh... Okay. Good... to know.

[She responds slowly. Even if that answer is one she'd want to hear in this situation, she feels no relief from it. The lack of emotion in Ange's words really troubles her. It's like she's checking a list rather than really thinking of her friends.

She rubs at the side of her head uncertainly as she looks towards her.]

So you're saying that if I leave this place... I might never see you again? Just like that?

Yeah.

[ .. another simple answer, huh.

Though Ange doesn't just leave it at that. Sure, there's a faint pause after that brief 'yeah', but then she does continue, tilting her head slightly to the side as if she's thinking. ]

Don't misunderstand. I would prefer for you to stay here. [ There's nothing forceful about it at least, so that's good. And while Ange does mean the sentiment, it might be hard to understand as much when she's still using the very same tone the entire time. ] I don't want you to have a life full of hardship, after all.

[ And Ange knows it's what Scorpia will have out there in Trench.

It's how things work there, after all. ]

And I would like to still see you. But I guess that will be impossible at this rate.

It... it doesn't have to be impossible.

[She rubs at her arm uncertainly as she looks towards her friend, trying to look into those golden eyes.]

Ange, can't you reconsider? I get making this safe space and all, but cutting it off completely... That just feels like too much. I can't leave this place completely like this, and I don't want to leave you either. Whatever security risks this place might have, we can deal with it! We've been here so long and been through so much. We can keep on enduring together!

Scorpia.. I know we compromised before.

[ A fact that Ange doesn't really mind, not even while she's like this. Her corruption happens to focus on some very specific things, after all, leaving other things alone entirely. Compromising between how extroverted Scorpia is and how introverted Ange is wasn't a bad thing in her mind, not even now.

But-- of course there's always a but in these matters, hanging in the air before she even speaks on. ]

This is something I can't compromise on, however. If I leave those security risks in place, then this place won't be any better than Trench. The Pthumerians will be able to meddle as much as they want, and I can't put people at risk like that. It's my responsibility.

['Compromised'. The way she says that, it feels so clinical and devoid of emotion, like it was a business negotiation rather than an understanding reached between friends talking it out.]

B-but it doesn't have to be your responsibility! Ange, something's wrong here. Are- are you sure you're in your right state of mind? You feel so... different! [Without that endearing warmth that shone beneath her grumpiness... and without even the grumpiness.]

I think something happened to you, a-and we have to get to the bottom of it!

[ She still sounds so calm when she speaks up again. It's starting to contrast more and more with Scorpia's own attitude, so much more emotional - and yet it's like Ange doesn't see the problem the way the other can whatsoever. ]

I'm sure.

[ She sounds so sure of it too, which only makes the problem even bigger, huh. ]

Are you sure that there's nothing wrong with you? Maybe Trench is trying to mess with your mind. It could be trying to keep you from leaving. [ It makes perfect logical sense in Ange's head - that's what Trench is like, after all. It's insidious.

Not that Ange wants it to happen to Scorpia though. She should just stay the same as she always is. ]

M-me?!

[Her eyes widen in surprise at her remark. In other circumstances, it would be easier to put stock in. After all, people's behaviors can change suddenly without them realizing it. Scorpia tried catching people in nets sometime in the past! But even so, she still feels like herself... while Ange still feels completely off.]

...I don't know, Ange. You tell me. Do I seem different to you? Am I... unlike myself? [She shakes her head.]

Because it really seems to me that something happened to you! You haven't acted grumpy about anything, or... or shown any emotion at all! A-and I'm sorry, but it feels like you're making this decision kinda - kinda coldly! If something's wrong with you, I kinda think it might not be the time for a big decision like this!

Then when is it the right time?

[ It sure seems like she's dodging a lot of what Scorpia is saying here, huh.. Though it's not really a conscious dodge. Ange truly can't see what's wrong with her, after all, and she supposes that nothing is necessarily wrong with Scorpia, even though it's odd that the other girl can't see what Ange is trying to do for her here.

What Ange is trying to do for everyone.

It's just that the part she's actually addressing feels like the most important part here to Ange. ]

How long do we just have to sit back and allow ourselves to suffer because of the Pthumerians? Everyone is saying this isn't the solution. [ Maybe not everyone, sure, but enough people have showed up like Scorpia, saying similar things..

Things Ange just can't understand like this. ]

But no one is presenting any other solution.

[ So how could she not do this?

At least she's doing something. ]

Just going back to Trench and trying to protect people over and over from the Pthumerians and failing half of the time isn't an option to me. [ Not anymore. ] I'm tired of that.

I don't know if there was a right time for something like this, Ange. Not unless new Sleepers stop coming to Trench.

[She responds quietly to that part. Ange's selective response bothers Scorpia further, but she tries to deal with her patiently.]

It's less a problem of the right time or the right solution... and more that this isn't the right you. I feel like the worst time to make a decision like this is when you're not you.

[Scorpia gives a weary sigh.]

I- I get it. After all this time, awful things still happen here. I'm tired too, but I just can't give up. This place has still become my home... and I'm going to keep on fighting to make it a better place for all of us. And I'm here for you too, Ange. I want to carry you through this.

.. I'm not giving up either.

[ That part doesn't sound argumentative, at least. More just Ange mirroring Scorpia's sentiment - because to her, this place isn't giving up. It's trying something. It was supposed to be something positive, even if almost no one seems to understand as much.

She slowly shakes her head. ]

So.. I guess it's better for you to do your best over there, and for me to do my best over here.

[ Even if it means never seeing each other again. Does that hurt? Yes-- of course it does, but Ange knows that she can't give up this world, no matter what.

She has to make it work somehow. ]

...Th-that's it...?

[She responds quietly. No matter what she says, she can't get anything out of Ange. Not even a proper response to her words. It's starting to feel truly hopeless... Her head hangs.]

You can't... You won't reconsider at all...? That's... the end of it...?

[Her heart is sinking, because now it's sinking in that this really could be the last time she sees Ange. This could be their last conversation. This.]

[ There's another shake of her head. ]

I can't reconsider this.

[ At least her voice isn't entirely unfeeling now. It's definitely more quiet than it had been at first. After all-- Ange really doesn't like the thought of being separated from Scorpia.

But if there's no other choice here, and there definitely isn't in her mind, then.. what else is there to do? ]

It has nothing to do with you, or with me. It's for the good of everyone who does want to stay here. I have to keep them safe.

A-ange...

[She says her name shakily. She can hear something in her voice. But that just makes this situation feel even more wrong.]

It has a lot to do with you, if you're the one making this happen. [And the one who will be cut off from everyone.]

I get wanting to keep everyone safe. I sometimes wish I could grab all my friends and stick them in a ball where nothing can hurt them. This - it's a lot more spacious than my idea! [She says with a soft laugh. But she's not sure what else to say - at this point, it feels like their arguments will keep going in circles. Scorpia feels like nothing can change Ange's mind, and she's not going to give up this world either. But she does wonder.]

...Actually, how have other people been taking this? D-do you... have a lot of people here...?

Ruby and Break are here with me. [ The first ones who came here, in fact. It had been surprisingly easy - so Ange assumed the rest would be too. If the people closest to her would understand all of this so easily, then surely her other friends would too, she thought.

.. apparently it's not that easy though. This conversation with Scorpia is clear proof of that. ]

Some others said they would join later too. Peter said he'd have to talk to Luna first, which I understand. They wouldn't want to be separated.

[ All of that is easy to admit, even if Ange sounds a little detached as she's saying it. It's the next part that's harder, but after a brief pause she does manage to say it. ]

Most other people don't seem to understand.

...I see.

[It makes sense that Ruby's there. It makes senses that the wives would follow each other everywhere. But that aside, it's sounding like this 'world' is far from full.]

Well, it is a big decision. If you can't get a lot of people... Would that change things? [Would she still split off while a number of her friends were staying in Trench? This is pretty much the last point Scorpia can make.]

[ Sorry, Scorpia.. You really are doing your best - which is something Ange would definitely recognize if she was in her regular mind.

But unfortunately that's not the case right now. It's been twisted enough that she doesn't realise that sticking with the majority of her friends would be the better option here, when there's one that's completely safe, even if it's with less people..

So she shakes her head. ]

Nothing can change my mind anymore. [ That seals the deal, right? Ange's tone sounds so firm too, like she's really settled on this one. ] I'm going to do what's right, no matter what. It's now or never.

[There's that sinking feeling again. No matter what she says, she just can't get through to Ange. The Ange she knows. She's back to sounding set on this goal and only that. No matter how many of her friends are left behind...

Scorpia tries to blink back tears, feeling completely defeated.]

A-Ange...

[She doesn't know what to say anymore, not at all. It feels like there's nothing that won't be brushed away by her. So she just comes right at her, to attempt a hug.]

[ Ange does seem to allow the hug. She doesn't move out of the way, nor does she resist it if Scorpia really does bring her arms around Ange.

But she doesn't recipocate as much. The reason for it becomes most likely obvious once she speaks up. ]

.. we shouldn't drag this out, you know. It'll just make it hurt more.

[ For Ange? For Scorpia? Who's to say, especially when Ange's wording remains so ambiguous. ]

[Scorpia keeps a firm hold on her, while the tears flow.]

B-but I'm still here with you right now. That hurts a lot less than being apart from you will. [She mutters softly.] I love you, Ange. You're one of the best friends I know.

I.. don't understand.

[ The words are mumbled more than said. Like Ange isn't necessarily talking to Scorpia here as much as she's voicing her thoughts out loud, because they're too intense and strange to be contained in her mind right now. ]

It hurts.

[ And she doesn't understand why. Not in this corrupted form, anyway. She's still Ange enough that it hurts to hear this and know that she won't see Scorpia again, but at the same time twisted enough that she doesn't understand any of it. ]

Why are you making it hurt..?

[Part of her takes an odd comfort in Ange being able to feel something and to express it. But mostly, Scorpia's feeling that bittersweet pain herself.]

I'm sorry, Ange. It's just because I love you, and sometimes... like right now... love hurts. N-no matter what anyone does or tries... there will always be things that hurt, along with all the things that make people happy. It's all part of the same hearts we all have.

[She gives one big squeeze, before tearfully pulling back.]

Just remember that, okay? ...Remember me.

[ The gaze Ange gives Scorpia by the time the other pulls back is still a little complicated. Her own plans make so much sense to her here. But everything about this, all this with Scorpia - it feels stranger, and Ange isn't sure why it feels so complicated.

Even with the other's explanation, it still doesn't make much sense to her. Not while she's like this.

But despite all of that, despite quietly staring at the other for a moment, Ange can at least say for sure: ]

I will.

[ She knows it. ]

This changes nothing. I wouldn't forget you. You're important to me. [ At least that is still something Ange can say, even while she's like this. It's something she still knows, even if she can't quite discern the complicated edges to it quite as clearly. ]

[Scorpia softly nods, raising her pincers to pluck away some tears as she looks towards her. That sentiment alone manages to hit her in the heart.]

Th-thanks. You're important to me too, Ange.

[She's scared and distraught at the idea that she might never see Ange again. Not just that, but not seeing Ange the way she remembers her... but it's clear there's no more she can do. She slowly shuffles backwards as she looks towards her.]

I'll always treasure our friendship, for all time.

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