deercountry | return those voices echoing in the sea (closed)

[Scorpia's always tried to see the bright side of things, the better possibilities, even when it's hard. But right now, it feels harder than ever. Faced with the idea of her dear friend contemplating something like this... it makes her feel colder than her blood ever could.

She tries to blink back her tears, and she looks towards Ange slowly. She shakes her head in denial.]

N-no... No. It can't be. Ange, tell me, tell me I'm thinking wrong. Please, please tell me you aren't... you weren't... going to... to do that! [She doesn't specify what 'that' is, but her desperate tone may make it as clear as it needs to be.]

.. I can't lie.

[ Or, well, she could.

But Ange is pretty sure that the memory is about to prove her wrong, so what would that lie be for? Just so Scorpia could have some fake peace of mind for a minute or so before it's cruelly betrayed?

So she just says it. Ange doesn't look happy about it, but she does. ]

This is where I tried to kill myself. Because.. I no longer saw any other way out for myself. [ Her tone is mostly even, but something about it shakes just faintly, because it's so hard to bear the sight of Scorpia looking like this. ] I just wanted to be with my dead family again, no matter what it would take.

[And there goes. Scorpia seems to crumple with the weight of those words, of that confirmation. She stays there breathlessly for a moment, dropping to her knees.]

A-Ange... Ange, no...

[The tears are running down her face now as she looks at her friend, her friend she might never have been able to meet if things had gone differently. Sorry, but she will try to wrap her in a hug again. Her words are breathed now and barely audible.]

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry!! You - no one should have to feel that way! Your... family...

[ Thankfully this might be the one situation where Ange will accept that hug without griping too much about it. There's not even any real mental griping, because it's obvious how emotional Scorpia is about this entire idea. About the very idea of something happening to Ange.

It's strange, to have someone care so much. Especially when - Ange remembers - she felt like no one would care about her, that no one would cry when she was standing on that ledge. And it had been true in that moment.

But now? .. Well, clearly not anymore. ]

It's okay, Scorpia.

[ Ange glances over at her other self. Maybe if she can keep Scorpia looking at her instead, Scorpia won't have to see it happening. ]

I'm.. better now. This is from a long time ago, you know? Before I ever even showed up in Deerington, let alone Trench. .. Things changed.

[ For the better, thankfully. ]

It's just that that didn't happen until I left my world. [ It's a sad, low bar when Deerington is better than your own world, isn't it.. ]

[Scorpia keeps a tight hold on the present Ange and isn't watching the past one while she focuses on trying to comfort her, speaking much more quietly and slowly than usual.]

I... I knew you had some kind of rough past. But I had no idea it was th-this... this bad...

[She remembers seeing those apparent demons that Ange killed which came back to life. That was a whole thing in itself! But this is a horror and a sadness of its own.]

I am here for you now. We all are, ev- every friend you have here Ange! And I don't want to change that for anything.

[He pauses, uncertain, before she shakily asks.]

Did sh- Did you... Did you do it...?

[ This bad, huh. It almost feels weird to hear it being referred to in such a way. After all.. to Ange, it was just her daily life. It was just the way things were.

But before she can say anything about that, there's Scorpia's question. Yet another question she can't answer with a lie, but also doesn't want to answer with the truth.

Ange hears a door slam open behind them. The same door they entered the rooftop from. A bunch of guys in black suits rush out, shouting.

"Ange-san! Get away from there!" ]

You can just not look. [ Ignoring the men, who don't seem capable of spotting the two of them anyway in this memory, Ange just keeps looking at Scorpia while the other is clinging to her.

She's not giving a direct answer, but what she's saying here is implying a lot, isn't it. Purposefully so. ] .. it's fine.

[She hears the slamming door, but it just registers as background noise to her. Scorpia remains focused and fixated on Ange, tears continuing to flow at how awful this whole situation is. And it isn't helped by Ange's answer, or lack thereof.]

No it's not! This isn't fine at all! [Scorpia whimpers back. Then she releases her hold on Ange to look back towards the past one and cry back at her.]

D-don't do it! Please, Ange! Come back! Things might be awful now, but... they're gonna get so much better! You're gonna get a bunch of awesome friends and a cool girlfriend... Please, please don't give up!

She has no idea. [ Ange mumbles.

Because she knows it's true. She can remember it, even at this point. The way she felt back then, this night, out on this rooftop. The way she couldn't imagine things ever getting better, since her situation was so impossible to escape.

Not like she knew she'd be drawn away by a dreamworld, and then have the opportunity to move onto another world and become a squidperson.. Even with the existence of witches and all, that possibility would have seemed way too far out there.

Ange has no time to say anything else to Scorpia though. She can't even tell the other to turn back around, to not look.

Because the Ange of the memory is already moving, turning back to look at the men who rushed out onto the roof. It's like she's looking right past Scorpia. Like she can't even see the other.

"Ah, it's useless." The Ange from the memory says, her tone flat, but her eyes empty. "It's all useless. This is it. Goodbye. See you again."

She turns back, looking forward..

.. and then that Ange jumps off the edge of the building, letting herself plunge towards the city below. ]

Edited 2021-12-25 13:23 (UTC)

Ange!! No!!

[Scorpia's voice is shrill and pained as she cries out. The past Ange's words are heartbreak, and - just like that, she's gone.

Sobbing like a mess, Scorpia just races forward towards the edge and tries tearing away at the fence.]

Ange!! Ange!! ANGE!!! [Her words then dissolve into incoherent sobs.]

[ There's no way Ange can just stay put when Scorpia is having that reaction.

Sure, there's still a moment where she stands there, as if frozen, but then she's already moving forward. A hand lands on Scorpia's shoulder, trying to pull the other back and away from the fence, though it's hard with how tiny Ange is in comparison to the other. ]

Scorpia. [ She first says, and if she doesn't get the other's attention just yet, she will repeat: ] Scorpia! It's okay.

[ Well, maybe not this situation.

But the end result is. ]

I'm here. I'm here..!

[She's practically in a blind fury. She wants to do something, anything to change this! What if it's not too late? What if she can somehow... catch Ange, or bring her back up?

Other noises are like background static now, but if there's one voice that can cut through in this moment, it's that of Ange herself. Scorpia looks back at her with her face lined by tears.]

A-ange...

[And now she drops down to her knees, while going back into the tightest hug ever.]

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry!!

It's fine.. I promise.

[ Even though Ange doubts that Scorpia will let that get through to her so easily, Ange can't help but repeat it all the same. Because it is fine. Maybe the circumstances that brought her to do this aren't, but Ange can hardly find herself caring about those when they're so far behind her.

The girl on the roof.. that isn't her anymore.

It hasn't been for pretty much a year by now, if not longer. ]

It doesn't matter how I got to Trench. [ Through a crappy life, through suffering in Deerington--

Unsure of where to leave her arms in this tight hug, Ange just lets them awkwardly be clamped to her sides by Scorpia. ]

What matters is that I'm here now, right..? You.. [ She starts, then frowns. Sighs. Shakes her head. ] You shouldn't think so much about this. I'm not thinking about it either.

[If that's the case, Ange probably can't move her arms even if she want too. Scorpia has her in the death grip of love, as if afraid that if she lets go of Ange, she'll just fade away into nothing. She has to hold onto this life with all of the preciousness that it contains!]

...It's hard not to think about it. I just... I just saw you go. And now I want to keep on holding onto you and maybe put you in some kinda bubble to keep you safe forever!

[She takes a breath as she calms down and processes more of Ange's words.]

B-but... but you do have a point. What matters is that you're here and alive, Ange. You have your life again, and you're living it! It needs to be a really long and super happy one, okay Ange? Promise me that, please. A- an ultimate friendship promise.

[ P-Please, Scorpia, why does everything have to be put in terms of friendship.. ]

Of course I promise that. I already wasn't planning on dying again if I can help it, you know.

[ Ange even had a good track record in Deerington! She didn't die once! Though maybe that's offset a little by the fact that she's died so many times back home that she sometimes literally can't keep track due to parallel timelines..

But what she's saying out loud right now? It is 100% true. ]

Just.. don't put me into a bubble. Not even jokingly. You'll make me feel like I'm crazy, you know? [ Because Ange does like to think she was entirely sane when she did what she did in this memory. It's just that her circumstances back then were a lot worse than they are in Trench.

And that's saying something, considering.. well.. it's Trench. ]

[Everything akways has to be about friendship, always. Here comes the friendship train, in the form of Scorpia's entire body!]

Okay, okay, no bubble. ...What if it's more square-shaped? Would that be better?

[There's a small smile on Scorpia's face, the surest sign that she's intentionally making a joke.]

A-anyway just know that I'm here for you, Ange. Whenever you need anything!

[ Thank god that it is visible as an intentional joke - because Ange sure wouldn't put it past Scorpia to pull something that ridiculous.

But she can catch on to the fact that it's a joke like this, and Ange slowly breathes out as the memory starts to fade away into darkness around them, ending. ]

I am keenly aware.

[ It's said a little dryly - the joke here being, of course, that Scorpia has made that much clear for her in the most over the top ways.

But considering the situation, Ange doesn't leave it at just that. After a brief pause she adds: ]

.. thanks.

[It really is straddling the border between an intentional joke and an Actual Scorpia Thing.

Scorpia gives her one last, gentle squeeze.]

Anytime, Ange. Anytime.

[Once the setting of that horrible memory is gone, once they're back in the present, Scorpia will pull back with a sad smile.],/small>

[ It feels kind of weird. Going from that memory straight to here. There's some sort of stark contrast between her past from so long ago, that night on that rooftop, and then her present life here in Trench - and yet right now, there's only a moment between those two settings.

It leaves Ange quiet for a moment, but then she finally releases a breath she was holding in at the sight. ]

Sorry you had to see that.

[ Ange only feels like it's fair to say that. After all, it's not like seeing that sort of awful thing could actually be enjoyable to anyone. ]

I didn't mean to drag you into it.

[Scorpia stands up straight, anxiously rubbing at her pincer. It's a relief to be free from that, away from that horrible scene and back in Trench. But she's still shaken. It's hard to fully banish what she just saw from her mind. Scorpia just tries to focus on Ange - the Ange who's still alive and well right now.]

It- it's okay. I know you didn't mean to. You... had no control over it.

[She frowns as she tries to find any kind of bright side to this.]

I guess it's a sign of... of how far you've come. And now I understand you more, Ange. So I can be a better friend!

[ Usually Ange would wince at that latter statement. It's so.. so sappy. So much beyond what Ange can tolerate, especially since Scorpia usually goes the entire eleven miles with it.

But, right now.. everything considered..

Ange doesn't wince. She just takes the statement as it is. In fact, she even pauses for a slight moment, and then replies: ]

Yeah. Thank you.. Scorpia. For being my friend.

[ Even if it's a handful sometimes.

Scratch that. A lot of the time. ]

It's only because of everyone around me that I've been able to come this far, you know.

[It does help Scorpia to feel a bit better, to see Ange standing right before her in a healthy state - and affirming these things. As she speaks, it helps a soft warm, smile to spread across her face.]

You're welcome. It's my pleasure! [Maybe it helps that she's used to dealing with people who can be even more difficult, but she's never had any doubts about keeping up with Ange as a friend.]

I'm just happy that you found what you needed. Who woulda thunk it would be in a dangerous place like this! [She says with an attempt at levity, and a shrug of her spiney shoulders.] But what matters is we're here. And I'm hoping to keep on being here, to see how far you'll keep on going!

[She wants to hope that it can only get better for Ange from here.]

Don't worry. I'm pretty sure this place couldn't get rid of you even if it tried. [ Because if there's one thing about Scorpia, it's that she's persistent as heck. Maybe not always even intentionally so.

But that's just what makes her even more powerful.

Ange pauses for a moment after she says it, before finally asking: ]

Are you.. going to be okay? [ It's asked a little awkwardly, because it's A Lot for Ange to see someone getting that emotional over her of all people. And she doesn't want a dumb memory to ruin Scorpia's day. ]

I can be pretty tenacious!

[Scorpia exclaims that with pride, her pincers propped on her sides. She's building a life here in Trench, and she's not about to turn away from it anytime soon! Especially not when she's built up a community of friends here.

But the armor is pierced by Ange's question. Her smile fades, and she blinks as the images of what she just experienced flash before her eyes.]

Of... of course I will be. That was... it was possible the worst and scariest thing I've seen in my life. But I'll live with it. ...It's a lot easier to when you're right here, alive and well, with a bright future ahead of you. Things... are gonna be alright, Ange.

[ .. the worst and scariest thing Scorpia has seen, huh.

Usually Ange would have been willing to believe that. Considering that Scorpia seems so nice and naive - like she's never seen a single bad thing in her life. But considering what she told Ange about her home and all, she's pretty sure Scorpia has seen bad things before.

Maybe it's just that she didn't realise back then that they were bad. ]

I'm glad. [ Ange slowly says. This is more honest than she'd usually be, but.. maybe that's what she owes Scorpia after doing this to the other.

Even if it wasn't intentional. ]

I don't think I could forgive myself if I hurt you like a dumbass. Even if it was just through accidentally showing you a bad memory.

[She's seen lots of unpleasant things on the battlefield, for sure. But it doesn't quite match up to seeing her friend do something like that.

In any case, Scorpia attempts to assure Ange with a small laugh.]

Hey now, you- you wouldn't be responsible for something like that. You had no control over it. But I'm glad. Glad you're glad! And, and it's over now. So we can just... keep on moving on, and living!

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entreats - 2022-01-05 22:42 (UTC) - Expand

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cuddlery - 2022-01-06 01:14 (UTC) - Expand

return those voices echoing in the sea (closed)

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cw: suicide

Re: cw: suicide

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