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

Maybe I would-

He'd look pretty charming with a hat. You can't deny that.

[Ruby rolls with the joke but it's definitely more subdued than usual. It's only when Ange takes hold of her hand the way she does that she starts to look a little more curious. She might always be cold to the touch but she recognizes the gesture well enough and she feels a little smile play at her lips.]

Are you trying to imply there's ever a time I don't trust you?

Because that's not true for a second.

But yeah. I'm game for whatever you have in mind.

Geez, sounds like I made a real mistake there by forgetting for a moment, huh?

[ Ange smiles as she says it though, clearly just meaning it as a light joke. Everything she says and does is so gentle in this moment, like she's trying to just smother Ruby with love while the other still isn't going too great.

And, using the hand she's still holding like that, she slowly guides Ruby over to their bed, until they're sitting down on it. ]

That thing I made.. I read about it in the library. [ See, her nerd time spent hanging out there and reading up on stuff is actually paying off! Who could've imagined! ] Apparently they call it a Winter Mourning out here. A book told me that if you touch it, you see a memory.. but its aftereffect is that it helps you feel a bit better, and sleep better too.

[ Sure, the memory part might be a little rougher, depending on how it turns out. But if the aftermath is that good, it's hard to pass up on the idea, especially under the current circumstances. ]

.. and I thought my favourite girl in the entire world could use a little bit of that.

Almost, but I think I can forgive you. Just this once.

[She's joining in with the light joking. It's starting to feel a little more natural even if she's choosing her words a little slower than she might normally.

She let's Ange guide her along until they're on the bed and she can't help but smile a little. There's a moment where she feels bad that she might be making Ange worry but leave to her girlfriend to go out an try to find a way to make things better.]

You... Went out and made that- Just to make me feel better?

[It was already working and Ruby hadn't even touched it yet.]

Yeah... I-

The last few days have been kind of rough.

I haven't had to do something like that before... Not really here or at home.

[She had fought to stop people. She had fought to kill monsters or do harm. She had never killed her kid friends brother before.]

It... It was a lot...

.. I understand.

[ Of course it's a lot. The killing Ange has been doing has always been a little easier in that sense, never having to put down someone she really cared for.. but she can understand, in concept, how hard it must be.

Especially on someone like Ruby, whose heart just overflows with care for others.

Ange slowly lets go of Ruby's hand, but it's just so she can instead move her own hand up, letting it rest on Ruby's cheek and gently caressing the skin underneath the other's mechanical eye. ]

It's hard. And.. I know you knew that. That it's why you did it. So no one else would have to. [ Not that Ange was present for it. She didn't witness it, but.. with the way she knows Ruby, she can understand what the other must be thinking most of the time.

It's entirely like Ruby to take the hardest things on her own shoulders, just so it doesn't have to be someoen else carrying that weight. ]

.. that's why I made this. Because I'm the one who's supposed to take care of you in a moment like this. [ Just like how Ruby took care of her last month. Saving her from that awful place, caring for her when she couldn't get out of bed. Ange still carries the scars on her skin as a reminder. ] I think this place is starting to take its toll on some people. But.. I just..

[ Ange's voice trails off, a little flustered and shy, but then she shakes her head and continues. ]

I thought that as long as the two of us take good care of each other, we can at least prevent that from happening to either of us.

[ Little does she know that it's exactly that thought that might cause their mutual downfall later on.

But for now? It feels like a plan that can't fail, if they just take turns to go out of their way for each other like this. ]

[Ruby wasn't surprised that Ange understood what she was going through. Ange had had done so much back in her own home to protect and learn the truth of her families memories. It took a special kind of love to show that much dedication to a cause. So of course she knew what it was like to carry that kind of burden whether it was for others or not. Ruby respected that about her so much.]

I- I couldn't let Mabel or Oscar carry something like that. It wouldn't have been right.

[She sucks in a little breath at the gentle touch on her cheek. She kind of misses that she can't feel the warmth of Ange's hand anymore but she remembers it vividly, so it's like she still can. She presses in slightly to let both her arms wrap around Ange's waist.]

Yeah... I think it's starting to chip away at people a little bit each month- I wouldn't be surprised if it just kept getting worse.

[She leaned in to let her forehead press against her girlfriends.]

...But I'm really glad I've got some so special to look out for me.

That we've got each other to watch our backs.

So yeah. Thanks for this, Ange.

[ It makes even more sense especially because Mabel or Oscar were the only ones involved, really. Ange and Ruby may technically only barely be adults, but they're still a lot younger than those two. Of course it would make Ruby want to protect them from that sort of thing even more.

For now the thought slides out of Ange's mind though, as she finds thoughts often do whenever Ruby gets this close and affectionate. It's hard to think about anything but Ruby like this. Her cold, yet affectionate arms, her voice, the way she always makes sure to express her gratitude, even when she's feeling down..

Ange's heart beats a little faster, and she slowly exhales. ]

Okay, how about we save the thanks until after this has been proven to actually work? [ It's a slight joke, but Ange doesn't move out of their current positions at all. She's enjoying it way too much. ] Otherwise you're going to have thanked me in such a grandiose way for nothing.

[ Ange is pretty sure it should work though. Unless that book lied to her. Which.. isn't entirely out of the question though, she figures. ]

And there's also the possibility that we might end up viewing one of our nastier memories.. But I'm sure we could handle that together. [ Especially when they've already seen so much of each other at this point. Especially when they were fighting their worlds' respective witches together. ] And I don't have a single memory that I'd feel the need to hide from you, anyway.

[ Ruby has already seen so many different sides of her.

Ange likes to think that means there's nothing she could show the other that would suddenly make Ruby dislike her, at this point. ]

I guess- I'm pretty sure I can one up whatever I do thank you now later. I can get pretty creative you know?

[Look she has caught on to the fact that Ange wasn't in a huge hurry. But she does loosen her grip so she can actually get a look at what they're getting into.

She gives a faint pause at the mention that they could run into a bad memory but it doesn't really deter her.]

You're right. I don't think there's anything we can't face when we're side by side. ]

I don't have anything to hide from you either. I mean except where I hid the christmas presents and this thing had better not spoil that-

[Look she had to lighten the mood up a little.]

[ Ange pauses, almost seeming surprised for a moment that Ruby is capable of making these jokes in her current condition.. but it's the kind of surprise that melts into something warm and good, a sort of relief to see that, despite everything, Ruby is still just Ruby.

Hopefully Ange can help a little with that if this works out, she thinks, and she leans a little closer to press a kiss to the other's lips. ]

I promise I'll close my eyes if I see the slightest sign of that. [ She softly says, lightly joking right along, before attempting to wrangle the decorated antler a bit more onto their laps without touching it enough to be drawn into a memory just yet. ]

.. here. Let's touch it together on the count of three, alright? One.. two.. three.

[ And she'll go right ahead and touch it, having no idea in what kind of memory they'll end up - but figuring that it'll be fine if they're together. ]

[Ruby was still Ruby at her core and she would try to let that push through as best she could. I was easier when Ange was around, she gave her strength and make it easier to rise up when things were looking bleak. Plus Ange had gone to such lengths for her already, it already meant the world to her.

Ruby leans into the kiss and feels the weight of the world lift from her shoulders briefly and she let's out a content little break.]

You'd better.

[It's all she manages to say before Ange suggests the count down. Once Ange hits one Ruby will move to put her hand over top of Ange's when she touches it, fingers sliding between Anges to touch the Winter Mourning as they are pulled into the memory.

Ruby blinks and in the next moment they find themselves in a house made of logs. It's a little run down but cozy. It looks well lived in and maybe a touch messy. Ruby shifts her gaze around immediately picking up on where they are.]

Uh- This is... This is my house. From home.

.. huh.

[ It's a surprised little sound. Even while not knowing whether they'd be pulled into her own memory or Ruby's, Ange didn't.. quite expect this. She has heard a lot already about the way Ruby grew up, but considering Ange herself was so used to first living in a designer house and then in a full out huge mansion, seeing a log cabin like this is.. rather surprising.

But not in a bad way. It kind of seems like it fits Ruby. Something about it feels.. homely.

Ange keeps her voice soft when she speaks up, especially while Ruby's emotions might still be tender. ]

This is where.. you grew up?

[Ruby just takes a breath in and out briefly as she gets her bearings in the house. It had felt like a life time since she had last been here yet at the same time it still felt right- She sill knew where everything was in the house. She leans in and keeps hand on Ange's.]

Yeah- There's a cute little garden outside- I'll show y-

[And that's when she hears a voice from another room, her dad's and suddenly freezes.]

Alright, girls. One story and then it's time for bed. I mean it.

[Ruby feels a hint of a smile play up on her lips. ...This could be really sweet. She looks over to Ange and tugs on her hand.]

Come on. you heard him.

W-Wait, Ruby..! What if they see us?

[ Granted, Ange has no idea whether or not this memory works that way. Even though she read up about this entire deal, she doesn't think she reads anything about whether or not they are actually existing people in the memory, or whether they're just like.. ghosts, not even present, only there to watch it all.

.. though honestly, Ange should have figured out by now that they're not visible to anyone else in the memory, considering the fuss they're making inside of the house right now, without any sound from that other room to indicate that someone thinks anyone is up.

Despite her protest though, Ange is allowing herself to be tugged over in the direction of the source of the sound by her whirlwind of a girlfriend. ]

Sh-sh-sh! What if hey hear us?

[Ruby just grins and guides Ange effortlessly through the house. She had lived there most of her life after all. She stops outside the bedroom door and places her free hand on the knob before turning it and letting the door open just a crack. On the bed there is a young, two eyed Ruby Rose sitting eagerly. The young Ruby eagerly speaks up]

Okay daddy.

[And another voice joins hers, her older sister who is laying on the bed beside her.]

Is it the- [Is all she manages to say before her dad, who's sitting on a chair beside them speaks up.]

Yes, Yang. I promise you it is filled with monsters and fighting.

[Yang shouts back with a "yes" while the young Ruby makes a chorus with "Monsters and fighting!"

Ruby looks to Ange and blushes a little, smiling sheepishly.]

Pretty sure this is one of my favorites.

[ It's.. so weird. Seeing this place, knowing that it is where Ruby grew up. A fact that's only made more clear once they can actually look into the room, and there's an actual other Ruby there. So much younger, obviously, but at the same time it's so clearly Ruby. From the eyes and the hair, all the way to the attitude.

(So much, yet so little has changed over the years, huh?)

And while it feels a little rude to be peeking in like this, like Ange is looking in on someone else's private situation.. It's kind of nice to see at the same time. Ruby, her sister, her father.. They look so happy. So cozy.

It really feels like a home.

Once Ange is able to tear herself away enough from her train of thought to look over at Ruby, she pauses for a moment, and then faintly smiles. ]

Because of the monsters and fighting? [ It's meant as a gentle tease, mostly. ]

[When this event had happened it certainly was a private moment, something meant for family. But Ange had become family in the couple years that she had known her, she was more welcome to share in the good and bad of Ruby's life. This was just an interesting way of letting her in.

She grips her hand tightly and gives her a goofy smile at that tease.]

What can I say? I'm a girl of simple tastes. But there's more to it than that.

[And she tugs Ange into the room once she's sure they can't be seen. She hears her dad speak up again.]

Alright- Get into bed.

Now. A long time ago there was a village surrounded by an enormous forest. The village had been safe from the creatures of Grimm for as long as anyone could remember. It had been so long that the people of the village believed it had been charmed to keep the creatures at bay so long as no one entered it.

But as time went on the people became complacent.

[And then the little Ruby speaks up.]

Complacent?

[And then Tai responds.]

Oh- Uh. Careless.

[And the little Ruby responds.]

Oh.

[ Oh, gosh darn it.

Ange is watching the tiny Ruby and the way she's interacting with her father, and it's just.. so cute. It definitely reminds Ange of her own dad, with that goofy edge to the interaction. She can't help it. A smile instinctively appears on her face, before she even consciously realises it. ]

You know, your dad kind of seems like a goof.

[ She's saying it quietly. Even though it definitely seems like they can't be heard or seen, it's like Ange still doesn't want to talk over the story.

Especially since seeing this again must be so important to Ruby too. ]

In a sweet kind of way.

[Ruby does catch that smile on Ange's face and it warms her heart to see it. She lazily slides in a little closer and lets an arm wrap around the other girls shoulders to pull her in a little closer.]

He is a goof. The best kind of goof. When he wasn't pulling stuff when we were in class. He was a teacher at my school before I went to beacon.

[She kept her tone down as the story continued. As her dad described the boy entering the forest only to be saved by a girl with a sickle who told the boy to return home and not speak of her.]

When the boy made it back to his village he told no one of the warrior who saved him. But he described the terrible monster he had narrowly escaped. Those who heard his tale took it as proof that the forest had protected them. Everyone continued living happily as they had, everyone that is but the boy.

Hmm, so the people of the village had no idea that there was someone out there protecting them. [ Ange softly notes.

It makes sense though - the fact that Ruby's world has stories like these. It's not even like they're super different from the fairytales being told in Ange's world. It's just that the stories in Ruby's world are much more likely to be real, considering there are actual monsters out there. ]

That must've been pretty selfless on the girl's part, protecting everyone without getting any credit for it.

[ And seemingly not even wanting credit, since she did tell the boy to keep her existence a secret. ]

Nope. Just a quiet protector. Kind of the coolest, huh? Just swooping in to protect people.

[Ruby was a little starry eyed listening to the story. Look it had been one of her favorite growing up and it's a little obvious it's kind of how she felt a Huntress should act.

Her dad continues to describe the boy building weaponry and meeting the girl on another encounter on monsters.]

"You again?"

"You remember me?"

"I remember everyone I've saved.

...And Everyone I didn't.

I told you not to come back."

"I had to find you. To bring you this"

"I'll take it if it means you'll leave. The next time you enter the woods. You're on your own."

[ The boy really does seem to want to meet the girl again, huh. It's the first thing that comes to Ange's mind as she listens to this. The boy even making weapons so he can go out there and see the girl again, even though he's still not fully able to protect himself from the monsters..

.. and then there's Ruby right there, seeming so excited just to be listening to all this. ]

He's definitely going back into the woods, isn't he.

[ Even though the girl warned him he'd be on his own.

But Ange knows how guys work. They're way too dumb to listen to something like that, especially one that seems as determined as the one in this story. ]

[Look she hadn't had a chance to listen or read this story in ages. Much less get the full experience of her dad reading it by her bed side. ...Even if she wasn't actually the Ruby sitting in the bed with her sister konked out beside her at the moment.

It reminded her of so much of what she had back at home. And while it wasn't here anymore she was still working to build something new. Her hand slid over to Ange's and let her fingers slide between her girlfriends before she gave her a little elbow.]

Hey hey, don't spoil it!

[She said playfully and gave Ange a little elbow.]

Yeah. Obviously. It'd be a bit of a lame story if he just stayed home, right?

I don't know. It could instead be the story of the smart boy who knew what was good for him and made sure to stay safely inside.

[ There's a light, teasing edge to Ange's voice, but she mostly just still seems to enjoy it.

Considering Ruby's preferences, it's probably better that it's not a story like that. Of course she'd instead like a story about people being all brave - and she can tell from the way that younger Ruby is looking over there that the younger girl is very much into it.

Ange lets her head drop on the shoulder of the actual Ruby sitting next to her, closing her eyes for a moment as she listens to the story go on. ]

return those voices echoing in the sea (closed)

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Forever late

please you are always right on time in my heart!!!!!