A New Year's Miracle (Closed)

[forwantofahorse]

Who: Sayo (and a special guest) and the rest of Clockhouse.
What: Sayo finds a miracle when she sheds her skin.
When: Early to mid January!
Where: Clockhouse.

Content Warnings: Putting a blanket Umineko spoiler warning for everything in this log, will update as needed.

Comments

[happymeal]

Me?

[ Ange immediately sits up a little straighter when she's suddenly being asked that question - like she didn't quite see it coming, but is immediately at full attention all the same.

Though it does mean that she actually has to think. She didn't see the question coming, so she didn't really have anything in mind.. Even now, as Lion is saying it, she's kind of glancing away from the changing room entrance she's sitting at and over at the clothes in the store. ]

Oh.. I don't know.. [ It's so overwhelming. Look at all the clothes! How can she pick one thing!

So rather than contemplating something that's way too much for her little head, she glances back at her cousin. ]

.. that dress is way too big for me!

[ Thanks for the obvious conclusion, Ange.

Six year olds aren't always the smartest. ]

[be_a_miracle]

[Lion's baby cousin is too adorable. (They feel a pang for everything she will go through in her future, but right now, that doesn't matter.) They just want to lean down and give her li'l cheeks a gentle squeeze. But instead, Lion laughs, ruffling her hair.]

I suppose it is. I'm not sure this place has "cool" children's clothes, if I'm being honest.

You know, Ange-chan, I've dragged you around town a lot today, so... I owe you something in exchange. Or somewhere!

Do you want to go anywhere in Trench before we return to the house?

[happymeal]

[ There's a small 'oof' in response to the hair ruffle. Ange ducks her head slightly, like a part of her is trying to keep her hair from getting too messed up, yet at the same time she doesn't want to move away from their touch entirely either.

She's quickly distracted from the physical contact though. Ange's head turns to gawk up at Lion, her eyes wider. ]

I can pick? Anywhere?

[ That might be a dangerous word to say to a child, but honestly, Ange doesn't have any devious ideas. Not when she's already glad enough to be spending time with her cousin in general. ]

I have an idea..!

[ She holds out a hand, like she's expecting them to take it. ]

Let's go, I'll show you!

[be_a_miracle]

Anywhere.

[Wait. Ange has been heavily influenced by Ruby. They should probably add a stipulation before anything goes disastrously wrong on what's supposed to be a joyful day.]

...that's not dangerous!

[Lion has a sinking feeling that their words fell on deaf ears. Regardless, they smile back at Ange, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Sayo would probably pray for Ange to forget this moment and really anything that happened with Lion at all, but Lion hopes she remembers this tenderness for when the guts are torn out of Shannon and the truth is laid bare.]

Let's go. Ah- [Oh. Right. They're still wearing the dress.

...ah, screw it, they brought some potatoes to barter in case of an emergency. Lion should be allowed to have some nice things.]

Ready when you are.

[happymeal]

[ There's definitely some things that Ange is way too young to really consider - like the fact that Lion should probably change back to their actual clothes if they aren't too sure about whether or not to buy the dress. Because while she does wait for Lion to actually barter for it, Ange is practically bouncing on her feet, and dragging the other out of the store the moment she's got the chance to do so.

And while she's happily chattering on about pretty much anything - do little kids ever stop talking? - on their way, it doesn't take too long before they arrive at their destination.

It's the beach.

It's then that Ange momentarily lets go of their hand, instead running forward, shoes hitting the sand.

She smiles, turning back to look at Lion. ]

Lion, Lion, isn't it fun? It's the beach!

[ There's a small pause, and then she adds: ] It's like back home!

[ After all, most of the time when Ange sees Lion, it's on Rokkenjima - and there's no way the cousins ever pass up on the chance to go to the beach there together when they can.

Except now.. it's just the two of them. ]

[be_a_miracle]

Ah...

[Lion stands there, wind tousling their hair as they stare out into the choppy ocean. Sayo had avoided returning to the beach because it reminded her of Rokkenjima when, despite everything else about Trench, she'd finally escaped, but for Lion...

Ange's right. It reminds them of home.

Startling, Lion realizes that a few tears are falling from their eye, and wipes them away quickly—hopefully before Ange can see. Smiling, they walk up to stand next to her, reflexively moving to sling their coat across their shoulder before realizing they're wearing a dress and letting out a small chortle.]

...the sea's a beautiful blue today, huh, Ange-chan?

Thank you for taking me here.

[happymeal]

[ Lion is in luck. Ange seems so excited about the situation that she indeed doesn't notice the tears before they're already wiped away. Instead she just smiles, especially when they get close to her, looking up at them with that smile.

Even if she sure doesn't know all the meaning contained behind such a simple statement about the sea, something about it feels nice to her all the same. ]

No.. [ She slowly shakes her head. ] Thank you! Because, um..

[ Slowly the smile drops a little, replaced with something a tad more thoughtful. ]

I think.. if you weren't here, I might be kinda lonely.. Because mom and dad and Battler onii-chan aren't here.. [ Even if this Ange hasn't had to miss them the way the older Ange has, it's almost as if something of the sentiment, of the pain, remains deep within her. ] .. but when we're both here, we don't have to be lonely.

[be_a_miracle]

...I think I'd be lonely without you too.

It's strange to say this, but... [Lion laughs, rubbing the back of their head and doing their best not to cry.] ...thank you for being here, Ange-chan. Thank you for staying here, no matter how hard it gets.

[Even if Ange forgets everything else eventually, they want her to remember that. They kneel down, scooping her up in a tight hug.]

You're very strong for being able to keep going without your mom or dad or brother, you know that? Even though I'm here, it must still be pretty hard.

But I'm so, so glad that I was able to make that a little easier for you.

[happymeal]

.. strong?

[ Ange softly repeats the word. Despite seeming a little surprised by the hug - and really, even moreso by the words coming out of their mouth - she does allow herself to be draw into the embrace, even though she's momentarily pretty passive in the hug as her tiny six year old brain is starting to think really hard.

Is she strong? She does guess she misses them, but it's hard for this younger Ange to understand the full extent of what the other is saying. ]

Then.. aren't you strong too..? Don't you miss your mom and dad and sister..?

[be_a_miracle]

...I do. Quite a lot.

[The Golden Land always being there for Lion doesn't dull the pain of never being able to see their own family again.

Every time that Jessica looked at them like a stranger felt like a stab in the heart, and every time that Natsuhi refused to look them in the eye as her shoulders sagged from guilt was just as painful.]

But I can always keep them in my heart, where my memories are. That way, it's almost like I can visit them whenever I want to.

[happymeal]

[ Ange slowly touches her chest. ]

In your.. heart..?

[ It's like she's pondering those words in this moment. She doesn't doubt that it's something Lion can do, since she does look up to the other - if not just by default, just by being an older cousin - but Ange seems a little bit doubtful of it when it comes to herself.

Especially since her expression drops little by little, the more she thinks about it. ]

That sounds a little sad though.. It sounds much nicer to have your family with you instead.

[ ... ]

I'd rather have you here than in my heart, Lion..!