deercountry | (no subject)

[ Ange frowns, before repeating the word. ]

Confusing.

[ It's like she's trying to figure out what's behind the word as she's echoing it back at the other - and it probably shows too, both in Ange's facial expression and in her tone as she moves to sit down.

In some other cases she might have bothered to hide it a little bit more, but what use is there to doing so in front of someone she likes? ]

In what ways exactly? Do you want to talk about it? [ The least Ange can do after failing to prevent the other's death is hear her out, right? ]

[Willow gives a little nod as Ange joins her. There's no sense in keeping it hidden that she doesn't remember Trench right now, and there's a lot to readjust to, especially given how much things have apparently changed in the last six months.]

So, uh. You know how there were side effects? When you... you know. In Deerington? I guess that's a thing here too.

[Or at least that's the running theory. She's not absolutely certain yet if there's a connection between her condition and her death back in the dream, but it feels like there should be.]

You know, the first time you get the flu, the second time you get the flu, and you lose a bunch of memories?

[She glances at Ange, and gives a little shrug.]

The, uh, last thing I remember really clearly before coming to shore here is the beach after we went through the door back in Deerington. I guess a lot's changed since then...

That's.. unfortunate.

[ To put it mildly. But since Willow is shrugging and all as she's saying it, Ange doesn't want to be the one to make it a big deal here. Maybe this is just the other's way of coping with the entire idea - playing it down a little bit.

And it's weird too, since Ange is pretty sure she didn't hear about this amnesia thing happening to anyone else who's died, but..

Well, maybe it's better to keep that card close to her chest for a little bit longer too, in order to avoid overwhelming the other. ]

I mean.. yeah, quite some things have changed. It's been half a year since then, you know? [ Ange frowns a little, but she's careful to keep her tone relatively flat. Trying to keep things a little casual on her end too, no matter how worried she is. ] That's quite some time's worth of memories. And you can't remember any of them at all?

Well... Maybe it's just temporary. Just a little less temporary than the whole disorientation, kinda forgot how to walk on two legs instead of swimming with a whole lot more kind of thing.

[She's hoping for just a temporary situation, at least, but she's well aware amnesia in Deerington could take a long time to resolve itself on its own, and it's hard not to worry it will be the same thing here.]

It's all just... blank after I went into the ocean. I don't remember any of it at all. I mean, Oz, and that guy who has the pirate ship have both helped fill me in. Oh, and Faith too - she brought me up to speed on most of the stuff that happened after she got here.

[Except for Tara. She had left it to Ozpin to break that news, citing it should come from someone Willow trusted. It's an unexpected complication, and she's unsure how to find her way through it.]

[ Ange won't rule out the possibility of it being temporary either. After all, it took a while for people to remember themselves right after coming out of the ocean too..

.. though even by those standards, Willow would be taking an exceptionally long time by now to recall everything. Are there some specific circumstances that lead to that? Ange has no idea, but she makes a mental note to try and look into it later, if she's out at the Archives anyway. ]

Did he tell you about that time you kicked him out of the house?

[ Ange is not so sure he'd get into that part.

.. but then again, Faith probably would say that. She's not the type to hold back in the slightest. ]

[Willow gives Ange an embarrassed smile. Yeah, she's been filled in on the vampire stuff too. She might not remember any of it herself, but between her nameless friend who fished her out of the ocean, Ozpin and Faith, she's feeling fairly up to speed on what the last six months have been like. She would still rather remember it for herself of course.]

Yeah. Yeah, I heard about that. Not one of my better moments from what I've heard, but I guess at the time I tried my best.

You always try your best, Willow.

[ There's no hesitation in saying that. It's like Ange doesn't even have to think about it. Sure, it's a little more directly sappy than she'd usually be, but maybe it's what the other needs while going through a time this confusing.

Just some reassurance.

And it's reassurance Ange believes in. Maybe that thing hadn't gone down entirely smoothly, but.. she knows Willow didn't do anything of that out of malicious reasons. ]

I mean.. look at you. You lost your memory, and yet you're still doing your best right now to just keep on going. That's not nothing.

[Willow gives her an appreciative smile. The reassurance does help. It's a steadying reminder that even with her mistakes, and even with the way the house has clearly changed over the last several months, it's still her home.]

Thanks, Ange. I mean it. There's not really much else I can do right now, though, is there? Except keep going, and try to figure out how fix this.

[ Ange thinks there's a lot of other things Willow could have done, though she doesn't mention it. After all, plenty of people would have a breakdown at this sort of thing, or fall into depression, or just not know how to go on anymore..

Just the fact that the other is saying that she can only just keep going like this is a sign of strength all by itself, Ange thinks. ]

Well, you won't be alone in that. [ At least she can offer the other as much. ] It's not even like it's just me, but.. I know for sure that everyone in the house is willing to help you with anything, if you need it. I'm not sure if there's a way for us to help get your memories back, but..

[ Ange pauses, and then lightly shrugs, though it's with a faint smile on her face. ]

If I come across anything in the Archives that might suggest a way, I'll let you know.

Yeah... I'd help all of you, too.

[It's said quietly, and fondly. There's no one in the household she wouldn't try to help if they needed it, after all.]

There's still some people I gotta talk to, and let them know I'm back, and I'm okay.

[Pretty much anyone she's close to who is not in the house, really. It's a daunting task to think about, given she knows there's bound to be a number of questions that she just doesn't know the answer to just yet.]

But maybe tomorrow we can hit the Archives and start digging into how to fix this?

Makes sense.

[ After all, Ange isn't going to delude herself into thinking that only the people here in the house are Willow's friends. The other is so kind - surely she must have made plenty of friends outside of the house too, and they must have been worried about her too, given the circumstances. ]

Tomorrow is fine with me. But if you're still busy with your return tour by then, the day after is fine too. [ It's a light joke, and Ange shakes her head. ] Take all the time you need. I can make time for you whenever.

[She gives a small smile at the joke. There's a few people she knows she wants to reach out to, assuming they're actually in Trench, but realistically, she's likely going to have to depend on the messages left on her Omni to direct her as to who she ought to reach out to.]

Thanks, Ange. Definitely tomorrow. I don't wanna leave this go too long if I can avoid it.