deercountry | April Catch-All

Ange doesn't protest or resist the hug at all. It had kind of been what she had wanted to do herself anyway before indeed shying away, so it's somehow all managed to work out. Instead she just moves to wrap her arms around Vira-Lorr as well, opting to hold the other for a moment. Just experiencing the relief of seeing the other be her usual self again.

"Well, I imagine people will be looking out for each other." So no one will have to suffer the effects of those things without having someone nearby to help.

Or so Ange hopes, anyway.

"It's one thing we've got going for us here."

After all, Ange figures, if even a not-too-great-with-social-stuff kind of girl like her can have an extended support network, then surely most people have got to have that here. Most people in Trench are kind, bothering to look out for others.

She nodded in the middle of the hug, holding onto Ange as long as her experience had shown was usually before someone started squirming. It was probably such a sign that she might have started timing her hugs just to be sure they didn't linger too long. breathing out and easing back, she closed her eyes. "You're right, of course. We have to be able to rely on each other. I'll just need to be careful when I'm helping people after I've recovered."

The problem was, and she hadn't realized it, that the nature of the situation with the butterflies was such that she was uniquely rather vulnerable to their depredations. She had way too much hope, and at the same time too much paranoia. Still, eventually she'd be back at her home, avoiding them entirely.

Usually Ange might have left the hug again rather quickly - but not this time around. She instead lingers a little longer in the hug, maybe because she needs the reassurance and comfort in this moment too after everything that happened. After worrying over Vira-Lorr, and now experiencing the relief of having been there in time to help her - thankfully.

Ange can only imagine how much worse that could have got.

(Sorry, Ange, that's also still happening at another point when you're not around..)

It's only after those long moments, spent in some silence after the last thing Vira-Lorr says, that Ange finally pulls back and looks at the other.

"Do I need to stay here with you a little longer?" To make sure she's okay. "I don't mind."

"I... would like it if you stayed for a while," she said cautiously, her eyes closed. She leaned back against the corner and placed her hands on the counter, starting to look gradually more like herself. "I want to be sure that I'm back to normal, and... it's good to have you around. But if you need to get somewhere, I understand." She didn't add that she was getting past those pesky desires to protect Ange right then, and this was a good way to do it.

She shakes her head, seeming to not even have to think about it.

"It's fine. I can stay." Especially since the nature of her bond with Ruby means that she doesn't even have to grab her Omen to be able to tell the other girl that she'll be out for a little bit longer - she can just think it hard enough for Ruby to receive the message. Not that Ange thinks the other would usually be worried about her staying out a little later, but after Ange spent weeks and weeks inside of the house.. well, maybe Ruby might be a tad more worried about her.

"I mean, you spent time with me as well last month when I was feeling bad. It's only fair to do this in return. We could just have some tea and talk."

Not that Ange realises the extra motive Vira-Lorr has for asking her to stay for a bit, but.. well, she doesn't mind either way. This is just what friends do, and she's worried enough about Vira-Lorr's state and recovery anyway.

It was a useful bond in that way. A chance for the two to keep in touch no matter what was going on. Either way, Vira-Lorr was grateful for the company, for someone helping her to come down to her normal state. She nodded and went to the pot to get the water heating as she smiled back at Ange.

"It was my pleasure to do that, you know. I don't always have a chance to be there for you quite so much, so... it's good to spend time with you. I just wish I was more myself today." She did manage one of her roguish smiles as she said it though. "I've been meaning to ask. How are you these days? Besides... all of this. Have things been ok for you and Ruby?"

"Oh.. yeah."

Besides a lot of things, that is. Besides her worry about Vira-Lorr in this moment. Besides.. everything that's been going around with Sayo and her confession.

Maybe that's a lot of things she has to shove aside to say that things are okay, but if she didn't do her best to ignore all of those things, she wouldn't even be able to have left the house and be here in the first place.

"Even with everything else going on.. things with Ruby have been okay for sure. She's been there for me the entire time. I think I would've been much worse off if she hadn't been there.."

For one, if she didn't have the bond with the other girl, Ange is fairly sure she would have succumbed to corruption. It's Ruby's influence on her mind that's kept her sane.

It's a fact that feels so objective to her that Ange doesn't mind bringing it up out loud, even though it gets really close to some dangerous sappy territory.

"She's been a good influence, I think. The two of you complete each other in your own ways. Very different energies, and one thing I've noticed about her? Ruby is nothing if not loyal." It would be hard not to have noticed that, given how she tended to get herself in over her head. Vira-Lorr almost made a cheesy comment about Yin and Yang, but opted against it. That would be a little too much.

She managed a wan smile, leaning back against the counter while the two talked. Perhaps 'chatted' wasn't the word for it, but it was good to talk. "Minako's been... very good for me too. I get so focused sometimes. For all that you'd think I'm free wheeling, I've gotten tired and old, and it feels like she gives me life and energy. I just try not to be draining in turn."

Ange exhales.

"I don't think you have to worry about that." Sure, Ange's own interactions with that Minako girl have been limited.. but that's exactly because she has found them to be very draining. Minako is just way too social and bubbly of a girl for Ange to bear, and that's saying a lot, considering who Ange is dating.

If anything, she thinks Vira-Lorr is way less draining than that girl, but spelling that out too explicitly might be rude, so..

"You two fit each other too. And besides.. what's most important in the end is just that you're happy with each other, right? As long as you make sure to communicate, that can't go wrong."

Oh, and how she knew that. Minako was sunshine, and she was a soft, warm sunset ready to engage in a playful night. It could be a lot even for Vira-Lorr, and they were dating. She chuckled a little and smiled to herself. "I imagine you're right, but I do worry now and again. She has a lot of energy to spare at least. I know that." Not that she knew what was going through Ange's head, but Minako was something else.

"Communication is the key. It's helped us a lot, at times when you might least expect it." If they hadn't communicated, they might never have actually braved dating, because of Minako's worries that she really 'couldn't' with her duties. Vira-Lorr had needed to embrace a lot of things that only happened with good communication. "And she makes me very happy."

That last thing is also something that's been pretty noticeable. Even if Ange hasn't been around the other two much while they were physically together in the same place, Ange can tell just by the way Vira-Lorr talks about Minako. Sometimes people are so in love that their sappy words already make it obvious just how much they care for one another.

This is definitely one of those cases.

"Well, I guess I'm glad then that I'm the one who ran into you, rather than her. You wouldn't want to worry your girlfriend too much."

(Thankfully Ange doesn't realise the sheer irony of that, considering what will happen.)

"Yes. I think if Minako were to see it, she would have been far too worried. I hope she's staying away from the butterflies. She's quite the brave one when it comes to it." Yeah, that irony was thick, unintentionally, wasn't it? Still, she managed to smile to herself at the thought of how much Minako could plunge into danger at times. It worried, but she did like her spirit.

She sighed and controlled herself a little, forcing the smile to stick, closing her eyes. "I trust her. I won't worry right now. That'll just make things worse won't it?" Yup.

Y... up....

Ange shrugs lightly.

"It probably can't hurt to talk with her about the general situation going on right now. It's not even like you have to mention what happened to you." Because it's all under control now. If there were still big after effects, then Ange might be less likely to encourage keeping it silent, but.. well, it's not like there's any use in Vira-Lorr worrying Minako when there no longer is a reason to do so.

"Even if she's the type to be brave and jump in to protect others, I'm sure she'd understand if you explained why you're concerned for her as well."

Look, Ange is dating Ruby.

She's got experience with this sort of thing.

"I... yes, I'll do that in a minute. That'll help me feel better about this, and maybe give her a warning. She'll definitely understand. She listens to me," she said, which was far more sensible than what she might have in the height of her paranoia. And the fact that a certain someone was dating these days wasn't entirely lost on her, because she managed a thin laugh.

"Tell me. How often do you have to warn Ruby to be careful?"

"In the past? All the time."

Especially before they started dating, Ange thinks. In their early days of Deerington, where the most Ange knew about the other girl was that Ruby was both entirely too social and entirely too reckless - though she's at least learned where all of that came from by now.

Something in the way she says it sounds so knowing too. Like she can entirely recall it, even now.

"But lately.. it's actually going a lot better. Ruby will be Ruby, but.. I think she understands that her own life is important as well now." If not just because they've sat down and discussed that stuff. Or just because Ange, too, had to reach a point where she had to decide that she had to be a little bit more careful with her own life in turn too - because she actually had people who would worry about her now if something happened.

She shakes her head. "We try to tackle those situations together now because of that. Sometimes I'm a little worried about dragging her down, since I feel like she's way more talented than I am, but.. in the end, it still feels better than letting her run off by herself and having to sit back and worry about her."

"You probably are having a good effect on each other, since she helps you to feel bolder. But, honestly, it's just good that she's learning to value her life in that way. It means that she won't take too many dangerous risks." She ssaid before smiling at her and shaking her head.

"And you're perfectly capable and powerful. Don't feel like you're dragging her or anyone down. I know that you worry at times, but I feel safer having you around myself. I'm sure she feels the same." Admittedly, with the monsters they faced at times? Yeah, she could understand the fears.

Ange breathes out - a sound that's almost like a huff. She would've felt bad about doing that while Vira-Lorr was still doing badly, but since the other definitely seems to be recovering well at this point, Ange just lets the sound slip out.

"Come on, now you're just flattering me."

Apparently there are some compliments Ange might take - even if it's with some hemming and hawing - but there seems to be a line being drawn here as she shakes her head.

"I know I come nowhere near most people in this place when it comes to fighting abilities. I'm not going to have any delusions about that."

She chuckled and shook her head. "You're no Ruby Rose, no. And we both know that I've done my share of wars that I can handle myself without my magic," she said, giving her a sympathetic smile. "But you've also been getting better haven't you? I'm fairly sure that we're not simply escorting you from safety to safety. You're capable of defending yourself, even if you are not a goddess in combat. But..."

Then a wink followed and she managed a tired, impish grin. "If you want practice? I do offer fencing lessons, you know."

"Oh, I've been practicing with Ruby for a long time now."

Weapon combat, that is, since magic is obviously something Ange is instead practicing by herself. But while she can't deny that she is getting a lot better at the latter, especially compared to Deerington, the former is..

Well.

"It doesn't really feel like I ever get much better though." Is it because she's comparing herself to Ruby, who started off on an entirely different level than Ange? Maybe. Who knows. But either way, practicing weapon combat never feels too encouraging to Ange. "Especially compared to everyone else. Maybe I just started too late."

A firm shake of her head. "So... I don't think I ever told you this. I don't often talk about it, but it might help you to know. My sword work? Oh, I've studied for hundreds of years. So obviously? I know my way around a blade. Focusing magic through it, whipping it about, parrying, all of the forms..." She reached down to her side and gently pulled her rapier out, clicking it and letting it shift to the pistol form, but making sure to pop any shell out of it and keep it free of charge, not to mention not pointing it anyone. "But guns?"

She snorted. "You should have heard the mockery from Reaper when I first started. They were Winfield's weapon of choice. He knew them. I never bothered to learn, not until the day my magic was stolen away and I had nothing but a dagger in hand." A hard look in her eyes came after. "I picked up a gun, just to give myself one more chance, at range. but gods, I had to practice all three years we were in that nightmare to get consistent. And I'm still not actually good. The monsters are just big targets. It will be years before I'm as good as Reaper, if I ever am."

"You never start too late. It's just different challenges. If you're training with Ruby? You'll get there."

Ange is quiet - just for a moment - after Vira-Lorr says that, then looks away.

"It doesn't feel like it."

After all, it's not even like she's only been training with Ruby for a few weeks, or even months. It's already been a year by now, pretty much, and Ange doesn't really feel much more confident with it than she did way back when they started. There's a reason why she's been focusing much more on her own magic practice than the entire weapons deal. At least there it feels like she's making progress.

She hates to be so dismissive of the other's words though, knowing that Vira-Lorr is just trying to encourage her - and right off the back of what must have been a really crappy situation for Vira-Lorr too.

"It's fine," Ange says, dismissing all concerns with the wave of her hand. "We shouldn't be talking about this right now. You need some time to recover."

Vira-Lorr considered saying something but shook her head. No, not right now. She was right. They could talk about this kind of thing another time. For now...

"You're right. I think I should get some sleep, allow this to wash over me. Maybe burn some incense and try to relax. You shouldn't be away from Ruby all day just to tend to me," she said, smiling over at her. "Thank you... for everything, Ange."

".. no." She shakes her head. "You don't need to thank me. I'd do this for you any time."

That's what friends are for, after all. Maybe it's a little bit too cheesy to say that out loud right now, but.. it seems to be implied within what Ange is saying out loud right there anyway.

She glances at Vira-Lorr for a moment, confident enough that the other seems to at least have regained enough of herself to be able to get to bed by herself, so..

"I'll get going then. Take it easy, okay? Let me know if it returns or doesn't fully let up, and you end up needing more help with it."

April Catch-All

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject