deercountry | when nothing you do matters

You think I'm the type to swing these weapons around?

[ .. granted, the rifle is a little bit closer to something Ange could actually handle, though the style of the one Faith is holding in particular there is a little more.. questionable.

And the battleaxe is totally out of the question, considering she mostly uses the gun part of the gunsword Ruby made her. Ange is honestly surprised that's in here in the first place. It might even be visible on her face a little bit, since it's hard to fully put on her pokerface while she's still so mentally exhausted.

Aka - she's grabbing some weapons out of there to carry them in the room, but is definitely giving some of them semi-questionable looks. ]

I didn't even know you were the type to handle this many. [ Faith came across more as the 'kick them in the face, then shoot them' type. Simple and neat.

Nothing as elaborate as this entire medieval torture chamber level of weaponry she's got going on here. ]

[They're in the Bloodborne nightmare world thanks to Ozpin, don't blame her, she couldn't find a normal looking rifle. She picks up a pistol, looking more like a sawed off shotgun in terms of size.]

How about this one? [She offers it with a raised eyebrow.] Four shots, all high powered and somewhat explosive, but pretty easy to aim.

[Leaving Ange to ponder that, she also picks up a battle axe, lifting it with one hand easily.]

Different situations call for different tools. I normally just settle for my knife or my crossbow, but I'm supposed to train with all of 'em. [That's what her watcher said, anyway. Giles too, the few times he trained with her.

She blinks, realizing something she'd overlooked. Then, it's her turn to be incredulous at Ange's first question.]

...Wait. You can fight, right?

[ Thankfully there's not really much of a pause before she's already answering with a: ]

Yes. [ She doesn't sound offended at Faith's question though. Instead she just continues with that same half-flat, half-tired tone she's been using this entire time, like she's unfazed. ] But not with weapons this dramatic.

[ In fact, she's not very good at melee combat at all, beyond the strictly necessary. No matter how much she practices. Stuff like guns feel much easier to work with. ]

I have the weapon Ruby made me though. And my magic. I'm fine with just that.

[ Not that she will question Faith's absolute arsenal here, but Ange herself can't imagine handling that many weapons. ]

Well, I'm offended you won't take my pistol. Guess it won't measure up to anything your wife makes, though... [She smiles, just the slightest bit teasingly at that last part. She saw that exchange on the network.

She picks up the bag now. It should be thin enough to be carried through, and she needs to give Ange a chance to be flabbergasted.]

[ Ange definitely pauses at the very mention of that word, so it's a good thing that Faith is moving the bag by herself. Ange seems much too frozen up on the spot to attempt to do so herself, or even to attempt to help. She just stares, seeming to need a moment to even process what Faith is saying..

.. but then she's definitely starting to look flustered. It's more muted than it usually would have been, considering Ange's state, but it's there all the same, very much visible on her face. ]

I can't believe.. [ Of course she knows why Faith is saying that. What she would have seen. ] You're not one of the people who have been planting all sorts of ideas into Ruby's head, are you?

[ Since apparently Ruby was having all sorts of conversations about marriage all over town and Ange only found out about just the other day?? ]

[She lets out a cackle, clearly enjoying herself. Flustering people is one of her favourite pass times and Ange never lets her down.]

Nah, I haven't. I just think it's cute. [It is cute. It is very cute. If she were in Ange's shoes she would run and make Ruby hate her so she wouldn't be made to follow through on any of that. It's a good thing she's not, though. And she can actually be happy for the both of them too.] Gotta say, didn't know things were that serious between you two.

[ UGH. Faith, please don't enjoy her suffering. ]

Of course they're that serious. [ Thankfully Ange doesn't sound seriously offended or anything - if anything, the defensiveness that rests within that statement is entirely born from the fact that she's so flustered right now, and she can't help but let her voice sound that way as she follows Faith into the room while the other is moving the bag. ]

When we knew our time in that last place we were in was ending, we had to make a choice whether we wanted to return to our own worlds separately or move on to somewhere new together. We chose each other back then.

[ Granted, both of them would be returning home to crappy, if not outright lethal situations. But Ange definitely had a choice. ]

Kind of hard for things to not be serious then.

Edited 2022-04-28 18:55 (UTC)

Damn, dude. That is romantic. [She thinks she'd... probably make the same choice. For Buffy, if that was an option, though her world is also a hellhole that never had any room for her in the first place. In comparison... this place is frankly a relief.

But it is genuinely romantic as fuck, that's for sure. She smiles. She isn't done teasing, sorry Ange.]

So, you have a wedding planned out?

Do you think I've looked like I have a wedding planned out for the past few weeks?

[ Please, Faith, she's only just recovering from that entire ordeal. At least she can get out of bed and wander around town again while being at least half functional, which is more than she could say for how most of last month went.

There's some defensiveness in the statement, mostly since she's still flustered about being teased, but Ange manages to calm down a little as she slowly exhales. ]

I don't know. I mean.. I never thought I'd even have a wedding. [ Ange couldn't even imagine a normal life, please.

A wedding is even way beyond that. ]

I guess people are just bringing it up to Ruby because we bonded back in February, and this place considers that are you practically being married. Even though all I wanted to do was just protect her.

[She raises her hands somewhat defensively. It's half jokingly but she decides to stop that line of conversation just in case it crosses over into actual offence.

She gets the feeling. Regarding this, she suspects it's probably one thing they have in common. Faith couldn't even imagine herself having friends again a year ago, the idea of actually trusting someone enough to marry them or let them into her head is still absolutely terrifying.]

Honestly, in terms of commitment, I'd say the bond's a lot bigger. Once you've done that, there's no real point in not just having a massive party to celebrate it and bleed people dry for gifts and alcohol and food.

Plus if she's already going around calling you her wife...

[ She lets out a sigh.

Not any offended one this time though. No, instead she almost sounds more tired. Which could be because she's still recovering, but it might also be at the very existence of the word party. ]

That's exactly it. It involves so much.. social stuff.

[ She says those two words like they're a nasty piece of gum she just found underneath her shoe. ]

Not that I'm not going to do it. [ After all, it's a wedding. That's not something that happens every day. ] But the thought of having to be around a lot of people and being the center of attention is...

[ Ange's voice trails off, like she's not even sure she's got words to properly express the feeling. ]

.. a lot.

[She nods at that. She can't exactly relate, it's all the vulnerability and sappy shit that would probably get to her, not talking to people.]

Alright, Ange. Here's the deal. If anyone tries to force you into socializing more than you want to on your own damn wedding, signal me and I'll come beat their asses no questions asked.

[She figures the chances that Ange would actually tell her to do that are pretty low, but it's not like she won't do it.]

Or, I dunno, just cause a distraction. Up to you.

...

[ Ange stares at the other for a moment, the look on her face honestly hard to decipher. It's weird, because something about the idea of Faith being so willing to beat people up for her - okay, okay, Faith probably wouldn't mind beating people up whenever in general, but still - does give her a few warm fuzzy feelings. It's different when someone you didn't make up as your imaginary magical friend offers to do this sort of thing, after all.

On the other hand, mentioning that out loud in front of Faith might kill them both.

Maybe not the best idea. ]

You're willing to start fights at my wedding?

[ She instead asks - trying to add a bit more of a deadpan angle to her voice. S-She isn't touched!! S-Sheesh! ]

[Thank god it wasn't brought up outloud that Faith was showing a feeling, she just grins at Ange and shrugs. It's not like she's ashamed of caring about Ange, but they're both too aloof and cool for that sort of expressing emotions crap. Gross.

So, in a tone that suggests Ange was making a request, she goes on.]

Yeah, man. I'll turn it into a brawl if need be. No sweat.

None of those motherfuckers'll reach you. Slayer's honor. [Because, you know, she's got so much of that.]

I'm not sure I want to see that, knowing what kind of brawl you'd be capable of.

[ After all, Faith may be putting up an extremely tough front and all, but Ange doesn't think it's just a front. It's helpful to cover up certain sappy feelings, sure, but no one who has this much weapons doesn't know how to kick ass.

Ange definitely thinks Faith is genuinely tough in a fight.

She slowly exhales, trying to put the idea of a wedding out of her mind for a moment before she gets too flustered, and looks at the bag of weapons Faith carried in. ]

Are you just going to leave those in there?

As the bride commands. [She huffs a laugh and winks, because yeah. She's dangerous. She's killed people by the dozens and revelled in toying with monsters used to preying on girls who looked just like her but didn't have the strength to fight back. Buffy might think Slayers are meant to kill demons, but there's no real difference. They were made to kill, full stop.

She glances back at the bag.]

Uhhh... I was planning to, yeah. Why? There's not a baby here who'll pick up a gun and shoot an eye out is there?

[ Ange shrugs a little. ]

Not unless you count Ruby.

[ Sorry, Ruby. You have all the love in her heart, but if there's anyone who perfectly fits that description.. ]

Actually, I think she's really going to go crazy when she sees all of this. That girl loves weapons way too much. If you let her go into this room, she'll never come out again. You'll have to sleep here with her squeals of joy in the background.

[She laughs a little. Oh, Ruby.]

Well, I'll try not to accidentally steal your girl with the siren call of lethal weapons, then. [Never thought that'd be something she'd have to worry about, but Ruby isn't exactly like anyone she's ever met.]

She makes weapons, right? [Yes, Faith's considering turning these into insane RWBY weapons.]

Yeah. [ It's easy to answer. It's been a hobby of Ruby's long before Ange even met the other girl, after all. It's just part of her. ] She made my weapon. It's a sword that you can use as a gun.

[ .. or in Ange's case, more like a gun you can also use as a sword, since she definitely is using the former as its primary function. ]

But I feel like that's a pretty tame example of the stuff she can make. She can pretty much do anything when it comes to weapons. [ She might be talking Ruby up a little bit too much here.

But isn't pride part of any relationship? ]

Why, are you still looking to grow your collection?

[Ange, how are you so fucking cute?

She smiles, just a little at Ange talking Ruby up. It might be true, it might not be. Either way, it makes Faith want to tease her just a little. But she won't, because she's bullied her enough for one afternoon.

Still, all the same, she hums thoughtfully to the question.]

I mean, I don't know how practical it'd be for me. Most of these are just so I can keep sharp with all my weapons training, I only take a maximum of like, two with me when I go on patrol.

But I mean, I've seen her scythe and it's cool as fuck, so I might try using one of those combo weapons anyway. Or maybe she can upgrade my scythe. [The sacred weapon of all slayers, which just so happens to look like a fire axe with a pointed stick on the end.]

[ Look at Faith here. Being a good friend. Allowing Ange to keep even a scrap of dignity. Ange, in turn, didn't even have a clue about the danger that was hanging above her head, since the compliments about Ruby just now came out as easy as breath itself. She hardly even realised she was doing it.

So much so that her focus is still entirely on this weapons thing, rather than the Ruby angle. ]

You should go for it.

[ Ange shrugs a little, but rather than being dismissive, it's more encouraging. A 'why worry' sort of thing. ]

I mean, you could always just test it out. Judging by what you've got here [ - and by who Faith always seems to be, just as a person - ] I'm pretty sure you can handle any weapon. You must have sucked up my portion of talent for that as well. It'd explain why I suck at it.

[ Look, that last part is not even meant to truly put herself down here! It's just casual deadpan, especially now she's growing back into it more after her weeks of depression. ]

Maybe. [She hums, thoughtful, though she huffs a laugh at the "handle any weapon" comment, and the sucking of talent, which really just... there's so many innuendos she could make, if she hadn't clocked that those tend to make Ange flustered.]

It's part of the Slayer toolkit. We... inherit bits of the skills of our predecessors. The Council tries to teach us these overcomplicated techniques, but I think it's just 'cuz they wanna feel important.

I can try teaching you sometime, though.

Hold on. Teaching aside--

[ Ange's voice momentarily trails off, and she shakes her head before continuing, clearly having had a slight moment to think there. ]

Is that inheriting business literal? [ It feels like a safe enough question to ask. Especially since Faith can be so blunt about stuff, as long as - Ange assumes - it doesn't get too personal. Or anywhere too touchy. ] Did you just.. come out of the womb flailing some sword all over the place?

[ She is genuinely interested. Despite the deadpan. Of course Faith wouldn't have been a baby with a sword, but, you know. She's still curious how far this inheriting business goes. ]

[She huffs a laugh.] Not out of the womb, god no.

[She would have butchered her entire extended family at the age of like... eight, if she had. She might even be happier for it. She, for obvious reasons, doesn't mention this to Ange.]

I inherited it at... seventeen. Buffy was medically dead for half an hour or so, and it called the next in line, which was this chick named Kendra. So there were... two of 'em. Then she died going up against Buffy's ex boyfriend.

[Technically it was Drucilla, but all she knows is that Angel was loosely responsible.] Then I got it. The day after I got expelled for putting some assholes in the hospital.

[There wasn't anything that told her she was the Slayer, just this pervasive sense inside of her that something vicious had woken up. She's still not sure if it was her being the Slayer that caused that feeling or Malice lingering around her soul.]

[ What a prophecy. Someone dies for half an hour, and there's immediately another one to fill their shoes, and then another one. And what when the first one comes back?

Ange kind of feels like whoever thought up this system didn't fully think it through very well. ]

That must be kind of awkward. [ She slowly says, after having considered it for a moment. ] Being the third in line like that, I mean.

[ Sure, sure. There probably were generations ahead of that Buffy person - or so Ange assumes, anyway. But even so.. ]

Usually stories make the whole chosen one sound a little cooler than 'if two people just happen to die, I might become special.'

when nothing you do matters | April Catch-All

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cw for neglect

cw: talk of past suicide

cw for talk of past suicide

cw for talk of past suicide

cw for talk of past suicidal ideation