( a message from jinx? it's a little odd isn't it? they don't usually contact each other personally like this, but because ange was willing to share information (and she is trying to get close to the girl), it's only right to do the same. so what ange will receive is an audio clip that isn't jinx's voice but some people who are unrecognizable. )
Person a: Duplicity? That's it? There's no way that that girl hasn't done other things. Person b: Yeah, I think that crime isn't harsh enough. Some of them aren't harsh enough at all! Who--[STATIC NOISES] Person a: Maybe we can [MORE STATIC NOISES]. Person c: That'd be so much more interesting!!
[ It's definitely weird to see a message from Jinx. For a moment Ange wonders if it's something bad - not really Jinx harassing her in her way-more-extrovert-than-Ange ways, but more something actually bad, like Jinx having destroyed something - but then when she actually opens up the message, it's different from anything she expected.
Her eyes go wide with surprise.
It's not like she doesn't know what this is. She's had a message like that appear before on her pendant. But this is different. Even though she replays it a few times to make sure of its contents, it doesn't just disappear the way the message before did.
So that means--
Ange tries to contact Jinx so quickly. ]
Where did you get that? [ There's some actual emotion in Ange's tone too. She sounds curious. Definitely interested. One might even say it borders on excitement, even if that's a big word by Ange standards. ]
[ The video opens to Mitama, though just like in her recent post, she's wearing her "disguise". She's here on an important business, after all. ]
Ho, ho, ho! Thank you for joining our Secret Santa event~ It's time to find out what ─ or rather who ─ your assignment as Santa's Little Helper for this year is! Drumroll, please...
[ She makes a pause for a dramatic effect, her hand slipping into a Santa hat she's holding and pulling out a small piece of paper with a name on it. ]
It's none other than... Ethlyn, Aldrip's hard-working healer!
Remember, you should present your assignee with a gift of your choice until December 25th! Good luck, and remember: your main task is to spread joy, happiness and the spirit of Christmas cheer!
Though, considering the person who sent this message in the first place, she can imagine how it's possible that she "signed up".. Uh-huh, Mitama, she sees what you're doing. It's a good thing you actually gave her a name where Ange would feel bad if that person didn't get a gift, so she'll actually do it.
But she's watching you, girl!! She's watching you! ]
[ 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring—...Wait there's a clown. Ange receives a secret visit from good ol' St. Nik(olai).
Somewhere within Ange's abode a little bag of cutesy holiday cookies have been left. Attached to the festive crinkly bag is a simple note that says "Some of these are poisoned! ...or are they?! Goodluck ⭐!
Not a trace of the intruder is left behind. But it may just be obvious who the criminal is for anyone with two brain-cells to rub together. ]
[ On the Christmas morning, Ange will find a package on her doorstep. Inside, there's a bag of freshly baked ginger cookies, as well as a pair of hair ribbons.
There's no sign of where it came from, and the note attached to the gift only says, "Merry Christmas".
Looks like Miss Detective has a riddle to solve...! ]
[ .. see, this is a riddle. If there was a little bit more to the note, Ange might have been able to figure it out, especially as logically-minded as she is..
But having to go off just cookies, hair ribbons and a vague note? Anyone could have given her that. If she'd guess any culprit behind this action, it certainly would not be Ragna.
She figures all she can do is wait and see if maybe one day the person who did it will reveal themselves.
.. but until then, she's definitely going to alternate wearing her usual bubble hair accessories with these ribbons. ]
[ Is it cheating to give mainly homemade presents...? Oh well! Claude is a businessowner now, and he should be taking advantage of it! Ange will get a small box of goodies, including some homemade perfume, a container of tea that goes particularly well with cookies, and a nice pair of tea cup and saucer to go with it. ]
Merry Christmas, Ange! That's what they say, isn't it? I think it's a rather nice holiday, myself. Be sure to have me over for tea one day!
[ About a day or so after the delivery of the present, Claude will receive a note in return. Ange isn't going to pass it to him in person though, so maybe she slides it under his door, or leaves it somewhere she's sure he'll find it..
Because what is talking to someone in person, right. Who even does that. What if you display emotions as you try to talk! Ugh, terrible!! ]
Claude,
Thanks for the gift. I know it's just because of that dumb thing Mitama organized, and I know that she definitely lured in some people who weren't planning on participating. I think you're the kind of guy who's weird enough to maybe actually find this sort of thing fun, so you probably did sign up, but even if you were forced to participate..
[ Ragna stops himself from barging into Ange's room with no warning at the last second. Honestly, when has it become so awkward to walk in there, when he used to do that like he owns the place? (Well, he technically does, just on paper.) It feels like it was just a little time ago that he was still helping her put on her clothes and brush her hair for her. People often tell him that she's grown into a fine young woman, but it's hard for him to think about her that way, when she's always been and always will be his cute little sister to him.
He shakes his head to himself and knocks on the door. After waiting for a moment that would make it socially acceptable to enter (or so he hopes), he opens the door, but doesn't walk in, staying in the doorway instead. That's a good enough compromise, right? ]
Hey. Dinner's almost ready.
[ It's more or less all he's been meaning to say, so he makes a motion like he wants to retreat... but pauses mid-step. ]
... How's it going?
[ They haven't had a chance to talk about, uh... everything. With whatever it is that's happening in Aldrip, it's been... a tiring couple of days, to say the least, and truth to be told, Ragna was content not discussing it with anyone. But as much as he wants to shove his own feelings on the matter into a locker and forget about it, he could never bring himself to ignore how his sister feels. In fact, it's his job to help her out now more than ever, both as her brother and a surrogate parent. ]
[ It's the question that seems to catch her off guard. Ange looks like she was ready to get off her bed - where she's currently sitting and combing her hair with a brush - and say that she'll be right over in the kitchen to eat, but it's the question that makes the girl pause instead.
Her hand stops moving for a moment, instead just holding the brush idly as she stares over in Ragna's direction. It's not like it's totally a strange thing for her brother to ask her how she's doing. After all, this is her brother. He's always taken care of her, ever since they lost their parents when Ange was barely even old enough to remember them.
But it feels like there's something a little more to it now, and it takes a moment for the pieces to click in place in Ange's mind. ]
Oh, is this about all the strange stuff? I first thought people were just pranking others with the stuff going missing around town, but right now.. I don't know anymore. So many people are talking about it all the time.
[ Another slight pause, and then she adds, looking over at him: ]
Have people been talking to you about it too, big bro?
[ It seems source-less but given context it can only really be one person that sends it—sometime during the chaos caused by his actions but before the grand conclusion Ange receives her own copy of a voice clip forwarded on to her. Eventually that audio cuts off into static. A brief text messages follows along with the attachment. ]
Oh! Almost forgot the most important piece of information of all. There are circumstances where they will speak directly to you.
[ It takes a little bit before Ange can see the message, given that she's so busy with the trouble going on in town that it takes a bit before she checks her messages and realises that she has a new one.
.. and what a message it is. Her eyes go wide as she listens to the audio clip, immediately making sure to make at least three backup copies of it, because holy shit. She's seen some wild clues in this place, but this is on another level entirely.
Knowing who this must be from, she does send a message to Gogol-- but it's awfully close to the grand conclusion, so maybe he won't be in a position to reply. Either way, the message will be waiting for him to see at some point, even if he might only read it without replying.
Ange isn't really sure how to feel once she spots this message. If she takes it seriously, there should probably be some dread, but considering the person who's sending it.. she ends up feeling mostly exasperated by the time she replies, only writing: ]
This probably shouldn't be too surprising, Ange figures, frowning to herself as she raises her free hand to rub her temple. It's like she can feel a headache coming up at just reading this text. ]
That depends. What were those things?
[ Because knowing Jinx, 'naughty' can mean anything from relatively harmless stuff all the way up to random murder. ]
[ Usually Ange would ask what the fuss is all about.
But right now-- she gets it. Even if she may not be as worried as other people are in the middle of all of this, it's a terribly dangerous situation, and she figures Peter would be freaking out. He seems relatively normal, and a kind person on top of it. Of course this wouldn't be easy for him.
It's why she makes a little bit more haste than she usually would to reply. ]
I'm okay. Don't worry about me. I'm used to dealing with this.
[ Minato's spent his stay at Claude's Apothecary completely silent. He keeps to himself while resting on one of the few available stools, even if he does recognize a handful of people taking shelter at the Apothecary. His sole company is Koromaru, who hovers at Minato's side with a concerned gaze.
His exhaustion is palpable even in the low light. The hand-shaped bruises around his neck are dark against his pallid skin. Now that it's quiet, he has the opportunity to muddle through what is certain: Ryoji had tried to kill him, he'd alerted Kotone and Scott of Ryoji's condition after managing to escape, and when he returned Kotone was eviscerated and Scott had obliterated Ryoji.
Even now, the thick smell of blood and smoke lingers in his thoughts.
He reaches into his pocket, carefully withdrawing what remained of Ryoji's charred scarf. Minato turns it over in his hands with a blank expression. Kotone and Ryoji should be back within a week. But what if they weren't? Given all the strange occurrences around Aldrip, nothing was certain anymore. ]
[ Ange has been relatively good. By her standards, anyway. As soon as Claude dragged her along to stay over at the Apothecary, she mostly stayed put. There's something just slightly weird and uncomfortable enough about someone worrying about her that makes her a little more reluctant to be as reckless as she can be at other times.
But Scott had been the exception. When she knew he was in trouble, she had to go make sure he was alright. Even if he had technically been the culprit rather than the victim in that situation -- but Ange, deep down, knows that Scott is a victim too. That he's going to feel so guilty.
It's why she brought him to their house, rather than keeping him there by himself. She comforted him as well as a girl like Ange could, informed his friends where he was so they could take turns visiting him to make sure he was alright, and then left one of her butterflies with him like a portable alarm system.
Only after all that does she return to the Apothecary. Where she finds a new addition. Minato is there. Or rather-- It almost seems more like a statue of Minato, with how silently he's sitting in a corner, looking incredibly pale as he's keeping to himself.
Her attention would be drawn to that by itself, the girl instinctively feeling a little worried about Minato seeming so off, but that attention only increases when she realises what Minato is holding in his hands. She immediately recognizes it as a piece of Ryoji's scarf, the colour too distinct even among the charred edges for it to be anything else. And Ryoji had been--
.. oh.
The girl slowly approaches Minato. There's an attempt at her usual pokerface, but something about it looks a little awkward around the edges, like Ange isn't too sure what to say or do here.
She only knows that leaving Minato alone right now would feel like absolute crap. ]
.. hey. [ She said, her voice a little softer than the usual, gesturing at the empty stool besides him. Her gaze drops to Koromaru for a moment, but then goes back to Minato. ] Is that one taken?
[ It takes a special talent to find yourself kidnapped, dropped in front of a screen with a bunch of deeply personal, unsettling questions and still act peppy and cheerful about the whole thing. And why wouldn't she be happy? It adds an interesting twist to this game, and if she happens to be killed while out in the open... so what? It only adds to the score on her side.
And better yet, her... is it fair to call her an opponent? Well, it's someone whose answers for these inquiries she's very curious about. But at the same time, she needs to be careful herself; she'd prefer Ange didn't suspect her by the end of it if possible.
The girl claps her hands together, eager to begin. ]
Isn't this exciting? It's like a team-building exercise~ ♪
[ Sorry, Mitama. But to Ange, this attitude is immediately suspicious.
Not entirely. After all, this is Mitama's default. Ange has seen the other girl default to it so many times in situations where it didn't feel entirely appropriate - and this sure is one of those, so there is a chance that it's all genuine.
.. but then again.. she has seen Mitama more serious, hasn't she? Back when the locals were in danger. Does she just think this is less urgent, or does Mitama have other reasons for not being worried in the first place?
If the questions on the screen weren't enough to make Ange frown, then those thoughts certainly only add to it.
What a stupid and terrible situation this is. ]
You're seriously acting like this even now? [ She asks - dryly, though, not moving too far away from her usual tone. Or the annoyed variation of it, anyway. ] Is that a question I can add to this list, actually?
[ Twice now, Minato is indebted to Ange. It's only after a bowl of piping-hot ramen is placed before each of them does Minato realize ramen doesn't quite encapsulate the depth of his gratitude. Nevertheless, he's fond of the broth served by this little stand. It will do.
Gray-blue eyes gaze down at the noodles before he glances sideways, quietly assessing Ange's reaction. Though the girl's expression was typically impassive, human bodies always subconsciously betray the soul's true thoughts. ]
I like the food here, so... I thought it'd be a good late lunch.
[ Perhaps she'd agreed to accompany him because it was so rare an occasion. Hardly ever did Minato invite others out, instead, awaiting permission from others to join them. But this needs to be done, or rather, it's something he'd wished to do.
He'd never gotten the chance to thank her properly for her first act of kindness. While their efforts to uncover information about Sha-Ming's initial disappearance proved to be futile, Minato hadn't forgotten the fact that she'd never been obligated to lend a hand. And yet, she'd readily agreed to do so. Nor did he have the chance to thank her for her second act of kindness, the two of them seated side by side on wooden stools within Claude's apothecary. The conversation hadn't been extensive, in part out of necessity after he'd lost some of his voice, but she'd extended some comfort to him in his time of need through her quiet company.
Minato glances down at his utensils, wooden chopsticks still tucked in their paper sleeve. ]
Feel free to order as much as you want. It's my treat, so...
[ "Thanks for everything," is what he'd like to say, but the words don't quite make it past his tongue. They get stuck there as he's struck with the realization that his message to her must have come out of the blue. He'd retreated for a few weeks in the aftermath of that tumultuous week, and only now had he discovered the courage to reach out to others again. After all, no person is an island. Even Minato knows this.
He glances back at Ange expectantly, waiting for her to take the first bite before he even lifts his own chopsticks into his hand. ]
[ On a surface level, Ange seems.. relatively normal here. Even though Minato hasn't even done as much as grab his chopsticks yet, the redhead is easily grabbing her own, splitting them so she can get started on the bowl of ramen he got her. It's not any kind of aggressive or quick eating, just her starting on her meal, the way anyone would while sitting here.
Her expression doesn't help. It indeed seems to be the usual one she wears that she betrays so little. At most Minato may be able to discern a certain kind of rigidity to the way her shoulders are set as she sits there, though it's been there since the moment she approached for this meeting, so it can't be something that's making her feel uncomfortable in this moment. It seems like something that must have been present for longer than that already.
At first there's nothing but the soft slurping of noodles as she takes her first bite, but after chewing and swallowing said bite, Ange does slowly speak up. ]
So what did I do to deserve this treat?
[ Her voice is so simply and straightforward that it's likely that Ange genuinely doesn't know why he invited her over. (It's harder to make the connection in the first place when it's not like the Gnosia thing was just the other day - and when she hasn't really heard from Minato since until now.)
She just showed up because it's Minato, and because she trusts him to not lure her into any awkward bigger social interactions like some of her other friends. And indeed, it really was just the two of them eating together. That much Ange can handle, still sitting there next to him calmly. ]
[ At least Ange is - just this once - not freaking out at the way he's putting this. Yes, Luffy really does seem to care about her, which is.. strange.. and she doesn't really know how to deal with it.. But there's clearly more important things going on right now than Ange's friendship crisis.
Especially when she wants to make sure Luffy is as well-informed in all of this as his little friendship brain can handle. ]
I think we should reset it. I don't really feel as strongly about that AI as people seem to, but.. if we don't reset it, nothing will ever change here. We'll forever be stuck inside of this messed up torture trap.
(well, shit. he totally forgot to explain literally everything. he was going to, last time, but she was so mad, so it was better to wait for a better opportunity that definitely didn't wait for him.
he chose the iron-spider suit for this, because it looks a-real cool, and it might help her understand a little bit better what he's trying to say in terms of technology, the other suit doesn't appear as much from the outside. slowly, he hangs upside down from a web, before tapping the glass of her window.)
Hey, Ange? Uh, hi. It's me.
(the nanites retreat from the mask, to reveal his face, the curls hanging from the top of his head as he waves.)
[ At first the tap on the glass immediately puts Ange on edge. Sure, it's not like it's still the Gnosia week, but who knows what sort of threats could be out there in this place at any given time. She sure isn't quick to assume it might be someone friendly over something bad, but then she hears the voice--
And that makes her actually move over to look. She recognizes it, after all, even before the mask pulls away to reveal his face. In fact, Ange realizes it's Peter even before she realizes - a second later - that he's hanging upside down.
Outside her window. ]
You could just have used the door, Peter.
[ It doesn't sound unfriendly, considering she is fond of him, but it does sound a touch flat as she points that out. ]
[As time has gone on without Kurt fulfilling his sentencing, he's found parts of his body have been starting to turn into stone. So far it was... manageable. To an extent. He was still able to move around, and he was able to hide the stone patches under his clothes. So far so good!
Except, he can never tell when it will happen again. Like right now, in the middle of the afternoon, he was on his way to the living room when suddenly part of his knee petrifies mid-step. He finds himself falling right on his face, while letting out a loud grunt. Great...]
Ange was just sitting on the couch in the living room, trying to quietly read. But even though she's used to ignoring some sounds in the house - especially when most of her housemates are a whole lot more lively than she is - a sound that loud doesn't seem great. Especially not in this place, where all sorts of bad things can happen. The last thing she needs to find out is that a monster somehow made its way into their house.
Except it's not a monster at all, she finds when she walks out into the hall. The girl blinks for a moment at the sight in front of her, not entirely sure what she's seeing here. Sure, Kurt can be a little bit of an idiot sometimes in her opinion, but he's not necessarily clumsy.
Hence why she looks surprised for a moment, before she just asks: ]
Did you trip over nothing?
[ She can't see anything lying around that he could've tripped over, anyway! ]
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So when she receives a personal one, her eyebrows rise. And they rise even further when she actually reads the content of the message.
Guess which teen isn't used to anyone actually saying anything nice to her. What. How does one even react to this. ]
Are you trying to flatter me? Do you need anything?
[ Nailed it, clearly. ]
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cw: mention of suicide
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Person a: Duplicity? That's it? There's no way that that girl hasn't done other things.
Person b: Yeah, I think that crime isn't harsh enough. Some of them aren't harsh enough at all! Who--[STATIC NOISES]
Person a: Maybe we can [MORE STATIC NOISES].
Person c: That'd be so much more interesting!!
( and the recording ends there. )
voice;
Her eyes go wide with surprise.
It's not like she doesn't know what this is. She's had a message like that appear before on her pendant. But this is different. Even though she replays it a few times to make sure of its contents, it doesn't just disappear the way the message before did.
So that means--
Ange tries to contact Jinx so quickly. ]
Where did you get that? [ There's some actual emotion in Ange's tone too. She sounds curious. Definitely interested. One might even say it borders on excitement, even if that's a big word by Ange standards. ]
voice;
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Ho, ho, ho! Thank you for joining our Secret Santa event~ It's time to find out what ─ or rather who ─ your assignment as Santa's Little Helper for this year is! Drumroll, please...
[ She makes a pause for a dramatic effect, her hand slipping into a Santa hat she's holding and pulling out a small piece of paper with a name on it. ]
It's none other than... Ethlyn, Aldrip's hard-working healer!
Remember, you should present your assignee with a gift of your choice until December 25th! Good luck, and remember: your main task is to spread joy, happiness and the spirit of Christmas cheer!
Miss Santa Coordinator, out!
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Though, considering the person who sent this message in the first place, she can imagine how it's possible that she "signed up".. Uh-huh, Mitama, she sees what you're doing. It's a good thing you actually gave her a name where Ange would feel bad if that person didn't get a gift, so she'll actually do it.
But she's watching you, girl!! She's watching you! ]
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[ Not that she's sure where exactly he means by 'around', but she figures 'in town' is probably fine enough.. ]
Why? Do you need me for anything?
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You saw no HTML fail
i am staring at the html fail with eyes wide open
/cries
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Not a creature was stirring—...Wait there's a clown. Ange receives a secret visit from good ol' St. Nik(olai).
Somewhere within Ange's abode a little bag of cutesy holiday cookies have been left. Attached to the festive crinkly bag is a simple note that says "Some of these are poisoned! ...or are they?! Goodluck ⭐!
Not a trace of the intruder is left behind. But it may just be obvious who the criminal is for anyone with two brain-cells to rub together. ]
12/25
There's no sign of where it came from, and the note attached to the gift only says, "Merry Christmas".
Looks like Miss Detective has a riddle to solve...! ]
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But having to go off just cookies, hair ribbons and a vague note? Anyone could have given her that. If she'd guess any culprit behind this action, it certainly would not be Ragna.
She figures all she can do is wait and see if maybe one day the person who did it will reveal themselves.
.. but until then, she's definitely going to alternate wearing her usual bubble hair accessories with these ribbons. ]
secret santa delivery!
Merry Christmas, Ange! That's what they say, isn't it? I think it's a rather nice holiday, myself. Be sure to have me over for tea one day!
- Your favourite archery instructor
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Because what is talking to someone in person, right. Who even does that. What if you display emotions as you try to talk! Ugh, terrible!! ]
Claude,
Thanks for the gift. I know it's just because of that dumb thing Mitama organized, and I know that she definitely lured in some people who weren't planning on participating. I think you're the kind of guy who's weird enough to maybe actually find this sort of thing fun, so you probably did sign up, but even if you were forced to participate..
Thanks. It's my first Christmas gift. I like it.
Don't let that get to your head.
- Ange
during the AU event
He shakes his head to himself and knocks on the door. After waiting for a moment that would make it socially acceptable to enter (or so he hopes), he opens the door, but doesn't walk in, staying in the doorway instead. That's a good enough compromise, right? ]
Hey. Dinner's almost ready.
[ It's more or less all he's been meaning to say, so he makes a motion like he wants to retreat... but pauses mid-step. ]
... How's it going?
[ They haven't had a chance to talk about, uh... everything. With whatever it is that's happening in Aldrip, it's been... a tiring couple of days, to say the least, and truth to be told, Ragna was content not discussing it with anyone. But as much as he wants to shove his own feelings on the matter into a locker and forget about it, he could never bring himself to ignore how his sister feels. In fact, it's his job to help her out now more than ever, both as her brother and a surrogate parent. ]
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[ It's the question that seems to catch her off guard. Ange looks like she was ready to get off her bed - where she's currently sitting and combing her hair with a brush - and say that she'll be right over in the kitchen to eat, but it's the question that makes the girl pause instead.
Her hand stops moving for a moment, instead just holding the brush idly as she stares over in Ragna's direction. It's not like it's totally a strange thing for her brother to ask her how she's doing. After all, this is her brother. He's always taken care of her, ever since they lost their parents when Ange was barely even old enough to remember them.
But it feels like there's something a little more to it now, and it takes a moment for the pieces to click in place in Ange's mind. ]
Oh, is this about all the strange stuff? I first thought people were just pranking others with the stuff going missing around town, but right now.. I don't know anymore. So many people are talking about it all the time.
[ Another slight pause, and then she adds, looking over at him: ]
Have people been talking to you about it too, big bro?
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Oh! Almost forgot the most important piece of information of all. There are circumstances where they will speak directly to you.
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.. and what a message it is. Her eyes go wide as she listens to the audio clip, immediately making sure to make at least three backup copies of it, because holy shit. She's seen some wild clues in this place, but this is on another level entirely.
Knowing who this must be from, she does send a message to Gogol-- but it's awfully close to the grand conclusion, so maybe he won't be in a position to reply. Either way, the message will be waiting for him to see at some point, even if he might only read it without replying.
It's a brief one, anyway. ]
We have to make them talk.
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...i legit thought i had replied to this
HAHA, i thought you were just busy.... thank you so much for getting back to it!!!
hehe! always <3
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omg.. that icon
it's for special occasions!!!!
i am so glad and honored...
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LOL!? Looks like someone had you toootally bamboozled !
☆⌒(ゝ。∂)
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Ange isn't really sure how to feel once she spots this message. If she takes it seriously, there should probably be some dread, but considering the person who's sending it.. she ends up feeling mostly exasperated by the time she replies, only writing: ]
Explain.
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text; because I have to do a follow up lol
on a scale of 1 to 10, how screwed am i? did i lose my treat?
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Yeah.
This probably shouldn't be too surprising, Ange figures, frowning to herself as she raises her free hand to rub her temple. It's like she can feel a headache coming up at just reading this text. ]
That depends. What were those things?
[ Because knowing Jinx, 'naughty' can mean anything from relatively harmless stuff all the way up to random murder. ]
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Are you okay????
Give me a sign!!
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But right now-- she gets it. Even if she may not be as worried as other people are in the middle of all of this, it's a terribly dangerous situation, and she figures Peter would be freaking out. He seems relatively normal, and a kind person on top of it. Of course this wouldn't be easy for him.
It's why she makes a little bit more haste than she usually would to reply. ]
I'm okay. Don't worry about me. I'm used to dealing with this.
How about you? Did you get hurt?
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during july event, at the apothecary safehouse
His exhaustion is palpable even in the low light. The hand-shaped bruises around his neck are dark against his pallid skin. Now that it's quiet, he has the opportunity to muddle through what is certain: Ryoji had tried to kill him, he'd alerted Kotone and Scott of Ryoji's condition after managing to escape, and when he returned Kotone was eviscerated and Scott had obliterated Ryoji.
Even now, the thick smell of blood and smoke lingers in his thoughts.
He reaches into his pocket, carefully withdrawing what remained of Ryoji's charred scarf. Minato turns it over in his hands with a blank expression. Kotone and Ryoji should be back within a week. But what if they weren't? Given all the strange occurrences around Aldrip, nothing was certain anymore. ]
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But Scott had been the exception. When she knew he was in trouble, she had to go make sure he was alright. Even if he had technically been the culprit rather than the victim in that situation -- but Ange, deep down, knows that Scott is a victim too. That he's going to feel so guilty.
It's why she brought him to their house, rather than keeping him there by himself. She comforted him as well as a girl like Ange could, informed his friends where he was so they could take turns visiting him to make sure he was alright, and then left one of her butterflies with him like a portable alarm system.
Only after all that does she return to the Apothecary. Where she finds a new addition. Minato is there. Or rather-- It almost seems more like a statue of Minato, with how silently he's sitting in a corner, looking incredibly pale as he's keeping to himself.
Her attention would be drawn to that by itself, the girl instinctively feeling a little worried about Minato seeming so off, but that attention only increases when she realises what Minato is holding in his hands. She immediately recognizes it as a piece of Ryoji's scarf, the colour too distinct even among the charred edges for it to be anything else. And Ryoji had been--
.. oh.
The girl slowly approaches Minato. There's an attempt at her usual pokerface, but something about it looks a little awkward around the edges, like Ange isn't too sure what to say or do here.
She only knows that leaving Minato alone right now would feel like absolute crap. ]
.. hey. [ She said, her voice a little softer than the usual, gesturing at the empty stool besides him. Her gaze drops to Koromaru for a moment, but then goes back to Minato. ] Is that one taken?
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action | during gnosia event
And better yet, her... is it fair to call her an opponent? Well, it's someone whose answers for these inquiries she's very curious about. But at the same time, she needs to be careful herself; she'd prefer Ange didn't suspect her by the end of it if possible.
The girl claps her hands together, eager to begin. ]
Isn't this exciting? It's like a team-building exercise~ ♪
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Not entirely. After all, this is Mitama's default. Ange has seen the other girl default to it so many times in situations where it didn't feel entirely appropriate - and this sure is one of those, so there is a chance that it's all genuine.
.. but then again.. she has seen Mitama more serious, hasn't she? Back when the locals were in danger. Does she just think this is less urgent, or does Mitama have other reasons for not being worried in the first place?
If the questions on the screen weren't enough to make Ange frown, then those thoughts certainly only add to it.
What a stupid and terrible situation this is. ]
You're seriously acting like this even now? [ She asks - dryly, though, not moving too far away from her usual tone. Or the annoyed variation of it, anyway. ] Is that a question I can add to this list, actually?
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a few weeks after gnosia days
Gray-blue eyes gaze down at the noodles before he glances sideways, quietly assessing Ange's reaction. Though the girl's expression was typically impassive, human bodies always subconsciously betray the soul's true thoughts. ]
I like the food here, so... I thought it'd be a good late lunch.
[ Perhaps she'd agreed to accompany him because it was so rare an occasion. Hardly ever did Minato invite others out, instead, awaiting permission from others to join them. But this needs to be done, or rather, it's something he'd wished to do.
He'd never gotten the chance to thank her properly for her first act of kindness. While their efforts to uncover information about Sha-Ming's initial disappearance proved to be futile, Minato hadn't forgotten the fact that she'd never been obligated to lend a hand. And yet, she'd readily agreed to do so. Nor did he have the chance to thank her for her second act of kindness, the two of them seated side by side on wooden stools within Claude's apothecary. The conversation hadn't been extensive, in part out of necessity after he'd lost some of his voice, but she'd extended some comfort to him in his time of need through her quiet company.
Minato glances down at his utensils, wooden chopsticks still tucked in their paper sleeve. ]
Feel free to order as much as you want. It's my treat, so...
[ "Thanks for everything," is what he'd like to say, but the words don't quite make it past his tongue. They get stuck there as he's struck with the realization that his message to her must have come out of the blue. He'd retreated for a few weeks in the aftermath of that tumultuous week, and only now had he discovered the courage to reach out to others again. After all, no person is an island. Even Minato knows this.
He glances back at Ange expectantly, waiting for her to take the first bite before he even lifts his own chopsticks into his hand. ]
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Her expression doesn't help. It indeed seems to be the usual one she wears that she betrays so little. At most Minato may be able to discern a certain kind of rigidity to the way her shoulders are set as she sits there, though it's been there since the moment she approached for this meeting, so it can't be something that's making her feel uncomfortable in this moment. It seems like something that must have been present for longer than that already.
At first there's nothing but the soft slurping of noodles as she takes her first bite, but after chewing and swallowing said bite, Ange does slowly speak up. ]
So what did I do to deserve this treat?
[ Her voice is so simply and straightforward that it's likely that Ange genuinely doesn't know why he invited her over. (It's harder to make the connection in the first place when it's not like the Gnosia thing was just the other day - and when she hasn't really heard from Minato since until now.)
She just showed up because it's Minato, and because she trusts him to not lure her into any awkward bigger social interactions like some of her other friends. And indeed, it really was just the two of them eating together. That much Ange can handle, still sitting there next to him calmly. ]
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text; after the ai network post
eveyrone's fighting over that ai thing but i don't really care about that
i care what you think, though
so what do you wanna do
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Especially when she wants to make sure Luffy is as well-informed in all of this as his little friendship brain can handle. ]
I think we should reset it. I don't really feel as strongly about that AI as people seem to, but.. if we don't reset it, nothing will ever change here. We'll forever be stuck inside of this messed up torture trap.
And I don't want that.
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he chose the iron-spider suit for this, because it looks a-real cool, and it might help her understand a little bit better what he's trying to say in terms of technology, the other suit doesn't appear as much from the outside. slowly, he hangs upside down from a web, before tapping the glass of her window.)
Hey, Ange? Uh, hi. It's me.
(the nanites retreat from the mask, to reveal his face, the curls hanging from the top of his head as he waves.)
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And that makes her actually move over to look. She recognizes it, after all, even before the mask pulls away to reveal his face. In fact, Ange realizes it's Peter even before she realizes - a second later - that he's hanging upside down.
Outside her window. ]
You could just have used the door, Peter.
[ It doesn't sound unfriendly, considering she is fond of him, but it does sound a touch flat as she points that out. ]
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You got to talk to it?
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Action | sometime early November
Except, he can never tell when it will happen again. Like right now, in the middle of the afternoon, he was on his way to the living room when suddenly part of his knee petrifies mid-step. He finds himself falling right on his face, while letting out a loud grunt. Great...]
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Ange was just sitting on the couch in the living room, trying to quietly read. But even though she's used to ignoring some sounds in the house - especially when most of her housemates are a whole lot more lively than she is - a sound that loud doesn't seem great. Especially not in this place, where all sorts of bad things can happen. The last thing she needs to find out is that a monster somehow made its way into their house.
Except it's not a monster at all, she finds when she walks out into the hall. The girl blinks for a moment at the sight in front of her, not entirely sure what she's seeing here. Sure, Kurt can be a little bit of an idiot sometimes in her opinion, but he's not necessarily clumsy.
Hence why she looks surprised for a moment, before she just asks: ]
Did you trip over nothing?
[ She can't see anything lying around that he could've tripped over, anyway! ]
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