one l video

[logicerrored]

[ When Battler first appears on the feed ] …. W, What the Hell is this?! … I don’t know what kind of weird trick that damn witch is up to now, but I can’t really stick around here. I have a game to go back to

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[ video ]

[endofdaydream]

[ She should have expected as much after seeing other members of the family popping up here - even if they had been strangely random, a family members from another fragment entirely, one of her aunts she hadn't seen in twelve years.. compared to that seeing Amakusa had felt pretty normal. But somehow the thought hadn't occured to her yet that it would be possible for him to appear here too. Maybe because the idea of him being here, her being able to talk to him normally seemed so strange-- after her last memory from back home being dying for him after finally being able to tell him who she really was, how much she had missed him and everyone else for twelve long years..

Ange quickly turns on the feed, almost clumsily, too hasty. ]

Onii-chan..? [ Her voice is a far cry from her usual deadpan - much more open, vulnerable, and almost a little weak as it sounds disbelieving. ] That's you, isn't it..?

[ Even if it seemed more than obvious from the feed, she wanted that confirmation, if not just for her peace of mind. ]

1/2. [ video ]

[logicerrored]

[ Battler has mixed feelings upon seeing Gretel appear on the feed. This bracelet really did make things convenient... Even if, in the end, to him; he would have to deny more and more.

It was a pleasant surprise to see someone he knew here (and someone on his side, at that). But, at the same time... It was just more people getting dragged into this place--a place that didn't have much to do with the game that they were supposed to be participating in. ]

... Gretel? So, you ended up getting dragged into this strange place, too...

2/2. [ video ]

[logicerrored]

Wait a sec.

[ ... Battler had his suspicions before. But, he didn't think it would be possible since the last time he saw Ange, she was still so little... ]

"Oniichan"...?

... Gretel. You... [ He waits for her to continue. ]

[ video ]

[endofdaydream]

[ When he talks, she chokes up for a moment. 'Gretel', so.. he didn't know yet. What were for her the last moments in their world was sometihng that hadn't even happened for him yet - of course, it was logical, Natsuhi had come from twelve years ago too, but..

She almost braces for impact as he figures it out slowly too, like she could be torn apart at any time again now, but awkward moments of silence pass and nothing happens. Ange slowly stretches her fingers for a moment, thinking; this meant she could at least say it now, right..? ]

... Yeah. [ She already knows he must have figured it out by now, so that confirmation is enough. ]

It's.. me. Ange. From twelve years in the future. [ The sudden realisation of him not having known that much yet is enough to make her slightly speechless - she doesn't even know where to start. ]

[ video ]

[logicerrored]

[ Suddenly, there's so much that makes sense. Why she was on her side, why she acted the way she did towards him. But, there was still so much that he didn't understand. Though Battler, always being far too emotional for his own good, can already feel the tears stinging his eyes. It's the combination of guilt from not knowing who she was to begin with, and the fact that this is who he had yet to come home to. ] Ange! You're really Ange....

[ It takes a moment for him to take that in. He's already moving to go see her. Battler, always being far too emotional for his own good, would sometimes act far too quickly before thinking things through for a minute ]

--Ange. Where are you now?

[ video ]

[endofdaydream]

[ Even if Ange usually is much less emotional - especially on the outside - she really can't help it in this case. It's why she doesn't mind at all that he's already moving, because she wants to meet him too; there's so much she still wanted to say, so much this Battler hasn't even heard, and..

For a moment she idly fiddles with her bracelet, eyes averted from the screen. ]

... I can meet you in the plaza, onii-chan. That's the wide open space in this place. [ since she heard going to another person's House could cause discomfort, and she's pretty sure Battler wouldn't be in the same House as her considering the kind of people she's met there.. ] If-- ... you wanted to meet me, that is.

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H, Hey, hey. That's my line, isn't it? [ It's a bit surprising that Ange would want to meet with him after everything. She had been on his side the entire time, and he had no idea. ] I'll be right there.

[ ... Not that he knows where he's going. ]

[ video ]

[endofdaydream]

... [ she realises that much too, so.. ] If you just woke up, it doesn't matter whatever House they put you in, since the way to the Plaza is usually the same. [ and here go directions.. in the place of these brackets, yes. ]

I'll be right over too, so.. I really want to see you, onii-chan.

[ video ]

[logicerrored]

Hey, this device comes in pretty handy! It's wa~ay different from the stuff you'd see in Rokkenjima.

Got it. Just wait a little longer, Ange.

[ video -> action ]

[endofdaydream]

[ That kind of bright smile is exactly what she's used from him, so.. at the prospect of meeting him in person again in just a little bit she can't help but smile a little as she nods, turning off the device to instead saunter over to the Plaza, making sure to look for any signs of Battler appearing there - he's rather easy to notice with the same bright red hair as her, after all. ]

[ action ]

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[ Battler ran as fast as his legs could carry him to his sister, so by the time he reaches her, he's already out of breath. As soon as she comes into view, he slowly comes to a stop. ] ... Yo, Ange!--[ A beat, and he puts a hand to the back of his head in a somewhat sheepish manner ] Erm... You weren't waiting long, were you? [ .... Despite Battler thinking that he was actually somewhat cool, he didn't look it at all. ]

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[endofdaydream]

No, I haven't. Besides, waiting this long is nothing for me. [ compared to twelve years a few minutes is nothing, really.

She sits there somewhat awkwardly though, since.. she's happy - so happy to be able to meet him again, and this time actually tell her who she is even without him knowing what happened to her in the end. Would it be okay to hug him or something like that, or-- it feels so weird, like she had no time at all to prepare herself for this moment. ]

... You're.. okay, right, onii-chan? [ it's a stupid senseless question, but she really can't think of anything right now. ]

[ action ]

[logicerrored]

[ There's that awkward silence for a moment. But, Battler was never one to think on his actions before actually doing something--so, he places a hand on Ange's head as a headpat. There's a strange smile on his face--apologetic, soft, but fond. ] ... Heh. You're stealing my lines again, you know.

[ action ]

[endofdaydream]

Well, it's pretty apparent that I'm fine..

[ There's something almost a little grumbly about it, but.. then he pats her head like that, and that smile, and it's more than enough confirmation that it's really him, that he's really here, and this time it's not like the last time. She doesn't have to hide who she is, or how much she's missed him over the years, so.. she isn't as prone to crying as Battler is, but she still feels her eyes watering up just slightly, and she can't help but smile. ]

Onii-chan.. I'm so glad to see you again.

[ action ]

[logicerrored]

[ ... gjhlsgkjsg no not the tears... Battler is always weak to tears. It's even worse that this is his little sister. But, knowing that they're ones of happiness more then anything else, he can smile a little. ] It's good to see you too, Ange... ... Though, you've really grown. I guess this is what it means when they say 'they grow so fast', huh? [ He always had some dislike for that saying, considering how much his relatives said how much he had grown over and over again, but--

On a serious note. ]

.... I'm sorry. [ There's a lot of things he's apologizing for. It's not just not knowing who she was-- ... If only he had been able to come home. It must have been painful for her; growing up alone all these years ]

[ action ]

[endofdaydream]

No.. You have nothing to be sorry for, Battler onii-chan. [ because even if she had been harsh to him during the fourth game, talking about how he was slacking around.. sure, she had meant it, and maybe she had partially been angry at him for it, but she never blamed him for anything. besides, now she had sacrificed herself for him back home, surely that Battler would at least win the game and go home to see his little sister, and as long as that would be the end result.. even her long, tiring life and final sacrifice were worth it. ]

Instead, maybe I should just say 'thank you' for accepting me enough to allow me to fight by your side for a while. [ even if she had told him not to trust her fully, after being betrayed right before.. ]