[open] that far, far away day

[entreats]

Who: Ange Ushiromiya and you?
Where: The stairs and the dining room
When: During the event from February 9th to February 11th
Rating: PG
Summary: Ange goes from being a sad adult to being a sad kid. Come do the impossible and cheer her up.
The Story:

[ a: the stairs ]

[ Of course Ange woke up in a panic. It's already distressing enough to wake up in a room you don't know when you're a kid, but it's even worse when you've lost your parents only a few days before then and are still busy trying to deal with that. After nobody answered her in the room, even after calling out for her aunt and then even her parents (almost instinctively before it just made her sadder), Ange ran out.. only to not recognize the hallway either. It sure wasn't her aunt Eva's house, nor the mansion on Rokkenjima.

And with the panic she was in, she didn't know better than to just start running. So if you just happen to be going up or down the stairs, it's pretty hard to avoid noticing the girl sitting on the floor on the landing between one floor and the next, her hair a little messy and a small scrape on her knee, as if she must have fallen a step or two while running on the stairs.

It's mostly hard to avoid noticing her though because she's rubbing her eyes and crying. Whoops. Might want to do something about that instead of just trying to walk around her? ]

[ b: the dining hall ]

[ Even once Ange understands a little bit more about the situation, she isn't exactly cheerful. Being gone from her aunt is a good thing, sure, but being in an entirely different world is.. well, pretty scary for a kid that's only six years old. Not to mention she's still too sad from what happened to her parents for her joy to be gone from her aunt to be stronger than that feeling somehow.

So even though she's sitting at a table with a big cake in front of her - something that ought to be enough to make any kid happy - she's just staring sadly at it. There's definitely another seat still free at the table though for anyone who feels inclined to ask a sad little kid what's wrong.. or anyone who recognizes her hairstyle, really, considering it's pretty much exactly the same as the older Ange, despite the huge age difference. ]

(ooc note: replies will come from happymeal for the icons!)

Comments

[happymeal]

Do you think that'll help..?

[ Ange's not quite old enough just yet to realise how severe (or rather, how not severe) of an injury it is and how it should be helped. She looks like she's willing to believe him on this one though. ]

[moraloutrage]

I am sure that it will! [It might not actually do much physically, but he knows that if she believes that it will, then it can help her feel better.] You will feel better in no time, Miss!

[He takes a band-aid out from his pocket and prepares to place it on her knee, unless any objections are raised!]

[happymeal]

[ Nope, no objections here! She's watching him the whole time though as he's putting that band-aid on her, just in case he does something weird.. But nope, just a band-aid.

.. It does feel a little better. She's not crying anymore, at least. ]

Um.. Thank you. What's your name, sir..?

[moraloutrage]

You are quite welcome! [He says as he beams at her.] There, good as new!

[Then, he steps back and offers her a polite bow.]

I apologize for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Kiyotaka Ishimaru! I believe in the power of hard work!

[happymeal]

[ Ange slowly stands up. ]

The power of hard work..? [ ... ] Do you mean just working hard? Or is it some magic power? [ Her cousin is deep into that whole magic and witches thing, it wouldn't be too weird for her to hear someone else go on about it. ]

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru stands up straight, propping his hands on his hips.]

It means working hard itself! Hard work is more powerful than any kind of magic. In fact, I have committed myself to proving that through hard work, any obstacle can be overcome!

[happymeal]

Any obstacle..?

[ Oh no, now he's done it. Ange's eyes light up, and although that might seem like a good thing, it's for the wrong reason entirely. Mostly since she's getting the wrong idea out of all of this. ]

So if I work hard, mom and dad will come back?

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru's confidence is swept away instantly by that question, and his eyes widen uncertainly.]

...C-come back...? [He feels like he's treading onto a traumatic subject, but there's no turning back now.]

[happymeal]

[ Ishimaru might look more unsure with each moment, but Ange only starts to look more excited. She's really starting to believe in it now. ]

Yeah! I was looking for a way to make them come back, but if I just work hard, then they won't be dead anymore, right?

[moraloutrage]

[Oh god... It's as horrible as he could have imagined. He can barely manage to look at her as he speaks.]

...Ah... W-well, that is... I am sorry. I did not mean to say that... [He shakes his head softly.] There are some things that cannot be undone through hard work.

[happymeal]

...

[ Oh no, now you've done it. Ange's look already starts to drop a little bit, like the first sign of something more coming up.. ]

So.. mom and dad won't come back..?

[moraloutrage]

[His shoulders sag, and he sniffles slightly.]

I- I... I... I do not know. There is a chance that... people who are gone come to this place. But there is also a chance that... they may not.

[There's a silent beat as he tries to summon more words. Any words at all!]

I... am so sorry!

[happymeal]

O.. Oh.

[ Yeah, the disappointment is pretty obvious in her tone. There's something about Ange that looks like she's trying to keep herself strong, but that's really hard when you're only six and haven't developed a pokerface yet.

So she sniffles as well, her eyes growing a bit hazy before she lowers her gaze. ]

I.. It's okay.. I s-should've known they wouldn't c-come back...

[moraloutrage]

I still misled you. I strive to accomplish anything through hard work, but there are... still limits.

[He looks down, feeling so lowly for letting her down. And... yep, he's beating her to the tears alright. He's filled with sorrow and concern for the small girl, and he's not sure what to say.

But he does manage to hold out his arms, offering a hug.]

[happymeal]

[ It takes a moment before Ange even really notices what he's offering here.

.. Should she hug strangers? Probably not. He doesn't seem like an adult, maybe more somewhere close to her older brother's age, but even hugging those is probably not good..

But then again, she just feels really lost and lonely and sad right now. Her parents died. She's in some place she doesn't even recognize. What else is she supposed to do? She's only six, she can't do it by herself.

So after a moment of hesitation she does move closer to him, clinging to him with her tiny arms as she starts to cry. ]

[moraloutrage]

[He understands that hugging a stranger may be odd and unwise, but he left the offer out anyway. Because that seems to be all that he can do to help her right now. Until he can find a way to save people from even death, he can still be there for those left behind.

He wraps his arms around her as she hugs him and cries with her as he tries to comfort her.]

There there... Let it all out... [He'll hold onto this tiny life until she's ready to let go!]

[happymeal]

[ It's actually pretty comforting to just have someone to cry against like this. After all, it's not like she really had anyone to do that with. Her family is all gone, she doesn't have any friends, and the only family member that did come back to take care of her.. Well, she just ignores her when she cries, or worse, chastises her for it.

So having this opportunity does mean Ange cries for a good while, hiccuping and sniffing, until the tears grow a little less strong. At least less strong enough for her to realise she's been crying for a while now. ]

S.. sorry... I just miss my parents so much...

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru nods softly, with a sympathetic frown.]

There is nothing to be sorry for. Someone as young as you as should not have to face something like that! [He misses his own parents dearly, but at least he has hope that they are alive and well back home. And he at least got to meet a version of his father in that one weird alternate universe.]

B-but I am sure that they would be happy... that you live on.

[happymeal]

[ She rubs a little bit at her eyes, even though they're still obviously lined with tears. ]

They'd be happy...?

[ Ange hadn't even really thought about that. It's hard to think about other people's feelings - especially dead ones - when you feel utterly miserable. ]

[moraloutrage]

[He smiles sadly, with tears shining in his eyes.]

I am sure of it! All parents want their children to live and be happy... I just know it. They must be so proud of you!

[happymeal]

[ It's kind of a heavy thought for a little kid, but she does seem to consider it for a moment, going quiet, before she says something again. ]

I think they wouldn't want me to be lost in a place I don't know like this though...

[moraloutrage]

[IT PROBABLY IS A BIT MUCH Ishimaru doesn't know much about the ways of children, but he wants to attempt whatever can help her to feel better.]

Ah... Yes, I see how that can be a concern... But in that case, allow me to be your guide! Then, at the very least, you will come to know this place! All will be well, Miss!