video; un: ushiromiya (cw: mentions of house fires, arson, murder)

[entreats]

So for those not in the know, our house burned down last month.

[ What a way to open a post, right. And yet Ange manages to say it with something very close to a pokerface. Those who know her well may see something at its edges though. An annoyance that starts to bleed more and more into the girl's tone as she speaks on. ]

And not in the 'dumb accident' sense. No, it's because apparently it's socially acceptable in this place to come to someone's house and set it on fire, before bringing your friends inside to start murdering its inhabitants. [ Okay, yes. At this point it's not thiny veiled annoyance anymore. This is obvious annoyance that she doesn't bother to hide. ] And before anyone asks me if I'm alright— I'm fine. Totally fine. I mean, I half-turned into a beast back there, but it's clearly cool. It's fine.

[ It's clearly not fine. The sarcasm is thick.

Though Ange seems to realise that's not why she was supposed to make this message, and manages to snap herself out of passive-aggressive-ville for just long enough to sigh and sound a little bit more neutral as she speaks on. ]

Anyway, we want to rebuild the house, but that's obviously something we need help with. None of us are exactly architects.. I think. I've learned to not question weird Remnant hobbies. [ You never know what those Remnant people are capable of. ] Not to mention we'd need help with the actual physical rebuilding itself too.

We could use help from a lot of people, so if anyone would be willing to help, that'd be great.

Comments

Video: UN: ClickClickBloom

[onekindsoul]

Wow! I do not have weird hobbies!

Is this really necessary Ange!? All I said was I wanted to add in hidden gun turrets around the house!

I can totally design a house!

[Proving ange's point.]

[entreats]

Ruby.

[ She's putting on The Tone. Ruby. ]

When construction starts, I need you to constantly be at my side and hold my hand. The entire time. Every single moment. [ So Ruby absolutely won't have the opportunity to run off by herself and like.. install a giant laser gun on the roof or something. ] Do you think you can fulfill that important job?

video; un: endless

[manyone]

Dear Ange, I think that my particular sort of magic may be extremely useful to you here.

[ SMIRK. ]

I refuse to take 'no' for an answer. Consider it a wedding gift!

[entreats]

[ Oh bother.

The only good thing is that her blood pressure can't rise anymore if it was already at 'annoyed' levels to begin with, right. ]

You're going to do something weird to the house, aren't you.

[ At least her voice has returned to a more flat kind of annoyed, rather than anything actually sharp or malicious. ]

Peanut gallery

[payingfordeliverance]

Don't taunt the Remnant people! They'll install hidden guns all about the place!

[Break calls this from the next room over, where he is making lunch, right as Ruby chimes in. Go figure.]

[onekindsoul]

[The door between rooms opens up. And Ruby throws a pillow at Break's face.

It's a pillow shaped like a gun.]

Video | un: diggs

[justoscar]

Maybe you should take over this project. I'm getting ready to hide guns around the place in case a simple 'No Tresspass' sign doesn't work.

[He's joking. Mostly. He's also keeping an ear on what everyone else is saying. ]

[entreats]

I think Ruby's one step ahead of you there.

[ And at least 60% more serious about it to boot. Oscar, please help. Please at least make sure they have a security system that won't go off just because her fiancee thinks it'd be fun. ]

Can't you train the chickens to attack on sight or something?

video; un: gamemaster

[chessboardturn]

Who did this?! Why didn't you tell me earlier?

[ Battler is ready to throw hands. ]

Video | Clickclickbloom

[onekindsoul]

Who are you? And why do you have the same hair colour as my girlfriend!?

voice; un: shiro

[shiro2hero]

You didn't mention any of this when we talked last.

[ANGE PLEASE....]

But I'm in. Much as you need me.

[entreats]

[ Sorry, Shiro... At least he's not 'not mad, just disappointed' enough to not help, thanks, pal... ]

I didn't want to worry you. You already had enough on your plate. [ Like actual beasting. It made Ange's only barely contained before she could fully beast out situation feel a lot less significant in comparison. ]

I just used too much of my power trying to fight the culprit. It was either that or just straight up dying.

voice; un: reueschwert

[hauntedsavior]

Yeah, I had a real pleasant conversation with the asshole who did it.

[she's sounding better. back to her old self, after a month of recovery. this isn't new information to her for more than a couple reasons, but there's still something gnawing inside her—that she wasn't able to help in the moment. she can fix that.]

Anyway, listen. I'm here to help. I'm not much for urban planning, but if you need stuff hefted around when we get to the rebuilding phase, I'm your girl. Just point me in a direction and pull the metaphorical trigger.

[justoscar]

We might need you as a bodyguard in case they get funny ideas again. I don't like these floods, Anna.

[.... And look who is also back to normal! ]

video (un: falcogrice)

[grice]

[ that's . . . well, she's upset as is. he should offer a solution, or part of it, instead of condolences. she doesn't seem to be wanting that and— oh, how much has he missed? he couldn't let this pass. ]

I'm— I can help, Miss Ange.

[entreats]

.. thanks.

[ Her voice noticably softens a little when she replies to his message. Yes, Ange is very much a public grudgewanker, but she's way too fond of Falco to keep being all annoyed in front of him.

Especially when he, kind as ever, is offering to help. ]

Are you sure it wouldn't be too much for you? I mean, there'll be a lot of other people helping out too, but still..

[ Wow, Ange.

Talk about playing favourites with this doting attitude!! ]

text | un: graham crackers

[possessum]

( Peter has some things to say, but of course, Paimon gets there first, ready to throw hands— )

GOLDEN WITCH YOU YOU ARE BEE ING TARGETED
?

( ...The demon's texting prowess is not quite... Autocorrect helps as much as it can. )

IS IT THE ONE FROM YOUR HOME
?
I WHEEL KILL IT
.
$

( The irony here is that Paimon was... helping Chara with their massacre last month. Only with the cultist part, though. He has no idea that Ange was put in the (literal) line of fire... )

[entreats]

[ Thankfully Ange instantly knows who is texting her here between the two, just going off the sheer unhinged energy hanging around this text.. And while other people may feel entirely different emotions upon seeing something like this, all Ange can feel is fondness. It's just sweet, knowing how Paimon is so instantly willing to help, even if it is in.. a murdrous way..

(But then again, that's exactly how Ange's demon friends back home acted too.) ]

Don't worry, Paimon. They didn't come there for me, I just got caught up in it all.

Actually I do have one problem.

[ Since she figures she probably ought to.. like.. turn his mind away from murder a little, so she doesn't get himself and Peter's body into trouble.. ]

Since the house burned down and so many of my things were destroyed in the fire, I lost the precious birthday gift you gave me. Do you think it'd be too much to ask for another one from you? I really liked the cute little doll you made me.

[cryptograms]

You're Ange, yes? Ruby fiancée?

[ Ford's never actually spoken to her, but he knows her by reputation because...

Well. Ruby. ]

I'm not an Architect, but I am a Darkblood and I've designed a few structures before. I can assist with the rebuilding, and any fortifications you might need for the completed structure.

[ He's not even worried about how weird it's going to be to help rebuild Ozpin's home ]

[entreats]

[ Ford may not be worried about the latter.

But Ange sure is. She's not even sure she's up to date about the latest Old Men Gossip, but considering its ups and downs from what she's heard, there's.. a faint moment of hesitation before she presses the button to reply. ]

Are you really sure that'd be alright?

[ Ange is tactful enough, for once, to not directly say because of Ozpin.

But that 'really' is doing a lot of heavy lifting in implying stuff here. ]

video | un: jessie☆sama

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ Jessica gives a little reassuring smile, glad at least that things are warm enough with her cousin again that she can be there when it counts. ]

I can't do much, but you know I'm there.

[entreats]

What do you mean? You can do plenty.

[ Please, Jessica! You don't even have to be a fancy magic user or an architect.

Ange is only half of that herself, after all. ]

Besides, we'll need a lot of people. There's just nothing left of the old house after that entire mess. [ Which means there's a lot of work to be done. ]

Private text - UN: IceCream

[threelayers]

[...]

Cards on the table, feel free to tell me to fuck off.

No powers, but I can at least use a hammer and nails.
So, if you guys are ok with me helping out with the rebuilding, ignoring that whole thing?
I'll stop by and help out.

Also, what is she trying to put in the house this time?

[entreats]

[ It definitely makes it less awkward, at least, that Neo is the one putting the cards on the table here. This conversation would be a whole lot more uncomfortable if she didn't come swinging out of the gate with that.

It's that fact that makes Ange approach this with a more business-like sense, rather than anything too aggressive.

.. and maybe also the fact she's no longer a raging wife-searching monster machine anymore. That helps. ]

You didn't do it intentionally, right?

[ That's all she has to know. Ange heard the story from Ruby, sure, but she's got to hear it from the horse's mouth too. Just to make sure. ]

Was this place influencing you?

voice: | un: shithog

[foulhussy]

[ Oh look! It's the rude woman from Ozpin's test all those months back! ]

I can lift heavy shit. Get me food and I might consider lending a hand.

[ She definitely isn't volunteering because Anna will be there and it will be an excuse to see her while their relationship status has been left on "it's complicated." Not at all. ]

half-private, then private from here on!

[entreats]

[ .. ah.

Hm.

See, Ange has been putting some puzzle pieces together after their encounter. Not that it's been hard, given how obvious Anna's love life both was and is, but that's exactly what has Ange pausing here for a moment. Apparently she's just sorting out everyone's messy relationships on the workfloor today, like she's the world's most overworked HR department. ]

Sure, there'll be food. [ That's easy to manage. That's not what the implicit "but" in Ange's tone is all about, and she does continue with that.

It's why she switches the feed over to private for the second half of her message. ]

Are you sure about that? You saw Anna's going to be there, right? [ Kainé may be rude, but she didn't necessarily strike Ange as dumb. ]

un: eudaimonikos | text

[eudaimonikos]

I am literally an architect.
Like with buildings.
Please do not let people who don't know how to do it design your house.

[That's how you get houses that fall over!!!]

[entreats]

[ Oh god, Michael.

You are her personal hero today. You have no idea. ]

I mean, I wasn't planning on doing that.

But Ruby seems convinced that a cake-shaped house with a huge gun on the top of is the ultimate home makeover look.

[ Please help. ]

[abornfighter]

My powers have been kind of on and off lately, but when they are working properly, I can make stuff.

Do you guys all have a place to stay in the meantime?

[entreats]

Yeah, we split up so friends could house all of us in groups. [ Rather than a boatload's worth of people being dumped in one place..

.. Ange pauses though. She's pretty sure she hasn't spoken to this girl before - or maybe she's just forgotten, considering how foggy everything got when she almost turned into a beast. ]

Ah.. Are you a friend of anyone who lived there?

[ It's not like she knows everyone's friends, after all. Ange isn't exactly the most social girl around, and there's a lot of people living there with a lot of friends. ]

video;

[bolstafir]

Okay in the defense of gun turrets, though, it would totally keep people from trying to burn it down again.

[This is what happens when you poke the RWBYs, Ange.]

All our transportation in Remnant outside the kingdoms had gun turrets to help fend off Grimm, it's the same sort of principle.

[entreats]

Uncle Qrow! [ There are two occasions to reach for the 'uncle' when it comes to Qrow in Ange's eyes.

One is when she's expressing extreme fondness. Another is when she's scolding him, like when a mother uses their child's full name, middle name included and all. Except this is the niece version of that. ] Not you too!

[ This betrayal coming from all sides. She's seeing more and more where Ruby got it from.. ]

You do realise that your boyfriend is never going to visit us ever again at this rate, right? He's allergic to you guys' style of guns.

video | un: K

[obeir]

Carpentry and heavy lifting are my specialties, so I'd be happy to assist with physically rebuilding. I've helped renovate quite a few homes and businesses here.

[ Being an android with enhanced strength has certainly come in handy in Trench. But more importantly: ]

You're Ruby's girlfriend, aren't you? [ A slight smile accompanies the question. It's past time he met Ange, really. Better late than never. ] I'm K, one of her friends from the dream. [ One of the Deerington vets. Their numbers seem to dwindle by the month... Though his smile doesn't falter, the emotion behind it subtly shifts, and there's something more melancholic in his expression as he continues. He still dearly misses his friend. ] And Martin Blackwood. We... were close. I believe you also knew him.

[entreats]

[ .. ah, sheesh.

The mention of that name completely wipes out everything else K is saying for the moment. It's just not really a name she expected to hear anymore, and it hits her like a punch in the gut after so much time. It's been such a while since she's even thought of Martin, and yet the memory of him feels so vivid now she recalls it. Like they're right back in Deerington, and Martin was still there. ]

Yeah. [ Her answer is a little soft because of it. Ange tries to not leak too much emotion into it, always careful around new people, but it's impossible to keep out every single hint of it. ]

We were pretty close too.. I think. He understood some stuff about me that most people don't.

[ She's not fully hiding the specifics just because of personal reasons. It's also just way too heavy to bring up so suddenly. So, instead-- ]

It's good that you still remember him. He's.. someone who deserves to be remembered.

video | un: 🐟 wanda

[explosion]

I'm sorry about your house.

[ losing anything is terrible. wanda knows what it's like to have everything disappear into ash. ]

If you can stand having more help offered, [ she offers a wry smile. ] I can create things from scratch. I built my own home in a matter of minutes. I'm more than happy to help.

[ she's allowed to be proud of the fact she's thinking of her house in westview, right? at least, when she built one here, she didn't enslave a town. ]

[entreats]

.. thanks.

[ Ange doesn't specify whether the 'thanks' is aimed at Wanda's sympathies, or at the offer. It's probably a little bit of both, but she's hoping to outwardly angle it like it seems it's just the latter.

After all, for all that Ange is willing to angrily complain about what happened in public, it's another thing entirely to show how vulnerable she actually feels about it. And so she tries to tuck that part away carefully. ]

It would be a major help. I've slowly been getting better at the same thing, but I don't trust my powers enough. It'd be a pain if a part of the house would suddenly disappear after a little while. Making stuff that's permanent is unnecessarily hard.

audio | un: deku

[wannasmash]

Oh no! I'm so sorry Ushiromiya-san! It's normal not to be fine after all that.

[ So valid. She is the most valid. ]

You can count on me for heavy lifting, but also to keep you all safe while you build. Are you sure it won't happen again?

Also, I might be able to put you in touch with someone who knows blood runes. A less lethal security measure.

[ WHY are people talking about gun turrets?! ]

[entreats]

[ Look at Midoriya. He's just one of the most pure boys around, isn't he. Ange almost feels a little guilty when she hears him trying to validate her so much in the face of her sarcastic 'I'm fine' complaining. Her aim was more to shame the culprits than to actually worry her friends. ]

I mean.. We can't ever be fully sure in this sort of place that it won't happen again, right?

[ Midoriya may be sweet, but sometimes it does seem like he's dealt with a lot. Ange feels like she doesn't have to fully sugarcoat things around him then, instead being honest like this. ]

Especially since the culprit doesn't seem sorry in the slightest. For all we know, they might take us rebuilding it as an invitation to burn the entire thing down all over again.

video; un: catsandmagic

[occultfan]

[Very much sounds like someone who is perfectly fine.]

I can't say I know anything about rebuilding houses nor are my powers helpful in that matter. But for those who help I can always provide snacks or something. I've been learning to cook all kinds of thing.

[entreats]

.. that might actually not be such a bad idea. It sounds like there's going to be a lot of people around to help out.

[ Maybe Ange should have expected such an outpour of support, and yet it surprised her a little all the same.. But it makes Ada's specific form of help very welcome. It's not like they can make everyone work hard without at least providing some snacks. ]

And since I'm not allowed to touch a kitchen on account of making them mysteriously explode, I might have to rely on your generosity when it comes to this one.

Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

That's what happens when you anger people prone to vengeance streaks. It's not rational or what "good people" are prone to. But that is the way it is.

[Look, Maul's husband was one of those who had burned down the house, so he's not really inclined to feel bad about the whole affair.]

[entreats]

Ah, yeah.

[ Usually Ange might be a little bit more chill about it. Just casually dismiss it with deadpan.

But right now? She's definitely in an annoyed mood when she thinks back on what happened, as evidenced by the way she spoke in the message itself, so of course that's going to carry on here when someone tries to justify it. ]

Clearly I shouldn't have done that! .. except for the part where I literally didn't even know the people attacking our house. [ Except Vira-Lorr, but she clearly had not been in her right mind, so Ange is leaving her out of the equation. ] How silly of me to think that me merely existing and breathing in this world would not warrant some stranger to come destroy my house and everything I've ever owned! Such a terrible crime I've committed!

[ She clicks her tongue. ]

If people properly cared for vengeance, they'd take it out in a one-on-one duel, instead of coming to someone's house and burning it down while almost murdering a bunch of unrelated people like a bunch of cowards. Screw off with that attitude.

video; UN: seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

I've had an angry mob after me before I came here, so I know how scary that can be. I don't know much about building houses, and I'm not really great at lifting heavy things, but I'd like to help if I can.

[entreats]

[ LUCA... Poor boy, casually mentioning that about an angry mob.. Talk about instantly worrying Ange, even if it doesn't show up on her face. It's definitely a concern she tucks away for the moment though, instead focusing on the other part of what he's saying. ]

I'm sure there's something you can do to help if you really want to, don't worry. [ She'll find something light for him to do! Precious children should never be burdened!! ] Do you think there's anything you'd like to try when it comes to making a house?

un: agentmothman

[zib]

[We're just gonna... not touch that part of the broadcast about Ange's housemates getting murdered or her going half-beast, at least not on a public channel even though he definitely has a lot of thoughts about that.]

I've got rebuilding experience: once, I had to deal with a ton of buildings and things getting destroyed back home during... an accident, and somehow I managed to rebuild some new ones from the ground up, including even a tower.

[There is more to this "accident" than he's letting on, but that's not the point, the point is that he wants to help in any way he can.]

[entreats]

[ Thanks for your discretion, Zib. It's actually appreciated on Ange's end, since while she's able to publicly complain about this into forever, there's a lot more vulnerable bits about the entire thing that she is making sure to tuck away deep down.

So focusing on the house part? Entirely fine with her. So much easier to talk about. ]

Thanks. I'm glad for your help, though I'm sure you know that.

[ It'd sure be nice if that was all, right.

But with Ange being Ange, she can't help but at least be enough of the straight man in any given comedy duo to point out: ]

You shouldn't leave a pause like that before the word 'accident' though. It makes you sound like a serial pyromaniac.

video; un: lady

[dohaeris]

[this strikes a nerve for sansa, whose own home of winterfell was razed only a few years ago.]

I'm very sorry to hear this has happened, and I'm very glad to hear you're all right.

[for a given definition, which very much counts to sansa.]

I'm afraid I only make clothes, but I would do what I can for those affected. I could replace any clothes or leather armor that was lost, and I could make curtains too, I suppose.

[entreats]

It'd be more of a help than you might think.

[ Or more than Sansa might seem to think, anyway, since she makes it sound like it's something so small in comparison. Sure, clothes won't make a house, but it's not like they didn't lose a lot in that fire. ]

Especially since I think that all of us are pretty much out of clothes for now, other than what we've been wearing. We didn't have time to really get much out of the house before it was all gone already. [ It affects Ange so much more than she's letting onto, but while she's still speaking in pretty much public like this, she makes sure that her tone remains even. Measured. Looking as vulnerable as she feels is just giving the people who caused this what they want. ] Remaking all of that would be way too much for one person, I'm sure, but.. if you could even help us get a few sets of clothes, that would really help.

Video; UN: Willow

[frogfear]

Thanks for putting this out there, Ange. I mean, I'll help however I can too, of course. Maybe I can get some charms up to keep. You know. The murderous pyromaniac elements away.

[entreats]

Yeah, I definitely want to look into those.

[ She's already received some offers for help with that, but with the current track record, Ange kind of wants to just put the house inside of a protective hamster ball or something.. It's the only way to prevent further disaster. ]

Especially since I can feel my ability to trust people in this place to behave themselves like adults is lessening by the day.