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

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

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.

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Oh, that'd be great.

[ There's even a hint of something warmer in her tone as she says it. Honestly, with how much Falco seems to be dealing with all the time, Ange is glad for any opportunity she can get to make the boy feel like he can do something important and good. ]

I know absolutely nothing about that stuff myself, so I'd be no help. [ At least Ange "part of the 1%" Ushiromiya is honest about that.. ] Do you know Oscar? He also did farm stuff back home, and he usually takes care of our farm animals here, so I'm sure he'd appreciate the help of having someone else who can help build a home for his farm friends.

[ 'Farm friends'... Ange, Falco is not five years old, girl.... ]

[ if anything, falco thinks she’s being considerate of the animals to call them friends. right up his alley, ange! ]

I’ve spoken to him a few times, but I don’t think we’ve met. [ either way, she is correct; there’s no better therapy for falco than being helpful. ] I can do it, Miss Ange. Thank you.

[ Falco truly is too forgiving. A pure angel. Too good for this world. ]

I'll make sure to shove you together once we actually get started on construction. [ Not that it'd take much, Ange thinks. Oscar is definitely way more social than she is. ] You don't have to worry about it at all though. Oscar's nice. That boy wouldn't harm a fly.

[ If anything, Oscar ought to be harming a few more flies, in Ange's opinion. ]

And it'd be nice for you to be able to make a new friend, right?

[ he wouldn't hurt a fly but he's shot god in the face— ]

It'd always be. [ making!! friends!! ] Would you let me know when you start?

[ GOD DESERVED IT. ]

Of course. It'll probably be soon..

[ Though Ange doesn't sound entirely sure about that, mind you. ]

We've been staying with other people ever since it happened, after all. And I can't imagine people wanting me as a roommate forever. We got to get started before I get kicked out, right? [ Ange knows 100% for sure that the particular person she's staying with right now would never kick her out.

But she can still make deadpan jokes about it anyway, right. ]

You? You won't get kicked out, Miss Ange.

[ there's an implication there, like, "who would kick you out??" only a demented fool. ]

Where're the animals staying now?

[ Maybe a part of her did imagine Falco might take that joke a little more seriously than most.. But there's something about him actually bothering to say that first part that makes her feel a little soft on the inside all the same. It makes Ange pause for a moment, trying to process the gooey and warm feeling before actually answering his question. ]

They're here with us. [ Where they're temporarily staying, she means. ] It's not exactly.. ideal, since obviously not everyone has a place to just casually keep animals around. But thankfully all of them came out of the fire without being harmed, so they seem to be doing pretty alright. Two chickens seem a little spooked at worst.

[ Or so she thinks, anyway.

Ange would not consider herself an expert in chicken body language. ]

Are they both hens?

[ even though chicken hierarchy might cause a few scuffles, he’s worried more about roosters. stressed out big boys. ]

Yeah.

[ ...

There's definitely a noticable pause here as the cogs in Ange's head are turning.. but very, very slowly. ]

Does it matter?

[ Look, Ange isn't dumb enough to know the difference between hens and roosters on a basic level. But it's not like she knows anything beyond said basic level, hence why she sounds totally clueless as she asks this question. ]

Oh, that's . . . A little bit! I have hens too, and I was thinking they could stay where mine are, here at home. There's a little coop and everything. There might be some pecking because they'd be new to their place, so I'd understand if Oscar wouldn't want that, but it's nothing too serious!

But If they were roosters, I have Austin. It wouldn't be a good idea to put them together, because the males fight.

[ brutally. ]

[ Okay, that confirms that Falco definitely knows a whole lot more about farm animals than she does. Or at least about chickens. ]

I'll ask him. [ Because Ange knows it ought to not be her decision in the end. See: her lack of knowledge.

She doesn't leave it at that though, instead frowning as she adds: ]

So even chickens bully each other? I thought they'd at least be better than people.

[ Can there never be peace. :( ]

There’s a lot less malice behind it compared to when people do it.

[ he seems to be pretty enthused to be talking about this? the things you learn when you read about chickens! ]

They do it to establish their hierarchy, so they know who to respect.

But I think mine are really gentle.

[ Ange won't doubt the gentleness of Falco's chickens in particular. How could they be anything but gentle while being raised by someone who's so sweet?

But the rest of that claim is-- ]

Falco. Have you ever been to middle school or high school? Do they have that where you come from?

[ Look, if he's so into farming, he might be from a medieval-esque world? With.. people who turn into giants..?

Her not directly having asked much about his world sure means she's trying to piece bits together here, huh. ]

Oh, um . . . They do, but I couldn't go. My education was different.

[ . . . ]

I went to a middle school for a little bit in California, [ one of the places before here, ] but I don't think I could count that.

[ not when he dis more spying and snooping than he did studying! ]

Is there a reason—?

[ Different, huh. That could mean a whole lot of things in this context. And if it's a bad context-- just tell her who she has to beat up, Falco. She'll do it!! She'll come out swinging!!

For now she shelves the thought though, humming before saying: ]

It's just that I was thinking it's a lot about hierarchy too in those places. They pick on people they want to put at the bottom of the pecking order, and to seem more powerful and popular themselves. It doesn't sound all that different from chickens, really. [ It's just that people can get a lot more creative about it, thanks to the existence of opposable thumbs.. ] But it's still really annoying.

I guess that’s how it is . . . Everywhere. [ home included, even if the reasons ran deeper and uglier. ] I’ve seen some bullies in California. I’ve always tried to ignore them when they’d call me “panty waist”.

[ wimp. chicken. soft stuff. 1960s harmless kid things that didn’t nearly bother him as much as the hurtful slurs in marley. falco presses his lips together in thought, before sharing: ]

Back home they’d call us Devils. Or worse.

Does that have to do with..

[ Her voice trails off. See, she can at least see where the former comes from, even though it's dumb. But guys are like that, right? If someone is even a little shorter or thinner than them, or less aggressive, of course they immediately assume they're a wuss. Boys are dumb like that.

But the latter isn't so clear just from knowing Falco. And it seems like the entity is something he didn't acquire until after he left his initial world, so that can't be it either.

On the other hand, Ange knows that being isn't the only power Falco has. ]

.. you know. What you can do?

[ Even if he only briefly mentioned it to her. But it's exactly because of that briefness that Ange isn't too sure whether or not it's a normal power where Falco comes from. ]

[ falco nods slowly at the shot. she's on the money. ]

Only Eldians could turn into titans. If they can do it willingly or not depends on if they've inherited one.

[ willingly. unwillingly, now— that was always held over their heads like a threat. ]

[ Ange slowly exhales. ]

.. how typical.

[ Not that she's ever heard of anything as specific as this - people who could turn into titans. But the specifics don't even matter here, do they? Even if there's something else specific at its core every single time, the end result is the same. ]

People are always like that, aren't they? They try to find those who are different, and then try to put them down in order to feel superior. [ In bigger and smaller ways. ] I'm sorry, Falco. You shouldn't have to deal with that.

Oh, that's— [ it's not fine, or alright. it was a serious matter and he wasn't about the brush away something that's affected him for so long— and may as well continue to affect him for the rest of his living life at home, even with the warrior project disbanded and he with gabi relocated to actually living a life, one day. ] —Thank you.

[ he should always acknowledge acknowledgment for it being Very Bad. and, he's grateful for it. ]

I like to think, that . . . If we do better than them, that can perpetuate.

[ just like hate does, but instead of hate— breed love, y'all. ]

[ Falco..

It's such a sweet sentiment to speak of in return. It doesn't fully surprise Ange, given what the boy is like, but.. it's still a lot, especially for someone like Ange, who has seen cycles of abuse and hatred run down through her family and life, over and over. If only more people were like him. ]

You remind me a little of my cousin. [ Ange slowly says. ] I'm pretty sure they would have told me the same thing under these circumstances.

[ Maria had always been like that too, hadn't she? Even though it's been so long since she's seen the other girl now. ]

[ oh, that's— sweet, so much that falco smiles sweetly at the older girl, a tinge of green around the skin beneath his eyes. ]

Have they been here, before?

[ well, maybe not. and falco hardly wishes for people to be taken from their homes and put in trench for any reason at all, but! he'd like to express the sentiment and interest that meeting ange's family anywhere would be nice. ]

No.

[ .. and she's been dead for over a decade now, but Ange is at least tactful enough to not say that. Or that she's had very, very awkward experiences with the family that did show up in this place.

She shouldn't bother poor Falco with her own problems. ]

But if she ever does show up, I'll be sure to introduce you. I just know she'd love you. [ Because Maria loves anyone who's sweet and willing to listen to her ~~ramble~~ talk, and Falco fits that profile perfectly. ]

Thank you, Miss Ange. [ so blind to the scenes behind her— but he's smiling warmly at the prospect either way. he's also reminded of what spurred this on in the first place and returns to it with realization: ] I'll get in touch with Oscar.

[ and to that— he waves goodbye to her. ]

I'm glad I could help.

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

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think we could wrap here!