video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ Even as the image can be seen, it seems like there's still a moment of set up, tiny hands fiddling with the Omni like they're trying to get the perfect shot.. But then there are two faces visible. Two faces that are looking decidedly younger than usually - it's Ange and Ruby, looking like they definitely can't be much older than six years old.

And looking very excited. ]

Um, so, so..! We heard that there's some sort of reaaally scary snake monster out there! So.. we thought we'd help out everyone and get rid of it! Because Ruby.. She's a really, reaaally cool huntress! [ Ange may be Will-Smith-esque posing at Ruby for emphasis right as she says that. ]

[Ruby just stares at the camera briefly until she notices Ange's hands pointing her way. She blinks and quickly starts to flex her twiggy arms to the camera.]

Yeah! We're super strong and awesome and we've got tons of weapons! [Ruby gestures to a sack of potato's and a large collection of sticks that they've gathered up.]

That snack is going to be- a- -uh- a, a piece of snack!

[ While Ruby is saying that last part, it seems that Ange has already moved over to grab one of the sticks for a demonstration. As she's running back towards where Ruby and the Omni are, she's waving the stick wildly. ]

We'll get it just like thi--

[ Ange manages to smack the stick right against the device, turning the view sideways before it just cuts out entirely.

Oops. ]

Comments

cw: gaslighting and mental child abuse

[survivalthroughhate]

No, I don't like that he punishes me. But if I were better he wouldn't have to. [Maul says quietly. Then he brightens up a tiny bit.] But sometimes he's alright. He'll be nice and tell me what a good job I've done or how smart I am.

[He's yet to realize this is Sidious' way of keeping him under his control. Peppering in little bits of faux kindness mixed in with the gaslighting where he would convince Maul it was his own fault for being punished by him.]

[happymeal]

[ Ange may be young too. If she were her regular self, she'd probably recognize a whole lot more patterns here and realise what's going on..

But even though she can't fully grasp the situation at her current age, Ange is still pretty sure something is off here. It doesn't take twelve more years of growing up to realise that basic fact. ]

I don't think sometimes being nice makes up for sometimes really being bad.. You should be careful, you know?

[survivalthroughhate]

Well, not everyone is nice all the time either, so I guess sometimes people can be bad too.

[The logic of a small child just trying to survive. Then he brightens up just a little bit.]

But it's okay cause he's not here right now so I can just stay with one of the Nightbrothers and I like that better!

[happymeal]

Are the Nightbrothers.. nice people..?

[ Ange asks that slowly, cautiously. Because she sure hopes that he's staying with someone who's nicer here, but since she doesn't recognize that name, she has absolutely no idea what these Nightbrothers are like. ]

[survivalthroughhate]

Some are. Some aren't. [He scowls for a moment at the thought of his former caretaker and his two horrible sons. But then he remembers how that ended and quickly tries to think of something else more pleasant.] But this one's name is Savage and he's really nice and he's been taking care of me so I don't have to worry about taking care of myself.

[happymeal]

Oh, that's.. good, then..

[ Even if she isn't so sure whether to trust this boy's sense of 'nice' though, given the fact that he was defending someone who clearly sounded not nice only a moment ago..

Ange can only hope this person is genuinely nice. ]

I hope you'll be okay here.

[survivalthroughhate]

There's plenty to eat and a home to sleep in and Savage protects me, so it's a lot better than some places I've been

[Already this is miles better than living on Mustafar under his master's care. He smiles just a little in a shy manner.]

Yeah, I'll be okay.

[On that he sounds confident.]