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

[expiera]

[But kids are also pure and honest in all the ways people stop being once they become more aware of their surroundings and themselves, setting aside the fact that The Trench seems to have a lot of kids running around who don't act their age...

...Aha. That sort of worry... Really is quite relatable.]

I'm sure they will. And if they can't for any reason, like getting a stomachache or becoming too tired, we can always do something else too. Like getting you better equipment, including something to protect your head with? [no more accidental stick bonks! A hat would be very cute, even though it's more tuque season, hm...]

[happymeal]

.. a hat?

[ Clearly little Ange is about to be used as a dressup doll...

Which she doesn't necessarily mind, honestly. But the actual Ange might have a word or two to say about that. Such a shame for her that she isn't present right now. ]

Or.. a helmet? I guess a hat doesn't protect your head from a lot, huh.. [ Even Ange does realise as much! She can be a smart six year old. ]

[expiera]

[Adult Ange is more than welcome to lodge any and all complaints in the future if she remembers any of this! Rightfully charge Ciel for her dressing-up-cute-little-girls-in-fittingly-cute-clothing crimes, officer, 🚨]

It depends on what it's made of, there's no rule against being practical and fashionable. We'd have to go browse and have a look for ourselves to find out, don't you think?

[Piling shopping on top of the To-Do list... But you can never keep kids TOO distracted, especially sharp ones who are aware normal hats don't protect against much, usually!]

[happymeal]

[ the greatest offense of all!!! ]

So.. does that mean we're going shopping first?

[ Maybe she should be a little bit more hesitant towards the idea of just anyone telling her that they're going shopping with her.. But maybe Ange - especially at this age - just trusts the people in this place so much that she doesn't even bother to question it.

If Ciel wants to go somewhere with her, she will obediently come right along. ]

Or are we first making an obstacle course? Or.. um, something else..?

[ Time to start working on the distraction list, clearly. ]

[expiera]

[Ange will probably survive this without anything too traumatizing embarrassing, what's the worst that could happen tbh,]

What would you like to do first, Ange-chan~?

[...tfw you're a little weeb,

but at the end of the day, she WOULD like to keep the suddenly-6yo-girl distracted by doing actually fun things Ange's 6yo self would enjoy. Going shopping may actually give Ciel a chance to "pay" her back too, come to think of it! Some magical trinket with warding properties, or with smoking/flashing effects that can buy time in a bind probably wouldn't hurt to have in the Trench, even if she's probably already prepared as someone who's been around town for longer? Simply giving the child some shinies to keep would probably work too, but then there's the mild concern of a 6yo spending "money" unwisely... Hmm.

Thinking on that though, they are definitely going shopping at some point, one way or another!]

[happymeal]

... me?

[ It's a slightly surprised reaction, but nothing too shocked! Maybe the regular six year old Ange would have been more shocked, given that her opinion never really mattered.. but this one, who grew up in a slightly better world, is actually used to someone older than her asking what she wants for once.

Which means that the slight pause that falls between the two of them is mostly just there because Ange is thinking. Thinking real hard. She wants to make sure to give a good answer..! ]

Um, I guess.. I'm kind of curious about the shopping? I've never gotten a helmet before..

[ Please, who needs bike safety. Or monster safety, in this case. ]

[expiera]

[sis...

but yes good. Today isn't a day for angst, it's a day for snek hunting shopping and preparations. So no need to complicate it beyond that, right?]

Shopping it is~! We can get you a helmet, and more. Do you know how to use the lamp to get around The Trench, by the way?

[Gonna go visit the armor shop in Prufrock with a 6yo, you're clearly never too young to gear up!]

[happymeal]

Uh-huh, of course!

[ Even though this young Ange has technically never been in Trench, she does have the memories of the older Ange squished into her head.. As much as they fit in there, or even within a six year old's frame of mind at all, really.

But it seems like basic knowledge like that is at least still up there. ]

I'll tell everyone I'm heading out and then come see you, miss..!

[ Because 'hey, I'm going shopping with someone I either don't or barely know' is totally not a weird thing for a little girl to tell to the people living with her, right... Nothing shady about this... ]

[expiera]

[Hum, she seems to have retained some of the technical workings of The Trench? That's... convenient, let's go with that, though this also points more firmly towards there being good odds that Ange'll remember all this once it blows over. ...It will blow over, right, that's not a completely crazy assumption to make, but in the meanwhile, her initial warning sure had come in relevant hard and fast: "lose yourself", "change your form", she said. Seeing is believing, as it goes...]

Great, then we'll just be headed to Prufrock and meet at The Gate. Keep your Omni on you so everyone can still get in touch with you if something comes up, okay?

[alright but "I'm going shopping in one of the safer districts as long as you don't factor in all the sharp objects the whole area is chock full of in town" sounds OBJECTIVELY less objectionable than "I'm going out to hunt a fire breathing ROCK SNAKE monster with a stick", yeah? Look she'll have her home before sundown and everything sir ma'am, just taking a 6yo armor shopping and maybe prooobably slipping her some dainty looking trinket that's actually enchanted to possess minor unholy creature repelling properties, nbd really. Completely wholesome and normal!!

...Or any Actual Adult(s) smol Ange currently lives with can stop her from going out, h-haha 🥲 Then Ciel'd have to ask her for her address and make a ninja delivery or something... Hm... Could work? 🤔]