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

[vibing]

I said I could! I won't. Probably. Unless you do something bad.

[ He doesn't consider this backing down. It's just the truth. Why would he kick the butt of some kid who didn't deserve it? ]

So-- don't do anything bad and I won't have to.

[happymeal]

I never do anything bad. [ .. well. That's not exactly the truth. ] But even if I did.. I-- I wouldn't let you kick my butt!

[ That's a lot easier to say over these devices though. You know, when Yuri isn't anywhere in her actual near vicinity. ]

Dad told me all boys are bad, and that I shouldn't let them come near me!

[vibing]

That's stupid. That's like saying that all girls are annoying.

[ Which she isn't disproving, but he's rising to the bait, so... ]

Your dad is wrong. Not all boys are bad. My best friend, Flynn, is the best person I know and he's a boy.

[happymeal]

[ Boy, Ange sure does not like the idea of her dad being wrong. She knows it's not like her dad would just lie to her.. After all, he's her dad!

So she certainly doesn't feel like throwing away that entire idea over what some random boy is saying. ]

If he's the best person you know, then everyone else you know could just be real bad!

[ She has found the potential logic trick here!! ]

[vibing]

[ Tricked! Yuri's taken aback by that, and can't answer for a moment. Darn you and your logic, Ange! ]

That-- well-- no! I know other good people! I know Hanks. And Jiri. And Miriam. They're all good people.

[happymeal]

I don't know any of them.

[ Ange, please, don't be a little know-it-all, just because you finally feel like you're starting to get the upper hand over a boy.. ]

How can I know they're good people then? Do you have proof?

[vibing]

Yes. They're good people. They take care of the kids who don't have parents. Good people do that.

[ It's just his word, but to him that's proof. They do that, and they're kind (for the most part). They take care of their own ]

What'd your proof that your dad's a good person?

[happymeal]

.. well, dad always said he was a bad person too, and that that was proof that all men were bad..

[ Hey.

At least Ange's dad was honest. ]

But I still love him, 'cause he's my dad! And he's always really nice to me! So I don't know how he thinks he's a bad person...

[vibing]

Someone can be nice to you and still do bad things to other people.

[ Like Jiri, really. She does bad things, because she has to to survive. Yuri would never call her a bad person, though. She's smart and brave and does what she has to, and no more than that. He respects that. ]

I don't think all of one kind of person can be bad.

[happymeal]

[ Honestly, it's not like Ange really disagrees with him on that last point.

And yet she's still quiet for a moment more all the same, like she's thinking about it. Struggling with it. ]

But dad wouldn't just lie to me.

[ And he told her! Which means it has to be true! Parents don't lie!! ]

[vibing]

Why not?

[ It's blunt, because he really doesn't get it. A dad is just a man, and men are people, and people lie. It's as easy as that. ]

[happymeal]

Because dads don't lie!

[ Somehow this seems to be a very firmly held belief for Ange. Especially since it's not even a proper argument. It's just her statement repeated, really.

But it just is that simple to her. ]

Why would they do that? A dad is someone who loves you, after all. People who love you don't lie to you.. Because lying is mean! And rude!

[vibing]

That's stupid. People who love you can lie, and do lie, all the time. Being someone's dad doesn't make you a better person.

[ They don't have the skills to argue this, not really, but Yuri isn't backing down either, and this insinuation about blood relations is irking him ]

[happymeal]

[ This is just what happens when two babies have diametrically opposing views.

.. though there is something else that Yuri is saying here. Something that makes Ange stop for a moment, rather than instantly continue this official Baby Fight. ]

What do you mean, people who love you lie all the time..? Did people who love you lie to you?

[ She may, in fact, even sound concerned about him as she says that. Imagine!! ]

[vibing]

...no.

[ Because he doesn't believe he has people who love him, but that's neither here nor there. And even if he did think this, he isn't going to admit that to her ]

But it happens. People lie. Just because he's your dad doesn't mean he isn't going to lie.

[happymeal]

How can you know? If no one who loves you has lied to you, then I'm right!

[ Clearly. Obviously.

This is how logic works, she's pretty sure. ]

I'll only believe you if you can bring me proof..!

[vibing]

I can't give you proof of something that you can't see.

[ But he doesn't want her to win! But he doesn't know how to win.

He lets out a groan and looks away from her ]

Congrats on your shitty dad.

[happymeal]

[ Apparently it's not a half-bad attempt at trying to win here, because Ange's jaw drops so far that it might as well be on the ground at this point. She looks the most offended a little kid could possibly look. ]

O-Oh yeah?!

[ For a moment she doesn't even seem to know how to recover from that. Her eyes might be slowly starting to look a little watery, though she's gritting her teeth, like she's determined to not cry.. ]

W-Well.. Congrats on being a meanie bully!