003; voice

[denies]

Tch, how is this thing supposed to work either way, I just have to press--

[ The voice - or rather, it's more like a mumble, as if she's just talking to herself (and a fair bit more hurried than her usual calm deadpan, really) might seem familiar to some people, even if it hasn't been heard in a while. There's the sound of the clicking of a mouse, and then a faint laugh in the background, causing her to raise her voice at the source. ]

Go amuse yourself somewhere else, Amakusa..! I'm trying to get this thing to work already. Just go sit outside or something like that or I'll have your pay being cut!

[ There's some retort, but it's too far away to hear, and then there's the sound of footsteps fading away - although it doesn't seem to settle the voice's frustration. ]

Come on.. It's connecting to the community, isn't it? [ The voice's tone changes a bit-- almost to a point where it's pretty unsure and insecure aside from being softer. ] I.. it's not like it was really all a dream, right? Someone tell me I'm not just going crazy..

[ There's a pause, but then there's a loud beeping sound. ]

'A fatal exception 0E has occurred at 013'-- ugh, work, stupid machine..! [ okay, nope, it's back to frustration, apparently. ]

Comments

[video] I CANT BREATHE-!! I CANT---

[chestboard]

[Is that.......

He knows that voice anywhere- and the last time he heard it... she had been right beside his ear, breathing heavily as she tried to talk in her final moments but..

...How can she be alive...?!]

A..Ange....?

[voice] koz, you have to live..!! 1 / 2

[denies]

Onii-chan..!

[ Ange was practically busy trying to kick the computer, but her attention is completely caught up by the message once she hears his voice. When she had just woken up there, it felt like everything before had just been some sort of dream, like vague memories, but.. it was real after all, right? Fighting by Battler's side, the community, everything..

Slowly but surely that feeling of sheer relief starts to settle in for her, especially since.. she called him 'onii-chan', but despite that.. no hot pinchers this time, she's just fine. ]

Urgh, where's that stupid option--

[video]

[denies]

[ After a brief struggle she manages to turn on video as well, and.. even if she looks a bit out of it thanks to her momentary confusion, the relief is visible on her face throughout the surprise. ]

Onii-chan.. Yeah, it's me.

[video] PUKES BLOOD AND WRITES THROUGH THE TEARS

[chestboard]

[He doesn't know what to say at first- really. There she is... his sister, and for the first time, he's actually looking at her not as Gretel, but as Ange... as his Ange, his little sister that he had apparently left alone for so long.

Battler gets up, and he comes closer to the camera. He stares for a second- and then he reaches out, placing his fingers on the screen before putting his palm down against it.]

Ange.... it's... really you right...? This .. this isn't a trick is it..? If it's a trick I don't think I'll be able to--... kuh..!

1/?

[tenminutes]

An--

jokes just 2/3 it's not gonna be a ton

[tenminutes]

[ ..Should she say anything? She was going to, then she realized..

She probably shouldn't, should she? ]

okay done

[tenminutes]

[ Still, Ange is.. or is she dead? Yuri knows that dead people can have access to this thing. ]

Are you okay?

wow what if I'm not satisfied!!

[denies]

I'm fine-- ah..

[ She replies almost out of instinct, but it doesn't hit her until a moment later that she probably should see who's asking, but.. that voice sounds familiar, right? ]

Yuri? That's.. you, right?

[sandinmyboots]

Hey, you're back! You missed all the drama with Battler!

[denies]

[ ... Wait, what-- cue her blinking at the screen, because that's not the kind of answer she expected, even if she feels glad she at least managed to connect to the community again. ]

Drama.. with Battler onii-chan?

[sandinmyboots]

Not the part with him going "oh nooo my sister is dead and I hate life" because that is normal for a grieving sibling and he'll avenge you sooner or later!

No, no, I mean he broke up with Yuri! Or un-partnered with her. Or something. They never want to talk to each other again!

[oceanicbutterfly]

If it was a dream, I'm reasonably certain that that would make me imaginary.

[denies]

[ well, it would not be the first time for Ange to talk to imaginary people-- okay, no. ]

Ah, if we're going to get to philosophical stuff like that, I might as well ask if I'm not just still dreaming.

[oceanicbutterfly]

I hope not. I rather like existing.

[video]

[material_guy]

Wait. Ain't you supposed to be dead?

[video]

[denies]

... Well, I guess that answers the question too.

[ She looks a little tired still, really, but it's more from the confusion than anything else. ]

Yes, I'm fairly sure I'm supposed to be dead too. At least, I died.

[video]

[material_guy]

And then you got better?

[enshrined]

This is the community.

[denies]

[ A pause, but.. then she lets out a long breath. ]

That's a relief, to be entirely honest.. At least I'm not going crazy and talking to a computer.

[makewayforroze]

Are you still there?

[denies]

That's a pretty good question, but I'm pretty sure I'm actually here, yeah.

[ It's a mumble, but somewhat relieved-sounding. ]

[doyoufondue]

You're not just going crazy.

[denies]

Well, at least that's good to hear, it means they won't have to drag me off to an asylum just yet.

... Hey, what's today's date? On the community, I mean.

[miraclefighter]

Welcome back, mii. It's nice to see that you're alright, that is so.

[denies]

[ ... It's even more strange to see this girl after knowing what Bernkastel did to her, how she lied and got her torn apart in the end, but.. no, it's better to think about that later, after she's seen Battler. ]

Ah, you're really that glad I'm okay?