01 [video]

[satisfies]

Things are really getting into the Christmas spirit, aren't they, lady? They kinda caught me off guard... I haven't had the chance to do any Christmas shopping, and I'm strapped for cash.

What? Is this just some sort of subtle way to beg me for more money again? Who would a guy like you even buy a Christmas present for to begin with? [ she sighs. ] Besides, if these weird snowmen are supposed to be 'the Christmas spirit' I think it's just bothersome.

[ busted. ]

Hyahahha, I'm hurt... I was thinking of getting you one. Now you can't complain if all I can afford are tissues... [ hm. ] The snowmen, huh? They're pretty cool, aren't they? [ he holds up the pair of gloves he managed to score off of his own; if anyone is good at ass kissing, it would be amakusa. ] Did you manage to win a prize too?

[ something very faint that's almost pouty manages to break through ange's deadpan expression at that question, especially when she stares at the gloves he already managed to obtain. ]

Ridiculous. Why should I listen to a snowman who asks me to smile? I don't see the point of any of this nonsense.

What's wrong with giving it a little smile? [ he smiles quite broadly to demonstrate. ] It's not like you lose anything. Where is that thing anyway? I'll give him as many smiles as he wants. You do it too, lady. It's not healthy to always be pouting like that.

Ah, you'll never change, will you? Even when it's snowmen of all things giving out free stuff, you're still first in line to steal away their entire supply. Great to see that even in a place like this a man like you won't change, Amakusa. [ she's quite obviously just avoiding the subject though, her own expression still stuck on a slight pouty frown. ] And I'm not going to smile for some stupid snowman. And that's final... In fact, if you want me to smile so badly, why don't you make me, huh? Come on, give me your best joke.

There's nothing in this world better than free stuff. [ unfortunately ange can't get out of this that easily. ] Oh, is that a challenge? Can I bring a smile to the face of this frighteningly cold lady? Alright, I accept!

[ and with that, he clears his throat dramatically. ]

What's the difference between snowmen and snowladies? [ ... ] Snowballs!

[ at first, there's a long pause in which her expression doesn't change a single bit. but just at the point where it would normally turn into an awkward silence, there's a slight snerk and there's no denying that she definitely does look amused, a thin smile on her face. ]

Now that is the worst joke I've ever heard.

Hyahahhaa... but it worked, didn't it? [ that was sort of a smile. ] I'm glad I got it on camera. [ at that he holds up his bracelet that's been... recording... ]

[ there's a moment where it almost looks like she doesn't understand, but then her mouth drops open a little in shock before the frown returns worse than before; there's something clearly embarassed in all of it which turns into tsun anger. ]

Listen up, at this rate I'll definitely be cutting your pay in hal-- [ her own line is cut off as she smacks his bracelet, turning the feed off. ]

(( OOC: Grey is selfsatisfying, Red is endofdaydream! Both will respond. If Amakusa is still alive long enough to, anyway. ))

Comments

[entreats]

[ for a moment she's quiet, since.. well, he does have a point. ignorance is bliss, huh.. ]

Even if there's definitely no way out, I'd rather know than be led on to believe there is one all this time.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

You must have something important at home. [Thoughtfully.] To be in such a hurry.

[entreats]

... There's something I still have to find out.

[ even if she's dead. or maybe not. it's a little hard to be sure of it when her memories of two things start to get fuzzy and blur. ]

Until then, I don't have time to fool around in a place like this.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

[He nods, quietly. It seems like they're headed, more or less, in the same direction.]

I've been told that 'going back' may be the same thing as 'helping the gods'. What will you do then?

[entreats]

[ there's a pause, as if she's considering it.. but she narrows her eyes then, something hard in her gaze. ]

I'll find out if that's really true first. I have no intention of just believing whatever I hear here, or follow empty promises.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't smile, but there's something tacitly pleased in his tone when he replies.]

On that we agree. Let me pry one more time -- how will you find that out? Will you try to wring answers out of the 'gods'?

[entreats]

I might just, if I'll ever get the opportunity to start with with how sparse their appearances are. But I'm definitely not going to give up.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

[A small pause -- not so much hesitation as consideration. He finally meets her eyes, across the space between screens.]

That's admirable. I also have an interest in finding out the truth of these 'gods' and their claims. It may be helpful to us both, if we can compare what we find.

[entreats]

[ She pauses at that too, and as their gazes meet she almost seems to be studying him a little - maybe trying to judge whether he's trustworthy enough or not. But then, after those few moments, she nods. ]

I wouldn't mind sharing information with you if I found out anything. Anything that'll help find a way out of this place or at least help us figure out more about this place.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

Yes. And given that 'gods' in general enjoy speaking in riddles, we could stand to see how many different answers we get, as well.

[He doesn't quite sigh in relief when she agrees, but the confidence of moments before does slip into a flash of sheepishness as he gives a small bow.]

I should also introduce myself. My name is Allen.

[entreats]

[ She isn't quite as formal, but.. she still nods back slightly at him. ]

Ange. Ange Ushiromiya, but just 'Ange' is fine.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

['Ange' for angel, which is an interesting juxtaposition with this girl, and with the somewhat Levianthan surname. Allen is startled into commenting:]

It's a nice name -- Ange. A pleasure to meet you.

[entreats]

'A nice name'..? [ she actually seems a little surprised by the comment, judging from the way she raises her eyebrows, but then quickly falls back in her more pokerface-like look. ]

I don't know, it's just my name. The result of my grandfather having some weird obsession with western stuff.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

Yes. 'Ange' is 'angel' in my land.

[The explanation is matter-of-fact, but he's watching her carefully, wary of offending.

And the only thing he knows to his west is Marlon, which makes him wonder what 'western' means to her. Equal parts frustrating and intriguing, this separate worlds thing.]

[entreats]

... Yeah, I know it means that in some other languages. [ she admits it somewhat relunctantly - it's rather cheesy, after all, and she thinks something like 'angel' doesn't really suit her either. ]

Pretty weird name for someone like me, huh?

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

[He tilts his head thoughtfully.]

That would depend upon your idea of angels.

[entreats]

Long hair, white dresses, singing songs and representing everything good in the world, something like that, right? Nothing that resembles me, either way.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

[He smiles, just a little.]

There are angels of wrath and angels of justice, and many other kinds, in our older stories. Does your world only have the popular type?

[entreats]

... No, they have those kinds too. [ a shrug. ] What I said is just the general image of angels people have. What a person on the street would say if you'd ask them about it.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

That's true. Still, our homes seem to have some strange things in common. May I ask what you were talking about when you referred to your 'west'?

[entreats]

'West'? Well.. that would of course be places like Europe and America, right? That's at least what is generally referred to as 'the west' in my world.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

[Come to think of it...]

I see. Your bodyguard mentioned that he comes from the island of 'Japan'. I've met several others who seem to call that place home.

[How odd, so many people from an island here when there's so many worlds to choose from.]

And, your last name sounds like those from the northern country in my home.

[He doesn't really know what to make of these connections. At least they're interesting!]

[entreats]

Yeah, I've met a lot of people from Japan too.. I don't know, maybe these gods just have some sort of weird interest in that place.

[ she's not sure what to make of the connections either, especially since she knows so little about the place he's from, but.. ]

I wonder why they picked specifically us out of all worlds and people in them.

[sostaygold.livejournal.com]

They are not the 'gods' of that island, then?

[It doesn't seem so; but can't hurt to make sure. Their names are not Levianthan like the names of the people, but...]

I think many of us are asking that same question. The theory I have heard is that we... are 'important' in some way to our homelands.

[entreats]

Pretty sure they aren't. I've heard their names vaguely before, but I thought those names were from Norse mythology or something like that.. Definitely not from Japan, at least. [ and it's not like she knows much about Norse mythology, so she won't touch more on that for now. ]

We're.. 'important'?