voice;

[modore]

[There's no particular reason Satoru chose audio over video. Despite how young his voice is, the adult in him is coming through in how tired he sounds.]

I bet I'm not the only one that event was kind of hard for. Even thinking things might have turned out that way makes me want to...

[He trails off without actually saying what it makes him want to do.]

But I'm sure it could have been worse.

[He pauses.]

So...what's the worst event you've been through?

Comments

[modore]

[He's not entirely sure what to say to that, and it occurs to him that he doesn't know Ange all that well, outside of knowing her situation with her aunt. He has a feeling that's how she wants it, too.]

What's going on at home that's so bad?

[Yes, he's prying. And he's not even trying to be subtle about it.]

[entreats]

[ See, if she had really thought still that he was just a kid, she might have been a little more tactful about this. But since he's actually an adult, she'll just give him the full gross details.

Even though she sums them up in her usual flat tone, which doesn't seem to fit with the content of her words at all. ]

You know. Dead family, chased by the yakuza, manipulated by witches, forced to watch my family die over and over in gross ways, got torn apart until I was minced meat.

[ Hey, you asked, Satoru.. ]

[modore]

[There's a lot to unpack there and he's not sure how to approach it. Or if he should.]

...How old are you?

[entreats]

18.

[ She answers fairly easily. ]

... Maybe technically almost a year older than that now? If you count the time I've been here as well, anyway.

[modore]

[18 seems really young to him until he reminds himself that his best friend is 11.]

That's a lot to have happen and only be 18.

[entreats]

[ Normally she might've commented with some sarcastic joke about him being even younger (despite her knowing that's only technically true), but she'll spare him it this time when he seems to be taking this pretty seriously. ]

To be fair, the first six were pretty normal. Things just got wild after that.

[modore]

That was when started living with your aunt, right?

[He wants to ask more, like about how the yakuza came into the picture, but feels like asking outright would just be nosy and unwelcome. Still, he's curious about her.]

I don't have very many memories from when I was that age.

[entreats]

That's a little ironic in your case, right? [ Considering he's not as far off from that age physically now as he should be.. But she knows the distance is bigger than it seems. ]

Hmm, you're right though. I remember things pretty vividly from back then. Both from when I lived with my parents and then from when I lived with my aunt-- maybe since the contrast between them was so big.

[ The best and worse memories. ]

[modore]

Yeah, it's kind of weird, actually.

[To be redoing something he couldn't remember in the first place.]

That seems like the kind of situation where you'd either remember perfectly or not at all--no in between.

[entreats]

[ It does make her think for a moment - would it be better if she just didn't remember anything at all? Ange would gladly give up the painful memories, but if that meant losing the few memories she has of her family from when they were still alive.. That doesn't seem worth it. ]

Maybe I would be a much cuter and nicer girl if I didn't remember. [ Which is why she just ends up landing on another sarcastic joke instead. ]

[modore]

You wouldn't be you if you didn't remember.

[She wouldn't be aware of it, of course, but that's not the point. The point is...she's fine like she is. At least to Satoru.]

[entreats]

Most people I've known wouldn't say that's necessarily a bad thing.

[ Which Ange is mostly saying since she's socially dumb and can't read the implication that he thinks she's fine the way she is.. Sorry for that, Satoru. ]

[modore]

[Fiiiine he'll be more explicit.]

I think it would be.

[entreats]

[ Yeah, that definitely works. Even though it mostly just makes Ange tsun a bit, because.. you know. This is embarrassing. She's not used to it, even though it's been happening more often here than ever back home. ]

How can you say something like that with a straight face?

[ So she says over a voice feed.... Ange is just being pouty though since she's embarrassed. ]

[modore]

It's not too hard. I just have to tell the truth.

[He might be teasing her now.]

[entreats]

You're so cheesy.

[ But she actually kind of likes that. Deep down. Ange just can never express these sort of things well, especially by now. ]

But I guess I'll just stay myself then. Not like I have a choice anyway.

[modore]

It's possible to change. [He had to, after all.] But it's not that easy. And I think it's not always worth it, either.

[entreats]

Well.. [ She pauses, because.. come on. Forcing this out is difficult, alright. ] I guess you're pretty okay right now too.

[ And then quickly following up in deadpan, as if to soften the impact of it-- ]

Although it'd probably be a little better if you were taller so I don't have to break my neck talking to you in person.

[modore]

[He's about to ask what she means by "right now," but that comment throws him off.]

I'm not that short! I'm an ordinary height for an eleven-year-old.