AUDIENCE: ANGE

[retellers]

Comments

week 1, monday

[retellers]

[ When Ange wishes, it takes a little bit before she'll receive a notification from Wolf on her PHS that says, simply "outside". If she heads outside from there, with or without her offering, Wolf will be waiting for her at the door. ]

Hey. Finally up to meeting?

[ there's no offense to their tone, merely curiosity. ]

[lecarre]

[Listen, outside isn't the best place to have tea time, but she's committed to the bit. So. Once she meets him there, she offers him the cup of tea. It's still relatively warm!]

Um... yes...! If that is all right. I was not sure I had much of worth to say before, so... but, um, I wanted to meet you properly.

[retellers]

[ Maybe Wolf doesn't like tea! Considering they take it like they've never held a cup before in their life, it's possible. ]

Right. For the record, you don't have to bring me anything, since you're on my team. Meeting properly for the first time or not.

[lecarre]

[Listen... they may not but it's still polite!! Even though standing around awkwardly with tea just makes this all even more awkward.]

Um, right... is it against the rules to bring something to you, though? I would like to, since you are part of my team...

[retellers]

[ they look at her for a bit, making this even More Awkward before shaking their head ]

It's not against the rules. Do it if you want, I guess, but it won't net you anything.

[lecarre]

[Maximum Awkward........]

... I see. I wasn't exactly trying to get anything in particular, but...

[THIS IS FINE.]

Mister Wolf, does what you said earlier mean you've met all of the other people on this team already...?

[retellers]

Not yet. Few people haven't come to see me personally still. It's fine if they don't, so long as they do their job.

[ they shrug. although... ]

You don't have to ... Mister.

[ the awkwardness is, at this point, palpable ]

[lecarre]

Oh... then only Wolf? That is fine, if that is what you prefer.

[A smile!! she will... try to make this less awkward.]

It, um... it seems as though things are going well enough?

[Judging by the rankings, anyway.

"Well", aside from the murder!!]

[retellers]

[ they nod. they are inherently socially awkward, ange, cut your losses ]

Competition wise, yeah. But that can change at any time.

[lecarre]

[She has to Try!!]

... This... um, it probably is a question you do not want to answer, and if so, I do respect that, but...

Was Virid one of our team?

[retellers]

Can't directly confirm members even after they've been removed. But you're asking because we're in the lead, right?

[lecarre]

...Yes. That's correct. I... all we did was a scavenger hunt. So... I was trying to understand why we are first right now.

[retellers]

I mentioned it when we sent you on that hunt. Nova's attracted to people and strong emotions. [ like. briefly. ] So you'd already gathered nova through other means, even if we weren't sure what those were yet. We still aren't fully, but nova was collected during that mess on Saturday.

[lecarre]

[... She's quiet for a long moment.]

Because we were all so upset... I see.

I believe it was mentioned that, um... what happened to Miss Hajime and the others was bad for our task. Was... the nova collected in that mess enough to make up for that?

[or are they still in a theoretical deficit here.]

[retellers]

On that end, we're not worse off than when we started, save now we've got less people to help gather nova.

[lecarre]

I see... that is a relief, at least. It would be terrible if everything was in even more peril due to that.

Um, I only had one more question. Was it all of you who wrote the new rules...?

[retellers]

Not as far as I know. They're meant as guidelines to help the general flow of the competition from the Realm. The initial ones we had some input, but the ones about killing are a direct result of what happened this weekend, since that set a precedent. The last one is...

[ they huff a bit ]

Connection between people aids nova, so that might be why?

[lecarre]

... I see... so the rules simply appeared because they were necessary.

[Or, at least, the Realm thought so.

She clears her throat... and nods.]

Thank you for your patience. It was honestly a pleasure to speak with you, Mist-- er, that is, Wolf. I believe I understand better now.

[retellers]

You sure about that?

[ they tilt their head but nod ]

If you need anything else, just ask. It's my job. I'm not here to judge.

[lecarre]

[Aha...ha...]

To be honest, I am sure of nothing. But... this is what I believe.

And if I have more questions, I will be sure to come to you. Thank you, Wolf... I appreciate all of your assistance.

[BUT SHE WILL LEAVE HIM BE NOW... for now]

week 3, wednesday

[retellers]

[ There's probably something a little ominous about receiving a text from Wolf without requesting them first ... but here it is. It reads "meet me in the forest near the castle".

Wolf will be waiting for her there, leaning on a tree ]

[lecarre]

[It sure is a little ominous! Ange is not sure what to expect, but she goes nonetheless, slapping on that typical, standard fake moe bullshit as she comes closer.]

Um... h-hello. Did you need something...?

[retellers]

[ ... still...? they sigh ]

You can drop the act. I thought you'd have learned before this. We can listen in on the private conversations of our team members at any point.

[lecarre]

[Listen... She just stares at them for a long moment before she shrugs a little and tugs off her glasses.]

Fine. I have not lived as long as I have by being incautious, but...

[Obviously, it's really unnecessary here.]

What do you want, then?

[retellers]

I know what you did Thursday night. [ and, adding quickly: ] I don't need an explanation or justification. I wasn't going to bother confronting you about it, but...

I might need you to do it again.