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One of the best, huh?

[of course other people have been ange's big sister before, but honestly, it's such a surprise to anna that she'll just let it slide. besides, she's not possessive or anything.]

Hell, I would've been willing to settle for not the worst. And I think that's what got me so bad, too, like... man. I don't know. I can rescue people from danger. I can jump into burning buildings and yank people to safety until the ambulance gets there, I can... kill monsters and stuff. But when the danger's inside someone's own head, I don't think I can do a lot to help that. It leaves me feeling powerless, you know?

[bold words for someone who has so much danger living in her own head right now that she's terrified of herself letting her own guard down.]

That's why I switched so quick to anger, I think. I thought I'd already lost you. Thank you so much for proving me wrong and for... still being here in the end.

[ It's not something she has to be thanked for, Ange thinks. If anything, she's just glad that at least they're still together in the end. At least they're still alive.

Even if some things have broken here that can't be fixed, at least they have that. ]

.. well, at least I'm pretty sure I'll believe you when you warn me in time next time.

[ There's a wry edge to the way she says it, a little worried that it'll make Anna recall some of the worst parts of all of this, the biggest regrets - but she has to say it anyway.

Because Ange believes it to be true. ]

You don't think I'm dumb enough to ignore you twice, right?

[and yeah, listen. maybe she does get reminded of the things she'd rather avoid thinking about. maybe she doesn't want to focus on the way she can feel how her eye socket feels empty now, or the way she'd flipped off ruby rose and called her a pussy, or the desperate pleading and crying she'd done inside that prison cell of a room once the adrenaline had worn off and the pain started hitting her in waves, in waves.]

[but then ange takes all that away with one idle comment, and anna grips ange around the shoulders tightly and ruffles her hair just a little. it feels normal. it feels natural.]

I don't know, sis. Girls like us can be pretty stupid. But the next time we decide to be dumbasses together, let's try to make it about fun stuff, okay? Like arguing about whether pizza is a salad.

[ There's a very slight groan at getting her hair ruffled, though Ange is absolutely making no attempts to get away from the physical contact at all. In fact, even once Anna stops ruffling her hair like that, Ange might be lingering close.

Trying to linger not physically, but mentally too. She likes the place she's in so much more when her mind is here, with Anna. Caring, and being cared for. ]

Please tell me you don't think pizza is a salad.

[ It's half-mumbled, but it's a valiant attempt on Ange's side too to try and feel a little better. To allow herself to try to do so in the first place, rather than letting her guilt drag her down. ]

I mean, cold pizza is, sure.

[this is it. this is the stupid shit. she's keeping ange close and she's about to give the dumbest food opinion imaginable and it doesn't even matter if she believes her own words because she thinks it'll make her sister happy. this is how she wants to be as a person. she's already smiling as she prepares to say this.]

Think about it. Think about, like, a caesar salad. You've got croutons, you've got cheese, tomatoes, little bits of meat. Now take a look at a cold slice of pizza. You've got the bread, you've got the meat, you've got the tomatoes and cheese. They're the same food.

You can't be serious.

[ Though she doesn't move far away, she's definitely turning her head enough to be able to take a look at Anna's face. Like she wants to see the expression on there, even if that also means facing the results of her own actions - visible on Anna's face - once more. But she's trying to think less about the latter and more about the former, like she's really just looking to see if Anna is just messing with her. ]

.. you're not serious. Right? [ Please, Anna. Please tell her you don't truly think pizza is a salad. ] This is the sort of crap my big brother would say. Unironically.

[anna tries very hard to keep her face steady and unreadable. selling the bit is the most important thing in the world, and anna needs to make sure this lands.]

Hey, I'm just saying. You should probably think about it. The barriers between foods are all inventions of our mind. [her expression is holding. she can totally do this.] I mean, everyone already knows a hot dog is a sandwich, like, that's a basic admission right there. So the rest of it all just follows from there. Your brother's got the right idea—except for marrying Beatrice, but, like, we can't win 'em all.

[ God, yes, if there's anything Ange can agree on, it's that. Her brother has absolutely never made a single worse decision than marrying that witch.

And he's made so many terrible decisions. ]

Anna, what do you think would happen if I only ate pizza for three months? Compared to what'd happen if I'd only eat salad? [ At least it feels better to use herself as an example here, since she's.. actually not sure how Anna's body works in regards to food...

So this is definitely the safer alternative. But-- still, Ange is going along with this dumb train of food thought. It's better than thinking too hard about other things. ]

Iunno. [she is so unbothered by the very implication.] Same thing that happened to me in college, probably, if our metabolisms are anything like each other. Either way, you'd be a lot happier for those three months if you were eating pizza instead of salad. I know that for damn sure.

[she thinks on that for just a second, though, and realizes something harrowing.]

Fuck, though. Sorry, bit's over, I just made myself really want a salad. Like, you ever feel that way? Like you've been shoveling so much trash into your body that you're like "I should treat myself with something that's healthy for me"?

Then let's go make one.

[ Sure, maybe that wasn't where Anna was going with this. But on the other hand - maybe it's exactly what they need right now. Anna getting out of bed for a little bit, since she really doesn't look like she's been out of it much lately, and.. well, the same goes for Ange. It's not like she's exactly the most energetic person in the world when she's still completely drained after what happened.

But it doesn't matter. They can stumble over to the kitchen together like a bunch of idiots.

Ange even manages to stand up by herself, pulling herself away from Anna and standing on her own legs - even if they are, by the looks of it, very shakey legs in the moment.

She holds a hand out towards the other girl. ]

Can you get up?

[ Sure, Anna could sit up by herself and move across the bed, but walking is another step entirely. ]

[see, anna could stand up on her own if she wanted, but she takes ange's hand anyway and lets her sister help her to her feet. and as she returns to her full gangly 5'10", she smiles down at ange and squeezes her hand once more for good measure.]

If we run into K or V, I'll make sure they know we're cool. But I think we're good—I mean, they would've heard us talking, you know? [she wraps an arm around ange's shoulders carefully.] You good to walk out there, or do you want to rest in the bed for a bit? I know you're worried about me, but I'm worried about you too, sis.

I mean, if it were steak or something, I'd let you burn out your energy making it 'cause you'd get it back when you eat it. But you ain't gonna get shit from a salad.

[ Ange bites her lip, seeming to hesitate for just a moment with her answer. ]

I think I can walk, at least. [ Using magic may be out of the question, especially when she already pushed herself to get over here in the first place, but even though she's weak, she does think she can walk.

But that hesitation from a moment ago wasn't for nothing. It's what has her adding: ]

As long as you can help?

[ Maybe they can just support each other while they walk. Yes, they'll look dumb as hell, but that's the least of Ange's worries when her entire mind has a hard time caring about anything beyond Anna and their sisterly bond right now. ]

I'll rest after, I promise. I just-- [ This is hard for her to say, feeling a little cheesy and all.. But it is just the truth, and Ange is still feeling a little weak and emotional enough to push herself past her usual barriers. ] I want to be with you right now. I want to do stuff with you.

[ Instead of resting by herself and feeling miserable. This is a way better alternative. ]

[maybe they will look dumb as hell. but maybe the two of them deserve to look dumb as hell for a bit. ange, no longer a golden witch hopped up on butterfly magic, and anna, no longer swearing and covered in blood that smells like motor oil. just two comically mismatched sisters being idiots together. that seems like it fits.]

Yeah. Of course I can help you walk. [and, in the spirit of looking stupid, she adds:] How do you feel about piggyback rides?

[she's got a dumb grin on her face. she's pretty sure she knows the answer, but it's funny to suggest it even as she slides her arm around ange's shoulders and starts slowly walking towards the kitchen with her.]

Don't even try. You're going to collapse to the ground with me on top of you. It'll be very embarrassing.

[ Sure, it's a little mumbled, but it's still a very Ange-like answer. Especially in its speed - like some sense of herself has returned to her, able to quip back like this in the first place.

Even as she's allowing Anna to help her in supporting her sideways, Ange definitely leaning into the hold, but managing to move her own feet. It's a slow walk, but a walk all the same - and without anyone falling to the ground.

(For now, anyway.) ]

.. but if you want an honest answer. [ Because this is clearly a time for dumb confessions, right. Whatever, if they've been emotionally dumb this entire time, they might as well keep it up, just as long as Anna's babysitters are out of earshot. ] If it's you, then it's fine.

[ N-Not like Ange has a thing for still being able to be slightly babied by her older siblings or anything!!! S-Sheesh!! ]

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