victory_road | SMASH THAT WALL

i. Action

[Something is... very wrong.

Angel wakes up, stiff and dizzy, as if she'd been sleeping for far too long. She expects the familiar sight of the inn she'd fallen asleep in the night before, or perhaps the pokemon she'd been curled up with.

But that's not what she finds.

It's been over a year and a half since she'd woken up in New Bark Town. She's gone so far, and seen so many things that to be back here means that something has gone very, very wrong.

Angel races down the stairs, snatching the bag packed "lovingly" by "mom," and then outside. She doesn't make it far before she sinks to her knees, but that's fine. She digs until she finds a singular pokeball and then opens it. As the burst of light takes shape, she finds herself holding her breath, waiting to see --

A golden swablu shakes out his wings and lets out a little peep. It's not who Angel wanted, or perhaps needed to see, but Murphy is a friend all the same. She pulls him close, and lets out a tiny little whimper against his soft, downy head.

The tears come fast and quick. Being in public be damned.]

ii. Video

[Angel's best guess indicates that she's been gone around a month. Her best guess also leads her to believe that it's one of those horrible weekends bringing her back, rather than a permanent revival.

It all means she only has a limited amount of time.

She's left with a decision, now. Though her powers seem mostly in check, she's without the collar that she'd hoped would get her through this weekends. It means she's dangerous. That she shouldn't be around people.

But she needs to see them. She needs to say goodbye to Krieg. To Cissnei. To Jean and Armin. Certainly, a part of her thinks that seeing them will only make their grieving process worse. But perhaps if she could really, truly tell them goodbye, and how much they meant.

And maybe... maybe she's just selfish.]

I'm not sure... what to expect with this broadcast. But I... I'm here. It's me, I'm here and...

And I am so sorry.

[Hey, you know who recognizes you, but not from this world? A fellow siren. ....whose pretty sure you're supposed to be dead.]

.....Angel?.....Angel is that you?

[Just walking over slowly because you're dead, they killed you, you begged them to kill you....]

[Angel recognizes that voice, though she... isn't quite sure from where. It's been so long since she'd watched over the borderlands that some of the voices, some of the faces, were starting to lose their clarity.

But they're not out of focus yet. Angel looks up from the feathery pillow she'd gathered up, pawing at her blurry eyes in order to wipe the tears away. She freezes, mid-motion, when she sees Maya. No, she hasn't forgotten her. Not yet.

Angel starts to say something, but her voice catches in her throat. She closes her mouth and focuses on setting Murphy down. Then she's on her feet and wrapping her arms, tight as she can, around Maya. She hasn't lost much of the (admittedly pitiful, comparatively) strength she'd gathered in her time in this strange world.

Maybe it'll impress Maya.]

When did you get here?

[It certainly surprises her but she laughs. Just, everything is crazy and weird and Angel is hugging her. If her arms are pinned she'll be hugged. If her arms are free, she's hugging back. Though obviously not at full strength.]

I just woke up here. There's a strange cat thing following me around for some reason. And someone took all my guns.

[Off to the side is an Espurr. Watching. Of course Maya would get the super powered psychic cat]

[Despite her excitement, Angel had the wherewithal to not pin Maya's arms down. Maybe she had some sort of strange hope that Maya would hug back, even if she'd never been the type.

Needless to say, she isn't disappointed.

When Angel has deemed that their embrace has gone on long enough, her focus shifts to the cat. Some part of her heart aches for the last Espurr she'd met, and his doting trainer. She tries not to think about that for too long.

Instead she takes a half step toward the creature and holds her hand out. She doesn't dare get too close, is too afraid of startling the poor thing. But she certainly couldn't go without acknowledging a pokemon.]

I... used to have several strange cats, actually. And a walking dog. Her name was Skagbait.

[Was. Angel didn't know if she was around anymore.]

[There are some things you make exceptions for.]

Nice name.

[Maya looks over.]

Haven't figured out a name for this one yet.

[Krieg's not on the line - yet - but another familiar face has accessed Angel's video broadcast. Two huge, sad blue eyes fill the video, and once Adorababy registers just who it is he's seeing, he lets out a loud, happy cry and headbutts Krieg's 'Gear.

And then - because he's no dummy and knows that the fastest way to get to wherever Angel is is to make sure Krieg knows she's been found - he picks up the 'Gear with his ribbons and makes a mad dash off...somewhere, crying joyfully with each leaping bound. It may be possible to hear the familiar sounds of Krieg's daily monster free-for-all. There's a lot of jarring motions, quite a bit of scrambling, some more ectatic cries from 'Dora, some shuffling as Krieg presumably eventually hears him and extracts himself from the brawl.]

What's wrong?

[The 'Gear is offered up on delighted ribbons and Krieg's masked face finally comes into view. His visible eye widens as he stares at the face on the other end in shocked disbelief, stunned momentarily into silence.

...Which lasts all of a moment, if that. In the next moment, he's gripped his 'Gear with both hands and has brought it up close to his face - that old, impossible to break habit - and asks the million-dollar question.]

Where are you?

[The moment she spots 'Dora's eyes, Angel's heart crumbles. She'd thought the dour expression the sylveon had worn during their troubled months had been bad enough, but no -- this is that much worse. The fact that he's so delighted to see her makes it all the more worse.

Maybe it had been a mistake. How was she supposed to explain to him that it wouldn't last? That she'd be gone again soon enough.

She wars over these thoughts as Adorababy sprints off, wincing with each delighted trill. The closer she gets to the sounds of fighting, the worse it seems to get. Gods only knew which Pokemon were waiting, which ones would get excited and then hurt anew.

And then those thoughts are effectively blasted from her head. Suddenly, she's as face to face with Krieg as she can get. She stares back into that singular eye, trying to focus through the tears. She tries to speak, but her throat is tight with both grief and guilt.

It takes what feels like an eternity for her to swallow it down long enough to get just a few simple words out.]

New Bark Town.

[Back at the start? That's pretty far. There's a lot more distance between them than the first time he asked her that question and she gave him that answer. But he's also got a lot more than his own two legs to rely on to get him to her this time, too. Between Torch Dragon and the baby Fast Travels, it should only take him a few hours.]

Okay. We're coming.

[And with those three simple words, he hands his 'Gear back over to Adorababy, who curls eager ribbons around it with an impatient trill and brings the device up to his face so that he can rub and headbutt against it some more. Krieg scoops him up in the midst of his affectionate activities, but beyond that it's likely impossible for Angel to determine what's happening beyond the camera.

They're on their way!]

[Gaige almost didn't answer to this video, but her pokemon insisted.]

Welcome back.

[Angel blinks at the relatively reserved display. That seemed... incredibly unlike Gaige. But maybe that was what the siren deserved after being so distant and then up and disappearing.]

It won't be for long. [It has to be said, before anyone's hopes get up.]

Yeah...I was worried about that.

How long were you here before the rest of us showed up? Were you the first one or do you know who?

[It's honestly taking every bit of her willpower not to just cut loose with profanity and anger, which leaves her voice low, scratchy and exhausted.]

SMASH THAT WALL

Angel the Siren | Borderlands 2

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ii: video

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