I AM A GOD

     SHE DOESN’T  miss the evident amusement that twinkles in his eyes, however, as much as she tries to respond with a glare, it only turns out to be playful in the end.   ❝ why don’t you order me a glass of wine instead of teasing me ? ❞

    She swats the hand away, a thwack! resounding as skin makes contact against skin.RAGE simmers beneath the porcelain of her features and she is reminded once again of the reason she ran away. “Don’t you dare touch me,” she says, voice calm and quiet, posture stiff and tense ––– and then the anger dissolves, passes as quickly as it came ( before it is interpreted, analyzed ) , and she flashes him a silky, SACCHARINE SMILE. “A tad bit judgmental, aren’t you? I can’t take you seriously when you say things like ickle.”

    How ARROGANT –– she thinks. To assume that he can hurt her feelings. Ha !! It was laughable, really, how grown men underestimate girls, how they always read her wrong. Pansy was idly aware  ( at the back of her mind )  that approaching this man was an ill-advised move. At the very least, it was her subconscious attempt at self-sabotage ––– but she was CURIOUS, wasn’t she? And she wanted to know if he’s one of the men who were supposedly looking for her, or if it was just acoincidence that someone like him would be in the same place she was. She did not particularly believe in coincidences, but it seems like she has nothing to worry about thus far. How unexciting.

    “I think I’ll stay actually. I really hate it when people tell me what to do, you see. Makes me want to do the exact opposite.” She makes herself COMFORTABLE –– not really caring if he pays attention or not. Her curiosity had been satisfied and she no longer wished to keep his attention. But of course, she’ll stick around ––– just for the sake of being CONTRARY.

     ----- at the sharp slap on the back of his hand, Nik can't help but laugh incredulously at the gall of it all  ----- a deep, melodic sound that bubbles past his lips before he can stop himself. well this girl was CERTAINLY more trouble than he had originally expected and he can't say that this little stunt of hers doesn't pique his interest by an innumerable amount. ❝ kitty's got claws, hm ? ❞ Nik questions idly as he picks his drink back up, watching her over the rim of his class. 

          and she obviously does. the older man can’t help but wonder how she hasn’t gotten into more trouble before. that kind of attitude around these kinds of men could be potentially FATAL. THE ONES WHO SPOKE UP USUALLY DIDN’T EVER LAST THAT LONG. 

           ❝  OH  —-  sorry about that. but hey, it’s friday, isn’t it ? you get a whole weekend to clear your mind.  ❞  her eyes then drift to the drink atop the counter, where it had been sitting, untouched, for far too long. she feels her fingers move towards the glass and bring it slowly to her lips, keeping it there for a second as the smell fills her nostrils. she can’t believe she is really about to do this. with a swing of her head backwards, the drink invades her mouth and burns in the back of her throat —- still, she manages to down all of it at once. ❝ oh, god. that actually wasn’t that bad. but i guess, i’ll stick to wine for a little longer.    ❞      

           ❝  YOU KNOW,  i’m not really into going into bars and stuff. i just so happen to be in one tonight. like you said, there’s a first time for everything. ❞ from time to time, she likes to spend some alone time by herself  —–  but she finds out she doesn’t mind at all being kept some company.  ❝ what brings you here tonight ? ❞  

         “i think you’ll be surprised with how hard it is to scare me,” the words are DISMISSIVE, but Nik’s only raise her interest further. she frowns to herself, unable to stop the expression, once she sees the papers that are drawn out from one of the draws in his desk. that can’t be – only, no, he continues to speak, and that’s EXACTLY what he wants her to do. he wants her to go through themall.

         she stares at him for a LONG moment, blinks once, twice, before her gaze goes back towards the papers again. her frown remains. “is this all?” she questions, but she allows herself to bring the stack in CLOSER. “is this what you made Robb sign?” or one similar, she assumes. her gaze flicks over towards the other again, lips pursing, before she skims the first page — only that hadn’t been what he’d told her to do. “i hope NOT – or maybe you should have, if you’re telling me to do this,”

         Nik isn’t stupid though, knows that there has been something drawn up between him and her brother for them to even get to this point. the thought is ignored. “so… you really want me to read this,” it’s not a QUESTION. “am i meant to read it here, or is this homework?”

     ----- ❝ no it's not the one your brother signed without even reading. ❞ Nik makes a face, his lips twisting even at the thought of it. he's over exaggerating though. the young man had taken his time in reading it though he simply just didn't understand what he was supposed to do. 

          he pulls out some paperwork of his own to write up while she’s reading. ❝ this is a contract with another family similar to yours from a few years back. the terms of it were quite simple actually. ❞ Nik explains idly as he watches Sansa skim through the first page with some interest. well at least he wasn't going to bore her to death or anything. 

                                               this place knew little foot of TRAVELERS, Brienne knew. there wouldhardly be those into whom she would run; and if there were, then likely they would pass with only a glance, or else a nod. she had her sword at her side where she walked, one hand rested in its standard place on its hilt –––– she would go nowhere without it: she would be nothing without it, and so she had vowed never to leave it out of SIGHT for any amount of time. she would feel lostwithout it, and if another got their hands on it, she herself would be defenseless. a dagger up hersleeve was no match for a Valyrian steel longsword.

                the voice gave her pause, in shock; she hadn’t expected it. for a moment, she simply stood, calculating how far her mare was ( whether or not she could REACH it if there were unfriendlybodies nearby ). knuckles whitened around Oathkeeper’s hilt, no longer comfortable, but at the ready. she went there, and she would know no danger if she could help it.

                                    one more beat, and Brienne decided to step out after all, lifting her chin, sidestepping twice, twisting to look to the unfamiliar, UNFRIENDLY voice. something crept up her arm, made her jaw clench; the stranger didn’t look friendly. no one did, in these woods, noranywhere, anymore.      ‘ just passing through. ’      nonchalant and tight.

     ----- ❝ just passing through ? ❞ the GOD KING questions, tilting his head to the side as he allows his gaze to take in the details of the woman - HARDLY - before him. she was dressed in a knight's armor... already strange and the sword at her hilt seemed severely out of place with the roaring lion head at it's handle. the way she held herself appeared as if she was of noble descent which - coupled with everything else - seemed to add more strangeness to her character. Hades couldn't help but be curious... this creature was interesting to say the least.

    Typical, she thought. A rude old man in expensive clothes, probably bought at the price of someone else’s life or future or both ––– makes her wonder why she ever thought it worth her time to go over there in the first place, but it’s a mistake that’s already been made. Pansy Parkinson shrugs, dark hair bobbing around the sharp planes of her face, lips twisting in an approximation of a smile. It was obvious he was trying to intimidate her, put her in her ‘place’, wherever that is. But she had never been one to be terrorized so easily.

     “Are you always this ILL-MANNERED or is it because I’m short and a girl? Do you have something against short people, mister?” She mock-gasps, hands flying to her chest in fake horror, and adds in a shrill voice, “Do you have something against GIRLS? I sure hope not. That would be very unprogressive of you.” And now she’s smirking, mirroring his earlier expression. Maybe she’s walking up a dangerous path ––– but she’s been drinking and her inhibitions disappeared somewhere between the sixth and seventh shot, and it really didn’t matter who she pissed off anymore.

     ----  Nik listens to the young girl standing in front of him with feigned interest. so she wanted to fight then ? well he would give her FIGHT if that's what she really wanted. spoiled little girls were just too hard to please. ❝ i'm afraid i only have something against SPOILED BRATS like you, darling. ❞ he snarks back easily as he sets his drink aside to face her, his arms coming up to cross over his chest as he looks down at her with those steel gray eyes.

             ❝  I GUESS SO, ❞  the blonde’s shoulders move in a slight shrug, as she finds her gaze captured by the steely eyes before her. ❝  i’m GWEN . nice to meet you, nik. ❞    

     she’s curious. she’s FAR too curious, unable to stop herself if she tried. Sansa knows that she shouldn’t be there: she should be at home, going over the notes that she had made from her classes that evening and seeing if Robb needed any help. they were ALL going through a lot – not just her, and it was SELFISH of her to ignore the rest of her siblings because… what? Nik claimed that he could HELP HER. that he could teach her what she wanted to know.

         the thought is ignored as quickly as it forms, Sansa remaining exactly where she is. teeth press against her lower lip for a moment, threatening to indent the flesh, before she takes another step inwards when told to. he looks… he looks like a BUSINESSMAN. he looks like something out of the movies, that is FAR too out of her league and that she shouldn’t even consider becoming involved with.

         she walks until she’s on the other side of his desk, though, eyes bright and far too curious for her own good. silence lingers for a short moment, Sansa distracting herself from the fact by taking a seat in the chair beside her. a threat of a smile curls up the corner of her mouth. “well, i’m here… andcurious as to what you’re going to TEACH me.”

     ----- Nik watches the young woman make her way across the room to take a seat right in front of him with a calculating gaze. she appears nervous - no - unsure ? perhaps. more... EXCITED than anything. ❝ we'll be starting with something a bit EASY. i don't want to scare you off before we've even started. ❞ he huffs a soft laugh before looking over at her. 

          ❝ it's quite boring actually but it should keep you out of trouble. ❞ he pulls open one of the many drawers on his side of the desk to pull out a rather large stack of papers that he carefully sets down in front of Sansa. it’s a contract he actually wrote himself for a arms’ deal about a few years back so it should be a good bit of practice for the young woman to start out with. 

  on the long list on completely MENTAL ideas, this was definitely up in the top five. not only was this his first REAL undercover mission, that fella was also someone he’d rather not fuck with. at least if the intel they got was ACCURATE-- which was precisely his job to find out. drawing a deep breath, he knocked, waiting for an answer before pushing the heavy door open. the suit lookedCHEAPER than the ones they usually wore- he was still carrying a whole bunch of useful gadgets though. he almost smirked at his shoes for a second before his gaze landed on the TARGET. well, at least he seemed to have a sense for FASHION.

        ‘sir. thank you for invitin’ me!’ it took some serious effort to keep the accent under control. heNEEDED to get that job or this whole mission would go to SHIT. ‘gotta say, you got some IMPRESSIVE art out there? also your coffee–  CUBAN? that’s classy.’ talk fast, look charming- his best shot at actually getting somewhere here.

     ----- ❝ so you're a fan of Rembrandt ? ❞ Nik questions casually as he allows his eyes to trace the lines of the young man's suit right down to his shoes ----- surprisingly the right color to match. the kid thinks quick on his feet, that's already GLARINGLY OBVIOUS and he dresses for the part, but that's merely the beginning really.  ❝ but i suppose we aren’t here to talk about classical painters and coffee. ❞

          ❝ please... take a seat. i just have a few short questions for you. Nothing to worry about, Mr. Udwin. ❞ there's a flash of sharp teeth [ MENACING ] before he's schooled his expression back into one of apparent disinterest.