Horrendous Things in a Smol Package

He might even be able to see the darkness flickering behind her eyes as she was made to consider all this, right before she fixed him with a deadpan look and enunciated, slowly. 

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Oh, Salem was going to riot, in fact Anna was pretty certain that she was never going to hear the end of this for as long as she lived. That said, she did have her reasons, not all of them being that at the thought of what such a thing would entail her heart had clenched in her chest. That was one reason she wasn’t about to share however, the other’s coming forth in a monotone as she forcibly tore any emotion out of her speech to keep from any bleed-over. 

“How stupid do you think I am Oscar? At what point is a larger, more trained, yappy hostage with a weapon better than a neutral item of immoral power? If I go within five feet of you, you’re going to do something stupid and heroic, something stupid and convenient will come of it for you and it’ll end with the ridiculous cape guy chopping my head off. So no, I don’t think so. I’m here for the relic, and you’re going to give it to me. Why you ask? Because my plan has one part left to it and your friends can’t stop it. Only you can.”

Determined to put things back on track even with Salem shrieking in her ear, Anna gestured back towards the door where her inky black rat was now sitting, just a little way up the ramp. 

“You see Herald there? He’s got about a hundred or so siblings waiting back at my seat and unless you tell me where I can find the relic, he’s going to go and let them know that its dinner time.”

“Considered it, felt it wasn’t worth the effort.”

Internally she cursed herself for letting him break the tension so easily, reminding herself once more that he was hardly smiling. It was just so easy to like him which ironically just made all this so much more difficult. To make up for her lapse in character, she was quick to add onto that last part in an off-handed manner. 

“I could always call one of my birds and stroke it if you’d like. The hull doesn’t look that thick.”

It was a threat made for no other reason than to exist, to draw a line between them because she clearly needed it to be there in order to stay on task here. 

She took a deep breath while he said his ‘heroic’ spiel finding that its phoned-inness was useful to help her get back in character as well because it was far easier to be antagonistic to a stereotype. By the time he was done, she felt much more composed, fixing him with a steely gaze as she dredged up that low-burning anger from earlier. That made this easier. 

“Why do you even bother asking when you already know the answer? When we both do? I can’t stop this, more importantly, I don’t want to. This is my destiny and you know it. Just look at you! Weapon drawn and spewing platitudes, clearly you’re embracing yours. So no, I can’t stop this, but.......you can.”

She hadn’t seen or felt any sign of it on their little party as they’d passed her by earlier and considering Oscar’s clear surprise at her presence it would make sense that they’d have hidden it away with normal eyes in mind rather than hers.This meant that it had likely been hidden somewhere on the ship that they didn’t expect there to be traffic and one that would provide the best cover, hence she was headed for the luggage area. That said, she hardly expected to find it just siting around somewhere and not exactly knowing what it looked like (thanks again for nothing to the ‘all-knowing’ witch) she’d felt that a distraction while she searched was called for, hence this little Grimm performance to get all the huntsman abovedeck and 4 levels away from her. 

Of course, not everything had gone exactly to plan, this both she and her lovely headmate reminded herself as she hurried into the cargo bay and gave it an assessing glance, noting just how easy it would be to hide something amid the towering stacks of suitcases. Really, had the ridiculous bird-man gotten his luggage placed in the middle of it all, that might just have been enough to secure it. 

She had to stifle an inner groan. Really, she hadn’t come into this expecting it to be easy but there was something about the reality of it all that hit her and made her wonder if she hadn’t been a little too caught up in the plan of getting here and hadn’t put quite enough thought into how she was actually going to find this thing. 

And then of course she heard the footsteps behind her and she knew she just knew who she was about to be faced with and she couldn’t decide whether she was more exasperated about this next snag in her ultimate plan that was feeling less ultimate and, well, planned by the second, or about the fact that she really didn’t feel up to continuing their little spat right now. Wasn’t there some way she could call a time-out on whatever stupid emotional thing this was between them and resume it when the lives of a little over a hundred people weren’t about to end?! Of course, at that point Salem was so kind to point out that she could easily handle the boy, no emotional chit-chat required and Anna just wanted to throw something at how incredibly unhelpful this entity was. 

It did spark something though, a thought, maybe an inkling of another way this could work. But only if she played her cards right and composed herself. Whatever this thing was between her and Oscar right now her focus needed to be on her goal: the relic, and if he wasn’t able to look past what was about to happen.....well.....from what she understood this was only the start of it. 

@salemthesmol

Oscar was going to do it, with Valentines day fast approaching he was going to ask out the girl that he liked. Of course it was a bit more complicated due to their situation, with him having an age old wizard trying to caution him away and her having a witch seeking his death he didn’t imagine things were going to go smoothly. But that didn’t make him less determined. 

He had spent the better part of two days hand crafting chocolate, only for them to turn out awful and just go with store bought. Now he just had to find her, but given that they were both operating in the same area he was sure if he wandered around enough he would find her. “I just have to be confident,” he told himself, opening the door and taking a breath, deciding that practice was needed. He put out his hand and smiled. “Would you like to go out on a date with me for Valentine?” he told the open air. 

In her hand she had a flower that she’d gotten from her garden (because apparently she had a garden for some reason, who knew) and she’d been muttering to herself for the duration, running by possible scenarios with whom was possibly the worst person on the planet to be doing so. 

‘In my experience, nothing says ‘be mine’ like presenting your target with all their friends heads on a stake’

“I don’t know, wouldn’t it be better if the rampage just be for if he says no?”

‘Valid option, wrong person. Who don’t you go terrorize some Atlas boy if you’re so desperate for attention? We can practice the finer points of emotional manipulation.’

“Yeah cause that’s how I-”

She cut off as the door suddenly opened, freezing in her step in complete shock as the very person she’d been agonizing over talking to did her job for her. But how? Had he known she was there already? Had he heard her talking to herself?! Oh God. Her cheeks went bright red as she stared right at the boy, noticing that he wasn’t looking quite at her, but over her as if he hadn’t actually expected someone to be there. Small miracles. 

Recovering quickly, she capitalized on the opportunistic happenstance, adopting a smirk as she peered up at him. She didn’t know if he’d actually meant the offering for her or not, but like hell was she going to give him the opportunity to back down on it. 

Of course, the universe seemed to agree with her, because suddenly there was another girl here, a peppy, squeak-toy of a human who was practically sprawling over her companion as she offered him a crumbly muffin. Annoying, rude, but Anna could have dealt with the interruption, she was aware that Oscar hadn’t come alone afterall. No, what killed them, what had her fingers curling possessively tighter around the gloved hand held within them was how Oscar was reacting to this girl, this intruder. 

She watched his blush develop, how his eyes widened in surprise and the general awkwardness that befell him as the cloaked pest came in close to him and naturally she assumed the obvious. He liked her. He liked this irritating trollop with the screeching voice of an abused chalkboard. 

‘Of course he does child. Did you really think he found anything special about you? The only reason he’s paid you any mind is because I’m here, and we all know how he plans for that to end. Did I not warn you? Did I not tell you how easily you were letting yourself be manipulated? You’re just a stupid, naive girl.’

Her fist clenched around his hand, her eyes lifting to meet the other girl’s gaze. Silver. So this was the one that had been dismembering her companions. And now she was here, trying to get between her and whom she’d thought, who she still wanted to believe was possibly the only decent person she’d ever met? The only person who could possibly understand what she was going through right now and this cheery genetic-lottery winner was going to stand in her way and smile about it? No.

“You’re intruding”

Her eyes narrowed to a leer, something sparking in them, inhuman and possessive as she started to get to her feet, caring little about her plan suddenly, less about the fact that she had a few weeks of training in comparison to the other’s years or what that girl had allegedly done to her highly trained operatives. She’d fight her right here and now, and she’d win.

They were all spared this disaster as the aircraft suddenly gave a lurch, alarms blaring all around them. Regardless of her interest in it now, it seemed that her scheme had been set in motion, her ‘children’ doing as she had bid them to all lying in wait amid the chilled fog of the Northern seas, attacking as one in a massive group that would bring everyone aboard into a state of panic.

Anna was nearly disappointed, stumbling and plopping back into her seat, no better for her mood as she tugged her hand out of Oscar’s. She’d have to deal with him later, with her. Right now she had to turn her focus to the Relic likely hidden aboard. 

“You should probably go check that”

Send a symbol and I’ll answer the question about my muse. (Or answer in character. Whatever works for you!)

Damn Remote

 It was smart of him to offer the placating gesture as he reached for his opposite pocket as the action had made her stiffen slightly, her eyes tracking the motion with a wariness borne from persistent reminders from the voice in her head that this was her enemy. While she personally thought Oscar seemed much too sweet and naive for deception like that, it was hard to ignore such pervasive warnings entirely, especially when she was pretty sure that they both knew she wasn't here for a vacation.

 His talk about the cloth had her own features soften, even while a part of her wasn't sure about how right he was about their individuality, and it seemed he wasn't entirely himself. Uncertain in her own actions, but feeling a strange need to physically back up the connection she felt, she slowly reached out and placed her hand over his, squeezing it gently as she met his eyes with a similar look of concern before averting them, unsure of herself and if what they were doing was wise. Her voice was lowered to the point that it would be impossible for anyone but them to hear it. 

"I'm sorry."

 She whispered, swallowing thickly as it hit her that maybe they were more similar than she thought. 

 "I...lost my parents early on too, never really had much to remember them by. Sometimes I wonder if my memories of them are even accurate anymore, if I haven't just subbed in some generic faces and voices for them along the way. But, you know, it doesn't really matter in the long run, does it? Whether we know exactly what they look like or not, we know what they did for us, how they've helped make us who we are. Remembering all the details or not doesn't change their importance to us, it won't change who we are."

 She finished that strong, even managing to look at him for the most part, but her confidence petered out as she thought of what she considered the real issue. Not what of her past she could remember, but how much of her self, all her self assuredness falling away as she thought about what she'd been privy to lately, speaking again only after a long pause. 

"It scares me." 

She admitted, lowering her eyes to the cloth and keeping them there, letting them travel over the blending colours. 

 "At first it was just the talking and the dreams but now...it's just these flashes but....I don't know how I feel about them. I mean, I know they're unnerving, terrifying sometimes but....she...doesn't and it's weird cause, we're supposed to be the same aren't we? And in a way....her not being affected, makes me feel like I'm less affected, like....I'll just stop caring entirely. " 

Realizing what she'd said she back pedaled pretty fast, not wanting him to think she was weak even while they were being vulnerable with one another. She still had a job to do here. 

With his commentary on her clothing change, she did raise a brow, Salem saying something quite snide in her head about the value of the boy’s opinion, but considering that Anna ultimately agreed with it, she could hardly hold him at fault for it, groaning at the very valid point he brought up.

“Oh God, its horrible! It is literally the most useless piece of clothing ever invented but try telling that to miss ‘I sit around all day looking menacing’! And don’t even get me started on the hair ribbons!”

A hand was animatedly gestured at the aforementioned black ribbon currently tying her hair back in a simple enough manner. 

“I’m pretty sure hair elastics have existed longer than indoor plumbing but nooo! We’ve got fifty foot spools of ribbon to use because that’s practical! I mean, I have to say, the farm thing is a bit of a weird aesthetic for saving the world against all the nasties but at least your guy lets you have pockets!”

Was it weird that she was just ranting about clothing choices with her designated nemesis? Very. Was he the only person that was likely to actually listen to her while she did it? Yes. 

She jumped at the sound of the voice beside her, wandering thoughts snapping back into focus as she turned to outright gawk at the boy. She’d heard him sitting down, knew he’d been there but had assumed that he was nobody given how nonchalant he’d been about it. How did he know?! Furthermore, what now?!

‘Kill him.’ 

Rang out Salem’s voice as Anna’s eyes tore away from Oscar’s unnaturally cute (and strangely pale) face to sweep around the rest of the area, at least as much as she could see from her current position. 

‘His companions aren’t here, kill him now, make it look like he’s fallen asleep. No one will eve-’

“Shut up” 

She grumbled to herself before bringing her attention back to Oscar and the situation at hand. She wasn’t about to try and kill him, especially when, as Salem had noted, he seemed to have approached her alone. This either meant that he’d sent the others away, much in the same way one might to diffuse a bomb, or they didn’t know that she was here. Silently, she hoped it was the latter given that the former meant there was a possibility for them to be making a trap for her in case he failed. 

Either way, he hadn’t gotten the Branwen guy to come and try to take off her head, which meant that he likely didn’t wish to have her outright murdered either, a comforting notion in its own way. Maybe this didn’t have to- 

No. She shook her head. Of course it did. They were already on course. She’d known he’d be here, his sitting next to her in some sort of peaceful manner didn’t change anything, except maybe what she’d be doing for the next hour or so. This in mind, she offered him a smile, though didn’t manage to keep the tightness out of it.