OTA

[impureheart]

[ Since they didn't get out of their cells until much later than usual, Anastasia was actually hungry by lunch time. Usually she could spend time sneaking around to get something and not have to worry about someone questioning who the hell the girl who looked kind of like the Queen but from an alternate universe was if she just sneaked little snacks back to her room for the day.

But no, she was hungry today with how late they got out, and she was going to go to the cafeteria and she's going to sit there and enjoy herself some shawarma. She may hate the guy who got her into Middle Easter cuisine but she doesn't dislike the food he introduced her to.

Of course, if you are looking for the Queen, it's unlikely that you've seen her in a couple of days. It might even take a glance or two considering she's speaking with an entirely different accent than the one she had before and she's no longer dressed in red-- no, she's got a rather different set of clothing and boots on. ]

{{ OOC: For reference, her voice as the Red Queen, her voice with her actual accent as seen in this log. }}

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[vaframenti]

[ Food was likely a top priority for most at this point. Loki had never been one with a very boisterous appetite, but the morning's delays had made even him a bit peckish.

His thoughts had traveled to the Queen several times in recent days, but he knew better than to contact her for any reason other than informational purposes. She was always the one who let him know when she wanted something, after all. No need to upset the balance.

As he was passing through the hallways, Loki couldn't help but notice a woman whom he hadn't noticed before. She seemed a bit dressed up for prison, though one could argue the same point against him. He would have to pass her to reach his destination, so issuing a polite acknowledgement couldn't hurt anything. As he strode up beside her he gave a brief but pleasant greeting and continued walking several more steps before stopping in his tracks. He backtracked his steps, his arms behind his back and a curious grin on his face. ]

Going for a subtle approach today, your Majesty?

[impureheart]

[ Oh Loki. She knows that grin. She's fairly certain it pops up whenever he thinks he's got a new toy to play with. Anastasia's had it on her own lips before.

There's a brief pause in which she considers an attempt to cover this up. To state that it was for a reason, for some sort of plan. To at least make sure she kept up that facade of an accent in front of the people she was partially certain wouldn't abide by it. Keep her options open.

But no, she knew that wouldn't work. If she wanted to keep Will, she had to be the her that she used to be. Even if she wasn't that person anymore. Her original accent was happening and she wasn't going to hide 'herself.' ]

I thought it was time for a change of pace. I'll even let you call me Anastasia if you ask nicely.

[vaframenti]

[ It seemed that Anastasia was the only person in Wonderland who would never cease in surprising Loki. Though he continued walking beside her, the sudden shift in her persona was more than enough to leave him both without words and more than a bit bewildered. His expression likely echoed the sentiment, though just as he had before he erased any sign of such things and returned to his usual form of smiling.

Rather her words were true or not was something that was difficult to discern. Was this who the Queen was when her mask was removed, or was she merely wearing another? ]

You would allow me the honor?

[impureheart]

[ If he looked Anastasia in the eyes, there was a clear sense of disconcert. More than anyone else, she didn't trust Loki and Peter to be able to accept this without repercussions. Being 'Ana' came with a cost, and that was the cost of power. She had to let it go or she couldn't have Will, but those who she'd already had struggles for power with would undoubtedly take advantage of any relinquish.

This was why Loki's approach was suspicious to her. Even if she was supposed to give up playing these types of games, she couldn't help but get the sense that she'd just gained a new opponent. Perhaps it was her own paranoia. Being used to everyone playing games with you once you've left the comfort of the one person you know won't made it hard to trust anyone at all, even the people you like.

The idea that he'd still treat her like she was above the rest even when she clearly just allowed him not to was something she didn't understand. That was why her expression fell for a moment. She didn't have friends. The idea that she could just trust him to not take advantage of this was only the smallest possibility. But maybe she should just see how things played out before she let herself fall into thinking that something bad would come to pass. If he was really willing to treat her just the same, she would be remiss to ruin that with her own hesitations. ]

Be my guest. Not like we both haven't been starved all day.

[vaframenti]

[ As always he was keen to the mirror in her eyes, and what he saw there was an emotion easy to discern. It was wise of her to distrust him, but with things as they were Loki had no real reason to take advantage of her. Even considering her apparent change of heart, he knew she was still a formidable force and someone he would rather work beside than against. Of course, they also had unfinished business. He would consider the deals they had made still in place unless she told him otherwise.

His reasoning wasn't entirely superficial, though he would sooner play pretend than admit he had grown fond of her company. Loki had spent so long despising nearly everyone that conceding to himself that a make believe queen and a fourteen year old girl could manage to gain his favor was a reality too difficult to swallow. He would much sooner dwell in comfortable lies than uncomfortable truths. ]

I didn't think the day would come where you would willingly offer your name to me. Things certainly have changed.

[ He had known her name for a while, of course, but he had harbored no intention of utilizing it unless certain circumstances called for it. It would seem that was no longer an option nor was it necessary. ]

[goodgrace]

[ Red or White Queen, Jefferson doesn't care. He's going to sit in front of her with food nicer than one should have with his amount of CP (connections connections connections...) and act exactly the same.

He's unphased except for the tiny look followed by a roll of his eyes. ]

Don't tell me you wasted time switching a wardrobe? Does Will have a fear of red now or what? [ HOW MUCH CP DID YOU WASTE ON THIS MY GOD ]

[impureheart]

[ She raises her eyebrow at him. A veiled threat about how everyone should fear red now and again was on the tip of her tongue, but she held it in. A small smile graced her lips as she spoke. ]

It's not like he's got a fear, just bad associations. He didn't ask me to.

[ She just did it because she knew it was what he would want. ]

Anyway, it turns out you can get some of your CP back if you sell your items.

[ Her clothes aren't as expensive, but honestly she didn't go over the cost of her original wardrobe and she's got more now, so.. ]

[goodgrace]

I'd smack him if he asked you to. That's just ridiculous. [ he gestures at her ] It's cute though. Modest. Are those clips or- [ Jefferson's leaning across the table and touching one of the pins in her hair without asking, because he had to look and it caught his attention. Personal space. What? ] --Oh! It's a pin.

[ He sits back, dropping his hand on the table and tilting his head ] Can you? Good to know.

[impureheart]

[ Jefferson you are pushing her. She nearly reached up to shove him back with a hand smack dab in the middle of his forehead, but he'd gone back on his own and spared himself getting shoved. ]

I'd do actual flowers but the weather hasn't exactly been accommodating. It's not like I've never dressed like this before. Maybe a little cheaper materials, but a similar style.

[ Yeah, we're not going to mention to Will that this isn't cheap. It's not like he can tell the difference. ]

[goodgrace]

Too bad your roses are red.

[ he's drumming his hands on the table then picking at the food in front of him and nodding at her while he chews. ]

He wouldn't know. The guy wears the same jacket everywhere. [ exactly the point she was thinking of there. See, he's on the same page. ]

How's this going for you so far?

[saimin]

[ Not having food was a problem for Rei, especially since she didn't want to be conspicuous. But it wasn't as if she was too hungry. She worked hard enough to gather enough cast points to earn herself a living, and besides, being disabled did earn its perks, too.

But what she had to do in a crisis like this was get to know more people. After all, this was how she manipulated people, by earning people's trusts, and getting friends.

And playing the dramatic person who had just bumped into someone due to exhaustion was too easy. ]

... A, ah-- I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, so...!

[impureheart]

[ Ana certainly notices the girl bumping into her, honestly looking pissed off about it when she turns to look at her. ]

Watch where you're going, you've got an entire cafeteria around you.

[ The fact that she didn't smack her across the face for touching her was enough to qualify as better behavior. ]

[saimin]

... Ah, yes!

[ Her voice is strained and nervous as she grips tightly at her skirt, sweatdropping nervously. She knew that there were cruel people, but sometimes cruelty came with an interesting story. ]

I'm really sorry, miss. I won't do that again.

[ Rei trembles in her seat from the tip of her head to the soles of her feet, violet eyes eyes shaking in fear. ]

I'm really sorry!

[ She apologizes, again with more emotion, her voice slightly strained as she bows slightly, though it's more of her nodding her head more than usual, honestly. ]

If there's anything I can do to pay you back...

[impureheart]

You can run along.

[ Even if she didn't say anything, she's seen Rei's non-anon post about bullies. She took a look at it and decided it wasn't worth her time. She didn't have any advice for that beyond maiming someone for it, but the girl was hardly capable.

She might be playing nice but that doesn't mean she's a saint suddenly.

And yes, "run" along was an intentional choice. ]

[dolosa]

[ Her eyes lower slightly; that was horrible, just simply horrible. But she understands when she’s not wanted, but the fact that those words seemed to be carefully chosen, Rei simply decides that she’s interesting and makes a mental note to keep an eye out for her later. ]

[bystandering]

[The thing that draws Mitsuki's eye is the clothes. They certainly weren't a standard issue jumpsuit.]

That looks expensive. [The new kid's full of insight, apparently.]

[impureheart]

Nowhere near as expensive as it could have been. You can buy clothes through the gift shop. Best way to pay for them is winning games.

[ She used to have much fancier clothes. ]

[bystandering]

Do you win a lot of the games, then?

[What is normal conversation? It's been a little while since Mitsuki could actually talk normally like this.

[impureheart]

Any answer to that question would be jinxing myself.

[ She hasn't lost yet, anyway. Unless you count her missing eye, but she still won the game. ]

[bystandering]

[She pauses for a minute. Then laughs. It's almost normal, laughing like that.]

That makes sense!

[And besides, it's not a lie.]

[amberalert]

[ A lot of people aren't aware, at least not until he does it the first time, that Peter Pan has a particular knack for showing up completely unexpectedly behind people. He's incredibly light on his feet and a sneaky little thing that practiced jumping up on wild animals and uses the talent to kidnap children in the dead of night without people noticing. See?

Today he's pulling it on Ana. He's going to sneak up and stand right behind her while she seems occupied with her shawarma enough to do so. He purposely wanted to be out of her line of vision for a good bit while he decided what to make of her with her complete make-over here.

And now we're very suddenly speaking up with a tone of being irritated with her ]

What are you doing?

[impureheart]

[ There was a very clear tenseness when he spoke up. Not because he sounded irritated, but because it was very difficult to sneak up on her and he'd managed to do it. She narrowed her eyes at him as she turned to face him. ]

Having lunch, how about you?

[amberalert]

I didn't mean that. This. [ motions at her. raises an eyebrow ] What are you doing?

[impureheart]

I'm doing what I want. And what I want now happens to involve a new wardrobe and shawarma.

[ She's going to smile at him. She's sure he wasn't expecting her accent when he came over either. At least with Peter, the best approach is to probably throw it in his face and tell him to deal with it rather than providing a real explanation. ]

[amberalert]

And someone, I'm guessing. People don't just change their entire look for food.

[ He's got his chin up and is looking at her like she insulted him somehow. No, really. What the fuck are you doing, girl? He was having fun. You're throwing off his master plans. ]