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. }}

Comments

[impureheart]

I didn't remotely hint at it, he just knew. I don't think he's as much of a child as he acts.

[ She doesn't question that look. She's frankly disturbed by it. The fact that she knows if she gets picked, she's going to have to lose is more than enough to piss her off. The idea that Will might get picked? Fear. ]

Find a way.

[ It wasn't part of that deal, but she's not going to go around talking about all of her business. She shouldn't even be giving Jefferson this sort of heads up, as vague as it is. If he thinks that's a part of it, then that's fine. ]

[goodgrace]

I'll say.

[ He knows not to question how people know things further. Business is business is business is their business and he's done a lot of that in the past. He doesn't question how he just wants to know "what" now. The queen doesn't insist things like that unless it's serious. That's probably not something she can share.

Yet. The little warning. Something big enough everyone would be watching that you'd have to kill the power. Which means it's probably completely awful on every level. Oh. He's terrified.

Find a way. Get it to work. This isn't FAIR. ] ...I'll see what I can do. [ He doesn't even know where she is ]

[impureheart]

[ The expression on her face says a lot more than "find a way" ever did. She doesn't look confident or demanding like she normally does. She looks upset. At least until her final warning, when her voice gets a little harsher unintentionally. ]

And don't you dare tell anyone that I even told you that much. I might be playing a game I can be proud of now, but it doesn't mean it's not a dangerous one.

[ She seems to loosen up a tiny bit, shifting as though she's trying to get a bit of tension out. ]

You even knowing I might know something might risk getting checked.

[goodgrace]

I wouldn't tell.

[ It's obviously a risk telling him. He's not about to go ruining both their chances here. His tone is scared. ]

Nothing I know holds any validity to it anyway. I know nothing you might know. You're fine. No risk. [ sharp inhale. he's looking at his food like he doesn't want it now. ] ...But thank you.

[impureheart]

[ Someone thanking her without any irony, sarcasm, disdain, falseness, or being forced to was something that Anastasia hadn't heard in the longest of time. It honestly surprised her. That's when she decided to press her luck just a little bit. ]

It's what friends do and you're the closest thing I've had to one.

[ It's true. He listened to her, got her what she needed, and even if he knew things he never used them against her. Maybe it's just professional courtesy, but it is the closest she's had. If she's being nice she might as well try to suggest it as a possibility. ]

[goodgrace]

...Really?

[ He looks at her like a deer in headlights for a moment then starts laughing suddenly, not mockingly or anything. It's happy and somewhat sad. He got a little choked up at the end of it and wiped under his eyes ]

You two, I swear. Calling me a friend. Last person to call me a friend before I got in here married me. Ha... [ shakes his head then mutters ] Must've not been talking to the right people for a while.

Alright. That's what friends do.

[impureheart]

Well I'm not marrying you so you don't have to worry about that.

[ She pauses for a moment, looking a little perplexed. She didn't know that bit, but if it's 'you two' it has to be him. ]

Will called you a friend too?

[goodgrace]

I would be surprised if you were. I don't think our friendship reached that kind of level here and you never even got me dinner.

[ A nod of confirmation ... okay we can drink this tea. mm. tea. ] He mocked me at the same time but yeah. You guys are funny.

[impureheart]

Surprise marriages are a thing of the past for me, too. There's only one person I'll be marrying ever, and even that's questionable given the circumstances.

[ Ana's just sort of picking at her food now. Eating in front of other people is fine when you have fancy food but it feels wrong to eat something you pick up with your hands in front of others. ]

I take it funny is a good thing in your book.

[goodgrace]

That's almost romantic.

[ Jefferson smiles at her then thoughtfully considers his definition of 'funny' ]

In this case, yes.

[impureheart]

I'll propose with an onion ring instead of diamonds if he ever stops being cross with me.

[ Was that just a joke that wasn't at someone else's expense? It's amazing. It was still a partial complaint, though, but.. well, even then she can't really blame him. ]

Fair enough.

[goodgrace]

...Less romantic. He'd eat it before you asked the question.

[ PROUD OF U ]

[impureheart]

Fair point.

[ She tilts her head to the side, relinquishing that one to him. He did have a penchant for sticking things in his mouth without thinking like stale peanuts with pocket lint on them. ]

[goodgrace]

I'd propose to him with a ruby.

[impureheart]

Some friend you are. You're trying to get me rejected.

[goodgrace]

What? Never.

[impureheart]

I keep forgetting you're not much older than I am, you probably aren't any better at this.

[ She's going to break off a piece of this shawarma with her fingers instead of biting into it and just pop that into her mouth. It's better to have a small piece than a bite out of the big one. Once she swallows it, she wipes her fingers on her napkin and looks back at him like she's mad, but it breaks out into a smile after a few seconds. Joking around like this with someone who isn't Will is actually.. fun, refreshing. ]

[goodgrace]

[ He's looking at her over his cup while he drinks it and gives her a squinty-eyed sort of mockingly offended expression then puts it down and pouts at her, wiggling a finger accusingly ]

Excuse you, I did perfectly fine at it. I'm the expert here.

[impureheart]

I'm still better at accepting them.

[ Jefferson's got experience at proposing but Ana's got experience at being proposed to. It cancels itself out, right? ]

[goodgrace]

Is that something to brag about?

[impureheart]

Having people want to marry you because you're beautiful, intelligent, and ambitious is.

[ Just. You know, when you accept it it turns into a problem. Getting proposed to isn't bad inherently. ]

[goodgrace]

Still don't think that's brag worthy.

[impureheart]

It's a good thing I've got plenty of other things to brag about then.

[goodgrace]

Far more than a lot of people.

[impureheart]

So how did you? Propose.

[ It can't hurt to ask. She doesn't know if it would ever be something that she could do here, if it would be too risky, but.. he does technically have more experience. And if there was anything that a person could do to prove they were dedicated to someone, it was marry them. ]