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?

[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]

[ 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.

[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?

[impureheart]

I'd paint them white but then you'd start looking like an albino after your visits.

[ Yep. ] I bought him that jacket, it's better than the jumpsuit.

[ Oh Jefferson.. don't ask that. She's not going to tell Jefferson what she did to get that room, but she'll definitely mention the fallout from telling Will. ]

Not sure he's talking to me right now.

[goodgrace]

I'm pale enough at it is. Can you imagine?

[ Clicks his tongue ] No wonder.

[ A frown, he folds his hands in front of him and adjusts his seating ] He'll get over it. They always do...

[impureheart]

[ She pulls a bit of an expression like she'd rather not imagine what he looks like under his clothes, but doesn't comment on it, just moving onto the rest of the conversation. ]

I hope he gets over it before he does something we'll both regret.

[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?

[goodgrace]

Like what? Punching people? He's in enough trouble just being in here. How bad could it get without you monitoring him?

[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.

[impureheart]

After I left him, he went and got nearly everyone he knew to want his head on a platter.

[ Will doesn't handle bad news from Ana well, alright. ]

[goodgrace]

[ Pulls on his scarf. Shifts in his seat. Uncomfortable face ]

Right. So we're just going to ... make it up to him then. Be nice, your majesty. So he doesn't do something stupid.

[impureheart]

[ Sorry, Jefferson. At least Ana's not trying to behead anyone here? So far. ]

Hard to do that when he's mad at me for being honest with him so that he didn't find out about certain things in a way that looked like I was keeping it from him.

[ This place only causes pain in the end. The best she could do to fight that for the both of them was to be honest before it became something others could use as a weapon. ]

[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. ]

[impureheart]

Circumstances have changed. I've no problem changing with them to get what I want, even if that means changing back.

[ "Circumstances" being Will, of course. This was difficult. She'd told Will that she wasn't ashamed of him, and she wasn't. But having a weakness so available to anyone who wanted them was less than comfortable. She'd been told by at least two people who she had never managed to best that having a heart was a weakness. She'd been told by others it was a strength, but she had yet to see it that way. It was a weakness, but the alternative to being weak was being without love. Being without Will wasn't something that Anastasia was willing to compromise on anymore. ]

Just don't come up with any stupid nicknames or I'll have to get your face all over my pretty pink boots.

[ She said that with a smile and it actually sounded like a joke. Which was strange, considering she usually sounded as though her words were legitimate threats and the smile always seemed sadistic. ]

[goodgrace]

[ please don't ]

Certain things? [ What what what would Will be mad about? Is this about how she got the room? What else could it be? She wasn't exactly hiding anything else and has been pretty straight forward with her malicious intent prior.

He slowly makes that face. That one face. You know the one. He's not judging her or anything but -- Okay maybe a little. ] Oh. Things.

[impureheart]

[ Anastasia narrows her eyes at him when he makes that face, immediately going on the defensive. ]

I'm trying to be more honest with him. If it was something a while ago I wouldn't have told him since it wouldn't have been his business.

[ But that was literally like... Less than a week ago. ]

It's not like I wanted to tell him, but this place is the exact place you don't want to leave things open for someone else to take advantage of. The heart's a weakness, the only way to overcome it is to get rid of cracks where you don't want them. You should know that better than anyone. [ She knows about your daughter, mister. ]

[goodgrace]

I would've just... not said anything and let him think Second's a liar, to be honest. Who else is going to say anything to him about it? Really? But that's just me. I've never seen anything good go down when people confess to that.

[ Both hands slam on the table, palms flat. and he leans forward, glaring at her, teeth barred. ] We're not bringing my cracks into this, your majesty. This is different.

[impureheart]

Will has enough experience with me to know when I'm lying and to know I would do anything to get what I wanted. Besides, there's one other person I'm fairly certain figured it out. Second I trust not to say anything.

[ Ana doesn't flinch at that, though she does steel her expression slightly. ] I wasn't threatening you, calm down. I like you on my side, remember?

[goodgrace]

Who? ...But alright. I guess. Honesty is the best policy here. Nobody likes lies. He'll probably want to punch Second in the fact though, just a heads up. If there's an opportunity, I can't imagine why he wouldn't take it.

[ Deep breath. Leans back and runs a hand over his face, laughing to himself dryly. ] Yeah. I remember. ...Sorry. You're- [ hand wave at her ] just making your point.

[impureheart]

[ Ana looks to the side. ] Peter Pan. He figures things out faster than most people.

[ Still. An 'opportunity.' Second being drunk off his ass would definitely be one of those. ] You don't think he'd try now do you?

On that note, you might want to make use of some of those connections of yours to make sure the power goes out in her area around the next show.

[ See? She's doing him a favor. Make sure those TVs and radios are off so Grace doesn't see, even if she can't say more than that. ]

[goodgrace]

First of all, yikes because he knows your business.

[ :/ ] Yeah, probably.

... [ opens his mouth, then closes it and looks around then back at her. Ana, why do you know things? He looks so disturbed... not by her knowing things but that it would be something bad enough that she'd warn him to do that ] I don't... know if I can do that. -Was that part of your room deal?