Week 6; Wednesday evening; Astrid

[princessantly]

[ It's weighed heavily on her mind, what Astrid had said during the trial... and with the reaction she'd seen to Inaba's party, Alisha's finally just decided to do something about it. Which may solve absolutely nothing, honestly, but she doesn't like there being any kind of uncomfortable tension between herself and a friend.

So she heads outside to find her... or, rather, to find her dragon, because Astrid wouldn't be too far from Stormfly. WHERE YOU AT, DRAGON... ]

Comments

[brawlhalla]

[ Honestly the smartest way to find Astrid, always. Currently Astrid and Stormfly are at the edge of the void, Astrid's hands on her hips as she squints at the darkness at though that will make it recede further, Stormfly a comforting presence behind her. ]

- doesn't make any sense - what's up, girl? [ On Alisha's approach, Stormfly, had head-butted Astrid's back, and the viking turns, seeking out the source of her dragon's warning. ]

[princessantly]

[ "warning"... thanks, Stormfly. Alisha slows, though, lifting a hand. ]

Forgive me if I startled either of you.

[brawlhalla]

No, it's...fine. [ MOSTLY. She's kind of eyeing Alisha with a certain amount of wariness, but she hasn't ordered Stormfly to Do Something, so it's probably fine!! ]

She's just under orders to tell me if anyone's approaching, while we're here.

[princessantly]

I see... in a place such as this, that's a very good idea.

[ Since a lot of these murders seem to have caught the victim by surprise. ]

[brawlhalla]

Yeah. Though that sort of thing doesn't seem to be stopping people.

[ It's not like she's actively anti-killing when the situation calls for it, but.

THIS SITUATION DOESN'T CALL FOR IT. STOP ALREADY. ]

...What are you doing out here, anyway?

[princessantly]

I wanted to speak with you. [ Promptly. ] You seemed... angry.

[ An understatement, at least when it comes to Inaba. ]

[brawlhalla]

[ LOOK...Inaba seems to be out to press her buttons on purpose, and that never ends well for anyone. Ever. Nor does lying to Astrid's face ever work out well for anyone (at least, not if they want her in a good mood) and she seems to be Convinced that's what's happening here. ]

Because I am. [ "AM" because Inaba ticked her off again on Monday, so Faize's Efforts to calm her down were undone. ] I don't appreciate people lying to my face and then joking about it.

[princessantly]

I would have preferred that she not say something like that, myself... and I'm sorry that she did. I can't agree with that choice.

[ Yeah, who hasn't heard about that brawl by now, honestly-- ]

[brawlhalla]

[ ...

ugh, this would be easier if she didn't actually like alisha and roxy. lithuania is also okay even if astrid snapped at her after the trial. ]

It's...whatever. I told her not to talk to me again, and that should be the end of it. Faize told me to knock it off.

[ Which doesn't guarantee she will if Inaba talks to her again, but presumably it means she won't actively be looking to break Inaba's bones???? ]

Thanks for the thought, anyway.

[princessantly]

Beyond that... [ Alisha hesitates-- but Astrid is her friend, and so she'll lift her chin to meet her eyes. She'd heard all of her talk about suspicion, but they hadn't really discussed it directly, so... ]

Do you have anything to ask me?

[brawlhalla]

Depends. Are you going to lie to me when I ask you, or not?

[ Because holy hell does Astrid Hofferson not like liars. She hates lying to people, too - the one lie she'd ever told Hiccup still sits at the bottom of her stomach like lead, and she never wants to tell another. ]

[princessantly]

I would be a very poor princess and a knight and a friend if I did.

[brawlhalla]

[ Ah, see, that's the kind of answer she likes. Astrid crosses her arms and examines Alisha for a moment, before asking: ]

Are you guys part of some secret group, or aren't you?

[princessantly]

...

[ This is never going to be easy. ]

There are things I'm unable to tell you.

[ But from the steady way she's looking at Astrid, and the slight sigh, the answer's probably clear enough. ]

[brawlhalla]

[ Okay, but see, for the first time since Sunday Astrid actually smiles. It's a little reluctant and it isn't as though she's ever been particularly carefree, but.

She has always appreciated honesty over lies, even if the honesty doesn't involve telling her everything (though that is, admittedly, the better kind of honesty. ]

All right. [ Well, it's not really all right, but. ] I don't think I have to ask this, but: you're not doing anything that could harm any of us, are you?

[ It's the only other important question to ask. That, at least, should be something Alisha can confirm or deny, right? ]

[princessantly]

Of course not! [ THIS INDIGNATION COULD NOT BE FAKED, especially coming from Alisha, of all people. ] I'd never dream of doing such a thing!

[brawlhalla]

Didn't think so. [ THEN WHY WERE YOU SO PISSED OFF ah........ah she really was just furious they were "lying" about something, wasn't she..............

It at least explains why her posture shifts into something slightly less wary, though her arms are still crossed. ]

...Fine. Don't get yourself killed doing...whatever it is you're doing. [ Vague wave of one hand, though she doesn't uncross her arms. ]

[princessantly]

I certainly don't intend to... but likewise, Astrid, please continue to remain vigilant.

[ You're not allowed to die, missy. ]

[brawlhalla]

I always am. [ For things amiss, she means. Or people attacking her. ]

...Also, I guess work on your whole being secretive thing.

[ Not...that she knows what the fuck Alisha is up to with Roxy and Inaba and Lithuania, aside from Clearly Something, but probably the fact she even caught on to that much means they need Help. ]

[princessantly]

[ No, it just means Inaba's terrible at being subtle (so yes, Help), but she shakes her head with a smile. ]

I intend to. But for now, may I ask what you were investigating out here?

[brawlhalla]

[ YES, THERE WAS...THAT. Astrid's only tip off was Inaba being weird as hell and then the others jumping in, really. ]

Oh, that. I just - it's weird how the void recedes each time, right? Are the buildings just in there waiting to be uncovered, or do they...come from somewhere?

[ She may be wondering if wandering around in the void blindly would lead to a new building, basically. HOW DOES THIS EVEN WORK? ]

[princessantly]

I thought they might come from the void, myself... since a new building always seems to be revealed after a trial ends, and we can't seem to properly investigate the void itself while it remains up.