anon;

[impureheart]

The past cannot be changed. That much I know, but how do you steer the future toward the path you were once on? Is it possible without losing everything you have in the present?

-Marian

Comments

[knaving]

Very funny.

[ He tried to play at sarcasm, but he really couldn't manage to sound upset. How could he be, really?

He has no clue where they're going, so he allows her to lead him on. Hopefully the room wouldn't be too terribly uncomfortable to be in. ]

[impureheart]

[ Well there's the door. Anastasia opens it up to what's frankly probably the equivalent of a highly luxurious loft. It's got its own kitchen, a lovely bed, a jacuzzi, balcony, chess board.. ]

Not bad for a prison cell, is it?

[ Just as long as you like the color red. ]

[knaving]

[ Will had never expected the room to be that luxurious. It made him a little sick to look at it, honestly, but he didn't want Ana knowing that. ]

Not bad at all. How'd ya ever swing a place like this?

[impureheart]

[ That question was more than hard to answer. Anastasia didn't particularly want to answer it, especially since she was finally having her first chance to actually be happy in so long. The answer to that question could very easily ruin this moment.

She wanted to be honest with Will about it, but every part of her was certain that he wouldn't be quite so forgiving regarding her bargains with Second. ]

It never hurts to be on good terms with people in high places, Will.

[ She couldn't help that her tone of voice changed, a little lower. Less excited, slightly clipped toward the end of the sentence. She always had trouble controlling her emotions even as Queen, moreso with Will. She seems to force herself to be a little less defensive after a second though, then look at Will almost pleadingly. ]

Can we talk about it another time?

[knaving]

[ It didn't take much to tell that Anastasia clearly had a secret she wasn't keen on telling. It would have been a lie if he had told himself it didn't bother him, but the look on her face was all the convincing he needed to drop the subject. ]

'Course. I'm not gonna make ya tell me anything you don't want to.

[ Even if he did want to know. Maybe now just wasn't the right time. ]

What did ya wanna talk about?

[impureheart]

I promise I'll tell you, just not today.

[ She's going to pull him over to the bed so they can sit down because it's comfy. ]

I just want to talk. How have you been? Besides getting arrested.

[knaving]

Right then. Another time it is.

[ Will wasn't thrilled about sitting on the bed, but it was pretty comfortable. ]

Ya probably don't wanna know. I ain't been the best person lately, Ana.

[impureheart]

I hope you don't think I have.

[ Because that's going to be one hell of a conversation. ] I may not have committed the crime that they put me in here for, but if anyone deserves to be here, I'm one of the top candidates. So don't think I'm worried about how good of a person you are.

[knaving]

No matter what you've done, not a single person deserves to be here except the people who created this bloody place.

[ Will sighed, hanging his head a bit. ]

If only we could wish our pasts away, huh?

[impureheart]

I don't much care for the past few years, even if I can't get rid of them.

[ She reaches over to take his hand, still over where he left it. ]

We make each other better. We did it then and we can do it now.

[ Except like. Her mom. ]

[knaving]

[ He squeezed Anastasia's hand, looking back up at her with the trace of a smile on his lips. ]

Damn right we can. There ain't nothin' in this prison or otherwise strong enough to pull us apart again.

[ Screw her mom. ]

[impureheart]

[ Anastasia's hoping that much, at least. The reality has always been that sometimes love is not enough, Anastasia just had to find a way to make sure that they had everything they needed to supplement that love. Frankly, she knows that realistically she needs love and some form of safety or security. That's something she knows how to provide now though, and it doesn't entail leaving Will or being horribly rich and famous. Anastasia knew that she just needed him now-- and to know that they wouldn't both die on the side of the road. Not like that was an issue here. ]

They won't let us die, so I'm not even sure "til death do us part" would apply.

[knaving]

[ He couldn't really blame Ana for that mentality even if he didn't wholly share it. Their life had never been glamorous, though he had always done his best to provide for her. He still hated himself for never being able to give her what she deserved. ]

Then we're gonna just have to keep comin' back and givin' 'em hell.

[impureheart]

I hope you've got a plan on how to do that without the sort of things I normally do.

[ She's not certain that she can play nice Ana and work the chessboard at the same time, after all. Somehow she always loses with the white pieces. Anastasia hasn't figured out how to walk the line just yet. ]

[knaving]

Ya know I was never the most clever between us, Ana. You were the one smart enough to come up with the plans.

[impureheart]

My plans turned out great.

[ Maybe a bit of sarcasm there.

She broke them up and they both ruined their lives and ended up in camp torture prison thanks to her decisions. ]

[knaving]

[ He frowned slightly. There went his big mouth again. ]

That's not what I was talkin' about.

[impureheart]

Will, I know how to manage all sorts of things here, but that doesn't mean that you'd approve of the way I do them.

[knaving]

Then we'll think of a plan together. Somethin' we can both agree on, yeah?

[impureheart]

We'll both have to give a little leeway, too. There are things at work here that aren't going to be won over with a good heart.

[ Basically, she's going to try to be a better person but.. Anastasia isn't going to discount the idea that they will definitely have to do things a little more the style of the Red Queen if they're going to be able to do anything effective here. ]

I won't do anything too drastic without talking to you about it, Will.

[knaving]

[ He nodded though the idea of doing anything the way she had used to was enough to make his stomach turn. Even if she was right, he could only let her go so far with it. He wasn't going to lose his Anastasia to the Queen again. ]

Just promise me ya won't change again, yeah?

[impureheart]

[ There's a brief hesitation, but not for the reasons he probably thinks. No, she's spoken to Second before. She knows what the Warden's like. ]

There might be a circumstance where I have to pretend if it comes to your or my life, but if I do I'll--

[ What should she do? Her eyes fall on some of the roses in the room. ]

I'll get a forget-me-not to your cell. I promise I won't for anything other than to save you.

[ And it's true. She wouldn't risk having this back for anything other than making sure that Will was alright. ]

[knaving]

[ He wanted to argue her point, but in the end it would have been useless. Telling her not to do something would have only pushed her in the direction of doing just what she had said she would do. ]

I understand ya got people thinkin' you're someone you're not. If keepin' up the act is what you've gotta do, I won't stop ya. But if ya can help it --

[ The words were hard to say now, even if only hours ago he could have accused her of anything with not a shred of guilt. ]

Don't hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it.

[impureheart]

That's not what I meant. I don't care what people here think. I meant, if it came between making sure you didn't end up on a dissection table and doing that, I'd do what I had to.

[ Anastasia leans toward him, putting her hand up on the side of his head. ]

I'm not leaving you again, Will.

[knaving]

I know what you meant, Ana. What I'm sayin' is I don't want ya riskin' yourself by not playin' the game. If you don't you'll be vulnerable, and I couldn't forgive myself if you got hurt just because you were tryin' to please me.

[ He peered at her, his expression worried and unsure. ]

Not even in death, yeah?