If your sister or your brother were stumbling on their last mile

[fridgetothefire]

Who: Wanda and Anya
When: Backdated to Saturday, takes place after this thread.
Where: Crows Head Beach
Summary: FAMILY AND FEELS



Anya grips Wanda's hand tight as they absquatulate from the mall, unable to repress a bit of good-natured laughter at their slapdash graceless departure. "So much for keeping a low profile," she mutters as they run through the wide avenues of district three, but she grins.

She slows from a full-out run to a brisk walk in a few minutes, gesturing at her throat, her breath coming fast and shallow, with the distinctive gasp of an asthmatic. Anya doesn't seem concerned, though, just moderating her pace and focusing on her breathing the rest of the way. They reach Crow's Head Beach on the South coast, deserted on the cold and slightly foggy day. Anya stops for a minute or two until she can breath properly again.

"Well," she remarks with a grin, "Style points aside, you're way better with your hexes than my Wanda is."

Comments

[scarlet_kitsch]

Falling in line beside her, Wanda lets out an undignified snort and rolls her eyes.

"I have to talk to it as if it were alive."

She scrunches up her face and gives the Tallus a once-over.

"I'm afraid it actually is...in a way...sort of."

The eye in the middle of the gem isn't open at the moment, for which she is very grateful. That thing is creepy!

[fridgetothefire]

"Well, I hope you're being nice to it then," Anya replies tartly, though she grins. "My NV is [number goes here.] Can it take that down or should I write it on a napkin or something?"

[scarlet_kitsch]

“No complaints yet.” Wanda drums her fingers playfully across the large red gem in the center of the Tallus.

“No need to write it down. I’ll ask the Tallus nicely to keep it in memory.”

She proceeds to request that it do just that.

“Tallus, new contact entry. Name: Anya.” She leaves off the surname, preferring to keep her simply as ‘Anya’ and not as the daughter of Erik Lehnsherr.

“Number: [insert NV number here].”

The Tallus speaks back into her mind, confirming the information has been logged.

“There, I think we’re all set...unless you need my number as well. Or can you get that off the network?”

[fridgetothefire]

"Yeah, I kept the record of it after your open post," Anya admits. "Hey, if you don't mind, could you do me a tiny favor?"

[scarlet_kitsch]

Wanda answers without hesitation. "Of course! What is it?" She looks at her earnestly, no thought of denying whatever request Anya might make.

[fridgetothefire]

"Don't mention that I'm here, if you don't mind? I'm mostly keeping a low profile right now, and....it's nice." She shrugs, smiling a little awkwardly. "I just...I want to introduce myself to people at my own pace, that's all." It certainly has nothing to do with being paranoid or maintaining a separate identity.

[scarlet_kitsch]

"Oh."

Wanda's enthusiasm noticeably dims. She's disappointed, wanting to loudly celebrate finding Anya after having lost Pietro and Lorna. Staying quiet about her presence puts a damper on that. Then again, who here would know of Anya anyway? There was no harm in keeping her secret and no real reason to tell it.

"Okay." For a space of a heartbeat, she quietly looks at her sister. "Just know, I'd love to tell the world, but... I promise not to."

Her mood has become melancholy. "You're finally experiencing your first taste of independence after being kept on a leash, and I know what that's like. I won't take that away from you." Her tone is firm; she means what she says. "So, if we spend time together--and I hope that we do--how should I introduce you to anyone I know?"

why the hell is this tag so hard, bluhhh. sorry for the delay!

[fridgetothefire]

Anya reaches for Wanda's hand as they walk and leans into her, knocking their shoulders together gently. Her smile is soft with gratitude.

"Thanks," she murmurs. "That means a lot to me."

It's so hard to calibrate how to answer; the more she asks Wanda too keep her secret, the more obviously, outrageously secretive she reveals herself to be. Should Anya tell her to use Maddy? But she'd rather keep her two selves as separate as possible. But she doesn't particularly want the Anya name around either, especially with people from worlds at least like theirs around, especially with so many of them mutants. Even if they are apparently 'nice' ones.

"How about an old friend?" she suggests simply. "And if we do run into anybody, I'll introduce myself." They'd spend time together, yes, but preferably with just the two of them. No need to make things complicated.

No probs!

[scarlet_kitsch]

Wanda leans back into Anya, squeezing her hand lightly. The contact makes her face light up with a smile she couldn't suppress if she tried.

"Okay, it's a deal."

There is no hint of suspicion or indication that she's holding anything back. As usual, Wanda is wearing her heart on her sleeve. It's obvious she already cares for and trusts her 'sister.' Any doubts have already been brushed aside in favor of cultivating family unity.