asgardeventide | 004 ❅ Video

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004 ❅ Video

[When the feed switches on, Arya's looking straight ahead of her, very focused. Then, without warning, she breaks into a run, speeding through the streets of Thor's district, the buildings around her becoming a blur as she moves at speeds previously unbeknownst to her.

Suddenly skidding to a halt, Arya's not even out of breath. Her face breaks into a grin, one of the first genuine smiles she's shown since she arrived in Asgard. She's very proud of herself right now.]

I did it! Did you see how fast that was?

[OOC: And with that, Arya's reached level 2 speed.]

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[Of all the days to announce that she was getting faster...]

That's wonderful news, Arya. Didn't I tell you that you'd see improvement? We should celebrate your and my powers' growth.

[The fact that she'd responded by text should have been a warning sign, but Arya's too happy right now for it to occur to her that something's wrong.]

Thank you, Samantha! I didn't know your powers had grown, too.

[She rarely used it unless others started it, or she was talking to trolls and not often even then. She also rarely seemed to like her powers, but elation at success could be quite a mind-clouding experience.]

A little while ago. I haven't wanted to spread it around too loudly. Mine aren't exactly the sorts of powers a person shares that they have too closely, now aren't they? You're like a piece of the wind now. Have you ever had ice cream, by chance?

No, never. It sounds delicious, though! We had iced milk and honey at King's Landing, is it like that? [Winterfell was far too cold for such iced delicacies.]

I expect it is like the iced milk and honey if we can find it. failing that, I expect that some shaved ice and syrup wouldn't be hard to come by. I know a quiet little spot in the park we could share, with a good view of the rest.

[Just off the beaten path, but not quite invisible to the crowds. Somebody remembered the specific warnings and was sticking to text and being very careful what they said. Admittedly, it was hard to keep at it, and she was sure she was getting closer by the second to slipping up.

She didn't expect success this time. Like Eve and a few others... this one was a project.]

I'd like that. Where in the park? I could meet you there.

I will be at the north end of the lake. Where the lilacs grow. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding me. I'll meet you in a half hour.

[Oh it was too easy. She couldn't imagine that Arya hadn't noticed already, and she meant to capitalize on that possibility. She was already around the park, and so made her way to the spot, away from the sight of most others. Lurking by the trees, she leaned against one of the larger ones, trying to keep her face stilled to its usual look.

If she could just keep her face as still as possible long enough, she might get Arya to come close enough... and if she fought back, she did have her powers to fall back on. It was worth the risk.]

[Arya was still so excited and happy about her powers increasing that it didn't occur to her that the park was precisely the sort of secluded spot that she was meant to avoid with Samantha. Arriving at the lake, she didn't see her straight away. She leaned against a tree, looking to and fro for her.]

[She could see the girl, just out of the corner of her eye. Smiling to herself, Samantha stilled her emotions and controlled their appearance. She wasn't strong enough to catch Arya with her powers, only slow her down at critical seconds if she fought. She had to get close enough to grab her and use the difference in their statures against her. So, she had to 'play' nice.

And with that thought in her mind, she started to walk out into view. Her face was the picture of faint, surly nervousness, the usual dour look she wore. Admittedly, she rarely had a swagger to her step, which made the confident stride feel a little off.]

[Arya smiles, waving as Samantha started towards her, still not clicking that something is wrong, although there certainly was something different about her.]

Do you want to see how fast I can go?

[She smiled brightly, though a little more brightly than she would have. A wave of the hand and she paused a pace or two from Arya, nodding.]

I'd love to see that. Run back and forth and let me see you go.

[Why not? It would give her a chance to watch that speed, and maybe wear a little of that stamina out...]

[Arya grins at her, and sets off, dashing round the lake in the blink of an eye.]

How about that?

[She grinned right back when she saw the girl coming in closer with an easy stride. She moved at a steady, careful pace, trying to draw in to arm's reach.]

Outstanding, my dear. You're getting incredibly fast. You're really like the wind now, aren't you?

[This close, however, no matter what her voice might have managed to falsify, there was a palpable, strong odor of sulfur. The smile, too, didn't seem quite right...]

[And now Arya sees it. Why didn't she see it; how could she have been so stupid?! She backs away from Samantha, a look of horror on her face.]

[The change in expression, the faint backpedaling. Samantha knew what had happened and she just smiled. In that second, she reached forward, making a grab for the girl and trying to reach out, invisible strands hoping to grab hold of a leg or two, to try and keep Arya from running, knowing that the girl was nothing like Ritsu. She wouldn't be easy to control.]

Won't you come here for a hug?

No. [She doesn't scream, like she wants to, but still says it loudly and forcefully. Still backing away slowly, it hasn't even occurred to her that now would be the perfect time to use her power. It's a fight or flight situation, but her instincts have made her freeze.] You're not her.

I'm more her than you'll ever realize.

[She continued to stalk towards her, her claws coming out of her fingers slowly while she smiled in a feral, hungry sort of way. She chuckled darkly, eyes glittering before she lunged, trying to cross the distance between them as her tail lashed out. She wondered if she had the girl scared just enough that she could grab her, or if she'd bolt.]

[Arya darts out of the way just in time, the enhanced reflexes that she learned from Syrio coming to her rescue. She doesn't look scared any more, just sad.]

No, you're not. And all that this will do is give her something else to torture herself about. You should stop, now.

[She's more alert now, ready to run.]

[She smiled a low, cruel smile, eyes hooded and a vicious laugh coming from her throat while she tapped her chin. There was an arrogance there that seemed to build from the woman's reaction to that set of statements.]

I won't be doing that, and I think you know this little Arya, and I don't think that I can keep you here when the time comes. You've trained... just enough. But by the time that you return with help, I will be gone.

No, if that part of me wishes to torture herself more, then she's still as foolish as ever. The longer she pretends that we are not the same person, the longer this private war will be waged. She's the one doing this to herself and others, not me.

[Arya gives her a look of utter contempt.] You're a liar. You're only saying things that you think will hurt me. Well, I'm not going to let you.

[And with that, she runs. As fast as she can and as far as she can; she's halfway across the city before she stops, still trembling with anger.]

[She just let her go, not even trying to stop her. She would be gone in a few seconds, but she allowed herself a thin laugh before leaving.]

If only you knew. I'm trying to hurt myself, not you. You're all just tools. Fun to break, though.

[That said, she was gone, melding off into the park proper and taking a long route to hide her tracks before disappearing entirely.]

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004 ❅ Video

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