This is not going to end well...

[axeyouaquestion]

Characters: Astrid Hofferson, OPEN

Setting/Location: District 1

Date & Time: Day 0, after most of the other people have woken up

Warnings: Anyone that Astrid stumbles across is probably getting attacked and held hostage for info, sorry.

Summary: Astrid wakes up, doesn't bother with her Junogram, and waits to ambush someone for information.

Comments

[liveandletliet]

The lack of care and concern usually reserved for easy mornings came with this early lax exploration of the village. Toris's arms were burdened with a basket that now contained his current worldly (or perhaps in this case, otherworldly, possessions) in addition to the meager belongings he had arrived with.

Correction: had been grabbed and transported, dumped unceremoniously into this particular unfamiliar place with. The basket contained whatever he had gathered from the village in the way of food, a familiar quiet comfort in this unknown place. His recently acquired Junogam nestled comfortably on top.

He made the mistake of tilting his head to contemplate the sudden patch of sun illuminating the alley, looking away from his surroundings for a moment.

[axeyouaquestion]

[liveandletliet]

A multi-tasking skill would have been pretty rewarding at that moment, if only in order to balance the basket of produce, stand erect enough as not to twitch, and of course, think all the questions over thoroughly and calmly.

Not fainting would have been an added benefit, as well, and Toris concentrated on that the most with all his will power.

"Lithuania," he answered in regard to the easiest question, before spluttering, "Who are you?! Could you please put the axe down, and I'll be just too happy to help you--"

In a moment of agitation, he dropped the basket down between their feet. He didn't even notice.

Why was it always the pretty blonde ones?

[axeyouaquestion]

[liveandletliet]

"Give me some space and I will!" Perhaps blurting that out wasn't in Toris's best interests, but he needed to think, quickly.

The blade teasing his bare skin was not encouraging at all. It was not prompting answers to form in his head, although it did help with the removal of his brain to mouth filter.

"I just woke up here and they gave me food!" he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to reclaim his breath before adding, "I can help you look for this boy, if you like, miss?"

[axeyouaquestion]

"So you don't know anything? You woke up here without knowing how you got here, too?" she asked.

[liveandletliet]

Toris shook his head enthusiastically, before allowing his shoulders to slump as it dawned on him. There were others like him, and as comforting as that was, it was almost saddening.

"I'm sure it's going to be alright, miss," he started reassuringly, keeping eye contact, his lips curving into a reassuring smile. Smiling always put others at ease, or perhaps more often than not.

"Did you arrive here by yourself?"

[axeyouaquestion]

Toris, you are now useless to her. You know nothing.

"No." A pause. "Probably not."

And she had to go find him. Thus began her dogged quest to find a certain other Viking and to get some answers.

She removed her axe. "And I don't need anyone's help."

In fact, she stormed off, keeping her eyes on him long enough to make sure he wasn't going to attack her from behind, and then headed out of the alley to continue her quest.

Helluva introduction there, huh, Toris? And you didn't even get her name.

Don't worry, you'll see her around.

[liveandletliet]

After a long, dazed moment, Toris sank to his knees, collecting the items that had spilled out of his basket and sorting them absently in.

That had been interesting, to say the least.