( closed )

[winces]

CHARACTERS: olivia and keats

DATE: backdated to january 30

WARNINGS: losers being losers

SUMMARY: in an attempt to appeal to the unaffiliated goblins' good sides, olivia is sent on a number of random tasks... keats is around because olivia shouldn't be allowed to do things herself tbh

[ three rabbits and eight sparrows. it wasn't too bad, all things considered. it's certainly more reasonable (and less questionable) than what the humans had requested for, a fair number of which olivia cannot, in good conscience, reiterate, no matter how much keats questions her about it. it's embarrassing, is all she gives him, and while it was certainly that, it was much more uncomfortable than anything else. but he doesn't really need to know that. nobody does. ]

I don't really have the supplies to make any rabbit traps, [ she explains as they venture further out into the woods, her tone and smile apologetic. she hadn't meant to waste quite so much of keats' time, after all... ] So I'll have to do it the harder way.

[ ??? what does that even mean. ]

Are you sure you don't want to go back...? You don't really have to accompany me anymore.

[ she'd asked him as a favor when confronting the goblins, after all. surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly) enough, they'd all been quite amiable. ]

Comments

[headlining]

Did you now. [GUESS WHO HAS TWO THUMBS AND DOESN'T BELIEVE YOU, OLIVIA? THIS GUY.]

[winces]

[ OH GEE THE MAGICAL NAY-SAYER OF MAGIC DOESN'T BELIEVE IN TALKING ANIMALS WOW WHAT A SHOCKER ]

I did and he was quite nice! I'm sure sparrows will be even nicer.

[headlining]

Oh, then, please, go ahead, tell me how that works out later. [GRUMP GRUMP GRUMP.] I'm sure they'll want to throw a party with you. A little bird party. Which won't happen because birds don't have parties.

[are you even listening to yourself, you nerd]

[winces]

[ she pauses suddenly, turning to face him fully with doe-wide eyes. ]

You're not coming with me?

[ ................... ;A; ]

[headlining]

What? No! No, I'm...I'm going to stay with you and watch so I can laugh about it later.

[Don't give him that look, Olivia!!]

...Okay, but I mean, seriously, you have to approach this in a smarter way.

[winces]

[ that isn't all that encouraging either, but she does look significantly happier about it... at least she won't be alone... ]

Well I don't know what other way there is! I just know I have to get those birds.

[headlining]

[Casually pretending not to look at that happy face!! It isn't cute!!]

You could let me help. Or "cheat", as you call it. We'd have it done in no time.

[winces]

[ she folds her arms a little, cupping her chin in one hand as she considers this. ]

Will freezing them hurt them...?

[headlining]

[He shakes his head.]

If I do it carefully enough, no. They shouldn't be hurt.

[winces]

[ she chews on her bottom lip a little. ]

Is there anything I can do to help...?

[ she hates the thought of making him do all the work. it's her fault they're here, after all. ]

[headlining]

Of course. You're the one who has to lure the creatures towards us in the first place.

[He gestures to himself.] I mean, I don't think I look like the type of guy rabbits and sparrows flock to, do you?

[winces]

[ she gives him a mildly startled, befuddled look. ]

And I do?!

[headlining]

[Now it's his turn to look befuddled.]

Have you seen yourself? Of course you do!

[winces]

[ what does that even mean?! ]

A-Are you saying that I look like an animal? That they think of me as one of their kind?!

[headlining]

W-what? No! No, I meant- ugh, you look, I don't know, innocent? Appealing? Like you could just go up to some animals and they'd like you instantly?

...You get what I mean, right? [HE'S CALLING YOU A DISNEY PRINCESS, OLIVIA]

[winces]

[ she squints at him for a very long time, as if trying to determine whether or not he's actually trying to insult her right now. ]

I.... guess?? [ she huffs a little though. ] What do you mean I look "innocent," though?

[headlining]

Like you could do no wrong. [He can feel his ears already start to burn from sheer embarrassment.] That's usually what "innocent" means.

[winces]

[ for whatever reason, olivia feels mightily Insulted by this insinuation. she puffs up a little more, drawing herself to her full height (which still doesn't do much, compared to all of his six feet) and glares at him. ]

I can too do all sorts of wrong! I do wrong all the time!

[headlining]

[He can't help it - she looks so silly glaring at him that he can't resist the urge to let out a short, amused laugh.]

Ha, you? Don't make me laugh! [YOU ALREADY DID, KEATS?] I bet you couldn't even take candy from a baby without feeling guilty about it.

[winces]

[ ack, olivia actually does feel guilty about it already... and all she's done is think about it! ]

Th-That's not the point! Who would steal candy from a baby? It's a baby!

B-But I've... I've totally lied to a vendor before, and conned him into letting me pay half of the price of his produce!

[headlining]

It's the easiest things one could do! Goodness, look at you getting worked up over it already.

[He looks so incredibly amused by this - oh, Olivia, who are you trying to fool?]

Is that so? [He places a hand on his chest, his tone mocking.] My, they should really put you among murderers and criminals and ne'er-do wells, I can't see how anyone would forgive you for doing a little haggling.

[winces]

[ this is not helping!! olivia doesn't even know why she's so intent on making this point — perhaps it has a little (or everything) to do with the fact that he seems to find it so amusing that she's this naive, innocent thing. she doesn't want to amuse him! she wants to impress him!

she stamps her foot a little... which doesn't really help her case. ]

L-Look it's worse than it sounds, okay...!

[headlining]

Right, right.

[He says, ever so disbelieving. But he seems to pull back on his amusement, giving her a somewhat more serious look (though his eyes still glint, mischievously).]

Really, Olivia, don't try to be something you aren't. Just don't.

[winces]

[ she pouts, looking genuinely upset now as she stairs at her feet. ]

Why shouldn't I? [ her voice is small, sullen. ] Anything's better than the me I actually am.

[headlining]

[He stops.]

[He actually stops walking, moving in front and turning to face her. The delight he was showing is gone, replaced by a stern expression.]

Hey. What do you mean? [He says, voice low, quiet. There's nothing to laugh at here.] Why would you say that?