“I want you to have this.” Little Tony smiled bashfully, handing a blooming rose to an even smaller Astrid who was fighting to keep her curls out of her face as she took the beautiful flower and inhaled the sweet scent deeply with pink cheeks and a smile that stretched from ear to ear. “Thanks, Anthony. What's it for?” She rocked back and forth on her heels, eyeing him suspiciously. “Just coz. You're pretty.” He grinned and kissed her cheek quickly before darting out of the house to leave with his parents who were waiting, leaving little Boombox to her swooning.
Astrid put down her tablet and listened to everyone, casting a lazy glance at Junior as he stole a few cherries as winked at her. As a child, she would have giggled and blushed, but now there was hardly a spark of amusement in her blue eyes. That was once upon a time. She was even too lazy to jab her brother with her elbow when he stole a cherry as well. She listened to everyone collectively, nodding respectively at each response with her usual deadpan expression. She did, however, raise a brow at Johanna's remark. She already was Loki's babysitter. She couldn't say that she didn't enjoy being the one to be in charge of knocking him down a few pegs.
As everyone turned to listen to Loki, she could feel the strange feeling of smugness rising within her as she rounded the counter and came face to face with him. She was well aware of Gunnar and Johanna's feelings for their uncle, but she had a job to do. “You don't scare me. We've already established that. We don't have to trust you because if you step one toe out of line, I'll kill you myself. Now. Whether you like it or not, you're going to be here for a long while. Could be shorter if you weren't such a head case. But you're in dire need of a reality check.” She took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest.
She wasn't angry. She was never angry - She forgot what anger even felt like. She lifted her chin a little, noticing the faint glimmer of her multicolored glow that she had long since repressed, only glowing on occasion. She quickly checked herself, her skin returning to "normal". “And you seem to be enjoying the good deeds - Or at least the limelight from them. Either way, it's some sort of progress. Loki will remain with The Order. It'll be good for him.” Her eyes were unblinking as she held an emotionless gaze before turning around and moving away from the group towards the piano in the living room. She returned to her normal silent demeanor as her fingers danced in fluid motions across the custom keys. She knew most of them would leave soon, once more leaving her to her thoughts, her music, and Loki.
Astrid put down her tablet and listened to everyone, casting a lazy glance at Junior as he stole a few cherries as winked at her. As a child, she would have giggled and blushed, but now there was hardly a spark of amusement in her blue eyes. That was once upon a time. She was even too lazy to jab her brother with her elbow when he stole a cherry as well. She listened to everyone collectively, nodding respectively at each response with her usual deadpan expression. She did, however, raise a brow at Johanna's remark. She already was Loki's babysitter. She couldn't say that she didn't enjoy being the one to be in charge of knocking him down a few pegs.
As everyone turned to listen to Loki, she could feel the strange feeling of smugness rising within her as she rounded the counter and came face to face with him. She was well aware of Gunnar and Johanna's feelings for their uncle, but she had a job to do. “You don't scare me. We've already established that. We don't have to trust you because if you step one toe out of line, I'll kill you myself. Now. Whether you like it or not, you're going to be here for a long while. Could be shorter if you weren't such a head case. But you're in dire need of a reality check.” She took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest.
She wasn't angry. She was never angry - She forgot what anger even felt like. She lifted her chin a little, noticing the faint glimmer of her multicolored glow that she had long since repressed, only glowing on occasion. She quickly checked herself, her skin returning to "normal". “And you seem to be enjoying the good deeds - Or at least the limelight from them. Either way, it's some sort of progress. Loki will remain with The Order. It'll be good for him.” Her eyes were unblinking as she held an emotionless gaze before turning around and moving away from the group towards the piano in the living room. She returned to her normal silent demeanor as her fingers danced in fluid motions across the custom keys. She knew most of them would leave soon, once more leaving her to her thoughts, her music, and Loki.
