Independent OC. Semi-Selective. Multiship, Multiverse. Established 03/31/2020. Please read all pages before Interacting. Header Art Credit: marentthu (Instagram)
Annalise frowned; he seemed...almost disappointed, disheartened, even, by her answer.
"Were I living in better circumstances, I would gladly take my place on this ship as if I've been on it my entire life." And in the many years she's been alive, the prospects of her life turning around for the better have been... slim.
Orphaned at a young age, shunned by the local townsfolk based on superstition, no friends, no living relatives. If she didn't have a farm, her remaining career prospects were still few and far between.
"....But I would like to continue the tour. So that I can remember what I wonderful time I've had exploring the Dauntless to its fullest."
"Ah-" A look of mild surprise crossed her face at his suggestion as she turned to look at him. Surprise soon morphed into bashfulness, as her cheeks flushed a soft pink hue.
"...I...well, I've always wanted to travel. Never had the opportunity to. I'd love to be a passenger here, to see what this vast ocean and this big, wide world has to offer...but..."
Her hands grasped the skirts of her dress, kneading the fabric tightly, anxiously, between her fingers.
"...I couldn't just leave everything behind. Without my farm, I'd have nothing. I'd be penniless."
When the inevitable happens, and the knights, dragon slayers or some lucky 'hero' finish you off, do you wonder what might happen to your farm?
"....I don't like to think about that. What would happen."
She placed the embroidery she had been working on to the side, needle clattering onto the end table near her, her hands going limp in her lap.
"Maybe they'll escape. I don't always leave the stall doors locked in the barn, and the fences can be broken. I don't want to imagine them staying where they are, food dwindling, their home falling apart, waiting for someone who will never come back home.
And if someone finds them, takes them back to the village...how will they be treated? Will they be loved just as dearly as I had? Will they be cherished? Will whomever takes them be thankful for what they give to them?"
"Ah-" A look of mild surprise crossed her face at his suggestion as she turned to look at him. Surprise soon morphed into bashfulness, as her cheeks flushed a soft pink hue.
"...I...well, I've always wanted to travel. Never had the opportunity to. I'd love to be a passenger here, to see what this vast ocean and this big, wide world has to offer...but..."
Her hands grasped the skirts of her dress, kneading the fabric tightly, anxiously, between her fingers.
"...I couldn't just leave everything behind. Without my farm, I'd have nothing. I'd be penniless."
She followed, trying to keep her footsteps as silent as possible as to not disturb anyone in the room. Her gaze drifted up and down the cannon she was brought to, like a jeweler appraising a gemstone.
Annalise reached her hand towards the cannon to feel it. She placed her palm upon it carefully, gingerly, as if it were made of fragile glass, as if it would break at the slightest touch.
"...I see. I suppose it's foolish of me to believe that every ocean voyage is a peaceful one." She sighed gently.
"I try to avoid conflict whenever necessary, myself. I like... peaceful resolutions. But, when push comes to shove, I can fight." Annalise smirked. "I bet I could be a decent bodyguard against pirates. I can wield a pitchfork rather well."
I discovered that there's roombas designed for cleaning out big cattle barns and now I'm imagining Anna being all like "wtf how come they didn't have this way back when???"
fairytales which tell you to be both kind and clever fairytales that say to be kind is to be clever and to be clever is to be kind fairytales that say the cleverest thing you can ever do is choose kindness and that cruelty or thoughtlessness are always foolish but not kindness never kindness
"Yeah, a new car or truck is expensive — but I'm fine with what I've got!" Annalise chirps, shifting the gear into drive and rumbling down the forest path that leads away from her home. The truck itself makes a cacophonous clattering as it hits various bumps and sticks in the road, but Annalise seems unbothered by it.
"A seatbelt prevents you from flying out the front windshield, but I'll take your word on that — probably because I've had experience with you holding on tight before~" She smirks.
She glances over at Butch as he fiddles with the radio, before leaning back in her seat in content as he manages to put it on a classic rock station.
"I've seen cars grow and change ever since they were invented, but I'll admit, the invention of the radio — and the car radio — was a great feat. Just don't turn it to any country music stations; some of the songs in that genre I've heard recently are not good." She snorts.
"I found it at an old junkyard! Some guy that was there just told me I could take it — didn't have to pay a dime or sign any paperwork!" Annalise sits up proudly in the driver's seat, despite the seats themselves splitting open in places, foam stuffing poking out of the gaps. Good thing, too — she wasn't even sure that any government agencies here knew she existed.
She had learned a few things about machinery in the long life she's lived, learning about farm equipment like tractors and the like, but cars....well, she's tried her best. At least it's somewhat drivable.
"As for driving...uh....I'm still working on it!" Annalise chuckles sheepishly. "It's got a few dings and bumps from, uh...hitting things....but I'm getting better! Kind of!" Another good thing about living out in the middle of nowhere — no one can see her vehicular mishaps.
The glove box, as Butch opens it, reveals quite a few things — an old bird's nest, scattered chicken feathers, a handful of pamphlets on livestock veterinary care (complete with diagrams!)....and a few, clearly well-read, mass-market paperback romance novels.
"Let's see ...just...gotta crank it up," Annalise says, her brow furrowing as she turns the key in the ignition, unaware of Butch rummaging through her car. With a few cranks, the engine splutters to life, miraculously.
"All right! Uh, might wanna hold on to something. I forgot there's no seat belt in the passenger seat, heh...."