Mirror, Mirror, In My Hand...

[scarletwitch]

Wanda watches her own hand grip softly at the ivory brush. She runs it through her long brown hair. Taking out each knot with motherly care as she gazes, almost meditatively, into the mirror. She watches her own eyes stare into their reflection. Thoughts run through her mind like ants burrowing into the earth,

"Father--Why do you feel so distant? When you hug me, I know that you love me. But there is this--this space. This huge distance between us. Why? Have I done something to you? Made you pull away somehow? Why? Why won't you tell any of us about you? What are you hiding from us father?!?"

Her temper rises as she questions, feeling the walls of the castle and the boundaries of her father close in around her. Her eyes now glare into the mirror. Her grip tightens around it and her knuckles go white. Suddenly, her other hand drops the brush. As it clatters to the ground a fuchsia light shimmers around the handle of the mirror. There is an immense cracking sound as the mirror turns to cement and she throws it to the ground with a grunt of annoyance. The brick thunks onto the intricate marble below her and she jerks her head to the side. Now staring out into the world through her window, eyes slitted and teeth pressed tightly against one another.

[Tag: Anyone!! Really, it can be anyone! Not supposed to be in the castle? Be allowed in! Hate Wanda, and never want to see her again? Come to be a jerk to her. Let's get things a-going ^-^]

[Sam Guthrie]

If such a thing were possible, Commander Guthrie was in what could almost be called a good mood. The gears were in motion for the end of the war, he had (somewhat) worked out his agitation with Orion. Life had been going fairly well for the commander.

Then a loud crash, like stone breaking, sounded throughout the castle. His duty as the Commander of his majesty's forces and his duty to his majesty required him to spring into action. Besides, if there was some sort of disturbance, at least it would supply him yet another outlet for his frustrations.

Hopefully the disturbance was inferior.

He quickly followed the sound of the crash, ascending some stairs, and shoving aside a curious inferior who had not dared to move any closer to the scene of the crash.

Coward... Samuel thought to himself as he realized where the noise had come from. Princess Wanda's chambers.

Ad although his duty made it very clear of the right action to take here, Samuel had to summon up a bit of his guile and charm. Wanda was notoriously fickle and selfish, clearly his Imperial Majesty's favorite of his daughters.

Samuel had a problem with high maintenance women. Usually they woke up the next morning in their own beds, wondering how they managed to travel there without waking up.

He entered the room confidently, and surveyed the scene. A temper tantrum, it seemed had caused the sound.

"Milady," Samuel said, bowing low, "Forgive my intrusion, I was merely doing a routine patrol of the castle when I heard a loud noise, are you alright?"

[scarletwitch]

Wanda's body shivers at the sound of an intruding voice. Her hair flows over her neck suddenly as she turns her gaze on the Commander. Her eyes are still glaring and they look over the, uninvited, man standing in her room.

How dare he?! Not even knock I--I could have been doing anything...

Her eyebrows raise and a smirk slowly comes over her lips. She turns in her chair to face him, legs crossing slowly, leaning down on the arm of the chair.

Mmm---Commander Guthrie. One of Daddy's little toy soldiers. I never get to see him.

She scoops up a lock of her hair with a single, well-manicured, finger and twirls it idly as she stares at him.

He never likes it when I play with them. Never wanting to share his toys.

"No, no--Commander," she lets flow from her mouth, "I am...splendid." Then she pouts, ruby-red lips puckering, "I just dropped my mirror," eyelashes fluttering quickly as she stares up to him.

This is just what I needed. A good mouse to...wind up...and keep me company...

[Sam Guthrie]

It was his duty to serve the royal family. It was his duty to tend to the protection of not only Magnus' ideals and empire. It was his duty. His duty.

Of course she was fine. Of course nothing was wrong. This was just the most recent in a long standing tradition of the Princesses making trouble for Guthrie and his men. His face remained void of any sort of malice or annoyance, a mask he had crafted for such an occasion.

"Ah I see, I am certainly glad that all is well then.." Guthrie said, "And that you are safe."

He glanced down at the mirror, and gestured to it, "Allow me, milady." he stated, and stopped to pick it up. How something like that mirror could leave an imprint like that, he had no idea. Then again, Wanda's abilities made nearly anything possible.

Guthrie artfully scooped it up from the floor, and took it in his hands. A slight glance to check his own appearance soon followed, but it was only barely noticeable. At least he thought so.

"Your mirror milady.." Guthrie crooned as he handed it over to her. He was no servant, but his duty to the House of Magnus was clear enough.

[scarletwitch]

Wanda smirks as she stands when the Commander bends down to pick up the, now, perfectly normal mirror from its dent in the marble floor. She walks to him, putting her hand over the top of the mirror as she pressed up close to it, knowing that Guthrie could feel her body heat.

"Don't you want to know what happened?" she asked with words barely above a whisper. Her head tilted down and eyes staring up, craning her neck and letting her hair fall away from it.

There was a dark chuckle welling up within her that she kept crushed in her lungs while she merely stared directly into the military man's purposefully cold eyes.

[Sam Guthrie]

Samuel Guthrie, above all things was a passionate man. A trait that meshed with his military aptitude as well as clashed with it. His passion for the opposite sex was making his heart rate jump a little in his chest. His face remained cold, by the grace of God, but a slight waver in his stone like facade would be all Wanda needed to know she had gotten his attention.

From a tactical standpoint, pretty much any action he took at this point was foolish. Only hope and wishful thinking could transform this situation into something beneficial.

For one, there he was, alone with the princess in her quarters. To make matters worse, she had (accidentally? He doubted it) pressed his hand up to her body. All he needed was for his majesty to make an appearance and his fate would be sealed. The only silver lining to this would be that possibly his majesty would approve of the assumed match, and Guthrie would rise in social stature and rank as the betrothed to the Princess.

Again, wishful thinking. Likewise, he was positive neither of them would appreciate the arrangement. Well....he certainly didn't want to be married.

If he quickly removed his hand, there was a chance he'd offend her highness, and she'd make life miserable for him anyways. Wanda was not known for her kindness and charity, and he didn't expect anything of that nature to be extended to him.

This was becoming more and more complicated. Etiquette required him to respond to Wanda though, and offending a woman who could effect the world around her in such a way was dangerous business.

"I would like nothing better....and luckily..." Samuel said, slipping his hand free from the mirror and the touch of her warm body to remove his pocket watch from his breast pocket, "I have no appointments for a few hours..."

He placed the watch back into his pocket, mentally letting loose a sigh of relief. He had freed himself from a compromising situation, and with any luck hadn't offended the princess. Damn he was good.

[scarletwitch]

Wanda's eyes narrowed slightly while Guthrie's hand slipped away and went into his pocket.

Smart--That's never any good...

"Well then," she let slither out, "Why don't you come join me?" gesturing back to the seat across from her chair. Between the two seats was an ornate table that matched the dark red theme of her chambers. In offering, she turns suddenly, letting her hair whip around her shoulder and expose the low back of her dress. She looks behind her to Guthrie, running her eyes up and down his body. She finally spoke after a small pause, saying, "Is there anything that I could have prepared for you, Commander?" and waiting for him to sit first before she would drape herself down into the cushion to tell her short tale.

"I wonder how long I can keep him here", she pondered to herself, "And I wonder how long it has been since Daddy last came to check in on me..."

[Sam Guthrie]

Guthrie only nodded in response to her invitation to join her. He'd need to be smart if he wanted to get out of this alive.

Maybe you could run a cold shower, seeing as how I'm going to need it after I leave... Guthrie thought to himself. He raised a hand and shook his head, "Thank you for the offer, but I'm quite alright..."

He slowly eased himself into the chair, his fingers intertwined with each other as his hands rested on the edge of the table. He needed to remain as professional and platonic as possible, or else it would be even harder to justify his reasons for being in the Princesses quarters. He already had a perfectly logical explanation in his head.

Yes Lord Magnus, I heard a loud crash and fearing for your daughter's life I went up to investigate. I arrived and all seemed well, so I stayed to ask about the disturbance.

That was, after all, what he was doing. She was going to tell him the source of the disturbance. Then he'd leave. Quickly.

"So, what exactly happened?" he asked, cold blue eyes focused on the Princess's eyes. He didn't let them wander, as much as he wanted them to.

[scarletwitch]

Wanda, however, could be as flirtatious as she wished. Arching her back in a small stretch once she sits, she runs her hands up her neck and under her hair. With a flick she sends it dancing up and over the back of the chair. She settles into the seat and smirks across the table to Guthrie. Her eyes lidded gently as she stares into his eyes.

"Magic," she said simply, in a low and hushed tone, "It was simply magic. You see--I was just sitting here," letting a finger run figure eights around the table-top, "All by myself...With no one to talk to...Brushing my hair and looking into the mirror when----Poof. It just turns to stone." At that she chuckles slightly and leans back, crossing her legs and toying with her immaculately manicured nails.

The mirror won't be the only thing, darling, if I get my way. Medusa just wished she looked this good.

Eyes darting up then suddenly and looking deeply into Guthrie's, "What ever should I do about it, Commander? How do you want to make me feel more--Secure?"

[Sam Guthrie]

It took all of Samuel's strength to remain stoic (How Summers managed to do it constantly boggled his mind). Which answer did she want? The professional answer was obvious, he'd station more guards around her quarters with stricter protocols in place for admittance. Then he'd probably station a black ops squad for extra protection.

The other answer... well... it certainly wasn't appropriate. And he certainly didn't want to die.

"Milady, I can station more guards near your living quarters, under strict instructions to monitor all in going visitors and paraphernalia." Samuel replied, going with the smarter of the two answers, "Would that ease your anxiety?"

[scarletwitch]

Wanda pouted and wrapped her arms around herself, giving her triceps a gently hug as she looked out the window. "Fear" in her eyes.

"Oh, but Commander--I was thinking something more," darting back to look at him, her lips tugging up into a smirk, "Personal." She leans forward, pressing her hands against the table, "How am I suppose to feel safe without a big--strong--capable man with years of...experience under his belt to make me feel safe? You wouldn't want Daddy's little girl to get hurt without you even noticing. Would you?"

She chuckled at that, leaning back and crossing her legs. One arm resting at the elbow on the chair's arm. The nail of her middle finger and thumb toying with one another. There was no need to hide her game anymore.

He's not dumb. I'm sure he knows what I mean. It's just too bad for him he doesn't get to say anything! Ah--How I love underlings.

Her gaze shooting into his, waiting for his answer like a child for its windup toy to dance.

[Sam Guthrie]

Samuel would need to leave soon. Her highness's insistence and persistence was only going to get him into trouble. Besides, there were plenty of ways to continue a conversation of this sort in a less incriminating environment.

It wasn't that he didn't want to, because he certainly did. He just always thought he would die in battle, and he wanted to keep it that way.

"It would be my honor to provide you with personal attention Milady.." Samuel replied, "But you must understand that I'm already working towards making you feel safe..."

It would be my honor to provide you with it nightly...but let's not be too forward He thought to himself.

"The inferior's foolish resistance is at an end...." He continued, "It won't be long before your father has no such enemies to worry about...and no such enemies for you to fear."

He allowed one of his rare smiles to break the surface.

"Surely that should help you sleep safer." He stated as the smile retreated from his face.

If not, I'm sure we could work something out... It was a very good thing that Wanda was not a telepath.

"If your anxiety continues, surely His Majesty would permit me to arrange a competent escort for you" Samuel added, being very careful with his words.

[scarletwitch]

"Surely that should help you sleep safer." The commander stated as the smile retreated from his face.

Wanda recrossed her legs as she let a dainty sigh escape her lips, "I don't know Commander, I simply don't."

"If your anxiety continues,"

She nodded as she turned in her seat to look to her vanity again. It was filled with a number of bottles of liquids and powders of all sorts of colors. She squinted, "Mm-hmm. Ah yes, go on---I see," her small responses as she looked over the small containers.

"Surely His Majesty would permit me to arrange a competent escort for you" Samuel added.

Wanda's eyes then lit up as she spotted a bottle filled with a rose red powder. She scooped it up quickly with long and sharp nails working it over delicatly. She turned it over to expose the small partchment piece attached with a red "L" drawn on it.

Perfect...

She turned to him quickly with a wide smile, "Oh--Yes, that sounds wonderful Commander. But here I have one last favor to ask you, and I know that a big, strong man like yourself is more than capable."

And we'll see just how capable.

Popping the cork off the glass vial, she dabbed out a small bit of the powder into her open palm and, after setting the glass down again, lifted it up for the Commander, "What does this smell like? I say roses, but one of the servant maids seem to think it smells like lilacs. I simply must know a man's opinion."

As she waited for him to bend down and respond to her request, she put her free hand closer to her face. With a couple breaths she leaned forwards and let out a loud, and fairly fake, sneeze. She blew the powder out of her palm and towards the Commander. Her fingers curling as she did so and a fuschia orb of energy spiraled down from her palm and sank into the man's middle.

Wanda leaned back and smirked to herself as she waved a hand to disperse the red cloud, putting on a concerned face as she waited for the hex's effects, "Oh---I'm sorry Commander. I hope you're alright," and she kept her face filled with worry only to suppress a dark chuckle.

[Sam Guthrie]

Samuel's eyes widened slightly as the effects of the princess' spell took hold. It was horrifying. it was disastrous.

His pants had come alive.

Well so to speak. The zipper begun to awkwardly jerk it's way all the way down, and his belt had begun to squirmin his pant loops. It undid itself, and like a cobra from a basket, slithered it's way loose of it's restraints, crawling a ways across the fool before it stopped.

So there Samuel Zachary Guthrie was. In the chambers of Princess Wanda. In his army regulation skivvies.

"How..irregular.." He said, obviously trying to regain some sort of composure as he attempted to jerk his wayward trousers up. The damn things were anchored to the floor! Why did this have to happen to him, a man on the cusp of immortality and greatness was a open door away from death.

"I'm sure this was accidental, milady....just allow me to..." He growled as he attempted to at least scoop up his belt, which wiggled and fought against his grip.

[scarletwitch]

Wanda grinned, wide. Her sparkling teeth shimmering under the light of the room, her canines particularly sharp. She had surprised even herself this time. Her spells were just as fickle as her desires, but this one had not let her down in any respect. She bit down gently on her bright red bottom lip and set a few equally well-painted fingernails to her mouth.

After watching the belt squirm and crawl for a few minutes in front of the Commander she stood up. Walking over, she suddenly stamped her foot down onto the animate leather whip, her designer heels pinning its writhing form to the ground. Her eyes lowered to the bent over, half exposed man, "See Commander---All sorts of things just keep happening here. I told you that I needed some...protection. Just think---What could happen next? Some curtains might fall...," Her eyes widening just before the next statement, "Or a door! And then think just how exposed I'd feel."

She smiled to him again. It was clear that she was toying with him, but alas---Even she did not have the power to summon her father at her every whim. Still, that didn't mean she couldn't take her time making the staff feel on edge all the same.

Daddy always says that people work best from fear. I'll just help keep the troops in top form. Not that it looks like the Commander needs help there.

Her heel twisting slightly on the belt that slapped against the floor in it's attempt to escape both parties. In a few minutes even her magic would end and it would give a final parting slither before laying immobile on the floor.