akanisxingrid

[akanisxingrid]

[akanisxingrid]

[akanisxingrid]

It was indescribable how suffocating funerals were, especially one that were so public. Everyone’s eyes hanging on you trying to read your expression judging if you grieve the way they do. No tears and shed be labeled stone hearted, to many and she’d be an emotional mess unfit to call herself queensgaurd. And all she wanted was to say good bye to him but maybe she already had that. Maybe this ceremonial funeral wouldn’t get rid of the pain in her heart. Standing to attention for what felt like years as many offered hollow condolences. Most didn’t know the man she lost. They didn’t know just how bright his soul was.

Not only was he gone, there was maniac on the lose who could look like anyone and take there head in an instance. The thought alone made her armour feel small, like it was clinging to tightly to her skin. Quickly excusing her self Ingrid made haste for privacy, as the hallways felt smaller. So lost in trying to keep it all together she hadn’t noticed she was being followed. Her and Akanis had a private office just around the corner if she got there she’d be safe from prying eyes or at least she thought.

There were two desk, two chairs, two sets of everything in this room because the pair had refused to share, Ingrid had insisted on it at the time. Absently she wondered over to his desk hands trailing over the back of the stone chair. Taking a seat she remembered just how uncomfortable it was, how ugly it was, but he’d wanted it so he could sit in it even if he was on fire. She could see his scorch marks on the armrest, her fingers outlined them as she remembered Akanis. Tears began to fall bouncing on the stone chair.

She didn’t even know Guli was there, she’d been oblivious and she would have continued to be if the other hadn’t spoke. Eye that were fully of sadness gazed upon the woman she’d rejected because of her own cowardice. “Tell me you’re real? Tell me you’re not her, not come back for my head to.” Ingrid’s voice never sounded so pathetic, pleading before. If this was one of Orins cruel tricks then it was going to work because she could hurt Guli, she’d never hurt her like that.

with: @akanisxingrid when: during the funeral for eterna's fallen where: the palace notes: I got a bit carried away, you don't have to match :,)

Gulizar hated funerals. Maybe it was because she'd spent her last one trying to pretend she wasn't the very reason her mother laid in a casket. Maybe it was because she was surrounded by crying and heartfelt sentiments, both of which made her uncomfortable. Or maybe it was because she'd brought flowers, and it didn't feel like enough.

Eterna had lost so many - she'd been there as the city was sieged by Valerius and his wild magic, had tried her best to minimize damage to the Tower and those within. That didn't feel like enough, either. Meanwhile, underneath her, Queensguard and Olympians alike were fighting a cult, many of them giving their lives in the process. Of course she'd already questioned the Students of Prosperina who'd restored Ingrid's soul - pressed them to explain why Akanis was gone for good. They said a soul could only return if it was willing.

She'd only known Akanis briefly, but he didn't seem despondent by any means. Ingrid was perhaps a better person to ask if she wanted the gritty truth, but there was a time and a place for that. Gulizar had subtly followed Ingrid through the halls of the palace to a quiet room, away from the people and commotion, for another reason. The woman she once cared for - and perhaps still did - understandably needed a moment to herself during such a grim occasion.

Gulizar leaned against the wall, still watching Ingrid, who'd yet to notice her presence. From her side profile, the scar on her cheek was ever noticeable, drawing the agent of Minerva's eyes. Guli didn't even know what she planned to say, or what drew her to follow the other in the first place. All she knew was that she could sense Ingrid's pain, and that was impossible to ignore.

"I heard about what you did." she finally spoke, arms crossed as she prepared to defend herself for following the other. Ingrid had gone and gotten herself disintegrated while playing hero. It was stupid, stubborn, and reckless. Selfless, yet equally selfish. Clearly Ingrid hadn't thought about how those close to her would feel in the wake of such a decision. "Leave it to you to be stubborn, even when staring down an exploding, magical crystal."

[akanisxingrid]

Akanis never meant to be so flippant or mean to diminish the accomplishments of others but perhaps his past life had helped with his learning. Perhaps his past self had taken longer so that in this life it was easier, there were to many unknowns that he didn’t understand. “Thank you your highness. I believe he chose us both and not one because of the other.” Aureliath had seen something in Ingrid perhaps it was different then what he’d seen in Akanis but he’d found them both to be deserving of being his champion. 

“There is also another thing you highness, I obtained a mark in the shape of a hand.” Akanis opened his vestments up appropriately to show the prince the hand itself. “I think it is from a past life, Aureliath recognised my soul. Something is happening and I’m not sure what but when I got this mark I saw Fharzai and Ormir were there they might have one of there own. I believe I was shown a memory of us fighting the dragon of change.” He thought this important enough to share maybe he didn’t know enough but perhaps someone else knew more.

Akanis didn't mince his words or waste time with pleasantries, which was good, making it easy to like the Queensguard for a reason other than his competency.

Aureliath, that was a name that Leander hadn't heard in a while. It wasn't in the Prince's nature to lecture, he'd done enough in the name of the Crown and his own ego to know what a hypocrite sounded like. Still, for a quiet moment, he thought about the years he spent baking in the desert under the Ankhurian sun. Soaking in the relentless rays and bending the ambient weave that made the wasteland all but desolate. The years at war made good use of what the Prince had learned, an Astorian city was reduced to ashes and he lived with whatever innocent blood landed on him.

"He chose well." Ingrid was more of a surprise, whatever they'd been through - Akanis seemed different now and it seemed they'd both been changed. "We'll need every weapon in our arsenal for the days ahead." Strong as they were, Aventia still fell and the darkspawn had a foothold in their nation. This could not stand. "Sounds like it was worth the trip."

[akanisxingrid]

Paved in Blood

Trigger warning death(s)

Note: I did choose this option. Shane did give me an out.

What was under the city wasn’t anything they could have imagined, the darkness that lurked beneath made you feel like you been transported to another plane. It was hard to think that above them was the city that accepted the changeling into their ranks. That they needed to protect it now, the place they came to call home needed them to step up and show why they were a queensgaurd. Not only did Akanis know Elira but so did Ingrid. Elira had a sweet spot for the Elvhen as he was always so polite, sweet even, always had time to listen to her no matter the occasion. Where she would often chastised Ingrid after finding out the queensgaurd had snuck away some extra pastries, though it probably didn’t help that Ingrid had no time for what she called prattling.

It had brought a small smile to his lips as Akanis watched Celaya operate in the investigation. Offering her a squireship was something he knew was right. Despite what everyone else had to say, he believed that she could become someone spectacular, that she could provide hope for a future. Maybe some might believe him mad but Akanis knew one thing for certain that anyone can become more than what they were. Celaya could become more than what was done to her. She was more than a Witcher.

It wasn't a surprise that a place that had statues of the mother of dragons required some kind of test to pass. Those who went on the quest said it was a test that it wasn’t real and that they should play by the cults rules. But that was easier said then done. Akanis wouldn’t compromise his morals for some test, he would not go back into the darkness of sinking his head into the ground. Test or not it was a test of character that he was proud to fail, he wasn’t going to be pressured to scarify his morals not again. But Ingrid had learnt that morals only got in the way of power, of recognition, of titles and she would play to the cults test in order to get out unscathed, whatever it took Ingrid wouldn’t fall in this place.

It was when they were travelling deeper into the dead city that Akanis saw a glint of his own death. He couldn’t speak his last word of warning before his head was taken from his shoulders before he could even blink. Unceremonially dropping to the ground, rolling a couple feet away from his body, his eyes now truly held a dead look within them. The shift, Ingrid phasing into existence was the most painful exchange she had ever experienced. He couldn’t be resurrected at the tower without her, that what she thought this sundering of their souls was, this pull but little did she know. His face was scared into her memory, she saw it before when they were completing their trails, she had found comfort in him being beside her in that moment. But there was no comfort in seeing him this time. Just devastation. It hadn’t been just him, Agron a gueensguard who had more experience than them both and a renowned gladiator Dior, who wasn’t just famous for his charisma but his skill with a blade. At least they had all perished in good company.

There was no time to process her emotion right there, she had forgotten why they were truly here, why they all had come to this forsaken place to begin with but she knew she couldn’t let Scylla face a similar fate and without hesitation gave the owlbear a way to conceal herself. Her mind was fogged over with loss, there was a cloud of despair that hung over her thoughts. All she could think about was the blade that the woman held, how it sliced like butter. How it sliced through him like air plagued her as she hunted the woman down in the battlefield, she had expected it to be Ormir that she worked in tandem with but stranger thing had happened and in battle he was actually impressive unlike his politics. It was a strenuous battle, one where many rose and fall. She’d seen Celaya fall victim, even when she had managed to get to her feet again, she was a victim of their attacks.

The crystal in the was cracking, splintering, it could no longer take the pressure it must have been containing. There was only so much energy anything could take, be that living or not, everything had its breaking point and the crystal had reached its. With all that energy contained inside it would kill anyone within its reach. Time froze, she could turn and run, hope for the best that the wave to come wouldn’t reach them, that it wouldn’t damage the foundations of the city that badly it would collapse. Even though he wasn’t with her she could hear not just his words but feel his beliefs within her. There was a slim chance they could stop some of the damage, that she could do something. Looking back, Celaya was on the floor, Akanis’ new squire laid there as a skeleton tried to take her to safety. None of them were going to make it to safety if something wasn’t done, when given the opportunity to run, an opportunity that Ormir had given her instead of feeling she charged towards the crystal. Standing stallward as the magical energy grew she looked back once more making sure all that came here were out the room safely, thankfully the dragon that had no right to be so kind had scooped up Celaya. It had to be now or it would brake of its own volition, this was her honour, duty, responsibility as a queensguard to give her life in defense of the queendom. This was her moment to prove to everyone… no to prove to herself that she was worthy to stand beside Akanis and Agron as a queendguard. Her denotation of loyalty to not only the queen but the people came crashing against the crystal all she had was hope. There was the briefest of quiet, one that led her to believe she had accomplished something, but a breath later she realised she was going to die in this place, as her body turned to dust.

It was hard to imagine darkness, to picture the world with no light but that is how this limbo appeared. There was still this pulling sensation that she knew was Akanis and in this darkness she needed his light. Her pace felt like a hundred years had passed but finally there was a faint glow in the distance “Akanis!” she screamed out to him as she ran into his open arms. His form was featureless but she knew it was him by the warmth he radiated out, the way he held her in his arms that shone brightly like the sun. “Ingrid” the words whispered softly as they embraced each other. “We can go back now, back to our bodies." That was what this was right? He’d been here waiting for her. “You must go back, yes.” his voice was soft like he had made peace with something. “No, us Akanis…” it took a second to realise what was going on here. “No, you promised together. You don’t just get to decide that you're not going back, what about the promise we made? Together!” her voice was raw, rattling. “You need me and the shadow I cast gone to be the woman you’re meant to be Ingird. It’s my time to go back to the wheel and if it weaves it so you’ll be able to call on me again.” He took her face that had been buried in his shoulder in his hands, wiping away tears that had begun to fall. “I know the woman who hides away in there, I know she wants to fight for this world. So fight in my stead Ingrid, fight harder, fight for the both of us. You took a stand down there knowing that you could die permanently, why did you do that?” He posed her a question. “ Because it was the right thing to do.” It was the simplest answer but one she knew to be true. “Exactly! You know what you need to do, here knows.” his flaming has hovered over her heart “We don’t have much time left. You need to help Celaya, she has dark days to come and you need to be there for them. If you can’t find the person I believe in, that I know is there you can at least help her become a knight. Love fiercely, stand courageously, don’t let fear hesitate your action.” It wasn’t a request that he made. Slowly he let go of Ingrid and got to one knee “It had been a pleasure serving with you Sir Ingrid Isherwood.” His light dimmed as the wheel took him back, Ingird to began to fade but not before she could kneel herself “ I won’t forget you.” Of course he had to be a benevolent fucker in their finale moments but she would houner his finale wishes even if she was unsure how to be what he thought she could be, she couldn’t see what he could but he always seen the good that lurked with in her.

Being brought back to the reality she had known was disorientating. May that had all been a bad dream but the fact that she was in a coffin dismissed that thought. Half hearted she pushed the coffin open revealing she was in the tower, in Akanis’ tomb. Feeling like she’d been hollowed out she stood infront of a mirror hoping to see him there “Akanis?” She dared to whisper to the reflection. She hoped, prayed that he would appear there but the only thing that looked back was herself with a new adornment upon her face. She had once wished that she could live this life without him there, that she was never intertwined with him. But now she had that, had what she had dreamed of she didn’t want this anymore, it repulsed her to think she could have ever wanted to be without him, now all she had was the memory of being whole. Her hands griped around the mirrors edge like a vice, so tightly her hands began to shake. Tumbling to her knees her forehead pressed against its surface “I’ll find that woman you saw whatever it takes I’ll be that woman.” She promised to the ether.

[akanisxingrid]

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[akanisxingrid]

There was no more protesting from the changeling, he managed to just barely suck up the guilt of burning Nurcan. Maybe Ingrid's fear of him destroying what was precious to them was valid. Nurcan was a reminder that unless something changed, he and Ingrid would be stuck with only each other for the rest of their lives, that was something Akanis wanted to avoid as he couldn’t stand her.

With a bowed head, limping from the shooting pain Akanis followed after Nurcan. It seemed the Queensguard had a type when it came to women, he could blame Ingrid for that one for sure.

“Maybe, but I still want to do it.” She isn’t the sort to think that kindness has to be rationed, not when she attempts to give it away freely and easily at any chance she has. It had driven her to travel through Taravell to offer as much help as she could afford, and then to become a legionnaire, to try and protect people from the Blight when there was no other solution for it. Nurcan was driven to help others, and she would help even if the situation was unbelievably awkward. “Thank you for accepting.”

With a small smile, she gestures at him to follow. 

“Come on, I think I can whip it up right now.”

[akanisxingrid]

Akanis knew that the time he had taken to pursue a better sense of self was at a turbulent time. But it was because of the recent events that Akanis thought it mandatory, things were just going to get worse from here, despite what everyone does it was going to get darker before it became lighter. But Akanis had to try and he was content that he had since the anders he got were more than he expected.

Upon the permission to enter Akanis with the proper demeanour and respect stood to attention in front of Leander. “Your highness I came to report to you personally regarding the letter I had sent.” Akanis had no clue what the appropriate time to study was but it wasn’t like Aureliath lingered around after he was reborn as Abelas had found him a mate. “Ingrid and I have been reborn in the phoenix's flames, we are its champions.” Akanis produced the ring that signified as much. “I wish to express my appreciation for your advice, while it didn’t solve the issue I had gone to fix. I have learned that it is not an issue to begin with.”

Strange occurrences across the Queendom weren't out of the ordinary, but reports coming from the Silverlands spoke of dragons and daemonfey, of a phoenix reborn through fire and ashes. Leander regretted not being there in person, he'd have enjoyed witnessing both events with his own eyes but between the aftermath of Aventia, the refugees outside of Marinus Bay, and more reports coming in from the Astorian border, Leander's hands were tied.

It was late, burning the proverbial midnight oil, Leander had pulled a few books from the library to brush up on his runic. The Prince didn't have to contend with many druids besides Fharzai, but the information from the east was sound and Leander wouldn't be caught off guard again. "Come in." Leander called back, he'd received Akanis's letter and expected this with the other's inevitable return - though it was much faster than the witch had thought.

[akanisxingrid]

It wasn’t often Ingrid got recognised compared to the other queensguard, so when this woman said her name like that she was faltered, flattery does get you everywhere but Ingrid was suspicious. With an eyebrow cocked Ingrid asked “Name the other queensgaurd?” did people really know them like that? Odd. Ingrid was sure she was going to survive this siege but the other that remained to be seen. “I’m not in the warriors guild, you should really ask one of them. But I'll entertain the idea, tell me why i should? Why should I help you, I guard the queen so why should I give up my time to train you?” Ingrid had never taken a student to date, and it’s not like she didn’t want one but she was looking for something special more than just asking nicely, she wanted passion. “I think you saw wrong, I don't burn.” Did this woman know that she was one half of a changeling? The woman should have spoken to Akanis if she wanted to burn.

Zeliha was beaming, some hope shining in her features. She was no warrior like the ones you would expect, but the promise of the Warrior's Guild still gave her joy. She would bring her own kind of altruistic fight to their ranks, if they'd extend more than just the invitation to join but the full membership. She believed Ingrid's sentiment completely, and it gave her more confidence.

"Isherwood of the Queensguard... it's an honor." Her bright smile remained. "We will survive this. Both of us. And when that happens...Well, I..." Now the faiman looked a little more bashful and uncertain. "I was wondering if you had any students or- or maybe even just people you sparred with? I know I'm no knight but I am fighting to bring more to the Warrior's Guild then just what I have as a healer... even if I'm not a soldier, I want to be able to hold my own." She looked even more shy now, knowing she was asking a Queenguard of all, and it was likely the other would have no time or patience to spare outside a battlefield.

"You burned so brightly in my eyes and... it just feels like Fate that I saw you today. "

[akanisxingrid]

“I have yet to find a way to come to terms with my own actions. All those lives I took in the name of my kingdom, in the name of freedom. They had their own families, friends and dreams, I just took them based off my own ideology.” Many monsters found justification for their actions and called them self the hero, Akanis knew that it was just about perspective. “I’m not much of a knight based on that. The titles I was given, well I don’t see them as something to posses. They are a promise to be better. No one could keep me accountable like I could.” And every day he made sure he was keeping to that promise of representing the kingdom. “I might not be able to give you salvation but I have been looking for a squire.” Yeah she was far older than most squires but there were some factors he could make an exception for like her already knowing how to fight. “There is someone you will have to meet first if you are interested.” And her name was Ingrid, he was sure she would stop this in its tracks.

Barbaric cruelty made someone this way, all kindling and knives, though she could not remember much, her anger was a tightly coiled spring within her waiting to pounce on anyone who saw her as a vulnerable piece to exploit. Within Lady Severian's home she had felt like an outsider the entire duration, those within would walk on eggshells as though one day she would destroy them all from within; she was not used to the compassion this one was selling. His questions prompted too much for her to compose, a litany of things which could only be supplemented by memories which she could not reach; blank vestiges of former happenings barely prompted by a familiar scent or a face from her past. She was unsure if she wished to delve into the past, seeing Njal and Torsten had been enough, skimming the surface of the violence she had committed, things which were indelibly marked within other pasts, too. "I think-" she was slow, careful, even now she feared saying something wrong that would have Akanis treat her much like the others within Lysara thus far, "-I don't need your accolades or titles, but I find great respect in what you are. A knight, a queensguard. Whatever I have done cannot be changed but I also think there is no without, too." The violence which molded her could not be taken away with a void mind, her body still remembered and idle hands sought to pick up a blade again but with a different purpose this time.

[akanisxingrid]

Orangiseed chaos wasn’t really how he operated thankfully nor was its Ingrid’s. The pair liked everything organised, to what was his and what was hers. Their mansion was the same, a clear division between Akanis and Ingrid. But he had heard that those who could thrive in organised chaos shouldn’t have that chaos cleaned because at least in that chaos they knew where everything was.

He let the fire dance around his fingers tips as he put his hands close to the flames no longer afraid of its heat. There was a lot about what he had just said that could cause such a reaction “well while fighting in Aventia I met a woman. She is an excellent warrior, so there would be one less area to train if I take her as my squire. Though she is a Witcher.” He explained a little more about how he met Celaya.

“Now hear me out first please. A Witchers exists is because they were mages. They were young witches once, had hellish acts preformed upon them to make them these beings of hate for magic. It’s not their fault they despised our existence. They were victims of their own birth place. If they had been born here their magic would have been celebrated.” it was honestly quite sad and now witches hated them for their existence. “They are our guest and I will treat them as such but she is different, she can’t remember her past. She experience all they hate that our guest do and yet she wants to be more then what a Witcher currently stands to be. I’m going to help her, cause I’ll be damned if I stand in the way of someone trying to make changes for the better.”

He knew this would be difficult for others to understand his reasoning but after what he experienced with the phoenix anyone is capable of change, he knows that for sure now. He was excited to see how she would change.

Rüya glanced at the volumes balanced precariously on the little table beside her, her fingers resting on the worn edges of an old medical text. She hadn’t realised how quiet the room had become until Akanis' voice cut through it. The corner of her mouth twitched, amusement restoring her ravaged features. "It's organised chaos…" she muttered, watching her friend fold himself onto the ground, like he’d been here a thousand times before.

Fire had a strange way of following him, curling at his feet like an old companion. She let the warmth soak into her own skin, but it didn’t ease the weight pressing on her chest. Still, she appreciated his attempt to fill the space. That was something he did well. Breaking things up before they could settle too deep, like he was holding her on solid ground.

“You’d make a terrible librarian,” she murmured, watching the flames dance. His next words pulled her attention sharp and fast. “What did you say?” Her gaze hardened as the word hung between them. Witcher.

The Witchers of Iskaldrik were not men. They were knives given form—cold, unrelenting instruments honed to cut away anything that bled magic. She remembered, from her time in the Kingdom, how whispered superstition was enough to summon them. How the bravest ran to protect their families, only to be found hanging from their own gates by dawn.

The Phoenix alone was cause for discussion, but a Witcher’s involvement… that was more than she was prepared to face tonight. Rüya swallowed the knot tightening in her throat.

"Elaborate, please."

[akanisxingrid]

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Trying to slyly move the mirror hoping the prince hadn’t noticed what the object was Akanis smiled widely “I was just talking to a friend of mine. The conversation was just about over, and well you have saved me from looking mad, your highness.” its wasn’t the first time the other had saved him. Akanis hadn’t forgot that Ikaros had convince a dragon to let them pass and not only that bless some with a piece of its horde. And for some reason Ikaros had chose him “ In the spirit of hospitality please allow me to get you a drink and a hot meal.” he was dressed in his queensgaurd vestments, Akanis was a representation of queen herself and wouldn't forget that.

Akanis politely got a servers attention, they came to the table to take Ikaros order “Please order anything you’d like, it is on me.” Akanis just hoped it wasn't something outlandishly expensive. “I want to apologise for my dishevelled state, I wasn’t expecting company. I was just getting a meal before my walk home.” the walk back to the city that was his home.

Ikaros remembered the man who'd joined he and Abelas, Akanis. While the Silverlands were as familiar to the Prince as the Feywilds were, he was spending more time within them with his dragon and cat-sith. Saleba was watching from afar, as she always did, never one to interfere unless she had to. The Feywilds were her place of happiness, and she preferred the silence to Gwaern's rumbling and crashing through the undergrowth.

Still, the Prince was a master of stealth, always heading through and remaining unseen. It was something he'd wished to learn a long time ago – the art of assassination could be seen as cowardly, but it was just deadly. Still, Akanis was alone – talking to himself. It seemed as such, but Ikaros crossed his arms over his chest and waited to be noticed, "Akanis," he said with a smile, tilting his head and watching the other, "Of course I'll join you." An Elvhen always accepted hospitality, it was engrained into Ikaros' very being. "Am I interrupting?"

[akanisxingrid]

Ingrid was proud of her own ability with her swords, it wasn’t there at birth like Akanis. She had to train till her body gave out to keep up with her elvhen half. She had been jealous of how Akanis’ achievements outshone her own. She was still jealous, but she now knew that she was the one comparing no one else. Ingrid had put herself against Akanis, had treated him as a pawn due to her own insecurities that much was shown at the trials. But with their new found cooperation who knew what they were now capable of achieving.

“Please, I'm sure you have been called worse. And will be.” Ingrid knew Akanis’ intentions with this one, this witcher and it so happened the Ingrid was interested in this flight of fancy Akanis had taken with the witcher “I have it on good authority you want to be like us, a knight. You'd have to get used to people still calling you witcher despite your noble intentions. They are going to see you as what you were, not what you are becoming. But i’m sure you know that already?” Ingrid just wanted to acknowledge that this road was going to be questioned not just by Celaya old countrymen but by the noble of Lysara court. Ingrid made a point of flashing her noticeable sword that had the royal crest upon it.

Akanis was not expecting Celaya, but the witcher had idle hands as of late and she sought to make herself useful. He'd only ever showed her kindness, typically edged with bewilderment, but it was neither here nor there in comparison to his lack of judgement. Who she'd found, however, was not the Queensguard, but Celaya's eyes watched intently as they danced and wove through their own training simulation as though it were nothing to cause disarray. A smile shone on this warrior's face, gleefully turning her swords and manifesting fire; when the explosion resounded, Celaya hardly winced, but her face quirked in a mild appreciation. Whatever Celaya could not remember about her dark past, manifested in her own fighting abilities and it felt nice to see someone not so heavily burdened by their own lethality.

The appreciative expression faded as the woman called her over, some sense of recognition as she called Celaya witcher. She remained where she was, bargaining only a half step, arms petulantly crossed as she breezily retorted, "I don't think that's any way to address me."