#replies: nina and agneta

[secrettyrant]

Stepping into the meeting room, Nina isn't surprised by the sly glance her mother gives to the clock followed by cold eyes moving to the coffee cup in her hand. Far more than just business is discussed between mother and daughter, even when no words are said at all. Scrutiny beams from Agneta's eyes at any given time. A presence that can be felt more than acknowledged.

Nina takes her work seriously, as expected, but not even five or ten minutes on the clock can save her from punctuality being questioned. She's now old enough to know it's all by design, but behavior roots itself like second nature and she reverts instantly. On edge, stepping on egg shells. She's already moving to the chair when Agneta gestures to it, fighting back a scoff and instead using every ounce of her energy to compose herself. "Yes." she remarks as her mother pulls the report, watching the way Agneta scans over it.

Her hard work is under the firing line next but Nina wears a contrived smile to her mother. "Of course it's realistic." a faint nod moves over her head. "The fifteen percent increase has come from using digital channels for engagement." a dainty hand reaches then to pluck the paper from her mother, a pen pulled from the holder to underline where she reads from. "Here." she passes back the report, a silent gesture that perhaps her mother should open her cold, dead, eyes. "Now we will shift to personalized outreach and advanced data analytics to better understand and predict audience preferences. This way, we can tailor our talent's content to what the audience really wants." Nina explains, tone direct and to the point. "Naturally, we will see an increase."

where: zenith entertainment

with: agneta ranstrom and nina ranstrom @secrettyrant

★・・・・・・★

As Nina steps into the meeting room, Agneta's gaze flickers briefly to the clock on the wall before drifting back to her daughter. It's then that her eyes deliver a silent critique for the coffee cup in Nina's hand. Her daughter may not be late, with minutes still to go until the arranged start, but this doesn't stop Agneta from noting the time with an almost clinical disapproval. She smooths out the papers on the glass table before she gestures to the chair beside her, an invitation and command. "The latest performance metrics." Agneta begins with a controlled murmur as she scans the report. Her eyes finally meet Nina's with a slight smile surfacing over her features. "A fifteen percent increase is a step in the right direction, but you and I both know it's not nearly enough." she says in a deliberate tone. "Do you think twenty percent is realistic for you?"

[secrettyrant]

"Interesting is an opinion." Nina quips, her tone level as she fixes her attention to her book. But, she should know better that Felix never leaves anything alone. His questions and statements leave him at a rapid speed, leaving Nina no choice but to abandon the pages of her book again to stare at her brother. She blinks, leaving a long pause of silence between the end of his words and the start of her own. "There is one topic of discussion that is universally agreed upon to be interesting, Felix. And that's how big of a baby you were. And how mother dearest quite obviously bounced you on her knee when there were low ceilings."

Her only interest comes when she's almost enlightened about the altercation by the pool between Chloe and Ines. But, almost is the operative word. Nina's grin slinks away into a frown when Felix explains next to nothing. She gives a tsk when he mistakes Switzerland for Sweden, perpetuating the cycle and the likelihood of her doing the same thing. "For Christ sake, I don't know why I even bothered asking you." she mutters in annoyance, turning back to her book but glancing over the top to Chloe at the question. "She reminded me of the last puppy picked from a litter, left to wonder why since she wasn't the runt and saddened that the brother and sister with the weird legs and tail were more appealing than she ever was."

Felix's expression fell neutral at his sister's comment, throwing a hand up in a sarcastic surrender as clearly his input wasn't asked for. "Okay, fine. I won't try and talk to you about something interesting." he said with a teasing bitterness as he settled back in his seat and turned his face away from Nina to make his point. "That means it will be small talk now, I hope you know that." Felix then said and waved a hand to the villa. "Are you coming to the vineyard thing today? I think all of us are, I'm not sure. Except for Tyler. Talk about dedication. He's great, isn't he? I can really see why him and Rosie work. They sort of remind me of Jakob and Ines." he laid on the small talk thick, purposely choosing topics he knew his sister disliked the most. "And this weather is great for it, too." he added with a smirk but the act quickly fell away when Nina nodded to Ines the other side of the pool.

Felix shrugged at first, not sure if it was something worth mentioning considering Ines and Chloe seemed to be staying well away from another. And, there didn't seem to be any atmospheres impacting anybody else's time. "It was weird." Felix admitted, his nose wrinkling because he was still convinced there was a manipulation at play from Chloe. "It was weird but also stupid." he added, not that it clarified much but he sat straighter so he could lean closer to Nina. "Be honest. In the spirit of Switz-" he tsk'd. "Sweden. What did you used to think about Chloe? When she was with Jakob?"

[manybcdthings]

"Right. It definitely sounded like one." Felix remarked dryly, a small huff punctuating his words as his sister backtracked. He didn't even read Oskar's statement as an attempt to placate the quick rise in tension and waved a dismissive hand at his brother. "Okay, well, no offense, but I won't blame her if she doesn't exactly want to be used as a magical pawn. So, I'll let you know." Felix bit back quickly, feeling the familiar sensation of needing to remove himself mentally from his surroundings. It was something that only occurred frequently with his brother and sister, as if his soul was tired of the constant defense needed for whatever quips might fly through the air.

The resolve and plan for the trip, however, worked to quell Felix's curiosity about the notebook and Nina's dark humor managed to pull a weak chuckle from him. His hand lifted in a sheepish mirror of hers. "I think the same thing. And I also think Agneta and Olaf are part of a whole abyssal conspiracy, probably did the Beekman." he claimed grandly without a single ounce of shame, even if he could easily read Oskar's disapproval. There was no warm farewell as Nina made her leave, Felix drawing in a deep breath as if anticipating the sense of relief that would sweep through his apartment once his brother and sister left him alone. His gaze flicked between her and Oskar as the strange compliment was repeated, making Felix's nose scrunch slightly as if in disgust. "Okay. That's...wonderful." he commented simply, feeling as if Oskar had a gun to his head to agree. He half expected his brother to seize the opportunity to leave next, but something much worse followed.

As Oskar tried to strike up a warmer conversation, Felix couldn't control the scoff that left him. It was a deeply bitter but amused sound as he packed up the other box. "Ah, yeah. So fond of her that you tried to belittle her work and our relationship." his words were a sharp mutter and Felix wasn't looking to Oskar as he moved around him to stack the boxes away again. "You can go, Oskar. I don't want this conversation and you don't either." Felix stopped himself from further comment, knowing that anything heartfelt would simply be a stiff and tense atmosphere that lingered. Possibly for days. "Yes." he reply was simple about the notebook, but his expression lacked any enthusiasm. "Maybe you're not sure what a werewolf attack consists of, but it's all teeth and claws. My memory of magic is still intact. I'm fully capable to figure this out alone. So if you're messing up your precious work schedule because you think I'll struggle, you can...just not?"

@dxrkenedheights

Nina doesn’t gain any satisfaction from the quip she directs to Felix at Isabella's expense, but she does manage a slight grin and rolls her eyes heavily. "Oh, please. I never said it was a bad thing." she backtracks, throwing up a weak hand in apology. "And there’s no way either of you will survive a trip together without someone there with a brain. I was actually complimenting her." It isn’t a lie. People like Isabella Belcourt are necessary, Nina thinks, to balance out the world that might otherwise be ravaged by people like herself. She glances between her brothers, noting how Oskar dances on the edge of intrigue about the notebook despite his usual aloof facade. That brings a more genuine grin to her lips, and Nina nods as if the situation has resolved itself.

"Great. Well, that’s settled." she says, clapping her hands together and taking one last look at the boxes they stand among. "You both talk to the ladies who hold your leashes and get back to me. Then I'll sort out some dates." a shiver of excitement crawls up her spine, making Nina shrug her shoulders in a contented wriggle. "I think we should place bets. Just some harmless fun. I say abyssal magic, and she killed her children with it. Greta survived." Nina speculates, slowly raising her hand and looking at her brothers. "Possibly accidental, possibly not." she adds, her tone contradicting the sinister topic.

Nina doubts there is anything else of interest in the boxes, but she takes another look at the notebook as thoughts churn briefly. "Greta might reach out after your visit and tell our dear mother about this, so we should think ahead." she says and although communication between mother and daughter has been limited for years, Nina doesn't take any chances. "Or, try to be coy about how you mention it, if either of you can manage that." her gaze flits between the brothers again, wondering if this trip might help them better understand one another. But Nina doesn’t particularly want to be there for the brotherly bonding itself, predicting it will be nauseating and something that could have been resolved years ago. "Despite how fun this was, I need to go." she declares, heading straight for her purse and coat to conclude the afternoon on her own terms. She pauses at the door, turning slightly to give one last nod. "I mean it, though. You do look well, Felix. Less gaunt. But maybe next time you'll offer us a coffee." @dxrkenedheights

[secrettyrant]

There are two words, beginning with L, that Nina avoids ever using in her life. So when Felix mutters one of them, her eyes move to the youngest with a sharp and scathing glare. She refuses to reply until a scoff escapes her at his remark about their family. As far as Nina's concerned, every family has their issues. Distance and emotional fractures are the lesser of the two evils in life, especially when they come with a healthy helping of opportunity and wealth. "Oh Christ, just pick a struggle." Nina's mutter is the most abrupt yet flippant it's been to Felix in quite some time, her sharp edges returning for his previous jab at her expense. The only joy she can find is when the tables turn to Oskar's little predicament with Madi and her eyes flicker between the brothers with a quiet smugness. Felix resting behind the island with a cold glare, more protective than she's seen him be. Oskar, clearly stumbling over the direct truth. But, Nina says nothing. From her perspective, the two of them together need to find a resolve. She's half tempted to grab them both by their heads to knock together, hoping for a better result than whatever this is.

Family matters, however, are pushed to the back of her mind. A shared trait, perhaps. As the potential of abyssal magic in their blood and family becomes far more pressing. Especially the sinister sensation that crawls through Nina's veins after her and Oskar are obstructed by the advanced magic within the book. She stares at it now, in a mild horror and confusion, her glance lifting to Felix when he mentions how it physically maimed Madisyn. "Oh, thanks for the heads up." Nina remarks in a cool sarcasm but her words are drowned by Oskar taking charge of the moment. A typical sight that forces her eyes into a heavy roll, especially when she hears his dismissive instructions. "Oskar, that's nonsense and you know it." Nina quips quickly to her older brother. "If nothing but research is in this thing, it would be far easier to open. Especially considering she would have found nothing wrong with how she obtained her studies and theories." she adds, as her attention is drawn to Felix.

Now, is the youngest brother's turn for a grand speech. Remember what Nina thinks about a rose between two thorns? However, she listens intently and finds her head forming a subtle nod in agreement. "I think you should." she responds with an eerie calm, gesturing to the notebook. "I want to know what's in that thing and I would come with but...if we all just get up and leave for Swit..." Nina blinks, not used to making a single error and tsking. "Sweden. Agneta is going to have far too many questions." her problem solving brain kicks in, pointing at Oskar. "You have to go because Felix doesn't have his magic and now we know Madi's isn't reliable." Nina isn't apologetic with her statement. "Take Henrik to make it seem like a family trip. Meeting them all before they all croak, because let's face it, it isn't long." her instructions roll free and she waves a hand as she acknowledges Felix. "Take Bella, too. For her magic and Lord knows you'll all need a mediator and she gets off on that sort of thing. I'll stay here and hold the fort, stop Agneta getting hysterical with the questions." Nina finishes her words with a pointed shrug, glancing at her brothers expectantly. "Well? I know a company that can have a plane ready for you in a few days." @dxrkenedheights

★・・・・・・★

Oskar is all too familiar with Felix's sharp tongue, wielded like a sword, cutting through atmospheres with precision. Every sarcastic quip from his brother is a carefully crafted barrier, deflecting and derailing. Oskar sighs, the sarcasm washing over him like a wave and he fights the urge to roll his eyes as Felix’s strategy works like a charm, leaving him speechless. "Okay, we get it. You're the comedic genius of our family." he retorts, his tone as dry and defeated. But beneath the sarcasm, something piques Oskar’s interest. He shares a glance with Nina, both of them intrigued by the valid point Felix raises. The children in the photographs are real. The burning question is where they are now and, more puzzlingly, why no one has ever mentioned them. Not their grandmother, not their mother. Oskar looks at Nina and then Felix, nodding thoughtfully. "Giving away children was seen as an embarrassment, hm? Maybe they were quite literally placed out of sight and out of mind."

However, as they delve deeper, Oskar senses their speculations are veering them off course. The contents of the box scream black magic with a sinister hint of abyssal depths. A shiver runs down his spine, the same one he’s sure Felix and Nina feel. Something dark festers in their family’s past. It doesn’t help his unease when Felix and Nina witness his realization, the ignorance regarding his own daughter. Clearing his throat awkwardly, Oskar mumbles. "Right. Well. I'll…send her a text. See if I can help." his shrug is a surrender. "If she just told me what was happening, I could have helped a lot sooner. I can't read minds." his voice deflects the guilt, though he knows it’s well-earned. Felix's next remark only deepens Oskar’s unease. He knows their younger brother can't help with the magic-bound notebook and he gives Felix a withering look before joining Nina, focusing his efforts.

Eyes closed, he channels his magic visualizing it reaching out to the book’s force. But every attempt is thwarted, his magic repelled, a blur of black at each thread’s edge as if the book itself is alive and resisting. His magic turns sharp, painful in his veins and when the book erupts with disruptive energy, he and Nina recoil in unison. "Jesus." Oskar hisses as his sister does, magic feeling as if it's piercing his veins. "That's…this is very advanced." he says, breath tight as he glances between his sister and Felix. Nina’s suggestion makes him shake his head immediately. "I don’t think so. That thing knows when you’re trying to connect to it, before any spell or attempt is even made. That's…" Oskar trails off, words failing him at the sheer sophistication of the magic. "Is this what happened to Madi?"

Then, his hand waves. A dismissive gesture to the book that sits on the kitchen counter. "This is ridiculous. The most that could be in there are research notes. Let's face it, the early 1900s aren't exactly known for their kind methods." Oskar decides, his voice a strict tone as he decides to wash his hands of the entire thing. "Truthfully, this was a waste of time. What does any of this even prove? There were children nobody talked about, possibly for a reason. And Hanna, more than likely, wasn't very humane with her studies. That's...just history. This is a nothing situation, Felix." @manybcdthings

[manybcdthings]

Felix wasn't surprised when there was no sign of Nina as Oskar arrived. His sister had long since realized she was the buffer in their dynamic, the only one who could smooth out the rough edges. Without her, there were empty words and awkward silences, especially after weeks of limited contact. Felix engaged in the small talk with a dreary tone, both he and Oskar painfully aware that they were dancing around something far more significant. It was as predictable as it was exhausting. When Oskar gestured to the two old trunks, Felix's gaze followed. The chests had been haphazardly packed away and were now stacked one atop the other in his kitchen. They contrasted sharply with the modern decor, an uncomfortable metaphor of time that Felix preferred not to acknowledge. He mirrored Oskar's hesitant step towards them, moving closer with caution to the time capsules. "Yeah. That's exactly what happened," he replied sincerely, though he bit back other words. If Oskar paid more attention to his own daughter, perhaps he’d notice when she was pulling the wool over his eyes.

Felix rubbed the back of his head before crossing his arms, lingering near the chests as his expression remained blank while he listened to Oskar. "There's actually not much of interest in them. A few old books, clothes, photos. That sort of thing," he explained, intercepting his brother’s curiosity as he opened the top trunk. "There was this photo album, Lars' and Hanna's." the album was just the beginning of the questions it raised. "Do you know if Greta had any brothers or sisters?" Felix's tone lifted with the question as he dug around in the chest, pulling out the album. He turned to the same picture that showed a young boy with a striking resemblance to Henrik. "These…very happy-looking children appear in a bunch of photos and then just…don't." Felix said, passing the album to Oskar at the same time that brother’s lecture filled the space between them. A familiar cadence that Felix had grown accustomed to, despite responding immediately with a dry chuckle. "Well, if these chests were out of sight and out of mind, then Agneta isn't going to notice they're missing. So, we have nothing to worry about."

Before Felix was able to say anything else, the sound of Nina's arrival buzzed through his apartment and he used it as ample opportunity to escape the painful conversation with Oskar. Letting their sister enter, Felix just bopped a quick nod in greeting while gesturing to where the questions about their family were, once again, circling. "Great, now we can actually get to the good part." he commented, following after Nina to his kitchen. "In the second chest, there's a..." Felix paused, looking to Oskar and then to Nina. "Do you know if Greta had any brothers or sisters?" he backtracked, pointing to the photo album Oskar held. "There's kids in a bunch of photos, and then it's like they disappeared." @secrettyrant

where: felix's apartment

with: oskar ranstrom, nina ranstrom and felix ranstrom @manybcdthings

★・・・・・・★

As stated, Oskar arrives at his brother's apartment at precisely 1 p.m., his punctuality not surprising nor his meticulous nature. However, as he steps into the familiar space, there's a noticeable slump to his posture. He quickly realizes that Nina, likely for her own amusement, has delayed her own arrival. Leaving him and Felix alone after weeks of no contact. Navigating anything with Felix these days feels like a minefield. Oskar stands awkwardly, unsure of where to step next. He observes his brother, noting that Felix seems slightly rejuvenated, a spark in his eyes that wasn’t there before. Oskar equates this newfound vitality to the return of Isabella Belcourt in Felix’s life. A small pang of guilt tugs at him, remembering the conversation he had with her at the Beekman Hotel. A conversation that now feels like a betrayal.

The room is heavy with silence at first, the kind that wraps around you like a dense fog. Uncomfortable and tight. When they do speak, the small talk is stilted and their words barely break the surface of their strained relationship. Desperate for a distraction, Oskar turns to the purpose of his visit, using it as a lifeline. He glances at the two large leather chests in the room. Old and worn, their leather cracked and tired after traveling through countless generations. Buckling under the weight of untold secrets. With a weak wave of his hand, Oskar gestures towards them, trying to deflect the awkward tension. "So, Madi got hold of these somehow?" his voice resonates with a hint of intrigue. "I'm guessing on the day when she told me she left her purse at our parents' place." he had found it odd at the time that Madi had visited Agneta and Olaf, a rare occurrence that now makes much more sense.

Taking hesitant steps towards the chests, Oskar's mind races back to their childhood. "I remember seeing these as kids. Not inside them, obviously. Mom seemed to want them out of sight and out of mind. I'm guessing for a reason, one that you and Madi have carelessly discovered." he looks to Felix with expectancy and with a casual wave of his hand, he dismisses Nina’s absence. "What have you found? She can catch up." Oskar's eyes linger on the chests, their presence a physical reminder of the mysteries that have always surrounded their family. He feels a mix of curiosity and dread, wondering what revelations lie within those old, tired containers. "You should have texted me when Madisyn arrived with them, Felix. Agneta will lose her mind when she finds out."