Sept. 18th: Hedging Our Bets

[Winifred Winters]

((open thread))

Winn is in the hedge maze. She sits on a bench near the center and lights a cigarette.

"I think I liked it better when I was dying," Winn mumbles to no one in particular. The universe, maybe.

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Unhappy, are we?" A voice came from behind.

[Winifred Winters]

"Consistently," Winn says flatly.

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Well, at least I believe you're telling the truth, this time."

[Winifred Winters]

"I always tell the truth," Winn says. "It's my best quality."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"That's not what I'm told. You promise me you wouldn't break anything you couldn't replace."

[Winifred Winters]

"I did replace it," Winn says. "So, I could. QED."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"And if your new powers had failed? I found out that cars are, apparently, quite expensive."

[Winifred Winters]

"They didn't," Winn says. "I try not to worry about things that didn't happen. Enough bad shit does happen."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Winnifred Willa Winters, you are not allowed to have that poor foresight."

[Winifred Winters]

"How did...no, wait, what?" Winn asks. "What the hell are you talking about?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"You intentionally lied to me when you promised not to damage anything you couldn't replace. I do not appreciate that.

So, you will not do it again."

[Winifred Winters]

"Yeah. Right," Winn says. "Pinky-swear."

[Altamira Vazquez]

"You misunderstand me.

You WILL not lie again.

Try it."

[Winifred Winters]

Winn tries to say something, but she can't.

"The hell!!?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Tell me something untrue. Try."

[Winifred Winters]

"I am!" Winn says. She tries to say that Mira is a gigantic bitch.

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Perhaps this will teach you a little bit about the value of the truth. And it should make it easier to trust you."

[Winifred Winters]

"Nothing like violating someone's speech center to build trust," Winn grumbles.

[Altamira Vazquez]

"Oh, I'm always trustworthy. You can count on me to do precisely what I say."

[Winifred Winters]

"And you can count on me to not put up with this bullshit," Winn says. "Who the hell do you think you are anyway?"

[Altamira Vazquez]

"The Phoenix. Fire and life incarnate."

[Winifred Winters]

"Yeah? So what?" Winn asks. "You're just an amazingly powerful and helpful woman who I have a ridiculous secret crush on."

Winn's face goes instantly red as she hears the words that come out of her mouth.

"That is exactly what I meant to say. Shut up!"

She bites down on her lower lip. Hard.

[Altamira Vazquez]

"I'm flattered, Winn. I'm glad I can be helpful for you. The 'not dying' bit must be especially useful."

[Winifred Winters]

"Fuck off," Winn hisses at Mira.

[Altamira Vazquez]

"If you insist. Just think about what you've done, and everything will return to normal service."

[Winifred Winters]

"I said leave me the fuck alone already!" Winn snaps. A bed of wilted wildflowers bloomed under her feet.

Her powers did not lend themselves to intimidation very well.

[Altamira Vazquez]

"You know where to find me," Mira said, walking off through the hedge maze.