you could rattle the stars.
you could do anything,
if only you dared

The chopping of vegetables was comfortable for Vhalla, it gave her something to do with her hands rather than standing around watching. The assassin had never been taken care of in her life, she had squabbled for her food and fought to survive, only because there was no weakness within the ranks that Ivan so headed. As a child, it didn't take her long to realize that the stronger she was the better the food was, the better the clothing was, the more money she made. And she had spent every last penny of that blood money as she earned it, lavishing herself with fancy clothes she would never wear, luxurious décor she hardly ever glanced at or used. Though, she had spent a small fortune on the grand piano that so lingered within that front room at her warehouse and an even larger sum on that library she found herself frequenting more and more. Being tied to Ivan left her with little to do other than spend her money, so of course she would spend it on silly things, it wasn't as if she could buy her freedom as much as she would have liked.

Elain's comments draw her out of her thoughts, her blue eyes blinking at the girl as she offers a small shrug. She didn't believe in such things nor did she believe in any gods in this world; if such an entity existed... well, she had managed to get the shit end of the stick. "I'm just coordinated with it is all," she replies, brushing off the compliment though a faint smile tugs at the corner of her lips. Just as she finishes chopping the veggies, she sets the knife down and allows her gaze to follow Elain as she rummages through the cabinets, retrieving various seasonings just as she asks what brought them to the city. Her response has Vhalla cringing inwardly, perhaps she shouldn't have asked, though the woman didn't hesitate in the least as she explains their situation. "I'm sorry for your loss," she murmurs quietly, her mind flashing back to that memory filled with screams and fire. She wouldn't admit it, but the woman could relate more than Elain could even imagine, though, she very much doubted that Elain was responsible for her parents' death.

Vhalla could understand that heaviness that seemed to draw on the strength of the woman before her, it was painful to see. Guilt rammed into her forcefully, almost hard enough to knock her off her feet. Here she was comparing herself with Elain when in reality they shared the loss of their parents and yet, Vhal had been the one to murder her own; by accident but still, that self hatred had never abandoned to her and instead manifested into a dark life she now led. She might have said more, might have pried just a little farther to see what had happened but the deep tenors of that aggravating voice echo through the house and the assassin is pivoting to him, brows arched in momentary surprise until she's responding to his threatening tone with a mocking grin. A bit of delight flashes through her eyes at the situation she had found herself in, perhaps she would spend the evening taunting and harassing the nameless man. Elain's obvious surprise has Vhal turning towards her, a brow arched in utter amusement as she watches the fellow woman's reaction.

The hidden laughter that so finds its way into Elain's lyrics has Vhal's icy gaze snapping to the woman with obvious delight. Oh, she would like this woman very much. "More or less," she responds with a smile, returning those piercing features back to the brother, daring him to say just what had happened. His response to the invitation she had received has her biting the inside of her cheek as she holds back the wicked laughter that so wanted release. She very much doubted she would be uninvited if Elain had anything to say about it. She suspected that the woman was stubborn as a mule when she wanted to be and Vhal could already see a bit of defiance beginning to twinkle in the younger woman's eyes. As the threats to continue to roll off the man's tongue, her grin only broadens that much more and as he reaches up to point a finger at her. Without hesitation, she shoots her own hand up and grabs onto his index finger and tugging, just hard enough to put him off balance and perhaps stumble towards her a bit. "Cute. How very charming of you to threaten a woman," she smiles coyly, her eyes batting at him innocently though her eyes hold nothing but infinite amusement.

She realized in that moment, she was having fun.

Releasing his finger, she plants a hand on her hip in a very Vhalla-like fashion as she watches the man nearly flinch at Elain's rebuttal. So the girl did have him wrapped around her finger, at least to an extent. The nickname that is so dropped from the woman's mouth has Vhalla biting her tongue, again that laughter threatening to spill from her. "Nice to meet you, Lazlo," she replies delighted, finding another way she can torment the man. And as he responds that it was a cheap shot, Vhal merely eyes him with that mocking knowing look of hers as she shrugs. She wouldn't apologize, he had thought to buy her services, so she merely showed him just what she thought of his offer. Of course, she had no intention of telling him why it pissed her off so much at the time. Instead, she watches him retreat to the couch and flip down angrily as she waves her slender fingers at him, that wickedly amused grin loitering on her features. Turning back to Elain, she merely shrugs at the girl, "If you want me to leave I can, I don't want to interfere with your relationship with your brother," she offers though she very much doubts Elain would kick her out now.

Fully expecting the girl to demand she stay, she returns to the vegetables at hand and gives them over to Elain to do as she wished. There was nothing more Vhal could do from this point on and she wasn't about to offer she do more. The woman couldn't cook so she would not attempt it. Waiting until the casserole is made and shoved in the oven, Vhal's eyes fart back over to the man slouching on the couch, clearly annoyed that she had indeed won and would be staying for dinner. "How does it feel to get your ass handed to you by a woman?" She purrs delightedly at him as she leans over the counter, planting her forearms on the table as she watches him like a wildcat. "You know, I could teach you some self defense, it might make you feel a little better about yourself," she comments, cackling as she turns back to Elain. "I feel sorry for you, having to put up with that all the time."

Vhalla Solarn

To the stars who listen- and the dreams that are answered