Archive of Our Own

I have some misgivings about simply handing the orb over to her. Yet, it's clear she's aware of it already and determined to have it. I don't want to start a confrontation with this stout-looking woman. Plus, I'm keen to get to the bottom of this mystery, and my gut tells me she holds some of the puzzle pieces. Who knows, maybe it really does belong to her after all?

"Sure, here you go," I hand her the orb, then lean in to watch her expression.

She seems astonished that I'd simply hand it over like that, "Th- thanks." She nods and immediately begins turning it over in her hands. Another exclamation, of shock this time. "You turned it on! What the hell were you thinking! Oh my god! What have you done?"

I look back at her with doe-eyed innocence, "you mean sliding the two halves of it?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean, Jesus." She shakes her head, peering intently at the sphere, briefly clear before returning to a mirror finish. Another sharp gasp...

"It was... connected?" Now she's staring wide-eyed, first at me, then at the orb, then back again. She's utterly astonished, almost incapable of speech.."Wh..why? H-how?"

I shrug my shoulders in response. "You mean the connection to Anna?"

"Oh my god, this is so exciting," she reaches out to embrace me. A big bear hug. The squeeze from those sculpted arms is astonishingly strong, I feel my back creak under the pressure then release with a small pop. Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of this strong, yet enticingly handsome woman. "To think, after all these years of searching! You know what this means don't you?"

"I haven't the foggiest." I mean it. I'm completely confused now. Not sure why she's so happy nor what the hell is going on here.

"The connection, you established it!!!" she shakes her head in wonder, "For years we tried, but you've done it. Like it was nothing! How on earth did you do it?"  She pauses for a moment, "Wait, did you say Anna?"

I offer what I know, hopefully it'll help. "Yeah, Anna. She's the woman on the other end, the one I connected to in the sphere."

I see a slow look of recognition dawn on her. "Ah, Anna! Maybe that's why." She looks at me with a big grin on her face. "Why didn't we ever think of that ourselves. It's so obvious in hindsight." The grin turns into a smirk. "You and Anna huh? That explains a lot."

(To continue the story, click an option below) Kudos ♥ always appreciated

I decide to...

Offer to introduce myself.

Ask what she means by Anna and I.

Admit my growing confusion.