She’s got her hooks in my back
The paranoid atmosphere that engulfed Heydrich kept Gretel on her toes. Feeling as though there was some kind of encroaching doom, or that he had bigger plans than she could ever suspect. Of course it wasn’t her place to ask, nor poke or prod about such things. Instead she kept those stray strands of thoughts to herself, never to escape the idea consuming vacuum that was her mind. It caused her to rock on her heels for a moment, seriously considering how valid her thought process was. Each idea being pointless in the grand scheme of things.
His laughter an peculiar retort to her question, as though it was all a bad punch line to horrendously told joke. The irrevocable condescension creeping into his words made her want to respond with viscous tones. Keeping calm and sarcastic she replied batting eyelashes, “As much as I would love that, it’s comforting to here that you won’t have total control over me. Though I am not dumb, if you had forgotten that aspect of my personality, Herr Heydrich. I know you can influence my job.”
At least someone was able to have an upper level of thinking other than himself at work. He hated how mindless some of the people were. Back on topic, he only kept poised in thought and emotion. “I merely stated I wasn’t your direct go-to, I never said anything about not holding power over you.” Confrontation seemed to be playing such a role in their conversation, neither seemed willing to drop the sarcasm or masked threats.
Pushing the topic aside, he whistled out a cumbersome breath. Such smalltalk was growing moot, as the man could feel the fraying end of their small meet. Even if it did end here, he was bound to make sure that they ran into each other again. Stalking along with an undying determination.
“Hmmm, you’d be correct. Forgive me, jumping to conclusions, but I’ve known you to place underlying meanings in much of what you say. An unfair judgment to make after so much time has passed. Plenty of time for change.” Clicking her heels together as she adjusted her position, arms no longer behind her spine, but just below her breasts, tucked together to display her growing discomfort. Ridding her throat of phlegm with a solid cough, her hand cupped the side of her face, elbow balanced on top of the other, still crossed arm.
“Even so, I hope that you being my superior as well as an old… Friend, won’t impact too much of our ability to remain professional.” For a second, she could have sworn a grin had grafted itself over-top of her-once thought- cement expression of annoyance. Gretel managing to mask it nearly as quickly as it had happened. It had spread at the thought of how she could get under his skin, or future disagreements made up of sheer sarcasm and dry wit. As much as she despised seeing him, the idea of verbally berating him was appealing. To let off any steam or sour feelings that had clung to the past, offered to be an escape.
