Sally’s warning that she will bite everyone is based on the “I will kill everyone in this room” line from that episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine — which I haven’t actually watched much of, but I do recognise the line from memes.
Also, the fact that I had a biting phase as a little kid…
“This is Annie,” Sally tells the Lyte Brigade, hauling the nervous-looking pinked-haired girl into the room. “Annie, this is Nolan and Matilda and Amara and Pela and Falcata and Tancred.”
“Hi,” Annie mutters, waving and looking everywhere but at the faces of the Lyte Brigade. “I’m Annie. N-nice to meet you. Hi, Amara.”
“Hello, Miss Antiqua,” Amara says.
“Blink twice if she’s holding you hostage,” Matilda unsubtly whispers to Annie.
Although Matilda vigilantly watches the pink-haired girl’s eyes, Annie does not blink at all.
“N-no,” she assures Matilda. “It’s okay. I told Sally she could introduce me to her brother and sister and their guild. Um, hi.”
“Isn’t she great?” Sally asks the Lyte Brigade.
She looks up at them, grinning broadly.
“She’s smart and interesting and look how pretty her hair is! And she knows why they’re called sandwiches, even though they’re not made of sand or witches.”
The grin on Sally’s face fades and she takes on a much, much more serious demeanour.
“I’ve known Annie for three and half days, but she’s already my best friend, like, ever.”
She glowers at the Lyte Brigade.
“And if anything happens to her, I will bite everyone in this room,” she warns.
Matilda slaps her hand on her face.
“Sally,” she mutters to her sister. “We’ve talked about this. You cannot just go around biting people!”
“And then,” Sally continues, continuing to glower, “I will bite Tancred twice.”
“What?” a thoroughly-bemused Tancred exclaims. “Why me? Why twice?”
Sally shrugs. “Oh, you’re just the funnest one to bite,” she notes. “And if something happens to Annie, I’ll be mad and sad, so it’ll make me feel better.”
“Thank you?” a still thoroughly-bemused Tancred mutters.
“Come on, Annie,” Sally urges. “You should play chess with Tancred.”
She grins.
“He’s so easy to beat.”
“Sticks and stones, Miss Sally,” Tancred mutters.
Despite her protestations, Annie is soon sat down across the chessboard from Tancred. Standing at her side, Sally peers at the chessboard, whispers into Annie’s ear with advice about her next move, before turning back to Tancred and grinning at him.
“You know, Miss Sally,” he says. “Chess isn’t traditionally a team sport. I can hear you telling Miss Annie what to do next.”
Sally shrugs and scoffs.
“You’re just jealous your best friend isn’t as cool as Annie,” she says.
“Touché,” Tancred mutters, moving his Pawn on the board.
Following Sally’s advice, Annie counters by moving her Rook.
“Hmm,” Tancred says thoughtfully, gazing down at the board. “Very well,” he declares. “I move my Knight to — What are you doing? Did you just bite me, Miss Sally?”
Sally nods, still clinging to Tancred’s arm by her teeth.
“Is this some ploy to distract me so Miss Annie can win the chess match?” he asks.
She shakes her head.
“Have I done anything in particular to offend you?” Tancred asks. “Have I, perhaps, failed to show Count Bunnyescu the sufficient deference and esteem of a rabbit of his station?”
Sally shakes her head.
“Just bored,” she answers, muffled by Tancred’s arm.
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