If Alex had meant to reply to her, Annagramma missed it. Her epiphany followed immediately by a renewed sense of wonder at they world they were experiencing. In the blond's secure hold, she continued to experience the new colors, sounds, perspectives and sensation, until they were both safely on the ground.
Her first sign of something being not quite right was Alex's sunshiny orange blistering slightly. "Huh," Anna looked up surprised at the almost tangible change in demeanor before the words "little brother" floated towards them. the orange in Alex began to grow slightly darker, shakier.
But why would he be bothered by the presence of his older brother. Simon, Annagramma classed as a person. The young witch had never divided into people she liked and disliked, rather dividing them into those she liked, those who had an interesting color and those that were just people.
They girl knew very little about Simon Quinn, a few years ahead of them in school, he had already graduated. And her and Alex's unspoken pact to not discuss their home lives meant that the blonde had no idea what kind of a relationship Alex and Simon shared.
Well, she could guess, if she concentrated hard enough, but concentrating was so boring. Anna was a do first, think later kind of girl.
"Alex, won't you introduce me to Miss Hawkeye?" Simon asked pointedly before extending a hand to Anna, his eyes roving up and down her body in a way that made Anna feel as if she was something on a restaurant menu. "My apologies," he added. "Alex always did have terrible manners."
Anna looked at the older Quinn's extended hand, unsure what to do with it. She didn't particularly like shaking hands, not if she could help it. She would rather give people a wave from where she stood or go up to hug them tight. handshakes were such an in-between gesture that left every9ne guessing as to where they stood in the interaction.
"Hi," she finally managed, raising her hand slightly and giving him a wave. Simon looked at her with a bemused smile.
"Surely we can do better than that," he insisted, reaching to take her small palm into his much larger hand and pulling it softly towards himself. For a moment, it looked like he was staring right at Alex before he bent his head and kissed her knuckles.
"Enchanté."
Years later, they would all realize. This was the moment their childhood came to an end.
by 
