skelmir prince.

❝ In storm-black mountains I wander alone . Over the glacier I make my way . In the apple garden stands the maiden fair . But cranes dance and the waterfall stops . When she sings, ' Come Home.' ❞

[mischiefmodig]

▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ┗━°⌜ L O K I ODINSON | MCU ⌟°━┛ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃

Prince of Asgard, Rightful heir of Jotunheim ... Odinson.

One and only God of Mischief

Son of King Laufey the Frost Giant raised as Asgardian

Unfortunately, he didn't know this until about 10 years ago and had an entire identity crisis about it... (just a lil one)

Decided to spite his dad and brother by committing treason and conquering a whole realm (after also attempting genocide, and throwing himself into the void of Yggdrasil)

Disowned his mom, and then almost immediately she died

Had an entire mental breakdown again

Pretended to be Odin for four years after faking his death... again

Reunited with his brother to bring about Ragnarok... destroying a whole society ......... again......

Picked up a very special little blue cube :DDDD

Pledging loyalty to his brother, he sacrificed himself - with the cycles broken, his story ends... or does it?

One thing remains true: ❝ He cannot be trusted. ❞

╰┈➤ Rules \ / App \ / Stats \ / Locations

[randrageon]

—  𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄  𝐀  𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄  when  rand  did  not  have  a  temper  .  it  was  not  that  he  did  not  know  temper  .  he  did  ,  but  it  so  rarely  raised  its  head  in  him  .  it  so  rarely  breathed  its  smoke  and  fire  .  there  was  a  time  when  that  was  so  ,  but  that  time  had  come  and  it  had  passed  like  the  fickle  wind  that  blew  from  the  mountains  and  swirled  at  their  feet  ,  kicking  up  dust  and  before  pushing  in  every  which  direction  around  them  .  rand  whirled  on  loki  ,  shrugging  his  hand  off  of  his  shoulder  .

         ❝  UNDERSTAND  ,  THEN  :  that  you  don't  know  anything  !  you  know  nothing  about  me  !  nothing  about  the  Dark  One  or  the  taint  or  the  bloody  prophecies  of  the  Dragon  Reborn  —  !   ❞  rand's  words  had  wings  ,  and  they  fled  from  him  without  his  thinking  .  the  more  he  tried  to  stop  them  ,  the  more  they  simply  spilled  out  like  blood  gushing  out  of  an  open  wound  .  rand  ground  his  teeth  together  .  all  this  time  ,  he  had  avoided  speaking  of  the  karaethon  cycle  .  had  avoided  thinking  of  it  ,  even  .  loki  had  RILED  HIM  .  and  now  ,  here  he  was  ,  shouting  at  a  man  who  knew  no  better  .  i'm  not  mad  yet  .  only  angry  .  so  ,  so  very  angry  .  i  didn't  used  to  have  a  temper  .

       rand  squeezed  his  eyes  shut  so  tightly  he  saw  blotches  in  the  darkness  behind  his  eyelids  .  he  breathed  in  .  out  .  he  still  found  himself  boiling  on  the  inside  .  like  a  kettle  running  hot  and  bubbling  over  .  he  breathed  in  and  out  again  .  kind  and  noble  .  would  loki  still  believe  that  ,  if  he  knew  ?  did  anyone  believe  that  of  him  who  did  know  ?  he  hoped  perrin  and  mat  did  ,  despite  it  all  ,  everything  had  changed  in  falme  .  perhaps  he  had  changed  before  that  .  at  the  eye  of  the  world  . 

       rand  spoke  softly  .  ❝  i  am  sorry  .  i  don't  mean  to  shout  .   ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . Even when Rand pushed his hand, Loki did not move from his ground. He watched, he took the words, and held his place. Words were a fickle thing. They could mean anything to anyone. The same mouths that spoke of peace could call for war with a single sentence. Loki could have shouted back; if anything, he would have been well within his rights to. But Rand's choice right then and there spoke far louder than his raised voice ever could.

❝ I know. ❞ Loki said. He sighed deeply, keeping distance but never letting his gaze leave the man. ❝ I know that you did not mean to shout, and... that I know nothing. ❞ He breathed a laugh that came out shallow and dry.

❝ I do not desire us to part on ill terms as we had before. ❞ Loki's words remained calm, assertive, and clear. He had pressed enough for one day. And this matter was not something that could be unearthed in a matter of minutes. ❝ Listen. ❞ Loki swallowed, the idea of the truth of the matter coming forward burns his throat to speak.

❝ I believe that... the tea may have had something to do with this. One of the effects... I believe could compel the consumer to speak only the truth. ❞ Loki paused, searching Rand's gaze. ❝ If you do not wish to speak until this effect has passed, you may depart as you see fit. I would rather you say the truth of your own accord than have your truth stolen from you. ❞

He takes a few steps back, offering Rand the ability to do as he sees fit. ❝ I will wait for you, and if you do not come, I will find you. ❞ No trickery. No deceptions. But Rand deserved to know the truth in turn and make his own choice.

[randrageon]

—  𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃  𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐄𝐃  𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍  .  it was just as sharp . just as brittle . ❝  Light  ,  man  !  of  course  i  do  .  do  you  think  i  want  to  go  mad  ?  to  destroy  everyone  i  care  about  —  just  because  i  am  what  i  am  ?  do  you  think  i  want  other  men  to  do  the  same  ?  to  rot  the  same  ?  or  be  Gentled  ?  WHAT  DO  YOU  TAKE  ME  FOR  ?  ❞           a  fire  rose  in  rand  .  a  terrible  ,  blazing  flame  that  scoured  him  through  .  left  him  charred  ,  and  numb  at  the  other  end  of  it  .  rand  did  not  really  want  to  answer  ,  but  he  could  not  stop  himself  once  he  had  started  ,  and  so  rand  snarled  . 

         ❝  i  know  the  essence  is  gone  because  i'm  the  one  who  Channeled  it  .  ME  .  i  used  it  at  the  eye  of  the  world  ,  though  i  did  not  know  it  .  though  i  would  not  have  wanted  to  if  i  had  known  .  if  i'd  known  what  bloody  moiraine  had  brought  me  there  for  .  brought  us  all  there  for  ,  i——   ❞   rand  clamped  his  mouth  shut  .  muscles  spasmed  in  his  jaw  .  he  had  begun  to  raise  his  voice  ,  and  caught  the  eye  of  a  man  at  a  different  table  adjacent  to  theirs  .  staring  .  staring  because  of  rand's  temper  ,  rand  realized  .  but  only  DIMLY  .  his  nostrils  flared  .  he  struggled  to  force  a  long  ,  cold  breath  through  his  lungs  .  it  did  not  help  put  out  the  fire  .  it  still  burned  in  him  .  he  burned  .  ❝   wishing  won't  change  it  .  you'd  be  better  off  wishing  the  Dragon  was  never  born  .  ❞

               rand  froze  as  soon  as  the  words  were  out  of  his  mouth  .  surely  he  didn't  really  mean  that  .  but  rand  already  knew  .  eyes  shuttered  .  he  looked  towards  the  tea  still  mostly  untouched  in  his  hands  .  it  shimmered  at  him  .  mockingly  .  like  the  eyes  on  him  across  tables  and  through  crowds  .  like  the  bile  in  his  throat  ,  or  the  dull  ache  of  the  wound  in  his  side  .  REMINDING  HIM  .

           ABRUPTLY  ,  rand  stood  .  if  the  cup  spilled  tea  on  the  tablecloth  ,  he  paid  it  no  mind  .  he  needed  to  leave  ,  and  he  did  not  care  where  to  .

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . So it would seem that Loki had pierced the heart. He had dug and dug, and his spade thrust into a spot that Loki was not prepared for. But even as Rand spoke, releasing whatever he seemed to have been keeping in his heart, Loki did not move. He sat, and he watched Rand shout. Watched Rand slam shut the door of the furnace to his soul.

But it was all that Loki needed to hear. Through the tired resignation, there was yet a spark that refused to be put out by fate's hand. Only the way was not yet clear for it. And more than that, there was far more to this story than Loki initially thought.

Loki sat, watching Rand depart from him, and soon followed suit. Through the tables of laughter and blissful ignorance, Loki weaved in and out of passing staff and distracted guests.

❝ Rand, stop this. ❞ Loki waited till they were beyond the gates of the festivities to stop him. His eyes were watchful of the man, and his arm extended to grab his shoulder, though Rand stood above him in height. ❝ Listen to me. I never once believed that you would want this fate. ❞ Loki began earnestly, pleading with him to understand.

❝ I asked because I needed the truth. I believe truly you are a kind, noble soul, faced with a burden too great for any shoulder to bear. ❞ Loki paused. ❝ There is no sense in grieving what has happened or fearing for what may pass. Let me help you, Rand. And help me understand this. ❞

[magnusmodig]

𝐋𝐎𝐊𝐈'𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐄 . more than the offer itself , more than the wary undercurrent coiled tightly in thor's breast like a coil to set to spring , and even more so than the ease with which thor let him take bridle and reins , it was how gently loki flit and fiddled that so struck at thor .

so thor's breath came thin , shallow and carefully measured . lightning crackled and pulsed within . in but a moment might THUNDER BRINGER send shockwaves through an unkind hand . it would take but only a breath .

that moment simply never came . so thor sat still , with an expression blank and CARVED FROM STONE , save the minute flares that spoke of a tender pain thor kept veiled and pressed between his ribs .

thor took the cloth and the patch in hand , but he did not use them immediately . his brow knit together , and battled the torrents of raging winds that blew and howled within him . glimpses of memory scattered throughout time were carried on those winds . they howled like the winds atop the tower in new york . they gusted and blew about like the distant impressions of their mother and her warmth , felt through a fever's break or the onset of a prolonged Sleep . eventually , thor stirred from his thoughts . his thumb followed the layered pattern on the eyepatch's face .

❝ you have her touch . ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . The faintest smile appeared on Loki's lips. Yet again did he wash his hands in the basin, cleaning the supplies as readily as he had gathered them, though he was not in a hurry to leave just yet. The silence hung around them, save for the creaking of metal and the distant wind that carried them over the sea.

❝ I would often watch whenever she would tend to you both. ❞ He murmurs, holding the cloth in his hand. In a blink of golden light, he evaporates the water, leaving the object dry once more. There was more he wished to say. An urge of gratitude for that moment of sacred trust that they had shared. He wished he could do more. He wished this were normal, just like it used to be.

❝ I wonder if she knew I was there in the shadows. Not that I could have helped much. But... she did have a way with healing. More than I could hope to achieve. ❞ He snorted through his nose, taking one last look at Thor. The giant, mighty man who had saved his life.

A man of legends and storm, who many praised for his valor and more for his kind heart. The one who could do no wrong and could never be harmed. The facade of a scared boy who feared most of all being exposed to the world. A boy like himself, who could not afford to be weak.

❝ I suppose I will tend to the others then. ❞ Loki broke his gaze, silently collecting himself and breaking the stupor. They were not boys. They were men who must be greater than their shortcomings. Greater than those who surrounded them, and mightier than their enemies. ❝ I will be back shortly to take over the piloting. ❞

[randrageon]

—  𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃  𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃  𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘  watch  loki  wearily  .  he  felt  tired  .  the  kind  of  tired  that  seeped  into  the  marrow  of  bones  and  weighed  them  down  so  every  step  ,  every  breath  ,  came  heavy  .  abruptly  ,  rand  nearly  barked  a  painful  laugh  .  it  scraped  at  his  throat  and  gurgled  out  ,  RASPING  ,  as  he  sighed  .  he  had  thought  that  loki  pretending  to  be  above  what  ‘they’  were  was  the  worst  of  what  could  come  from  him  .  i  was  wrong  .  this  is  worse  .  bone  weary  .  bone  crushingly  weary  .

            rand  shook  his  head  .❝  it  was  the  men  who  struck  at  the  Dark  One's  prison  in  Shayol  Ghul  .   ❞  everyone  knew  the  tale  of  the  Breaking  of  the  World  .  rand  was  surprised  by  how  calm  his  voice  sounded  .  ❝  the  Dragon  ,  and  the  One-Hundred  Companions  .  ❞   he  would  not  think  about  the  truth  that  ran  deeper  .❝  they  sealed  him  away  ,  but  the  Dark  One  struck  back  when  they  did  .  struck  at  saidin  .  ❞  he  would  not  think  about  it  .  he  would  not   .  ❝   then  they  all  .  .  .  ❞  rand  trailed  off  .  he  wanted  to  sick  up  every  meal  he  had  eaten  throughout  the  day  ,  and  was  uncomfortably  aware  of  the  uneven  bumps  and  ridges  of  the  herons  branded  into  his  palms  .

           ❝  —  anyway  ,  it  was  three-thousand  years  ago  now  ,  and  the  aes  sedai  could  only  distill  an  essence  of  saidin  at  the  eye  of  the  world  .  and  that's  gone  now  .  ❞  gone  because  rand  had  channeled  it  to  fight  aginor  and  balthamel  .  channeled  it  all  ,  to  save  the  men  in  tarwin's  gap  .  leaving  the  green  man  to  die  .  his  gardens  ,  destroyed  .  and  that  is  the  least  of  what  i  will  destroy  before  i  am  done  .  rand  shivered  .  he  would  NOT  think  about  it  .  ❝  so  ,  no  .  and  if  there  is  a  way  ,  no  one  has  found  it  .  .  ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . The Dragon and One-Hundred Companions. Loki's brow furrowed ever so slightly. It certainly sounded like a legend of ages. Heroes of old fighting terrible powers of evil, but evil rebelled in turn. In reality, likely not as simple. And for Rand, likely not the end of that story. As for what happened to them, Loki could only assume what would happen to men consumed with madness.

Loki hummed in acknowledgement of Rand's explanation. These were only pieces of a much greater image that left Loki with more questions than it did answers. However, he was not there for a lesson on Rand's world history. Loki sought understanding of the one before him.

The way Rand spoke of this gave Loki pause. Of course, Rand was a scholarly sort. But there was something in his recital of tales that sounded more like testimony than simple text. He frowned, eyes looking upon the face of this auburn-headed man with darkened eyes and hollowed expression. Tired and weary. Resigned by force, not by acceptance. How cruel to force a man with a good heart into that fate. How dare fates continue their twisted design for worlds beyond.

Loki remained still. Leaned forward on the table with piles of snow around him now. He sought the heart of this now, the real reason as to why he wanted an explanation at all.

❝ Do you wish that there was? A cure for this taint. ❞ He tested. Leaving room for a pause. ❝ Furthermore... how do you know that the essence is gone? ❞

[magnusmodig]

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐁𝐎𝐘 , there was no man more mighty than his own father . odin , who bore gungnir and his runes in hand with the frightening might of the all - father , and every all - father before him too . the eye that he had lost in the celestial wars was considered a TROPHY , even to thor at so young an age . a token not only of proof of his survival , but of his victory over the jotunar . that he wore a patch to signify that which did not scar was a show of pride towards their people . for tales would reach the farthest corners of asgard and beyond to the nine realms .

what only a select few of odin's house knew was that the patch was worn for a far more practical purpose : to cover a terrible wound that did not heal , for it had been earned while facing the FULL MIGHT of the giant king laufey , and the terrible , eternal winter held within laufey's casket . thor did not boast the honor of a wound earned in victory . he only bore a wound . one that ached STUBBORNLY when it was left too long to its own devices . one that was EASILY AGITATED . prone to infection , if left unattended . hela left her mark on him . her sword had left a bitter wound . one that thor GRIMACED AT as loki settled and took away his patch . he did not have a mirror on his person . but thor had tended to his eye enough times to easily imagine what it looked like . an agitated , puffy red with thin veins of necromatic power just beneath the skin . the socket itself could not heal over . THEY HAD BOTH SEEN WORSE . still , it was an ugly , brutish thing .

thor swallowed thickly and found himself looking anywhere but his brother with the very minimal space with which he had to look .

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . Indeed, they had seen far worse than this. They had seen blood and carnage, gashes and dismemberments, things legends glossed over when recounting the 'glories' of war. Loki frowned at the sight. Not because it was ugly to him. No. What sickened Loki was how unnatural it was to see that wound on a being such as Thor.

Something open but not quite bleeding, and still never healing in turn. He felt the same the first time he had witnessed it on the Statesman. At the time, he had attempted to step in and provide Thor with aid. The most he could do was provide the proper tools and water when Thor had brushed him off.

In a quick examination, Thor had taken care of it more than Loki anticipated. But the last time was likely far too long ago. The skin was raw and puffed, red on the brink of infection from the dust and debris of battle. He had removed the patch with delicate fingers, careful not to cause more irritation upon that which was already sensitive.

❝ Steady on. ❞ Loki murmured softly, the ship humming around them in this fragile space. Slowly, he took the cloth and rinsed it in the warm water. He applied the soap and medicinal oils and began his work. Not a single word escaped him from there, for now was not the time to become distracted. Each stroke of cloth across the socket was laced with tenderness. Loki carefully wiped away the debris, the pus, and cleaned the area. The cold of his hand mingled with the warmth of the water that he hoped offered some reprieve. It felt as though the least Loki could do after placing Thor through yet another battle.

The work was thorough and soon enough complete. With a sigh, Loki reaches for the patch, cleaning it as well in the water. He offers Thor a cloth, untouched, so that he may clean his face should he choose to.

❝ You really should clean it more often. ❞ Loki said, handing the patch back to Thor with a nod. ❝ It would help with the irritations. ❞

[randrageon]

—  𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃  𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃  𝐍𝐎𝐓  𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏  but  to  stare  at  him  as  though  the  man  had  gone  and  grown  a  second  head  .  ❝  you  don't  know  who  the  Dark  One  is  ?  The  Father  of  Lies?  Destroyer  of  Hope  ?   — Shai'tan  ?   ❞  the  whole  world  seemed  a  little  colder  as  it  pressed  upon  rand  ,  saying  that  name  .  it  was  as  though  the  Dark  One's  eye  had  turned  upon  him  even  here  .  but  rand  would  not  flinch  from  the  cold  ,  even  if  it  was  the  Dark  One's  own  gaze  . 

         when  loki  affirmed  that  he  -  somehow  !  -  did  not  ,  only  then  did  rand  shift  uncomfortably  in  his  seat  .  what  was  a  world  that  did  not  know  of  the  Dark  One  imprisoned  ?  a  misguided  one  at  the  least  .  a  terribly  vulnerable  one  in  truth  .  rand  breathed  .  ❝  .  .  .  so  then  .  .  .  you  really  aren't  lying  .  ❞

            if  loki  did  not  know  the  names  of  the  Dark  One,  then  somehow  he  did  not  know  of  the  taint  on  saidin  either  ,  and  rand  would  have  to  take  his  word  for  that  in  full  .  loki  could  not  know  what  he  did  not  know  .  still  ,  it  all  pricked  at  him  ;  made  him  uneasy  .  all  the  while  ,  a  pit  settled  deep  inside  rand's  stomach  .  he  grappled  for  his  words  and  found  them  evasive  .  he  sat  for  a  moment  in  his  own  silence  ,  and  it  gnawed  at  him  .

           ❝  the  male  half  of  the  Power  has  been  tainted  by  the  Dark  One  ever  since  the  Breaking  .  ❞  rand  looked  up  ,  searching  for  recognition  .  finding  nothing  .  the  syllables  came  slowly  ,  and  felt  like  cotton  in  his  mouth  .   ❝  men  -  ❞  like  me  .  only  like  me  -  ❝  who  can  Channel  go  mad  from  it  eventually  .  ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ /. It was shocking though, the pieces that Rand gave him now fit together so seamlessly into place. There was only one being Loki thought of that he had read of in passing from his world. But this 'Dark One' did not seem to be a Dormammu. That being resided in it's dark dimension and only sought to consume into itself. What Rand spoke of was a force capable of reaching through all of reality. Which, Dormammu did only with those who welcomed him.

For what purpose? Perhaps out of a nature to simply destroy. Even if Loki did not know what Rand meant in his words, it was not difficult to create educated guesses based on that.

❝ I have no reason to lie about this, Rand. ❞ Loki offered in return, his voice quieting for the space around them. The darkened corner seemed to grow smaller around them at this topic. ❝ Regardless... if what you say is the truth then I understand why you spoke the way you did. ❞

With a thoughtful gaze, Loki turned away from him. His hand reaching for his mouth, rubbing his lips in quiet though and turning over this information. ❝ Though, that taint does not exist where I am from. ❞ He shakes his head. ❝ My mother taught me from a young age to see the particles that made up the world and bend them to my will. Some have more inclinations to the practice, but it is available to all to study the ways of Vanir magic. ❞ With any other, Loki would have created a demonstration. But he desired not to startled the man more than he already had.

❝ Surely there is a way to cure this taint. You say... there are two halves of your Power? Male, and I assume Female then. If they remain untouched by this, why should your men be made to suffer such cruelty? ❞ The questions came to him, a desire for understanding not merely for knowledge's sake. But for the man who sat before him, a mundane but innocent person who sought good things. Darkness would always chase and devour those who sought to cut its head.

[magnusmodig]

𝐄𝐗𝐇𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 across thor's shoulders . grime , sweat , dirt and dust caked and smeared his hands , face , and armor . thor had long known that his wounds were few compared to the pains suffered by the many who had been taken . if he felt discomfort , he could only imagine the world of suffering impressed upon the many who did not deserve to suffer in the first . dirt , blood and sweat was not conductive to his eye . or rather the place where an eye should be but was no longer . it irritated him . but he was fit to manage until they had taken to the air and the ship was safely on its way , with the engines running and his power absorbed into the auxiliary and—

—when thor stepped back due to his brother's push , it was for fear of the effect on loki's hand should he not . ❝ it is good for us all that i am not great . i am mighty . ❞ even still , THICKLY - WIRED TENSION knotted through thor's shoulders . he looked down , SHARPLY , at the hand on his person . searching for — thor frowned . searching for a weapon , he realized dimly . a dagger . for blood and a pin - prick of pain only loki had strength to draw . thor took another step back - this time of his own volition - and let his fingers graze over the arm of the chair loki had swiveled towards him . his shoulders shook as thor let loose a HALF - EXASPERATED laugh . be it by loki's tone echoing their mother's , or his own split - second fear — thor could no longer tell .

❝ tell me : what do you gain out of this if i humour you ? ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . Mighty. Great. Loki rolled his eyes at the semantics, but was still pleased that Thor did take steps of his own volition. Though... Loki could not help but pause. There was a glimmer of something, a touch of fear in those eyes. They searched for something and were surprised that it was not there. ( What was there to be afraid of? )

Loki shook the thought, relaxing his features yet again, and chuckled in turn. ❝ What have I? ❞ He pondered, bringing a finger to his chin in mock thought. ❝ Nothing, I suppose. It would not bring you harm to humor me, regardless. ❞

He reached both shoulders of the behemoth and guided him down and down until he was seated upon the chair. ❝ When exactly was the last time you tended to the area? ❞ Loki swiftly turned attention to the basin, first washing his hands clean. He carefully used the soap to wash away the filth and stains of that place, ensuring that no harm would come to the perpetual wound Thor bore.

He could see his mother so clearly through the crack of the door as she tended to Odin. The washing of hands, the gentle touch as the patch was removed. The sight of the socket was always blocked in some form or fashion. But his eyes never left mothers hands. The delicate strokes of cloth, the way he held still for her hands, the strength of that trust was something Loki never forgot, even if now he did not understand it.

❝ Come then. Let us have a look. ❞

[randrageon]

—  𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐒  𝐎𝐅  𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒  ?  rand  blinked  at  him  .  then  blinked  again  .  BLOOD  AND  ASHES  .  maybe  he  really  was  mad  .  loki  looked  no  older  than  five  years  older  than  him  at  best  .  or  maybe  he  really  doesn't  know  .  rand  turned  the  thought  over  in  his  mind  begrudgingly  .  the  Creator  did  not  stop  with  his  world  when  he  created  the  Age  Lace  .  rand  had  stepped  into  one  of  those  worlds  that  might  be  .  with  loial  and  hunin  .  it  seemed  that  the  Pattern  wove  some  of  those  worlds  together  ,  here  .  loial  had  said  that  ‘the  worlds  that  might  be’  could  be  worlds  where  things  had  gone  differently  .  maybe  loki  ,  and  lilith  ,  and  everyone  else  he  had  met  simply  were  not  woven  into  the  Pattern  at  the  same  time  as  —  .  .  .  .             maybe  there  had  not  yet  been  a  Breaking  .

            considering  that  thought  did  not  make  rand  feel  any  better  .  light  .  he  was  mad  for  coming  up  with  it  !

           ❝  i  don't  mean  to  insult  you  ,  loki  .  ❞  rand  said  quietly  ,  and  was  surprised  to  find  that  he  meant  it  .  ❝  burn  me  ,  but  i  don't  .   ❞  he  cleared  his  throat  and  glanced  at  the  other  tables  .  the  crowds  of  people  all  around  them  .  good  people  just  trying  to  have  a  nice  time  .  trying  to  enjoy  their  fool's  day  ,  or  bel  tine  .  whatever  they  wanted  to  call  it  .  all  of  them  could  be  in  danger  just  because  he  was  among  them  .  rand  shook  his  head  .  the  tea  inside  his  cup  trembled  .  ❝  maybe  i  am  a  light  -  forsaken  fool  for  that  .  maybe  .  i  don't  know  how  you've  managed  to  stave  it  off  -  the  dark  one's  taint  -  or  if  you  even  have  .  but  i  am  not  fool  enough  to  take  pride  in  what  i  am  ,  even  if  you  can  .  ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . It wasn't an apology, but it was what Loki had asked for. The flames simmered down in his chest. The way Rand spoke, the way he behaved, did not give Loki any reason to believe that Rand was not speaking the truth. There was something earnest, something that tugged, no, pulled Rand towards such vitriol before that was not there now. Loki suspected there was a bit of luck in the tea that Rand seemed unaware of.

Loki sighed slowly, his posture relaxing and fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. At the very least, Loki could take some relief in seeing Rand actually speak of these things to him. When before they had stormed off from an argument, here there may yet be a middle ground in which they could see each other again.

That was all Loki sought. Rand to him was someone of a similar mind, even despite his mortal behaviors.

❝ Rand. I do not know what this 'taint' is that you speak of, nor of this dark one either. ❞ Loki leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, allowing him to truly study the man who sat before him and allowing the snow to fall into his tulip cup.

❝ How curious. ❞ He paused, thinking back upon the extensive knowledge he has of his world's magic. The sorcery of the Vanir, of Midgard, and that of the cosmos had many differences, but none corrupted the user in the way Rand seemed to suggest.

❝ You mean to suggest that, where you are from, men who are capable of this... 'channeling' develop madness? ❞ The idea seemed far too cruel of a curse for even the stories of old. And suddenly, this story was one that Loki believed required further investigation on his part. ❝ I assume it is through use, or perhaps overuse of said abilities. ❞

[magnusmodig]

𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐗𝐄𝐃 on reviewing the ship's path , thor did not pay mind to loki's movement save for the idle , habitual sense that loki was near . where each wire , cog , plate and gear buzzed in an endless pandemonium , loki was a cool , slow beat dropped in the center of it . a CONTRADICTION to all that thor knew . that had always been loki's way , though it was only in recent memory had thor uncovered the true depth of loki's nature . time had passed since then . a decade and more . time had passed , but not enough for his old heart , for so much of thor's life he had known the feeling of his brother's presence at his back , and when loki had gone he had had cleaved a hole in thor that was shaped just like him . thor swallowed , and waited to feel his brother's shadow move out of the pilot's cabin with him .

it did not .

raising a brow , thor turned to look at his brother , and could only frown , UTTERLY BEFUDDLED , at the sight before him . when loki spoke , the SHOCK of it was enough to bring even the mighty thor to an awkward , abrupt halt .

❝ i am fine . ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . Loki scoffed, shaking his head and deliberately stepping towards him. Though they had reached a standing point between duty and personal conviction, this was something that he was not going to be swayed from. With a swift step, Loki suddenly stood between Thor and the console. He stared up at him, though they were not so different in height, and made himself perfectly clear.

Loki squinted, pressing closer to Thor's chest and staring at the patch. He did not have to probe or pry to make an educated guess that Thor was not fine.

❝ Then you won't mind if I look. ❞ Loki smiled, pressing a hand against Thor's chest and pushing gently towards the seat. ❝ The sooner you allow me, the sooner you may captain to your heart's content. ❞ His voice lowered, stern and laced with the quiet understanding of what Thor would rather be doing. This was a behavior that Loki knew well, though he could not say even in this world that it did not trouble him.

How much more could Thor carve out of himself to give to others? To people who would never do the same.

❝ Even great warriors need rest, do they not? ❞

[randrageon]

—  𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃'𝐒  𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐒  𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃  into  a  thin  ,  straight  line  .  he  swallowed  blood  ,  and  his  knuckles  whitened  around  the  teacup  in  his  hands  .  he  speaks  like  a  viper  .  and  likely  could  strike  just  as  quickly  .  like  a  cairheinin  nobleman  indeed  .  but  rand  could  already  feel  the  words  loki  asked  for  all  but  bubbling  up  in  him  .

           ❝  you  are  a  man  who  can  Channel  ,  ❞  rand  said  stiffly  .  his  thoughts  briefly  flit  to  lilith  ,  who  hadn't  the  faintest  what  that  actually  meant  .  his  mouth  opened  ,  then  snapped  shut  again  .  he  had  to  know  .  here  loki  was  ,  some  few  years  older  than  him  at  best  .  ALIVE  .  and  at  least  not  a  lunatic  .  how  thoroughly  that  held  .  .  .  that  ,  rand  could  not  make  marks  of  .  well  ,  i  am  not  mad  yet  .  even  if  he  is  .  i  am  not  .

         ❝  what  i  do  not  understand  is  how  you  can  stand  to  be  so  proud  of  it  .  ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . The smirk quickly disappeared. Loki's eyes shifted across Rand's features, the hardness, the ferocity with which Rand spoke of this was truly unbelievable to Loki. He had his encounters with the most stubborn of stubborn men, but this one had a raging, wild river under the surface. That was how a chasm was formed. Even stone gives way to the never-ending stream, creating lines that would last for decades.

An eyebrow raised at Rand, followed by almost a look of concern upon the mutterings of the boy. But these were swallowed up by the question, which Loki was more than happy to educate accordingly.

❝ Of course, I take pride in it. ❞ He said, the casual air of Loki's tone became lost in the nature of the discussion. ❝ I have studied the art of sorcery for hundreds of years. I have earned my title as the greatest Sorcerer of Asgard for good reason. ❞

Loki paused, simmering the flame that had grown in his chest. He exhaled sharply through his nose, closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair, and brushing aside more of the snow that had piled upon his clothes.

❝ Whatever you consider to be this 'channeling,' my sorcery is not. And, if you can do the same, why do you scorn it so? So far as I see, you speak into a mirror, while insulting my honor in the same breath. ❞

[magnusmodig]

𝐀 𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐃 betwixt thor's temples . in the absence of his storm's wake , the pain of it was heightened ten - fold . it pulsed . throbbed . thor could ignore it on the days when his strength was not so faded . he could still ignore it now — AND WOULD . if only because it came and it went the same as an ocean's tides . came and went in familiar passing . so thor swallowed his own voice as he grunted against its near - blinding strike . he swallowed his words with it . BEGRUDGINGLY SO .

he simply did not possess the energy to fight him still . to be quite frank : thor did not know if he harbored within himself the will to .

neither sat well with him . and so , shrouded in his own misgivings , thor held the matter to his breast and folded it there , pressed between his ribs , where it would CUT EACH TIME HIS HEART BEAT and bruise each time he breathed .

thor swiveled , placed hand to hip , and turned his eye to the console , to the skies .

❝ . . . travel between this isle and the next will take some time . ❞ he said . ❝ it would be wise to split tasks between the two of us . i will manage the flight for this first leg of our journey . see to it you attend the wounded — yourself included . ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . The corner of his mouth twitched upon Thor's dismissal. It was no victory in Loki's eyes, for a victory only comes with the admission of defeat. But if he could be certain of anything, it was that they, the sons of Odin, would sooner perish than admit anything of the sort. Then again, it was not as though Loki fought him on this subject for personal gain.

However, Loki soon found what he was searching for in the drawers of the console. His fingers brushed along a glass bottle and a clean cloth. He hummed quietly, barely listening to whatever Thor had spoken of. Loki had his mind set to one task, and he would not be swayed.

❝ Yes, yes. Whatever you say, brother. ❞ Loki waved his hand, spotting a basin of water nearby. As a mouse that was gathering food for winter, so did he scurry about and collect all manner of items necessary for his mission. He rolled up his sleeves and set the items on a table where a chair stood close.

❝ I shall see to it that the wounded are tended to. ❞ His eyes look to Thor, stern and sharp but focused entirely upon the space where an eye was meant to be. With a quick flick of his wrist, he points to the chair, leaving no room for misinterpretation on his end. ❝ All of them. ❞ It was not a request.

[randrageon]

         —  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄  𝐎𝐅  𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃'𝐒  cheek  was  tender  ,  for  rand  had  teased  and  chewed  at  it  with  the  fine  points  of  canines  and  incisors  for  some  time  before  this  .  since  returning  from  .  .  .  that  place  .  .  .  rand  had  kept  to  himself  .  or  ,  TRIED  TO  ,  at  any  rate  .  not  more  than  once  ,  he  had  awoken  ,  half  -  way  convinced  that  he  was  GENTLED  ,  still  .  on  those  mornings  ,  he  reached  for  saidin  and  had  to  quell  the  urge  to  grasp  it  .  other  times  he  nearly  VOMITED  from  the  cocktail  mix  of  sour  slime  and  wonderful  life  that  scoured  him  along  a  razor's  edge  .  even  sick  with  it  ,  rand  was  glad  to  know  it  was  there  .  that  he  could  reach  the  One  Power  at  all  .  if  he  couldn't  .  .  .

            rand  blinked  the  thought  away  and  refocused  .  none  of  that  .  ❝  you  needn't  have  invited  me  to  a  tea  party  if  you  just  wanted  to  talk  .  ❞  he  teased  at  the  inside  of  his  cheek  again  .  ❝   it  has  been  a  while  though  .  i  .  .  .  can't  rightfully  say  i  know  what  explanations  it  is  you're  talking  about  .  ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ /. The corner of his mouth twitched. This sort of chatter was not Loki's forte. To him, a similar task would be to pull the teeth out of the skull that would not budge. With others, he did not have to speak so much. He could weave his words with perfect ease, and they would be understood.

However, with those such as Rand, Loki had not met long enough to decipher their unspoken language. And this one confused him more than he offered Loki clarity.

❝ Well... if I must explain. ❞ Loki coughed quietly, attempting to relax in his seat even though Rand's dismissal of the obvious chafed against his good intentions. No matter. He would chatter his teeth, he supposed.

❝ It seems to me that you, Rand, live in contradiction. ❞ He began slowly, his eyes searching his companion for any sign of needles or stone walls. ❝ I recall not so long ago that you... Well, very rudely dismissed my abilities. ❞

Loki rolled his shoulders, the anger flickering in his chest for just a moment as he remembered those words Rand spoke to him. Rand had treated him as some inferior beast for spells that Loki took pride in. That would not stand in his eyes. But Loki was capable of forgiveness, even if his wounds healed slowly.

❝ And yet... it would seem that you possess magic in you, do you not? I simply don't understand how you can say such things to me when you live as I do. Thus... ❞ Loki gestures, expectant, waiting for him to speak. ❝ An explanation. If you please. ❞

[ouroboroschthonic]

I’ve just sketched Loki in an hour or so. I don’t think I’ll finish this piece, so I’m posting it as it is

[seirosu]

seiros placed a pause on her read , wedging her hand between her page as divider and uncrossed her legs , " i am afraid i do not understand . "

the books were not being borrowed . from the moment she recognized the them as belonging to her lands , they belonged to her , guardian of the lost . it was not theft if it at some point came from the libraries of her people . it was entitlement .

but even she could predict how she'd be seen by those who did not care to listen to her claim , and seiros did not imagine a stranger to care .

" of what interest would a book of a land not your own be to you ?? " she leaned forward towards the man , maintaining a steady eye contact .

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . ' What, the concept of a library? ' Loki thought begrudgingly to himself. His stance remained firm in his place, calm while ice-blue eyes studied her features. Instead, he smiled, a soft chuckle escaping from his lips as he thought of the answer to her question.

❝ I find that there is great value in learning about realms beyond my own. ❞ He calmly waved his hand in the air, gesturing to the archives around them. ❝ This place has a wealth of knowledge that is... well, mostly unparalleled. ❞ Nothing could ever compare to the thousands of decades worth of the libraries of Asgard, now turned to ash in the endless void. ❝ -and as a scholar, I find great joy in acquiring knowledge. ❞

He paused, his eyes falling back upon the emerald stare of the woman before him. ❝ I take it these books then are from your world? They... appear to be quite ancient, indeed. ❞

[hypnoticallycaucasian]

He thought the laughter was a good sign, thought perhaps Loki was FINALLY lightening up after 2 years! This was good, he was relaxing, he'd be alright and not be so damn moody and--

Badou's face falls from the smile that had stretched across his mouth, drops as Loki continues to talk and talk and talk...

He groans, loudly, rolling his lone eye up to into his skull.

"I don't mean you're a joke, but you're being a fucking lunatic right now, like a wet blanket covered in piss. I mean genuinely amusing. It ain't all about that. Lighten up a little, it's not the worst...you're still scary."

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . ❝ I know exactly what you meant. ❞ The words came sharp on his tongue. Cold and defiant against the mortal Loki, he continuously entertained the company of. It was rare that he felt the sting of his words, and thus came the bite to his tongue. He breathed deeply, sighing his frustration and dulling the edges.

❝ Apologies, Son of Nails. ❞ Loki murmured softly. His hand traces through the raven strands. The silence stretched between them while Loki searched for his words. He was never one to show his standing. Revealing too much was how one became a target for the swindlers and thieves. And yet, for all of Loki's growls and slashes, this one... this one still came back.

❝ For as long as I've existed, everyone has assumed the worst of me. ❞ Loki began quietly, his voice low and gravelly as he forced the truth through his lying lips.

❝ I was not born with great strength, nor do I care to partake in theatrics. I learned to use my sorcery to make up the difference. ❞ But it was never enough. ❝ As a prince of Asgard, I demand- no. Deserve respect. The same as Thor receives. ❞ Everyone loves him. No one noticed him. The second prince. The runt. The curse.

❝ I have tried... for centuries to earn that. And for what? ❞ He grunts, pausing to take a long drink of the beverage. ❝ At least I can be entertainment to you. I know you are not frightened of me. No one ever is, really. ❞

[randrageon]

         —  𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃  𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐊  𝐇𝐈𝐒  𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃  .  ❝  i  am  not  lucky  .  ❞  no  ,  hardly  that  .  ❝  my  friend  ,  mat  ,  he  has  a  way  with  luck  .  not  me  .   ❞  rand  turned  his  eyes  back  to  the  tulip  .   ❝  .  .  .  never  me  ,   ❞  he  murmured  ,  and  frowned  .  it  was  rather  odd  that  nothing  had  happened  .  so  either  he  really  had  gotten  a  bad  batch  of  .  .  .  WHATEVER  this  was  ,  or  something  had  indeed  happened  ,  and  he  was  caught  unawares  .  the  thought  made  rand  uneasy  .  he  frowned  more  deeply  as  a  terrible  tension  crawled  up  his  back  and  draped  its  weight  over  his  shoulders  .  rand  did  not  like  being  caught  unawares  . 

        ❝  now  that  we're  here  ,  though  ,  i  think  i've  earned  my  right  to  ask  :  why  this  ?  ❞  he  lifted  a  hand  and  gestured  at  their  surroundings  .  ❝  what  was  your  gamble  ?  ❞

[mischiefmodig]

\ / . His cheeks softened slightly, the sharpened smile fading into something far more quiet. Of course, Loki had not been serious when he suggested luck. And yet, Rand seemed to take the sentiment and drive it forward in the opposite direction.

❝ I would not trouble yourself over the uncertainty. ❞ Loki waves his hand, the shuffle of his shoulders sending snow upon his lap. He grumbled as he looked upon the white fluff, brushing it to resume his casual demeanor.

❝ As previously stated, none of the effects are harmful and will fade. ❞ Loki paused quietly at the next question, however. Although he could not help but continue to study Rand ( searching for any sign of affliction or anything that Loki could win from ) while forming the words for his answer.

❝ As for my gamble... ❞ Loki swallowed, brushing some of the snow out of his hair and away from his eyes. ❝ I only wished to speak to you. Before that... place- ❞ He coughed, avoiding to speak the name of that isle. ❝ -We had parted on ill terms. I believe we both owe each other something of an explanation. ❞ Loki felt Rand had far more to speak of than himself, but now was not the time for him to suggest such a thing.