A Trickster Reborn

(An Ask/RP blog for the Journey into Mystery Loki. Will include mischief, angst, brother feels, general nonsense, and maybe even some doodles. Absolutely NO Thorki, however. Run by the ambitious writer behind Liesmith-Loki.)

[pintsizedtrickster]

Journey Into Mystery/The Mighty Thor: Everything Burns ought to be retitled "Everything Hurts"

Honestly, I'm not afraid to admit it.  I buy these trades for the arcs I want to follow and about 65% of what's going on in them makes no sense to me.  They're always referencing arcs I haven't read and issues that are related but not truly crossing over with them (and thus are not included) and having like 8 writers and 9 different artists makes it REALLY FRICKING HARD to follow the thread of what, exactly, is happening on both a plot level and a visual level.

Either way, half of Everything Burns made only marginal sense to me, but I buy/read that for Kid Loki, and he's what I care about

I hate with a BURNING PASSION the way Matt Fraction writes Thor, and Kieron Gillen writes a Thor that makes a HELL of a lot more sense and isn't always either slamming his BABY BROTHER up against the wall by his neck or throwing him on the ground--but as a result, there's no consistency between chapters in this book.  Thor isn't a reliable character, and Loki BARELY is, and that's because I think dear Mr. Gillen was very VERY jealous of the writing of that character.

Anyway.  In terms of Kid Loki, worth the read and buy.  Like so many other Marvel arcs right now, though, over all Everything Burns is a HOT MESS.

[pintsizedtrickster]

...I miss Thor...

[kaciart]

Based on THIS

-

Oh…

[liesmith-loki]

[pintsizedtrickster]

I’m sure Odin and Thor are going to go do something masculine and father-sonly.  

[pintsizedtrickster]

...Oh, I forgot I had this thing.

[pintsizedtrickster]

((No restraints: I can see Sian being a bad influence and taking BBLoki around to break strange laws like "in New York a person may not walk around on Sundays with an ice cream cone in his/her pocket." or "while riding in a New York elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his hands while looking toward the door." Except there need to be reasons behind it and whatnot. ))

THERE NEED TO BE NO REASONS FOR THIS BRILLIANCE

[mischiefandseithr]

Merrily we Deck the Tree | Yuletide Thread| Closed rp

[odinborsonallfather]

Odin gave a low huff of a laugh, his breath puffing out in a cloud against the cold air. “If you are too hot, it is because you have not stopped hopping about since we started—” he reached and arm under the boy’s shoulders and snatched him up to carry him at his side, limbs dangling off the ground, “—but that is easily remedied.”

“Sif, I think I will take you upon the offer of pulling the sleigh,” he grinned while he kept the squirming boy pinned, holding him hovering in the air as he continued walking, “seeing as I now have a handful here.”

[siffed-archive]

Even in the freezing cold, Sif thought it was likely she would be sweating beneath her furs after pulling the sled for a bit. The King of all Asgard and the Nine oughtn’t be doing such a task in the first place; she gladly took up the lead for him, smiling fondly at the familiar way in which he picked up his ‘new’ boy.

What a strange family they were now, all Loki’s and still one Thor, ever absent. Did either of them ever consider leaving this place to go back to their origins? While she hoped that they would stay, she couldn’t help but wonder over it. Did they ever feel out of place?

[mischiefandseithr]

Little could Sif know, but Loki felt perpetually out of place. She could see remembrances of the Loki that was not her everywhere. Should not have been jealous but could not help the twinge of it that always built up, green and bilious, whenever she allowed herself a moment to think deeply about the situation with herself and her twin.

But she supposed that every Loki, no matter the timeline, was forever cursed to be jealous of one person or another.

The Goddess of Mischief giggled wickedly as the younger Loki was picked up under the All-Father’s arm and carried away like a stuffed toy. For all of the furs and the size of Odin, he looked like a bear carrying away his under-nourished cub.

Slowly, the forest engulfed them.

[pintsizedtrickster]

"Oh help," Loki yelped, the words choked by laughter.  "A bear's gotten me--no no, this should never happen to a Loki-fox.  I'm too quick for you, you big old bear!"  He squirmed in a convincing fashion before going limp, skinny limbs dangling.  "This is just disgraceful, I mean, honestly!"

[pintsizedtrickster]

Our Secret | Closed RP

[pintsizedtrickster]

“If that’s what it takes,” Loki muttered, touching soft little faces with gentle fingers, trying to quiet the kits.  ”No, um—just wait a little longer!” he called over his shoulder.

[siffed-archive]

“Very well,” she muttered to herself, flopping back against the adjoining wall. She was one of the finest hunters Asgard had ever seen — did the Loki pup not realize she knew animal sounds when she heard them?

“Let me save you some trouble,” she called back through the wood. “I’ve already heard them, Loki. Open up.”

[pintsizedtrickster]

Loki sighed.   "It's unlocked," he said, and stood.  He turned to face the door, three little red-brown pups in his arms, his face set in an expression of mutinous defiance. 

[mischiefandseithr]

Merrily we Deck the Tree | Yuletide Thread| Closed rp

[odinborsonallfather]

“There is a difference,” Odin remarked to the boy, “between being cold and feeling it.”

He led the horse with a light pat and a gentle tug of the reins. “Are they not the same thing, Lady Sif?” he grinned toward her as she hurried along. “At least as far as a Yule tree is concerned?”

They came deeper into the forest where the snow started falling in a light dusting of powder and the trees began to loom ever taller around them.

“Though I must admit,” he rotated his shoulder a little, some of the snow falling off the bear pelt, “I am gladdened to be accompanied on this venture. I would not much look forward to bringing back ‘a towering tree’ on my own.”

[siffed-archive]

“If you can get warm,” Sif reasoned aloud to them all, showing them her back as she moved to the head of the party, “then you can certainly get cold.”

What she did not say was that she knew Loki to often enjoy warmth, which to her had indicated he indeed felt chills. That, of course, went unsaid. 

“Nor should you have to,” she replied to Odin, looking over her shoulder, pausing in her stride. Sif was neither family to this trio nor royal — if anyone ought to be doing the heavy lifting, was it not she? Why else did she come?

“Would you like for me to pull the sled awhile, All-Father?”

[mischiefandseithr]

Loki almost said that there were no perks to being what they were, but remembered herself and bit the sharp side of her tongue. Instead, she stooped to press a kiss to the top of her younger self’s head.

She, for one, often did feel chills. Though she was not fond of being hot either. She enjoyed a hot bath or the warmth of another body in her bed, however. Especially on these long winter evenings.

It would be sad, she thought, if the All-Father had to trek into the snow alone to get the yule tree. Sad indeed.

The Trickster grew contemplative, falling deeply silent as she trudged along beside Odin and the horse-drawn sleigh. She only looked up expectantly as Sif inquired whether or not the All-Father would like her to pull the sled for a while.

[pintsizedtrickster]

"Well," he retorted.  "The only time I was ever cold was when I was so ill.  I'm too hot now, if anything."  He took a few more hopping steps in the deep snow, then edged up beside Odin, keeping pace with his father. "The bigger the tree the better.  Asgard needs a really big tree." 

[pintsizedtrickster]

Our Secret | Closed RP

[pintsizedtrickster]

“Um—NOTHING!” he said, attempting to bundle the foxes into their box.  The other two, not yet having been fed, set up a pitious little yowling.

[siffed-archive]

She snorted amusement at the door, skeptical eyebrows raised, and crossed her arms to wait for him to open it for her. She knew something was going on. The poor little guy expected to pull the proverbial wool over her eyes, but he seemed to have forgotten that she’d known Loki for ages.

And at thirteen or so, he hadn’t quite mastered the art of being convincing in his sudden lies.

“Do you plan to have me wait out here all day?”

[pintsizedtrickster]

"If that's what it takes," Loki muttered, touching soft little faces with gentle fingers, trying to quiet the kits.  "No, um--just wait a little longer!" he called over his shoulder.

[mischiefandseithr]

Merrily we Deck the Tree | Yuletide Thread| Closed rp

[odinborsonallfather]

Odin caught the Lady Loki’s glance with one of his own. “No shame in taking pride in your own handiwork,” he shrugged a little into his bear pelt.

“Come along now, boy,” he called out to the child as he rushed in meandering patterns in the snow. “You’ll be grateful for the furs as we go further in. We’ve still a ways to go and it will only get colder.”

“Sif, your eyes are sharp,” he smiled to the lady, hoping to draw her out from her seemingly contemplative mood. “Why don’t you take the lead and spot us a good-sized tree?”

[siffed-archive]

“I say that because they suit him, do you not agree?” she replied to the Lady, tone for tone. “Asgard’s cunning little fox Prince.”

Indeed it would get colder, and Sif was thankful for her own furs, also her own handiwork of course. She returned the All-Father’s smile gratefully, honoured to have her skills held in such high esteem by one so great as Odin. There was a bit more spring in her step as she hurried to oblige.

“Good-sized?” she asked, “Surely you mean ‘a towering tree, worthy of Asgard’s grand halls’, my King?”

[mischiefandseithr]

“Aye, I agree Lady Sif,” she answered with a genuine smile, reaching down and brushing a gloved hand through her other’s hair absently. The Goddess of Mischief watched as the other woman took the lead, deciding to stray close to the All-Father for this journey.

“And the All-Father is right. Even Lokis get cold on these excursions,” she told her young counterpart.

[pintsizedtrickster]

Loki dashed up, stopping in a spray of snow between Loki and his Father.  "Lokis don't get cold," he said cheekily, giving them both a grin.  "It's one of the few perks of being what we are."

[balderoncebrave]

A Letter from a Friend (PintSizedTrickster)

The letter pops out of the air in front of Balder, materialising in an acrid smelling cloud of green smoke. It is slightly singed about the edges, as if its trip through the astral plains had taken it through some that were a little more infernal than heavenly.

Dear Balder—

I hope this finds you well.  Honestly, it’s been too long.  Things are quiet here in Asgard for the moment—are you sure you won’t come and visit for Yule, at least?

Your friend,  Loki 

Balder blinked in surprise at the sudden appearance of the parchment almost hitting him in the nose. He set down the hewn logs he had been carrying to the parlour for the evening to grasp the note from where it floated in the air, murmuring the words a little as he read.

He folded it up and tucked it away as he finished his work, transferring the logs with a little more speed than normal. Once finished, he checked the halls somewhat guardedly on his way to his room, closing the door behind him and giving the latch an unaccustomed tug to lock it shut.

Pulling out the message, he set it down upon the desk as he sat, his own parchment and quill at hand. A few quick dips in the inkwell, and he hurried his hand in response.

Loki—

As much as I am glad to hear from you, you should not have risked sending a missive into Nornheim. Karnilla has had the realm’s defenses up in arms against infiltration, from armies and enchantments alike, ever since both you and Amora managed to come in and out so easily. I fear that should she catch wind of this correspondence, she would consider it a breach.

I am sorry that I cannot visit you though I imagine it is probably for the best. Asgard has moved on without me in the time since I departed—perhaps it is time I moved on as well and that they remain untroubled by word of my current situation. Regardless, I hope the Yule season is a cheerful one for you; I shall try to see if I cannot spread some of the warmth I remember of Yuletide here to enjoy.

Your friend,

—Balder

He dusted the ink to help it set before folding and sealing the letter, only to look up in dismay when he realised he had no enchanted means at his disposal to send it—at least none without alerting Karnilla.

He set the wax aside a little glumly, staring hard at the letter he could not send.

[pintsizedtrickster]

The letter Loki had sent erupted suddenly in green flame--and the letter Balder had written in reply went up as well in a strange conflagration.  After a moment there was nothing left but ash and a few drops of melted wax.

Loki held his hand out, swinging his legs blithely over the hundreds of feet of empty space below him.  He was perched on a parapet at the very top of the palace, the splendor of winter-bound Asgard spread below him, waiting for Balder's reply.  The letter flamed into existence just above his fingers, and dropped into his hand.  He opened it and stared at the words with a frown on his face, before climbing down to the tower floor. "...Point for you, Karnilla," he muttered.  "But that doesn't make you ahead--it just makes us even." 

[pintsizedtrickster]

Our Secret | Closed RP

[pintsizedtrickster]

Loki yelped—and was echoed by the pup in his lap. The other two, tumbling about on the rug, sat up with little tails and ears alert.  

“Um—!” Loki said, scooping kits into his arms.  ”Uh—just a minute!” 

[siffed-archive]

Sif had excellent hearing. Her brow furrowed at the odd sounds, head canting to the side to listen more carefully. He sounded flustered and hurried.

He also sounded a bit like a puppy.

“Loki?” she said again, half laughing. She’d not barge in on him unless something was wrong, but her curiosity was piqued. “What are you doing in there?”

[pintsizedtrickster]

"Um--NOTHING!" he said, attempting to bundle the foxes into their box.  The other two, not yet having been fed, set up a pitious little yowling.

[pintsizedtrickster]

Our Secret | Closed RP

It wasn’t hard to smuggle the fox kits in.

They were so small they fit without trouble into the hood of his tunic, and the basket he pilfered from the kitchen was more than big enough to accomodate them all.  

After a quick glance about his room, he slid the basket under the bed, hoping that the snugness of the bed he’d made up for them out of several of his shirts and the darkness under the bed would remind them of the den they had left.

Their mother was gone—he’d seen them more than once, wandering and crying from the mouth of their den, thinner and more pathetic looking by the day.  He’d been unable to stand it any longer, and so had brought them home to Asgard to care for them.

He wheedled milk out of the kitchen maid, and now sat on his bed with one kit in his lap, squeezing milk into the tiny creature’s mouth from a rag he’d soaked in the stuff.

[siffed-archive]

Sif’s biggest comfort of late in this barren Asgard was the child Loki, though of course she had told no one as much. It was yule season, and though the memories were often bittersweet, his smiling face and excitement awakened her own childish glee. It was for this reason, some loneliness she did not express, that she sought him to request the honor of sitting beside him at dinner that evening.

The meal was yet hours away, and so she still wore her old leathers, worn in boots making no sound in the long corridor.

She gave the cursory knock, stepping up to listen at the door for his little footsteps. “Loki?”

[pintsizedtrickster]

Loki yelped--and was echoed by the pup in his lap. The other two, tumbling about on the rug, sat up with little tails and ears alert.   "Um--!" Loki said, scooping kits into his arms.  "Uh--just a minute!" 

[pintsizedtrickster]

queen-frigga replied to your post: Our Secret | Closed RP

((I hope you gave them all a bath or else the whole Palace will be infested with fleas by the end of the week.))

I--I will, Mother.  You're not supposed to know about them!!

[pintsizedtrickster]

Our Secret | Closed RP

It wasn't hard to smuggle the fox kits in.

They were so small they fit without trouble into the hood of his tunic, and the basket he pilfered from the kitchen was more than big enough to accomodate them all.  

After a quick glance about his room, he slid the basket under the bed, hoping that the snugness of the bed he'd made up for them out of several of his shirts and the darkness under the bed would remind them of the den they had left.

Their mother was gone--he'd seen them more than once, wandering and crying from the mouth of their den, thinner and more pathetic looking by the day.  He'd been unable to stand it any longer, and so had brought them home to Asgard to care for them.

He wheedled milk out of the kitchen maid, and now sat on his bed with one kit in his lap, squeezing milk into the tiny creature's mouth from a rag he'd soaked in the stuff.

[mischiefandseithr]

Merrily we Deck the Tree | Yuletide Thread| Closed rp

[siffed-archive]

Sif also pondered this new family dynamic as they trudged through the snow. Her feet were cold, but the rest of her was wrapped snugly in furs, amused eyes watching the child Loki running about, burrowing in snow, acting entirely like an eager and excitable pup. She was quite fond of him, it had to be said.

“Those furs look well on you,” she noted fondly, calling across the expanse of snow.

Here, two Loki’s and neither of them her own. These two seemed to share with her an affection of Asgard. Why could he who had grown here not wish to return? She sighed, pushing it from her mind. It was a day of mild adventure, not further mourning. The All-Father had found the time to seek a yule tree, and even Lady Sif was not impervious to the childish thrill of the season.

[mischiefandseithr]

The All-Father had taken time out of his progress to wait for the small party to catch up, seeming a bear himself in his bear fur, towering above the snow in a lumbering sort of way as he had ever done. Vivid memories of her childhood chased the trailing of her furs, her foot’s prints in the snow.

Loki could not help but smile, if even just a little.

She drew level with Odin, a gloved hand coming out to pat the horse’s great shoulder, breath barely a mist before her just as the smaller Loki’s.

At that moment Sif called out to tell her younger self that the furs he wore looked well upon him and Loki’s smile widened, jade eyes sweeping to where he was still jostling through the snow with the enthusiasm of only the young.

“You only say that because it is you who killed the foxes,” Loki called back, teasing the other woman light-heartedly.

Her attention returned to the All-Father then and she narrowed her eyes near-conspiratorially at him.

[pintsizedtrickster]

Loki darted forward to dance momentarily at Sif's side, pale face lit with starlight, glee in his eyes. "I do like the fox furs, Sif.  Even if it is a little too warm in them."  He darted forward then, springing through the snow towards where his father and his sister stood waiting with the horse.