#threads;;atros

[chaosandbloodmagic-archives]

It Started Out With a Brick

How did it end up like this?

||So, there have been some requests for more content with Atros and Loki ( @bifrostedflake ) being a couple of overly-dramatic losers. I felt inclined to satisfy those requests by taking things back to the thread that spurred this wonderful, terrible, delightfully consuming ship.  Though this is the first thread we did, there’s one we did later that’s supposed to precede this, so if you want extra context, there’s this and this. And as a heads up, things get a lil’ risqué toward the end and there’s some mentions of blood, just in case that ain’t your cup o’ tea. Enjoy!||

LOKI: -One knock on the door and cry for help led to new roommates, and it didn't stop there. Loki simply allowed it to happen, thinking maybe it would help if there were other's lurking around they could tolerate. It didn't help his mood as much as he'd hoped it would. In fact, it only seemed to worsen. Now the clocktower penthouse has become a might too crowded for the God, and a lot more lonely. More and more he continued to withdraw.-

"Oh, he's just being Loki." He hears from the stairs, remarking on him reading in the window. Too bad the book is upside down.

"He's probably up to something when we're not looking. You know him, always scheming." He overhears in the kitchen.

-Three years have passed since Odin stripped him down and made him mortal. Three years since he'd been reconditioned to believe he was someone else, while another filled his shoes. Two years since a demon took advantage of him in this weakened state, holding him a prisoner in his mind, and one year since his powers were fully restored. One whole year spent sitting in a window, feeling less like a God of anything and more like a hollowed out tree, still alive, but rotting from the inside. Bitter towards everyone he's been living with, and frustrated with what he's become.

It's that frustration which drove him to finally make a rash decision. Taking measures to secure his study he makes careful preparations. Borrowing books from Kamar Taj to take with him, he planned to abandon Midgard and depart for the dark dimension in search of knowledge and power, but most of all, to rediscover himself. He began a campaign, tying up loose ends around the city, remodeling the tower in order to pass it off to someone else. One late snowy evening, his wanderings led him off the beaten path, and he found himself meandering around the elegance of a little row of Victorian houses. It's a neighborhood he wasn't altogether familiar with, but the aesthetic was very appealing. The soft scent of roses draws him to one home in particular. It stands out from all the rest in that it's the best-kept house on the block, but what really captivated him, is that it's teeming with magic. Curiosity drives the God closer until he senses a protective barrier around the whole grounds. Holding out a hand he gets a sense the power over the protective spell is waning.- "Hmm." -An exhilarating jolt shoots through him. Just who lives here? A light turns on in a window, and he takes a few cautious steps back to observe. With one swift wave of his wrist, he casts a spell to shield himself from prying eyes.-

ATROS: -To say he had been busy as of late would have been an understatement. Though, to him, it hardly felt like busywork at all. It had all started when he finally began to fall back into habit after a brief period of exploration. It had been exhilarating to take his new body out these last several months, traveling the world, experiencing things from a fresh perspective. So much of the world had changed, and he had taken it for granted until now.

As much as things had changed, however, things stayed the same. For as much as Atros enjoyed new, he longed for the familiar. He had an old routine so perfectly practiced that it was impossible not to return to it. He had returned to his castle in limbo for a time, back among his books and artifacts of power. It was too quiet. Unnervingly so, and he had never noticed.

Who would have ever thought that he'd have missed ambient noise so much? The ticking of a clock, the passing of cars, bird songs, distant shrieks of laughter of children playing; those were the things that he had already begun to miss in such a short time. Those were the things that spurred him into another part of his routine.

Returning to one of his earthly dwellings, (merely to keep up appearances as he always had, he might have told himself) the first thing he noticed was dust. Not just the sight of it, but the smell. This house --and the rest of them he suspected-- had grown stale in his stagnation. It was a dim, lonely place that deserved a fresh coat of paint as much as he had.

Weeks passed as he oversaw renovations and renewals of his Westchester home. Furniture was re-finished, walls were repainted, the kitchen and bathroom were entirely refitted to suit his new needs for creature comforts, and best of all, his garden had been completely replanted, and his rose bushes pruned and ready for when summer came.

Today was the first day he'd had all to himself since he began. No contractors, no gardeners, no hired help. Just him and belongings. He had expected to feel relieved, but as the day stretched on, his books began to feel like unworthy companions. Before long, he was a specter again, haunting his own halls. Wandering from room to room, he couldn't shake the feeling that despite all the things that filled it, this house was empty. Perhaps that had been why he had left his domain in limbo, to begin with.

It was an unpleasant thought, one he was determined to chase away with something sweet. Brewing himself a cup of tea, he helped himself to a chocolate-chip cookie or two (or three, but who was counting?) Delicious as they were, he still couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that ate at his stomach. He turned on the light in his parlor and drew open the curtains to see the bluish-green glow of dusk, accented by the almost orange glow of the streetlamps that flickered on.

What he wouldn't do just to hear another voice that wasn't his own right now.-

LOKI: -There he stood, brooding dramatically before the last vestiges of the setting sun. As the final few streetlamps blinked to life, promising another lonely evening, the sound of silence is broken by the smashing cracking crash of an object sailing at hypersonic speed, bashing him right in the face.-

ATROS: -One moment he had been contemplating perhaps heading into the city for the night, the next, he was on the floor actually feeling... pain? Sitting up, somewhat dazed and covered in shattered glass, he laid his eyes on a simple, red brick. Now, had this been the work of some neighborhood vandal, he may not have minded, and it certainly wouldn't have hit him with the force it did. Whatever, or whoever threw this had a wicked pitching arm for sure.

Gritting his teeth, he checked that his glamour was still up as he passed a mirror in the hallway and marched outside, hoping to face the culprit.-

"All right, show yourself!" -He barked, surveying his front garden for any sign of where they might be.- "I know you're out here."

LOKI: -Another one assails him from seemingly nowhere, thrown with that same preternatural strength, plus an additional boost of magic. The force of it could have instantly killed a mortal.- 

"Who's off guard now you crusty plug ugly rotten old cabbage!" -The God shouts as he materializes, swinging around a post of the porch to kick him for good measure.-

ATROS: -The brick hits him just as hard as the first one, but he manages to stay on his feet at least. By now he’s ready to tear into his tormentor. Turning toward the source of the voice with a snarl, Loki’s foot connects with the side of his head, laying him out in a snowy flowerbed. Looking to the God of Mischief on his porch, he very clearly remembers their last encounter. It seemed that perhaps he still harbored some hard feelings about what happened in the theater that night.-

“Well if this isn’t a pleasant surprise.” -He chuckles, rubbing his sore cheek as his mouth twists into a wry grin.- “How kind of you to drop by, old friend.”

LOKI: -With a derisive snort, the god lifts a hand, wrapping his lean fingers around the manifesting hilt of a dagger.- 

"I figured it was high time I dropped in on you for once--" -Stretching out his free hand, his lips curl back into a devilish grin as he envelopes the sorcerer in a soft green glow, rendering him immobile.- "And as you can see, I've been bubbling with anticipation."

ATROS: -Frozen to his spot on the ground, he can't quite discern if the flutter in his stomach is a reaction to the trickster's magic, or something else. His grin remains, but his eyes dart toward the neighboring houses in his periphery. If the sound of shattering glass hadn't alerted them already, this was something they were bound to notice. Erasing memories was such a trial, and he'd so hate to leave this place after putting so much work into it.- 

"Yes, I'm sure you have." -He says pleasantly.- "Listen, I am absolutely thrilled to see where this conversation is headed, though I do have one concern. I'm a trifle worried our discussion might wake the Yorgason's new little one. Perhaps you and I should take this inside?"

LOKI: -His eyes narrow considerably.- "Enough prattling you ingrown hair." -Staring down the slope of his nose at the demon, he dismisses the concern with a sneer and closes in, the blade in his hand igniting with a fiery roar of magic. However; it's the warm light from a neighboring porch that causes the trickster to pause and consider the sorcerer's words. For half a second, a softness made its way into his pale eyes, and it looked as though he might care after all. Turning his gaze back to the devil laid out in the snow among the barren, thorny rose bushes, he couldn't help but stare for another long few seconds. The way the street lamps and porch lights cast him in a soft light struck a chord somewhere in the God, but they weren't sure whether it was simply aesthetic appreciation or something else. The blade dematerializes, and he grabs the demon by the hair, dragging him through the flowers and up the few steps to the partially closed front door. He kicks it open and tosses him inside.-

 "After you."

ATROS: -Clenching his teeth, he bears the indignity of it all as he works up a counter-spell against Loki’s magic. Durable as his new body is, he’s not at all eager to put that to the test just yet. The second Loki throws him over over the threshold, he halts, suspended in the air as his glamour melts away. The green light fades, and he’s turned upright, and as his feet alight on the floor, he walks into the parlor. Glass floats from the floor and back into the window pane and the drapes close with a flick of his wrist. Another flick and the snow and brambles disappear from his clothing and hair, and all is as it should be.- “Now then—“ -The front door closes swiftly behind Loki.-

 “You had something you wanted to discuss?” -He says, his smug demeanor thinly veiled as it could be.-

LOKI: -Shaking his head at the display of power, he mutters something about not being impressed under his breath and takes a few steps forward. The slam of the door causes the God's coat to billow behind him, but he doesn't react. He hardly feels threatened at all. Not showing one bit of concern for what the demon could potentially do to him, he saunters after him. Following him into the parlor, he feels less like the fly and more like the spider as he shucks off his winter coat and drapes it neatly over the back of a chair as if he planned to stay a while. He recalls precisely what Atros was capable of before he gained this new form and can't imagine he's really all that much different as a demon. More ego and fire he supposed.- 

"What is there left to discuss?" -He says with a measured cadence, tilting his head up ever so slightly.- "I graciously sat beside your odoriferous self." -He continues, maintaining that same tone.- "I even healed that wound for you out of some pity I managed to scrounge." -He gestures to him firmly, his pitch and tone gradually growing more furious..- "We could have simply parted ways and been on better terms, but then you ruined the moment by forcing yourself upon my person!"

ATROS: "Oh dear, that was rather terrible of me to do, wasn't it?" -Is his unrepentant reply, a hand on his cheek and a mock expression of shame on his face. A terrible thing indeed. That moment played over and over in his head since the day it happened. No matter how he tried to get past it, he simply couldn't. From what he had gleaned, neither could Loki. Though, he was sure Loki would rather gut him than reciprocate it like he may or may not have found himself hoping on occasion.-

"Would it make you feel any better if I told you  that you've a free pass to return the favor anytime you wished?" -The words are out of his mouth before he can stop himself.-

LOKI: -For a second he's gaping at him like a fish after that comment, and then amusement dances in his pale green eyes. He stalks up to him mocking him with a scoff.- 

"How generous." -The God is practically in his face now.- "Then it's a good thing you got a body that isn't mine, or I'd never redeem it." -Blinking, he pauses to check what he'd just said, mouthing what he was almost certain he said which is "though I'll never redeem it.", but that isn't what came out.-

ATROS: -There's a brief spark of shock in his lilac eyes. He had heard that right, hadn't he? The more sure he is, the broader his toothy grin grows. Brimming with twisted delight, he nearly forgets himself and laughs.- 

"It seems you have a few reasons to be relieved that I went with another option." -He practically sings, giving the god a brazen wink.- "Though, I wouldn't say you're off the hook yet. I still may change my mind about the sort of body I truly want."

LOKI: -How he wished he could have shoved a finger into that eye before he winked. Loki snorts and knocks on the sorcerer's chest, ignoring that infuriating grin, but adopting one of his own.-

 "I don't buy what you're selling, but I wouldn't blame you if you really felt that way." -Turning away from him on his heel, the trickster tosses his hair back and twists just enough to wink back at Atros from over his shoulder, his hands on his hips.- "Though you'll have to fight me for it." -He blows him a kiss that materializes with a pop and takes the form of sparkling illusory hearts and tiny daggers which shoot towards his chest. They burst on contact and blind the demon momentarily, but then he feels the God's hand give him a light shove.- "I'm a little attached."

ATROS: -Stumbling back a couple steps, he blinks the stars from his eyes. From throwing bricks at his head and threatening him with a dagger, things certainly have taken a turn for something... It's a little out of the ordinary he supposes.- 

"Considering all I've been through to get it, I'd almost be a little insulted if you didn't at least put effort into making the chase interesting." -He says with an appraising look-- Perhaps one that lingers a little too long in places.- "I've never been one to back down from a challenge."

LOKI: -Noting the look, he leans away from him for a minute, letting his eyes rove over him in return.- "Well, I do like to challenge." -Stepping backward he beckons with a finger to come after him, daring him.-

ATROS: -There's a shift in his demeanor at that beckoning finger. Like a sailor mesmerized by a siren's call, he takes a step closer. Subconsciously, he pulls at his tie in an effort to alleviate the sudden tightness in his chest. Another step all but closes the distance between him.-

 "If I might be so bold, I rather think you like to tease," -He says, his voice low as he studies his features with half-lidded eyes.- "not challenge."

LOKI: "Do I?" -As the demon closes in, he feels a hand snake around him from behind. It jerks him back against the trickster's chest. At the same time, the sharp tip of a dagger presses into his lower back with enough pressure to tear a hole in his shirt and prick his flesh. The illusion he'd been following dissipates.- 

"Depends on my mood." -His thin lips curve into a delicate smirk as he helps him loosen and remove that bothersome tie, his breath at his ear.- "How eager are you to find out which mood I'm in tonight?" -The dagger inches forward.-

ATROS: -An electric shock runs through his body at his touch. Rigid and straight as a tin soldier, he bites his bottom lip and draws in a sharp breath. Should have seen that coming. As his tie is loosened, his posture seems to relax with it, pushing the blade into his back a little more as a result.- 

"That depends. Is that a knife in your pocket? Or are you just happy to see me?" -He says, casting him a sidelong smirk from over his shoulder.-

LOKI: -With a breathy chuckle, he gives him enough of a stab to make an inky mess of his shirt, then withdraws the dagger.- 

"Me, happy to see you? Perish the thought." -Slowly he moves, and as he does his free hand smooths across the sorcerer's chest.- "Mmmm..although.." Gliding in waves his fingers trail along his side, then his back.- "Maybe, I ought to give the thought a chance to flourish." -His fingertips thread through his crimson hair and dance over his arm while the God continues moving around him. Face to face once more, eyes fixed on his, he raises the bloodied blade to his own lips and taps them, looking thoughtful, then swiftly uses it to pop a button or two off of Atros’ shirt.-

ATROS: -The bite of steel slicing through his skin makes him flinch. His calm, collected exterior breaks for only a moment, for as quickly as he was cut, the wound stitches itself back together. Tempting as it is to grab the trickster to keep him from further ruining his shirt, his somewhat morbid curiosity is louder. What exactly is it the god thinks he can do to him now?- 

"There's no harm in trying new things every now and again." -He eggs him on with a haughty look.- "I'm sure at the very least, there'd be less harm to my wardrobe." -He mutters, blowing a stray lock of hair away from his face.-

LOKI: -The suggestion is intriguing.- "No harm hmm....as the God of lies, I proclaim, that is bullshit." -He purrs as the hair falls before the sorcerer's haunting eyes. Eyes he's never really taken the time to appreciate, eyes he's not sure he should be appreciating. Pushing his shirt open with the tip of the dagger, he lays the cool flat of the blade against his exposed chest and strokes it, slowly back and forth, with a look of consideration. He studies his features and tucks that disobedient lock neatly back into place, his fingertips trailing over the shell of his ear. Inching closer, they follow the curvature of his jaw, then trace a fine line straight down the middle of his neck, down, down, until he works open another button.- 

"Seems a little early to predict what will happen to your wardrobe." This is wrong. He came in to kill him, not this. With that thought in mind, he slides the blade up with a tantalizingly slow scrape until the edge of it is at Atros' throat.- "Besides,..I'm playing all of this by ear."

ATROS: -Throat bobbing beneath the edge of the blade, he swallows the gut instinct to lash out and knock the dagger from his hands. Showing that sort of weakness was simply out of the question. Though, that doesn't stop him from leaning into Loki's touch ever so slightly as his fingertips brush against his face. He feels rather like they’re two chess pieces in check, just waiting for the other to make a move.-

"Oh, I don't believe that for a second." -His eyes glint devilishly in the light.- "The cunning, clever god of mischief without a plan? I'm quite certain you came here with something in mind."

LOKI: -Watching him, Loki notes the restraint. A burgeoning smile crosses his lips, and he grips Atros’ shirt, tugging him flush against him, chest to chest, careful not slit that beautiful throat.-

 "I've always got something in mind." -It occurs to the trickster this is familiar. He realizes he's imagined a similar scenario before, but these were things he forced from his mind. A toxic byproduct of a desperately lonely soul, who now, can't seem to stop themselves. He means to knee him in the groin, but his thigh only nudges the sorcerer's cock instead.- "Though I've been thinking..." - He trails off and grips the hilt tighter. Releasing the fabric, he collects demon's neck, drawing his face that much closer, until their noses rub and their mouths almost meet.- "...this banality between us surely has to end sometime...." -Loki adds, his voice a low rasp of a whisper against his lips.-

ATROS: "Oh, but how does the old adage go? Something about teaching an old dog new tricks?" -He murmurs, a shudder running up the length of his spine and down through his fingertips. Even the lightest touch between them is nearly excruciating. Itching to put his hands on him, he instead reaches up and presses a fingertip to the end of the dagger and gently directs it away from his throat.- "Though, I'm sure learning new tricks isn't entirely beyond our scope, is it?" -A small pinprick of black blood begins to blossom beneath the blade, but he hardly seems fazed.-

LOKI:  “It’s one reason you’ve survived so long right?” -Loki doesn’t fight him on redirecting the blade, never breaking eye contact.- “You love learning new tricks every bit as much I do...” -A spark of magic bursts from his fingertips and the dagger flickers. The instant it’s gone, he snatches the lapel of his shirt, and their mouths meet in a brief but scorching kiss. For as long as the moment lasts, his hands roam everywhere, groping, grabbing, getting a sense of what’s lurking beneath the offensive fabrics. When it breaks he nips and tugs on Atros’ lower lip, then with a flick of his tongue he slithers downwards, until he’s on his knees before the demon, undoing his pants to get at what he wants.-

ATROS:  "It’s more sheer stubbornness than--" -He watches the dagger disappear, and the moment Loki goes in for the kiss, he loses all focus. In just a split second he goes from composed, master manipulator, to touch-starved animal, letting his hands explore Loki's body. Savoring the heat of his touch and the sweet scent of his breath, it doesn't quite register right away that the kiss had been broken. It was the rattling of his belt buckle that cued him into what Loki was going for next.-

|| That’s all folks~||

[chaosandbloodmagic-archives]

💐 Knocks on the cottage door and then vanishes, leaving him to discover a trail of rose petals that lead to out to the front yard where there are fresh patches of poppies planted. ~ For that old demon. 💚

Send 💐 to show up at my Muse’s door with flowers.Alternatively, send 🌼 for My Muse to show up at Your Muse’s door with flowers.

At first he didn’t notice the trail of rose petals and he almost just went back inside to grumble about doorbell ditching kids. It was as he moved to shut the door that he saw them and wide grin curved his lips. Eagerly, he followed the trail to the poppies.

“Well, someone certainly is thoughtful~”

[chaosandbloodmagic-archives]

Memories

Some months ago, Scarlett was living a life without her powers, or any memory involving them. Something brought her to the old Stark Tower, however, where she ran into Loki ( @bifrostedflake​.) That’s when things got weird.

S: -It wasn’t often that she got out like this. Between all her responsibilities at work and helping Maggie out with her quickly growing business, she didn’t have much time to herself. With her birthday around the corner, she could easily justify a small weekend getaway. No work, no Maggie, no kids, she fully intended on pampering herself.

At least, she hoped she would be. Lost in her thoughts, she must have actually gotten lost. Blinking, she turned her gaze up, up, up the side of the tall tower before her and crinkled her brow in confusion. How on Earth had she ended up at the Stark Tower? It was in the opposite direction of where she was supposed to be heading. She thought it was anyway… That’s what she got for daydreaming about the cute bellhop at the hotel.

Perplexed, she nearly reached into her pocket to check her phone’s GPS, but quickly remembered that her phone had died. Someone had to know where she was, and hopefully they could give her an idea of where she was supposed to be heading.-

“Excuse me!” she called after a nearby woman she had caught out of the corner of her eye. “Excuse me, could I ask you for your help with something? I seem to be a little turned around.”

F: -Things have really been looking up for the trickster these days, and in a variety of unexpected ways, just as an agent of change liked it. She purchased the tower on a whim and now all of the wonderful little secrets it held belonged to her.

Coming out of the building Loki paused to lock it's doors and then danced down the stairs to the sidewalk, the skip in her step reflecting her eagerness to see Atros. One day she'd like to bring him here. Her train of thought began to elaborate on that when a familiar voice called out to her. For a split second it was easy to forget what Maggie advised her and she turned to greet Scarlet with enthusiasm.- "Scarlett!" -She even ran up to throw her arms around her.-

S: -Freezing as the dark-haired stranger threw her arms around her, Scar's mind went racing. Her sister always did say she had a weird talent for running into someone she knew, wherever she went, but as far as she knew, she had no idea who this woman was. Granted, her memory wasn't the most reliable, but she was positive she'd never forget a face this pretty. But... She knew her by name somehow.- "Oh! Hi-- You... How are you?"

F: -If there was anyone Loki wanted to talk about a baby with it's Scar, but her enthusiasm faded once she heard the tone of her voice and she let go and stepped back.- "Oh I'm--terribly sorry." -This is a little awkward.- "You probably don't recognize me like this, it's Loki. Remember me?" -She hoped the name is enough but just in case she pulls out her phone and steps beside Scar to shows off some selfies of himself, swiping past a few with Atros.-

S: -Maintaining a polite (if not slightly forced) smile, her eyes dart from the screen of Loki's phone, to Loki's face, and back to the screen several times. Loki... Where did she know a Loki from? And how on Earth did she manage to look so different in her photos? She ventured a guess at maybe surgery? Makeup? From the looks of her friend with the long, red wig, she may have been into cosplay. Did she cosplay?- "I--" -She pauses and heaves a sigh.- "I'm sorry, I've got such a lousy memory. Where did we meet?"

F: -Thinks back on it, looking for something she might recall and pulls up a photo of Thor.- "Maybe you recall my brother? We met after you met him." -If photos didn't work she could certainly think of other ways to jog Scar's memory.-

S: -Zeroing in on Thor, she feels a slight tingle run through her spine and she subconsciously reaches up to brush her fingers over her shoulder. There's a spark of recognition, but only for the briefest, fraction of a second.- "Alright, now I'm really wishing I could remember." -She laughs to mask her embarrassment. This wasn't the first time this had happened to her, but usually she could recall something of a person if they really did know her, like this woman seemed to. But there was nothing.-

F: "Awww well that's alright, I've been such a bother and you asked for some help." -She slips the phone into her pocket and appears apologetic.- "So what was it I can help you with? If you're lost, I can certainly provide you with some direction.”

S: "You really haven't been a bother. I just feel terrible that I'm having such a hard time remembering where we met." -This whole time she's been wracking her brain, trying to find something. It can't be a coincidence that she somehow wandered to Stark Tower and bumped into someone who seems to know her. Taking another good look at Loki's face, she has this feeling-- an ache almost-- that she really does know her.- "I um... I'm just trying to get back to my hotel. If I can just find Madison avenue from her, I'll be able to get back no problem." -Without realizing it, her focus intensifies and she almost has it. Loki, the tower, the man with the red hair... Thor? Biting back a gasp, there's a sudden twinge of pain that flares up in her head. Whatever came to her is long gone now.-

F: "The difference between streets and avenues is very critical in this town. It's a grid but it's so confusing isn't it?" -Watching her strain to remember, Loki offers to show her a map on her phone and directs her to have a look at while she raises a hand. Gently Loki places it to the side of Scar's head and gingerly attempts to pull forth anything she can. Barely a few seconds in and a red fiery spark envelopes the trickster's hand. Startled, she withdraws and the moment she does it tears at something in Scar's mind. The seams holding back years of repressed memories pop and begin to unravel, but it feels like a hammer has been taken to her skull. Crackling magic and a painful jolt race up through Loki's arm and then back down, sending out a blast of energy from her palm faster than either of them could react. She stumbles back, grabbing her wrist, rattled and confused. It takes her a moment to realize that blast hit Scar.-

S: -For the first time in months, her dormant powers surface. Unwittingly, Loki has tapped into a well of chaos magic that has sat brewing, waiting to be released. All the barriers and false memories she had willed into place buckle and split apart as the energy begins to rush to the surface, like a volcano moments before it erupts. Amidst all this, there's something else there, cracking under the immense pressure. It hasn't been there long, but it has sat unnoticed in a deep corner of her mind. The dark magic maintains its hold, for now, but given time, it just may shatter. Though, as the hex moves through Loki's arm, it backfires and sends Scar sprawling onto the sidewalk, limp and unresponsive.-

F: -A sharp smell hangs in the air as the crackling magic fades and Loki wrinkles her nose, her fingers flexing, arm still in pain. It's nothing she won't get over, she thinks anyway, but then she notices Scar.- "Oh shit." -A few cars have begun to slow, windows rolling down. People along sidewalks have already begun to stare, phones in the air. None of this went the way Loki thought it would.- "Par for the course." -She mutters and kneels over Scar's body. She attempts to cast a spell to shield them from view but it's not quite working and as she continues trying she begins to feel queasy. This is just getting worse and now she's nervous about the baby. Calmly she pulls out her phone and sends a text.- 

[@Atros] Need a little help. How fast can you meet me at the old Stark tower?

A: [@Loki] I can be there in just a couple minutes. Is everything okay?

-Atros doesn't even wait for a response to get moving. With little more than a snap of his fingers, he's out of his lounge clothes and in a sharp suit. He could have been at the tower instantly, but at some point, Maggie must have disrupted the portal he had there before she vacated the tower. That was something he was going to have to remedy while he was there.-

F: [@Atros] Nnnoooo. Not especially.

-Checks Scar to make sure she's breathing and considers taking her into the tower. Though, while people are looking this is not ideal and she'd rather not draw M5's attention if she can avoid it. She grimaces, knowing there is really no one to blame for this right now but herself. Carefully she reaches under Scar and picks her up with ease, but as she's doing that people are crowding around to ask if the woman is alright. She's reassuring them everything is fine, but the pain she's feeling in her arm and the increased nausea are more than a little distracting.-

A: -Reading Loki's latest text he frowns. He had planned on teleporting someplace a little more discreet, but now he's worried. With enough forethought to at least activate his glamour, he suddenly appears on the edge of the gathering crowd. Without any hesitation, he pushes his way through and puts a good bit of energy into a persuasion charm.- "All right, everyone go about your business. There's nothing to see here. Leave us be." -As soon as the "suggestion" leaves his lips, he freezes, his eyes locked on the unconscious Scarlett. Shit.-

F: -Awkwardly waves and offers a crooked grin.-

A: -As the last few onlookers shamble away, he moves to help Loki support Scar, his brows furrowed.- "What happened? What's she doing here?"

F: -Now Loki has to ask herself a very important question. "What would Machi do?" And then decide if she was going to follow through on that. Lie to him? That would be the norm, but the little warrior made enough of impact that she actually hesitates to say and stops herself from choosing among the first ten things that came to mind. All of them lies.- "She was lost and didn't remember me. I--" -Pauses-"Tried to help?"

A: -A surge of panic runs through him, dropping his heart into the deepest pit of his stomach. His spell. Had it broken? Did Loki notice it? He had to check on it, but it was neither the best time, nor place. Outwardly, he maintained his cool and tried to make light of it.- "What did you do? Club her over the head?"

F: "More like blew her up?" -Manages a small shrug while holding her.- "Remember when I pulled up some of your memories? Welllllll it didn't really go as smoothly as that did."

A: -That doesn't bode well for him.- "Oh hell... So what do you want to do with her?"

F: -She looks down at Scarlet with a hint of an apology in her eyes and deeply sighs.- “I want to take her somewhere safe and make sure she’s alright.” -Briefly glances back to the tower. Her brows knit in concern and then she turns her gaze back to Atros.- “We’ll take her to our place.”

A: -Pressing his lips into a thin line, he mentally weighs the pros and cons. If they take her back to his place and he can sneak a moment alone with her, he can check on the memory loss spell he put on her to make sure it's still there. But if she wakes up and remembers anything about him, things will get ugly regardless.- "Fine. But as soon as we know she's okay, she's gone."

F: -Through the waning pain and nausea it finally registered how uncomfortable he is and she began to pay closer attention to him.- "Alriiight..." -She could discern that look on his face and she moves closer to him with a little bit of a saunter in her hips.- "I'll leave the trip back up to you. I can't do it." -Her eyes narrow slightly. A question is lingering on her tongue, but she'll wait until they're home.-

A: "Of course." -He says, already making his way to a spot where they can pop back home unnoticed, with Scar in his arms. Everything about this has his sense of self-preservation screaming in protest. Hyper-aware of every little move, expression and gesture, it doesn't take much to deduce that Loki has picked up on some little tell that he must have been giving off. He just needs to keep on playing his cards right, and hopefully, he'll make it out unscathed.-

F: -Once they're home she clears some books from the couch and moves aside to allow him to lay Scarlett there. As he does, she leaves the room to gather a pair of healing stones. One for herself, and one for Scarlett and she's gone for a few minutes, but that question is still on her mind.-

A: -The moment she leaves the room, he rushes over and places his hands on either side of Scar's head. Heart thumping furiously in his chest, he focuses in on her mind, trying to find evidence that his spell is there, while simultaneously trying to avoid another hex bolt explosion. Even unconscious, he can feel her fighting against him, trying to kick him out. The last time he tried to get inside her head, he wound up needing the assistance of a rare, mystical artifact which she still managed to fight through. With some struggling, he manages to locate the spell and a small, luminescent sigil appears on her forehead. It's weak. It'll hold another year at least. Maybe two at most. He's tempted to try and strengthen it, but he's already spent too long on this. Releasing his hold on her, he quickly settles into the armchair adjacent to the sofa before Loki returns.-

F: -When she returns to the room her head tilts a little bit to one side and she breathes in a soft breath, exhaling it quietly. She doesn't look directly at him and elects to keep some distance between them while she focuses on Scar and kneels beside the couch. Carefully, she holds a small greyish green stone inscribed with a glowing rune to Scarlett's head.- "Comfortable over there?" -She asks, side eyeing him-

A: "Oh, very." -He tries to appear disinterested, but the nervous bouncing of his knee gives him away. He's relieved that his spell isn't in any sort of immediate danger of dissolving, but now he has to worry about what happens when the witch wakes up.-

F: -Holding the stone in place, she turns towards him, raising her brows.- "Is there something you care to tell me?"

A: -He looks a little stunned for a moment. Had he been caught in the act? There's a part of him that feels that Loki might understand, but his nerves get the better of him. Loki can't know about what happened.- "It's just--" -He sighs and leans forward in his seat, running his hands through his hair.- "I don't think she's going to be particularly happy to see me when she wakes up..."

F: "Fair enough." -That's enough of answer for her and she shrugs at that.- "We don't have to let her wake up here." -Checks the stone to see if it's dimmed any yet.- "Once she starts to stir, you could drop us both off at Madison. I can talk my way out of it from there."

A: -Oh, her response is like sweet music to his ears. Breathing an internal sigh of relief, he nods.- "I would be more than happy to do that." -And after all the energy he had used up in such a short period, he might come right back for a nap after.-

F: -Wags a finger at him.- "That doesn't mean I don't want to know what happened between you two." -The stone dims after a few minutes, the magical energy infused within it used up. Leaning away she lies flat on her back on the floor and exhales a relieved sigh.- "I thought I'd killed her."

A: "Oh she's a tough, old thing. You'd have to try much harder than that to keep her down." -He snorts, definitely speaking from experience. Though, if she kept popping up like this at such inopportune times, he might just have to give it another try.-

F: "I can think of a few people I feel similarly about." -Shoots him a look, but she's smiling.-

A: -Now that got a laugh from him.- "Yes, I suppose that can be said about many of the people we interact with."

F: -Her brows crease with worry and she rubs her belly.- “I think I might have M5 take a quick look at me after this is over.” -Looks up at him with concern.- “Will you be fine here while I do that?”

A: -And now he's panicking all over again.- "Why, are you alright? You weren't hurt, were you?"

F: “A little bit.” -Peeks at Scar to make sure she’s still out.- “I’ve been feeling nauseous ever since that red energy tore through my arm.”

A: -It sounds like it could maybe just be morning sickness, but if something really were wrong, he'd never forgive himself if he discouraged her from getting checked out. Especially since Scarlett was involved.- "You know what? Why don't you just go now? I'll make sure she's taken care of, and you can see if there's anything we should be concerned about."

F: “No no, I’m probably worrying needlessly and I would rather get her off your hands since you did say, and I quote, as soon as we know she’s okay, she’s gone.” -Sits up and leans over the other woman, examining her.-

A: -Jaw clenched, he mentally curses. This whole day has just gone sideways, hasn't it? But by some miracle, he watches as Scar's brow furrows and her fingers slowly begin to curl at her sides.- "What timing." -He mutters, mildly amused.-

F: -Loki at least looks pleased- “Perfect, I should take her now.” -She slowly takes Scar into her arms and stands up.- “Ready to send us off?”

A: -He's on his feet, lingering perhaps a little too close. He knows she's more than strong enough and perfectly capable of carrying her but, he's still nervous.- "Yes, but promise me you'll see M5 right away." -He doesn't like the thought of not coming along with her either, but she's had enough stress for one day. -

F: “I promise.” -She thought leaving him behind would give him a chance to relax but it seems like he may not do that, so she nudges him gently- “I was trying to give you a break, but If you’re that worried about me, you could come along and linger somewhere nearby until I send her off.” -Offers him a small smile- “This is your baby too.”

A: "Oh, thank god, yes!" -He groans, his posture relaxing melodramatically.- "Let's get this done quickly then. I'm losing my mind." -Then with a pop, the odd trio finds themselves on Madison Avenue, completely unnoticed by passersby.- "I'm just going to duck into this shop for a minute. Good luck."

F: -Spies a cafe and rushes over to an empty table at the outside seating area and promptly, yet carefully, arranges Scarlett neatly in a chair. She folds her arms on the table and lays her head against them, then takes a seat across from her. With a small twist of her wrist a pair of drinks appear before them. Inside the cafe, someone just lost their drink order and they're very confused after having been called to the counter to pick it up.-

S: -The first thing she's aware of is the cool, humid air against her skin. Soon after, there's a flood of ambient noise that sounds like she's submerged underwater. Then all at once, her eyes are open and everything comes rushing back with crystal clarity and she gasps. Nearly falling out of her seat, she grips the edge of the table, staring wide-eyed at Loki- "What the hell just happened?"

F: "Oh dear, are you alright?" -Leaning forward she rests an arm on the table and one on Scar's shoulder.- "Do you remember anything?" -She appears to be so very concerned.-

S: -There's still some things mixed up between her real memories, and some of the false memories that her powers had spawned, but it's all there. Including a rather vivid dream.- "REMEMBER?!" -Suddenly aware that they're still in a very public place, and screeching like that tends to startle people and draw attention, she shrinks into her seat, her face burning red.- "Oh I remember everything now. And then some." -She hisses, her eyes narrowed.- "You're fucking Atros!?"

F: -It takes an extreme amount of effort to remain calm over this unexpected outburst and she withdraws her hand from her shoulder immediately. Questions burned in her mind. Did she hear them back at the house? How did she know? Her eyelids flutter and in her panic the word no slipped past her lips in a questioning, manner. She's fast losing her cool and gives the fuming woman a crooked grin, shrugging her shoulders, nervously laughing. The jig is up.- "Wow, go off! Aha! I hoped you'd remember something but well, this is unexpected!" -In her mind she's throwing the drink at Scar and running the fuck away from this situation. She gestures all around.- "I got you to Madison!" -Cringes-

S: -Clenching her jaw, she draws in a deep breath through her nose and does her best to calm down. While she's got a whole assortment of feelings over getting her memories and powers back, Loki was indeed trying to be helpful. Neither of them could have known that things would turn out like this.- "Thank you." -She manages, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.-

F: -Unsure what her next move would be, she quits cringing when Scarlett simply shifts uncomfortably. Loki sinks into her own seat, grabbing for the drink in front of her for some comfort.- "I was fairly certain you were asleep when I was speaking with him. I guess you must have heard all of that hmm?" -Takes a sip and scrunches her nose. This is not sweet. In fact, it's a bitter cup of espresso and she sets it back down with a frown.-

S: -She opens her mouth to correct her, but she hesitates. Maybe telling Loki that the Queen of Nightmares has been spying on everyone and feeding her intel isn't the right move.- "I was barely conscious enough to, but yeah, I heard." -Eyeing the drink that's been put in front of her, she doesn't dare pick it up. Especially after Loki's reaction to her drink.- "Though I'm guessing at least one person has told you how absolutely insane that is, right?"

F: "I think I prefer the morning sickness over the near constant stream of complaints." -Breathes out a heavy sigh and crosses her arms.- "So...what happened to suppress your memories? No one has really been able to tell me anything about that."

S: "I happened." -She says simply, bouncing her shoulders with a shrug.- "Unintentionally, but it was me."

F: "Oooh...so you never meant to cover up the past?" -Leans forward somewhat with a mixture of concern and curiosity- For that matter, is your head alright? I never meant to undo so much so quickly. I simply wanted you to remember me."

S: "It's... Surprisingly fine." -Her brows knit in confusion. A hit like that, she would have expected a migraine to rival any other she'd ever had before.- "I'll probably feel it tomorrow though."

F: “Probably.” -That’s interesting to Loki. Damn good healing stone she concludes and in Scar’s brief confusion she steals a quick glance at the shop Atros went into, then refocuses on Scar.- “What in the middle worlds were you trying to do to yourself before you accidentally sealed your own memories away?”

S: -Biting her bottom lip, she drums her fingers on the table and takes herself back to the moment it happened. It was so odd being able to recall things so readily again.- "You know, the funny thing with my powers is sometimes it takes everything I have to do something as simple as keeping myself airborne and other times, it takes no more than a thought to overturn a bus full of high schoolers because I was upset with one of the people on it." -Not that she had done that. Nope. Certainly not.- "I was having a bad day and wished that I'd never gotten these powers in the first place, and that was that. It was just like I never had them."

F: -Loki understood what it was like to have days like that and It was easy to imagine Atros being a factor in all of this. She recalled him using Scar as leverage during their own fight and for a moment Loki did feel a little bit of guilt creep over her and it settled in her stomach. Her arms were crossed, but she shifts them just enough to hug herself, shoulders slumping a little.- "Do you wish they'd never returned?" -She asks quietly.-

S: "Yes?" -She sighs.- "No... It's complicated." -A spark of red light dances around her finger as she rolls her wrist, and in turn the drink in front of her begins to swirl.- "If it were just me I had to worry about, I don't think this would have happened in the first place."

F: -There’s some fascination playing in her eyes as she watches Scar easily tap into her long repressed power.- “If I could fix this for you, make it seem like this night never happened would you want me to?” -Not that she would be the one to do it. She’d ask OL for a favor he owes.-

S: -Shaking her head, she straightens up a little, her posture stiff and her gaze fixed on the table.- "Don't bother. It's better I hang onto my memories. As unpleasant as some of them are."

F: -The knot in her gut reminds her it’s still there, twisting, churning and amplifying the nausea she’s feeling. She shifts in her chair, looking more uncomfortable. “I would offer to lend you more of an ear should you want someone to talk to, but—“ -Pauses, looking towards the shop- “—I can’t imagine you’d want to speak with me more considering the company I keep.”

S: -That's the second time Loki's focus has shifted that direction and Scar has taken notice. However, when she looks, she can't seem to figure out what it is she's looking at exactly. It doesn't take a world-class detective to figure it out though. Tensing up, right along with the tight feeling in her chest, she digs her nails into the palm of her hand. Of course Atros would be nearby. Watching. Waiting to be damage control.- "Maybe if things were different, I would." -Turning her amber eyes on Loki, there's a quiet fury smoldering behind them that may very were bore a hole in her if looks could kill.- "But you're right. I never know who else might be otherwise listening in."

F: -Refocusing her attention, her eyes meet Scar's and she can almost feel the seething flames behind them and Loki cannot help herself. She feels an old familiar feeling and has to hold back a very specific smile threatening to spread on her lips. A smug and challenging smile. It tugs up one corner, but she pushes it down and keep her expression neutral, but the tone in her voice couldn't entirely mask how pleased she was with herself for sticking with Atros.- "You never do." -She shifts in her chair and looks like she's about ready to stand up.- "I do hate to dine and dash, but I should probably be going." -She thinks she's probably left him waiting long enough.-

S: "Wouldn't want to keep daddy waiting, would we?" -The word is like poison in her mouth, and even used mockingly, it sends a shudder rippling through her body.- "Give him a hearty 'fuck you' from me."

F: -She'd begun to stand, even push her chair in, but the comment has her turning her head slowly towards Scar. She stares at her with an impassive expression, the quietness in her eyes is unsettling, but slowly they narrow and a smile, sickly sweetly, stretches her lips.- "I'll give him a hearty "fuck" on your behalf." -Pushes her chair in noisily and holds her head high as she saunters away from the cafe.-

S: -Bristling, she watches Loki leave and grinds her teeth. There's a brief crackling of energy at her fingertips, but she manages to reign in her powers at the cost of a rather sudden migraine. Wincing, she gets to her feet and stalks off in the opposite direction, only slowing when she notices a slow, steady trickle of blood running from her nose. She's going to have to cut her trip short it seems.-

A: -Meanwhile, Atros waits until Loki approaches the shop before greeting her just outside.- "So, how did it go?"

F: -If Scar is watching, she runs up and throws her arms around Atros and gives him a long heated kiss, breaking it only to give him an answer and position herself to be able to pointedly glance back at the cafe.- “Like everyone else, she wholeheartedly approves and supports our union.”

A: -Breathless, and a little dazed, he chuckles.- "That well, huh? I'm shocked." -As much as he would like to revel in the small victory she's given him, he's still anxious to get her checked out. Pressing his forehead to hers, he gently nuzzles the end of her nose with his.- "Now that's over with, what do you say we go pay M5 a visit?"

[chaosandbloodmagic-archives]

Confessions

Not too long after Loki’s ( @bifrostedflake​) encounter with Scarlett, they have a particularly unpleasant run-in with the Queen of Nightmares ( @warriorqueenandenchantress​) and one of her lackeys. The trickster god returns home only to find Atros having a discussion with another of her lackeys (who had formerly been one of his.) In a show of humility and trust, Atros reveals a secret he’d hoped to keep buried. 

(Also some trigger warnings apply. They’re in the tags below)

F: -It's been an awful night, full of reminders and nightmares she just didn't need right now. Outside of Atros's house she's on the sidewalk, holding a bag of items she went to collect from the old penthouse, looking visibly shaken. She's been there for several minutes now, pacing back and forth and taking some deep breaths. She promised herself she is not going to walk through the front door and let him think anything is wrong. She's not going to go inside and cling to him weakly either. A few minutes more and finally she's feeling confident enough to make an entrance. With her head held high, Loki strides up to the front door, feigns a smile and enters.-

-The house is quiet when she enters. Most of the lights are off, but there are a few on in the hallway and over the stairs. The door to Atros' study is open just a crack, casting a sliver of light across the darkened hallway. Hushed voices argue from inside the study.-

A: "-- I don't care what it is you want. You aren't welcome here and I want you gone." -His voice is low and stern.-

N: "You're not listening to me!" -The nightmare hisses through thinly veiled fear.- "Something's wrong. That thing you put in her head, it's broken."

A: "I'm well aware." -He snaps.-

N: -He lets out a quiet whine.- "Noooo, it's really broken! The spell! She's remembering in her dreams and it's hurting her. You have to fix it!"

A: -He's quiet for a moment, the only sound to be heard are his shoes pacing across the floor.- "Why are you telling me this? I thought you served the Queen now." -The way he speaks of the QoN is almost as if the word itself is poison.-

F: -The atmosphere immediately put her back on edge. The penthouse was quiet like this too, but the shadows felt more alive there than they do here, still, something is off. There's a presence here, similar in the way it feels to the QoN but it's not the same. Quietly she closes the door and sets her bag down, reminding herself to breathe. With cautious footsteps she made her way down the hall, stopping just outside the study, listening. Pressing her back against the wall, her breath quickened, mind racing with possibilities and questions. "Put what in who's head?" "Are they talking about someone else, or me?" "What's broken" She held her breath at mention of the Queen. He could have meant anyone with a title like that, but after what happened she surmised this must be related. She runs a hand over her belly, hating that she can still feel QoN's claws prickling over it. It's hard to reign herself in from the desire to rush into the room and demand answers. Loki chooses to wait a little longer, listen, and organize her thoughts better before her assumptions get the best of her.-

N: "Not because I like it. It's like working for you." -He grumbles.- "I came for her. She's always been so nice to me. She doesn't deserve to hurt like this."

A: -Normally he might have noticed Loki's presence there with him, but Nox's presence is overwhelming. The nightmare's anxiety is affecting his own in a way that is rather disconcerting.- "Oh she deserves it." -He says tersely. There's another pause before he starts drumming his fingers on the desk.- "But I agree, I do need to strengthen the spell. If Scarlett remembers, I get a sneaking suspicion that won't bode well for me." -Heaving a sigh, he flops into his chair.- "The trouble is getting her to leave the protection of the wards Maggie placed around her home...."

N: "Just don't hurt her." -He whimpers, rubbing his hands anxiously.-

A: "I make no promises. Now get out."

F: -It's been easy to not care who Atros is and what Atros is for the past few months. Whatever this thing is he's speaking to once worked for him and now works for the QoN. Listening to the drumming of his fingers on the desk it seemed louder than it really is and her anxiety is threatening to overwhelm her. This feels like just the tip of the ice burg and she's looking at the floor wishing the mixture of emotions she was beginning to feel would recede. The door to his study is pushed open gently, right as he finishes telling Nox to get out. Looking between both of them, taking it all in, there were a lot of things she wanted to say. She's holding her belly, glaring wickedly at Nox and then less so at Atros. Her lips parted, but all she breathed out in that moment is; "What have you done?"

N: -Letting out a yelp, he moves to dive into the shadows for a hasty escape, but quick as whip, Atros lashes out a phantasmal hand and grabs him by the collar. Struggling against the projection, he whimpers and whines like a small rodent caught in the talons of a bird of prey.-

A: -For a split second, he gave Loki a wide-eyed look of disbelief, but before he could say anything he quickly captures Nox. He might yet serve as a buffer between him and Loki. Talking his way out of this one wasn't going to be easy.- "You're not going anywhere." -He growls at Nox, summoning him closer. His look softens when he finally addresses Loki.- "How much did you hear?"

F: -This awful feeling, knowing, she's in no position to do anything more than talk while her anxiety is soaring through the roof. The question prompted her to take a step back. Fidgeting where she stands, it feels like something is squeezing her wrist, her mind playing tricks, lingering on what happened earlier.- "What's the price for what I've heard?"

N: -Shrinking in on himself, his eyes dart back and forth between the two of them as he cowers.-

A: -His brows knit together in confusion.- “Price? What price?” -No sooner have the words left his mouth before he feels a chill wash over him.- “Loki, I’m— if there’s a price to be paid, I’m the one to pay it.”

F: "You're familiar with the Queen." -It sounds like she's no more fond of her than Atros is. Tilting her head downward she's narrowing her eyes to sharpen the look she's giving as she turns her gaze to Nox.- "Why is a servant of the Queen here to talk to you about Scarlett?" -Shifts her eyes back to Atros.- "Think carefully on your answer."

N: “Because she’s my friend and—!” -He interrupts eagerly, but quickly silences himself when he sees the glare that Atros gives him.-

A: -Breaking his pointed look at the nightmare, he looks back to Loki, his thoughts in turmoil. The whole truth might not look so good on him right now, but he isn’t sure he can come up with something else that will be convincing enough. He hadn’t anticipated anyone ever finding out about this. Of course it would come at Nox’s bungling...- “Nox used to be under my employ first. It seems some old business I thought finished has surfaced once again.”

F: -Friend. Nox's words struck her. Loki isn't really sure where they stand with Scarlett, and though she'd gotten defensive with her, she didn't loathe her to the point of wanting to hurt her. Still pointedly looking at Atros, her arms move from her belly and she crosses them.- "Whatever this old business is, I find it alarming you think Scarlett deserves to suffer."

A: -He's able to maintain his gaze for a moment, but the expression on her face is too much. Rising from his seat, hands planted firmly on the desktop, he bows his head. Most of his reasons for his hatred of the witch had grown from petty things, but there was one driving cause that always hurt.- "She took my daughter from me." -He says quietly with just a small taste of anger in his words.-

F: -That's fair, she thinks, the wind somewhat knocked out of her sails. She can't forget that Maggie hates him, but who's fault is that really? His, or Scars? Given that Maggie doesn't hate Scar, the answer should be simple, but that doesn't mean it is. She leaves the doorway and approaches the desk, her eyes on Nox for a moment. Loki would still like to speak to that creature, but her immediate concern is Atros. She rests a hand on the desk and reaches for one of his to rest hers on top of it.- "Then, I understand." -Her tone has softened considerably and should he look up, so has her expression.- "Maybe--" -Part of her tries to object to this line of thinking, but she dismisses the thought quickly.- "--I can help you fix this."

A: -Weighing his options, he keeps his head bowed. While he would appreciate the help, he can think of several reasons why it would be a terrible idea. After what happened after Loki's last encounter with Scar... Shaking his head, he finally looks to her with a bittersweet smile.- "I can't ask you to do that. This was my mistake, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you or the baby."

N: "Perhapsss, I could help?" -He pipes up hesitantly.- "It would be just this once."

F: "And I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to you." -Shoots Nox a soft glare for interrupting. After the night she's had, cooperating with a nightmare did not sound appealing, but she'll hear him out.- "Would this be against your Queen's wishes, because if it is, I'm all ears."

N: -Nodding, he bares his sharp teeth in a cautious smile.- "She doesn't know that I'm here. I-if that's what you mean." -His slit pupils can't stop darting between the two of them as he wrings his hands, desperate for some form of approval.-

A: -He scoffs, rolling his eyes.- "Nox, I think you've been help enough."

F: -Places a gentle hand on Atros's chest.- "One moment love." -A little wicked smirk just barely curves her lips.- "I have a friend with a particular appetite for beings like yourself. It would be most unfortunate if you were lying to us." -Her smile blooms with promise.- "That said, tell me!" -She sounds almost jovial now.- "What sort of help could you possibly offer?"

N: -As she speaks, his form starts to lose its shape from his feet on upward and he begins to melt into a puddle of inky, black shadow. He stops wringing his hands, but his nervous smile lingers. Looking up at her, he swallows thickly.- "I er--" -He laughs weakly.- "I can get you in past the wards but... there's another problem. Marvel's back and living with her again."

A: "That buffoon? I thought he died. Again." -He snorts.-

F: -Raises her brows in disbelief. All that joking around about Marvel being dead she'd assumed was just that, a joke. The wards were certainly a problem, but she's not sure she wants to put her faith in Nox for assistance and turns to Atros, looking like her mind is made up.- "Nox may leave." -Presses a finger to the sorcerer's chest.- "You and I will discuss this further."

N: -His smile disintegrates entirely, leaving behind a concerned look etched deeply into his features.- “Just don’t hurt her.” -Echoing his plea from earlier, he whimpers as Atros finally let’s him go. With that said, he disappears into the shadows, leaving the couple alone.-

A: -Though Loki seems willing to help, he can’t quite shake his anxiety over this whole debacle. So far, she hasn’t asked many questions, but that may not remain the case for long. Running a hand through his hair, he deflates, glad to be rid of their intruder.- “Christ... what a mess.”

F: Now that they're alone, she grabs him by the collar and hoists him across the desk till they're nose to nose. "Tell me what's broken in her head. She said she cut herself off from her memories, but she's cut off from more than she knows. What are you hiding?"

A: -Staring wide-eyed back at her, he feels the knot in his stomach pull tighter. He’s going to kill that sniveling, ginger wretch the next time he so much catches a glimpse of him.- “I’m not hiding anything.” -He lies, keeping his voice level.- “Not from you that is. I didn’t tell you because it didn’t seem important at the time but, I cast a memory loss spell on Scarlett nearly a decade ago. I guess whatever happened to jog her memory those few weeks back must have tampered with my spell.”

F: -Gives him an incredulous “oh no u didnt’ tilt of her head and narrows her eyes till they're chillingly cold.- "Would you like to hear about my evening?" -She growls- "The Queen and a demon who pledged himself to her threatened me and our child." -Gripping his collar tight with one hand she steps back from the desk, lifting him up like he were a sack of feathers.- "Now I come home to this?" -Shakes him once, firmly.- "If lies were cats you'd be a litter. You either tell me what I want to know and I help you, or I assume the worst and walk."(edited)

A: -When she tells him of being threatened, all the air is knocked from his lungs. He does nothing to fight or struggle against her as he stares off into space in abject horror. The Queen had toyed with him before, making a casual remark here and there about delving into his fears but this... This was too close. His eyes slowly move to meet hers, barely registering her demands.- "Loki..." -His voice comes out strangled.- "What did she say?" -This time it's more firm as a quiet rage begins to bubble beneath the surface.- "What demon?"

F: -Her grip loosens somewhat, fear widening her eyes for a few brief seconds, a slight tremble to her lips.- "She said, food is food and it's nothing personal." -She swallows, feeling frozen to the bone and not wanting the demon's name to even touch her lips much less roll off of her tongue.- "Tell me what I want to know." -She adds hoarsely, lowering him to her somewhat.-

A: “What does it matter?” -he nearly snaps, barely hanging onto the last thread of his composure.- “I made a mistake making Scarlett my apprentice then and I don’t want to keep paying for it. I especially don’t want to be worrying over that if that bitch intends on hurting you and our child!”

F: "It matters to me! We-she and I- we were...are.." -Truth be told, Loki doesn't know what she and Scarlett are now, but she was probably least pleased of all about her relationship with Atros. Calmly she sets his feet to the floor and then lets him go. She looks like she isn't sure what to do with her hands for a minute, crossing them, uncrossing them, picking at them, until she finally ends up cradling her belly for comfort.- "I will help you, but right now, I need to leave." -She says quietly, then heads for the hallway.-

A: -The anger boiling inside him turns to agony. He had seen a brief glimpse of what Loki and Scarlett once were, but he didn't think that it was a relationship that would drive a wedge between the two of them; much less hold any sort of weight anymore. Though, he'd been there too once. He follows after Loki, reaching out for her.- "Please don't!" -He can't bear the thought of her running into more trouble out there. He's already sick over the fact he wasn't there for her before.- "Loki, stay, I'm begging of you. I'll leave if I have to, but I need to know you're safe."

F: -There are a lot of bonds that could bend and snap if she goes through with helping him and she knows it. The conflicting emotions on the subject are maddening but she knows where she's leaning towards. Feeling his touch on her arm she turns briskly and pauses, acknowledging him with worry in her narrowed eyes.- "I loathe this."-Her disappointed tone is sharp, and then softens.- "I don't want to be at odds with you. Not you. I know you're hiding things." -It isn't accusatory, it's just a fact she's stating, her tone reflecting that.- "I have no right to be upset with you for it." Bows her head, breaking eye contact, half of her silhouette shrouded in the dark of the hall. "It's hypocritical of me. I'm just as guilty as you are of keeping secrets." -She's quiet for a few seconds and then glances at him.- "Y’know, I actually care more about others than I care to admit." -Breathes a laugh.- "But at the same time, if anyone of them hurt you, I wouldn't hesitate to hurt them and despite how that would reflect on me—I don't care." -Laughs breathily again and shrugs her shoulders.- "So that's where I'm at." -Slowly reaches out a hand to him.- “I’ll stay.”

A: -Silently, he listens, studying her. Her body language, the look on her face, even the very atmosphere around her; as much as he'd like to think it was only because of her encounter (which he still would like to know more about when the time was right,) that she was this upset. Though, he knew better. It was hard to say what scared him more: telling Loki the truth and truly exposing himself for the depraved monster he was, or letting it all stay secret and make her resent him for his deceit. Either way, he was at risk for losing everything again and he could hardly bear it. Not daring to meet her gaze, he reaches back, his fingers brushing lightly across hers.- "I'm so sorry." -It was all he could think to say.- "You deserve better than all this."

F: -The brush of his fingers, his words, it left her with an awful ache in her chest and prompts her to move closer. Sliding her fingers between his own she guides him, to close the rest of the distance between them until she can hold him in her arms for a long moment. Burying her face against his neck she nuzzles there muttering against him. "That's for me to decide." She moves up to nuzzle the shell of his ear, then tilts her head back to nudge his nose with hers and rest her forehead to his. She squeezes his hands, her voice soft, with a slight tremble.- "We knew going into this who we both are and you fear your secrets as I fear my own. I'm not going to give up on us just because the situation isn't ideal, but--" -She swallows a lump threatening to rise in her throat.- "If you want this to last as much I, we must trust each other. Without it, we will have nothing."

A: -Every excuse, every justification, every reason he has not to tell her buzzes through his mind. He had already shown her more of him than anyone had ever seen before. Wasn't that enough? Did he have to share the darkest parts of himself that he loathed? The knot in his stomach seems to travel up into his chest, pulling even tighter. Giving her hands a gentle squeeze, he keeps his eyes fixed on her pregnant belly. Was it worth losing all of this, just to save face?- "I know." -He says softly, his voice laden with emotion.- "I know. I owe it to you." -Letting go of her hands, he threads his through her hair, gently stroking it before bringing them to rest on either side of her head.- "You deserve nothing less than full disclosure. No holds barred."

F: -When he lets her hands go she rests her palms on his chest and closes her eyes. Her own chest feels tight, a sick feeling in her stomach. Distrust, lies, abuse, deceit. They’ve effectively choked the life out of all of her previous relationships. She could never be open enough for anyone’s liking, and she can't bear to let it stay that way with him. Allow it to fester and tear them apart. She knows it's a matter of time, it always is. Even now though, she still asks herself if she’s really ready to tell him everything. To let him in deeper. Loki doesn't let anyone in, and if she did, what if it backfired? What if that was the plan all along? No, she mustn’t assume he’s trying to pry anything out of her for some darker purpose. An important question does come to mind in this heavy moment though, and she clears her throat.- “So—“ -A short pause, her eyes open, searching for his.- “Who wants to go first?” -The tremble in her voice is still there, but she feels mostly confident she can do this.-

A: -Pondering over her question he feels a bit of panic well up inside him. They were really going to do this, right here, right now, weren't they? He's hesitant, and tempted to find a way out of all this, but he knows better. If he's going to hold on to her, he's got to give. Finally meeting her eyes, he's afraid, but he's resigned. There's no turning back now.- "I suppose I should." -He murmurs, gently rubbing her temples with his thumbs.- "It'll at least give you the chance to run, should you choose." -He jokes grimly, but he can't quite find it in himself to give her that cheeky smile to go with it.-

F: -There’s an attempt at a smile, and it almost makes it. "Would I run?" she wonders, and as nervous as she is to find out, Loki can't help loving the adrenaline in her veins. She acknowledges him with a nod and makes herself a promise. Whatever he’s about to say, the Goddess will take it to the grave.-

A: -With a trembling sigh, he presses a kiss to her forehead, lingering as if this could be the last chance he'll have to do it. A long, suffocating silence falls between them as he struggles to find the right way to begin. He could simply show her, as he had done before, but he's sure she'd never be able to look at him the same way again. It was a lot to explain, and there weren't many ways he could put things delicately. All he could really do was start at the beginning with what she knew so far.- "About ten years ago, I met Scarlett." -He finally begins, the tips of his fingers skimming over her hair as he pulls back a step.- "I had been spending time posing as a fortune teller, reading palms and tarot, performing séances  and such for people. It was a fun way to pass time, but it was a way for me to come in contact with those that had potential for talent with the mystic arts." -He had already shown Loki the countless lives he had claimed, possessing bodies to maintain a foothold in the physical plane without burning himself out. It was easy enough to figure out where he was going next with this.- "She was young, on a journey of self-discovery when she chanced upon my shop, and I saw her right away for what she was. She was too valuable an asset to let go. I charmed her, manipulated her into falling for me--" -He shakes his head and breathes a short laugh.- "It was child's play, that. Someone that desperate for love and assurance was simply waiting for the next seemingly decent person to shower her with affections. I had planned to take her body and abilities for my own, but her chaos magic made things... difficult. Though, my charade made it easy enough for me to exploit her talents for my own gain anyway." -He pauses, swallowing thickly.- "That's about the point this whole mess started..."

F: -She's listening, processing, taking it all in while a big ugly knot forms and settles in the pit of the trickster's stomach. ""She was young," " I charmed her, manipulated her into falling for me--" That struck an all too familiar chord. It's almost like looking in a mirror. Looking at her, it's hard to tell what she might be thinking right now, but at least it doesn't look like she's about to run. She reaches up to rest a hand on his cheek, her thumb caressing it gently.- "Tell me about the mess." -The tremble in her voice is mostly gone, her tone more even-

A: -Holding his breath for a brief moment, he turns back toward his study and beckons for her to follow.- "Now, right around this time I had found something I had been searching long and tirelessly for." -Making his way to a tall, wide bookshelf behind his desk, he pulls out three books and stacks them on top of each other.- "Maggie's spirit. Rather, Fiona's, as she was named before Scarlett changed that." -Waving his hand over the stack of books, threads of black and purple light weave over and around them, covering them completely, before vanishing and leaving behind a large, worn tome.-

"Once I was sure I had her trust, she became instrumental in my efforts to revive her. We tried everything. Each effort became an increasingly disappointing failure." -He begins flipping through the pages, all detailing every method he used, each one in an effort to resurrect his daughter with no cost to her quality of life, and minimal to no cost to his. That was always the catch for him. There were ways of bringing back the dead, but they were always intertwined with curses of varying degrees. Opening to a section toward the end of the book, he draws in a deep breath.- "In my desperation I began to experiment, combining her chaos magic with blood magic. I had learned a few things about her... counterpart and her sons, and thought I might try something similar. On our first attempt--" -He can hardly believe he's telling her this. His voice catches in his throat.- "She fell pregnant and Maggie's soul finally had a vessel, but it didn't last more than a handful of weeks before Scarlett's body rejected the pregnancy. She was devastated, as was I but I was determined to try it again, as it was the first method we tried that yielded any measure of success." -He turns to a page chronicling each ritual, what changes they made, and how close they were to succeeding with each attempt. His fingers trace a blood stain on the corner of the page, his expression dark, angry and full of pain.- "She was willing at first, but soon it became too much for her."

F: -She follows, keeping close beside him, listening. Her eyes rove curiously over the books he places on the desk and she studies the pages as he flips through them. Had they only met sooner, Loki thought, and thought of all the ways she could have been of assistance. Realization spread like ink on parchment across her features as he shed light on his past with Scarlett. A flicker of distaste shone in her face and pursed her lips, but she kept that from his view by positioning herself just barely behind him. She raised her gaze. Even from where she stood she can still take in the pain evident on his face, feeling it hanging heavy in the air. Her hand rests gently on his back near his shoulder, letting him know she's still there and hasn't run away. Words collect on her tongue but go no further.-

A: -Leaning over the desk, his palms flat on its surface, he hangs his head and his hair cascades over his shoulders, acting as a curtain to hide his features. There's little comfort from her hand on his back. He's only just begun.- "My efforts continued, but she had to be... persuaded." -It's the most delicate way he can think to put it, but everything about him; his posture, his tone, his very energy gives way to the shame he feels. It was a boundary he never thought he'd cross, but his obsessive need proved him wrong.- "It took three years before we made any substantial progress again. Within hours of completing our final ritual, I could feel that things had gone right. To this day, I still can't explain how, but I knew this was it." -Balling his hands into fists, the study around them turns dark and his memory plays out before them as a silent projection.- "But I forgot to take into account how truly unpredictable chaos magic is." -The illusion shows Scarlett merely hours after the completion of their spell, her belly already firm and round, nearly the size Loki's is now. She's doubled over on the floor, her face contorted in agony.- "She and Maggie both nearly died." -The image turns to wisps of smoke before turning into another memory.- "Within days, my darling daughter was exactly as I remember her." -This time the illusion takes shape of a young Maggie, asleep and contained in a large bubble, floating in some translucent, pink liquid. Her form keeps changing erratically between her human and phantom forms, similar to how she transforms now.- "Except when she was separated from Scarlett, her soul seemed effected by a constant pull from the astral plane. She was far from whole, but this was the closest I was going to get." -Another illusion of Scarlett appears in front of the bubble, her hands outstretched toward it, red light sparking all around her, threatening to destroy the container along with Maggie inside.- "I nearly lost her all over again."

F: -What came next was so much worse and she opened her eyes wide, a storm of emotion swirling in them. Briefly she raised her free hand and reached for Scar, then let it fall as she draws in a breath. Atros has done things that she never has and her dark brows drew together, pained. Loki almost forgot to breathe, her shaken hand nearly dropping from his shoulder as sorrow gripped her heart. She breathes out sharply and every breath following comes quick and shallow. Words still would not flow, but she wept quietly in equal measure, for Scarlett, for Maggie and for him.-

A: -The illusions fade and light returns to the study, but he doesn't move. He can't bear to see her cry, especially knowing that he's the reason behind it.- "So, to protect my daughter, and through-- Pity? Guilt? I locked away her memories of the five years we spent together. She could recall meeting me, but as far as she was concerned, she left my shop that same day and it was like it never happened. I let her go so that I could give Maggie my full attention, but I realized that I still needed her. I found her at the tower, and she still saw me for what I was and because of that, she took Maggie from me. The rest is history."

F: -A tense silence passes between them as she reflects. Working through this in her head she's put herself in his shoes and in Scar's. In doing this, Loki is confronted with a startling revelation and in that instant a cloud lifted from her mind and she feels a grudge she's been holding onto begin to crumble. In it's place blooms an understanding. The quiet lingers a touch more while she reaches up to wipe her eyes clear. Soon after Atros can feel his hair being brush away from his face by her fingers and she tucks it gently behind his ear, brushing it back a few times to make sure his face is no longer hidden from her.- "What you did-" She begins firmly. "shows how ugly desperation can be." -Her tone ends on a softer note as she cradles his cheek tenderly, turning his head towards her. Compassionate eyes drift over his features. "But...your past, my love, does not have to tear apart your future."

A: -Breath hitching in his chest, he finally looks to her with tears in his eyes, awestruck. He didn't dare hope for forgiveness from anyone for what he had done, yet here Loki was, offering him just that and so much more. Whatever little shred of composure he had clung to is lost. Wordlessly, he wraps his arms around her and buries his face in the slope of her neck. Trembling, his shoulders twitch and jerk as he clutches her close to him, his sobs following close behind.-

F: -As much as she wants to hold him even tighter than she is already, she has to remind herself to mind her strength. Hearing him break down however; has brought a few tears back to her eyes. She knows she still has a lot to tell him, but it can wait, she's so tired. Tonight she only wants to take him back to Galway and curl around him in bed, with the sound of the ocean in the distance and the smell of it in the air around them. Just them and their little one in between. The thing she hid behind his cottage can wait till morning.-

[chaosandbloodmagic-archives]

Old Friends || Sylviachaste

The messages shouldn’t have come as a surprise; especially not after Loki retreated to his home to escape her quickly growing roster of house guests. Still, it had been quite some time since he and young Miss Chaste had spoken. He was to blame on that particular front though. Certain other things had captured his attention over the last several months.

Staring at the screen of his phone, he frowned. Her request was understandable, but getting back the body she had crafted for him wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. He needed to know more before he could commit himself to such an errand.

[TXT] Is there somewhere we can meet? It sounds like we have some things to discuss.

[chaosandbloodmagic-archives]

@Atros from Loki “I just want to be alone”

My muse is about to break down, send “I just want to help” to calm them while they’re crying. Alternatively send “I just want to be alone” for your muse to be breaking down.

“I– I understand.” he sighs, his posture deflating. Brushing an errant lock of hair over their ear, Atros gives Loki an earnest look. “I just hate to leave you in such a state. Are you sure there is nothing I can do?” His voice is soft and calm, but beneath it all, his stomach is twisted in anxious knots. So many things were coming unraveled lately, and it was unnerving to say the least.

“Please, I just want to help.”

[chaosandbloodmagic-archives]

✵ Atros -Bumps into Atros under the mistletoe and then turns on his heel, ready to speed walk away from this- Starfrosted xD

Send me ✵ to catch my muse under the mistletoe!

He had been waiting under this mistletoe, willing Loki to come his way. Atros was ready for this. The moment he bumped into him, he was prepared to sling his arms around him and pull him in for a great, big kiss. Arms outstretched, eyes closed and lips puckered, he leaned in and to his great surprise (and dismay) the god of mischief had already retreated.

“Goddammit.” 

[chaosandbloodmagic-archives]

Old Wounds || Frostedtricks

Continued from here

@frostedtricks​

Loki’s curiosity had finally gotten the best of him. The glamour over the sorcerer’s throat roused his interest many times but he let it stew until they’d grown closer. How interesting, thought the God, to keep a scar like that when he could have easily had a perfectly pristine new body crafted for him, free from old regrets. So sentimental.  

The trickster’s thumb gently rubs Atros’s chest, a simple soothing gesture. “And what was?”  

“It’s hard to say exactly.” he says, brows furrowed and his lips twisted into a bitter smile. “I could say it was the betrayal of my brothers and sisters, but aside from dear Muirne, that didn’t come as much of a surprise when all was said and done. It might have been the fact that it took me several, long, agonizing minutes to bleed out, but honestly I felt numb to it after a while.”

All of it had been excruciating, but he knew exactly what hurt more than anything. It was the root of his self-loathing that he kept buried so deep under everything else. He very well could have gone without keeping his scar, but he wasn’t done punishing himself for his weakness.

“What caused me the most pain? It was that I was powerless to do anything about it in the moment.”