Loki remained calm and still, weathering the untempered gust and gale of Thor’s storm.
“I think you’ll find the spirit of our ways still intact in certain corners of Midgard, brother.”
He tried to let his rage cool.
His
………………...Seething.
Rage.
‘Perhaps…but yet…the ignorance, is still so great on Midgard!’
◣♛◢ —- –
“Come. You named yourself guardian of that realm. It is natural to be exasperated with its numbers from time to time. Spar with me; it’ll exhaust you of some of your rage.”
“Aye, t’would be her indeed. I have several reasons for doing so. I would hope that this marriage would be a starting point in ending our eternal war with Jotunheim. Of showing that we can be at peace with one another. I am the one that broke that treaty to begin with, brother. I should be the one that fixes it…”
He had not recovered from the damage his reckless younger self had inflicted upon Jotunheim. Several of those deaths were tied directly back to he. Many of them worthless. They had been at peace with them for so long, and he just had to ruin all of that in a night of rage and discontent. Without considering any possiblities whatsoever.
‘Perhaps..brother..“
A pause.
“Perhaps if I make ammends the Jotun’s would start to accept you once again, as well. For truth is that I would love to see that happen See that none are left that despise you so.”
But Sig..Sig herself was magnetic. A force he could barely begin to describe. ‘I think her abuse is more tied into the desire to keep herself and her people safe. She has no reason to trust me, and letting her guard down would have proven foolish in the past. Tis a reasoning I can comprehend. Sig has captured my attention in a way that no lady before she could. However..if you do object I will naturally spare you the pain.’
◣♛◢ —- –
Loki’s lips thinned. Here was a subject that remained infinitely sensitive to the Trickster God whose blood was Jotun. He knew, on some intuitive level, that Thor strove to mend the ravaged treaty not only out of a newly acquired sense of responsibility, but also out of obligation to LOKI.
“Whatever you choose to do,” and the words formed sticky on his dry tongue, difficult to expel, “know … that you needn’t put yourself at risk to prove anything to me. I am well aware that you see in me your brother … and not a …”
Beast. Monster. Subhuman. Abomination. Any of the above.
“Not a … thing … to be looked down upon. But if you are in love with this woman,” and he nodded at Thor, encouraging candor, “then I would not stand in your way for the Nine.”
“I do love Sig” He admitted. “Though whether she loves I is yet to be seen.”
He could feel Loki’s trepedation about this, how could he not? When the image was so clear about his brother’s face? He so wanted to right things with the Jotun’s. Make peace at last..and Sig.his heart seemed to thump with new vigor at the mere mention of her name.
But he studied Loki, carefully.
‘If the venture upsets thee, than it is not one I shall undertake. I desire for their to be no rifts between myself and you. And I refuse to let a spouse get in the way of that. Or create any chaos. You brother, are my priority. You shall remain so.“ Reaching out then to touch Loki’s shoulder. “Remember that, I’ve made that promise to thee, and I intend to keep it. Regardless of what might come to pass that threatens it.”
◣♛◢ —- –
Loki’s lips thinned patiently.
“Brother, believe me, I know that I have a jealous nature, but Sig is not among those who have threatened me during past encounters. My protestations are wholly on your behalf. What I do propose, however, is an encounter between your chosen and myself. Perhaps if I come to know the lady as you do, my reservations toward her will dissolve.”
{ And if she even vaguely intimates ill will toward you, I shall merrily e v i s c e r a t e her. }
“Aye, t’would be her indeed. I have several reasons for doing so. I would hope that this marriage would be a starting point in ending our eternal war with Jotunheim. Of showing that we can be at peace with one another. I am the one that broke that treaty to begin with, brother. I should be the one that fixes it…”
He had not recovered from the damage his reckless younger self had inflicted upon Jotunheim. Several of those deaths were tied directly back to he. Many of them worthless. They had been at peace with them for so long, and he just had to ruin all of that in a night of rage and discontent. Without considering any possiblities whatsoever.
‘Perhaps..brother..“
A pause.
“Perhaps if I make ammends the Jotun’s would start to accept you once again, as well. For truth is that I would love to see that happen See that none are left that despise you so.”
But Sig..Sig herself was magnetic. A force he could barely begin to describe. ‘I think her abuse is more tied into the desire to keep herself and her people safe. She has no reason to trust me, and letting her guard down would have proven foolish in the past. Tis a reasoning I can comprehend. Sig has captured my attention in a way that no lady before she could. However..if you do object I will naturally spare you the pain.’
◣♛◢ —- –
Loki’s lips thinned. Here was a subject that remained infinitely sensitive to the Trickster God whose blood was Jotun. He knew, on some intuitive level, that Thor strove to mend the ravaged treaty not only out of a newly acquired sense of responsibility, but also out of obligation to LOKI.
“Whatever you choose to do,” and the words formed sticky on his dry tongue, difficult to expel, “know … that you needn’t put yourself at risk to prove anything to me. I am well aware that you see in me your brother … and not a …”
Beast. Monster. Subhuman. Abomination. Any of the above.
“Not a … thing … to be looked down upon. But if you are in love with this woman,” and he nodded at Thor, encouraging candor, “then I would not stand in your way for the Nine.”
Thor knew what he wanted and he knew how he was going to get it. Least.he thought he did. The trick would be in whether or not his..intending party would be willing as well. After all..twas the catch were it not? For this seemed to be an unavoidable part of the deal. And he would hate to leave any woman unhappy. Naturally that was wholly and truly unfair. Especially towards the intended.
Yet all he had to do was merely think of the feisty Jotun woman and his eyes glazed over with something that might’ve been akin to cataracts-were they dipped and mingled in honey. The possibilities were that it would all end in some terrible heartbreak, broken bones and broken lives. But he was hardly to worry of it so far.
No, all he could focus his swollen being on was the question he had in mind. Staring at his brother as they walked down the vast hall of their palace. Pace easy and controlled.
“Simple matter, dear brother. I feel as though I’ve fallen down a deep well and cannot get up..and that well points in merely one direction. That direction being that..I wish to marry Sig. I am quite sure she has little interest in me..but I could at least confirm that little interest by asking right?”
His eyes shone yet again, staring at the golden ceiling.
Such a creature.
Such a creature had never before come before he.
Truly he was lost.
◣♛◢ —- –
Loki’s lips pursed against a knowing grin. He took measured paces toward the courtyard where, irony of ironies, their father had once similarly counseled Thor; the Trickster God hoped his words would hold the Thunder God’s welfare in greater esteem. Hands folded behind his back, each step the stalking glide of a feline, the dark-clad co-regent of Asgard looked a pristine and harshly puritanical creature next to his strapping elder brother. There was something both comical and almost transcendently iconic about the way they were so different, yet so complementary, flanking each other.
“I must say, your notion of falling in love hardly sounds ideal. ‘Falling down a well’? Dear Norns, brother. How very doe-eyed and poetic you become once besotted. I’ll trust that you take some pleasure in this sensation.”
He paused, and spun to face Thor, clasping his shoulder, as they reached the mortar rail, carved richly in knotwork of entwined serpents. Hugin and Munin sailed to their side, one perched on each king’s shoulder.
“Don’t be angry when I ask this … but have you given this match … due consideration? You are a creature of strong passions, and I only wish to check your judgments against logic.”
“I realize, brother that it sounds truly absurd but…’ He could not help himself. His entire body felt ten times lighter and just all the more joyful for speaking of her. "There is no woman out there that could possibly compare. Sig is unlike any other that I have come across. She will not be fooled, she will not be woo’d. You cannot get past her defenses. You do not speak out of turn around her. Strength. Beauty. Wisdom..Courage. There is hardly a more ideal sort of partner for myself…”
Although he would try to listen soundly to Loki’s counsel. For the man was far wiser than he and, having been happily wed several years now; certainly had more practice.
Hopefully. he could overcome his joy long enough to be rational.
“Brother..I have thought of nothing since the day I met her. For years. I’ve kept an eye for the woman that would suit my side. That woman is Sig. Should she reject me I will leave her be and never speak of it again. Only the cruelest and most foolhardy of men force a woman to unhappiness. But there is no denying what I desire.”
He paused, giving Huggin’s head a stroke. “She is a remarkable creature.”
◣♛◢ —- –
“The would-be Queen of Jotunheim, then. Laufey’s successor.”
Loki uttered the words between his teeth, averting his virulent jade gaze. Time had trained him against so despising his native race, and yet their resentment toward him lingered; he could not confess himself warmly disposed toward the royal succession that had cast him out onto a tundra to die, because of his small stature. Even now, he wore alabaster skin to claim himself kinsman to Asgardians alone.
“She abuses you, raising her hand against you, and her words are scathing and disrespectful. Understand that I who have been thusly abused by loved ones am singularly opposed to hearing a son of Frigga so reduced in stature. Thor, take care. Sif has many of the qualities that you have cited, and yet, you also have her good opinion and her loyalty: even if she must defy the laws of this Realm in order to remain your comrade. And what of the Midgardian, Jane Foster? A brilliant mind without parallel, whose life I have come to be glad that I saved. Or did you at last heed my counsel that seeking the hand of a mortal will only bring you pain?”
Thor knew what he wanted and he knew how he was going to get it. Least.he thought he did. The trick would be in whether or not his..intending party would be willing as well. After all..twas the catch were it not? For this seemed to be an unavoidable part of the deal. And he would hate to leave any woman unhappy. Naturally that was wholly and truly unfair. Especially towards the intended.
Yet all he had to do was merely think of the feisty Jotun woman and his eyes glazed over with something that might’ve been akin to cataracts-were they dipped and mingled in honey. The possibilities were that it would all end in some terrible heartbreak, broken bones and broken lives. But he was hardly to worry of it so far.
No, all he could focus his swollen being on was the question he had in mind. Staring at his brother as they walked down the vast hall of their palace. Pace easy and controlled.
“Simple matter, dear brother. I feel as though I’ve fallen down a deep well and cannot get up..and that well points in merely one direction. That direction being that..I wish to marry Sig. I am quite sure she has little interest in me..but I could at least confirm that little interest by asking right?”
His eyes shone yet again, staring at the golden ceiling.
Such a creature.
Such a creature had never before come before he.
Truly he was lost.
◣♛◢ —- –
Loki’s lips pursed against a knowing grin. He took measured paces toward the courtyard where, irony of ironies, their father had once similarly counseled Thor; the Trickster God hoped his words would hold the Thunder God’s welfare in greater esteem. Hands folded behind his back, each step the stalking glide of a feline, the dark-clad co-regent of Asgard looked a pristine and harshly puritanical creature next to his strapping elder brother. There was something both comical and almost transcendently iconic about the way they were so different, yet so complementary, flanking each other.
“I must say, your notion of falling in love hardly sounds ideal. ‘Falling down a well’? Dear Norns, brother. How very doe-eyed and poetic you become once besotted. I’ll trust that you take some pleasure in this sensation.”
He paused, and spun to face Thor, clasping his shoulder, as they reached the mortar rail, carved richly in knotwork of entwined serpents. Hugin and Munin sailed to their side, one perched on each king’s shoulder.
“Don’t be angry when I ask this … but have you given this match … due consideration? You are a creature of strong passions, and I only wish to check your judgments against logic.”
Loki’s expression betrayed neither assent nor unrest. He only pursed his lips slightly more tightly.
“By whom?” he cooly drawled.
The… The late Queen. It was all arranged years ago between herself and my family, I was told, but I only just found out on my 18th birthday. I was told I am now ready for you so here I am, having made the journey after learning of this all only yesterday. I am sorry to have kept you waiting, my King.
◣♛◢ —- –
Perhaps to the imminent and immense distress of the young woman before him, Loki was unimpressed; in fact, her claims seemed to incite keen wrath.
“Do you know,” he spat, a rooted network of veins pressing against his deathly pale forehead, “how m a n y i m p u d e n t p e r s o n s have approached me, knowing of my closeness to the late Allmother, conniving a way to draw nearer me for their own gain? I have no logical reason to think you different.”
He seized her wrist, conjured cuffs and bound her, and fastened her to a slender mortar tier near his throne.
“Provide evidence of this ‘prior arrangement’ at once, or these will be the last words you say as a free woman with a tongue in her mouth.”
“Brother!” Although he’d not been planning to appear in the room, it was impossible for his over grown ears not to hear the commotion that was going about. “By the Norns what is the trouble!?” The Throne room at once seemed oppressive to him. Staring at the cowering woman suddenly tied there.
Loki would not have acted without reason, and he approached his brother’s side far faster than he might’ve needed to given the circumstances.
“What has happened?” He asked, more softly. “What has caused thee to react so?”
◣♛◢ —- –
“This i n s e c t claims to have prearranged some offputting sort of bound servitude to me, foreseen by our mother, on her eighteenth birthday,” Loki crisply provided. “I intended to turn her over to the palace guard, but by all means, if you wish to question her, she is your headache now. For I tire greatly of those who would use the Allmother to butter up the King of Asgard.”
“Aye. Weary in more of the physical than the mental. Although the two seem forever intertwined now..my burdens are not so large, however. Just exhausting. Contemplating the minds of mortals..”
“Oh, aye?”
Loki sat cautiously beside his mercurial sibling, and examined Thor’s profile. The Thunder God’s bristly jaw jutted obdurately. Mischief smirked and breathed a laugh.
“In what manner? The way that they are different from us? Any mortals in particular, big brother?”
His eyes glinted bemusedly as he spoke in rhythmically soothing, warm watery tones well trained to coax Thor out of a sulk.
Just flopped, as if he was too weary to put up any kind of a front. ‘It’s the meaningless way that they scramble about. Large problems out there to deal with and yet they bicker over the petty..“
“Oh aye, tis vexing. Tis what drove me to certain … actions… when last I was on Midgard. Or at least, a contributing factor.”
With the boneless grace that Thor’s sprawl entirely lacked, Loki lay back next to his elder brother, and twiddled his thumbs over his gaunt stomach.
“I would venture that your frustration derives from too much time in the mortal’s service, cleaning up said large problems, whilst they moan and mope instead of thanking you for your efforts.”
icyxmischief 