eswareinmal | Day 8; Orb 1; Intro

[Sif sits in a throne that does not feel like her own, but that others have insisted she take. Nonetheless, she does look regal – she has never had a problem taking command when a mission lies so plainly in front of her. This kingdom needs help. When her quest has been fulfilled, she can go home. That is the way of such things.]

Greetings. I am [and she pauses a moment, the words still uncomfortable] Prince Sif. That is what I have been asked to call myself. Like most of you, the title was thrust upon me and I have no need of it in the long term. But here, I represent my home of Asgard. It would not do for a representative of the Æsir to leave a kingdom unaided that asks for help. I am sure that the same holds true for those of you that choose to represent your own realms.

And so, I would seek this kingdom’s best and brightest to join me in an excursion to the Two Faced Forrest, to investigate these thorns. There is a sizeable reward available to anyone who can help us provide further information about them.

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You do not understand. You will not understand! If it weren't for your actions, Thor would have been unharmed. He would have stayed in the place he belongs.

[ Far away from the throne. ]

I loved Thor more than I loved life.

But nothing matters now.

[At this, Sif rises from her chair, hands clutching at the arms of it.]

Thor belongs in Asgard.

How do you claim to love someone that you would have held in exile? That you struck down?

Let me ask, Loki. Did you see him draw his last breath, from your lonely throne? Or did you look away, like a coward?

What was there to see? He would draw his last breath whether or not my eyes saw.

[ His voice has changed, with this. Tight, soft, hollow. ]

You couldn’t even watch.

[Had Sif not been witness to her friend’s death, Loki’s voice – tinged with something she would name regret, even if he never would – may have stirred some sense of compassion.

But she did see Thor die. And Loki had caused it. And thus, his words enraged her further.]

It makes – you killed him, Loki. And you couldn’t even look.

The act -- of a monster.

[ He doesn't know what those words mean to him.

Is it a confession? Does he admit that this is what he's been this entire time? -- Or is it a hope, an attempt to convince himself, an attempt to take control of his self, his destiny, his anguish...

He does not know.

He glances aside, where the mirror from West Haven rests, face-down. The mirror that reflected the truth of his face, dark and patterned and red eye's glow. ]

I. Am a monster.

Does that make it easier for you? Giving yourself a role? Call yourself Monster, act as Monster, and therein lies no need to justify Monster’s actions?

[Quietly:]

Does that make it easier for you?

The more you speak, the clearer it is: you know little of my mind.

I never claimed to know your mind, Loki. Though I once imagined that I had some idea of what was in your heart.

In my heart? Nothing but quiet, frozen wastes.

Do not let the boy follow you.

...Clearly.

[She deflates a little, sitting back on the throne. He's still a contradiction. Which may just be a very delicate way of saying "liar."]

I've already informed him that he would be a burden on the trip.

Hmm.

[ A sound that may be familiar: a little, quiet noise of disagreement, without quite disagreeing. Faolan's sense of smell has done very well for Loki. ]

So be it. There is a girl-child, as well. A young sorceress.

I will not suffer you crossing my path.

Hmm.

[Sif leans her head back in the chair, closing her eyes for a moment. It is a familiar enough noise, and she does not bother to argue with it. There's a ghost of a smirk at her lips, more out of habit than anything else.]

The girl's better left to you, then. I've no head for sorcery.

[She'd always needed him to do even the most basic of enchantments. Not that any Aesir were expected to know sorcery, but it was a point of pride for Sif to be better at that princes in anything they attempted. She was the sister of the gatekeeper, and should have had some skill at it. But no. Some things were Loki’s alone.

She opened her eyes, leaning forward, moment of reflection passed.]

You will have to suffer it. I would not ask for any fealty, but this place is small and we've both been drawn to it. To expect our paths to remain uncrossed is unrealistic.

[ Nor do you have a head for raising wolves, he thinks -- his guess, of Faolan's alternate form -- but reminding them both of Loki's wolf-son will do no good for either. That is centuries to the past, besides. ]

Then come to me, lady warrior, and I will throw myself upon your spear. You may slice my head away and display it for all -- see, Loki, murderer. See the one who indulged a fantasy of being a hero, and met his end for it.

Come, Sif. Try me.

I am a warrior, Loki. I have fought hard for it. Harder than I care to speak of.

You threw yourself off the Bifrost.

You will not get me to finish the task for you. I will not have my accomplishments insulted in such a manner.

That was not insult!

[ This is a shout, of fury, of anger, of desperation. ]

I have lied to you, I have dealt you insult again and again. You have told me now to stop, and it is only now that I have spoken the truth.

Then you know nothing of what insults me!

And I thought after all these years it was a skill you would have honed so perfectly.

I know nothing? Then perhaps we'll try another truth that cuts keenly -- you may have proven yourself a warrior, you may be one of Thor's companions, but how does it feel to always be the least of them? Always the woman. Always the lesser, even if you may prove yourself greater than any outside them.

How does it feel to know that you will never get what you truly want?

[If these are Loki's attempts to cut her, then the blades he is reaching for are dull indeed. Sif shakes her head, the support of her friends and her own skill all of the reassurance that she would ever need.]

If I know little of your thoughts, you know even less of mine. I am not some child crying over cut hair, Loki. Unlike you, I know who I am and all that I have accomplished. I am lesser than no one.

If you think the people of Asgard consider you equal, you are deluded.

If I cared what the people of Asgard thought, I'd have ten of Thor's children by now.

Spare us all.

Would it be safe for me to assume that you won't be joining the expedition?

[ And the orb cuts off. Fuck this conversation, anyway. :| ]

Day 8; Orb 1; Intro

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