orb ; rebirth 12th

[sorcerous]

[ Loki is lit by firelight; shadow and flame reflect in his eyes, glittering cool in the light. ]

Ah, heroes. Must you be so idle? Will you tarry away your days with young maidens, with your squabbles and your delays? You are home no longer. There is a kingdom for you to save.

Then -- perhaps I will take advantage of your laxness. It will not be so difficult to tempt a maiden or two away from her humble home, will it? And who knows what horrors I may subject them to.

Beware, for now there is a sorcerer that lurks here.

[ And video off.

Loki laughs, as soon as the orb is extinguished; it pleases him to take responsibility for the shadowy appearances around Schwanheim. If Thor is to suspect him, Loki may as well confirm it; in the meantime, perhaps Loki will stir the heroes to action.

Loki himself, of course, is nearly at the thorns. He wants to speak with them. ]

Comments

[wanderwonder]

[ mild alarm ]

What business does one who wishes not to return have sullying his name here? Leave them be.

[sorcerous]

I'll do as I please.

[wanderwonder]

And speak so freely of it?

[ he's either really dumb or really powerful ]

[sorcerous]

If I like.

[wanderwonder]

But--

[ Hold up, she is still boggled by his frankness on the matter.

Her forehead crinkles. ]

Why? Why would you harm your own?

[sorcerous]

For many reasons. Jealousy, or hate, or love.

[wanderwonder]

Love? You do not threaten the safety of a person out of love.

[sorcerous]

So all love is pure? All love is right, and equal, and sweet? -- No.

[wanderwonder]

You twist it, make it a thing of convenience. Excuse.

Leave them alone. You wish to remain in this land. Surely you can afford them that courtesy.

[sorcerous]

Convenience? Have you ever known love at all?

[wanderwonder]

I am familiar with both love and people enough to know the difference. Love is pure. We are not.

[ Maaan, but she hopes he hasn't acted yet. What could she do to stop him, a sorceror? Lure the maidens away herself...? She doesn't even know where he is. ]

[sorcerous]

And you are deluded.

[ Cruel words, but the love he holds for Thor is nothing of the sort. He is devoted to his brother. Utterly devoted. And he hates him in equal measure.

Loki will not accept that is merely he who is impure. ]

[wanderwonder]

[ Her frown deepens. This is like speaking with Wellington, or a stone wall.

She stares hard at the man in the orb, but says nothing. If he were tempting maidens, then he had to be near to them. He had to be near the capital, or a village, or somewhere else with a population. Someone would stop him.

She exhales, then pinches the orb back to its miniature, inactive state. Someone would stop him. Of that she had to trust, for her sister was of much higher priority than the people of this kingdom.

The decision leaves a disconcerting quiver in her chest all the same. ]