eswareinmal | (no subject)

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WHO: Cho and Loki
WHAT: pulling a prank, and the discovering thereof
WHEN: RD18, early morning
WHERE: HH, library

NOTES: tag to base post
WARNINGS: none

It's early. Early enough that Cho is the only one awake in the house. She chased the dawn with Charlie, and now he's safely back in his stall and she's heading in to change her clothes. The light from under the library door stops her. Someone could have woken while she was gone, but curiosity still makes her investigate, slipping inside with an offensive blast of magic held at the ready. The blue at the table is not Liara. "What are you doing here?"

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He does not start, nor does he close the book or pause in his perusal; he knows those are sure signs of guilt. She has caught him after he finished writing the notice, at least.

"Continuing my study of this world," he says, archly. "What else?"

To be fair, he's a god of mischief - nearly everything is a sure sign of guilt. She walks over to the table, smelling faintly of leather and alfalfa and cold evening air. As she approaches to look over his shoulder, he turns the page, ever so casually, and she smiles, reaching out to turn it back.

When he touches her hand to stop her, she tenses ever so slightly, but she doesn't actually pull away. Hands are a special part of a Sorcerer's body, intimate, guarded, private - but he's already tapped directly into her magic, there are few ways to be more connected than that in Rowan. So she just continues to turn the page, pushing into his hand until she can see the beautifully lettered false decree.

It is a lovely piece of work, if he does say so himself. And it will cause a wonderful bit of chaos. He quite likes that.

A sigh, though, as she turns the page. He lets go of it, leans back. Surrenders to the thought that she will see it.

She looks back at him, stares at his rabbit red eyes, and tries to guess at the why. Is it just because he needs to feel in control? Needs to feel above the rest of them? Because they haven't really talked since the search for the king, since the disaster of that recoil. "Do you have any idea how badly you're going to piss people off?"

A hint of amusement plays around his mouth. Oh, he hasn't played such a prank in decades -- !

"I have a certain idea," he admits.

She debates how upset she should be. On the one hand, she's not going to get caught up in it, having seen the source. On the other, this is just so juvenile. This has got to be on par with fake flies frozen into ice cubes, or plastic dog poop. "I suppose you expect me to keep your secret now," she guesses, entirely straight-faced.

"If you wouldn't mind," he tells her, a faux-innocent look on his face. "I imagine there might be a bit of indignation. Perhaps even a few bumps and bruises. The particularly arrogant townsfolk might even be embarrassed. I fear the consequences terribly."

He does close the journal, now, if she lets him.

"Truly," he says, "I believe this is a day that will be remembered with amusement, perhaps embarrassment or disappointment, not with anger or terror. If you feel it is worthy of revealing my name, and having justice done, I leave it in your hands."

Edited 2012-09-30 17:33 (UTC)

Cho rolls her eyes, but she's fighting to keep a smile off of her face now, because she can imagine it. Also, because the idea of Loki being afraid of anyone's indignation is mildly hilarious. "Can't imagine why anyone would be upset with you."

She lets him close the journal. She isn't planning to tear the page out or anything. But she also slides it out of his reach, sitting on the table and swinging her legs lightly back and forth. "Eventually they're going to figure out it didn't come from the King. They're going to look for someone to blame. You're preying on their idiocy. That's not very nice. People don't like having it pointed out."

He laughs. "They have the memories of flies," he tells her. "They will be disappointed that they don't have a marriage, nothing more. I doubt it will even occur to most that they have been fooled."

Ah, how he wishes he was overstating the case. But these people... they are idiots.

He takes a step further, and decides to reassure her.

"There are a dozen arguments against any binding marriage," he says. "To claim you are married or betrothed in your own world -- to claim that you have a nameless love among the other heroes -- to speak in complex terms until the king claims a headache and declares it null. If any feel themselves in near danger of being bound to one of the townsfolk, I will gladly lend my voice to their defense. I do not seek to do harm, sorceress."

"You merely seek to inconvenience everyone for your pleasure and amusement, trickster." But he's right. Even if the King goes along with the farce, no one can be forced to marry. People will be annoyed, but no lasting harm will be done. If it comes to that, she'll reveal him, but she doubts she'll have to.

It's not all that surprising, really. Loki, God of Mischief. Original or not, he's living up to the name. She can't fault him that. Or, she could, but it wouldn't do any good. The endeavour to change people only ends in heartache. "Meanwhile, I've got an hour to put together some sort of outing for the children that will keep them out of the town and where I can see them all day." The meaning of which should be fairly clear. If one of the people here finds the idea of tricking a ten-year-old into a marriage appealing, she wants to see their face and know where to find them later.

"Watch out for deranged mothers," he warns her. "They are as eager to marry off their infants as they are to marry off their grown children." He remembers the one woman who attempted to have him steal her child, when he was still a wolf. Insane, they are.

"Deranged mothers I can handle." Kale's sprung to mind. Totally unhinged woman. "I'm more interested to see if any adults come sniffing around." She hops off the table and stretches her arm over her head. "Have you already picked out a good spot to watch the chaos from? Don't say the belltower. That's too clichéd."

"Ah, yes." He doesn't plan on standing in her way. Adults like that go beyond stupidity, and into a realm even Loki wouldn't touch.

He shoots her a little smile. "Now, that would be telling."

In truth, he doesn't plan to watch it at all. He has other priorities.

Oh, Cho is very willing to touch the realm they go into. She's willing to help them into the next, even. By force, if necessary.

"Heaven forbid you tell someone what you're thinking." And the sarcasm is laid on thick there. But if it makes him happy. He's had a shitty couple of days, she'll be the first to admit.

Seriously, though, she needs to put together a basket of food and something to entertain three small children. Faolan would be happy chasing butterflies all day, but she's not sure about the other two. She could bring paints for Gretel. She seemed to like the penguin. Rue is a mystery, though. She'll figure it out.

"Give me a shout if you come up with something with a little more... finesse. I'll pop some popcorn and we'll get a good seat." And yes, she's teasing him. But she's half serious. God of Mischief, she's sure he can do better than this if he really puts his mind to it. And she bets that's something to see.

That little smile, again. Point well taken. He hasn't done anything lighthearted in a long time; he could certainly stand to be a bit more clever the next time around. The next time, when perhaps the prank will be its own end.

"Next time, then," he tells her. Gives her a slight bow. "I'll be on my way, now."

Cho bows in return, and then snaps off a little mock salute. "Go forth and annoy! See you at the aftermath." In the hallway, he heads one direction and she heads in the other. "You look good, by the way," she calls over her shoulder. "I'm glad to see you out of your room." She starts walking backwards, staring at his retreating back with a contented smile. "And I like the blue."

He glances back, bemused at the last words. Is she making fun of him?

"Thank you," he says, uncertainly.

And he keeps going.

Not making fun of him, no. Of course, he may not be able to realize that. In order to tell that her smile is genuine and accepting, you'd have to recognize what a supportive and kind smile looks like. She hopes he can tell, not just for the immediate reason.

She watches him leave, continuing to walk backwards until she sees him sweep around the corner. If he had a cape, it would be swooshing behind him. That mental image is almost enough to make her laugh. "You're welcome," she shouts down the hall.

And then she turns on her own heel and heads for the kitchen. Food and fun and she's got kids to round up. She's already pulling her orb off her neck to get in touch with them.

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