Þrettándi Villieldr - [Video]

[infernoandhearth]

[A lady is using Luke's device, evidently, and it's not even the EXPECTED lady to be using Luke's device.]

Everything is very slightly off, today, so I'd like to straighten a couple of things out, and sort all the rest out for myself.

I go by a lot of names, but it's probably simplest if you settle with Loki, for now. I realise there's another one here. There are probably two Joes here as well. I imagine you'll live.

I think we might well work solely off of that.

David, when you come home, or strike a match, don't fret. I think there's been a swap.

Comments

[fiveagainstradley]

What sort of a swap? [He's tempted to light a match just to see, but he'll hold off for now.]

[infernoandhearth]

Well. Me and your usual Loki.

[fiveagainstradley]

Oh. I thought you just wanted to try a new look. You mean you're not my usual Loki?

[infernoandhearth]

No. This is me. This is just how I look.

[fiveagainstradley]

Oh. I think I understand. [Not really, but he'll roll with it.] Is anything different... you know, between us? Or is that the same too?

[infernoandhearth]

The same how, David? We didn't swap memories, you know.

[fiveagainstradley]

Oh. I mean. Are we still ...together, I suppose? [Do they kiss and have sex, but David is way too British to say that out loud.]

[infernoandhearth]

[Loki will get him saying that eventually. It's a personal hilarious promise to herself.]

Yes, of course. I don't expect either of us would let you get away.

[fiveagainstradley]

Oh good. That's good, then. [He literally has no other worries about this random other Luke-that-isn't-Luke-nor-is-she-Chloe-so-let's-just-call-her-Loki-like-she-wants.]

[infernoandhearth]

Then nothing important has changed. Good. I was worried I'd have to seduce you all over again. [No she wasn't.]

[fiveagainstradley]

No, nothing important. You're still you, I'm still me, and we're still us.

[infernoandhearth]

Listen to you. You're lovely. I really couldn't have asked for a better anyone. Ah, well, I could have, but I'd only be served you over again.

[fiveagainstradley]

[He blushes.] You needn't say so. It's simple, really.

[infernoandhearth]

You think so, do you? David, I've been alive for ages and I've never met a human to keep my attention longer than a year at absolute most, let alone one who'd risk his life for me after knowing me less than a week. You did as well, didn't you?

[fiveagainstradley]

Well, yes, but I didn't want you to have to go back to prison again. Your relations were being terribly unfair.

[infernoandhearth]

You walked through fire and outside of time, faced down the Norns and the gods and proved yourself worthy of Valhalla. It wasn't exactly just a matter of standing up for me. Oh, do you mind, David, really, where are you? I'm coming over all emotional.

[fiveagainstradley]

I took Chew out to Xanadu, to the spot where we had that curry. Do you remember? I'll strike a match.

[infernoandhearth]

I might. It's not a case of remembering with me, though, you know. We mightn't have ended up in the same place at all. Matches are easier.

[fiveagainstradley]

[And so he lights one. He's sitting on a swing in the abandoned playground.]

[infernoandhearth]

[Loki walks out of the woods, thumbs in the pockets of her jeans, hands resting outside. She beams at David as she makes her way over to sit on the swing beside his.]

You're more amenable to my changing about than any human I've known before, do you know? More than even some gods.

[fiveagainstradley]

Once I figured out you don't follow the normal rules, nothing you do could surprise me. Nothing yet, anyway.

[He frowns for a moment, thinking.]

I'm glad you're here, you know. Any sort of you. I don't think I could take the City without a Luke in it. Or, a Loki. Without you.

[infernoandhearth]

I'm not sure whether I ought to see what surprises you or not. [She scoots the swing around, twisting it in a circle and then letting it spin her unwound.]

I like you here, to keep an eye on. And you make everything better, besides. [She swings sideways to bump her hip into David's, swings away again. On the next sideways swing she grabs the closest chain to her and holds it together with her own so the swings bump up against each other in the middle.] You have since the start. You're mine now, you know. You'll not be rid of me ever.

[fiveagainstradley]

[He laughs at her swing antics, enjoying the bump and sway of their two swings together.] Good, I don't want to be.

So was it the same for you, here for months before I came? [It still makes David sad to think about Luke having to be on his own while he was at home with a Luke to be with.]

[infernoandhearth]

Oh, you know. I notice time differently. I knew I'd be back to you eventually, one way or another. I'd only to wait. I came trying to follow your match, though. I wasn't sure if it was true or not. If I was still there or if you were striking a match and waiting.

[fiveagainstradley]

You've never made me wait before. If you had, I'd know something was wrong and I'd be very worried.

When I came I was packing for school. [Something occurs to him.] How did that work for you, could you not come with me since you're a girl? Or did you change to come?

[infernoandhearth]

I never would.

Well, you did know me as Luke first, you know. I started out in my usual boy form. I wanted to be friends, and fit in with you. You'd just set me free, after all. It was just easier to go back to myself, after. You'd worked out I was really Loki anyway. [She changes, as she kicks her legs, doing her best to swing the swings in tandem, and bumping them back and forth a bit instead.]

Whoops! This would work better holding hands, instead of this, probably.

[fiveagainstradley]

[Well that's different. Well, different girl Luke, different boy Luke, David supposes.] Yes probably. [He offers his hand out.]

Then you're usually a girl, except when you need to be a boy for my sake? I wonder if there's a world where I'm a girl and it's the other way round.

[infernoandhearth]

[Loki takes it and lets the swings swing free. It pulls on their arms a bit, a sudden sharp tug, but Loki pushes with his feet and gets them to start swinging instead. It's going to take a little work to get them going in tandem.]

Oh, probably. And the other other way around. And maybe even the way where you're David, god of cricket and I'm a burgeoning arsonist. Though I've no idea how we'd come to meet, there, so perhaps that one's best not thought about.

[fiveagainstradley]

[David pumps his legs in time with Loki's and does his best to keep the swing working right.]

Perhaps I cheated in a match and got sent to cricket prison. The god of cricket mustn't ever cheat.

[He really wants to kiss Loki right now. They're alone, save for Chew, and he's feeling especially grateful for having Luke in his life. But that would ruin their swinging attempts, so he shan't. Still, he holds on tight to Loki's hand even if his palms may be getting a bit clammy.]

[infernoandhearth]

And I burned through your bonds and let you out by accident. Perhaps I'll show you how fun cheating can be. I wouldn't let you go back, anyway. I don't think I would, anyway. I don't know this version of me. Are you sure she might be trusted?

[They get it, gradually, swinging higher, their hands still grasped.]

Once we're high enough, we should jump off.

[fiveagainstradley]

I think she ought to be. She's still you, isn't she?

Alright, let's. [He forgoes talking for a bit to concentrate on swinging. Then, when they're at their peak, he slips out of the seat into the air!]

[infernoandhearth]

[He shrugs as much as he can, swinging.] That's what worries me. [David is sweet. But.

Loki laughs, as they jump from their swings, and rolls as he goes, to land on his back, pulling David on top of him. He goes oof, and laughs again.] Someday I'll borrow Freya's cloak again, would you like that? We could be falcons together, fly right off the top of the swings and keep going.

[fiveagainstradley]

[Different bodies but it still feels the same to lie against him.]

I don't have to be a nut, do I? [Hey, he's done his share of reading.]

[infernoandhearth]

Oh, no, you're not Idunn. I'd lend you the cloak. [He shifts back to his actual form again, wearing a cloak, this time.] And I'd wrap you up in it personally.

[Holding it over her arm, like it's a wing, she folds David up in it, while she's still wearing it.] I might take it off first, of course. Then. I think we're fine, now. [She puts her cloaked hand around the back of David's head, pulling him down into a kiss.]

[fiveagainstradley]

[He kisses her back, smiling into it and enjoying the warmth of both the cloak and her body. When they break the kiss, he pulls back to look down at her fondly.]

Would you... Um,.like to go back? I think Chew is getting cold. [Suuuure, David, that's the reason.]

[infernoandhearth]

[Ruffling the back of David's hair, Loki leans up to kiss his nose, and then down again.]

Oh, absolutely, we mustn't let Chew get cold.

[fiveagainstradley]

[He stands, offering his hand out to Loki.]

Come, Chew, we're going home. [The dog comes over and, seeming to notice Loki for the first time, goes about sniffing her all over.]

[infernoandhearth]

[She hosts herself up by his offered hand, and scritches Chew's ears when he ambles over.]

You're a dear ugly dumb thing, aren't you, Chew. Yes you are. Come on, David. Out into the winter.

[fiveagainstradley]

[David follows along the pair of them, hurrying so he can slip back under Loki's cloak. It is quite chilly.]

[infernoandhearth]

[Loki, as always, is like a furnace when she wants to be, and keeping David warm in the winter definitely counts as something she wants. She slips her arm about David's waist as they walk, clutching at the coal there so it stays around his shoulders.]

It's nearly time for the plan thing, you know. The one I have with the other Loki. I assume I told you about that one?

[fiveagainstradley]

[He huddles into her as they walk.] You told me some. About raising doubt in the deities. Is it time already for it?

[infernoandhearth]

Oh yes, any day now, really. But the thing you must promise me is that you'll stay inside, away from it all. I can't say exactly what will happen. That's the thing about unleashing chaos.

If you have to go outside, try for City Solutions. I expect it will be safest there.

[fiveagainstradley]

[Alright now he's worried.] Will it really be so dangerous? I thought it was just a bit of fun.

[infernoandhearth]

It is, of course. But people get carried away so easily, and we've double-scheduled by chance with a sort of unknown entity. It will work out, I only can't say how.

[fiveagainstradley]

Alright. I'll stay away from it, if you want. [He'd do anything if Loki/Luke wants it. All s/he has to do is ask.]