whose_son_am_i | Labyrinthum IC Inbox

What, that I enjoy sweets?

[That made Loki chuckle softly.]

I enjoy any number of luxuries, and have only come to appreciate them more over the least few years.

[With the invite, Loki moved to take a seat. But on the subject of the masquerade and their costumes...]

I did not have any influence that I could tell from my outfit. Likely because it was not an animal. But it's another enchantment to be added to the list as a piece of information.

Yes? It seems we're both being surprised here.
[She giggled.] It's just that you don't strike me as the kind who would be first to a candy store at the start of a season, that's all. But that doesn't mean that you don't enjoy them.

[His mug of tea is handed off before Eilonwy takes a seat across from him.] I'll add it later, then. But not right now, my hands are still sore from all of the moving I've done on that painting. [Some of her tea is sipped.] I was trying to find the best wall to hang it from first, and then the best angle.

I'm a hedonist, if that helps it make more sense.

[Loki takes the cup with a nod of thanks, just letting it warm him for now. But he turns his attention to her, then to looking around the cottage. Mostly to see if he can spot the subject of what they're talking about.]

Wanting to get it just right, hmm? I can understand that--although there are worse things out there than crooked paintings. But you'd want to get the right light, but not so much that it'll fade the work either. And of course there's the view from which you want to see it, hence angle and wall placement.

Oh! Yes, I've heard of that term!

[The cottage is utilitarian but also has some personal touches. On the south wall hangs a painting of gardenias at night in inks and watercolors.] I think it looks fine on the south, and the paint is dark enough in some spots that it shouldn't fade very quickly. [Eilonwy has some of her tea] With the 'Petals from the sky' line, I had a bit of fun finding the right painting to work with it. If it does start to fade, I can touch it up as it's needed.

Now do you know what it means?

[Loki took another good sip of his tea as he studied the painting.]

I think it's lovely. Did you paint it yourself? I do particularly like the combination of Gardenias at night, considering what the flower often symbolizes.

[Loki smiles around his tea cup.]

I'm fairly sure I could write a poem or two about it.

Pleasure or happiness above all.

[Eilonwy nods.] I did, yes- plants are a common subject in Prydain-- and that's why I painted it like that. Well, that and to contrast the colors I used for the petals. They're very layered towards the middle so I needed to have enough contrast around them for everything to work together.

[She giggles] I'd be glad to see those poems.

Well, once I write them I'll have you give them a look over.

[Reaching into his bag, Loki pulled out a familiar notebook.]

I've added a few starters, but nothing really fleshed out yet, if you wanted to look.

[OOC: The highlighted section is new and what he'd point her at specifically.]

[Eilonwy looked over the "starters", eyes narrowing a bit as she took in the information.]
There's promise, I think..

[All of the new information is quite a bit, but Eilonwy absorbed it easily.] A lot of promise, yes. You're very skilled with your words!

I should hope so, as I've had quite a lot of practice. Still, it usually wasn't with an eye to poetry as that craft is new to me.

[Letting her have care of that notebook for now, as Loki set his tea down to go look more fully at the painting. Examining, confirming a few things--like what was hidden behind it--discreetly. Studying it as if he really was looking with an eye for how it fit within her decor.]

[Eilonwy holds onto the notebook and watches as Loki goes to observe things.

The painting is actually fairly decent but the faint outline of a notebook can be seen at the correct angle towards the darkest part of the painting near the flowers. Eilonwy has some tea and remarks] Really? You write with confidence-- I think that must count for something.

[Still, it is a good hiding place and Loki approves. Coming back to his seat, he hmms to himself.]

I've had lots of practice to learn how to play with and manipulate words. It's rarely been appreciated though, so I thank you for your praise.

[Bringing his tea up and taking a sip before asking his next question.]

Would you be interested in learning runes?

Odd, being good at writing is usually seen as something to praise in Llyr.

[Eilonwy blinks, the tea forgotten for a second.] Runes? Yes, that would be.. Well, different. But it also sounds fun.

Oh I do appreciate the praise, it's just not unexpected. Is writing itself common in Llyr?

[Loki smiles around his cup.]

Runes can be considered a form of magic all on their own, moreso than just an alphabet might be considered anyway. I believe the myth that came to Midgard was that Odin hung himself from his own spear, Gungnir, on the trunk of Yggdrasil for nine days to learn of them. A sacrifice of himself, to himself.

We're not young enough that it's new, if that's what you mean.

[Eilonwy listens as he explains, brow furrowing at the end.] ..But if he sacrificed himself, how was he alive to learn? Unless it-- Well, no, if he hung himself, then.. [She rubs her forehead and tries not to make logical sense of it. Prydain had as many mythologies that were equally confusing if someone really considered them long enough.] Aside from that, you know these runes, then? I hope your learning them didn't follow the myth's story!

[Her trying to make sense of it just makes him laugh softly as he places the cup down.]

I learned it as one learns the alphabet.

[Taking out his notebook once more, Loki pulls out a pen and blank piece of paper from the book fully. Moving to sing as he writes, and pointing out each rune as it's named in the song.]

[Eilonwy looks very relieved to be given the okay to just quit trying to make sense of it. As he starts a song, she leans forward and pays attention, idly tapping one of her feet in time to the beat and memorizing things as they're pointed. It's nothing like any language she's seen before, but Eilonwy appreciates the challenge.]

[She'd heard him sing before, as he'd sung it at the tavern when they'd met up too. This time he also wrote the pronunciation of each letter under the rune. And what each roughly corresponded with in the more 'modern'ish alphabet. Then the page was passed to her.]

We can go over the meanings beyond simply letter correspondences some other time.

[Eilonwy took the page and looked it over, murmuring some of the pronunciations before she nodded.] Yes, of course. I don't expect to pick up a new language fully in the span of a few minutes. That song seems to be a favorite of yours-- it's the second time you've performed it.

"Less that it's a favorite and more that it's easy to remember. It's essentially a short teaching song for the runes, after all. Before when I sang it, you were asking for examples of what our songs are like and I gave you that and a lullaby. Here, it was to aid in your learning. Would you prefer something else?" Loki wouldn't mind singing again honestly. Eilonwy was good company, and respected him. Seemed to value him and his talents too, and that went a long way in his eyes. Not just in satisfying his ego either.

Eilonwy considered the offer for a long moment and then framed it as a teacher talking to a student. "I think this will serve for what I want to learn. But if you'd like to sing again, I wouldn't say no to it. You have a good voice, it's very clear. That can be hard when performing." Eilonwy put a lot of value in general on her friends, more for their personalities than their talents. Loki had been nothing but open and encouraging, and likewise that went a long way for her. But she also just liked him in general. It was a great show of strength to wake up in a new world and not let that drive you mad. Or to isolation.

"I see what you did there, Your Highness." Loki teased lightly. He'd had no reason to not be encouraging to Eilonwy, and the open-ness was all on his own terms so far. He'd given nothing to anyone that he hadn't intended them to know.

But he'd been treated with respect here, and kindness--and it had made his adaptation here easier. SO he would match like with like, as it also was useful to make allies. Loki had played the 'villain' before and it was not worth it. He might never be a hero either, however.

"I wasn't trying to hide it, so I'm glad you did." Eilonwy answered with a chuckle. Knowing how to speak to other people in general came in handy, and Eilonwy hadn't been short on lessons. But also she was still a young woman who genuinely enjoyed her connections. Loki would be another one, and barring some very specific and impossible for her to picture circumstances, Eilonwy didn't see that suddenly changing.

Connections built relations, and that built strength. Even if she wasn't in Llyr.

Diplomacy and networking were essential parts of being a monarch, even for warrior people like the Asgardians. Loki was no stranger to the skills needed to talk to a wide range of people. It was actually one of his specialties, weaving words and crafting lies both necessary and not. His silver tongue often made things go more smoothly in tense situations.

What was new for him, was that he was enjoying some of these connections more than just as a pleasant and useful alliance. Whether it would turn out to be 'friends' or allies, depended on how things went when things went wrong. After all, supposedly his 'friends' were quick to be suspicious of him and turn against him after he'd saved all their lives. He hadn't known Thor would be banished--had tried to speak up only to be roared down and risk Odin's wrath himself.

"Well, I have taken up enough of your time. Unless there's anything else--more art you wanted to show me?" A polite cue, as much as Loki did enjoy talking with her. About business or about 'business'.

She did give a little chuckle. "No, no more art, I'm afraid. I haven't thought of any other flowers to paint just yet."

Eilonwy fell quiet for a second as her expression shifted to more serious. "I didn't want to bring this up at first, but you do need to know. I didn't remember it at first, but it did come back to me the more I tried to remember." She took a breath and sighed. "Do you remember when I mentioned that while I was at the party, that I kept feeling like it would be okay if I forgot things? That it didn't matter if that happened?"

Well, his idle and casual posture and manner didn't change, but Eilonwy could see it in his eyes. Blue-green were now focused on her and alert. "Is this something I should be remembering you telling me?" Meaning should he get out his notebook?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Once again, pretend it's a male singer.

done and done

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject