whose_son_am_i | Labyrinthum IC Inbox

"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?

Eilonwy nodded. "I do think that's a very good idea, yes." As she'd remembered things, Eilonwy hadn't had enough stamina to write it down herself. It had taken time to sort it out in her mind, and to begin processing the emotions tied to what had happened.

She most definitely had his attention now, as Loki pulled out the notebook and a pen once more. "Sit. Have more tea, then tell me." He likely couldn't prevent someone spying on them via scrying, and there was no easy way to disguise this conversation...but it was a risk worth taking.

Eilonwy did both of those things and had some tea once she had sat back down. At this point, she wasn't concerned about trying to disguise this as anything. She just wanted to get it out.

"While I was on the balcony, I started forgetting my friends, like I had mentioned before-- that it wouldn't have felt wrong to forget them. But then I remembered something else that happened. A friend, Inigo, joined me and we had started talking. Small talk, you understand. He asked if I was having fun and it.. It felt right to say that it was. We continued talking and the subject changed to how many people there were. I'd remarked.."

Eilonwy trailed off and took another drink of her tea as she frowned, falling quiet at the memory she'd relived. "I'd remarked that it didn't seem like Vaeros had thrown the party from the goodness of his heart, and again that felt.. right. Even normal."

"...You were being encouraged to forget, and to enjoy yourself there. To not worry about things. To not question why." Loki was fairly sure he was following the thread, but seeking confirmation. While writing down in the notebook, scratch of pen on page.

"I was, yes." Eilonwy took a deep breath and had another drink of tea. "Inigo was surprised by my statement and asked why I thought Vaeros would have had alternative motives to begin with. It wasn't said in anger, like he was refuting me, he truly had no idea why I would think that. He was confused."

Eilonwy's shoulders shook a bit. Her grip on the cup tightened. "I was equally as confused! I replied that Vaeros had never been that kind of ruler-- Even with my short time being here, I know that! I knew it then! But after I said that it felt like I had buckets of rocks on my shoulders. Everything felt heavy and I suddenly.. I didn't want to.. I knew how disconcerting it felt--" Her eyes burned with angry tears as she clenched her teeth for a moment. The next sentence came out with a mix of frustration and hurt.

"I know I fought back."

Oh, Loki could get to like Eilonwy. Quiet for a moment as he made some quick notes, only taking his eyes from her to do so.

"So we teach you how to do so more effectively, in the future." It was a statement, said as if it was fact. Loki would make it a fact. "I am, obviously, brought down to human rather effectively at the moment. If I can regain my abilities however, I am a Master of Magic or Sorcery, however you choose to view it." A hint of a smirk, and some pride. "I've hidden myself and others from the guardian of our borders who can see the smallest goings on in any of the Nine. For once, I am not bragging. I can teach you, in time."

"By your hands, my victory. By my hands, your will." she replied almost immediately. It was said at the start of beginning a new area of combat in Llyr and it seemed fitting. The anger was ebbing but just slightly. "There's nothing but time, so.. Whenever you're ready, I will be also."

She had some more tea to steady herself. "After.. After whatever that was, after my fighting didn't work, I felt calm, even embarrassed that I'd acted like that." Eilonwy looks up from her cup. "I remember agreeing with Inigo that his idea on Vaeros being kind was correctly. Specifically, I remarked that 'Good rulers just wanted their subjects happy', and I was sure I was mistaken." Eilonwy looked sick at the memory and set her cup down. The tears finally spilled over, and she angrily reached up to wipe at them.

Loki put down the notebook and pen and got to his feet. Coming over, he laid a hand on her shoulder in support but also with some formality. "I...I've betrayed everyone who ever trusted me before, but it has only been recently that I've used that for good ends instead of ill. It is up to you if you will continue to trust me knowing this. But I am also not one who swears oaths lightly."

There was a ring of formality, this was a monarch talking as well as a being many would consider a God. Loki's emotions were volatile, but he was sure of this as much as he was sure of how he felt about Alice. He wanted to help Eilonwy do this, to keep her safe. "By my hands, your victory, as my knowledge I will give you."

Eilonwy looked up at Loki as he spoke and nodded. Sure, people were multifaceted. Of course gods would be the same. But the fact that he mentioned that she had the choice of trusting him solidified the decision. "I'll do that, yes."

As he adapted her oath back to her, Eilonwy gave a surprised and choked laugh, the tears still falling, but not as moved on by anger. It was an odd mix of emotions, with one of them being a spark of hope. "Accepted, and to be remembered by those ahead of me as a gift shared." A slow exhale as it was done. Eilonwy gave a small nod.

"Then that's what we'll do. Thank you, Loki."

That he'd given her the choice was also a sign of his own growth. Encouraged by Thor, but also those here who had shown him kindness and valued him positively. It...encouraged the good within him, the want to make his mother proud of him even if she was not there to tell him so. To make his own place, outside of the shadow of his elder brother or father. Small steps, but they were all adding up.

"Thank you, Eilowny. For believing in me." That hand stayed on her shoulder, but no longer was it formality and for binding. This was to be sure she was steady, and okay.

She felt steady enough and the anger was on its last legs. She nodded again. "You're welcome. Thank you for letting me share that. I thought I had gone mad when I started to recall it."

A lot of small steps could lead anywhere. Even out of a shadow, or away from an evil king. Or towards retribution, or redemption. She reached up and rested her hand over his, giving a more regular smile. "I'm starting to feel more like myself."

"Good. I rather enjoy who you are already and would not like to see that changed much." Holding that for a moment, and letting her hand rest. Letting the moment be felt, before it was broken gently as he moved to put away his notebook and pen once more.

"I wouldn't like that either." Eilonwy watched as Loki put the notebook and pen up and then finished her tea. "I'm glad you're taking things down. I need to update my own notebook. Just.. not right now."

She was too drained from all of the talking, and didn't want to try to dig the energy up.

"Mental and emotional exertions can be just as taxing as the physical. I'd recommend you rest. Have more to drink, have some solid but light food, and read or do something relaxing." She was a strong person, but even the strongest would find something like this draining.

"As much as the network isn't secure, use it if you need to contact me. Or visit. I'll start putting down notes for some basic techniques that will help lay a foundation for you to learn magic. As well as some questions for you about it."

All of it said as Loki packed up to take his leave.

Eilonwy nodded and did what a good hostess would do. She followed after him and held the door open once he was ready to go. "I'll do all of that, then. Safe travels, and thank you."

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