[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.
[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.
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.
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?
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.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2023-12-28 04:12 am (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-28 01:42 pm (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-02 02:00 am (UTC)[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.]
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Date: 2024-01-02 02:13 am (UTC)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!
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Date: 2024-01-02 03:59 am (UTC)[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.]
no subject
Date: 2024-01-02 04:16 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-02 04:45 am (UTC)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?
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Date: 2024-01-02 02:53 pm (UTC)[Eilonwy blinks, the tea forgotten for a second.] Runes? Yes, that would be.. Well, different. But it also sounds fun.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-05 12:18 am (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-05 01:42 am (UTC)[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!
Once again, pretend it's a male singer.
Date: 2024-01-05 01:47 am (UTC)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.]
done and done
Date: 2024-01-05 03:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-05 03:39 am (UTC)We can go over the meanings beyond simply letter correspondences some other time.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-05 03:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 12:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 02:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 02:40 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 02:48 am (UTC)Connections built relations, and that built strength. Even if she wasn't in Llyr.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 03:22 am (UTC)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'.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 03:58 am (UTC)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?"
no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 04:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 04:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 04:54 am (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 05:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
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