Puck smiled slightly at that. Those were a lot of questions being asked in a very succinct fashion. Questions that Puck had an idea that Loki needed an answer for. So, continuing to give her comfort as best he could, Puck started doing that. "You don't have a monopoly on terrible life experiences, unfortunately. They're in abundance. I'm also not in the habit of getting angry at someone for being mistreated, even if the intentions were probably justified by the ones doing it. That doesn't make it right, in any circumstance."
Puck sighed. "Like I said, not the rulers I serve. Showing you sympathy and understanding but then getting angry at you is absurd, even for a trickster fae." he joked.
Loki was quiet for a bit, before nuzzling in and pressing a kiss to Puck's cheek. "For what it's worth, I only know of your rulers because of what you've told me, and what filtered through Shakespeare or the occasional myth. And even then I'm not that familiar. I judge you for you, Puck, and you've been far more of an honorable being than I could've hoped for. Trickster and all."
It wasn't just a 'thank you'; it was much more than that alone.
Puck smiled softly at the kiss and the statements that came with it. It was actually something he'd worried about- how much of his mannerisms were himself, how much had he taken from Oberon and Titania, even with the extended absence. He respected them as anyone would respect their rulers, but he didn't necessarily like them. Being a trickster and almost as powerful as the two of them, he also got away with being quick with his words and speaking casually for the most part. But Oberon had a reputation for having a temper for a good reason, and Puck had seen firsthand multiple times what that did to both those around him, and to Puck himself.
Hearing that he hadn't picked that up, or their superiority complexes was calming. Honorable? It was one of the highest compliments he could be given. Puck hesitated for a second before he moved to pull Loki into a full hug. The message behind the words hit a bit hard, and Puck returned the kiss with a laugh, his cheeks going red.
It was more, and Puck had been surprised by it but he welcomed it as easily as he'd welcomed Loki into his inner circle. Puck had meant what he said, there would be no pressure to say things behind the statements given, or pressure to put a label to this entire relationship they had going. But that didn't mean he couldn't be pleasantly surprised.
Loki melted into that full hug, and sighed contentedly at the kiss, nuzzling closer still. Once again, she'd allowed herself to be vulnerable and it had...worked out okay. She let herself take the safe anchor he was offering, and would return it as best she could while figuring out all the confusing and conflicting emotions.
It was a bit, before she spoke very quietly. "For all that I was loved, and a prince, growing up--I've always felt different... 'Wrong' in a way, as it were. It was not an easy life at all."
Puck was used to seeing others vulnerable. Rarely did someone call on him because everything was going well in their life, and they just wanted something new. He would be a safe anchor for as many as he needed to be while he was here.
He nodded and affirmed simply, "It doesn't sound easy." Puck continued to hold onto her, providing that anchor as long as it was needed.
He'd feel a nod from where Loki had her head buried against him. "I was a runt, the son of the Frost Giant King Laufey. Left to die though, when Odin found me. I never knew however, until 6 or so years ago. I did not find out in a good way either, and the frost giants are..." A pause in her voice, which had been quiet and soft the whole time. "They're one of the two ancestral enemies to the Asgardians. They're the monsters that feature in our bedtime stories. I was another one of Odin's stolen relics."
With the full hug, Puck could feel the deep breath in and out again, and the puff of air against his skin. "But, while a single Frost Giant is no match for a single Asgardian, they're well known to be fairly a fairly sturdy and strong race compared to most others. I'm immune to the cold, with my heritage, in addition to what I told you before.
Puck kept his grip steady and rubbed Loki's shoulders as she shared some more of her history and the trauma involved with it.
He smiled at the comment about cold immunity, but stopped himself from making a joke. "Mhm. I remember you mentioning this-- the number of years specifically. For what it's worth, you are a treasure, but nothing that should have been stolen." Puck sighed.
Changelings were, for the most part, a myth humans had made up about Oberon's children. They existed, sure, but they weren't out to scare anyone or replace humans. Halflings, however, were much more common. Oberon and Titania both played with humans and that often lead to romance and the occasional child as a result of that union. He knew of one specifically in Xanatos' social circle. Puck was sure there were others, but until their magic activated, he would never know any of them by sight.
"I'm hearing 'Don't challenge me to a snowball fight', and ignoring every bit of that advice, you realize." Puck joked. "You've already shown you're very strong in a lot of ways, of course it's in your blood."
"It is the kind of advice you'd ignore. I'll also warn you I'm an expert marksman, and I expect you to ignore that too." There was a smile at least, and Loki nuzzled herself further into the hug and hold. "Odin had hoped to ally the realms through me and Thor, but considering I'd grown up never knowing I was different... Each of us had been lead to believe only one could take the throne of Asgard someday."
Another tight hug, but then Loki let herself relax. "A proper frost giant is about 2-3 heads taller than I am with the bulk to match. They have blue-grey skin and red eyes, with various ridges occasionally at their brow. They often times have patterns in their skin as well, and prefer not to wear much in the way of clothing. They're capable of forming ice into weapons for themselves, and their touch burns one with frost-bite." A pause. "Which I suppose is another advantage I've had with those blasted snow angel's swords, although a sword strike still hurts."
"Sorry, all I hear is 'Yes Puck, this snowball fight will be a lot of fun', my ears must be acting up." Puck answered with a cheeky grin before he shook his head. "That's quite the plan to hoist on both of your shoulders. I'd say he should be ashamed but I've known enough egotistical monarchs, I doubt he even considered the idea."
Again, Puck returned the hug, listening to the description given. "They sound strong and assuring to have as an ally in a battle." Puck said simply before he nodded. "I haven't been struck by them, but for being made of snow they move surprisingly fast. I felt like I was running a marathon."
"Oh? Do I need to check them and make sure they're clean?" That was all mischief in Loki's voice as she had caught that they were sensitive. A moment of mirth, in the midst of more serious and a somewhat wandering conversation.
"They're considered brutes honestly, by most of the Nine and beyond." A pause, and at least Loki was still relaxed enough for now. "The other ancestral enemies are the svartalfhar, known as the dark elves." Now Loki did pull back, but only so she could cup Puck's face affectionately with a smile. "And your manner and who you are are NOTHING like them, but they do resemble your form visually. You though, are too much of the....light, as it were, to be one of them who lives and and craves the dark and the return to that state of the universe."
"Do you?" Puck tried to keep his tone casual as he laughed a little. He'd earned the joking, really.
"Well, you're no sort of brute that I've seen." Puck said with a straightforward tone. As Loki cupped his face, Puck smiled back and opted for a bit of a joke.
"The only dark I like involves late nights. Or theaters, depending on whichever happens first. But no.." Puck gave a slight shake of his head. "Oberon's children aren't about extinguishing light. We're too busy with other things, like being bullied but enjoying it."
"I am a dreadful bully, aren't I? And yet you still want me around." Loki leaned up and in, and nuzzled her nose to Puck's in affection and thanks. One hand settled at the nape of his neck, while the other was careful and gentle as it stroked his hair, then his ears once each time.
"Both of those things are true, yes." Puck grinned at the nuzzling and then inhaled sharply. Loki was in fact being a dreadful bully all things considered, and that bullying was rewarded nicely. Puck's face went red again, and almost matched the shade used in his tunic. He opened his mouth to say something and his color deepened as he gasped instead. Puck took a breath to compose himself and found his voice a few seconds later.
"You didn't hear that." he deadpanned, looking off to the side.
"For you, I'll pretend I didn't this time." With a kiss against the side of his forehead as Loki settled back down to cuddle more. "I...hadn't intended to get so...." Emotional? Vulnerable?" Loki wasn't sure what word she wanted, which was a rare occasion. "As I mentioned, I haven't had anyone who wants to protect me in a long time."
"And that's called delayed gratification." is all Puck would say in response with a grin. He settled back into cuddling. "That kind of thing can happen when you least expect it. But I'm glad I've been able to break that streak for you." His grip tightened slightly in assurance. "However you want to approach this, I'll work with you."
"That...means more than you might suspect, to me. Thank you." Very softly, but she knew Puck would hear. Content to just sit there with him, on him as it were, and be cuddled. "I...very much want to work with and protect you too."
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branchandroot
no you're right and should say it
Date: 2024-01-27 03:04 pm (UTC)Puck sighed. "Like I said, not the rulers I serve. Showing you sympathy and understanding but then getting angry at you is absurd, even for a trickster fae." he joked.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-27 10:31 pm (UTC)It wasn't just a 'thank you'; it was much more than that alone.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 01:16 am (UTC)Hearing that he hadn't picked that up, or their superiority complexes was calming. Honorable? It was one of the highest compliments he could be given. Puck hesitated for a second before he moved to pull Loki into a full hug. The message behind the words hit a bit hard, and Puck returned the kiss with a laugh, his cheeks going red.
It was more, and Puck had been surprised by it but he welcomed it as easily as he'd welcomed Loki into his inner circle. Puck had meant what he said, there would be no pressure to say things behind the statements given, or pressure to put a label to this entire relationship they had going. But that didn't mean he couldn't be pleasantly surprised.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 01:30 am (UTC)It was a bit, before she spoke very quietly. "For all that I was loved, and a prince, growing up--I've always felt different... 'Wrong' in a way, as it were. It was not an easy life at all."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 02:13 am (UTC)He nodded and affirmed simply, "It doesn't sound easy." Puck continued to hold onto her, providing that anchor as long as it was needed.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 06:25 am (UTC)With the full hug, Puck could feel the deep breath in and out again, and the puff of air against his skin. "But, while a single Frost Giant is no match for a single Asgardian, they're well known to be fairly a fairly sturdy and strong race compared to most others. I'm immune to the cold, with my heritage, in addition to what I told you before.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 04:00 pm (UTC)He smiled at the comment about cold immunity, but stopped himself from making a joke. "Mhm. I remember you mentioning this-- the number of years specifically. For what it's worth, you are a treasure, but nothing that should have been stolen." Puck sighed.
Changelings were, for the most part, a myth humans had made up about Oberon's children. They existed, sure, but they weren't out to scare anyone or replace humans. Halflings, however, were much more common. Oberon and Titania both played with humans and that often lead to romance and the occasional child as a result of that union. He knew of one specifically in Xanatos' social circle. Puck was sure there were others, but until their magic activated, he would never know any of them by sight.
"I'm hearing 'Don't challenge me to a snowball fight', and ignoring every bit of that advice, you realize." Puck joked. "You've already shown you're very strong in a lot of ways, of course it's in your blood."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 10:02 pm (UTC)Another tight hug, but then Loki let herself relax. "A proper frost giant is about 2-3 heads taller than I am with the bulk to match. They have blue-grey skin and red eyes, with various ridges occasionally at their brow. They often times have patterns in their skin as well, and prefer not to wear much in the way of clothing. They're capable of forming ice into weapons for themselves, and their touch burns one with frost-bite." A pause. "Which I suppose is another advantage I've had with those blasted snow angel's swords, although a sword strike still hurts."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 10:28 pm (UTC)Again, Puck returned the hug, listening to the description given. "They sound strong and assuring to have as an ally in a battle." Puck said simply before he nodded. "I haven't been struck by them, but for being made of snow they move surprisingly fast. I felt like I was running a marathon."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 10:33 pm (UTC)"They're considered brutes honestly, by most of the Nine and beyond." A pause, and at least Loki was still relaxed enough for now. "The other ancestral enemies are the svartalfhar, known as the dark elves." Now Loki did pull back, but only so she could cup Puck's face affectionately with a smile. "And your manner and who you are are NOTHING like them, but they do resemble your form visually. You though, are too much of the....light, as it were, to be one of them who lives and and craves the dark and the return to that state of the universe."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 11:01 pm (UTC)"Well, you're no sort of brute that I've seen." Puck said with a straightforward tone. As Loki cupped his face, Puck smiled back and opted for a bit of a joke.
"The only dark I like involves late nights. Or theaters, depending on whichever happens first. But no.." Puck gave a slight shake of his head. "Oberon's children aren't about extinguishing light. We're too busy with other things, like being bullied but enjoying it."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-28 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-29 12:22 am (UTC)"You didn't hear that." he deadpanned, looking off to the side.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-29 12:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-29 12:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-29 12:55 am (UTC)