cloudspinner | (no subject)

"The battle continued on to Midgard. There, Thor slew Malekith and... captured the Aether." This he knew in fact, but also plausibly knew from what Steve Rogers had told him. But he was also hoping to skate around the issue entirely. "At least that is what I have been told. I come from a time between those two battles."

And who was it that had told him then... ah.

"Jane, then, is from a time after Malekith's defeat," Frigga said. "It must be a comfort to you to know how that story will end."

Her grip subconsciously tightened on his hand in the face of the inevitability of the fact that she must and will let him go, never to be seen otherwise in her life.

How kind of mother to provide that excuse for him and allow him to skip over that part without prevaricating. "It is, indeed. I was rather disquieted not knowing."

As her hand tightened, he wondered if she knew, somehow. He'd asked everyone to keep the unfortunate fact from her. He squeezed her hand back.

"That is all the story I have to tell you, then." Otherwise, he has been in Luceti. And...

What a mess. Why did he bring these things up?

Frigga's heart, meanwhile, was still echoing with the realization that her son had been an indirect participant in her murder. Thor, she realized, must never know of this. He would not understand, and he would know all too well how it had been a matter of moments. Though of course, she realized a moment later, Thor did not carry that burden here. That was well, then, since the son of her blood had always been all-too-canny when it came to reading her heart's shadows.

And now... now Loki's face was still clouded.

"Is it?" she said quietly, lightly. "I note you have spoken not of what plagues you so in your 'personal life.' Your expression is still distraught, my son. I would help you clear it, if I could."

Loki was already so aware of what he'd told her that day; he'd killed her. She had said she'd forgiven him but... it was already difficult enough. And then to add on top of it, the far more petty troubles he'd faced here? His inadequacies in opposition to the strange way humans conducted themselves? What had been done to him that he still could not escape? Hah, and Frigga as someone who had never had other lovers. And then on top of that, to reveal other, far more personal things?

I killed you, mother. And by the way, I'm a pervert.

No. He was a cruel man at times, but this seemed just unnecessary and pointless.

He shook his head. "Of no account now, mother. Perhaps some other time. Today has already been weighted down quite heavily."

Frigga was silent for a moment. She reached out and picked up her wine glass again, the movement easy and graceful. She watched Loki, considering.

"For a mother," she said finally, picking her words with care and gentle emphasis, "and for any that loves, it is easier to bend down and take on more weight than it is to watch the son that you love struggle alone. I would not seek to compel you to speak with me, but I would much prefer the burden of knowledge than of worry."

That's right - 'loves,' present tense.

Loki was silent for a long moment, then fumbled to find her hand, give it a soft squeeze. "There is no need to worry, mother. All is all right."

The only person he never lied to, after all, was Rogue.

"I would fain speak of lighter things."

But Frigga didn't need a giant flashing neon sign to tell her when her son was lying. She sighed a little and then went with the change in topic. She had raised her sons as best as she was able; they were now men fully grown by the standards of Asgard, whatever their relative age. She could advise, would suggest, would even question their suppositions and assumptions in order to lead them on the path she believed to be correct, but in the end Frigga would allow them to chart their own course. She would not seek to interfere.

"Lighter things, then," Frigga said. She glanced around her living room and sought a change in topic. But she was only a goddess, after all, and subject to the same curiosity as every mother. "Will you tell me how you first came to decide upon your lady, or shall we abandon the topic of relationships all together?"

Talking about their meeting seemed light enough. It had been difficult at times, but was generally positive, and a fun story. "Nay, it is all right. It seems the sort of thing a mother ought to know."

He squeezed her hand again. "I met Rogue upon my arrival here. We did not particularly like each other. Well... I did not care in the slightest about her, and she rather despised me I think." He shrugged. Something something invading Midgard something something. "We were compelled to work together a bit on a mission, and... hm. Rogue is what mortals call a... mutant. She has a power she has yet to gain full control of, which hurts others who touch her bare skin. I discovered on the mission that I could create a shield for myself. She still disliked me immensely, however, and I had little patience for her beyond a bit of curiosity."

Edited 2014-09-08 00:53 (UTC)

Not only was a mother likely entitled to know such things, but Frigga had the same unfortunate love of drama and melodrama that infected the entirety of her people. This time, she squeezed his hand back and leaned forward with interest as he continued.

She raised her eyebrows, "That seems an inauspicious start."

"What could be worse than mutual loathing?" He laughed, squeezing her hand. "There wasn't anyone here that I liked at all, really. I was treated with appropriate wariness. Though A few, such as Billy, decided they would befriend me, and... a few children I watched over. At any rate, I had not been here at all long when a village-wide shift occurred. I woke up one morning, and like nearly everyone else, I had no memories at all."

...that was a considerable amount of power, to work a mental magic on so many people all at once - and more, to return them to normal with little lasting ill effects...

"Oh? That sounds rather shocking."

"It was rather frightening at the time." And later, when he realized all that had happened. "At any rate, Rogue and I met whilst neither of us had any memories. And... hit it off rather well. I even recreated the shield spell by experimentation. And we... hit it off. Rather profoundly."

That was stating it mildly. He couldn't think of any time in recent years he'd felt quite that way about someone else. But perhaps that was because he knew better, when he had his memories.

Rather profoundly, eh? With no barriers, without even the hazard of her skin - how had she known it would be a problem? What must it be like to never know a simple touch?

"Ah, I see," Frigga said. She smiled, because somehow even in the process of telling this, Loki looked lighter to her. "So you remembered your magic, though you had forgotten all else?"

Loki nodded. "Yes. I did not recall much of the arcane learning I had done, but I retained my instinctive knowledges." Wise, or he might have accidentally destroyed something. "The loss of memory only lasted for a few days but it... made something of an impression."

He fell silent, and then finally admitted, "I don't recall ever having felt that way before. And I did not wish to let it go."

...ah. The pieces fell in place like the clicking of a lock. Perhaps it was not so poor a story, after all. To be able to forget all his learned behavior, any disappointments he nursed, to be able to trust and love and want freely...

"I see," Frigga said warmly. She was happy for him. "And it was the same for her, no doubt."

How could it not be? To be admitted into the intimate chambers of a heart like her son's, well... how could any woman of courage and fire not desire it?

Loki laughed. "Oh, goodness no, mother. She went back to wanting nothing to do with me. I'm lucky she didn't try to break my nose the first time she saw me after. She didn't even want to admit that anything at all had occurred. No. I pursued her."

Edited 2014-09-08 02:34 (UTC)

"Oh?" Frigga was surprised. It was rare that her sons were in that position. Then her brows drew together slightly. "Why would she wish to - break your nose?"

It sounded as if a pleasant time had been had by all, to say the least. And for a girl who could not touch, certainly she would relish the experience, yes?

"Because I would not nicely pretend that nothing had happened." He grinned. "She was powerfully annoyed. And while I am offended by much the Malnosso do, I am not willing to let go of what little good is within it."

"Ah, she wished to overlook the whole affair," Frigga said, slowly comprehending. She smiled a touch smugly. "Such things are not so easily overlooked, especially when they touch upon the heart."

Loki nodded. "To forget about it, if at all possible." He grinned. "And yes. I found myself unable to let it go. And ultimately, I realized she could no longer quite put me back in the mental box where she kept me. It was most satisfying."

Indeed, as her son had pointed out again and again, Loki did not enjoy being put in boxes. Frigga did not think this was yet another less-than-subtle dig at his last living arrangements, but the fact that he was Loki and did not enjoy at all being contained was far from new to her. Ever he enjoyed his little secrets, the things he believed set him apart from the rest and made it so he was not just apart, but above.

No, this was not what he meant, but Frigga couldn't help seeing it again: Loki, pacing in a prison. She allowed herself the pleasure of tracing over his grin with her gaze, took in the fact that despite whatever tore at him, speaking so of his conquest made him happy. She was glad.

"So you persisted," she said. "And she continued to resist?"

She was surprised, really. Loki did not take rejection well. She wondered what subtle encouragement he had received to keep going. "Or did she begin to accept your suit?"

"I read her poetry," he said, incredibly pleased with himself. "Quite a bit of poetry, over several months. And then convinced her to dance with me at the Christmas party they had." He had figured the dancing was the important part, really. He danced very well, after all.

"Then in the new year, she decided that she would give me a chance." He hesitated. "And for that chance I gave her my word that I would not lie to her."

"It sounds as though you had well-planned your assault," Frigga said, a gentle lilt to her lips. This was a far better use of Loki's tactics, at least in this case.

But then... he took her by surprise. She knew how very rarely Loki broke his word, and how very frequently he lied. "Oh?" Perhaps it was this honesty that accounted for the depth of intimacy she had observed. Still... as glad as she was to hear it... "Did she ask this of you?"

Strange that Loki would vow it, stranger still if he initiated it.

"Don't I usually?" He smiled.

He shrugged one shoulder. "It was the price of her accepting me as her lover. I considered it and agreed." He smiled again, rather crookedly. "I've found it a worthwhile price thus far."