because Loki needs more kids (@mayberaven)

[coldsong]

Midwinter is well past; the equinox is a few weeks hence. Already, preparations for Spring are underway, with Loki and the children making a point of buying plants, planning the garden, and tending to a very pregnant reindeer in the stables. It's still chilly, though, and this morning there was a thin layer of ice over the meadow. Loki sees the children off to their various schools before venturing into the cold alone, in Jotun form, to savor the last sting of the season.

By the ocean, Naglfar is locked in ice, which will do it no harm, but Loki stands on the shore watching it. The wind whistles about the bony mast, and the ice creaks, but no gulls cry. They've gone further inland for warmth. At the moment, the beach is his alone.

Or is it?

Comments

[coldsong]

"You haven't?" Loki's expression softens into a blend of compassion and apology. "Well, someone should have. Other people may hate you because of their own prejudices, and that can't be easily changed, but you should never have to hate yourself."

"You're welcome to stay here as long as you wish, but if you do go back, I hope you'll remember that. I, at least, and I'll wager my children as well, are content to know you for who you are, rather than judge the what."

"And green is my favorite color, for the record." If Loki knew him better, this is the point where he'd ruffle his hair, but he knows the boy is a bit ill at ease still, so he refrains, opting instead to finish up the boots and set them beside him. "You can try those again when you've finished eating."

[mayberaven]

Fjord wasn't sure what to say. Or what to make of what Loki was saying himself. Yellow gaze skipping up towards him, protests familiar and well-worn in their shape bubbling up in his throat as he bit his tongue against spilling them. The support was unfamiliar but... it was nice all the same, and if he argued it too much, maybe he would spoil it.

Cagey as he was, he was still a child and his expressions were easy enough to read for someone like Loki. Confusion was unsurprising to be sure, if he'd never heard things like this. A bit of creeping fear underneath that the boy was likely unaware he even felt, that drove some of his insistence in picking out flaws and failings in himself to excuse the way others saw and treated him. Because it must be his fault. If not... then that meant that the world could be so very unfair and cruel, and that was simply too terrible for him to consider.

The comment about Loki's favorite color had Fjord's face flushing a bit darker as his eyes went back to his plate again, a mute nod offered at the instruction. "Thank you, sir."