Inbox (Caldera)

[coldsong]

"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Attack while they are distracted.

Kindly leave a message."

Comments

[coldsong]

If you're comfortable coming to Salt Spire, my apartment is there, three blocks east of the Library.

If you don't fancy a dip in the ocean, however, I can meet you in the woods outside Berry Burrow. Your choice. [And if he's slightly nervous by the idea of letting Gadriel and an unknown stranger enter his apartment, he chooses not to voice that anxiety.]

[likeiron]

Eugh. Pass.

The woods are fine. I'll meet you there in an hour.

( She does not reply after that. )

> action

[coldsong]

[He can't blame her. He's not wholly comfortable under the water, either, but he stays because it's going to be the place to be when summer rolls around.] Looking forward to it!

[That response is a lie, but at least it comes across as one of those innocent sociable lies that everyone tells.

Loki actually takes a moment to think about whether he wants to send anyone else a message about where he's going and who exactly he expects to meet there, in case something should go terribly wrong. Finnick? Maybe Night Sky? But no, that's probably a bad idea, drawing more people into the mix. Everyone is already on edge enough. What's the worst case scenario? They kill him? Not like they'd be the first.

He arrives in the woods just slightly late, walking between the trees with no coat, linen sleeves rolled up to the elbow. If Nina wasn't expecting a blue person, she may be surprised, but aside from his coloring he looks pretty normal. He is, in fact, carrying daggers, but they're sheathed and hidden upon his person, so he mostly comes across as an effete, slender figure of a mage, with weird red eyes.]

[likeiron]

She sure as fuck wasn't expecting a blue person, but at this point, Nina didn't even care. This was all for Gadriel anyway — and, okay, it might have been a little bit for her because the man had got it in her head that magic here could absolutely corrupt someone, and she had essentially been given proof of it. She still thought it was the volcano woman though, not Joshua. What the fuck did she even do to Joshua that he'd try something like that?

The "Ogreslayer" was probably smaller than he expected, so at least they could both potentially be surprised. Barely above five feet tall, bearing no weapons, but looking ripped as hell — a warrior covered in scars across almost every inch of her body. Except that spot where she hurt herself earlier, where fire had burned it clean. Disgusting.

She looked over, arms folded. "Loki?"

[thecodexabides]

So this was a fun party that no one invited wants to be at. Gadriel was early, of course, because he wanted to check the terrain. Also he was worried.

He was standing, leaning against a tree, arms folded, with that facial expression of someone whose dog got out and ate some trash and now the dog has a tummyache and so here we are at the vet: frustrated and worried at the same time.

Despite what everyone thinks of him and his manners (and smell) he was not raised in a barn. He elbowed off the tree as Loki approached. "Thank you for doing this." The sorcerer owed him nothing, much less a favor like this.

[coldsong]

There is an element that lives in Loki's head, which spends its time pointing out the worst or most chaotic thing he could do in any given moment, and which he privately thinks of as his anti-conscience. For much of his time on Caldera, it's been quiet, more concerned with recovering from his own wounds, but suddenly now it pipes up with the observation of just how much trouble he could cause with the power they've placed in his hands. All it would take is a confirmation of Gadriel's fears, and they'd thank him for it.

This is not the person he wants to be though. Not here. He doesn't have to bite every hand that reaches out to him here. His lips twitch into a wry, uncertain smile when the woman greets him, because of what's going on in his head, but maybe she'll think it's because of what comes out of his mouth. "Somehow I expected you to be taller. But yes, I'm Loki."

"Gadriel." He even gives the man a slight bow, although he's more nervous right now than he was when he encountered him outside the volcano. Guilty conscience, perhaps, or maybe it's just because he doesn't have the high ground. "Thanking me is a little premature, I don't dare promise I can resolve the problem. But I will not make it worse, so there's that."

[likeiron]

"I get that a lot." Nina seemed amused, even if nothing else about the situation was funny. "I'd say it's a pleasure, but this isn't exactly the ideal way to meet." What with the looming threat of violence radiating off... at least one of the three at any given point, probably.

Nina kept her arms crossed, eyes darting between the two of them. She knew next to nothing about Loki besides the fact that he was not human, a magic user, and had been one of the people that nearly killed Gadriel when he first arrived. Needless to say she sounded... uncertain, when she spoke next.

"What do you need to do?"

[thecodexabides]

Gadriel: bringing people together. It's so touching. He should start a dating service.

"That is more than enough." It's a start. At least he would know whose face to break. "She insists." He was just going to rat her out. "that her newfound sorcery is related to being burned in the volcano. Many of us were burned in the volcano. Only she has this," his mouth curled in distaste, "ability."

[coldsong]

...okay, he can't play it straight this whole time. "I will need to poke you with several pointy sticks, which means I'll have to collect some sticks first."

He gives a helpless shrug. "No, at the moment I just have questions and I'd like to see where the fire healed you. Truthfully, a demonstration might help but I feel somewhat uncomfortable asking you to injure yourself, so let's see what we can figure out without that first."

He raises an eyebrow at Gadriel, hearing him out thoughtfully in spite of his delightful facial expressions. "Are you sure about that? That she is the only one who's gained this ability? I understand you might not want to conduct a survey over the network but I don't think you can come to that conclusion for certain until you've asked around."

[likeiron]

"You have to what?" Nina glowered. Poking her with sticks didn't seem like a very scientific or whatever?

Oh. He was fucking with her. Nina spared Gadriel a glance. This is the guy you want to check for sorcery? Gods help her.

"I can do a demonstration." She offered. It sounded like the easiest way to discern the problem at hand, right? But of course a normal person wouldn't just want someone to hurt themselves when they could, you know, ask questions.

"He's not sure. But neither am I in either direction. The guy that healed me used fire, and suddenly I'm shooting fire out of my body. On the other hand, we sort of brushed off the volcano lady, so maybe she's just pissed about that."

[thecodexabides]

He was down with poking her with sticks, even after he gets that it was some sort of...joke. She deserved to be poked with sticks for putting him through this.

Nice try, Loki, but Gadriel knew things. "I myself was burned with fire in the caves. I have no ability to heal with sorcery." He'd...probably set himself on fire if he found himself able to use heretical magic, so it's just as well.

And he would just say this part really fast. "Andthesorcererwhohealedmedidnotuseflames." SO. It's clearly Joshua.

[coldsong]

Oh Norns. These two are simultaneously a comedy duo and a disaster waiting to happen. Loki feels privileged to witness this interaction.

"As someone who is both a god and a mage, let me assure you when your options are a wizard has cursed me or a god is fucking with me, the latter is more likely. Just as a matter of conservation of energy, a divinity has more to burn."

But that's not proof. He nods at Nina and steps a little closer. "Well, let me just see where you were healed first, if it's not too terribly personal a spot..."

But Gadriel chooses this moment to speak up about his own healing experience, and Loki turns to give him a frankly surprised look. "Really. I'm surprised you let anyone near you. Who was yours, then?"

[likeiron]

Nina rolled up the sleeve on her right arm. Numerous scars of varying age marred her skin, but she drew a line from the side of her wrist to about midway up her forearm. "Right here is where it should be."

A beat. "I'm. Sorry. What the fuck did you just say, Gadriel?" She kept her arm extended, but snapped her head toward her brother. "Yeah. Who was it?"

[thecodexabides]

"And you believe Ignacia is a god." He did not believe it. "I've been near a scion of a Chaos god. They feel a certain way. She felt nothing like it." See, he knew things about gods.

...why were they both looking at him like that. Well, he'd already said it so he might as well say it again. "My hands were badly burned. There were people who would be injured if they went in without help. I had a choice to make."

He cleared his throat and found the ground very, very interesting for this next part.

"A sorcerer offered. It would take too long if he just wrapped it. I am already tainted by the Warp, so," Shrug. "It was a calculated risk. I already cannot go home, so it does not matter."

"His name was Aymeric." five stars, would recommend if one wants to imperil one's soul.

[coldsong]

"They don't call themselves gods, but functionally they're very similar." Loki gives him a little grin. "Wait, does that mean you don't believe I'm a god? I am heartbroken, soldier."

He shakes his head. "I didn't know Aymeric was a healer, but he's a fine man. I'd trust him with my life any day, but then I feel the same of Lioriley and you clearly don't. I wish I could convince you that magic isn't inherently corruptive, but there's no reason you should listen to my opinion."

He's already taking a look at the skin where the injury would have been, noting the way the scarring around it seems to be cut off, as if it's been obliterated by healing fire. The moment Nina's head snaps up, though, he moves away from her tactfully, half a step. That is exactly the kind of reaction that Sif would give before she lit into Thor, and he doesn't want to be collateral damage.

[likeiron]

Loki was smart to move. Nina was more than willing to play along for Gadriel's sake, but then the motherfucker just outright told them he let himself be healed by sorcery while freaking out about her manifested magic. Haha. Well.

"Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?!" She screamed, tearing away from Loki so she could get up in Gadriel's... torso area. It was probably hilarious, given their absurd height difference, but that shit never stopped Nina. "You throw a big fucking fit about me being corrupted by sorcery and you're out here getting healed without even saying shit?!" Fuming. Cheeks as red as her hair. "This is fucking stupid! I'm fine! It's the gods fault, end of story!"

So hey yes we all realize I'm dumb it was Dorian who healed him orz carry on.

[thecodexabides]

"You have no stink of the Warp upon you." Hey, look, that's almost...a compliment, Loki? Enjoy it. "So, no. Besides, a god allowing himself to be kept captive in this place?" He was not buying it.

He ended up backed up against the tree he had been leaning on, palms out trying to calm her down like she was an angry dog.

He might be physically backing up, but he was not backing down. "I told you that multiple uses of sorcery would lead to corruption. I told you there was a risk. You let sorcerers...heresy all over you!" It's like bukkake but with magic. "And now look at you! Fire is destructive. Healing fire is a perversion. No good can come of it!"

See, we're not talking about HIM, we're talking about you. This is an intervention for your sorcery addiction.

[coldsong]

Under other circumstances, Loki would REALLY want to pick apart Gadriel's response to him there. As it is, all that he manages to say is: "Well is it possible that not all supernatural power comes from the Warp as you know, just maybe--"

But at least he's more amused than offended. Nina, on the other hand, looks like she's about to spit hot nails. Loki takes another step out of the kill zone, eyes widening, and then after a moment's thought, he retreats still further, and, like Gadriel, puts his back to a tree, covering his mouth with one hand. Hard to tell if that's concern or him stifling a laugh. Probably both.

"I-if I may just make a brief comment--fire, like any element, has both a creative and a destructive nature. It's not as if she's spitting ichor or voidstuff, that would be concerning. Fire is at least part of the natural world."

[likeiron]

"So did you, idiot! Just because you're 'already corrupted'" with air quotes and everything, "doesn't mean you're fucking immune to this so called heretical bullshit!" She pointed a finger up at him. "You're the one that took me to the healer last, Gadriel! I wasn't even fucking conscious! And even if I was — what was I supposed to do? Just refuse and die in front of you and Davrin? I can't win here. I'm either cursed or I'm fucking dead."

She glared over at Loki. Nina... may have forgotten he was there. "At least destruction is on theme for me." She huffed. "Am I fucking cursed forever or what? I need to know if my brother is going to shun me for the rest of my life or lock some guy in fucking prison or not."

[thecodexabides]

"I did not know the healer I brought you to was a sorcerer! I had been there earlier and the Inquisitor was there. She did not use sorcery. Obviously." Being an Inquisitor and all. "I feel bad enough that he was a sorcerer to begin with, and now....this?!" Seriously, just punch him because it would hurt less than the guilt.

Besides, Loki get in one this spaghetti throw of rage. "Then how do you explain this? What is the source of sorcery if not formless energy? The power to do something with sorcery comes from somewhere." That is the Warp.

Now back to Nina. "I never said I would shun you!" The wizard prison, yes, he owns that. "If anything I would have to redeem myself to you for condemning you with this." So, she was stuck with him.

[coldsong]

"First of all, there's no such thing as cursed forever," Loki says, happy to be able to offer that reassurance. "All magic, good and evil, follows a pattern, and every pattern has a loophole. So no, don't worry about that bit. It's just a matter of pulling at the threads until it unravels."

"And that's assuming this is negative in the first place. From what I can tell, your flesh is fine, your mind is fine. I don't do souls so you'll have to gauge that bit on your own, but I see no reason to assume you've been harmed."

He tilts his head at Gadriel. "Formless energy is neither good nor evil. It does not elevate, it does not corrupt, it just is, like water. We perish without enough of it; we perish if submerged in it for too long."

"Magic occurs when the will of the sorcerer, or wizard, or mage, or petitioner, channels that energy. The method of channeling it can be risky, the individual can be wicked, but that's not really the energy's fault. I truly don't understand your objection, but I'm not sure now is the time to break down into philosophy either. Your question is whether Nina is permanently changed, and so far the only answer I can give you is: maybe."

"Is that change negative? It doesn't seem to be, to me. But it may take time to be certain."

"If I could give you a straighter answer, I would."

[likeiron]

"Half the people here are sorcerers!" The chances were so high that they'd run into one. And besides, nothing mundane would have healed those burns. He had to know that.

"Augh!" That, was just a furious growl of unbridled rage. Everyone was talking too much. Gadriel was annoying her with his stupid redemption bullshit, and Loki was just talking too much in general about things she didn't understand. She wouldn't punch Gadriel, but she would stride to the next tree over and punch so hard she actually shattered a good chunk of the wood.

She also absolutely fucked up her bare knuckles, blood spilling onto the snow dusted ground. As she opened her mouth to comment on the fact that nothing happened, flames flared around the wound, like her hand had ignited, and burned the blood away in an instant. "Hey, I fucking hate that, by the way, but there you go!"

cw self injury???

[thecodexabides]

"That's because this place is crawling with Chaos. How do none of you see it? The instability? Volcano from out of nowhere? Does nobody have questions about these sudden manifestations?!"

"You all tell me how sorcery works in your world, like you think it is universal. If not all blue elves are evil," Jury still out on that btw, "in your worlds, that does not make them not evil in mine. If sorcery is magical pure goodness in your world, that does not mean it is in mine. Why will you not ADMIT I might know something about Chaos?! I have fought a Lord of Change! I have fought in the grounds of the Immaterium itself! Why do you all think I am ignorant of how my world works?" He needed a minute to catch his breath because...does he feel better after all of that?

Absolutely not. Get ready for round two.

He had had hopes that they had some level of narthecium combat healing agent, because that would have fixed her right up. "So it's my fault? You're blaming me." Fine, because he was also blaming himself.

Loki, you don't get a vote on this.

Oh is that what we were doing. Was property destruction and self harm what is on the menu for right now? Fine. He went over to the tree she had punched, and yanked a large splinter out, about as long as his hand and held it like a dagger, and drove it into a gap in his armor on his inner thigh. Blood spilled out as he jerked the blade of wood out, and then slowed, almost immediately, to a stop. He tossed the bloodstained wood at her feet. "No sorcery needed."

u got served?

jfc u guysn (also cw for eye trauma)

[coldsong]

Loki starts at the flare of fire around her skin, but manages to steel himself in time to really watch it, and finds himself reminded of nothing so much as Thor. It would be lightning for him, like in that final fight with Hela, power erupting from his very blood to save what was left of him after her knife dug out his eye.

He would offer his opinion on this, except now Gadriel is yelling and in spite of all his best intentions and most graceful posturing, Loki's stomach does a flip flop and tries to hide behind his liver. Fuck. The last thing he needs right now is to panic. He takes a sharp, hissing breath and speaks: "No one is questioning your knowledge of your own world, only your knowledge of this one. But you seem so bound by your own certainty that you cannot hear that. If we were in your world and you claimed using magic risked corruption, I would listen to you. But we're not there. We--"

And then the lunatic is breaking a splinter off of a tree and jamming it into his thigh, and maybe Loki's nerves make him slower than usual but he literally cannot figure out what that was meant to prove.

Surrounded by unbridled rage and people who are much stronger and much faster to heal than he is, he suddenly feels very vulnerable. "...please stop."

Was this a mistake? This was a mistake.

[likeiron]

Oh, this fucking song and dance again. Forever and ever and ever in a loop of unending 'you don't understand me and I don't understand you' bullshit that only made Nina more pissed.

"I'm not blaming you!" She snapped, but before she could continue, he was stomping over, grabbing the wood — Nina would never assume he meant her harm, so her first thought was he might somehow go for Loki, for whatever reason in his fury about sorcery, and she moved like she was ready to intercept... when he stabbed himself instead.

Then, she was moving toward him, hand on Gadriel's wrist. "What the fuck — why would you do that?!" Not unlike Loki, she sure didn't understand the point he was making. There were tears in her eyes now. "He's right. You have to stop. Please, Gadriel. I know it sucks. I don't understand it either, but I'm fine. The magic won't hurt me, clearly. You have to trust me."