Ah, [ he starts, injecting a soft sense of realization into his fairer voice and glancing at Wanda to assess her body language. ] Is that why you're now studying different cultures? To look for new recipes?
[It's such a strange question to follow that at first, Wanda's confused. What is he-- oh no. Where did she leave the book again?
But she doesn't move away from Loki. It's just a book, she's allowed to take advantage of the library, and there's no point injecting unspoken accusations when there's no real reason for her to feel guilty. Reading a book isn't a crime.]
I think I need to know more about the other realms. I almost died because I didn't know where Thor was taking me.
[It's not exactly smooth, but it's not 100% a lie either. Wanda may have originally picked up that title to read about the jotnar, but she also read the chapters on Alfheim and got halfway through the material on Vanaheim.]
Is Alfheim as pretty as it is in the pictures?
[It was an innocent enough question. No need to be worried unless he tries to corner her about the Jotunheim chapters.]
[ There's a slight furrow to his brow when she alludes to the incident with Muspelheim, but his expression smooths over as she continues onto the subject of Alfheim. A compelling and likely honest reason for the book, but Loki doubts that she's being entirely forthcoming.
It... bothers him, potentially more than the fact that she went behind his back to research the jotun, though he can't mentally articulate why. By all accounts, omission of truth is a wise tactic against someone known as the God of Lies.
But Alfheim. He doesn't skip a beat, purposefully curving his lips into a light smile. Despite his annoyance, he speaks with genuine fondness. ]
Illustrations do not do it justice. You've seen it described as a paradise, haven't you? The springs run with champagne and the night sky glistens like jewels strewn across velvet. [ He glances down, catching Wanda's eye with a sly glimmer in his own. ] One might caution you against ever visiting, Lady Maximoff. You may never wish to return.
[ Not leave, but return. Oh, how accustomed to her presence he's become. ]
[She'd thought 'the springs run with champagne' was just hyperbole...but then again, there's apparently Asgardian spring water that is stronger than the most potent Earth alcohol. Wanda had thought they were just trying to pull a fast one on the Midgardian but they were actually telling the truth.
She sighs, and were they alone (and Loki his normal height), she might have briefly rested her head on his shoulder for this quiet admission. As it is, she draws a little closer.] I already want to stay.
[But that's not possible, right? Eventually she will have to return to Earth, as much as Wanda tries not to think about it. This is Loki's home. She can't start to feel like it could be hers, too.
Thankfully, the scent of something delicious pulls Wanda from her thoughts. Something baked, although Wanda can barely see the cause behind the family crowding the stall. The kids are already starting to push each other to be first for one of the handpies.]
I don't think I've tried that yet... [Wanda looks back to Loki and grins, gently tugging his arm. Kids will be kids. Whatever. She can wait her turn.] Come on.
[ With a sudden prick of irritation, he wonders if she would draw so close if she knew anything worthwhile about the jotuns. If she'd still want to stay. Perhaps she hasn't gotten that far into their chapters yet.
When she draws his attention to the stall, he merely arches his brow in faint distaste of the rowdy children, but allows himself to be ushered closer. It doesn't matter that he used to be quite rowdy himself -- though Thor outshone him there, too. ]
You really ought to get out more. [ The handpies are just one of several culinary highlights strewn along the market stalls -- though he's one to talk, not having indulged himself for... years, now that he thinks about it.
There's a distant sort of discontent in that realization. ]
Gunnar, Astrid!
[ The children may or may not be Gunnar and Astrid from the way they completely disregard the woman who sharply called their names. Loki leans his head in toward Wanda, whispering, ] Looks like they've just about driven her to wits' end.
Maybe I should. And I do have the best guide in Asgard...
[Wanda grins, blissfully unaware of Loki's darker inner monologue as she leads him to the stall. It doesn't sting so much to joke about that now that walking around her chambers isn't a serious struggle.
She inclines her head towards Loki, unable to hide a wince of sympathy.]
And this is before suga--
[In that split second Wanda was distracted, the boy shoves his sister out of the way and accidentally pushes her directly into Wanda. Thankfully, she has a good enough hold on Loki's arm that she only staggers a little. Asgardians are heavy.
The mother looks mortified, edging on the kind of anger that makes saying something you'll regret infinitely easier. By now, everyone knows about the red witch, that she's one of the prince's battle companions and a guest of the crown. It's bad enough that her kids have been unruly terrors all day, but now...
Wanda's smile has since turned sheepish - did she almost get knocked over by a kid? Still, she helps Astrid steady herself.]
Careful. Are you all right?
[Astrid nods, the picture of wounded dignity...for about 0.5 seconds before she lunges back at her brother to retaliate. They both hit the side of the stall and the vendor's smile turns strained.
Wanda can feel the exact second the mother loses every last shred of her remaining patience. This time, when she shouts 'That's enough!' the children hear something in her voice that makes them stop.]
[ The woman draws herself to her fullest height -- taller than both Wanda and "Loki" -- and stares down at the siblings with a look that every governess worldwide would commend. The frustration in her voice is replaced by a stony steadiness that every child is genetically programmed to understand as 'you done fucked up'. ]
If you are to act like savages, then perhaps you would like to join the ones on Jotunheim.
[ Astrid seems to hesitate, but Gunnar pumps his free fist in the air with defiant enthusiasm. ] I'll kill 'em!
They'll kill you, [ Astrid scoffs. ]
Nay, sister, not if we take them together!
They will take the both of you, [ says their mother, turning her back on them with the thread to leave. ] For their dinner.
Bit scrawny for that, [ says the vendor, playing along in a bored tone. ] Your bones might be big enough to pick their teeth, though.
[ The children both seem to waver, but when their mother doesn't stop or look back, they both shove off each other and bolt toward her, squabbling as they disappear into the market crowds. Sighing, the vendor shakes his head, then puts on a smile for Wanda and Loki. ]
[Wanda even flinches reflexively at her tone, much less the words behind it. There's that hatred again, and she can't help but peek into the woman's mind to see the source. No book can explain the almost hard-coded contempt the Asgardians seem to share for the jotnar, but a real person...
These thoughts are close to the surface and Wanda doesn't have to look far to almost wish she hadn't. They eat babies. They're savages, primitive and brutish. They have no soulmates. That final thought snaps her back to herself with an intake of breath that could almost pass for a reaction to the scene playing out in front of her.
Thank goodness for her sleeve; no one will see the way Wanda's thumb rubs against Loki's forearm in some vain attempt to soothe him from the insult. She knows it likely won't do any good, but it seems important to remind him that not everyone thinks that way.
His soulmate doesn't at least.
Wanda finds her voice a moment later, and luckily, any awkwardness in her smile can likely be chalked up to being caught in the middle of the childrens' tantrum.]
Two of those pies, please.
[Wanda manages to get the necessary coins without fumbling. She'll call that a win.]
[ There's an odd feeling of the violation of privacy in Wanda witnessing the Asgardian loathing of Frost Giants that Loki wouldn't have predicted. It makes an otherwise routine discrimination just a little more uncomfortable -- a little more personal. He finds himself frowning, particularly when the boy pitches teamwork -- an altogether familiar scene from his and Thor's youth -- but it is when Wanda rubs his arm that he stiffens.
What else could this be but an attempt to comfort? Why? Pity, he decides, and hardens his heart. Only after the purchase concludes and they've taken several steps away from the table does he break his silence. ]
You delved into their thoughts, didn't you, [ he murmurs; it is not a question. The book -- to learn more. An opportunity to learn in the moment -- how could she pass it up? ]
[In some ways, he knows her too well. She'd hoped he wouldn't notice.]
I wanted to understand.
[All she's found is that there's no reason beyond habit; Asgard and Jotunheim had been at peace for centuries after the last war. It's just bile now, a poison, and maybe this is why Wanda keeps getting the impression that she was too late. Once he'd learned of his heritage, Loki must have been convinced she didn't exist until he'd stumbled upon her.]
I still don't.
[It seems like many cultures consider the soulmate bond almost sacred, and to deny its existence completely...that takes a deeply ingrained level of hatred. Some part of her wants to rip that awful lie away from everyone so that Loki might never hear it spoken again...but a lifetime's damage is still done.]
What is it that still eludes you, Lady Maximoff? [ he asks coolly, sparing her a glance away from the market folk. ] The Frost Giants are monsters. Your studies have illustrated as much, haven't they?
[Oh no, he must have seen the section she'd bookmarked. Maybe she shouldn't be surprised.]
Not everything they say is true. Just hate beyond what makes sense.
[She's here, isn't she? And Loki is no monster as far as Wanda's concerned. Why wouldn't she question the prevailing Asgardian theories? She understands that the two kingdoms have a history, but it felt like the woman's disdain for the jotnar was almost reflexive.]
[ There's that depth in her words again, an altogether rare sincerity that beckons Loki's trust like a siren's song. He digs his heels in reflexively, always reluctant to think the best of someone, never satisfied. Insecurity drives him to push against her sentiment, testing its resilience despite the penchant for this resistance to backfire.
He exhales the ghost of a laugh, lips briefly drawn in a tight smile. ]
Because you're suddenly the authority on the matter.
[Always so prickly, her Loki. Wanda has to keep telling herself that if he really didn't trust her at all, he wouldn't be here. This must be dredging up a lot of pain.]
If they were, I wouldn't exist.
[She holds his gaze steadily, refusing to back down. He doesn't get to go on believing everyone thinks he's a monster.]
[ Loki is the one to break eye contact, done with a impatient breath and an agitated motion to his fingers. She's so damn confident -- not unlike Sif -- but in trusting that there's something good in him -- very much unlike Sif, and the overwhelming majority of Asgard. It's the same naïve faith in him that Thor once held... until Loki made a point to squash it. Multiple times.
Herein lies the final bridge anyone is likely to offer him and his instinctive reaction, once it's been nearly crossed, is to burn it.
Eyes closing, he inhales through his teeth and stops, just-- stops his tongue from sabotaging himself. His thumb and index finger, rubbing against each other, eventually still; his hand relaxes. There's something like resignation on his face and in his sigh when he meets her gaze again. ]
That doesn't change anything. [ His voice lowers a fraction. ] The atrocities they've committed. They're right there in those ancient pages -- on the tongue of every parent reciting a cautionary tale to their child before bed.
[ Sadly, he doesn't even note the irony of the statement against his own actions. ]
[Of course there's good in him. Loki might try to keep his softer side buried but she's seen it. She's felt it. He can lie to himself all he wants...but he can't lie to an empath. And if anyone understands second chances, it's Wanda.]
And what do you think they tell their children about you? Your people were at war so long...
[Wanda shakes her head. She knows how this works. Sokovia's changed hands many times over the past century and still people hate each other because it's just what they're used to.
Her voice is low to make sure they're not overheard, but there's no less conviction in it.]
You are yourself. You're not responsible for anything they did.
[ It's not quite guilt, this shame of his. His scheme of genocide, act of patricide -- an externalized form of self-hatred for the race he grew up regarding as monsters. If the Frost Giants cease to exist, well, they're simply one more enemy that Asgard has obliterated, one less threat to the realms, and no longer a breathing reminder of Loki's damned blood. He could've started the gears of dissociation, allow time to corrode the Asgardian memories of the Frost Giants as it did to the Dark Elves, but Thor...
...and Odin.
Their resistance to the plan still flabbergasts him.
As does Wanda's dogged reassurances. I am glad you found me. Her voice is as clear in his memory as the night she said so profound a remark. Recalling it now, Loki furrows his brows and parts his lips to speak, but the words of retaliation don't come. Instead, his shoulders droop in defeat. ]
You know, sometimes I've no idea what to do with you.
[Love me. The response comes unbidden to Wanda's mind, surprising even her, but of course she can't say that. It wouldn't be fair to either of them.
But the fondness in Wanda's smile still hints at the possibility of more. She won't laugh at him - she is capable of being gracious in victory if the situation calls for it, and this hardly seems like a teasing matter. She'll reassure Loki as much as it takes until he can believe that she truly does care for him, that she doesn't think he's a monster.
She is his. He is hers. For Wanda, it's as simple as that.]
[ See, that's just it -- more has already begun without any intentional decision on his part. Earlier, he elected to harden his heart? Because Wanda has already gotten her fingers into it. She's more than his initial assessment of a potential asset. He can tell himself that she's still a risk, but the sentiment behind it lacks bite. She's his student, the reality of which still strikes him as odd sometimes, when he quietly watches her struggle with theory or direct her scarlet like a symphonic conductor. She's a breath of fresh air in the otherwise heavy routine of helping Asgard regain her footing under the guise of the Allfather.
And the root of all these offshoots is the pairing of her soul to his own. Does he love her for it? No, and he shouldn't -- not just because the universe decided on her. When he was young and ignorant, Loki scoffed at the idea of allowing fate to bind him to another -- until he realized, so many decades later at the foot of those stairs in the vault with Odin feebly towering above him, that perhaps there wasn't anyone the fates would subject to him.
Oh, how the grass is greener on the other side.
No, Wanda hasn't found purchase in his heart because she is his soulmate. Rather, its condition simply got her foot in the door. She has pushed against him, but never away. She respects his intimate knowledge of Asgardian sorcery, but neither grovels nor dismisses. Their time together has rekindled a sense of solicitude that Loki thought he'd lost in Frigga's death. He thought wrong, of course -- still caring for Thor in a twisted sense of brotherly love whilst denying it, particularly to himself -- but to open himself to Wanda this much, frustratingly slow though it may be -- speaks volumes to the fact that she has proven herself something of an equal to him.
Pompous, he doesn't consciously consider anyone his equal -- but Thor is quite nearly there. So, too, is Wanda, the relevancy of which is thus: Loki cannot love someone he doesn't consider a threat. It's a distorted flavor of respect, but respect nonetheless.
Without admitting it, Wanda has his -- and more. A tenuously hopeful curiosity smolders within his chest, that she would educate herself on the sins of the Frost Giants and then snap the link that binds them to him. He can try to explain it away as Midgardian ignorance, but there it is again -- that excruciating desire to trust.
The cautious willingness to do it.
His gaze idly drifts to the pie in his smaller, slender hand, considering their next step, still processing the weight of her stance. ]
... Now that you're fully recovered, we ought to divert some of your studies away from texts. [ He glances at Wanda askew, the hint of a smile in his eyes. ] Would you accompany me to Alfheim?
[How could she ever turn away from him? Everything else she's cared for has been taken from her. She can't just let Loki go because he isn't the easiest person to love. Under his tutelage (and friendship), her relationship with her powers has shifted, and with them her heart has opened to him.
Wanda has come to love him, in all his humor, patience, and unexpected kindness - even his prickliness has become endearing. He's never made her feel monstrous, and she wants to give him the same emotional safe harbor he's given her. She hasn't felt so whole since before Pietro's death.
Wanda cannot love with any less than her whole heart. If she gives in - and she wants to give in so badly - there won't be any coming back.]
I'd love to see Alfheim with you. It sounds like a beautiful place. [Her smile widens.] But this is more than just a vacation?
[ That she rolls with the change in subject is something he's grateful for. He needs some Alone Man Time to digest. ]
I imagine, [ he says, and the smile is reaching his lips now, ] your tutors would be a touch unimpressed were you to jump from recovery to vacation. However, Alfheim is ripe with magic of all sorts and you are studying the arts...
[She cannot undo centuries of conditioning in a week. Being close to someone like Loki means knowing when to back off and let him process. Wanda will challenge him when it's necessary, but she never wants to push him to the point of making him uncomfortable.
Besides, a trip to Alfheim sounds so lovely it's hard not to be swept away in the fantasy.]
...and it is best for me to learn as much as I can about different kinds of magic.
[Wanda's grin widens. They won't argue with that. After all, her powers don't quite match Asgardian sorcery, and after being confined to her rooms for so long, it wouldn't surprise them that she'd spent much of her time reading. How could anyone read the passages on the wonders of Alfheim and not want to see it for themselves?
Besides, with Loki's help Wanda's begun to develop a more fluid view of her powers. Just because they've always been turned to destructive means doesn't mean that's all she can do. The light elves are said to be skilled healers...perhaps there is something she can learn from them.
With all the trouble her friends attract, it's worth a try, at least. And if she gets to spend more alone time with Loki, so much the better.]
[ Grin for grin, he dips his head in approval and, finally, begins to eat his hand pie.
The following week finds them stepping out of the Bifrost's light and onto the cobblestone just outside Ljosalfgard, capital of Alfheim. News of a Midgardian with a hitherto unseen flavor of magic among their race piques the interest of the Light Elves, Queen Aelsa Featherwine of the Fay included, who has no qualms with sanctioning Wanda's visit.
An audience with royalty requires the appropriate mannerisms -- old hat to Loki, new to Wanda. As such, she's given a crash course in proper etiquette and general mannerisms to expect from the Light Elves that ought to serve her well enough through the formalities of introduction. A royal feast is held in welcome of the Midgardian, first of her kind to visit Alfheim, with her 'handmaiden' -- still Loki to her eyes -- sitting beside her. Aelsa is a woman who naturally commands attention, but as the champagne and wine flows, it becomes apparent that she's not without her mischievous side. Talk of Wanda's relation to Thor gives way to regaling tales of the Odinson brothers in their youth, and all the trouble they managed to get into (and out of -- usually) in the fay lands.
Thor attempting to sneak upon Aelsa to steal a lock of her hair and the resultant scorching... Catching Loki as a salmon hiding in the rivers in his attempt to evade punishment for reaping chaos in the palace kitchens...
Loki, Wanda's handmaiden, joins in the laughter. If anyone could pierce through his disguise, it would be the queen. For that reason, when offered the choice of lodging in the palace or outside of it, the pair choose the latter. The less exchanges Loki has with her, the better.
The Elves escort them on horseback to their temporary dwelling: a quaint, two-story cottage alongside the Chardonnay River may have well been plucked right out of a Midgardian fairy tale. The entrance is marked by a wooden trellis covered in passionflower, some of its flowers already bearing fruit. Bushes and trees in various states of bloom encircle the property, including an unkempt garden and an adjacent shelter for the horses -- their main method of transport for their stay. A stone path struggling to stay afloat of the moss and grass leads to a wooden door besides which hangs two lanterns, their candles collecting dust from disuse. Climbing hydrangeas decorate the exterior in a mindful manner as if taught to avoid the casement windows and planters hanging beneath them. A stone chimney rises to meet the tallest peak of the tightly sloped roof, its mouth inhabited by the nest of some bird or bird-like creature that peers down at the two visitors as if they were the uninvited guests.
The interior is the very definition of cozy. The space has clearly been tidied up recently, restocked for its new inhabitants with essentials (and a little extra.) A spiral staircase leads to the second floor which includes two bedrooms and a study that overlooks the short path to the river. As education is the primary reason for Wanda's visit, the study has already been stocked with several books and writing material for her to peruse. There is also a letter detailing information on tutoring from the elves themselves.
As for Loki, the first task of his once the elves depart is to weave a spell around the property that will alert him to the presence of another besides Wanda. The failure of his disguise is not something foreseen -- rather, he's quietly excited for the challenge to maintain it in a place so concentrated in magic as Alfheim -- but it doesn't hurt to cover one's bases. ]
[Wanda thought Asgard had been dreamlike in its beauty, but even it pales in comparison to Ljosalfgard. She's been delighted since their arrival - the light elves are warm and welcoming, being more inclined towards magic themselves, and Queen Aelsa put her at ease despite her unfamiliarity with such formalities. Imagine, Thor left beardless for two decades.
The cottage only continues to impress her, like they'd somehow brought her imaginings of Briar Rose's home to life. While Loki sets his own wards, Wanda hurries inside to explore and change out of her formal wear. To her delight, the closet's been stocked with elvish clothes for her to borrow in addition to what she'd brought, and she comes downstairs in what seems to be the most comfortable-looking dress on offer.
For a moment Wanda stands in the doorway, watching Loki warmly and taking in the surroundings. Maybe she really is dreaming now. Alfheim is so saturated in magic that it feels both more alive than anywhere else Wanda's been and incredibly surreal.]
You were right. The books could never describe how beautiful this place is.
[ His fingers trace the last of the runes onto the trellis, their glowing strokes vanishing seconds later. Stone remembers longer than wood and he is not interested in permanence.
At the sound of Wanda's voice, he looks over his shoulder and arches a brow, appraising -- her. The way she naturally fits in the doorway and wears the elvish robes, as if she has always lived in this place. There's a sense of serenity despite his caution; he finds himself relaxing, lips tugged upward, a leisurely warmth in his chest. ]
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But she doesn't move away from Loki. It's just a book, she's allowed to take advantage of the library, and there's no point injecting unspoken accusations when there's no real reason for her to feel guilty. Reading a book isn't a crime.]
I think I need to know more about the other realms. I almost died because I didn't know where Thor was taking me.
[It's not exactly smooth, but it's not 100% a lie either. Wanda may have originally picked up that title to read about the jotnar, but she also read the chapters on Alfheim and got halfway through the material on Vanaheim.]
Is Alfheim as pretty as it is in the pictures?
[It was an innocent enough question. No need to be worried unless he tries to corner her about the Jotunheim chapters.]
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It... bothers him, potentially more than the fact that she went behind his back to research the jotun, though he can't mentally articulate why. By all accounts, omission of truth is a wise tactic against someone known as the God of Lies.
But Alfheim. He doesn't skip a beat, purposefully curving his lips into a light smile. Despite his annoyance, he speaks with genuine fondness. ]
Illustrations do not do it justice. You've seen it described as a paradise, haven't you? The springs run with champagne and the night sky glistens like jewels strewn across velvet. [ He glances down, catching Wanda's eye with a sly glimmer in his own. ] One might caution you against ever visiting, Lady Maximoff. You may never wish to return.
[ Not leave, but return. Oh, how accustomed to her presence he's become. ]
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[She'd thought 'the springs run with champagne' was just hyperbole...but then again, there's apparently Asgardian spring water that is stronger than the most potent Earth alcohol. Wanda had thought they were just trying to pull a fast one on the Midgardian but they were actually telling the truth.
She sighs, and were they alone (and Loki his normal height), she might have briefly rested her head on his shoulder for this quiet admission. As it is, she draws a little closer.] I already want to stay.
[But that's not possible, right? Eventually she will have to return to Earth, as much as Wanda tries not to think about it. This is Loki's home. She can't start to feel like it could be hers, too.
Thankfully, the scent of something delicious pulls Wanda from her thoughts. Something baked, although Wanda can barely see the cause behind the family crowding the stall. The kids are already starting to push each other to be first for one of the handpies.]
I don't think I've tried that yet... [Wanda looks back to Loki and grins, gently tugging his arm. Kids will be kids. Whatever. She can wait her turn.] Come on.
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When she draws his attention to the stall, he merely arches his brow in faint distaste of the rowdy children, but allows himself to be ushered closer. It doesn't matter that he used to be quite rowdy himself -- though Thor outshone him there, too. ]
You really ought to get out more. [ The handpies are just one of several culinary highlights strewn along the market stalls -- though he's one to talk, not having indulged himself for... years, now that he thinks about it.
There's a distant sort of discontent in that realization. ]
Gunnar, Astrid!
[ The children may or may not be Gunnar and Astrid from the way they completely disregard the woman who sharply called their names. Loki leans his head in toward Wanda, whispering, ] Looks like they've just about driven her to wits' end.
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[Wanda grins, blissfully unaware of Loki's darker inner monologue as she leads him to the stall. It doesn't sting so much to joke about that now that walking around her chambers isn't a serious struggle.
She inclines her head towards Loki, unable to hide a wince of sympathy.]
And this is before suga--
[In that split second Wanda was distracted, the boy shoves his sister out of the way and accidentally pushes her directly into Wanda. Thankfully, she has a good enough hold on Loki's arm that she only staggers a little. Asgardians are heavy.
The mother looks mortified, edging on the kind of anger that makes saying something you'll regret infinitely easier. By now, everyone knows about the red witch, that she's one of the prince's battle companions and a guest of the crown. It's bad enough that her kids have been unruly terrors all day, but now...
Wanda's smile has since turned sheepish - did she almost get knocked over by a kid? Still, she helps Astrid steady herself.]
Careful. Are you all right?
[Astrid nods, the picture of wounded dignity...for about 0.5 seconds before she lunges back at her brother to retaliate. They both hit the side of the stall and the vendor's smile turns strained.
Wanda can feel the exact second the mother loses every last shred of her remaining patience. This time, when she shouts 'That's enough!' the children hear something in her voice that makes them stop.]
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If you are to act like savages, then perhaps you would like to join the ones on Jotunheim.
[ Astrid seems to hesitate, but Gunnar pumps his free fist in the air with defiant enthusiasm. ] I'll kill 'em!
They'll kill you, [ Astrid scoffs. ]
Nay, sister, not if we take them together!
They will take the both of you, [ says their mother, turning her back on them with the thread to leave. ] For their dinner.
Bit scrawny for that, [ says the vendor, playing along in a bored tone. ] Your bones might be big enough to pick their teeth, though.
[ The children both seem to waver, but when their mother doesn't stop or look back, they both shove off each other and bolt toward her, squabbling as they disappear into the market crowds. Sighing, the vendor shakes his head, then puts on a smile for Wanda and Loki. ]
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These thoughts are close to the surface and Wanda doesn't have to look far to almost wish she hadn't. They eat babies. They're savages, primitive and brutish. They have no soulmates. That final thought snaps her back to herself with an intake of breath that could almost pass for a reaction to the scene playing out in front of her.
Thank goodness for her sleeve; no one will see the way Wanda's thumb rubs against Loki's forearm in some vain attempt to soothe him from the insult. She knows it likely won't do any good, but it seems important to remind him that not everyone thinks that way.
His soulmate doesn't at least.
Wanda finds her voice a moment later, and luckily, any awkwardness in her smile can likely be chalked up to being caught in the middle of the childrens' tantrum.]
Two of those pies, please.
[Wanda manages to get the necessary coins without fumbling. She'll call that a win.]
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What else could this be but an attempt to comfort? Why? Pity, he decides, and hardens his heart. Only after the purchase concludes and they've taken several steps away from the table does he break his silence. ]
You delved into their thoughts, didn't you, [ he murmurs; it is not a question. The book -- to learn more. An opportunity to learn in the moment -- how could she pass it up? ]
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I wanted to understand.
[All she's found is that there's no reason beyond habit; Asgard and Jotunheim had been at peace for centuries after the last war. It's just bile now, a poison, and maybe this is why Wanda keeps getting the impression that she was too late. Once he'd learned of his heritage, Loki must have been convinced she didn't exist until he'd stumbled upon her.]
I still don't.
[It seems like many cultures consider the soulmate bond almost sacred, and to deny its existence completely...that takes a deeply ingrained level of hatred. Some part of her wants to rip that awful lie away from everyone so that Loki might never hear it spoken again...but a lifetime's damage is still done.]
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Not everything they say is true. Just hate beyond what makes sense.
[She's here, isn't she? And Loki is no monster as far as Wanda's concerned. Why wouldn't she question the prevailing Asgardian theories? She understands that the two kingdoms have a history, but it felt like the woman's disdain for the jotnar was almost reflexive.]
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He exhales the ghost of a laugh, lips briefly drawn in a tight smile. ]
Because you're suddenly the authority on the matter.
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If they were, I wouldn't exist.
[She holds his gaze steadily, refusing to back down. He doesn't get to go on believing everyone thinks he's a monster.]
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Herein lies the final bridge anyone is likely to offer him and his instinctive reaction, once it's been nearly crossed, is to burn it.
Eyes closing, he inhales through his teeth and stops, just-- stops his tongue from sabotaging himself. His thumb and index finger, rubbing against each other, eventually still; his hand relaxes. There's something like resignation on his face and in his sigh when he meets her gaze again. ]
That doesn't change anything. [ His voice lowers a fraction. ] The atrocities they've committed. They're right there in those ancient pages -- on the tongue of every parent reciting a cautionary tale to their child before bed.
[ Sadly, he doesn't even note the irony of the statement against his own actions. ]
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And what do you think they tell their children about you? Your people were at war so long...
[Wanda shakes her head. She knows how this works. Sokovia's changed hands many times over the past century and still people hate each other because it's just what they're used to.
Her voice is low to make sure they're not overheard, but there's no less conviction in it.]
You are yourself. You're not responsible for anything they did.
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...and Odin.
Their resistance to the plan still flabbergasts him.
As does Wanda's dogged reassurances. I am glad you found me. Her voice is as clear in his memory as the night she said so profound a remark. Recalling it now, Loki furrows his brows and parts his lips to speak, but the words of retaliation don't come. Instead, his shoulders droop in defeat. ]
You know, sometimes I've no idea what to do with you.
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But the fondness in Wanda's smile still hints at the possibility of more. She won't laugh at him - she is capable of being gracious in victory if the situation calls for it, and this hardly seems like a teasing matter. She'll reassure Loki as much as it takes until he can believe that she truly does care for him, that she doesn't think he's a monster.
She is his. He is hers. For Wanda, it's as simple as that.]
Eat your pie.
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And the root of all these offshoots is the pairing of her soul to his own. Does he love her for it? No, and he shouldn't -- not just because the universe decided on her. When he was young and ignorant, Loki scoffed at the idea of allowing fate to bind him to another -- until he realized, so many decades later at the foot of those stairs in the vault with Odin feebly towering above him, that perhaps there wasn't anyone the fates would subject to him.
Oh, how the grass is greener on the other side.
No, Wanda hasn't found purchase in his heart because she is his soulmate. Rather, its condition simply got her foot in the door. She has pushed against him, but never away. She respects his intimate knowledge of Asgardian sorcery, but neither grovels nor dismisses. Their time together has rekindled a sense of solicitude that Loki thought he'd lost in Frigga's death. He thought wrong, of course -- still caring for Thor in a twisted sense of brotherly love whilst denying it, particularly to himself -- but to open himself to Wanda this much, frustratingly slow though it may be -- speaks volumes to the fact that she has proven herself something of an equal to him.
Pompous, he doesn't consciously consider anyone his equal -- but Thor is quite nearly there. So, too, is Wanda, the relevancy of which is thus: Loki cannot love someone he doesn't consider a threat. It's a distorted flavor of respect, but respect nonetheless.
Without admitting it, Wanda has his -- and more. A tenuously hopeful curiosity smolders within his chest, that she would educate herself on the sins of the Frost Giants and then snap the link that binds them to him. He can try to explain it away as Midgardian ignorance, but there it is again -- that excruciating desire to trust.
The cautious willingness to do it.
His gaze idly drifts to the pie in his smaller, slender hand, considering their next step, still processing the weight of her stance. ]
... Now that you're fully recovered, we ought to divert some of your studies away from texts. [ He glances at Wanda askew, the hint of a smile in his eyes. ] Would you accompany me to Alfheim?
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Wanda has come to love him, in all his humor, patience, and unexpected kindness - even his prickliness has become endearing. He's never made her feel monstrous, and she wants to give him the same emotional safe harbor he's given her. She hasn't felt so whole since before Pietro's death.
Wanda cannot love with any less than her whole heart. If she gives in - and she wants to give in so badly - there won't be any coming back.]
I'd love to see Alfheim with you. It sounds like a beautiful place. [Her smile widens.] But this is more than just a vacation?
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I imagine, [ he says, and the smile is reaching his lips now, ] your tutors would be a touch unimpressed were you to jump from recovery to vacation. However, Alfheim is ripe with magic of all sorts and you are studying the arts...
[ Yeah, it's a vacation. ]
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Besides, a trip to Alfheim sounds so lovely it's hard not to be swept away in the fantasy.]
...and it is best for me to learn as much as I can about different kinds of magic.
[Wanda's grin widens. They won't argue with that. After all, her powers don't quite match Asgardian sorcery, and after being confined to her rooms for so long, it wouldn't surprise them that she'd spent much of her time reading. How could anyone read the passages on the wonders of Alfheim and not want to see it for themselves?
Besides, with Loki's help Wanda's begun to develop a more fluid view of her powers. Just because they've always been turned to destructive means doesn't mean that's all she can do. The light elves are said to be skilled healers...perhaps there is something she can learn from them.
With all the trouble her friends attract, it's worth a try, at least. And if she gets to spend more alone time with Loki, so much the better.]
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The following week finds them stepping out of the Bifrost's light and onto the cobblestone just outside Ljosalfgard, capital of Alfheim. News of a Midgardian with a hitherto unseen flavor of magic among their race piques the interest of the Light Elves, Queen Aelsa Featherwine of the Fay included, who has no qualms with sanctioning Wanda's visit.
An audience with royalty requires the appropriate mannerisms -- old hat to Loki, new to Wanda. As such, she's given a crash course in proper etiquette and general mannerisms to expect from the Light Elves that ought to serve her well enough through the formalities of introduction. A royal feast is held in welcome of the Midgardian, first of her kind to visit Alfheim, with her 'handmaiden' -- still Loki to her eyes -- sitting beside her. Aelsa is a woman who naturally commands attention, but as the champagne and wine flows, it becomes apparent that she's not without her mischievous side. Talk of Wanda's relation to Thor gives way to regaling tales of the Odinson brothers in their youth, and all the trouble they managed to get into (and out of -- usually) in the fay lands.
Thor attempting to sneak upon Aelsa to steal a lock of her hair and the resultant scorching... Catching Loki as a salmon hiding in the rivers in his attempt to evade punishment for reaping chaos in the palace kitchens...
Loki, Wanda's handmaiden, joins in the laughter. If anyone could pierce through his disguise, it would be the queen. For that reason, when offered the choice of lodging in the palace or outside of it, the pair choose the latter. The less exchanges Loki has with her, the better.
The Elves escort them on horseback to their temporary dwelling: a quaint, two-story cottage alongside the Chardonnay River may have well been plucked right out of a Midgardian fairy tale. The entrance is marked by a wooden trellis covered in passionflower, some of its flowers already bearing fruit. Bushes and trees in various states of bloom encircle the property, including an unkempt garden and an adjacent shelter for the horses -- their main method of transport for their stay. A stone path struggling to stay afloat of the moss and grass leads to a wooden door besides which hangs two lanterns, their candles collecting dust from disuse. Climbing hydrangeas decorate the exterior in a mindful manner as if taught to avoid the casement windows and planters hanging beneath them. A stone chimney rises to meet the tallest peak of the tightly sloped roof, its mouth inhabited by the nest of some bird or bird-like creature that peers down at the two visitors as if they were the uninvited guests.
The interior is the very definition of cozy. The space has clearly been tidied up recently, restocked for its new inhabitants with essentials (and a little extra.) A spiral staircase leads to the second floor which includes two bedrooms and a study that overlooks the short path to the river. As education is the primary reason for Wanda's visit, the study has already been stocked with several books and writing material for her to peruse. There is also a letter detailing information on tutoring from the elves themselves.
As for Loki, the first task of his once the elves depart is to weave a spell around the property that will alert him to the presence of another besides Wanda. The failure of his disguise is not something foreseen -- rather, he's quietly excited for the challenge to maintain it in a place so concentrated in magic as Alfheim -- but it doesn't hurt to cover one's bases. ]
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The cottage only continues to impress her, like they'd somehow brought her imaginings of Briar Rose's home to life. While Loki sets his own wards, Wanda hurries inside to explore and change out of her formal wear. To her delight, the closet's been stocked with elvish clothes for her to borrow in addition to what she'd brought, and she comes downstairs in what seems to be the most comfortable-looking dress on offer.
For a moment Wanda stands in the doorway, watching Loki warmly and taking in the surroundings. Maybe she really is dreaming now. Alfheim is so saturated in magic that it feels both more alive than anywhere else Wanda's been and incredibly surreal.]
You were right. The books could never describe how beautiful this place is.
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At the sound of Wanda's voice, he looks over his shoulder and arches a brow, appraising -- her. The way she naturally fits in the doorway and wears the elvish robes, as if she has always lived in this place. There's a sense of serenity despite his caution; he finds himself relaxing, lips tugged upward, a leisurely warmth in his chest. ]
You fit right in.
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keywords super relevant
♥
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pity for anyone but himself? inconceivable
let her have her dreams
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I'm so sorry, I've either had migraine brain or soup for brains
no worries
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omg sorry!!!
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