the_other_son | (MP) RP log - for kindof

When the king had lifted the first parts of his punishment, it was safe to say he had not been entirely gracious. Still, even traveling with babysitters to visit his brother and his friends was better than continued confinement to his apartments, and so, he had gone along. In the end, it hadn't been nearly as bad as he had expected; the Tower's occupants were surprisingly entertaining, and the mage had a well-stocked library with books he had never found in the castle's.

As time went on and he was granted more freedom, it became harder to pretend the trips weren't something he looked forward to - and he was sure his parents knew that. When he had asked permission this time, there had been a certain look in the queen's eyes that said he was fooling no one - and he couldn't quite bring himself to mind.

He had arrived at the Tower stronghold the previous afternoon and had spent the rest of the day catching up with Thor. Today, he had left the heavier parts of his armor in his room and made for the library. After his customary check for anything Stark might have acquired since his last visit, he had made for his usual chair in its comfortably dim corner.

He had made it through a handful of chapters before something pulled his attention away. There was a smell in the library he was well enough acquainted with, considering the battles - and the clean-up afterwards - that he had been involved in. There was also someone moving among the shelves that he didn't recognize, and he had been among the Tower's usual occupants enough times that he could recognize most of them by now. They were moving quietly, clearly trying to avoid notice, and that only served to make him curious.

It took him only a second to make a quick gesture before he set his book aside, rising silently from his chair to move around the shelves - and then it was only a few moments before he had found his company. Who he found, though, was a surprise like he hadn't had in years.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

kindof_itches

The stranger hadn't been immediately visible from the doorway, otherwise Carrow wouldn't have gone in in the first place.

He was probably nothing to worry about, true, the library off limits to anyone outside of Anthony's inner circle, as far as he understood it, and Jarvis, forever watching and thankfully willing to warn him otherwise, but for once, his apprehension would have had nothing to do with a fear of being treated like a monster. No, in this case, he just wanted to be alone. He'd been having very vague but very real problems with people -- the living more specifically, though he refused to think of it like that -- all day, and it was probably best he avoid interaction and stick to his work. It was better for everyone that way.

And all that likely explained why, the second he spotted Loki, he sucked in a sharp breath, grateful for once that he really didn't need to breathe and therefore couldn't choke on it as he stopped himself from hissing in surprise, took a step backwards, and then ducked behind the row of shelves at his side. He waited a moment, listening for the sound of movement, and when it never came, the subtle whisper of turned pages notwithstanding, forced himself to move away, creeping as silently as he could towards the section he'd come to browse in the first place.

When he reached it, he positioned himself between the stacks so he could just barely see the stranger, touched his fingers briefly to the holy symbol around his neck -- he ignored the faint pop-hiss as his they blistered slightly where they'd made contact, a task made easier by the fact that he couldn't feel it in the first place -- and breathed out finally. The stranger hadn't seen him, hadn't heard him, hadn't moved from his chair, and from where he was, he could keep an eye on him until he'd found what he was looking for. Anthony would get an earful afterward.

Shaking his head, he half-turned to the books, and made an effort to look for the title he wanted, all the while making sure to keep the stranger in view and checking on him every few seconds. He was so engaged in that that he never noticed that Loki -- the real Loki -- had managed to sneak up on him.

From:

the_other_son

For a few long moments, Loki just watched him from the end of the row, head tilted. At first, the fact that Anthony had told him in no uncertain terms that there was to be no offensive magic in the Tower except in its defense was why his hands remained empty at his sides, but the longer he watched, trying to decide why there was an undead in the Tower - and whether Anthony knew - the more curious - and confused - he got.

Finally, he huffed out a sigh, simultaneously dropping his invisibility and dissipating the illusion as he said, curiously, head still tilted. "What are you?"

From:

kindof_itches

Carrow turned at once, book in hand still open, fingers hovering near the corner of the page he'd been about to flip and teeth bared. He stared at Loki for a moment, the sneer falling slowly fro his face, then glanced over his shoulder to where he'd thought he'd been sitting. Funny, he hadn't heard him get up, nor had he been able to feel it -- as much as he tried to ignore it, he'd developed something of a sense for tracking warm, beating hearts -- and yet here he was. Which meant he was either very good or he was another mage.

Brilliant.

Sighing, he snapped the book closed and rolled his eyes. "I'd say it was pretty obvious, wouldn't you?"

He lowered the book and held out his arms so the stranger could get a good look at him. His clothing, which he'd yet to change despite the fact that Anthony likely had something in his size -- he didn't want to ruin another set of clothing before he'd had a chance to try and wash the smell away, and considering the fact that he couldn't bathe for obvious reasons, that would likely be never -- was still that of a priest of Vieris. And he was still very much dead, the last time he looked in a mirror. Probably even more so now, if only because he'd actually be practicing with his magic, though he wasn't quite aware of that.

Edited Date: 2013-03-13 02:45 am (UTC)

From:

the_other_son

"I thought so," Loki returned mildly, if bluntly, standing straighter again. He might not have looked like a mage at first glance, his clothing closer to armor than robes, even assuming he had heavier robes to wear over it. "But in all my travels, I've yet to run across any manner of undead with any real interest in the contents of a library. Other than making sure there wasn't anyone in it to eat, that is."

He paused for a moment before going on, thoughtfully, and he might not have been talking to Carrow anymore. "I'm not sure which part is actually more novel, though. That, or an undead cleric. Of course, I've known necromancers and shadow priests who decided to..." - he paused, gesturing vaguely - "feign dead now and then, but you actually are, aren't you?"

From:

kindof_itches

Carrow offered him a smile so sickeningly sweet it likely had the opposite and, in fact, intended effect and lowered his arms. "I wouldn't rule out the possibility of me considering my dinner options just yet."

It was largely an empty threat, if the fact that he didn't immediately attack Loki was any indication. He could feel the need to feed rising, another unfortunate side effect of the use of his power, but he was more likely to sneak out and chase down a squirrel on the Tower grounds later than he was to attack someone. He refused to let it come to that -- or, well, not unless he could justify it as he could eating the Orc that had attacked Perf and Nara. That was self-defense or close enough.

Breathing out another sigh, he pushed that train of thought away and wet his lips with his tongue. "But yes, I'm actually dead. I have been for ... " He paused, counting time in the rise and fall of the full moon. " ... three or four months."

He considered telling Loki he was actually a priest of Vieris, too, but he wasn't sure how true that was anymore. He had his holy symbol back, he could still use that part of his skill set, and Yinsen hadn't stripped him of his vestments, so he supposed, technically, he was, but considering all the things he'd gotten into lately, the book under his arm probably the least among them? It wasn't hard to guess why he wasn't sure he was allowed to claim that anymore and he figured it was better to just let Loki assume whatever he wanted than have to decide one way or the other.

Edited Date: 2013-03-13 04:50 am (UTC)

From:

the_other_son

Loki didn't seem at all taken aback by the smile; in fact, he just returned it. "I wouldn't, really. I wouldn't want to damage any of the books." It was as empty a threat as Carrow's had been, but he was also serious enough about it. He could take on his share of an army with no problem; he wouldn't even need to break a sweat for one undead - even if Carrow was a lot more... articulate than most undead he'd run across.

The smile faded some as Carrow went on, the curiosity returning to his expression. "Would you mind if I asked how?" Loki wasn't sure asking this soon wouldn't just serve to make Carrow even more uncomfortable than he already was, but being direct about it seemed better than working around to it.

And really, Loki would be happy enough to still assume he was a priest of Vieris. Loki did know something about being at war with yourself, after all.

From:

kindof_itches

"Technically? Arrows," he answered, more willing for the time being to talk about how he'd ended up how he was than to continue exchanging threats, lest he change his mind about having him for dinner. "Less technically, a robe used me as a meat shield when we were attacked by Orcs, and then screwed up a healing spell, so I got this."

That wasn't entirely true. Perf had screwed up the spell, yes, and there had been Orcs, but the mage really hadn't had as much to do with his death as he liked to believe. The Orcs had just felt it necessary to kill the healer first and probably with good reason. It was all so screwed up in his head, though -- the instant of pain and the copper taste of his own blood on his tongue before there was nothing, waking up afterwards and the resentment that followed -- that he honestly believed that Perf had more of a hand in getting him killed. And he probably wouldn't revise his opinion even if the man himself showed up and told him otherwise.

Either way, however, he made another gesture to himself, arms spreading wide.

From:

the_other_son

Loki wrinkled his nose at the story. "I'm not sure which is worse, honestly: orcs or robes who mean well but are otherwise completely useless. You have my sympathies," he added, expression matching the statement. He considered himself relatively lucky to have always been the main magic user in their group. He could only think of a few he would have been able to stand working alongside for very long.

Again, he looked Carrow over. "I suppose Lord Stark has been attempting to... sort things out?"

From:

kindof_itches

"I couldn't say. I haven't had incompetent mage yet," he mumbled, more for his own benefit than Loki's. A sigh followed and he deflated slowly, fighting the urge to reach up and rub at his eyes. When it passed, he nodded. "He's been trying. He hasn't had much luck so far."

He liked to believe that was because of Her -- and he glanced over Loki's shoulder, briefly and furtively, just to make sure She wasn't lingering, watching -- but he couldn't say for sure. Nor did he really want to get into talking about the fact that he was one of the two people in the entire Tower who could even see Her, so he left it at that.

From:

the_other_son

Even if it hadn't been for him, Loki couldn't help but smirk at the comment, considering his earlier joke. He nodded, too, when Carrow went on. "Well, you may have noticed that our host tends toward the stubborn. I've yet to see him give up on a cause once he gets it in mind to pursue it." It was the closest he could come to an attempt to be reassuring, really.

Loki turned his head to follow Carrow's glance, raising an eyebrow curiously when he turned back.

From:

kindof_itches

"I got that impression," Carrow agreed, flashing him a thin but more genuine smile.

It faded abruptly when, despite how casual he'd been trying to be about it, Loki had noticed him looking for Her and had followed his gaze. So much for not looking insane on top of dead. At least he had the option of trying to play it off, and that in mind, he glanced over Loki's shoulder again, this time deliberately, and affected a vaguely confused look. " ... What?"

From:

the_other_son

Loki returned the smile, though his faded too as he arched an eyebrow. Loki wasn't as likely to let him play it off as some of the others might have been. "Just wondering what else might have your attention."

From:

kindof_itches

Carrow swore internally, the confused look evaporating a second later.

"I thought I heard something," he said after a moment and with a shrug. If he wasn't allowed to dodge his insight, to put the question on Loki, he could at least lie about it. He still had no desire to look completely out of his mind. "And considering the fact that there's a paladin in the Tower who hasn't realized who she's sharing her living space with just yet ... "

From:

the_other_son

Not that Loki would have thought Carrow was out of his mind if he had admitted to who he had been looking for. Just because Loki himself had never seen any of Death's forms didn't mean there weren't people in Asgard who didn't regularly make appeals to Hel - and claim to have seen her during the process.

Still, Carrow's answer seemed to be good enough for the moment, as Loki's expression went sympathetic again - if not also a little surprised. "There's a paladin here? Other than Sir Rogers," he added a moment later. He knew the knight wasn't actually a paladin, but he was as close to one as he had seen in the Tower before.

From:

kindof_itches

"There is." He glanced over his shoulder again, though this time it was more idle than intentional, and more because he was thinking about the paladin now rather than expecting Her to be watching. "She and her party showed up here a couple of weeks ago when their robe screwed up a teleport."

He paused, returning his attentions to Loki, and then, as an afterthought, added, "To the point where they're bound here, actually. They tried to leave a few times right after they got here and ended up back downstairs every time. Anthony's been trying to help them, too, but I guess magic that broken really isn't his area of expertise."

From:

the_other_son

Loki smirked again. "Oh, I'm sure Lord Stark is loving that." Even though Loki wasn't at the Tower all that often, he had still been around enough to have overheard some of Anthony's rants on anyone who dared be incompetent where he could see it. He would definitely have to look into the other guests in the Tower, though, if just to satisfy his own curiosity.

From:

kindof_itches

Carrow huffed out a sigh of a laugh, though there wasn't much humor in the sound and what was there was dark, somehow. "I'd say you have no idea, but ... " But Loki seemed to know Anthony better than he did, despite the persistent use of his title.

Which made him wonder, "How do you know him, by the way? Anthony, I mean."

From:

the_other_son

Loki smirked back at him for a moment before it faded back into a more neutral expression. "Mostly by the fact that this is his Tower."

He paused long enough that he was sure the non-answer would be frustrating and then went on. "I'm sure you've met my.. brother, if you've been here long enough to settle in."

The pause before brother was brief and nowhere near as noticeable as it would have been even a few months ago, but there had definitely been one there.

From:

kindof_itches

"I never would have figured that one out," he grumbled, pressing his lips into a thin, sour line. Other than that, though, he said nothing, instead contenting himself to staring unblinkingly at Loki as if the look would force a straight answer out of him. He told himself it had worked as intended when Loki continued finally, though his expression did not lighten.

"Which one's yours?" he asked, tilting his head to one side as he tried to figure that -- he didn't look much like anyone in the Tower -- or why he had hesitated out.

From:

the_other_son

It had always been difficult to get a straight answer out of Loki, really.

"Thor," Loki returned immediately this time. "He spends more time here than in the castle, recently." Just how much he was bothered by that - if he was at all - was hard to tell.

From:

kindof_itches

Carrow hadn't quite been expecting that -- if he'd had to put his money on anyone, it might have been Natasha. She was tiny when compared to most everyone here, let alone Loki, but from what he could remember of her from the few times he'd seen her, they were similar enough otherwise, mostly in the way they carried themselves and the shape of their features. Thor and Loki, though? He didn't quite see the resemblance.

"Huh." He studied him for a moment more, trying to will himself to see the similarities. It worked, if only a little, though he still couldn't help himself from saying what he'd been thinking. "I would have guessed Lady Romanoff."

From:

the_other_son

It was clear enough what Carrow was looking for, and Loki's expression darkened marginally - though it cleared again at the next statement. That wasn't even close to what Loki had been expecting him to say next. "No, I'm afraid I lack in sisters. Though Lady Romanoff and I do have a thing or two in common."

From:

kindof_itches

Carrow shrugged. Yes, he knew that Loki had said brother and not sister, but he'd also hesitated and considering what Natasha was, he figured he was justified in the guess. And between that and the fact that, as far as he could tell, he shared the most in common physically with Natasha -- never mind the fact that there was a pretty good chance that that wasn't actually what she looked like at all -- it had been a pretty good one, too.

Either way, he said none of that, however, letting it drop for the time being, and arched an eyebrow instead. "Such as?"

From:

the_other_son

There was no sign of what Loki was about to do, no spoken spell or hand motion. One moment, he looked his usual self; the next, there was a woman standing in front of Carrow. "Such as," she echoed, smirking and shaking her head lightly to settle her black hair over her shoulders.

From:

kindof_itches

Carrow raised his eyebrows, vaguely impressed but not quite surprised somehow -- Anthony had a penchant for collecting people who could change their form he was learning -- and looked her over.

For a moment and in the silence that followed, he ran through his options, trying to decide what he could show off in an effort to outdo her. Unfortunately, however, nothing was coming to mind. If he -- she, whatever -- knew enough about necromancers and death priests to know that they had spells to imitate death, he doubted a display of shadow magic would be very impressive. And while he'd come across spells to change his own form, ones tailored specifically for the undead to make them more terrifying and durable in a fight against clerics, paladins and otherwise, he hadn't played much with that kind of magic too much just yet. He had the book in his room, pages marked out of morbid curiosity, but that was as far as he'd gotten. He'd become perhaps slightly more comfortable with what he was and what he could do in his time at the Tower and thanks to Anthony, but that sort of use of power still made him uncomfortable.

All that in mind and without anything to add to what would have otherwise become a pissing contest, he breathed out a sigh and made a small, sour face. "Right."