Further Tales of Asgard

[attention_wenches]

Loki hadn't much stirred from the temple, true to his stated aim. Thor's attempts to wheedle him out hadn't done much good. Amora, however, understood much better how to handle the younger prince. First, she'd quietly replaced his studies of fire as an element (which now sent him into twitchy, slow-boiling panic anyway) with discussions of alchemical theory, then reminded him that traditionally beginning sorcerers learned to handle their own ingredients for the sake of understanding the process entirely, and eventually brought him around to believing it was his own idea to go gathering herbs and minerals.

Though he went in the evening, and headed to the quiet woods outside the city. She still counted it a victory. And passed along his plans in a few points of well-placed gossip.

Loki had to admit that the fresh, cool air was nice, and the quiet of the destination he'd so carefully chosen was even nicer. He was on his knees, listening to the hooting of some distant night-bird awakening as he cut through the woody stem of a useful herb.

Comments

[braving]

In Thor's mind, it hardly did well for one to stow away in silence after such an event. He wasn't much one for talking things out, and Loki wasn't much one for sharing things with Thor... but... even so, he wished for Loki to not spend so much time alone in the temple. Or with Amora—he didn't always trust her.

He also didn't find it very fair that she was the one to stir Loki from his hiding place.

The idle gossip floats through Thor's ears while he is out and he makes haste in setting off in the direction of the forest. It takes him a short time to find his brother, immediately recognizing him as he kneels. Thor is not quiet, he knows this, and allows his footfalls to announce his approach rather than voice it first. Loki will recognize it and not find cause for fear.

"I would have joined you, brother, had you alerted me of taking leave from your sanctuary."

[attention_wenches]

Loki does appreciate Thor's native lack of stealth. He has time to steel himself as his brother approaches, breathing in slowly and setting his collection basket on the ground so as not to worry about dropping things. "I meant to take the time to myself, brother," he says in quiet protest. "I'm gathering supplies for alchemy. I promise I was leaving you out of no pleasure excursion." He only then turns, still on the ground, half wishing Thor would leave again. The other half is very glad he's here.

[braving]

A slight frown tugs down Thor's lips as he comes to a stop just beside Loki. He opens his mouth to speak, but then snaps it shut in favor of not wishing to begin the conversation with an argument. That isn't his purpose. He sighs and drags the toe of his boot over the root of a nearby tree.

"Loki, you have taken much time to yourself."

It unsettles him that Loki wishes to be alone so much as of late. And, admittedly, he misses his brother. So, he says with a slight bit of indignation to his tone. "I could have helped."

[attention_wenches]

Perhaps if he cooperates a little he'll win himself some respite. Thor's attentions are well-intentioned, of course, and he's very glad he can still excite those feelings, little as he deserves them. He doesn't want to make it worse.

"Here." He holds up the basket, containing a few wound sprigs of herbs and a mica-flecked stone. "If you're determined to be useful, keep this out of the damp." He's fairly sure that Thor will be deeply bored by the project in a matter of minutes, and he can have the quiet of the evening back to himself.

The old Thor would have been, in any case. Since the quest and the war, his understanding of his brother isn't what it once was.