stopmjolnirtime | Verse One [Action/Voice]

Verse One [Action/Voice]

[Action: Locked to Loki]

[One moment he had been standing amongst his brothers (and sister) in arms, Tesseract held in a shielded sheath meant to make the passage home simpler. Safer. The day was bright, the battle won, justice to be meted out by his father and while all was not entirely well with the world it was, for a moment, as close as it might come until his family was once again in the fold.

A twist of the wrist, a blinding flare of blue-

And he wakes bereft of his armor, without the Tesseract, and without his brother.]

Loki-

[He surges to his feet, stumbling, teeth grit and braced for battle. No other being could wrest magic in such a way to transport him somewhere aside from Asgaurd- for this is certainly not his home.]

LOKI! [A beat, and then-] Hammer?

[He extends his fist and his will, waiting for Mjolnir to fly to him- but he senses it not. He is without armor and he is unarmed. It makes for a frustrated, puzzled Thor that tromps through the woods, searching for the Tesseract, his brother, and his armor. At odd intervals he calls out either for his brother, or, in a fit of frustration, his hammer. Neither answer.]

[Action: Open]

[After that...enlightening and less than entertaining discussion with his brother, Thor resumes his wanderings, seeking out the village of which Loki spoke. He is as he was when he arrived, save that he is entirely devoid of clothing.

Thank you, brother.

He shall wander until he finds the village, and wander further still until he finds somewhere to clothe himself. When he finds not a single pair of trousers that would fit him left and a pinned note to a truly hideous gown. All the dresses or feminine clothing that might fit him yet remains.

Thank you so, so much, brother.

Later still he sits, wrapped in a toga formed of a bedsheet, picking at a long since emptied plate in Seventh Heaven]

Should any find trousers sufficient enough to clothe an Asgardian I would be most greateful to have them. I might be found at the Tavern of Seven Heavens, feasting on their hot dogs, which they have assured me are not actually made of hounds.

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Rogue blinked. That was not an answer which jived with what Loki had told her of Thor. She couldn't help but blurt out her startled conclusion, "You're tryin' to protect him!"

Thor took a slow breath, shoulders shifting with familiar exasperation. This is not the first time someone had questioned his motives regarding Loki. "He is my brother."

That. Was. Rather a matter of debate. Her brow furrowed, because this really didn't match up at all.

But part of her couldn't help but like the fact that Thor used 'brother' as a stand by for 'of course I'm trying to protect him' and she found herself telling him the truth before really thinking it through.

"He's my boyfriend." She blinked and shook her head minutely, remembering who she was speaking to, and if Loki didn't want her to tell Thor, well. "Or - lover. He likes that term better. And I can't keep havin' this conversation with you naked."

She moved to dismount.

Well that was certainly not the response he expected. Loki took on lovers in Asgard, true, and a great many things might be said of one he chose to dally with but something in the way this woman spoke and how protective she might have been of him said more. How much more, he was not yet certain.

When she made to dismount he stepped back to give her room, puzzled but not overly concerned. "He treats you kindly?"

That wasn't what he meant to ask first, curse his mouth.

Oh good grief. Settling her feet firmly on the ground, she gave Thor a Very Firm Look Indeed. It was not quite a glare, but it wasn't very far removed. "If he didn't," she said in a tone which hinted very strongly that the nature of her relationship with Loki was not currently even on an adjoining table for discussion, "I wouldn't be with him."

Rogue turned her attention back to Penny, loosening the girth of the saddle. She retrieved the saddle blanket from beneath the saddle. It wasn't the best quality blanket, and certainly smelled like a horse, but it would be more than broad enough for Thor to wrap around his waist. And it would be relatively soft and not too itchy, after all, Rogue did love her horse. She turned and threw the blanket towards the bush. "Here."

"I meant no offense." And yet he'd caused it. Not the best first impression to make upon someone that cared for his brother. There were better things to ask, to say, and while he fumbled for the words he caught the blanket as given, tucking it around his waist to preserve some form of modesty. "I simply...he seems well. Better. Perhaps it is you I might thank."

It was easier to say such things while his eyes were not on hers, while he tucked the corners of the blanket about his hips in such a way as to hold itself up and not need his constant attention.

"That's the second time you said somethin' like that," she said, turning to look at him now that he'd finished quasi-dressing himself. "Now will you tell me what you mean? When's the last time you saw him?"

A third, horrible possibility occurred to her. What if he was from Loki's future and the horrible thing had caught up to him? What if his plans went awry and he fell back into the hands of the people who had hurt him so much? Her gloved fingers tightened into fists.

"The Loki I last saw was unsettled, his mind far afield from whatever he endured after he fell from the Bifrost. I know not what came to pass between then and his assault on Midgard, but it was far from kind." He should have been able to keep ahold of him. Should have been able to reach him- but such guilt would not help either of them now, nor does it have any place when speaking to his lover.

"Needless to say he was...disturbed. Feral. I know not what he intended in his attack but it could not possibly be what transpired. It was too brash, too dramatic, even for him. I will not pretend to understand what changed in him between the Bifrost and New York, but I would like to understand what has helped him become the man he is here. He looks well. As close to rested as he ever has."

Rogue gave Thor a long, measuring look. Loki had told her that Thor had pushed him from the Bifrost. The concern seemed completely disproportionate to that... unless it was a matter of regret for unintended consequences? Death was one thing, but twisted pain and suffering was entirely another, was that it?

And Rogue couldn't help but remember the one time he'd said he simply... fell. She wasn't sure this was the time and place to interrogate Thor about this, though part of her wanted to take the chance while she had it. There were other pressing concerns.

Did you sew his mouth shut, Thor?

How could she believe what she told her until she knew more about him? Unless...

No. That was not a good idea.

"So the last thing you remember was the battle for New York," she confirmed slowly.

He was at a strong disadvantage in this place. Loki had been here for some time, he would have to have lived here for a fair while to look so well and find himself a loyal lover. Who knows what it is that has been said of him? How true or untrue it might be all he could do was face it. Dispell what he could and shoulder that which he could not.

"I had him in custody to return to Asgard. There was the light from the Tesseract's power to return us home and then- this place."

She nodded sharply and turned, going to take Penny by the reins. She wasn't going to ride the horse without its saddle blanket. They might as well talk and walk, since she had to get back to the stables before finding Loki now, anyway.

"All right." So about the same time as Loki, then.

Thor fell into step next to this woman, minding his tread and the path. He kept to a respectable distance as he did not wish to crowd or tower over her, it was something he found to be unsettling to those he spoke with.

"...may I ask how long he has been in the Village?"

Rogue thought about it and realized that, while this was normally not the sort of thing she'd talk about, Thor could find out easily enough. "A year an' a half, I think. Maybe a little more."

"And I have been here once before?" Loki had said as much- but Loki lies. Often.

Rogue nodded. "That's how I recognized you."

She paused and offered a little more. "There are people here from all different kinds of Earths, all different kinds of not-Earths. They show up from different times, too. And no, no one knows why."

So Loki had been honest. That was something of a surprise, and something of a relief. "Has he been given much trouble? He spoke of a truce with the heroes of the village but-"

But he can't help but ask. He worried all the same. It was a hard habit to break.

Rogue gave him a wary, if slightly surprised and appreciative look. Her voice was firm, but not yet unpleasant. "I don't make it a habit ta talk about any other business but mine. An' I don't make a habit of doin' that very much either."

"That is more than fair." His questions would have to go unanswered- and he honestly could not hold it against her. It was high time Loki found someone that had him as their first loyalty. "Forgive my thoughtlessness, but I do not know your name; though you know well mine."

"S'alright," she said. "I don't think there's much time for formal introductions when you're naked in the forest."

She gave him a brief smile, "The name's Rogue."

"Well met, Lady Rogue." He offers a hand to her, smile wide and inviting.

...well, even though he was completely naked, save for the blanket, she was pretty much completely covered save for her face, so it should be safe enough. Or he could try and crush her hand and things would get very interesting. Either way, Rogue gave him her hand. "Nice to meet you too."

And oddly enough, it was.

The grip he gave was firm but not so much as to cause discomfort or to bruise. There was nothing to be gained by it and he was not so much an oaf as to wish harm upon someone that was important to his brother. What may have been out of the ordinary was how he swept low and lifted her hand, pressing a light, chaste peck to the back of it before standing straight once more. She was spoken for, it was politesse above all else.

"My brother is truly a fortunate man to have the regard of so gracious a woman as your self."

Rogue, despite herself, gave a very brief laugh. She couldn't really help it. This was the most bizarre thing in a life filled with bizarre things. She retrieved her hand and shook her head. "You are very surprising."

"How so?" He could not help but feel he'd won a point of some sort. He knew not what for or what good it would do, but it felt right enough. He released her hand and fell into step once more.

"Most people who just met me don't choose to call me gracious, for one," she said, glancing first at him and then straight ahead. She could feel sincerity coming off him in waves, and what felt like genuine concern for Loki. She wasn't used to anyone, save a very few, having this much concern for Loki. It was endearing despite the source, and all the more confusing because of it.

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