justdontgiveame | Labyrinthum Inbox

Did you?

[It's a very close match, Puck was impressed. The inflection isn't quite the same but for a quick glance to "Owen" as he presented, it would do just fine. Once Loki was inside, the door was closed and then locked.] What kind? I'm as curious about that as I am about your assuming my disguise.

[But Puck was also touched and smiled.] A bit of a hidden message there?

Edited (What is tense we just dont't know- fixed it!) 2024-09-02 01:35 (UTC)

[Loki was quick to step inside, maintaining the role for a moment as he simply said]

Perhaps.

[Before letting green wash over him to change back to himself. Offering the basket.] Mint teas, some other herbal blends for muscle relaxation and soothing stomach-aches, and mostly snacks for you.

[Loki indulged in a full and proper smile now, for Puck.]

[Puck returned the smile before he took the basket and eyed the items with a nod.] Quite the care package, your Puck is spoiled.

[He headed into the kitchen and sat the basket onto the table, considering some of the blends.] Hm.. Mint or muscle relaxing..? What an amusing quandary. I think muscle relaxing and some snacks.

[As the water started to boil, Puck took out the muscle relaxing blend and prepared a few bags for the tea pot.] Make yourself comfortable, it should be ready shortly!

My Puck often spoils me, so it was time for some turnabout.

[Loki said with a chuckle, before moving to do just that. Heading for the couch and letting himself stretch out in a sprawl. While leaving room for Puck of course.]

This is the only thing I'll say about it, but quite the hornet's nest being stirred up earlier, wasn't it? I figured you might want some company and distractions and I've come prepared to be both.

I'll take it gladly.

[As Loki made himself comfortable and Puck finished making the kettle of tea and preparing a tray with mugs, a jar of honey and the snacks provided, he sighed.] It was, yes. Here I thought things would calm down after all of the cracks in the sky and everything else, and yet.

[He lifted his shoulders in an exaggerated shrug before Puck picked up the tray and headed into the living room. The tray was sat down, tea poured and offered to Loki before Puck took a seat with his own mug.]

And yet I was proven wrong, but I've been wrong before, what's one more time to the list?

The challenge of beings, being just that. People. I've seen it enough over the centuries.

[Loki kept his tone soothing, comforting, as he took the mug offered to him.]

If the tea doesn't work, I'm more than happy to give you a massage too. For that matter, we could always just fly to the hot-springs as well and have some private time relaxing there if needed.

As have I. The more things change, I suppose.

[He sipped some of the tea and added some honey after a moment.] A massage does sound nice, but I'll see if the tea works first; and save the hot springs for another time. Unless you're wanting to go there? [Puck had another drink and then freed one of his hands long enough to pick up a snack; managing to tear open a pack of honey cakes without too much issue.]

Not at the moment, no. Although I do know when it gets colder I'll be taking advantage of them. Even if I don't feel the cold the way others do, the contrast is quite nice and relaxing.

Now, what kind of distraction would you be in the mood for, my dear Robin?

Right, it should be getting colder soon enough. I'll also keep my schedule free so I can join you.

[He had one of the honey cakes and chased it with some of the tea before he answered.] Some entertainment would be nice. I was going to start a new book, or just busy myself drinking a pot of tea, whichever happened first.

[Loki had some of the tea, then added honey to it for himself. Eyes closing briefly as he savored the drink.]

Which book? I've an idea, and if you give it to me, I think you'll enjoy.

[Puck smiled and had another drink as he thought and looked towards the small stack on another part of the table. He sat the cup down long enough to shuffle through the books and then picked one which he held out to Loki as he settled back into the couch. Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. Not exactly light reading, but Puck had been intrigued enough from the first handful of pages.]

This one- the opening had me interested enough to keep reading it, but with everything being what it has been, I haven't read beyond the first few pages. What idea do you have?

The same thing I do for Alice, but with her it's bedtime stories.

[Loki said around a chuckle as he placed his mug aside for a moment. Taking the book, and a moment to read the beginning. This may've been mentioned in one of his classes long ago, on Midgard literature of importance. But there were so many, it had been a lot to keep track of on a very short term section as part of Midgard as a whole. This one was...European if he remembered. Around the 18th? 19th century? When they were re-conceptualizing their concepts of diseases and society at large was dealing with some troubling rapid advancements.

None of that mattered though, for what he planned.]

Come get comfy, my Puck. My Robin.

[Book open in one hand, Loki offered for Puck to come cuddle if the other wanted.]

Oh?

[Puck did what anyone who was getting ready to enjoy a story would do. Holding onto his tea and tugging the remainder of the first pack of honey cakes over to where they could both enjoy some if wanted, Puck made himself comfortable and cuddled, with a grin to Loki once he was in position.] Consider me comfortable.

[Loki shifted a bit, accommodating the other and making sure he was comfy himself. Then nuzzled Puck's hair and ear briefly, before he gave his attention to the book.]

The Prologue. Upon a paper attached to the Narrative which follows, Doctor Hesselius has written a rather elaborate note, which he accompanies with a reference to his Essay on the strange subject which the MS. illuminates.

This mysterious subject he treats, in that Essay, with his usual learning and acumen, and with remarkable directness and condensation. It will form but one volume of the series of that extraordinary man’s collected papers.

As I publish the case, in this volume, simply to interest the “laity,” I shall forestall the intelligent lady, who relates it, in nothing; and after due consideration, I have determined, therefore, to abstain from presenting any précis of the learned Doctor’s reasoning, or extract from his statement on a subject which he describes as “involving, not improbably, some of the profoundest arcana of our dual existence, and its intermediates.”

I was anxious on discovering this paper, to reopen the correspondence commenced by Doctor Hesselius, so many years before, with a person so clever and careful as his informant seems to have been. Much to my regret, however, I found that she had died in the interval.

She, probably, could have added little to the Narrative which she communicates in the following pages, with, so far as I can pronounce, such conscientious particularity.

[So Loki read in a steady and even pace, beginning to tell the tale. As he moved to Chapter 1, Puck would notice the illusion. The setting around them changed to match the story being told, with characters coming alive almost and details as if they were submerged in the story. None reacted to Loki or Puck, as they were not part of the story, but the illusion was bringing the tale to life.

Just as Loki did for Alice's bedtime stories.]

[As Loki began reading and the illusion came in to help carry everything, Puck temporarily forgot his tea until it was slightly cooled down. He was a good audience member as much as he was a good performer, and it wasn't the first time that food and drink would just be ignored while Puck enjoyed something else.

A book, some company, in this case- both. He occasionally looked to Loki as the other read, keeping an ear out in case the other's voice started to sound tired. More for appreciation of what was being done out of any kind of need, but the intent was still there. Remembering his tea after a little of chapter one, Puck finally had a drink and continued to focus as the story unfolded. At a lull, he spoke up-]

Have you read this before? You speak almost like you have. Or maybe that's the confidence coming through.

It's the confidence. I'm not familiar with this story, though perhaps I read it once long ago and don't quite remember. I did that with quite a few notable works from Midgard.

[The illusions paused as Loki spoke, giving his attention briefly to Puck with the question. Also to take advantage of the pause, and steal some affection in the form of a brief kiss.]

You're enjoying?

That does sound familiar, I'm sure I've forgotten some plays that I've actually seen.

[The kiss was unexpected, but not unwelcomed at all, and Puck returned it before he answered, cheeks a bit flushed.] Of course I am, being able to see things as much as hear about them helps as much as your very fine performance.

We studied Midgard and it's cultures growing up, and will occasionally update ourselves too. But it's a large and varied realm.

[Loki murmured, nuzzling Puck and then kissing him again briefly before he settled back in to read.]

You see why I do this with Alice too, although the stories are different.

[There's a pause, and then very softly and almost shyly, hesitantly.]

Frigga did the same with me, growing up. When Thor and I were young, and she was telling us all the old stories.

It is-- but it wouldn't be as fun if it weren't.

[Puck smiled at the extra kiss and adjusted his position slightly. When Loki shared that Frigga used to do the same, he looked at the other, the story temporarily forgotten. His tone was soft.] How good you are to continue that tradition.

"I don't know that I'd call Midgard 'fun', but perhaps it's because I've not had the right company before." Loki remarked absently, being sure to mark his place for when he'd resume reading.

"Frigga was a good mother. The kind of person you wanted to have believe in you. She encouraged my gifts, taught me. My relationship with Odin was...more difficult. But it wasn't so with Frigga." Clear to Puck also that Loki regret that he and Frigga had fought, when they'd last spoken. Whatever complications his relationships with his adopted parents had, he still loved her as his mother.

"Oh parts of it aren't fun at all, but some can be quite fun. Company does matter, yes." Puck agreed before he listened as Loki spoke again.

"She sounds like she was." He reached until he could touch one of Loki's hands and squeezed it gently.Regrets could be like that, and that was something Puck understood. "I'm glad you had each other."

Loki turned more, so he could hide against Puck's hair somewhat. Moving to squeeze Puck's hand in turn, and low voiced. "A moment, if you will. Before I continue." Easy enough for the fae to recognize Loki still held a lot of pain and un-dealt with feelings regarding Frigga, and about her.

But it was not a time for sadness--and Loki would pull himself together shortly. He was trying to be more...open, as well. To let himself be vulnerable, at least around Puck.

Puck nodded gently. "Of course. As much as you need." It might not have been a time for sadness, but Puck had meant what he said in supporting Loki in all aspects. He would appreciate Loki's vulnerability by not encouraging him to hurry through it.

So for the time being, Puck focused on his breathing, being more present for Loki himself instead of the story time they were sharing. The book wasn't going anywhere.

Edited (typo fixing) 2024-09-03 23:55 (UTC)

The barest of nods in acknowledgement and thanks, as Loki breathed. Holding Puck's hand, letting the fae anchor him. No tears, no hitches of breath, but a definite tension in Loki for several moments.

Before a deep breath in, and out, a squeeze of the other's hand, and a kiss against his hair. All ways of saying thank you, and that Loki was alright again. Even smiling softly, was he shifted to get comfortable around Puck once more to continue the story with the illusions still paused.

"Now, where were we?"

Puck smiled back as Loki signaled he was ready to continue, and rested against him. Some tea was had before he answered.

"I think I was enjoying your storytelling while trying to hide how much the atmosphere of it was getting to me." Puck answered, only slightly joking. Really, the story's atmosphere was effective; but that made it more fun.

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