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( Ellana manages to carry the nug, not full grown quite yet, tucked up under her good arm. It'd shown up in camp much like the first one had, and while she'd safely rehomed that creature with Jiu (a feral enough human child to perhaps appreciate a nug as companion, she senses Leliana would approve), she now has another one.
She'd been joking, Thirteen. She didn't want nugs! She wasn't Leliana!
Clucking her tongue and shaking her head, staff strapped across her back, she continues on her way to town... passing Loki at some point, where the nug starts struggling with all its epic squirming squirminess, until she has to crouch down to not drop the poor creature on its face. )
What in the world are you on about, nug?
( The nug can't speak, only grabs at the ground with its front paws and then bolts right out of her arm, lope-hopping right at Loki. It's highly debatable if the nug realises he's there or not at the moment, only that it has determined, in all of its nugly might, that it's tired of being carried. )
Don't worry, they don't bite! ( She calls out, straightening and not bolting after the nug. She's not chasing after it like a villager in a greased pig contest, thanks! ) I'm not sure it even knows it can.
She'd been joking, Thirteen. She didn't want nugs! She wasn't Leliana!
Clucking her tongue and shaking her head, staff strapped across her back, she continues on her way to town... passing Loki at some point, where the nug starts struggling with all its epic squirming squirminess, until she has to crouch down to not drop the poor creature on its face. )
What in the world are you on about, nug?
( The nug can't speak, only grabs at the ground with its front paws and then bolts right out of her arm, lope-hopping right at Loki. It's highly debatable if the nug realises he's there or not at the moment, only that it has determined, in all of its nugly might, that it's tired of being carried. )
Don't worry, they don't bite! ( She calls out, straightening and not bolting after the nug. She's not chasing after it like a villager in a greased pig contest, thanks! ) I'm not sure it even knows it can.
[In all honesty, Loki hadn't been paying attention to the woman wandering by, struggling with the curious creature in her arms, or what was left of one arm as it were. He'd been busy assessing a new bolt of cloth at a stand, thinking he might want a robe made from it when the shout came and he looked around for a moment before looking down when he noticed the dust being kicked up by something that was charging straight for him.
He had to admit he'd never seen anything quite like the strange creature making for him but he was immediately fascinated. Abandoning his shopping, he crouched in the creature's path, deftly catching it when it moved to evade him. The nug scrambled in his arms for a moment before he whispered something to it in a strange language, "kyrre", running his hand over its eyes. It wasn't a spell, just a calming technique he'd learned from a stable-hand once to calm skittish horses.
Once the creature stopped struggling, he looked over to the woman who'd shouted.]
I see you've lost your...whatever this is.
He had to admit he'd never seen anything quite like the strange creature making for him but he was immediately fascinated. Abandoning his shopping, he crouched in the creature's path, deftly catching it when it moved to evade him. The nug scrambled in his arms for a moment before he whispered something to it in a strange language, "kyrre", running his hand over its eyes. It wasn't a spell, just a calming technique he'd learned from a stable-hand once to calm skittish horses.
Once the creature stopped struggling, he looked over to the woman who'd shouted.]
I see you've lost your...whatever this is.
Ariadne's fingertips twitched just slightly as she stepped over the threshold, into Baba Yaga's domain. It was the only indication at all of her nerves, and not a very good once, since she was wearing her thick gloves. This wasn't the first time she'd been in the school. Just the first time she'd ever walked in willingly, to become a student.
She still didn't know how to feel about learning magic. It had been a defining point of her childhood at the missionary school that she couldn't do the simple spells that all of the Elves could do. While they practiced telepathy and telekinesis, she sat against the wall, underneath a window, doing figures in the hazy sunlight.
Not being magical made her different. Made her stand out. When all she really wanted to do was blend in.
Now what was she? Ariadne truly didn't know.
She was moving forward, though. Where ever that would take her remained to be seen. But if she was gifted with powers, she was going to use them.
To help people, of course. She was a Legend, after all. Even if she didn't know why.
She still didn't know how to feel about learning magic. It had been a defining point of her childhood at the missionary school that she couldn't do the simple spells that all of the Elves could do. While they practiced telepathy and telekinesis, she sat against the wall, underneath a window, doing figures in the hazy sunlight.
Not being magical made her different. Made her stand out. When all she really wanted to do was blend in.
Now what was she? Ariadne truly didn't know.
She was moving forward, though. Where ever that would take her remained to be seen. But if she was gifted with powers, she was going to use them.
To help people, of course. She was a Legend, after all. Even if she didn't know why.
The first time he'd walked into the school, too, was unwillingly, but the trial itself had earned his respect to the point he wanted to stay here, and the remote and isolated nature of the school itself gave him the ability to conduct research of his choosing without the prying eyes of the Avengers scouring it for missteps all the godsforsaken time.
He was fairly new to this position, and aside from a few consults here and there, he hadn't fully taken on an official student as of yet, but that just gave him even more free time to do whatever he wanted, to gather tomes from the school's library to consume for instance, which was where he was headed at the moment, passing through the school's entranceway from the faculty offices to the student areas. Loki's own attire was probably more casual than she'd expect from the prince, but work didn't require armor, and if it did he'd simply conjure some. He also wasn't hiding the three inch horns that were curving from the crest of his brows, his physical moniker of Myth.
He stopped when he saw Ariadne. There were many places he'd assume to happen upon her, but never here. Had she gotten lost? He approached curiously, smiling with charm as he came near.
"Welcome to Baba Yaga." As with all his comments, he smiles wryly, holding his hands out to the sides, ever ready with a bit of theatrics.
He was fairly new to this position, and aside from a few consults here and there, he hadn't fully taken on an official student as of yet, but that just gave him even more free time to do whatever he wanted, to gather tomes from the school's library to consume for instance, which was where he was headed at the moment, passing through the school's entranceway from the faculty offices to the student areas. Loki's own attire was probably more casual than she'd expect from the prince, but work didn't require armor, and if it did he'd simply conjure some. He also wasn't hiding the three inch horns that were curving from the crest of his brows, his physical moniker of Myth.
He stopped when he saw Ariadne. There were many places he'd assume to happen upon her, but never here. Had she gotten lost? He approached curiously, smiling with charm as he came near.
"Welcome to Baba Yaga." As with all his comments, he smiles wryly, holding his hands out to the sides, ever ready with a bit of theatrics.
She picked up his scent only a moment before spotting him. It was more subtle than one would expect for a prince. Not that it seemed to matter to him, all that much. Being a prince, that was. She had no idea how much thought he put into his scent.
Nevertheless, a smile broke out and she quickly scampered over. "Loki!" she said with delight, deciding that he was clearly spreading his arms for a hug.
That was usually why people spread their arms.
So she threw hers around his shoulders, giving him a little squeeze, before she stepped back to give the appropriate curtsy.
...just in case.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. He didn't seem like the sort that would take lessons. Or even need lessons, based on what she'd seen so far.
The horns were...new. But it wasn't the first time she'd seen them in town.
Nevertheless, a smile broke out and she quickly scampered over. "Loki!" she said with delight, deciding that he was clearly spreading his arms for a hug.
That was usually why people spread their arms.
So she threw hers around his shoulders, giving him a little squeeze, before she stepped back to give the appropriate curtsy.
...just in case.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. He didn't seem like the sort that would take lessons. Or even need lessons, based on what she'd seen so far.
The horns were...new. But it wasn't the first time she'd seen them in town.
Loki had been to many places where the presence of a prince would only serve to exacerbate things, and subtlety was something he had in spades when the need arose for it. Since his sacrifice, he'd found he didn't need the center of attention as he once had, though he never dwelled on that fact. It wasn't often Loki looked within, it was simpler that way.
It was not, however, often why Loki spread his arms. It was more demonstrative than anything, and he stiffened at the unexpected embrace for a moment before awkwardly returning the hug, relaxing only when she stepped back for her curtsy.
He straightened the sleeves of his tunic and smiled. "I work here, though I should ask you the same."
It was not, however, often why Loki spread his arms. It was more demonstrative than anything, and he stiffened at the unexpected embrace for a moment before awkwardly returning the hug, relaxing only when she stepped back for her curtsy.
He straightened the sleeves of his tunic and smiled. "I work here, though I should ask you the same."
Well, it wasn't exactly the warmest hug she'd ever received, but Ariadne decided not to dwell on that. Different cultures. Different rules.
But really, who didn't like hugs?
She smiled, shrugging one shoulder. "Well," she admitted. "It seems that I may now have some...magic." She still couldn't believe it. What would all of those children from her childhood say? How would they react? Zara, at least, would be excited for her. Ariadne was excited for herself, although still a bit...not nervous. That wasn't the right word. She searched all the languages she knew, but couldn't figure it out.
Apprehensive was the closest she could get. And it still wasn't right.
"Baba Yaga gifted it to me but...I have no idea how any of it works!" She wouldn't even have known she had it, if not for the change to the scent around her little treehouse.
But really, who didn't like hugs?
She smiled, shrugging one shoulder. "Well," she admitted. "It seems that I may now have some...magic." She still couldn't believe it. What would all of those children from her childhood say? How would they react? Zara, at least, would be excited for her. Ariadne was excited for herself, although still a bit...not nervous. That wasn't the right word. She searched all the languages she knew, but couldn't figure it out.
Apprehensive was the closest she could get. And it still wasn't right.
"Baba Yaga gifted it to me but...I have no idea how any of it works!" She wouldn't even have known she had it, if not for the change to the scent around her little treehouse.
Would that it were simply a cultural thing and not a lack of affectionate physical contact on Loki's part that made him stiff when receiving it.
It wasn't that he didn't like the hug, only that such things made him wary.
"Oh? What sort?" It would directly dictate the course of her education, of course. "How is it you know you have it? Have you made anything happen?"
It wasn't that he didn't like the hug, only that such things made him wary.
"Oh? What sort?" It would directly dictate the course of her education, of course. "How is it you know you have it? Have you made anything happen?"
"Like I said, it was a gift," she said, squirming a little because the whole thing was still quite surreal. "Last month, she caught up a bunch of us and tested us to survive her trial. And I did." She paused. She didn't want to sound like she was bragging--because she absolutely wasn't--but to clarify, she added, "Three times."
A few times too many, really. But Ariadne was still more than a little convinced that she'd never actually been in real anger.
The snake had saved her. Several times! And Varen and Lorna and Steve too.
"But I'm not sure about the type, exactly," she added. "I made three requests. And I've only figured out the one so far." She held up her hand. It took quite a bit of effort on her part--she still didn't know how to focus her mind the right way--before a small, swirling portal opened in front of them, roughly the size of a doorway. The space beyond was a watercolor of white, pink, and blue. "It's...empty. But if I go inside, the doorway closes and I'm alone."
A sort of magical escape room.
"I've been told that my ancestors could do such magic. And I said something to Baba Yaga about living up to them."
A few times too many, really. But Ariadne was still more than a little convinced that she'd never actually been in real anger.
The snake had saved her. Several times! And Varen and Lorna and Steve too.
"But I'm not sure about the type, exactly," she added. "I made three requests. And I've only figured out the one so far." She held up her hand. It took quite a bit of effort on her part--she still didn't know how to focus her mind the right way--before a small, swirling portal opened in front of them, roughly the size of a doorway. The space beyond was a watercolor of white, pink, and blue. "It's...empty. But if I go inside, the doorway closes and I'm alone."
A sort of magical escape room.
"I've been told that my ancestors could do such magic. And I said something to Baba Yaga about living up to them."
"Thankfully, I was only trapped there the once." But I was also successful. The latter were words she would hear in her mind, not her ears. He was still a new hand at his acquired telepathy, but he was learning. He couldn't quite sent thought yet that made any sense aside from words, but she needn't know that, either.
His eyebrows rose as she demonstrated her ability. "Very interesting." He looked to her. "And can this doorway be any size? Can you open it again from the other side? Can you choose the location?" He paused, taking a breath and clearing his throat. "Have you tried?"
His eyebrows rose as she demonstrated her ability. "Very interesting." He looked to her. "And can this doorway be any size? Can you open it again from the other side? Can you choose the location?" He paused, taking a breath and clearing his throat. "Have you tried?"
It wasn't the first time someone put words into her head.
But it was the first time it had happened here. She blinked in surprise a little, her placid exterior cracking just slightly.
Loki was a bit like an Elf. Even with his round ears.
She cleared her throat. "Um...I don't know. I think so. I don't think so. And no. In that order. I think." She replayed his questions in her mind, then nodded. "Yes. In that order."
Beside her, the doorway flickered and snapped shut, blowing a gentle, warm puff of air over both of them.
"I also can't really control how long it's open. Yet."
But it was the first time it had happened here. She blinked in surprise a little, her placid exterior cracking just slightly.
Loki was a bit like an Elf. Even with his round ears.
She cleared her throat. "Um...I don't know. I think so. I don't think so. And no. In that order. I think." She replayed his questions in her mind, then nodded. "Yes. In that order."
Beside her, the doorway flickered and snapped shut, blowing a gentle, warm puff of air over both of them.
"I also can't really control how long it's open. Yet."
He could be, it was true, though he'd take offense if the comparison was ever made. Elves murdered his mother.
"Well, it's something to work with. Is it new to this place, or have you know of similar abilities in the past?"
If the sudden closing of the doorway startled him, he didn't show it. "Noted. We can work with that, that is, if you're here seeking an instructor."
"Well, it's something to work with. Is it new to this place, or have you know of similar abilities in the past?"
If the sudden closing of the doorway startled him, he didn't show it. "Noted. We can work with that, that is, if you're here seeking an instructor."
She shrugged. "There are legends about my ancestors being able to do something like it. They used it to escape hunters, if the stories can be believed." And she more or less believed them. An oral history was a complicated and messy thing. But there was enough truth in it to satisfy her.
Not that she had the best relationship with the truth.
All that was quickly forgotten, though. Because she was startled to hear Loki...was he? Was he really offering to tutor her? Surely a prince and a god had better things to do with his time but...
That was certainly what it sounded like.
Me? She thought it, not quite realizing that she was projecting her thoughts toward him. Would someone like him really waste his time on someone like me? That would be beyond anything I could have hoped for.
Meanwhile, out loud, she nodded. "Yes, I am seeking an instructor."
Not that she had the best relationship with the truth.
All that was quickly forgotten, though. Because she was startled to hear Loki...was he? Was he really offering to tutor her? Surely a prince and a god had better things to do with his time but...
That was certainly what it sounded like.
Me? She thought it, not quite realizing that she was projecting her thoughts toward him. Would someone like him really waste his time on someone like me? That would be beyond anything I could have hoped for.
Meanwhile, out loud, she nodded. "Yes, I am seeking an instructor."
an oral history was more what Loki was accustomed to, at least where the histories of Asgard and the Nine Realms were concerned, and he believed they should never be discredited, no matter what the reason.
"I don't see why it couldn't." But that was also beneficial. If it was an ability native to her people, it was possible she already possessed the control necessary to master it.
Her telepathic message wasn't directed at him, but it served to bolster his ego regardless, and he puffed up slightly, smiling.
"Well then, I suppose you've found one."
"I don't see why it couldn't." But that was also beneficial. If it was an ability native to her people, it was possible she already possessed the control necessary to master it.
Her telepathic message wasn't directed at him, but it served to bolster his ego regardless, and he puffed up slightly, smiling.
"Well then, I suppose you've found one."
"Really?"
She broke out into a broad grin. A big, nearly goofy one that at least had the benefit of reaching her eyes, making them shine like silver coins in a fountain. There was a reason why some mistook Ariadne for a pixie. When she felt an emotion--really, really felt it--it was with all of her whole being.
What an honor! To be taught magic by a prince and god?
It was impossible.
And yet here, in Folkmore, she was beginning to truly believe that anything was possible. Which was a heady perfume, one she admired very, very much.
"I don't know what to say. Thank you!"
She broke out into a broad grin. A big, nearly goofy one that at least had the benefit of reaching her eyes, making them shine like silver coins in a fountain. There was a reason why some mistook Ariadne for a pixie. When she felt an emotion--really, really felt it--it was with all of her whole being.
What an honor! To be taught magic by a prince and god?
It was impossible.
And yet here, in Folkmore, she was beginning to truly believe that anything was possible. Which was a heady perfume, one she admired very, very much.
"I don't know what to say. Thank you!"
If there was any reason to keep Airy around other than her generally being pleasant company, it was to make him feel better about himself. So many here judged him for his decisions, and rightly so.
Granted, she didn't know what any of those were, either.
All the better. Strange, though, that Steve hadn't mentioned to her how dangerous he was. Maybe she hadn't mentioned him to the captain? How fortunate.
"Thank you is a start, but we'll have to see how apt a pupil you are."
Granted, she didn't know what any of those were, either.
All the better. Strange, though, that Steve hadn't mentioned to her how dangerous he was. Maybe she hadn't mentioned him to the captain? How fortunate.
"Thank you is a start, but we'll have to see how apt a pupil you are."
Eager to prove herself, she pulled herself up to her full height, raising her chin to a practiced, imperious angle. The kind that the ladies of court used when they were measuring up a suitor they deemed far beneath them.
It was a little bit of an unnatural look on Ariadne, but she felt that it made her seem a bit more confident.
"I was a good student for the missionaries," she said. "It took me less than a year to learn to read and write." Granted, magic was hardly reading and writing. But it was the best she could offer. "How do we start?"
It was a little bit of an unnatural look on Ariadne, but she felt that it made her seem a bit more confident.
"I was a good student for the missionaries," she said. "It took me less than a year to learn to read and write." Granted, magic was hardly reading and writing. But it was the best she could offer. "How do we start?"
Loki stifles a grin at her attempted arrogance, honing in it being faked. He could understand. There was a time when he'd done the same in an attempt to appear equal to his brother. He's since realized he was appreciated for his own strengths by both his parents, but it was only too late that he learned it. Even Thor failed to communicate it, to everyone's detriment. The choices were his own, of course, but while he felt a great deal of remorse for his actions, no on else needed to know about it.
"We'll see if your magic skills prove as easy to master as your letters." He smiled, then. "Would you like to begin immediately?"
"We'll see if your magic skills prove as easy to master as your letters." He smiled, then. "Would you like to begin immediately?"
It was hard not to sound overly eager when she nodded and said, "Yes!" But Ariadne supposed there was nothing wrong with being an enthusiastic student. She'd come to the school of her own volition, after all. And made no secret of the fact that she liked Loki and enjoyed his company.
So she didn't let her smile dim. And didn't apologize for the way she was bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Just a little bit.
So she didn't let her smile dim. And didn't apologize for the way she was bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Just a little bit.
[ Loki is no doubt familiar with Era's Carbuncle by now, though today it wears both a festive hat and a lovely ribbon around its neck, upon which is tied a small gift box, wrapped with utmost care.
There is a note tucked inside the gift, obscuring the beautifully rich, orange gemstone within. The note is handwritten in elegant Eorzean script, which he should be acquainted with by this point in their lessons. The deep crimson ink used has a festive shimmer to it. ]
Loki,
Happy Starlight Celebration! ( some perfect stars are drawn in sparkling, gold & silver inks )
It is a bit late due to unforeseen complications, but I believe you will appreciate this gift all the same.
- Era
There is a note tucked inside the gift, obscuring the beautifully rich, orange gemstone within. The note is handwritten in elegant Eorzean script, which he should be acquainted with by this point in their lessons. The deep crimson ink used has a festive shimmer to it. ]
Loki,
Happy Starlight Celebration! ( some perfect stars are drawn in sparkling, gold & silver inks )
It is a bit late due to unforeseen complications, but I believe you will appreciate this gift all the same.
- Era
[ Tony wordlessly sends an invitation to a Valentine’s party that he scribbled on. ]
OOC: [ Helpful Link to the Log ]
OOC: [ Helpful Link to the Log ]
1. I do. Something fetching but not formal ball material.
2. Letting a host know you're coming.
2. Letting a host know you're coming.
Anything complimentary to your form.
...Do you need a hand?
...Do you need a hand?
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