S-S-S-SABOTAGE and OBSTRUCTION on the HIGH SEAS.

[icasm]

WHO: Loki & Darras
WHAT: (Re)Creating the Suez Canal Disaster in the Minanter
WHEN: Now? Now
WHERE: Not too far from Starkhaven
NOTES: OOC information

Comments

[icasm]

"I wouldn't even say I can visualize those limits," Loki says with a small sigh, following Darras in the leaning forward bit. "I can do a few things. A handful of them are even dangerous." A one-shouldered shrug. "It is nothing like my travels to other countries in the past."

It's not a particular unsound bit of storytelling setup, though Loki wonders what he can pare down to ten minutes, give or take. "Would you prefer a story of... where I was raised, or of my travels?"

That pause has more to do with complicated feelings around the phrase 'my homeland' than anything else, really.

[staysail]

He grins when Loki keeps the parlance, other countries. In Darras' world, someone who can take the cues and fit in is always appreciated. It's not the same as someone who mindlessly toes the line. It's something more. Maybe Rifters are all right. He's never had a particular grudge, but he's never gone out of his way to get friendly with any of their number. That could've been a mistake.

"Let's start with where you were raised. Always good to know where a man's coming from, I think."

[icasm]

Loki thinks about it for a moment. A story involving his parents, or a story from his own life?

The latter is what he decides upon; Loki gives a little nod and extends his hands outward.

"There was a woman named Idun who grew the most spectacular fruits in her orchard; they were known far and wide. I tell you this because it is important to understand that people who weren't from my homeland even knew of her, and desired her for reasons complicated and not so."

A shrug. Darras can draw from that what he wishes.

"I was traveling with my brother and another friend, in the frozen wastes of a land of giants. There was no food, nothing growing, and so we slew a large grazing beast we found in a herd in our travels that day. However, no matter how hot our fires roared, we could not cook the beast. Above us was a giant eagle, and upon realizing we had noticed him, he told us that he was stopping our meat from cooking with his magic, but if we shared the meat with him he would allow us to cook it.

Now, there was nothing stopping him from hunting his own game, but we were hungry and tired and allowed for it. Of course, the moment we agreed, the bird flew down and stole all the nicest bits."

Loki shrugs. What can you do?

"I took some offense to this, as it was not the original agreement, and we were three hungry and tired where he was just one, and a bird nonetheless. I tried to swing a branch at the bird, to chase him off; unfortunately, he grabbed the branch with myself still attached and flew to a great height, threatening to drop me from there if I didn't swear to bring Idun and her fruit to him.

Of course, I made the vow. I'd rather not have ended up so much blood amongst ice and stones."

[staysail]

It's a good story. And Darras would know, being a fan of both the listening and the telling. He stays hunched over the ship's rail, paying close attention. He's a good and active listener too.

"Torture," he mutters, when the meat can't be cooked. And when Loki gets to the part where the bird steals the meat, Darras gives a judgmental click of his tongue. Would he steal meat from weary travelers, if his need was great? Maybe, yeah. That doesn't matter.

"You can't trust a bird," he says, with a sympathetic shake of his head. "Gulls especially, in my wide experience, but all birds're a little rotten. Now, I don't blame you for making the vow. Better to live than die. Did he take you back to your brother or did you have to make your own way back?"

[icasm]

"He let me off some distance away; nothing too close, no, and nothing that couldn't be walked, but considering the scare I'd received and the food I'd yet to eat, it was understandably not my favorite experience."

Loki shrugs. What can you do? He still feels fortunate that the giant-who-enchanted-himself-into-an-untrustworthy!-bird didn't dash his head on the rocks or just drop him from a great height.

"I did not tell my brother or our companions the agreement I had reached; I felt it best communicated to Idun directly, along with coming up with a plan to ensure that she did not remain in the bird's clutches. By this point, also, I had determined it was no mere bird but likely a giant who had enchanted himself to seem as such. For what nefarious purpose, other than to steal our food, I didn't know and in all honesty it did not matter.

We return to Asgard, and I tell Idun of this plot. We decide I will take her to him, and then steal her away again, so that the letter of the agreement is fulfilled."