driftfleet | Libuscha IV System Mingle (no. 1)

[Thor crosses his arms and stares at the ground for a few moments, trying to come up with something that would be a secret he hasn't told. An unburdening? Some things just aren't simple to share, to the point where they don't even occur to him yet. But something from childhood that he's never admitted to...]

I once brought a young bilgesnipe into the palace when I was a child because I intended to tame the beast and ride it. It destroyed about ten rooms before anyone could catch it and get rid of it.

[He glances over at Taako, not very ashamed but still a bit guilty even after this many centuries.]

I never admitted I was the one who let it in.

[The hell is a bilgesnipe? Until Thor explains it's an animal that destroyed ten rooms, Taako honestly thought he was talking about sewer piping. Which would have been weird? But gods could be weird sometimes. He notes the guilty look in his eyes, but then glances at the tree to see if there's any reaction.]

Who got the blame for it? I assume these big beasties didn't just wander in all that often by their lonesomes?

Uhh, it was... a servant. For leaving a door open.

[Which was awkward as hell, and Thor's positive Loki knew it was really him. But he'd been far too nervous of getting the blame to 'fess up.]

Which I do feel bad about, but they weren't reprimanded too much. [He follows Taako's gaze over to the tree. It remains as aloof and pretty as always. Blowing out an explosive sigh, Thor shrugs.]

Not good enough, it seems! Your turn.

Well that's kinda shitty.

[But at least they weren't yelled at too much. And good on that servant for not just spilling the beans because in his experience? The hired help always knew more than they let on.

But since that wasn't enough Taako groans and rolls his eyes. What can he even talk about? The voidfish wasn't eating information anymore over here as evidenced by Lup's experiment with yelling about Greg fucking Grimaldis, so he could probably talk about the Bureau if he wanted. But why? It's not like anything that happened there would actually be worth discussing here. No ne knew the Grand Relics, no one knew about anything in his life. It made it easy to just float from place to place here, never really setting down any roots or making any real connections. Eventually, he'd break his way out of here and never see any of these people again, so....? Why bother?]

Eh. I've died like 19 times apparently. I dunno if that counts as "unburdening" myself though because I don't even remember the first eight and I just have the Grim Reaper's bounty on my head to go by. And it doesn't really bother me.

[Well he wasn't expecting that. Thor's eyebrows shoot up as he stares at Taako, as though he could spot evidence of nearly twenty deaths on the guy.]

Wait, you've died that many times and come back each time?

I'm just that fantastic.

[But yep. There's no evidence of it unless Thor can somehow see the marks on his soul - which they apparently exist? He has to ask Kravitz about it in further detail someday when he isn't freaked out by the whole idea of it.]

Eleven of 'em are kiiinda my bad, but the first eight are a blank. No idea, no recollection.

[Thor snorts, amused despite the morbid undertones.]

I must admit, I would be bothered if something like that had happened but I had no memory of it. Though dying in general is not pleasant. I've only done it once and have no desire to try it again.

[Even if that time had been a unique circumstance, a lack of powers met with a vindictive automaton. Thor doesn't much like to think about who had been controlling the automaton either.]

Yeah, dying eleven times? Reeeeally don't recommend it.

[He doesn't like to admit it bothers him, but it does. He died. He died and came back and each time he felt it and lived it, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. It wasn't until Kravitz showed up again in their rooms that he'd realized that the deaths were actual deaths and not, like, resets though. That had been a little jarring.]

But not remembering things is kind of....well, it's shitty, but it's uh "normal" for me, now, I guess. Kind of. [This is the part that makes Taako uncomfortable. Dying was unpleasant, but he'd been able to laugh it all off in the end. It was the gap that the Chalice showed him, and the gaps that Lup keeps poking in his life, that crawl under his skin.

But since Taako has put 0% of his skill tree into being honest with anyone, he quickly switches gears.]

So how'd you die? I thought gods were supposed to be like...immortal beings of power of something. Did your luck run out?

[Thor uncrosses his arms finally, regarding Taako with a softer look.]

How is it normal?

[He has to blink at the change of subject only to chuckle a bit, self-conscious. Thor did bring it up himself, unfortunate though the whole event was. Shaking his head, he stares off into the boughs of the ice tree.]

Asgardians aren't immortal, though our lives are much longer than that of most other beings. At that time ... well, I'd been stripped of my powers. I was no stronger than a human. And I faced down something I knew I was no match for.

[Not in a fight. Thor had hoped to match Loki, the one pulling the strings, in reason at the least. He hadn't known then how far from reason Loki had fallen.]

[He wants to avoid this subject entirely, but a look at the tree gives him the impression that this is what it wants. Because of course it does. It couldn't take the myriad of baubles and gifts Taako dropped in the water and ruined. It just had to have the one thing that actually bothered him. It wasn't exactly something he could fully let go of either, not with Lup still here. Not with Kravitz being from a completely different point in time. He fidgets for a moment, then ignores Thor's question, skirting around to talk about his thing instead.

He didn't think what went on in his head was anyone's business but his own. If this tree wanted that out of him, it would have to really make it worth his while.]

So I guess your luck did run out. But why would you go toe-to-toe with something knowing it was just gonna, you know, wipe the floor with you?

[It isn't unknown behaviour to Thor. Talking to Loki about anything he doesn't want to discuss is much the same. Shifting on his heels, he lets out a breath, not quite in a mood to be cavalier about it. That 'death' wasn't something he dwelt on overmuch, not so much as the cause behind it. He needs to be careful here not to lay blame somewhere it can be recognised.]

It was after me, but it was destroying the town I was in. Where my friends were. I thought that going out and facing it was better than letting it raze the place to the ground.

Just gotta rush in and be a hero, huh?

[That's something Taako understands - although not him. He's the last person ever to rush into something, preferring a (mostly?) thought out plan and relying on his magic to get him out of nasty situations. If he ever lost it? Taako internally shudders at the thought. He remembers what it is was like being that helpless, constantly alert for danger, and he doesn't relish the thought of going back to that.]

But it looks like it worked out for you in the end. Powers all back and, yanno. [He gestures at Thor.]

Not dead. How'd you win?

[Thor scratches his cheek, humming in thought.]

It was more of a steady walk, but - yes. That was the idea. [Shaking his head finally, he hitches up a smile.] Doing that made me worthy of having my powers again, and they returned to me along with my hammer. That brought me back.

[Then he smacks a fist into his other palm.]

And then the Destroyer didn't stand a chance against me.

Wait, you have to be worthy of your powers?

[That's one hell of a caveat.]

You're a god though. Don't gods just kind of auto-radiate power?

Edited (Spelling (´・д・｀)) 2018-12-12 14:01 (UTC)

[His smile turns a little less bright, something more tired tugging at it.]

Not if you father decides to strip them from you as punishment.

[It really wasn't that long ago. Seven years, barely a blink in his lifetime. And yet it feels far more distant, the time between who Thor had been back then and who he is now. Not to mention how he had seen Odin then and what he knows today.]

[That's. Huh. That's surprising? And it shows on Taako's face. He didn't think gods could do that to one another. At least the gods he knew wouldn't or couldn't. If the Raven Queen decided to mess with Istus' powers, por Oghma went after Pan for whatever reason, there would probably be a world melting war that ensued.]

Well shit. What'd you do to deserve that kinda punishment?

[The words are out of his mouth before he can really consider the consequences of them. And once his brain catches up, he shrugs his shoulders, crossing his arms over his chest.]

You know, if you wanna talk about it. If not, totally cool.

[The vagaries of the gods aren't something Thor often explains to his mortal friends. For one thing, they don't ask very often. For another, Thor had essentially exiled himself the last time he was on Earth, with too much fresh disillusionment and grief to want to discuss it much. This particular incident in his life? He doesn't talk about it often. There are worse things to have happened to him since then, but the first stroke cuts the hardest.

He's not surprised to be asked, though his mouth sets into an unhappy line. Taking a deep breath, Thor shakes his head.]

I don't enjoy it, but it isn't something I consider a secret. Just a story I don't often tell here.

[He paces away for the moment, glancing up at the tree glowing brightly overhead.]

I disobeyed his direct order and tried to start a war with another world. In response, he took my power from me and banished me to Earth.

[When Thor moves away, Taako hooks his hands into his belt, following his gaze to the tree. It seems to be glowing brighter now that they're talking. This is what that thing wants, huh? A spilling of non-secrets?

Huh.

It's weird to think of the gods able to make their own mistakes and fuck-ups. There were stories, certainly, but he never expected to have one recounted to him by the god himself.]

Got a little too ambitious for Dad, huh? Why'd you want to start a war anyway? Isn't that kind of a, yanno...bad thing? Did they wrong you?

[The tree is certainly reacting to something. Thor heaves a sigh, turning his head again to look Taako's way.]

Well -- the Jotun had invaded our vault. I thought that an act of war in itself, but Father said we would not retaliate. There was a peace treaty between Asgard and Jotunheim. [With a grimace, Thor shakes his head.] That wasn't a good enough reason for me to ignore the insult.

I took Loki and my friends with me to Jotunheim to seek vengeance. [It's an ache to remember that now, both for his own stupidity and the loss of his friends in the years since.] We might have been killed there had Odin not intervened.

[Honestly, Taako would have gone scorched earth if someone stole from him, too, but only against those who had commmitted the act. And it's not like he hasn't done some seriously bad shit, enough that some people probably had started to hate Sun Elves like him for it. He's a spectacularly bad example of elves though, so he's not sure how he feels about Thor's old way of thinking.]

So...some assholes stole from you, and you decided to just say "fuck it" to the whole peace treaty?

[Daaaamn. It's obvious he regrets his choice now with the way he grimaces at the memory of it, and the guilt that hid in his eyes when talking about this whole thing. It's an old grievance, certainly, but Taako knows how that sort of shit just sticks to you, no matter how many years pass.]

No wonder your dad got super-pissed. What happened to the treaty? Did they retaliate?

I honestly didn't think about it much at the time. [He shrugs then, rubbing the back of his neck.] I was an idiot about the whole thing, and absolutely deserved the punishment.

[Without it, there's no telling if Thor's arrogance would have continued to grow over the years. He wonders now in the wake of Ragnarok whether Odin saw Hela in Thor's actions, and that's what prompted his immediate banishment.

Sometimes, he wonders if he would have become as monstrous as Hela, had events fallen differently.]

They did, though there were other things going on at the time. When I was banished it was to another realm - I had no way of knowing what was happening back on Asgard until I returned. As for the treaty... [Thor drums his fingers on his arm, drawn back to more immediate matters.] In theory it still holds, but in reality I'm not sure it matters. If I'm ever in a good position to do so I would hope to establish friendly relations with Jotunheim again. Since I'm king now that would be my duty.

But that day is likely far off.

[Sounds like it was a lesson learned, so Taako shrugs and nods. Yeah, this Thor definitely doesn't feel like the kind of guy who'd just go buckwild for war and attack a different people.

But it's still something to keep in mind. People, even gods, had an inherent nature. It could be tempered, it could be shifted, it could even be changed, but it could never be erased. Traces of what made you as a person always clung to the edges, ready to rear their ugly heads the moment things got desperate.]

Far off 'cause you're, yanno, stuck here? Or far off 'cause of shit going on back home still?

Because if the former - totes get it. If the latter? Thaaat sucks.

The latter. There are more important things I must do first, since Asgard is--

[Thor cuts off with surprise as a loud splash rings out from the pool beneath the tree. Whipping around, he can see the ripples spreading out from a point just next to the shore. With a uncertain glance back at Taako, Thor approaches the disturbed water. Something's in there where there was nothing before. He reaches down and pulls something out from under the surface - then barks a startled laugh.]

Oh my god, I haven't seen this in years.

[In his hand is a silver, winged helmet, all sweeping lines and flawlessly polished. He spins it up to hold it in both hands, frankly astonished that this is what the tree chose to give him. Seven years wasn't that long in the grand scheme of his life, but it felt like an age ago.]

[Taako actually jumps when something crashes into the water, instinctively sliding behind the biggest shield in the room - Thor. The ice caves had been safe so far, but with his luck a giant worm or kruthik or something would pop out of nowhere ready to devour them. But when no monster appears and Thor glances at him, Taako shrugs and motions him forward.

Something was there in the water and?

Thor's laughing? Taako takes a step forward and peeks at the thing he's got in his hands now, puzzled at the appearance of a silver helmet.]

That thing belongs to you?

[He glances up at the ceiling, but there's nothing by softly glowing ice and crystal stalactites. How the heck did it end up--

Oh.

Taako looks back at the tree which has reduced in its brilliance and frowns. So that's the game, is it?]

Neat little nostalgia bomb, huh? God of Luck's luck holds out yet again.

It does, yeah. I haven't worn it since my coronation a few years ago.

[And it was lost in the destruction of Asgard, same as anything else. Flipping it over, Thor raises it and puts it on his head. It's ostentatious as hell, but it does look good.]

I don't know what I was expecting from this tree, but it wasn't this.

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