nexus_crossings | Mother always told me to never give away a story for free

Mother always told me to never give away a story for free

"Honestly, all this bare chest and he hits home right in the fabric..."

Did the demonic looking purple stranger look at all put out by the new locale? Not really, they'd been given a pamphlet that was currently tucked into their belt to be reviewed later. Their attention more focused on the bloody hole in their rather ostentatious coat, lips quirking on a frown as they fingered the damaged fabric lightly, tail twitching behind them in a clear hint of their annoyance.

Really, they're looking rather calm for someone that bloody. When they hear someone coming near they glance up with a jingle of jewelry both in skin and decorating their curved horns, red eyes brightening as their mouth spreads to a cheerfully hopeful smile.

"Well then!" They straighten, something of a showmanship in the shift from grumpy contemplation to sunny disposition but at the same time that shift didn't seem dishonest either. "Hello there darling, please tell me there's some manner of tailor to be found here? As you can likely see I'm in dire need of one."

Clearly this was some manner of weird afterlife, but Mollymauk would be dipped in Fuck No if anyone expected them to wander around with their coat in tatters.

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"You are a wonderful host, Loki and I can assure you I have experienced the hospitality of many, both wonderful and not so much and as such am quite well-suited to say so." The promise was definitely reassuring. For all a promise was a thing often broken, that Loki wanted to offer it was sweet. And he didn't especially strike Molly as the sort to make flippant promises so there was that assurance too.

The admission, and the dispelling of the illusion caught Molly's interest, gaze roving over the changes in form. "Jotnarr? Not a race I've heard of either... but to be fair, it's not terribly impossible for a tiefling to not have a tail. If you'd that and horns why you'd be a lovely twin to my dear friend Jester with that hue you're sporting." He stayed settled back, something a bit wistful cast into his smile as it might've occurred to him that if he was dead, it was likely to be a very long time before he saw her again. Or any of the Nein. Gods, he hoped so for their own sakes. "You'd like her, she's a delightful little ray of sunshine."

He nodded his understanding of where he could find something recreational. Didn't know where things stood here versus the options back home so figured playing with whatever Palmer had on offer would be the place to start. He'd nudge deeper if he felt the desire once he was feeling better sorted as Loki had so aptly suggested.

"Oh I read fortunes," Molly replied to the understandable question, a flick of fingers letting his tarot deck all but appear in his hands in a showy flourish, the tiefling smiling. "Tarot is my specialty but I'm not above drawing runes or throwing bones if someone has a special request."

"I should hope so. Technically, I'm a prince, though I'm not really required to function as such any longer. Not most of the time, anyway." Thor does still rely on his advice occasionally, and he's still keeping an eye on the refugees of the Statesman, not just his own children--but since he's dead, it's a very informal arrangement.

He smiles faintly. "Also known as Frost Giants, yes. I'm an unusually small specimen. I've seen Jotnarr with horns, but never tails. Ultimately, they're not a sociable race and aside from me and my alternates you're not likely to meet any here, but I suppose some part of me takes note of a similar appearance."

Psychologically, it's probably a good sign for Loki that he does react with interest to someone who looks Jotun, rather than revulsion or rage. He's come a long way from the princeling who tried to blow up a planet.

"I'm sure I would," he agrees gently, guessing that wistful look has to do with the thought that he's left this friend of his behind for good. "Sometimes people do find ways to arrive here without being dead, but it's best to make your own way without looking for that."

The outside of the wound is healed shut at this point, on both ends, but the muscle damage is still being pieced back together. Loki takes a moment to get another swig of whiskey before resuming. And he looks pleasantly surprised when Molly reveals the trade in question. "Oh! Well, it won't be hard to get a clientele for that here. You can set up anywhere; it's not illegal to tell fortunes in the Plaza. If you wanted a shop front, you might have to negotiate with a coffee shop or a tearoom for a space. I can't really advise you there, but if you were worried about getting harassed, don't."

And while there are myriad ways a person can make mischief by telling fortunes, Loki can't think of any offhand that would put them in opposition. Good. "I'd offer you my guestroom, honestly, but I don't have one because my house is full of children. And it would be somewhat irresponsible as a parent to bring in a visitor I've only just met. I've a safe house nearby, though; it's small but comfortable and you're welcome to it until you find something that suits you better."

"Well given the name I can imagine you might be smaller, but if that comes with being so very charming as you've come across then I much prefer meeting you."

"Well maybe someday she'll pop up and you'll be able to meet her as well." It wouldn't surprise him that the Nein might accidentally find themselves here. But then he definitely didn't want them to get there like he did.

"But honestly, too small or no, can I say you are striking?" The tiefling mused, a thing to both compliment Loki as well as to distract from the oddity of the sensation of healing. "I'm picturing you just painting those lines over with a bit of gold, just the barest hint for a little bit of shine, the effect would be just incredible."

Idly letting the cards shuffle through ring-decked fingers, a general sort of fidget as they were speaking. "Good to know though, most places are generally okay with fortunes but you never no sometimes! Some places people get nervous. And I would greatly appreciate the use of a safe house, if it won't put you out too much of course."

"I'm so much smaller it makes me wonder if I am, in fact, biologically from two different species. But I have no way to determine that, and ultimately it better suits my nature to be ambiguous. I am known as the god of lies and mischief in my universe of origin."

Striking. That's a nice compliment, much easier to accept than 'beautiful', but equally satisfying. Loki's smile widens and gains a few degrees of warmth. "You can say it as much as you like. I'm not one to argue with admiration."

The idea makes a violet tinge that may well be a blush creep up the back of his neck, though. "They're, ah, a bit ticklish, but..." But. Aesthetically, it's a very good suggestion and even Loki can see that at once. He can imagine both Harley and Megatron appreciating that. "I'll take it under advisement."

"The safehouse I'm thinking of is actually inside a large tree at the edge of my property. I'll have to key the wards to you, but that won't take long. Just try not to startle my housekeeper when she walks to and from my place. She's a gem; losing her would be a disaster."

"The god of lies and mischief?" Molly murmured in a bit of wondering amusement. "I was absolutely correct, Jester would be thrilled to meet you. She's a follower of one of the gods back home, The Traveler, patron of mischief and spreading joy. I'm one of Sehanine's, trickery and illusion being amongst her purview I find myself in familiar company. No wonder we seem to be getting on so well."

An amusing bit of... coincidence? Fate? Whatever the case like drew like here which was interesting to note. As was that blush, Molly's smile softening slightly. "Please do. It's a shame to hide such a lovely face if you ask me."

But that blush meant that unless Loki continued that conversation thread, Molly was content to let it lie there in favor of the shift that followed. "Oh but that sounds lovely. I'll do my best to not be alarming for her, I'm sure it will be fine though."

Loki nods. "I may be a better Trickster than I am a god, really, but yes. Lies and mischief, with a special attention to the care of the outcast, solitary and maligned--whether they're justifiably maligned or not. I knew you were--mm, akin? Associated? After talking with you for a few moments. I might not be quite so attentive otherwise, though I do tend not to be comfortable with just leaving bleeding people in the Plaza to fend for themselves."

You're getting the Quality Loki Experience, is what he's saying, where other injured parties might just get the Economy Package.

"Mischief and spreading joy..." this is interesting to him! "I'm not often accused of the latter, alas, but I like the sound of it. It must be nice to have that patronage."

The blush lingers, but does not intensify, but there's a quirk to Loki's smile that suggests he's genuinely touched by the compliment. "It's difficult," he says. "Jotnarr are not well-thought of in the culture I grew up in. I did not discover I was one until well after I came of age. I'm more comfortable with this face now than I was even a few years ago, but...well. The flattery is much appreciated."

"Mrs. Hedgeworthy is a much tougher soul than she seems at a glance, anyway. You might like her; she used to be an art thief when she was younger. The clever kind that subverts complicated security systems. She's under strict orders not to tell my children her best stories lest they choose a career that means I'll have to bail them out of jail repeatedly."

And now, it seems he's done with the wound, sitting back and rolling his shoulders to release tension. "The muscles will be a bit weak for a few days yet," he says. "You're going to want to eat heartily. But all the parts that should be inside of you will stay there now, and nothing that's outside of you will be able to come in without prior authorization. How do you feel?"

"Well you can rest assured that I am most definitely appreciative of your attentiveness in this regard, you've been most very accommodating to this particular bleeding fool." His smile warms a bit as he nods his agreement to Loki's assessment. "Of anyone, I'd say Jester was the ideal follower for a god such as hers. She is a veritable ray of sunshine even in the darkest of situations. And has a devastating mind for the most entertaining sorts of mischief as well."

His expression shifts a bit at that description of the suspicion of Jotnarr, not pitying, but something more sympathetic, empathetic in the gleam of red eyes. "Tieflings are much the same unfortunately. Born of some union of human and demon, I doubt I need to tell you the sort of suspicions and assumptions that follow my kind, no matter how carefully one works to keep a sterling reputation. Some do try and hide themselves in some way, but I find for me..."

He huffed faintly, considering one of the cards he was turning between a pair of fingers in a slow rotation. "You can know a lot about a person from a reaction. If I'm not hiding myself well, I see the truth of people's opinions when they first see me. Lets me get a better bead on who I can maybe trust a bit more than others. Friends and the like."

He lets his eyes playfully widen at the description of Mrs. Hedgeworthy, mouth rounding on a soft sound of surprise. "So what I'm hearing is that this marvelous woman is definitely someone I should charm into maybe sharing stories of her surely entertaining capers with me then, seeing as the children can't hear them?"

He doesn't jump up and do cartwheels once Loki finishes his work. The cards are slipped away as neatly as they'd appeared, and he shifts in stages, first to sit up, twisting his torso lightly to feel the movement, that everything is about where it should be. He feels the aforementioned weakness, but that wasn't a terribly new thing for major injuries, so he nodded as he gingerly took to his feet once it felt like everything was working as it should. "You say you're a shite healer, the ones where you come from must be amazing. I feel much better now thanks to you."

"Perhaps I will get to meet her some day. Under less dire circumstances than this, I hope." He reaches out and gives Molly's shoulder a gentle pat. It sounds like he is going to miss this companion of his, and possibly many others. It's to his credit that he's taking the shock well, but Loki feels for him.

"Oh?" The mention of demonic heritage prompts him to give his guest a second glance. He can sort of sense it now that it's brought to his attention, but in general he isn't attuned to such things. "There are all kinds of people here. Humans and those that resemble them predominate, but it's a wider variety than it seems at first glance. I won't swear to it that you won't encounter prejudice at all, but I shouldn't wonder if you find it rarer here."

"And in any case, you are not without friends."

He laughs then. "Don't tell her I tipped you off, but yes--I highly recommend charming her into storytelling. She likes a dry sherry if you want to offer her a drink sometime."

Loki wipes his hands off on the towel and banishes it to a pocket dimension. He'll either clean it or incinerate it later. He nods his approval as Molly stands and gets up himself, with a stretch and a sigh. "Mm, well, our healers in Asgard were all instructed by the actual goddess of mercy, so perhaps my standards are skewed. I'll take the compliment, anyway."

"So long as it's not literally a pitchfork and torches mob I am more than happy to ignore any fussy sorts. Not like I'm about to go trying to rouse their ire, that's absolutely not my scene." But the mention of friends about does earn a grin from him, something pleased in the expression.

"Don't tell her it was you, and make sure I have a good sherry on hand to tempt her with, that I can certainly do. Worst comes to worst I can always ply her with ridiculous tales of my own." Not all of them true, but then stories were about being entertaining in that case rather than being wholly honest. And between making someone laugh or being honest, Molly would hands down choose laughter.

The tiefling plucks a scarlet kerchief that looks to be some manner of linen from some random pocket to daub away some of the blood from his own skin and hands, humming a low note of understanding. "Well there's your problem my friend!" God or no, Molly had no trouble with just continuing as they'd been with his typical charm. "Comparing yourself to who I can only assume is the pinnacle is just a formula for setting yourself up for disappointment. Don't sell yourself so short, you're quite skilled and I speak from unfortunately copious experience of the ministrations of many sundry healers."

"No, no, that would be far too gauche for this place," Loki smirks. Besides, if no one's come for him with pitchforks yet, someone without a planet-killing reputation should be fine.

"I may have to ask you to ply me with ridiculous tales as well, then," he says, collecting the whiskey and water bottles. "That's better than coin as far as I'm concerned. Let me get you to my safehouse for now; I'll point out the tailor's to you then, and you can go see him at your leisure."

At this point in his life, Loki is far less concerned with worship than general respect and warmth in his acquaintanceships. Molly's instincts are solid. He chuckles and beckons him to follow. "I like this arrangement we've made where you tell me nice things about myself. I suppose it's your body; if the work suits you, it must be good enough. Do you need food supplies before we leave? This is, as you've likely guessed, a dive bar, but you'll find the owner makes it look deliberately grottier than it actually is."

Which makes if a very useful little meeting place, as far as Loki's concerned.

"Unfortunately mobs aren't typically concerned with good taste, but then would they really be an angry mob if they were?" Molly was used to having to dodge the general 'tiefling' stereotypes so having a place genuinely looking at him and his merits instead was... well different. A little alarming, but different. He was willing to see how things went.

"You can absolutely win some stories from me if it means I get to enjoy your wonderful company more often. As I'm sure you've likely surmised clever as you are, I do like the sound of my own voice." Molly promised with a pleased clap of hands together and a muted jangle of bracelets. "But yes, let's scare up some food, head back to this lovely little safehouse of yours, and I will flatter you outrageously the entire time. It's always fun with an appreciative audience."

Honestly this bar was not the most dive-looking sort Molly had been in. So he had no issue with availing himself of whatever might be on offer, from a bottle or two of some sort of drink and something that would suit a couple meals. He had the coin for it at least, assuming this place didn't mind gold.

"Oh, I don't know. Rage doesn't necessarily preclude taste," Loki says thoughtfully. "But I do find that the larger the mob, the less fashionable it's able to be, since conformity is inherent in group mentality gone out of control..."

Literally no one asked for this opinion, and Loki doesn't even believe it himself, but in the presence of someone who enjoys playing with words the way he does, he can't quite help himself. Speaking of enjoying the sound of one's own voice.

He takes a turn opposite the way they came in, leading the way into the barroom, which is almost empty this time of day. There are three figures at a table in the corner discussing something in low voices, probably something illicit, and one person in a heap on the chair near the hearth, passed out cold. The surfaces are stained and grungier-looking than the stockroom, and the waterstains on the menus are unappetizing, but when the food itself is brought out, it seems like pretty solid fare. Cheap, but filling.

Loki orders an Irish coffee on his own coin, and seems willing to pay for Molly, or help with the tab, but he won't make a big deal out of it either way. And once they're packed out, he leads the way outside and down the street toward the edge of town.

"A fair point that. I prefer my ridiculous flamboyance to conformity, as I'm sure you could already guess."

Molly was quite at home in a place like this, even in his fine-looking outfit. Paid no mind to the conversation, no mind to the man passed out beyond a faint sort of vigilance that generally came hand in hand with being comfortable in seedy dives. Nope he was here to get his drinks and meal, pay, and be on his way with his new friend.

"So, what sort of things do you get up to when you're not scraping newcomers off the pavement?"

"I respect that," Loki deadpans, and then his eyes sparkle. "Actually, you're making me wish I did have horns in my true-form. The gold ornamentation is gorgeous. I suppose I could adapt."

Once they've made their purchases and packed up, Loki insists on carrying most of the weight since Molly has just been healed. Walking companionably at his side, he steers their way down a row of restaurants and consignment shops. "Well, I mentioned I have children? There's four of them, and they do keep me busy. I don't have a trade, per se, but as the god of mischief I do try to keep an eye on undercurrents within the place, and occasionally offer a hand to those within my providence."

"Also, my brother is a regular here, and I have to watch out for him, and also harass him properly when the opportunity arises."

"Add some braids to your hair and you could decorate those no problem. It'd be quite the statement too, gold against all that black, especially with you favoring greens already." Molly won't push anyone into fashion choices but if they want to live their most flamboyant lives well he'll certainly enable them!

And he's not about to turn down that companionable assistance, even if he's sure he could manage his things just fine. It's a kindness, and Molly wouldn't want to hinder anything about that.

"Children do take up quite a bit of time it's true. Cute little troublemakers I'm sure which is absolutely up your alley I'm sure." He can't imagine them not being at least a little mischievous especially given their guardian's proclivities. "And what are siblings for if not for loving hassling when the mood strikes? At least that's what I've been led to understand."

Loki is not hard to talk into flamboyance, really. The smile that flickers across his face is quietly smug, like a cat that's been petted in the right direction, metaphorically speaking. He does like having his ego stroked. "I've done braids," he admits. "It's been a while since I got truly elaborate with them, though. I wonder if I ought to just let my hair grow out as long as it can, and see what happens..."

"I'm very fond of children," he adds, nodding. "In general, and my own in particular. Trouble, and completely innocent lying. They're amazing."

"My brother's name is Thor. There's not much resemblance; he's a little taller, twice as muscled, and one-hundred-percent more blond than I am." He sobers a little and looks over at Molly. "Did you...have family? You may be stuck here, and there's nothing much I can do about that, I'm afraid, but I'm sorry for whoever will be missing you."

Molly counts that smile as a victory really. He likes making people happy, likes making them feel special, no matter if they're mortal, god, or some weird in-between. "Longer hair means more space for decorations too." He flicked a small chain of red gems set in gold that dangled from a horn for illustration.

"Children are a menace, I do so love winding them up and sending them back to unsuspecting guardians with all sorts of new and exciting questions. Nothing terrible of course, but enough to make the adults sweat."

He pondered lying about the question. But at the same time, it was one of those rare moments where the truth might be more comforting than a lie, so Molly tentatively chose that here. "Honestly I couldn't tell you. If I do, I've seen neither hide nor hair of them for over two years now."

"Hmmm. My partners might like it, as well." That's...probably a matter that's settled, then!

He laughs. "Should I take that as a warning not to let you meet my children? They're already a handful. Each. And there's four of them, and I've only the two hands." Granted, Loki's less likely to sweat about birds-and-bees type questions than most.

He can feel him thinking it over, trying to decide if a lie is appropriate, and he can feel when he opts for the truth as he knows it. He wouldn't have been offended either way, but he gives Molly a gentle smile anyway. "You don't know, then? I'm sorry. That must be awkward. But...perhaps it will help you with starting over here."

"In any case, I'll try to keep an eye out for your friends."

"A warning? Surely not!" The tiefling grinned, a beaming sunny thing. "I'm sure your little darlings and I will get along famously." Molly isn't especially skilled at children but he does have a gentle enough demeanor around them, and enjoys their typically chaotic sort of energy.

"Not a clue!" Molly replied brightly. "Granted the first thing I do recall is clawing my way out of a grave so they likely already assumed me dead if I've any family to speak of."

Whoops. Maybe a bit more grim than amusing. Oh well!

"It does mean I've some talent in starting anew. And if any of my friends show up I'm certain it will be quite apparent, you'll be hard-pressed to miss them."

"I think they'll like you," Loki observes thoughtfully. "If you meet them. Which I'm sure you will, if you stick around."

It can be hard to tell with newcomers, especially the ones that arrive after some great loss. They may stay and build a life here, or they may find something better to move on to, elsewhere. It's risky to get attached, and Loki might already be getting there with Molly.

He blinks at the news that he's climbed out of a grave before. "That's an unusual background. I'm sorry if it's...unpleasant to bring up." Molly gives the impression that nothing is traumatic, but Loki isn't quite sure whether to believe it. "I've had similar experiences, but without the amnesia, myself."

"If they're as adventurous and curious as I'm betting, it likely won't take long for them to find me." Kids were like that, Molly had found. "Maybe I'll give them a reading. Kid-friendly of course, but I've never known a kid who doesn't like that kinda thing."

Molly would of course be flattered that Loki was taking to him so easily. He made it a point not to hide the truth of himself in some ways, at least in behavior. It meant he could often be a bit much, or a bit of an asshole on occasion, but that didn't stop him being pleased when he was liked all the same.

"Eh, the memory is sort of vague," He replied with a dismissive wave of a hand. "Obviously startling one doesn't quite expect to wake up to a mouthful of dirt after all, but I came out of it alright so I'll just chalk it up to a particularly weird origin story." Which as weird as he was otherwise, sort of fit.

"What is it with those of us with a perchance for mischief and ending up in such strange mortal peril or the aftermath thereof?"

"Oh, they are." Loki gives a faint sigh. He loves them, but four very active and adventurous Aesir children are a lot to keep up with. "Very curious. Especially Una. She'll have all sorts of things to ask you. By all means, give them a reading, if you like, just go gentle. There is tragedy in their recent pasts."

He looks at Molly thoughtfully, eventually giving a slow nod. "I suppose without context something like that is more bizarre than traumatic. Still, you have my sympathy."

He snorts out a laugh, then. "Well, I think you answered your own question. Mischief leads to trouble, and it's not always benign trouble, more's the pity."

"I'll entertain them all with wildly outlandish tales that may or may not be true." He didn't pry on the tragedy. Molly's way of being kind about such things was to not pry. There were plenty of others who would, who knew how to press just right so the pain of the situation was lanced like an infection from a wound but he was too brash. Better to just be the one they could laugh with. The one they knew that they didn't have to worry about those harsh questions from.

"I think I was too much in shock still to really process the whole situation at the time and by the time I had, I'd decided I wasn't about to be the sort of person who dwelled on the past." It wasn't as simple as that, but he had a feeling Loki would pick up on that detail. The man was smart after all. "I suppose if even a god of mischief runs afoul of trouble then what chance could I have as a mere mortal to avoid it?"

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Mother always told me to never give away a story for free

Joke's on Loki his Charisma is only an 11 XD

pfft! maybe he's just susceptible

Molly is a special brand of Charming it's true

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