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

[tieflingtarot]

"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.

Comments

[tieflingtarot]

"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."

[coldsong]

"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.

[tieflingtarot]

"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.

[coldsong]

"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.

[tieflingtarot]

"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?"

[coldsong]

"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."

[tieflingtarot]

"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."

[coldsong]

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."

[tieflingtarot]

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."

[coldsong]

"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."

[tieflingtarot]

"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."

[coldsong]

"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."

[tieflingtarot]

"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?"

[coldsong]

"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."

[tieflingtarot]

"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?"