Rope the South wind; Canvas the Stars

[coldsong]

There is an ocean in the Nexus--at least one, maybe many--that comes and goes. It has been seen frozen over in the winter, laced with sand and amusements in the summer. Sometimes it's within sight of the Plaza, but more often one has to seek it out in the Wilds, tracking it by the cry of the gulls.

Today, it's close enough to smell the salt-spray.

No one is called, no one is compelled to wander closer, but should the adventurous depart the main Plaza and follow a pebbled path through long grass and winding trees, they will come to a place where the ground rises into a gentle dune, then drops into an expanse of sand and rock sketching out a sort of cove. Indigo water laps the shore there, low waves splashing froth onto the shore. And in the water there is something that could be called a ship, if a ship could be made of ice and bone; if a ship could be strange and hard to look at, if it could stretch up so tall toward the sky it seemed eldritch and unbalanced.

The prow is sharp as a blade, and when the wind sings in the ropes, the noise is high and sweet, like siren song.

Loki is on the shore, and his children are with him. Agnarr and Una are playing in the sand together, the elder stacking rocks and building castles for the younger to knock down. Sigrid and Eindrid, though, are on the Ship itself. A casual observer can see the form of Loki up there with them, guiding them gently as they explore, but he is also below, seated on a heap of driftwood to observe his other two children. Bilocating.

He glances up and nods at whoever wanders close, polite, if protective of the kids.

"Do you believe in birthright?" he asks. "Something beyond the gift of existence itself, to which a person is entitled just by entering the world?"


((ooc: Just to warn, my tags will be VERY slow!))

Comments

[adpacempertyrannidem]

"You should be." Megatron kisses Loki's cheek. "I remember how much he loves boats. When I gave him the toy boat for Yule, he kissed me. Is that what you meant, about birthright?"

[coldsong]

"He's a loving child," Loki says fondly, eyes soft, and nods. "And they all are quite attached to you now."

"Yes, I was thinking of the ship as their birthright, although...perhaps that's not accurate, since it's something that didn't exist at the time they were born."

"But I was thinking of Odin, as well. We had some disagreements on what my birthright, if any, was." There's only a flicker of bitterness, here and gone, because the day is good, the sea smells fresh and sweet, and he is in loving company.

[adpacempertyrannidem]

"I am attached to them, too. And also to their father." Megatron ex-vents. "It's too nice a day to speak of your father, my love, but if you need to, I wll always listen to whatever you need to say."

He reaches for Loki's hand, if he'll give it.

"What is this ship to them--other than something they love--if it didn't exist before they were born? You are their father. So if you brought it back for them, and you say so, it's their birthright now."

To the Pit with Odin. Loki is his now and won't be mistreated that way again.

[coldsong]

Loki is quiet for a moment, but happily allows Megatron to take his hand. After a pause he says, "It will come up sooner or later. I have centuries of complaints regarding my upbringing. But no, today isn't the day for it."

He smiles. "Perhaps birthright isn't the right way to think of it. It is a gift from their biological parents. A very beautiful and valuable one. Would you like to step aboard? I promise you, it will carry you at any size. It bore the hosts of Hel not so very long ago."

[adpacempertyrannidem]

"I feel like I ought to have their permission first, but you are their guardian, so I accept." Megatron smiles brightly.

"Ravage said we could have the beach house. As long as it's not up to her to get it here, and as long as she and Soundwave can come by whenever they like. Do you think we should put it somewhere in this vicinity?"