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Tweak says, "Oh, Gai-sensei!"

Sigyn, Gudinna Trogen (sigyn) wrote in deities_dot_com,
@ 2012-08-07 13:31:00

Entry tags:

~isis, ~sigyn

Tea Time (tag: Isis)
Sigyn reviewed the table that was set before her, looking for anything that stood out as flawed. She wanted everything to be absolutely spot on, though she knew Isis would probably not mind if it wasn't. It was a matter of principle though. She was hosting a queen, she wanted everything to be exactly right for somebody of Isis' stature. More than that, she was hosting a friend, so she wanted everything to be perfect for someone she cared about and to whom she owed such a great debt. But it had taken longer to set things up that Sigyn had anticipated.

Starting with the tea. Because her visits to Egypt had been necessarily brief in the past, she'd never really had the chance to ask what sort of tea it was that Isis always served her. But she desperately wanted to be able to offer it to her friend. So her first visits to tea shops had been somewhat frustrating, as she attempted to explain that she was looking for a red tea from Egypt. She kept being told that Egypt didn't have tea, they imported theirs from Sri Lanka and Kenya. So she'd had to start over and explain that she wanted a red tea that was served in Egypt. Only to be told that really, only black tea was served, followed by a lecture on the different ways to prepare it.

Finally, she found a logical clerk in a tea shop that offered her some reddish teas, like Shai Elwarda and Arousa. But the dried tea leaves hadn't had the scent that she thought she was looking for. Perhaps she should have taken them anyway, to try them out. Maybe they tasted differently when brewed. But she'd spent so much time trying to find the right tea, she didn't think she'd have the time to test out various teas. In the end, she was saved by the mother of the logical tea shop owner who offered her something she called karkadé. Sigyn pounced on it, hoping that it was the tea she was looking for.

After that, it was a scramble to find a tea service worthy of being presented to an ancient queen. Sigyn had been slowly furnishing the house in Minnesota, and while she'd found a perfectly good set of dinnerware for her own and Loki's use, she hadn't picked out a tea service yet. She probably should have done that before inviting Isis to her new home, Sigyn reflected as she went on to pick out the appropriate linens, infused sugars, and some very delicate pastries from a rather snooty bakery. She very much hoped they were worth the price she'd paid for them, because their cost seemed rather out of proportion to the amount she'd received.

Then it was a dash home to get everything set up in time for the visit. As Sigyn stood overlooking the table that she'd done, she wondered if she'd forgotten something. She didn't think so, but after finding the tea she'd been a bit rushed, so it was possible. The last thing she wanted to do on this important occasion was to offend the goddess that had been such a source of comfort and support in her darkest years. This was a way to thank her in a proper setting, since Sigyn could never, ever have invited her to her previous abode. Nobody should have been in that cave. Nobody.

Sigyn chewed on her thumbnail, counting the bowls with the infused sugars again. Was three too many? Two seemed to look odd to her eyes. And there was the bowl of plain sugar as well, which made four. Was that too many? At least there was only one creamer. Perhaps she should rearrange the setting to make it look more symmetrical. That would help. She nodded and reached for the bowls, both hoping and dreading that Isis would arrive soon.

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esi_tyet_isis
2012-08-09 12:48 pm UTC (link)

Surprise at the invitation alone would have been reason enough for Isis to accept, but it was a pale comparison to the fact that it meant seeing her dear friend. Sigyn's life had been anything but joy filled, and Isis had started out as a confidante and supporter, but over time that developed into something more.

Even so, the times they saw each other were fewer than Isis would have liked, and often far too short. Sigyn always needed to get back to her husband. Personally, Isis sometimes wondered if she wouldn't just be better off without him. What had happened to them was horrible, and no matter the actions of Loki, far beyond what Isis would consider reasonable. But the trouble had started somewhere, and the Queen wasn't sure she was overly fond of the man Sigyn had chosen.

Having never actually met him, and only having Sigyn's view of him, however, was enough for Isis to give him a little leeway. People, even gods, made mistakes. She had certainly made her fair share. And Sigyn was devoted to him in a way that reminded her of her own love for Osiris. He'd not been a troublemaker, true, but he had been her whole world, and when things went badly there was no question she was going to do absolutely everything she could to restore him and their life. It didn't quite work out as she had planned, but he was still there, still accessible. Isis had come to understand over time that Sigyn felt much the same way about her own spouse. She would never leave him, never abandon him to live that horror out on his own.

Which is what made the invitation so surprising. It directed her to a home in Minnesota, a house she now stood before. It was a cute house, one she would classify as "quaint". But why was Sigyn asking to see her here? She didn't believe she would have left her husband, so it made little sense. Perhaps Sigyn had decided it was time to have a more stable environment for her brief trips out of the cave. It would make sense that over the years there were things she might want to do, or things she would want to buy, that required a little more time away and a little more space than the cave allowed. But somehow that just didn't seem like the Sigyn Isis had come to know.

Realizing there was really only one way to find out, Isis stepped forward and knocked.

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sigyn
2012-08-16 01:58 am UTC (link)

Sigyn dropped the spoon she'd been polishing for the third time, her head jerking up at the sound of the knock, her heart jumping so hard it felt as though it leaped from her chest. Then she reminded herself that it had to be Isis. She'd invited Isis. It wasn't one of the Aesir, everything was fine. Except that the Queen of Egypt was on her doorstep.

That was enough to have her heart pounding again, and Sigyn straightened the spoon that had been dropped on the table. A quick glance in the hall mirror to make sure she was still presentable, and then she was swiftly crossing to the door and pulling it open. A large smile on her face, she greeted Isis. “Your majesty. Welcome to my home.”

Several times throughout the centuries, Isis had been able to say that to Sigyn. This was the first opportunity she'd had to return the phrase, and it felt good. Even if it changed tomorrow, even if Odin and his stupid crows showed up, or one of the others, even if they had to drop everything and run, for right now, in this moment, she had a home. Something that miserable pit with the rock and the snake never was. Sigyn had refused to let herself even refer to it or think of it in such terms. She always went back to the cave or back to Loki, she never went home. But her and now, she was home.

And she had a guest.

“Please, please,” she said, stepping back, “come in. I have so much to tell you. Did you have difficulty finding me? Were the directions clear?” Then she burst out with, “I'm so glad to see you!”

All efforts at proper decorum flew out the window at that point as Sigyn hugged the only friend she's had for centuries. And that too felt really, really good. To be able to express herself freely in her own home. Tears stung her eyes and she reiterated, “I'm so glad you're here.”

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esi_tyet_isis
2012-08-22 06:58 pm UTC (link)

"Isis, please." It was so unusual for anyone to call her by anything but her name. Besides, she liked to think that she and Sigyn had come far enough now that titles were redundant. Isis certainly thought of Sigyn as a friend, and actually felt a smidge uncomfortable with such formality. She didn't spend a lot of time thinking on it, however, as Sigyn's next comment took center stage.

Home? It half answered the questions her mind had put out earlier. It also explained, perhaps, why Sigyn was being so formal. Perhaps she was being just a little showy about whatever it was she had accomplished here. Not in a rude manner, but in wanting to impress. She knew were the tables turned, she would likely do the same.

"Thank you," she answered to the request to enter what Sigyn had called her home, a lilt of questioning in her tone. Before anything more could be said on the Queen's part, however, Sigyn practically began to gush. Questions flew her way, and before Isis could respond to any of them, she burst out how happy she was to see her.

Followed by an enormous hug. A hug that, while it confused her initially, Isis returned the embrace.

"I am glad to see you too, dear. So what is this news? I assume it has to do with this house?" As she pulled back, she noted the glisten in Sigyn's eyes, and new whatever it was, it was having an enormous impact on her friend.

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sigyn
2012-09-10 03:18 am UTC (link)

Sigyn nodded happily, unable to prevent the proud smile that curved her lips. “Yes, it has to do with the house. I'll explain it all. Come in, come in.”

Though Isis was technically already inside, she was standing in the foyer. Which would never do. Sigyn looped her arm through her friend's and gently drew her further into the house, toward the breakfast nook where she'd set up the tea table. She'd considered putting it in the dining room, but the small table in the nook was more intimate and there were large windows providing a pretty view of the surrounding countryside.

“I tried to find the tea,” Sigyn informed her guest, “that you served me when I was able to come to you. I'm not sure I got the right sort, but I did try. I hope it's alright. I also have some pastries. Here in the nook. I know, it's not nearly as amazing as the teas that you set out for me, but I really wanted to return the favor. You have no idea how much those meetings meant to me, and how they kept me going.”

She approached the small table, but waited for Isis to choose the seat she wished. She was the queen, and her guest, so she should have the first choice. Once they were seated and the tea was poured, there would be plenty of time to explain everything. Because there was so much to fill her friend in on. Sigyn actually wasn't sure where to start. No, that wasn't true. She knew where to start.

“We've left the rock. Loki and I. We're... we're free.”

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esi_tyet_isis
2012-09-11 09:00 pm UTC (link)

"This is lovely Sigyn! How thoughtful." Isis was touched her friend had tried so hard to get the red tea, but it wasn't necessary. Saying so might only make Sigyn feel bad, however. One doesn't want to hear that their efforts were unnecessary. Any extra thought one put into anything was a gift, and she would be nothing short of rude to suggest otherwise.

"Our times together were special to me too, dear, and I'm glad you found pleasure in them." Sigyn had needed a friend, but she wasn't the only one. Isis had enjoyed having someone to spend time with. It may not have been often, or for very long, but she always looked forward to the times Sigyn was able to get away from the cave. And with the children gone, she sometimes felt a bit lonely herself. She might have said something to that effect as she took a seat, if not for Sigyn's next statement.

"Oh, my dear! You're free!" She stood again, taking Sigyn into her arms once more. Isis didn't need anyone to tell her the implications of such an action, but she was determined not to bring any sour notes to this happy occasion. Soon enough, they would have to deal with the repercussions, and Isis swore to herself she would do all she could on their behalf. Her friend deserved to be happy.

She leaned back, her hands still on Sigyn's arms. "Loki? Is he here?"

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sigyn
2012-09-12 09:48 pm UTC (link)

There was something so profound in the simplicity of touch, of contact with another living being. Sigyn had an inkling of how much she'd been missing it while she sat in the cave, holding the bowl, with her husband unable to touch her. For several years, he'd barely spoken to her. But the true depths of how deprived she'd been became apparent after she'd met Isis. It was only then, when the Egyptian queen embraced her, that Sigyn realized how much she'd been craving connection with another person. It had gotten better, a bit, once she discovered the trick with the parasols and umbrellas. Then she could at least touch Loki, though he couldn't return the favor.

But there was still, and would always be, something special and immensely comforting about the hugs received from Isis. There was a confidence in the way she moved, and compassion in the embrace itself. It was almost motherly, though that was hardly the dynamic of their friendship. Which didn't matter in the least to Sigyn. She simply loved the hugs, and she returned this one with enthusiasm, happy that her friend was pleased on her behalf.

As Isis released her, Sigyn shook her head in answer to the question. “Not at the moment. I want you to meet him, soon. But I wanted a chance to explain everything first, to tell you what has been happening.” She smiled slightly. “And he would have eaten all of the pastries by now and turned up his nose at the tea.”

He might have liked it, actually, as it wasn't exactly a standard tea. But the idea of a tea party? No, that was not Loki's style at all.

“I have so much to tell you,” she said, gesturing for Isis to resume her seat. Then her hands reached for the tea pot to pour the tea she'd spent so much time tracking down. “I'm not even sure where to start. I suppose that it would be best to skip over the mundane things that happened since we last met, we can come back to that later. I'm guessing you want to know how... how it happened.” Sigyn took a deep breath and blurted out, “Loki broke the bonds while I was out.”

There was no need to explain the significance of what that meant. Sigyn had told Isis what held Loki to the rock. So the Egyptian would know that Sigyn had finally lost all that had remained of Narvi. And she would understand. She was a mother too.

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esi_tyet_isis
2012-09-13 06:19 pm UTC (link)

So she would finally get an opportunity to meet the husband. More than once it had occurred to Isis to visit the cave, but she knew that Sigyn's private times away were just that- her private times. Two different worlds, really, and Isis was a part of only one. It needed to remain that way.

Isis was still holding out judgment until she met Loki. She had Sigyn's opinion, and the Norse, particularly Frigg's, which from what she'd heard from her friend was highly skewed. In the end, however, it would come down to her own instincts and impressions. Isis was very protective of her family and that included her close friends. Time would tell what sort of man he would be now that he was out among the living again.

She stared in momentary horror as Sigyn made her announcement. Isis had long known what, or rather who, it was he was bound in. As a mother, she could think of nothing more horrifying than what had happened to their son's remains. As a wife, however, she also could think of nothing worse than what had been done for Loki. At least he had the decency not to let his wife watch that. Score one point.

"I understand." Isis felt no need to elaborate on the hardship. ""But dear, now you can finally let it go." Forced to remain as they had with what was left of Narvi had not been conducive to the grieving process. "And you can finally build a real life." Which brought to mind another issue they had no doubt already thought about.

"Do others know yet?"

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sigyn
2012-09-14 08:19 pm UTC (link)

Sigyn shook her head, even as she moved the flavored sugars close enough for Isis to help herself to if she wished. It was more complicated than that, but she was sure her friend would already know that. “I don't know if we can. Build a real life. I bought the house because I wanted a sense of normalcy again. I wanted a home again. I wanted to have a place for us to simply be ourselves again. But there's always the chance that we'll have to run. I love this place, already I do. If we have to go though, then we will go.”

Isis would understand sacrificing for the sake of a husband and a marriage. It was one of the things that they'd had in common and it created an immediate bond when they'd met. So Sigyn knew she didn't really have to elaborate. Isis understood having to hide to protect those she loved as well, raising her son as she had and taking in her nephew as well. There was great admiration in her heart for the Egyptian queen and Sigyn knew she was blessed to have her friendship and her guidance.

“Some of them know, but I'm not sure how many,” she explained. “I ran into Vidar while I was out getting furniture, so he knows that I'm not in the cave. I probably could have played that off and made it seem that I'd left Loki, except... Odin knows. Loki spoke with him and he knows. I don't know if he'll tell the others, but for the moment he, at least, is choosing to let us be. But there are some...”

Sigyn trailed off, her voice tightening with fear. There were some that would be happy to not only see Loki returned to the cave, but to see him outright dead. Those were the ones that she worried would come for them, that they'd have to run from. Those were the ones that still plagued her thoughts and her dreams. So much was still uncertain.

“But for now, for the moment, we are free and we have a home.” She smiled then. It was a small smile, but genuine none-the-less. “You are the first person I wanted to share that with.”

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esi_tyet_isis
2012-09-18 08:50 pm UTC (link)

To the Queen's mind, any life was just about better than what Sigyn and her husband had endured. Life on the run, though, was not pleasant either. Isis had experienced her share of that long ago when she'd had to hide her son. His very life had depended on his uncle not finding him. Isis would have done anything to keep him safe, and she knew Sigyn felt the same about her husband. Had she received any sort of warning, she would have done the same for Osiris. Unfortunately Set was very clever, and they never for a moment suspected he was up to any treachery.

"I'm afraid they will all find out in time, dear." Isis was not about to sugar-coat the situation for her friend. Nor was it necessary. Sigyn was a very smart woman, and she would know precisely where things stood. "But if Odin is as wise as I think he is, I am sure his stance on the matter will be well known." The Queen couldn't help but wonder what her Norse counterpart thought of it all. Frigg obviously did not have a high opinion of the Trickster. Would she rather see him bound anew, than let Sigyn have a life again? She wished she knew the answer. Frigg was...touchy.

"I do not think that he will leave others to their own devices without some sort of proclamation." It was what she would do. Having met the Norse king herself a few times, Isis was quite sure he would want others to know exactly how he felt. "But I think you are right to be wary. Every pantheon has those that will ignore a ruler's wishes." Isis could think of one or two she would never trust to obey Horus at their word.

"As you say, for the moment you have a home. And it is lovely!" Isis looked around at the home, trying to see it through Sigyn's eyes. It was far more than a house, or even a home, though Isis well understood the difference. This was a symbol, and she well imagine how thorough Sigyn had been in her search for just the right place to start anew.

"Thank you for the invitation. I am honored you chose to share this with me." Isis never took relationships for granted. Not anymore. Her own past had taught her to appreciate every moment she got to spend with a loved one. Sometimes it was difficult as a mother, but even when she lost her temper or chose the wrong words, she never regretted one single second she spent with any of them. This extended beyond her immediate family to anyone she cared about, including the woman across from her.

"Do you have any immediate plans? Aside from settling into your new home, I mean. There must be so much Loki needs to learn about the world." Isis keenly observed to herself that Sigyn would probably be far more receptive to speaking of her spouse than the topic of their current level of safety.

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sigyn
2012-09-20 02:30 am UTC (link)

Isis was right, of course. Eventually they would all know. Thor would know. Skadhi would know. Bragi and Hermod would know. Out of all of them, those were the people she dreaded most discovering what had come to pass. For very different reasons.

Thor and Skadhi, she feared, because their anger and vindictiveness had been truly terrible. And Sigyn didn't think they'd feel Loki had paid enough. Thor, because he'd been so deeply hurt. And Skadhi because... well, the only reason Sigyn had ever been able to determine was that she was a class A bitch.

Hermod... Hermod would be hurt. He'd loved his brothers, idolized them, really. And like so many others, he blamed Loki for their loss. Learning the person he blamed for the deaths of Baldr and Hodr was free was going to be upsetting for him. Hermod was sweet, sensitive, and kind. Sigyn had always wondered if he'd been switched at birth, because she didn't know how he could really be Frigg's.

And then there was Bragi. Dear, beloved Bragi. Who had stood with the rest of them when they'd come for her and the boys. No one had stepped forward that day. Not one. Sigyn understood why Frigg hadn't, despite their friendship. She understood, but would never forgive her. And gods that claimed they stood for honor and justices, where were they? Where were Forseti and Tyr? But of them all, Bragi's silence had cut deepest. Her dearest friend, someone she'd been sure she could count on, hadn't stepped forward to protest or argue with his eloquence and compassion. Some of them, at least, would have listened to Bragi. But he hadn't spoken on her behalf, or that of her children. He hadn't spoken at all. And deep as that betrayal ran, she didn't want him to know they were no longer in the cave.

So she very much hoped that Isis was right in her assessment. But Sigyn knew she was basing that on what she would do as a leader, and Isis had already proven herself superior to the Norse in Sigyn's eyes. So Isis' faith in Odin might be more than a bit misplaced. Sigyn could only hope that years had given old one-eye the wisdom he'd always claimed to have had.

“Plans?” she echoed. Surely, after what they'd just discussed, Isis would know that any plans were tenuous at best. If course she did. She'd done this too, this constant looking over one's shoulder. Thankfully, Isis supplied a change of topic.

“Oh, Loki seems to be learning already. With the help of an Egyptian named Bes. He helped Loki learn aaaaaaaaaaaaall about whiskey.” The dryness in her tone was all too apparent.

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esi_tyet_isis
2012-09-26 03:33 pm UTC (link)

"Bes?" Isis laughed. Leave it to the funny little dwarf to somehow be in the middle of this. The thought was one of amusement as Isis adored the once-protector of her son. She had no idea what she would have done without him.

"I've no doubt of that. Bes likes his alcohol." Isis smiled warmly at the thought of the demon-hunter barhopping. "He's actually a good man to have around, Sigyn. Loki could find no more loyal friend, should the need arise."

"As for alcohol and parties, I fear you may have to get used to that. Bes enjoys a party like no other I've met." Except Bast maybe, but a mother doesn't like to think of what her adult children might get up to when they are out and about. "But when he isn't partying, he's good to have around. I once trusted him with my son's life." Which should be enough for Sigyn to understand the depth of feeling Isis had for Bes.

"I was just thinking you and Loki could come visit me. Once you feel fairly settled, that is." To the Queen, no place could be as far removed from a remote, frozen cave as her land of sun and sand. Though the Nords might find it a bit too warm, come to think of it. "Egypt or France. A vacation of sorts. You both certainly deserve it."

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sigyn
2012-09-28 09:39 pm UTC (link)

When Isis laughed at the name mentioned, something in Sigyn's middle unclenched just a bit. If Isis wasn't alarmed by whoever this new friend was, she could rest a little easier too. As the queen went on to explain, the tightness did not ease as much as she'd hoped it would. Despite assurances that he was a loyal friend, something Loki desperately needed, there was the bit about him enjoying a party and alcohol. While Bes might have a grand time when he'd been drinking, Loki made some of the worse decisions of his life after imbibing.

There was nothing for it. She was going to have to talk to this Egyptian and explain that he'd have to keep an eye on her husband if they were going to continue to “party” together. She'd ask Isis to make the introductions so that it would go a little more smoothly. And really, if the Queen had trusted Bes to trust her son, surely Sigyn could trust him to not allow Loki to do something horridly stupid. She hoped.

When the invitation was offered, Sigyn smiled. “I think that would be wonderful, Isis. I would very much like you to meet Loki. Though I don't think he'd do well in France. The weather would be more to his tastes, but the people not as much I fear. Besides, I'd love for him to get to see Egypt. I will ask him and let you know when we are available, and you can let me know what you have on your schedule and we'll sort it out?”

There was no doubt at all that Isis' docket was far busier than Sigyn's, so whatever the upcoming obligations were, she would be the one who would bend. Isis was a queen, after all, and though she'd nominally handed the reins over to her son it had always seemed that she was still very involved in overseeing her pantheon. She was what a queen should be in Sigyn's opinion.

“I'd say we can be available whenever it's convenient for you, but I need to see if he's planned anything,” she offered apologetically. “Though honestly, if he's planned something, I worry what it could be.” Sigyn rolled her eyes slightly. “He doesn't sit still well, and he's had too long where he had no choice.”

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