Queen and Mother (ladyfrigga) wrote in avengers_logs, @ 2018-06-20 18:13:00 |
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Entry tags: | -complete, darcy lewis, frigga, loki odinson |
Who: Frigga, Darcy and Loki
What: Who's that knocking on my door?
When: backdated, after speaking with Dr. Strange
Rating/Warning: green
Frigga had gotten the immediate answers she needed from the mystic, Doctor Strange. Still somewhat disconcerted to be brought back from the afterlife, parted from her beloved husband once more, the Queen of Asgard turned to the only people who could possibly explain things more in depth in a way she would better understand: her sons. Both of them were here, and she was looking forward to seeing them for more reasons than gaining information. And, according to the good Doctor, her help would be appreciated.
With the package the sorcerer had given her held in one arm she knocked on the door to where Thor and Loki were living. Frigga had been told that Loki had a girlfriend. That was a very interesting development. As she waited for the door to be answered, Frigga mulled around the potential reactions that would come her way, including from the Midgardian girlfriend. Whoever opened this door, it was certain that everything would become very different.
Now that Loki was back, Darcy had been trying to get things back to normal. She’d kind of been ignoring everything about having to learn things from Doctor Strange. It was clear that Loki wasn’t pleased about it. Still she knew that things were pretty bad off, but she was trying to keep up good spirits. She was probably failing pretty damn hard. What was done was done. They had to move on. She’d been playing one of her video games when there was a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it,” she called before going to open the door to find… Loki’s mom. Holy shit. The only reason that she knew that it was Loki’s mom was because she’d heard an awful lot from Jane. This lady was definitely from Asgard. She’d never met her in person or anything, but she had to know who she was. “... Whoa.”
Ah. The Midgardian girlfriend. The girl could be noone else. Frigga smiled kindly as she took in the girl’s stunned expression. “You must be my son’s girlfriend,” she said then inclined her head. “I am Frigga, his mother. I am told my sons are here.”
How the girl handled things next could be very telling. She could shout for Loki so she wouldn’t have to deal with what was obviously an upsetting encounter. She could rally her courage and invite Frigga in. Or she could slam the door in Frigga’s face...which would be very unfortunate for the door.
There was smiling. She didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. Darcy was just kind of staring, because … wasn’t this lady supposed to be dead? Not that it wasn’t good that she was alive, but that meant that the weird time thing was making things weird. And she honestly didn’t know how Loki was going to respond to all of this. “Um.. hello! I’m Darcy. You.. you know about me?” How in the world..
Oh this was so weird. Still Darcy moved back to let her into the house. Maybe she needed to warn Loki to put some pants on. Good thing she was wearing pants. “Please come in. Um.. I .. should go and get Loki. Just give me a second. He’ll be surprised to see you.” No frickin kidding.
Frigga nodded to Darcy’s question. This Darcy was rallying. Frigga approved. Her sons deserved more than a simpering dishrag. “It is my pleasure to meet you, Darcy. The sorcerer told me about you.” This situation would obviously call for patience on her part, not because she felt pressured or annoyed, but the others would be tense. It would be up to her to smooth feathers.
“Thank you,” she said then stepped inside. Frigga was curious if her sons would sense her presence before Darcy told any of them. Especially Loki since they shared magic. “I will wait here.” Things would be awkward enough with them having to track her down.
Ooh. Doctor Strange. “Right, that makes sense. Uh.. whatever he told you.. It’s probably about half true.” Yikes. Okay. Don’t panic. Just turn and go to get Loki. “Okay. Make yourself at home.” She gestured around for her to look around the house and everything. Did Thor know she was around? Yeah, she had to find that too.
Giving a little curtsy (she’s panicking), Darcy promptly scampered off to where Loki was and shut the door behind. “Hey. Uh. So. There’s someone downstairs and you need to be sitting down for this.. So please sit down. Okay? Take a deep breath?... It’s… your mom. Your mom is downstairs. She just showed up.”
Lucky for everyone, Loki had pants on. He was wearing what looked to be Asgardian lounging clothes in various shades of green and black, leggings and a tunic, and his hair was curling out at odd angles after being singed off. He was sitting at his desk with several books and a golden compass in front of him. While he had been utterly distracted figuring out the finer points of manipulating the compass, there had been a tingling sense of something hauntingly familiar in the air, mere minutes before Darcy came in and began spilling words out.
As anticipated, Loki did draw in a deep breath, followed by an audible gulping sound.
"My mother...is here?" Loki went from a concerned look to wide-eyed shock in an instant. Despite Darcy's request, he abruptly stood up, waving a hand so he was more properly dressed in what he used to wear in Asgard. His hair went untamed and forgotten about. There were other more important questions. Like why would this universe disturb what peace she might have had, why NOW of all times when Thor would tell her of his misdeeds...and would she even be happy to see him after all the things he had done?
"Oh, the Norns are either too cruel or overly kind," he murmured, approaching Darcy and gently resting a hand against her cheek. "All will be well. My mother is kind and good. Do you wish to come down with me to greet her, or would that cause you too much discomfort? I would be pleased to have you accompany me. It is your choice."
Well at least he didn’t faint. That was always a plus. Also that he was wearing pants. Second plus. She just kind of nodded her head a little, “Yup. She’s downstairs. Waiting. You probably shouldn’t keep her waiting very long.” Since she was supposed to be dead and everything. “I’m not worried. I mean she smiled at me and already knew who I was… and no like ‘you slutty whore’ things were coming out of her mouth, so I think we should be okay?”
Up until Darcy started cursing anyway. And then maybe she would think Loki should get a new girlfriend. But whatever. “I can accompany you. I mean, I’ll let you guys catch up and see each other and everything, but you should probably formally introduce me. Oh and I should text your brother maybe?” Since it didn’t seem like he was around, and he probably would want to see her.
Loki's mind was a swirling cauldron of chaotic thoughts and he was feeling overwhelmed with several conflicting feelings. He was barely able to comprehend how he remained upright, and only a little over a thousand years of growing up in the court of Asgard helped him keep a stranglehold on his composure.
He nodded as he was thinking the same, that Thor was perhaps busy and that things were tense between them now. He told Darcy, "Text him, if you would be so kind? I know not if he will reply or seek her out on in his own good time. That is best left up to him."
With a quick kiss, he offered Darcy his arm and led her out the room and down the staircase. Before they made it to the last step, Loki asked Darcy's forgiveness under his breath, letting go of her arm when he felt a stab of guilt over the last bitter parting between him and his mother. He wasted no time striding toward her, quickly closing the gap between himself and Frigga. His lips were tightly pressed together lest his expression crumble to pieces. When he stopped before her, he held his hands out to her the same way that she had done to him in that cell, the very last time he looked upon her face. That last time when he spoke so cruelly, denying that she was his mother, and then offering directions to a foe out of petty spite, thereby causing her death.
"I did not think I would look upon you ever again," he said, as he was always under the belief that he would never be accepted in Valhalla as she surely had. He was blinking back tears as his voice dropped to a whisper, "Oh, how I have missed you, mother."
Frigga felt him coming before she saw hm coming down the stairs. He looked...different. He was wearing Asgardian attire, but it seemed out of place here, and Frigga had never seen Loki anywhere but the halls of Asgard. It was...strange.
Still, strange or not, a brilliant smile spread across her face to see her son. Her hands reached for his as he reached for her, then her fingers tightened. Frigga had missed him so much. The tears were a surprise though. “Oh, Loki,” she said as she tilted her head a little. One of his hands was released so she could press her palm against his cheek. “What have you done to your hair?”
It was good to be in her presence, where he could once again sense the magic that he so diligently learned from her. That overwhelming feeling caused him to let out a choked laugh, smiling even as his eyes brimmed with tears. He tried to will those tears away by blinking profusely, resting his cheek into her hand the same way he did when he was a child having to look up to her, instead of down at her as he was now.
"Afraid I got too close to a fire." That wasn't really a lie. He had been treading too close to literal and figurative fires of his own making for far too long. "Quite recently. I have...."
His voice trailed off, as he wasn't sure how to explain things. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder at Darcy, before hesitantly looking at his mom again.
"I have much to tell you. And to beg your forgiveness for. You must be weary, though." He drew in a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Would you like anything to drink or eat? I can show you to the kitchen."
Frigga sighed for the explanation. She shook her head as her fingers threaded through those abused ends. “I taught you better than that. One would think you had learned about fire after the incident with the hounds.” She chuckled as she gave a lock of that black hair a light tug.
She could feel the tension through Loki’s hand. Her eyes followed his gaze to his lady. Apparently she was, in fact, causing some anxiety. “Unless cooking your own food has become one of your skills, the kitchen might be useless.” She chuckled. “And such heavy conversation can wait. Come,” Frigga held her free hand out to Darcy. “You must tell me how you met.”
Loki bowed his head down and smirked when she playfully tugged at his hair. He remembered how short his hair was after the first time conjuring fiery hounds made out of braziers' flames. Without having any idea of how to control them, of course.
The Einherjar that were on duty fared far worse, until the Queen used her seidr to turn the burning beasts into a shower of fading embers.
"Ah, but I am well versed in cooking. More so now that there are no royal cooks," Loki explained, nodding over to Darcy to let her know it was ok to draw closer. "The Warriors Three and Thor were always hopeless at it. Sif would not be caught dead cooking for them, as she was best of all at hunting prey. Thus I thought to endear myself to them by learning the basics."
That was not a successful plan. As much as it was deemed 'womanly' in Asgard for a man to use magic in battle, cooking certainly didn't make him look more warrior-like or manly. Nevertheless, he actually enjoyed it...when he wasn't in a foul mood.
Once Darcy was properly introduced and had joined them, Loki offered them each an arm and guided them into the kitchen where they could sit down to talk. He did not sit with them, deciding instead to wander around the kitchen while trying not to clasp his hands together. That Darcy was accepted by his now very much alive mother was of importance to him, and he was trying to think of the best way to word things, with some measure of diplomacy and sophistication. Well, better to be out with it and tell the truth, since his mother would be able to see right through him if he tried to lie about it.
"Darcy drove me to a statue that Thor and a Valkyrie were set on climbing. I was feeling petulant, so she brazenly thieved my last cupcake out of my hand and promptly devoured it. I could not help but take notice. No one dared ever do such a thing to me. It was terribly amusing."
Darcy had come down with Loki, but had hung back until she was properly introduced by Loki. They needed to catch up and have some time with each other, and she didn’t want to get in the way of that. Quickly she texted Thor about his mom and then joined the two of them. At least it was Frigga and not Odin. She’d probably just make him angry. Ah well.
“And he’s been lovingly annoying me ever since,” she chimed in with a smile. “No but really, we’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but I.. really care about your son. And it’s very nice to meet you.”
"Come now. Lately there had been more ups, with a few incredibly drastic downs," Loki chimed in, with the hint of a sly smirk over at Darcy while pouring them all some much needed wine. He looked and sounded sincere when he said, "I truly care about you as well."
Frigga was elated to see the two of them together like this. She had despaired of Loki ever finding the peace that came with caring for someone. Her blue eyes sparkled (possibly literally) with happiness. If nothing more came of her being brought back from Valhalla she would be content to take this back with her. Odin would never believe it.
“Someone has to keep him out of trouble, dear Darcy,” Frigga winked to the Midgardian. “But you seem up to the task.” Loki’s protest should follow shortly.
“Are all of them here, then?” She knew about Thor, but Sif and the Warriors Three? This could prove to be a very interesting time.
Oh really? More ups when he took off and got himself injured? Yeah, right. Still Darcy smiled and nodded her head. “I’m trying really hard, but maybe you could get him to realize that he should actually listen to me, when I’m trying to make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.” Lord, that would be wonderful. Maybe the phrase ‘i’ll tell your mom’ would work. Not that she was a snitch but still.
“Sif is here, we haven’t seen the Warriors Three though,” she answered. “Oh and there’s Valkyrie of course. I texted Thor, he should be here soon, I hope.”
For him, it was more of the ups that Darcy's companionship provided...when he wasn't taking off and getting himself injured. Instead of looking properly berated, Loki's protest came in the form of a bout of silence, while giving them both the sort of sullen stare that might dehydrate a rain forest into a desert in an instant.
"There are times when I am not looking to start trouble," he pointed out when there was a moment to interject. There were plenty of times that he was absolutely looking to start trouble, merely to see what would transpire afterward. He often derived malicious glee out of doing that, but this was not one of those times.
"I fear that the Warriors Three perished as well, and have not returned," he solemnly informed Frigga. "Only Sif survived, for I banished her from Asgard while disguised as the All-father. I have been trying to make amends, ever since."
To make matters worse, Loki did not know what to say about Thor to either of them. It was better to remain quiet than be made a fool of. He remained unsure of his standing with his brother after recent events and his subsequent recovery, since they had yet to speak to one another in private. Quieted, he brought glasses of wine over to Darcy and Frigga, setting them down in front of them, before retreating to fetch his own.
Only then did he finally decide to sit down between them both, casting unsure glances at them, back and forth.
Frigga blinked for that information. Slender brows knit down as she looked from Darcy to Loki. It seems the good Doctor had left out quite a bit of information. She knew what Loki had done to Odin, but not what happened after her husband had joined her. She had a feeling the wine would be much needed for this conversation.
“Survived what?” The wine was lifted for a sip which turned into a long drink since Midgardian wine was weak by their standards.
"...Hela's return, and Ragnarok destroying Asgard," was Loki's sullen reply, before he took such a long drink of wine that it seemed he was set on draining it all in one go.
Darcy had no idea what to say to Frigga about where anyone was, or why they weren’t around. That was definitely not her place to tell her. Did Strange not tell her? Maybe he thought it wasn’t his place either. She left all of that to Loki. She was pretty quiet though, instead grabbing a hold of her wine glass and took a sip.
She nudged Loki slightly. “I think she probably needs more of an explanation than that?”
His wine now gone, Loki blinked at the nudge and nodded at Darcy. He knew his part in it all, and his good deeds were outweighed by the bad deeds.
"Very well. After you died," he said with carefully measured words, "I offered aid to Thor to remove the Aether from Jane. I was wounded and faked my death, returning to Asgard where I wove a spell over Odin, and took his place on the throne. I sent the Aether away so it would not be near the Tesseract. I left Odin on Midgard in a home offering care for the elderly. I then ruled Asgard in his guise, for the four years that Thor was away seeking news of the Infinity Stones. Needless to say, Thor found me out and we came here to find Odin...."
And Loki relayed the entire tale, from Odin's last words and his death, to Hela showing up, to Sakaar (which was breezed over, because no one wants to tell their mother those things). This continued through to his arrival during Asgard's last moments, Ragnarok, and Thanos finding their ship, and the fate of the remaining Asgardians. As well as his own fate in that other universe, where Thanos killed him, and sent him scurrying for the Tesseract.
"...and so now the Tesseract is bound to me, and to Thor. If any of you are in danger, then I can not offer it in exchange this time. For better or for worse, I do not know. But that is the whole of the tale, as I know it."
He quickly stood up to get more wine, and to put distance between himself and both persons who were so important to him, whose opinions were among those that mattered most to him.
Frigga listened to Loki tell the tale. Some part of her thought he should try his hand as being a skald, a teller of tales, but that would be a conversation for another time. She tucked that idea away for now as Loki continued on.
There was so much there to address. So much pain and guilt her son was carrying. Did he deserve it? Maybe, but not to the extent he was piling upon himself. She would address that in time, too. When Loki moved away from them she turned a look to Darcy. This couldn’t be easy for the girl. Frigga gave her a kind, understanding smile then turned her gaze back to her son.
“He knew,” was all she said.
Loki said nothing. By the way his shoulders were squared and his knuckles went white as he poured himself more wine, it was easy to determine just how tense he was.
Well that wasn’t exactly the way that Darcy thought she should tell him. So she sighed. Whatever. Clearly his mom was used to him, so she didn’t have to apologize on his behalf. She wanted to though. She gave Frigga an ‘i’m so sorry’ look.
Great. Bunch of awkward. Why were Asgardians so fucking uptight? Ugh. “Right so um, maybe you’d like to have a room? I don’t know how tired you are. Or when you’re from or whatever. But I know that Earth takes a lot to get used to in a lot of ways. But I’m sure we can get you a bed. And anything that you need, I will totally go get. Is there anything that you need?”
Frigga reached out to touch her hand to Darcy’s wrist along with a reassuring smile. “Everything I need I have right here, save for Thor. And I believe I have rested enough.” Being dead and all. “I would dearly love to have my own space, but I do not want to put you out. I am certain I could ask the sorcerer for assistance if necessary.” Or she would tweak his ear.
“One thing either of you could assist me with is understanding exactly what those contraptions are and what they do.” She wrinkled her nose in the direction of the pack Doctor Strange gave her.
Loki seemed to compose himself again, no doubt due to many years of practice in the royal court and untold amounts of face-to-face mischievous manipulation. He took one sip of wine as he listened, turning in time to look in the direction of the package.
"Nonsense. You will stay with us," insisted Loki, "and I will create a space worthy of you, as well as furnish it. Then Thor will see you, as soon as he is able. As for these..."
He motioned with his other hand, the one that wasn't holding a wineglass, to indicate the items in question.
"...Darcy is incredibly well-versed in their use. I know she could show you how to use them as though you were born to this realm."
He looked to Darcy, his expression hopeful. If anyone could manage lessons on how to communicate on Midgard, she could.