Re: Loki, Hermes, Hermod, Sigyn, Eris leaving, and Open
Eris did not regret leaving Loki and Wonder so quickly. She'd gotten to practice her fake sad face, and Hybris had told her a secret. It was the best and nicest thing a friend could ever give. The secret itself didn't matter. Just that Eris knew it and there were a lot of people who wanted to know it, but didn't. Eris knew it. They didn't. They wanted to. She felt giddy. The kind of giddy that would bounce more if it wasn't wrapped in strong arms. She played the moment with Hybris back again and again in her head until the sensation traveled all the way down to her toes and she felt like she could walk across really high walls without toppling off. She didn't regret leaving Loki and Wonder so quickly. But she did regret that it had gotten louder over there after she'd left.
The moment Hybris had finished, Eris slunk back. She'd stood out of sight, behind a tall Sumerian nearby, and listened to snippets of the argument. She could slice through the contention between those two Nords with tiger claws. They said they were fighting about one thing, but they were actually fighting about something else. That was Eris's favorite kind of fight, if she had to choose a favorite, and normally that would be enough for her. But there was something else too.
If Eris picked that messenger up and dropped him, he might shatter against the ground and dead sea water might splash out. He'd suffered because of Loki. But he was telling Loki off for other people instead of him. He was beautiful. When Loki addressed him by name, Eris actually paid attention to it. She'd suffered because of Loki too. Hermod didn't say her name, but Eris thought it was implied since he was there for the Loki sufferers, so she heard it anyway. Then Loki's wife showed up and ruined everything. Eris's wide eyed wonder disappeared with a nose scrunch. Disgust replaced her weighty mix of emotions, followed by a reckless determination to show her gratitude to the messenger and win a contest, even if it meant risking a wife run in.
Eris approached the messenger from behind and tapped gently on his shoulder. “Excuse me,” she said, “I have a message. It's really important.” The moment she saw the blue in his eyes, Eris grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him to her. The kiss started out hard and aggressive but not too aggressive, the kind that gave him everything she had as quickly as possible. But Eris didn't pull away and retreat when she'd intended. Her lips turned soft against his, and her shoulders relaxed into the action. One hand wrapped around his back to keep him there, and the other ran through his hair. Eris took a tiny step back and nearly took him with her. She lingered. Then she released him from her grasp very suddenly.
“Oh.” Eris said. “Oh.” She took a bigger step back. “I'm so sorry,” she said. Her eyes widened. “My brother and I were just playing a game. We didn't mean any harm by it. I promise. I'm sorry” She bit her lip. It was still buzzing. “This one won't count, okay?” Her eyes softened. “I promise it doesn't count. Here...” Eris fumbled with the clasp around her neck and pulled off her necklace, the one with the raccoon charm. She grabbed his hand and dropped the necklace into it, then forced his fingers closed over it. “Take this. It's the best thing I have.” Eris felt her cheeks redden. She turned away from him and ran into the crowd. Hermod wasn't a barbarian. She hadn't known.