[Video] Bored God-Princes Get Ideas

[attention_wenches]

[The camera is pointed a bit crookedly at an ordinary kitchen counter, a bowl of water and a scruffy teenager with a steaming mug both perched on it. Loki's given up his Asgardian clothes and let his hair grow out some, and nowadays looks wholly unremarkable. But smug. Really smug. Misbehaving cat smug, at the moment. He twitches his fingers a bit and the water in the bowl rises up in the form of a snake, undulating as if to strike for a few moments before freezing solid, then falling away into mist.]

...Oh, alright, it's a bit of a parlor trick, but I thought it might get people's attention and it's safe to point this device at.

[And he preferrs using a bit of spellwork he knows as well as breathing, juuuust in case.]

I've noticed that fellow sorcerers are a bit scarce on the ground here, among we ship-folk. Not that I've ever been anywhere that you'd find sorcerers in great proliferation, even Alfheim, but it seems as though most of the scholars out of the pods are scholars of a more mundane kind. I suspect it's at least a bit due to the preponderance of humans. You seem to be better at that sort of thing. And it's all well and good, but it makes life a bit dull for those of us who are more ethereally inclined.

So I'd like to do a headcount of the magicians we do have, of whatever sort, if you don't mind. And perhaps we could meet at least every so often? I'm only an apprentice and I'm falling terribly behind, and how often is one going to encounter so many schools of magic at once? We really should be exchanging notes all we can, before something else goes wrong. Even if you do a sort of magic that no one's likely to be able to learn, like Jack does, at least it'd be interesting to talk about.

[A brief pause as he thinks back through his tangent-filled, over-caffeinated, self-congratulatory blather.]

Oh, yes, if you don't know me, I'm Loki. And--

[He's interrupted by the whistling of a teakettle.]

Right, that's all.

[Click.]

Comments

[anuglyman]

Oh, I have very little use for money. I spin straw into gold-- or various other metals, these days. I have been known to work for the promise of future favors.

[And this is going to be an easy deal, really, since he does kind of want to teach the boy. He reminds him just a little of Bae, except... he likes magic.]

[attention_wenches]

[Transmutation of elements? That's... But he won't let himself show his excitement. After all, he knows better.]

Do I look foolish enough to agree to any favor when I don't know what it will be?

[Amateur stuff. He's not in that sort of extremis.]

[anuglyman]

If you'd like to impose conditions on this favor, that is of course your decision, and we can move on from there until we find something mutually satisfactory. It's called bargaining.

[attention_wenches]

[He's bargained, but only with dwarves and in terms of gold. One of many ways Loki thinks he's wiser than he is.]

I'm worlds away from the any influence or patronage I might offer, and you're rather beyond me magically, though I suppose I might offer assistance in spellwork, if you simply needed a second participant.

[anuglyman]

[Yeah, he's not very good at this bargaining thing. Rumple is a little disappointed. Then again, he's still young.]

You never know when something like that could be useful. But favors can be anything, you know. I once called in a favor with someone to have her track down someone for me and convince him to speak with me. It could be that simple.

[But of course, it probably wouldn't be.]

[attention_wenches]

[He did know enough to assume it wouldn't be that simple, but then, he was, after all, Loki. It occurred to him suddenly that he'd always have the option not to do the favor if he decided he didn't want to. Lacking any element of honor himself, he'd never quite grasped the secret economy of boons owed and gestures bestowed accordingly.]

Oh, alright.

[anuglyman]

[And Loki doesn't yet know that you don't break deals with Rumplestiltskin. He will be very displeased. With any luck, though, that won't actually come up.]

If you're absolutely sure, then I'll call that done. We can begin whenever you are ready.

[attention_wenches]

[Loki breaks deals with everybody. It's his thing.]

I have a few of the next week's worth of afternoons free, and most evenings...

[Enough to do? Never.]

[anuglyman]

[Then this should get interesting, eventually.]

I believe I can fit you into my schedule. How about Monday evening, to start?

[Too bad he won't be here, then. Sorry, kiddo.]

And do let me know whether that little group of yours actually happens.

[attention_wenches]

If it happens. Making magicians cooperate is like herding cats.

[He shrugs.]

That should do.

[anuglyman]

Very well. Your place or mine? Or shall we find somewhere a bit more secluded than either?

[attention_wenches]

One never knows when mine is going to be loud and busy, the way my brothers friends turn up. So wherever you like, yours or a third location.

[anuglyman]

Mine will do for now. I'll see you then, Monday evening at, say, six?

[A text comes through with his address. It's in a nicer part of town than Loki's place. And he won't be there Monday, either. Whoops.]

[attention_wenches]

Good a plan as any. Until then.