hThanks assiryah, LadyAmazon, elljayde, KyloRen'sgirl213 for the follows and favorites! LadyAmazon- Mystery of magic! Thank you so much! I've seen so many versions where he's spending his punishment for New York on Earth and it's beyond over done. Why not before the events of that? I'll be following through into the Marvel series, but still debating what to do when the Loki series comes out.
KyloRen'sgirl213- Thanks! I'll be careful with these chapters so cases make sense and that it can give some shock! Drawing insperation from great plots such as Murder, She Wrote and Columbo!
Enjoy and stay safe!
The humming was growing to be aggravating as Loki just laid in bed, hearing the humming go on for about an hour at this point. He hadn't slept very well the night before, having not been able to have a proper dinner and sleeping in this poor excuse of a bed. Loki reached to the bedside and picked up the phone he had gotten, seeing the time read 8:56 A.M. on the screen. He usually woke up early, but with the lack of sleep he wanted to just curl under the thin bed sheets and try to get some more hours in.
Finally, the humming of whatever the Hel Charlotte was doing out there stopped. He sighed and closed his eyes trying to relax again into another hour or two of sleep. The silence lasted about a few minutes before the humming continued, this time it was louder- outside his door!
"That's it!" He shot up and threw the blankets off him and stomped toward the door. Loki swung it open and stepped out to find Charlotte doing a very absurd thing.
Charlotte was punishing around the humming demon across the floor, but her body was moving in a particular way. Her hips shook and her feet stepped into an odd rhythm as she bobbed her head about. Loki could slightly hear her singing softly to herself, something about a video killing a star?
Either way, Loki was tired, aggravated, and now horribly hungry. "Charlotte." He called, but she continued. "Charlotte!"
"Video killed the radio star." She sung out loud, moving the machine to thud against the wall. He had heard the thudding and now understood why.
Loki at first thought the machine was too loud, but then saw headsets on her head covering her ears making her deaf to any noise she was making. He huffed and walked over nudging the stupid things off her head. Charlotte, in response, whipped around and dropped the handle of the machine, letting it thunk to the floor. She grabbed his wrist in a death grip and for a split second her eyes were glaring daggers into his. When she realized who it was, she eased her grip and the glaring instantly died off.
"Loki! Sorry." She adjusted the headset to around her neck and took out her phone where the headset was wired to. When she pressed the screen the music blaring stopped and she turned the cleaning machine off. "Did I wake you?"
His brow raised, "More like disturbed me from my endless attempts to get any proper rest. So yes, you woke me.." he answered.
Charlotte blinked at him and cleared her throat. "Sorry, I usually clean the house once a month and decided to do so today." She looked away and kept avoiding eye contact now, her body tempted to turn away. "I'll be more quiet."
Loki shook his head, combing his fingers through his messy black hair. "No use, I'm famished and need something to eat now."
"How about getting changed then eating?" She suggested, turning away to pick up her vacuum and yanked the cord from the wall.
He frowned and put his fists on his hips. "What ever for?"
Loki heard a snort, then she hunched over using the handle of the machine for balance. "You just look really weird in that outfit."
He gazed down at himself, he had been wearing his nightly clothing which was a dark green tunic that hung loosely off his thin frame, and black trousers of both silk and woolen materials. He was just simply in his sleepwear, he frowned at her not finding what was so funny. Dare he say, Loki was offended.
"You dare slander my traditional sleepwear?"
That stopped her from her harsh giggle to look back at him. "Shit, I am so sorry. That is incredibly ignorant of me, I really forget you're from a different country sometimes."
More like a different planet. Loki folded his arms, "Does the accent not remind you?" he countered.
Charlotte shrugged helplessly, "I mean, America is full of different accents and languages, but I just-" She raised a hand and shook her head. "No, that was really rude of me, I am truly sorry, Loki. You're… pajamas are just different- and, there's nothing wrong with that."
Loki refrained from correcting her words, but she didn't mean any harm by her reaction. After all, she herself was wearing dark red plaid pajama pants that looked like bulky curtains wrapped around her legs and a shirt fairly too large as it hung over her exposed shoulder. He wanted to comment on the print of her shirt that read 'Italian Stallion' in faded yellow lettering with a matching color outline or a horse head.
"How about I make breakfast, as a sorry for waking you up and insulting you?" She offered, "I was thinking of making eggs and bacon?"
Seemed fair, Loki thought. "It'll suffice. I'll freshen up for a bath and take part in your cooking."
Now Loki thought back, she mostly ate out of house meals. He just assumed she held no cooking skills, but he'd see for sure if she did know how to cook. The god hoped she wouldn't poison him.
The bathroom claimed as his had been looked over, and it was a small one. It held a white simple toilet, white simple sink with white cabinets underneath and a mirror above it. The stand in shower was thin and tall, the knobs were silver and Loki reached in, using his hand to balance his weight onto the wall and turn the water on. Bathing in Asgard wasn't too different, though control over the water temperature was easier than turning the knob a few times to get it right.
What little Loki had brought with him into the apartment was some toiletry products he had at the hotel and took with him. He was used to the all natural bathing concoctions to wash his hair and body. The soaps the hotel provided made his skin feel gummed and sticky, while the 'shampoo' and 'conditioners' made his hair stiff and dry. Loki would have to look into better bathing products than these little bottles.
Nonetheless, his lean body stripped of the clothing and stepped into the shower. He washed and rinsed in the thin stall of the shower, his elbows bumping into the glass or tile walls now and then. Loki prefered to take a deep cleanse but with the small room and products making his hair and skin feel worse, he did a quick wash and finished. He got out, toweled himself dry and conjured up some average Midgardian clothing; a gray sweater and a pair of dark blue jeans he'd seen in a shop. No reason to waste his 'money' on clothing he could just procure through his magic. Though it was tiring to cast the illusionist spell every time, maybe own actual clothing to not waste his magic on minual things. Loki took his actual night clothing and placed them into a basket, then stepped in front of the mirror. He exhaled as he got a comb and worked his hair into its usual slicked back style. It was short, thankfully, so he had no worry of his hair too damaged from the hotel products.
Loki stepped out of the bathroom and the scent of eggs and meat being cooked filled the small kitchen. Charlotte was standing by the stove and with a pan and spatula was flipping the bacon and scrambling the eggs. The music was now heard playing on a machine on the counter beside her, he heard lyrics of "Lover of The Russian Queen" which made him raise a brow as he heard more of it. Charlotte's shoulders shifted to the rhythm, she seemed to really like dancing and music. She stopped when she found him watching her, jumping a bit.
"Put a bell around your neck, silent as a ninja." She joked. Well, he was a master at stealth, he grinned as if a compliment. "Got your plate ready. Don't really have a table to eat at, er…" She pointed the spatula at the couch in the living room while handing a plate breakfast to him. "Just eat on the couch. It's from Goodwill anyhow."
Loki gently took the plate and a fork, he looked between the couch and her, eventually moving to sit down and inspect his food. The eggs held their yellow white color, but he shifted the scrambled eggs about seeing a lot of gray brown in it. He grimaced and even noticed the bacon was small and over cooked. Did he have to eat this? Loki placed the fork down ready to vanish the food when he felt the couch shift as Charlotte joined him with her own food. The music was now off and she reached for the remote to the television.
"Let me know what you think." She told him, scooping some eggs onto her fork and taking a mouthful of it. She chewed the weird food happily, turning the screen on and flipping through channels.
Loki gulped, he was dreadfully hungry and seeing the food before him made him want to just hunt down a boar at this point. "Might I ask what's in it?"
Charlotte took another forkful, "Oh, shit." She cursed, covering her mouth to swallow. "You're not allergic to any spices or seasonings, are you?"
Loki frowned and shook his head, "None at all." he told her.
"Oh, good! I just put cinnamon on the eggs and a touch of syrup on the bacon." She explained.
Well, if that's all. Loki took small stabs at some egg chunks and cautiously placed it into his mouth. His brows raised at the sudden mixture caused the once plain eggs into a sweet texture that watered his mouth as he chewed. Curious, he took a strip of bacon and bit into it, the added fried bacon made it salty but maple goodness all together. Loki's hunger and surprising satisfaction of the flavor made him take bigger, less cautious bites, biting into a bacon for every forkful of eggs he had.
Charlotte had been picking at her eggs when she noticed the way Loki was enjoying the meal and tried to hide a giggle. "That good, eh?"
Loki swallowed and cleared his throat, adjusting his posture from hunching over the plate. "It is esquisent, nothing of what I've had back home." He glanced at her. "Regret ever doubting you weren't a component cook."
She was about to thank him, but she replayed the words in her head. "You doubted I could cook?" Charlotte scoffed longingly at him as she finally placed the remote down when she found a channel airing a mystery show to watch. "I can cook you two ways to Sunday, my good sir."
Loki raised his brows, placing the now empty plate and fork onto the coffee table. "You seem to avoid cooking as if it was a plague."
Charlotte shrugged, taking a few bites of her last bacon strip. "I haven't been cooking as much lately, sometimes I'm too exhausted to do so.. I'll nuke something or just order out most of the time these days."
Loki stood, ignoring the television as he picked the dishes up and stepped around the couch. "Do you enjoy cooking?" he asked, placing the dishes in the sink.
"Do I enjoy making meals that leave a mess, but keep me alive?" Charlotte nodded, biting into her last bacon. "Sure."
Loki rolled his eyes, glancing into his room. He rubbed his upper lip in thought, Charlotte was on rest until her stitches healed. Which meant he wouldn't be doing anything meaningful for the next week. He may as well make his room comfortable and head out to find decor, clothing, and other needs.
"So, what are your plans for today?" Charlotte asked, now in the kitchen and rinsing her plate.
Loki stepped to the side giving her room at the sink. "I was thinking of giving Mitsy her walk when I woke up, but I shouldn't push myself too hard. She's with the dog walker today." She commented.
Charlotte washed her plate in thought. She had done her usual morning exercise routine, finished her monthly cleaning, and didn't want to over exert herself going on her mid morning run. Her eyes drifted to the calendar hanging by Loki, it was the 8th today, her check up was the 14th. What was there to do in the next week?
"What are your plans?" She asked, opening the dishwasher and putting her plate and fork in. She made no move to touching Loki's dishes still in the sink.
"Venture out and procure some needed items. Need hair supplements and-"
"You ran out of shampoo and conditioner?" Charlotte asked, hands on her hips. "Man, what did you bring with you? You do have a toothbrush at least, right?"
Loki frowned at her, making her shoot her brows at him. He doesn't even have a toothbrush!? Was he just homeless in general with some fancy clothing?
"Okay, now we know what today entails." Charlotte told, turning on her heel and heading toward the stairs.
Loki followed her into the living room as she paused at the top of the steps, pointing at him. "Stay there, I'm gonna get dressed and we'll do some shopping." She ordered, and continued up into her room.
Loki heard her riffle through a closet then a door shut, possibly her bathroom. He hummed to himself, going into his room to pick up the phone he was given. The battery icon read 89%, so he shoved it into his back pocket and shut the door behind him leaving the room. Wanting to keep Mitsy out as much as possible, in case the walker returned her before they did.
Charlotte returned down the stairs, no longer in her oversized sleepwear and in more body hugging clothing. Her faded blue jeans revealed the curves in her hips and legs, making her look more slender as the bottoms flared out around her black socked feet. Black sweater had three circles as different colors lined down with a paw print in the center, words above and below it read 'Easily Distracted by Disney and Dogs'. Loki recognized the word Disney on a few movies she had on a shelf beside the television. With her hair down around her shoulders as she tucked a few strands behind her ear, she looked fairly adorable.
They got their shoes and coats on, and left the apartment with Charlotte locking the door. The weather was colder than before, the clouds above threatened to cause a possible snowfall. The cold wasn't bothering Loki, but he had heard people in the street complain about the temperature. Making him believe they wouldn't last a second in Jotunheim if they wanted to talk about being too cold.
It seemed to have gotten to Charlotte as she pulled a blue scarf from her coat pocket and proceeded to loop it around her neck and tuck it into the coat as she took lead to wherever she was taking Loki.
"Here we are."
And here they were, standing in front of a glass building on a street corner of Chestnut Street. The large curved words deemed the building name 'The Shops at Liberty Place'. People exit and enter none stop, many with children tailing behind parents, groups of friends laughing, and even couples opening doors to one another. It was extremely lively, and Loki didn't fail to notice the mass array of holiday decor of greens and reds with some golds and silver hanging from street lights, poles, and windows of buildings throughout the city. Everytime the doors opened, he heard the faint music playing from inside sounding sickeningly cheery.
"Ready to do some shopping?" Charlotte asked, hands shoved deeply into her coat pockets. Loki grimaced, brows knotted. She raised a brow and shrugged, "We're going in, Fancy Pants. Just watch out for moody people and screaming children." She warned.
Charlotte made for the doors, intentionally leaving Loki behind. The god huffed and followed her in, loosening the buttons on his wool coat when he felt how warm it was inside. Charlotte seemed to agree as she undid her scarf and lowered the zipper of her coat.
"So, guess we should head over to get some hair supplies." Her eyes caught his black locks and she grinned in thought. "Ever thought of letting it loose?"
Loki raised a brow as they moved through the mall, walking beside her. "Pardon?"
She shrugged, letting the scarf hang around her coat collar, the ends dancing at her waist. "Just a thought, you must need some really good hair gel to keep it like that." Charlotte pointed toward her forehead. "Do you have any bangs that can just hang there or do they cover your face like a curtain?"
Loki always had this hairstyle since he was a child, his mother set it, so he kept it. Not having any loose strands, braids or such get in his vision during battle or have it too long to maintain it. Long hairs were common in Asgard, his brother's hair was just a tad longer but maintained compared to Valstagg. His hair was blending into his large beard at this point.
"I could ask the same, ever cut that wild mane of yours?" He countered.
Charlotte's hair was more wild than before, unable to properly tame it with a hat or hair tie thanks to her stitches. "I might honestly cut it, now that you mention it."
Loki grew curious. "How short?" He asked, tilting his shoulder to avoid a few teens running past.
"Oh, that all depends on who cuts it." She answered dramatically "Every hairdresser I've had for years can never cut it right. 'It's too thick' 'it's too wild' 'only men can have perfect short hair' Ugh! Drives me mad." Charlotte mentally noted the Bath and Body Works they passed by.
Loki couldn't help but chuckle at her. "Sounds like an utter nightmare."
Charlotte eyed his hair, he noticed the glance and replied with a look. "Who cuts your hair? It's so perfectly cut at the nape with just a tiny few curls at the end."
He reached back, feeling the ends curl as they usually did. "Personal hair stylist." He answered, making her whistle at that.
"La-tee-da." She teased, shoving his shoulder. "Must be nice to have someone to know how to do your hair."
Loki grinned triumphantly, yes it was. Hopefully his hair wouldn't grow too long, he didn't favor when it grew long and tangled.
Charlotte paused in front of a store called 'The Body Shop', which Loki at first questioned until he saw the various products displayed in the windows. They had shampoos, conditioners, body sprays and soaps, even certain face and skin care products to help blemishes and blackheads. It looked decent so Loki wandered in with Charlotte tailing behind.
A man in a kind strained smile greeted the two. "Welcome, can I help you with anything?"
Charlotte waved him off for Loki, "Just browsing, thanks."
He nodded and left the two alone. Loki didn't question and moved toward where he saw a sign 'hair care for men'. He picked up a bottle and read the label before putting it back and picking up another. Loki looked over to see Charlotte checking out hair products for women, she was popping the bottle open and sniffing it before making a face and putting it back. She was checking the scents but not the contents of the product? He looked down at one labeled 'shea butter' and twisted the lid to sniff it. It held a fruity like scent with a mix of vanilla. He didn't favor it and placed it back.
Loki looked at a few, reading the contents then sniffing the lid, a lot were fruity and near tropical which was agitating him. What man in any realm wants to smell like a banana was beyond his concept of thought. Loki finally found a promising green bottle labeled 'cedar and sage', he took a cautious wiff and gave an approving nod. He took a shampoo and conditioner of that, giving a quick scan over the contents and deemed it fine for his hair.
Charlotte was being talked to by the same man before, showing her a box that had a woman's face with a green cream on it. She kept shaking her head, but the man seemed persistent in the product for her. Loki approached, hearing the conversation.
"Trust me, my skin is perfectly fine the way it is." She told a little sternly.
"I trust your word, ma'am, but just giving this a try can really make a difference to your complexion." He urged, holding the box to her.
Loki noticed the agitation in the creases of Charlotte's brows as she reached up to rub it away. "Okay, sure."
The man seemed stupidly excited and rushed over to the front counter to ring her up. Charlotte rolled her eyes, and walked over with Loki. He silently watched her pay for the product which was a hefty thirty dollars. She gave her card and turned to Loki who was holding the bottles in his fingers. Charlotte tilted her head to read them, he lifted his hand for her to see.
"Oh, good choices." She praised him. "I did notice you struggling to find something good here. Usually men go for Head and Shoulders or generic Old Spice. But, I had a hunch you wouldn't go for those."
Loki let her finish paying and then took his turn. His products were pricey at twenty-five dollars per bottle, so he paid the fifty and they left the store.
The two went through a few more stores where Loki got more needed products, clothing, and tried to find some decor or artwork for his room. Charlotte didn't know what he'd be finding, unless it was something that would remind him of home. The place she thought might help was a store called 'East Meets West', a store to sell for spiritual or religious beliefs. Though the store brought back some nostalgia for her, Loki was tempted to cover his nose from the strong scent of incense from the store.
"And you've brought me here because?" He questioned.
Charlotte nudged him toward the establishment. "If you want some weirdo decor, this is the place. Maybe they'll have something you'll like." She encouraged, walking inside to be greeted by a worker wearing a very bright and colorful shirt.
Loki rather just stay out of this reeking place, just get back to the apartment or outside for fresh air. Smelling incense wasn't uncommon back home, used in open areas for various reasons. He never liked most of them, but there was no opening to let the scent fade out so the store stunk of it as he begrudgingly entered the open store.
The god had found various knick knacks along with figurine creatures, skulls painted with bright colors known as 'candies skulls' or 'day of the dead' items. Wine bottle holders of animals such as turtles and wolves with many dragon and fairy statues of different colors and sizes. Tie dye tapestries, dream catchers, chakras, and a small section in the corner where 'healing crystals' were piled into small baskets. They varied in prices from thirty cents to over five bucks. When he picked them up, they just felt like petty stones cleaned and polished.
"Ohh!" Loki looked over seeing the different store worker, but wore the same type of shirt. "I see you found the healing crystals. May I interest you in the chakra stones as well? I can sense you need them."
He frowned and put the stones in his palm back where they belonged. "I assure you, I need none of your pretty little pebbles." He told him, turning away to show he didn't need assistance.
Loki thought how persistently annoying store clerks were. Some even stood outside stores to try and lure victims into their high prices sales, handing out coupons that were for sure expiring next week that had to be used now! He looked around spotting Charlotte looking at some journals, he left the worker rambling about chakras or something to join her. It might be better to stick by her side when they enter stores.
"What are you looking at?" He asked, stepping behind her.
She turned and smiled showing the leather bound book. "Journals, I always collected them as a teenager. Just browsing what they have." She showed the design and Loki became intrigued.
He took to standing at her side as he looked over the journals on the self. They were genuine leather bound with different designs of carving, molding, and pretty jewels, fake, but nicely put in. Some had dark blue smooth gems in the middle with light brown leather, or red gems with solid dark oak color leather. But he really noticed a lot of them in various colors and designs with a tag labeling it as 'The Tree of Life' with said large tree on the front cover. Loki wasn't too surprised to see depictions of Yggdrasil here, since his father taught the Norse. But, it was surprising to see it still live on as a merchandise product now.
"Tree of Life? There's a few here," Charlotte spoke, crouching down to pick out one in a lower shelf. "How about this one, a touch of green?" She offered, standing and showing the journal.
Loki looked and her brows rose. It was a beautiful embossed green journal of Yggdrasil on the front, with an antique brass lock. He opened it gently and flipped through, the papers felt authentically parchment paper, he assumed it to have about one hundred or so pages. Loki pressed his thumb against the embossed on the front, feeling the detail of the tree and leather. He could use this to keep track of what he's learning from this realm to look back at it, maybe add more books for the library on Asgard to update what has happened on Midgard.
"Hmm, judging by that smirk, you likey?" Charlotte teased, leaning forward to see his lips quirked.
Loki furrowed his brows but kept the smirk, closing the book. "I do." he confirmed with a nod. "Now, let's leave before I forget what it's like to breathe oxygen." He joked.
The two approached the counter, Loki content to paying near thirty-five dollars for the damn book. Charlotte figured he really liked the book, maybe it reminded him of home.
"Excellent choice, sir!" The store clerk praised, Loki's smile faltered as it was the same one who bothered him about the stupid stones. He gave him the money, hoping to just pay and leave.
"Oh, I see your girlfriend is interested in our tarot card reading." He spoke, putting the money into the register.
Loki held that offended look once more, a deep frown shown. "Girlfriend?"
The man pointed and Loki turned to see Charlotte looking at a table with a stack of cards in the middle. A small sign on the side of the table, 'Free Tarot Card Readings!'.
"Would you like to give a try, ma'am?" The clark called, placing the book in a plastic bag.
Loki took the bag and placed it into the bigger bag he had been carrying that held clothing and other items. Charlotte looked up, "How does it work?" she asked. "Haven't had one done since I was sixteen, been a long time."
"I'll call Carley, she does the readings." The man walked into the back as Loki leaned against the counter waiting.
"Want to try it too?" She asked him.
"Waste my time by having my predictions read?" He scoffed, may as well find a witch and ask her. "It's all fake, you know that, correct?"
Charlotte shrugged, "What hurt could it cause?" she asked. "I'm not as crazy over it as I used to be in my high school days. Always hoping the readings or horoscopes would give me better news of my life. But I was also a tad dramatic in those days, too."
Loki raised a brow, "Dramatic?" he walked over, putting the bag down to fold his hands behind his back. "Drama queen back in the day?"
"Not as much as my sister is still." She countered.
Carley, a brunette small store clerk, came out from the back greeting Charlotte. She sat down and took the desk and spread it out on the table, telling her to pick six cards at random. Charlotte didn't think too much, just tugged out a few on the right, one in the middle and two on the left. Carley put the deck aside and took the cards Charlotte chose.
"Each card will answer something about you, your thoughts, emotions, and mentality." She explained, earning an eye roll from Loki.
"You really want to see these?" Loki asked, as if giving her a chance to back out.
Charlotte gave a look, "You can wait outside the store if you want." she offered.
Loki sighed and shoved his hands into his pants pockets, standing by to watch with disinterest. "Ready?" Carley asked, Charlotte nodded. "The first card will reveal how you feel about yourself."
She took the first card on top and flipped it onto the table. "Wheel of Fortune; Perhaps you feel due for a bit of good luck, or maybe are experiencing some at the moment?" She inquired, Charlotte didn't respond, allowing her to continue.
"Wheel of Fortune is a card of destiny. What is happening now we could call fate, so if positive things are happening with your love life," Carley stole a glance at Loki. "Career or finances this is no coincidence. If no such things are happening, expect a sudden change in fortune."
Carley picked up the next card, "The second card will answer what you want most right now." and placed it facing up next to the fortune card. "Strength!" She praised.
"So, she wants to be strong at her job?" Loki questioned with sarcasm.
Carley hesitated, only to be waved off by Charlotte. "I'm a cop, so-"
"Oh! Are you aiming for a promotion perhaps?"
"Actually, yeah. I've been working hard to be a detective." She answered.
Carley nodded, pointing to the card. "Strength suggests that what you want at this time is to find strength and willpower to see you through and achieve what you want." She explained. "It's important to come from a place of love and tolerance though, not aggression."
Charlotte faltered, but tilted her head to keep looking interested.
"The next one is your fears." Charlotte tense as she placed the third card down, "The hanged Man; you fear of letting go, yet this place of limbo and indecision is not a good place to be."
Charlotte folded her arms, rubbing her thumb up for forearm as she was finding this more creepy. Usually her past tarot card readings weren't too accurate or even close. Looking at the Hanged Man card made her shift her stance.
"The fourth is what is going for you." When Carley flipped it, she grinned and excitedly placed it down. "Justice! How perfect is that, officer?" She teased, Charlotte chuffed and let her continue.
"There is a karmic power to the justice card, reward for the good deeds you have done in the past. Arrested some baddies lately?" She asked, wiggling her dark brows.
Loki leaned in, "You did just catch a killer, did you not?" he commented.
Carley's eyes went wide, "Woah, really?" She then stood and got a good look at Charlotte. "Wait, you were on the news! About that fire at the bar!"
Charlotte nervously chuckled, "No need to make a presentation of me." she shook her head. "But yeah, that was me."
Then Carley turned toward Loki who stiffened when she pointed a finger at him. "You were there too! You somehow got her out of the fire, flames everywhere and the news cameras got an excellent shot of you carrying her out without a mark. Insane! You fire proof or something?"
Charlotte turned to Loki who just chuckled and shook his head. "Bit of luck is all, fire wasn't as bad as the news likes to think it is."
The excited clerk shrugged, "Yeah, they tend to over exaggerate stuff. Oh, sorry, we're still reading cards. Almost done!" She sat back down and readjusted the cards she nearly swiped off.
Charlotte wanted to steal a look to Loki who was now watching and listening to the clerk read the Justice card. Had she not imagined her being rescued from the fire by Loki? Charlotte brushed it off as her hallucination, and he seemed to feed that to her at the hospital. But there was video footage of it? Proof he somehow got her out unscathed himself?
"Ready for the fifth card?" The ginger blinked and nodded, not hearing the final of the past card but moved forward. "The fifth one will answer what is going against you."
She flipped the card over and nodded to herself. "The Star; a period of tension and frustrations." If only she really knew, Charlotte thought. "You feel pessimistic and fearful that your hopes will be dashed." Carley smiled up at her, "Have faith that your luck will change."
Charlotte returned the kind smile, but slightly faded when Carley looked back to place the last card down.
"The last and final card, the likely outcome." She flipped it and near gasped. "The World!" Carley cheered, making the two jump. "Success! Fulfillment! Conclusion is near at hand! The successful outcome to a venture, satisfaction in a relationship and efforts rewarded."
Charlotte bit her lip but sent a kind smile, "Thanks, Carley. That was really cool. You're pretty dedicated to these readings." she commented.
"It's real fun, not many people do it but when they want to. It's always a joy to see their outcome!" Carley giggled.
Loki raised a brow, "Even if the outcome is dire or dark?" he inquired.
The women looked to him, Calrey gave a challenged look as she collected the cards and shuffled the deck. "You seem awfully skeptic, Mr. Skeptic. Why not give a shot and put your words where your mouth is."
Charlotte shook her head, "He just wants to head out, we can go now-"
But Loki moved Charlotte aside, looking like he had been challenged in a duel of blades. "Alright, I'll prove your little card trick is nothing but of entertainment and not fortune."
He knew real future readings from real witches, his mother told many tales, has she had been raised by them. He almost wanted to have her come down herself and see the entertainment of humans believing they could do just as good spiritual sense as she could.
"A moment ago you wanted to leave, now you want to try it?" Charlotte questioned.
Loki looked to her, "To prove that this mere… girl couldn't have an accurate spiritual reading as she claims. Trust me, I know true spiritual readings from experience." he turned back as the cards were laid out.
Charlotte frowned and stood to the side watching as he picked his six cards. From experience? Did he do spiritual things growing up? Maybe something to do with a Norse belief or raised by his parents. Loki picked three cards from the middle, the two ends, then one on the right side. Placing the deck on the side she piled the six cards and revealed the first one.
"The Magician will tell how you feel about yourself. According to the card, you feel a sense of purpose and the willpower to get things done. Self-Empowerment is the key here; any new enterprises in love or career show great potential."
Carley smiled to herself, then up at him. "This card gives you the feeling that you have the ability to think on your feet and, faced with opposition, the appearance of The Magician is an excellent omen of success."
Loki couldn't help widely grin with smugness to himself, of course, he thought. He was a great sorcerer, how could he not get a card related to his magic tendencies?
"Could the Magician relate to something with that grin?" Carley asked.
Loki's tongue poke for a second as his pearly whites were shown. "I have a little touch of magic within me." He admitted, earning an amused nod from the card reader.
The second card was shown. "The High Priestess, now this is interesting." She tapped the card. "This card suggests that what you most want at this time is for a secret to be revealed. A secret held deep within yourself or another." Carley patted her chest, Loki's brows knotted at this notion. "Go within and listen to the still small voice of your heart and instincts."
Loki raised a hand to rest over his chin, was this possibly towards the secret of who he is to Charlotte? His true power, true lineage and what his deeper purpose was to be here? There would be no need or purpose for her to know the truth, he rubbed his upper lip for a moment before clearing his throat and mentally dismissing the card.
"This next one is… questionable." Carley admitted, having already flipped the third card. "The Devil, to your fears. You're afraid that something is out of control." She leaned back, trying to read more into it, forehead creased and frown shown. "You simply cannot resist this passionate attraction. Despite the fact it's addictive and unlikely to be right, you just can't stop yourself."
"Is this towards someone in his life?" Charlotte asked curiously.
Carley shrugged. "Passion for someone who's not good for you, money deals that are too good to be true or any other kind of temptation." Carley though looked to Loki with an assuring soft look. "If you're feeling low in self-belief and self-worth and doubt your abilities- Don't! Have confidence in yourself, it's not too late to change direction."
"...Thanks, I think?" He nodded, Carley seemed content with his semi-appreciation and moved onto the next card.
Loki had little time to think on that as a repeated card from before came about as the fourth card.
"The World again! Some good news, I'm glad to see. As before, success, fulfillment and conclusion is near for you, sir." She hummed, tapping her index onto her chin innocently. "Wonder if this might be connected to a relationship or romance going for you, perhaps?"
Loki rolled his eyes and twirled his finger. "Move on, please?"
Carley conceded and got the fifth card, the smile faltered slightly. "The Tower, usually never a good sign and it comes up to what is against you."
"What, as in a physical tower in his path?" Charlotte asked.
The clerk shook her head. "More like, certain events not going in his favor. Unexpected challenges, upheaval and disappointment will bring expectations to an end." Loki felt dread as she went on, nothing uplifting or empowering as such that Charlotte was given.
"Use this period of change as an opportunity for a new beginning." Carley continued, nodding to herself. "If you have been planning to move home, you will be expecting setbacks."
Oh, like his sad looking apartment room or disappointment of hair care products as he was feeling his hair start to dry out. Hopefully this was just small details. He tried not to think of possible outcomes that could happen upon his return to Asgard, he didn't want to think of the dark shadow he lived behind his brother right now.
"And the final card to your outcome is," Carley drummed her fingers dramatically on the table before placing down the last card. "The Emperor!"
Loki perked up, "Really?" he asked, leaning over to see the card himself on the table.
"Yes!" Carley picked it up for him to see it better. "Expect success and achievement of your goals!"
Loki looked to Charlotte who just shrugged, "Seems success is in both our favors in the future." she mused.
"Yes, sir. If you have placed your trust in your father, brother, or another man of significance in your life, they will come up trumps for you." Loki turned to her, as she started to collect her cards. "If you have been the victim of ill-will, don't worry. You will win in the end."
Loki thought of those words, once again reminded of his brother and father, who he didn't even want to think about while he was here. Charlotte seemed to have sensed a feeling in Loki from his lack of response. She held a hand out to Carley to take it with a small shake.
"That was loads of fun, thank you Carley." She told her, to which the young brunette beamed.
"I'm so glad! Please come back and update if it has come true?" She asks.
Charlotte nodded, "Sure thing. Have a good day." She took Loki's bag and urged him out.
It got to around noon when Charlotte suggested they stop by the food court and get lunch before heading back to the apartment. She got herself a slice of pizza and soda while Loki delved into a small salad and bottle of water. The two were silent at the small table, Loki poking at his greens and ate a few tomatoes, while Charlotte chewed on the crispy crust. Her eyes scanned the place before falling back to Loki.
"Quiet the first day we've had as roommates, huh?" She asked, trying to quilt the silence between them. Or, some sort, the crowds still made noises along with the faded christmas music playing and kids squealing across the mall. "Better than I expected."
Loki placed his fork down and shoved the plastic cheap tray away from him. He was clearly troubled, his eyes searching the place to either avoid her attempt at a conversation or his own thoughts.
She tapped her short nails against the table trying again. "You're not gonna let those readings get to you, are you? You said so yourself-"
"They were on point." He muttered, shaking his head. "Magic, secrets, struggles, even my own father and brother being brought up."
Charlotte was silent, she had gotten him to talk. But he was taking the readings personally with some inner demons of his life she didn't know. Well, what she did know was that his father played favorites over his older brother, which might have connected to the dark thoughts of the last card reading.
"Like I said, don't let it get to you, Loki. You're father isn't here to ruin your time, and neither is your brother to gain the attention like some obsessed jock." Charlotte told him, taking a bite of the cheesy pizza.
Loki just held a look of turmoil. Was that mere human a witch in reality? He's starting to wonder if those healing crystals were real as well. "How often is magic done or publicized?" He asked.
Charlotte sipped her soda, "You mean like card tricks or escape tricks? Pretty common on talent shows." she answered.
Loki scooted his chair closer. "No, no, I mean…" His tongue darted out, almost held in place between his lips to keep going. "Illusions or mind reading, conjures and other sorts."
She blinked at his words, processing his interpretations. "Er, you mean like, black magic?" he raised a brow at her. "Magic can be expelled into different forms or meanings. Unless you mean some real supernatural forces, then Youtube is your go to place."
Loki sighed, not getting straight answers unless he revealed his true identity. Then again, she could just search him up herself, but seems she hasn't gotten around to that idea yet. He used no false name, he admitted to her he was Loki Odinson.
"Why are you so hellbent on magic, anyway?" She asked, now halfway done her pizza. "You do those little flick of the wrist tricks just fine, my guy." Charlotte assured.
If only she knew the extent of Loki's power. He could duplicate himself ten times around this mall. He could change her appearance and wouldn't even notice. He could change the scenery before her as if she were at the apartment or an open field. If he really wanted to, he could make her relive any memory in the deepest recesses of her mind.
"Charlotte," he sighed, "I-"
Cutting Loki off, Charlotte's phone went off at that moment. She held a finger up, digging into her coat pockets, finding it. "Sorry, it's Jack. Might have finished with your key."
Loki leaned back, and looked down at his salad. May as well finish it so it wasn't a waste. Charlotte answered her phone as she silently chewed a soggy lettuce leaf.
"Jack, hey. What's up?" She looked at Loki, "Yeah, he's with me. Something happening at the apartment." Charlotte's curious face contorted into anger. "What!?" Loki froze at her bark." When? ...And you just unlocked the door? You know I hate it when- Ugh! We're coming back now!"
Some people cocked their heads at her rude loud call, but returned to their own business. Charlotte stoof with a huff and picked up her paper plate of half a pizza and her still full soda and chucked both into the trash. She rushed back, picking up her scarf and coat that hung on the chair.
"Hurry up, we gotta get back to the apartment." She urged, tossing her coat on.
Loki got his salad tray and bottle of water, tossing the remaining salad into a closer trash can. "Something happen?"
"Oh, something horrible just happened while we were gone." She told, shaking her head and taking lead to maze through the food court, Loki trailing behind with his bag in one hand and coat hanging off his arm.
"Break in? Robbery? Fire?" He asked, but she just kept huffing as she moved along. "Worse?"
"Much worse." She hissed.
To get back to the apartment faster, Charlotte hailed a cab to which she distained doing. But she deemed this an emergency and told the driver to get to the apartment address as fast as possible. Loki was still tangling with his coat in the back of the cab, his large shopping bag between the two.
"Charlotte, calm down. What could be worse than any break in or home fire?" Her knee bounced as she kept looking out the window as if they'd get there faster. "Is Jack evicting us?"
"No, much much worse. Something I would pray to not be true when we arrive." She growled, now looking forward and biting her thumbnail.
Unable to get straight answers -again-, Loki just let her huff and puff in a panic as the cab zoomed down the street.
They'd eventually get to the apartment, parking to the curb around two past noon. Loki gathered his bag while Charlotte paid the cab, who nagged about how she should've gotten a tip for the rush but left nonetheless.
Loki made for the door, locked or unlocked didn't matter to him, but Charlotte grabbed his wrist. "Loki, wait!"
He frowned deeper at her, brows creased when she held that same panicked look. "Charlotte, what on Earth has gotten into you?" She let his arm go as he dropped his own grip from the doorknob. "You are acting extremely peculiar, what is so horrible inside?"
"I just want you to be mentally prepared for what is in there." She heaved, her breathing was now at a panting level as if she had ran instead.
Loki put his bag down on the stoop and took her shoulders in a gentle grip. "Charlotte, if there is something dangerous inside, let me know now. Is it someone you arrested or has offended you in any way?"
"It would better if I just entered first and-"
Loki turned her around and pushed her away from the door. "I should enter first, in case they have a weapon or plan to hurt you."
Loki gripped the door, he felt his dagger slide down his sleeve as the helt resting into his palm from anyone seeing it. If there was someone inside with violent tendencies, he'd take care of it. Not only was this Charlotte's home, but for now, it was his home too.
He turned the knob and swung the door open, his wrist locked ready to throw his dagger when he only saw a single young woman in the room. A particular long wavy dark brown hair, her body was trimmed thin and her waist was like a pencil. But once she turned, it was like looking at a double. Loki nearly tried to look back at Charlotte for comparison. Same amble cheeks, same fair complexion, dark blue eyes, and a sudden bright grin that could rival Charlotte's when he first saw it. Her clothing nearly hurt his eyes, with a variety of pinks, yellows, and whites of a large wooly sweater and white tight skinny jeans. Her shoes were bright pastel rainbow and a bag on her back held what some might call a 'cute' cat face.
The clone-like woman gasped, and with a voice pitched higher than Charlotte's asked, "Oh, am I in the wrong apartment?"
"Sadly, no." Grumbled the real one behind Loki.
He stepped aside revealing the frowning ginger, but a loud squeal pierced his ear drums from the clone. "Twinsy you are here!"
She ran full force at Charlotte, nearly knocking her out onto the pavement, Loki thankfully stopping the tackle by bracing his arm against the door frame. The insistent giggles made Charlotte raise her lip like a snarling dog cuddled by a cat.
"Personal space, Eloise." She mumbled, and so the brunette let her go and took a few steps back.
"Sorry, I'm just so glad to see you!" She chirped, rocking on her feet.
Charlotte huffed out some hair to blow a few loose strands that hung in her face. "Sorry, but um, who are you?" Loki asked, shutting the door behind them as Charlotte placed Loki's shopping bag by the shoe rack.
The woman, known as Eloise, remembered the tall dark handsome man and instantly cooed at the sight. "Ohhhhh, Sissy! You naught thing, where did you pick up this hot scone."
"A hot what?" Loki leaned back as she was now in his personal space. He wanted to just send her floating to the ceiling now.
"Back off, Eloise. You're gonna scare off my roommate." Charlotte removed her shoes, then turned and snapped at her. "Hey, I told you to remove your shoes everytime you 'drop by'!" She barked, placing her own on the rack.
"Introduce me to you, 'roommate,' first." She countered, sending a suggestive look.
Charlotte groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose, hanging her head. "Eloise, this is Loki, my roommate. Loki, this is my sister, Eloise."
EXTRA long chapter today! This is not a jab towards East Meets West store, I used to go there as a teen. People have their beliefs and all that, so please do not be offended by this fictional thing.
I went online and did a random tarot card reading, and it just ended up perfectly for these two, it was scary! I've only had my own reading once years ago, which directed my thoughts to college and here I am!
Stay safe all!