Of Course You Know This Means War?
A Matantei Loki Ragnarok fic; part 2
&*&*&
"That's fascinating," Loki said to the stranger in his doorway. "But I'm sorry to say that I'm not interested."
"Are you sure? This is a great opportunity you're passing up."
Loki rushed on before the man could continue, "You know what? I have a friend who would really benefit from this." He gave the man a slip of paper from his coat pocket. The man studied it, then carefully placed it in his business card holder.
"Do you have any other questions I can answer before I go?" he asked.
"No, thank you, you've been most helpful. Just ask for the person named on that paper; I'm sure they'll be interested in what you have to say."
Loki finally managed to send the man away, but not without several repetitions of the promise that yes, someone at the listed address was indeed interested in buying time shares in Asia. Now he sighed in relief and leaned back against the closed door.
"Yamino-kun?"
"Yes, Loki-sama?"
"Was this a good idea?"
"Of course, Loki-sama. This is what you do best, after all."
&&
When Heimdall and Freyr had originally been looking for a place to live, they had decided on an apartment building since they believed they'd blend in easily. Heimdall in particular wanted to live there since the eccentricitites of the others would serve to mask Freyr's oddities. One look at the "landlady" removed any doubt that either of them would stand out at being odd. The owner of the aparment was quite clearly male, dispite his clothing, reeked of cheap alcohol, and spoke with a peculiar accent. But Heimdall had seen odder things while on his lonely Bifrost watches, so he quickly wove a little enchantment around the 'woman' to convice her that, yes, these nice young men had paid rent. The enchantment had worked for a while. For whatever reason Heimdall's skills at bewitching humans failed on this individual and he had to renew it every week or so. So when he answered the knock on his door he had already worked out an elaborate speech to calm the landlady's fears of late payment.
He was almost disappointed when it wasn't she who stood outside his door.
"Are you a Mr. He-um---Heimdall?" Heimdall's name came with difficulty to the man standing on the covered landing.
"Ye-e-es. That's me." The affirmation was drawn out with suspicion.
"I'm here to offer you a one-time only opportunity to learn the secrets of capital investment!"
"Huh?"
"Ever wonder how billionaires make their money? Now you can learn the things they don't want you to know! You too can multiply your earnings with this easy system. What kind of money are you making now, sir?"
"Uh, what?"
"What is your annual income?"
"Well, nothing, I guess. I don't work."
"Unemployed or underemployed?"
"I don't work because I don't want to work." Let humans do human work. After all, he wasn't some pushover like that Thor.
The man frowned a little, as if scolding Heimdall. "This is an opportunity you can't let pass you by. However, it takes someone with true initiative to take advantage of it. Do you think you're up to the challenge of boundless wealth?"
"This isn't really something---"
"This is your chance to exploit information for your own gain! Haven't you dreamed of fulfilling all your desires? What are some of the dreams you have; what do you want to do with your life?"
Finally there was a question he could answer. "I want revenge!"
The man's memoriezed lines held no response to this. "Pardon?"
"I want revenge on that bastard Loki!"
The salesman quickly found something to say. "Well, I can see that you're not really interested, so I'll be going!" He was on the third step leading to the street before his sentence ended.
Heimdall watched him go, still dazed by what had happened.
"Who was that?" he asked the empty air.
&&
Later that evening Freyr returned with Gullinbrusti from his daily Freya-hunt. Heimdall was seated at the low table that had been scrounged from an elderly couple who had been moving from the building. The tiny gas stove on top sputtered as it tried to bring the tin of water to a boil for use in that evening's instant noodle dish.
"Where have you been all day?" Heimdall demanded. "You were supposed to help me shop today."
"Freyr was out looking for his beloved younger sister, of course. Against such a noble pursuit, the pithy duties of domestic living are best left to you." He folded his cloak over an aluminum lawn chair and sat down opposite from Heimdall, grabbing the shrimp flavored noodles which left the gross chicken flavor for his roommate.
Heimdall growled out, "But because you insist on carrying all the money, all I could afford was day-old bread heels. You're share's on the counter."
"Eat it, Gullinbrusti," Freyr ordered the mechanical mockup of his traditional boar. A wheezy "buhi" was the pig's only response as it bounced over to where the bread lay. Heimdall seriously doubted Gullinbrusti could actually eat the bread, but right now he wasn't in the mood for dealing with Freyr's explanation as to why the pig had to eat.
"So will you come shopping tomorrow?" Heimdall asked. Or was about to ask when there came a knocking at the door. He abandoned his efforts at boiling water and stomped over to the door instead.
"What?" he demanded as swung the door open.
"Greetings, friend." This time two people stood outside, a man and a woman, both smartly dressed with small name tags. "We bring good news!"
Heimdall started to close the door. "I'm really not interested---"
"Just a moment of your time, please. We're here to tell you about the endless love of God!"
"I'm really not interested."
"God is endlessly merciful and longs to shower blessings on his worshipers. Do you feel that your life is missing something?"
"No. My life-- -"
"Freyr is missing something!"
The woman (whose name tag read "Sister Hanako") brightened. "What is it that you search for, friend?"
"Freyr is missing his beloved younger sister, who was cruelly tricked into giving her love to an unworthy one. And now I search daily for her to bring her back into the safety of my presence." Freyr delivered this speech nearly on top of Heimdall, who had been knocked to the floor by Freyr's sudden arrival.
"Yes, we are all lead astray at times, but with faith and soul-searching we can all return to God's fold. How old is your sister?"
"It is not for a brother to say."
"Of course," Sister Hanako hurried on. "And she was lead astray by a man?"
"Yes, the most wily and womanizing creature in all creation, the lord of lies."
The pair paled in just the slightest. "She was tempted by the Evil One?"
"Indeed she was."
"The love for your sister will indeed show her the true path in life."
The man (whose name tag read "Brother Hagezawa") broke in. "I have something that will help you both." He reached into the shoulder bag he carried and pulled out an item. "This book," he went on, "Will answer all your questions."
Heimdall couldn't stand it any more. With a roar he shoved Freyr back out of the doorway and glared at the two missionaries.
"Will. You. Please. Leave?" he asked through clenched teeth. His gloved hands tightened on the wooden door frame. Heimdall's power began to gather around him, forming an invisible force that sent the two stepping back. Something deep in their brains told them they were up against a foe much more powerful then themselves.
Heimdall slammed the door before they could say anything.
&&
For more then a week no fewer then five people a day showed at Freyr and Heimdall's apartment: newspaper and magazine salesman, perfume peddlers, people selling time shares and get-rich-quick schemes, all variety of charities and good causes, people with petitions, people with petitions against the petitions, scores of religious missionaries (those were the worst), and even tourists looking for directions. Pretty quickly Heimdall started asking who had sent them to the apartment, even though he already suspected the answer. They all answered along the lines of "a very polite young man with light auburn hair." "Why yes, he did wear a black coat," they'd respond when asked. "Do you know him?"
&*&*&
Author's Note: Thus ends round two of the "war" between Loki and Heimdall. Mayura did not appear, which is too bad because even though she's a little tough for me to write, I like her a lot. This story did give me a chance to play with Freyr who was very simple to write and lots of fun. So why are Heimdall and Freyr living in a crummy apartment? For some reason I assumed they were, though it seems they have lived a couple different places.
PS: At the time this was originally written, I didn't know for sure where these two lived. Now that the series is over that information is pretty clear, so please keep in mind that this wasn't always the case.
A Matantei Loki Ragnarok fic; part 2
&*&*&
"That's fascinating," Loki said to the stranger in his doorway. "But I'm sorry to say that I'm not interested."
"Are you sure? This is a great opportunity you're passing up."
Loki rushed on before the man could continue, "You know what? I have a friend who would really benefit from this." He gave the man a slip of paper from his coat pocket. The man studied it, then carefully placed it in his business card holder.
"Do you have any other questions I can answer before I go?" he asked.
"No, thank you, you've been most helpful. Just ask for the person named on that paper; I'm sure they'll be interested in what you have to say."
Loki finally managed to send the man away, but not without several repetitions of the promise that yes, someone at the listed address was indeed interested in buying time shares in Asia. Now he sighed in relief and leaned back against the closed door.
"Yamino-kun?"
"Yes, Loki-sama?"
"Was this a good idea?"
"Of course, Loki-sama. This is what you do best, after all."
&&
When Heimdall and Freyr had originally been looking for a place to live, they had decided on an apartment building since they believed they'd blend in easily. Heimdall in particular wanted to live there since the eccentricitites of the others would serve to mask Freyr's oddities. One look at the "landlady" removed any doubt that either of them would stand out at being odd. The owner of the aparment was quite clearly male, dispite his clothing, reeked of cheap alcohol, and spoke with a peculiar accent. But Heimdall had seen odder things while on his lonely Bifrost watches, so he quickly wove a little enchantment around the 'woman' to convice her that, yes, these nice young men had paid rent. The enchantment had worked for a while. For whatever reason Heimdall's skills at bewitching humans failed on this individual and he had to renew it every week or so. So when he answered the knock on his door he had already worked out an elaborate speech to calm the landlady's fears of late payment.
He was almost disappointed when it wasn't she who stood outside his door.
"Are you a Mr. He-um---Heimdall?" Heimdall's name came with difficulty to the man standing on the covered landing.
"Ye-e-es. That's me." The affirmation was drawn out with suspicion.
"I'm here to offer you a one-time only opportunity to learn the secrets of capital investment!"
"Huh?"
"Ever wonder how billionaires make their money? Now you can learn the things they don't want you to know! You too can multiply your earnings with this easy system. What kind of money are you making now, sir?"
"Uh, what?"
"What is your annual income?"
"Well, nothing, I guess. I don't work."
"Unemployed or underemployed?"
"I don't work because I don't want to work." Let humans do human work. After all, he wasn't some pushover like that Thor.
The man frowned a little, as if scolding Heimdall. "This is an opportunity you can't let pass you by. However, it takes someone with true initiative to take advantage of it. Do you think you're up to the challenge of boundless wealth?"
"This isn't really something---"
"This is your chance to exploit information for your own gain! Haven't you dreamed of fulfilling all your desires? What are some of the dreams you have; what do you want to do with your life?"
Finally there was a question he could answer. "I want revenge!"
The man's memoriezed lines held no response to this. "Pardon?"
"I want revenge on that bastard Loki!"
The salesman quickly found something to say. "Well, I can see that you're not really interested, so I'll be going!" He was on the third step leading to the street before his sentence ended.
Heimdall watched him go, still dazed by what had happened.
"Who was that?" he asked the empty air.
&&
Later that evening Freyr returned with Gullinbrusti from his daily Freya-hunt. Heimdall was seated at the low table that had been scrounged from an elderly couple who had been moving from the building. The tiny gas stove on top sputtered as it tried to bring the tin of water to a boil for use in that evening's instant noodle dish.
"Where have you been all day?" Heimdall demanded. "You were supposed to help me shop today."
"Freyr was out looking for his beloved younger sister, of course. Against such a noble pursuit, the pithy duties of domestic living are best left to you." He folded his cloak over an aluminum lawn chair and sat down opposite from Heimdall, grabbing the shrimp flavored noodles which left the gross chicken flavor for his roommate.
Heimdall growled out, "But because you insist on carrying all the money, all I could afford was day-old bread heels. You're share's on the counter."
"Eat it, Gullinbrusti," Freyr ordered the mechanical mockup of his traditional boar. A wheezy "buhi" was the pig's only response as it bounced over to where the bread lay. Heimdall seriously doubted Gullinbrusti could actually eat the bread, but right now he wasn't in the mood for dealing with Freyr's explanation as to why the pig had to eat.
"So will you come shopping tomorrow?" Heimdall asked. Or was about to ask when there came a knocking at the door. He abandoned his efforts at boiling water and stomped over to the door instead.
"What?" he demanded as swung the door open.
"Greetings, friend." This time two people stood outside, a man and a woman, both smartly dressed with small name tags. "We bring good news!"
Heimdall started to close the door. "I'm really not interested---"
"Just a moment of your time, please. We're here to tell you about the endless love of God!"
"I'm really not interested."
"God is endlessly merciful and longs to shower blessings on his worshipers. Do you feel that your life is missing something?"
"No. My life-- -"
"Freyr is missing something!"
The woman (whose name tag read "Sister Hanako") brightened. "What is it that you search for, friend?"
"Freyr is missing his beloved younger sister, who was cruelly tricked into giving her love to an unworthy one. And now I search daily for her to bring her back into the safety of my presence." Freyr delivered this speech nearly on top of Heimdall, who had been knocked to the floor by Freyr's sudden arrival.
"Yes, we are all lead astray at times, but with faith and soul-searching we can all return to God's fold. How old is your sister?"
"It is not for a brother to say."
"Of course," Sister Hanako hurried on. "And she was lead astray by a man?"
"Yes, the most wily and womanizing creature in all creation, the lord of lies."
The pair paled in just the slightest. "She was tempted by the Evil One?"
"Indeed she was."
"The love for your sister will indeed show her the true path in life."
The man (whose name tag read "Brother Hagezawa") broke in. "I have something that will help you both." He reached into the shoulder bag he carried and pulled out an item. "This book," he went on, "Will answer all your questions."
Heimdall couldn't stand it any more. With a roar he shoved Freyr back out of the doorway and glared at the two missionaries.
"Will. You. Please. Leave?" he asked through clenched teeth. His gloved hands tightened on the wooden door frame. Heimdall's power began to gather around him, forming an invisible force that sent the two stepping back. Something deep in their brains told them they were up against a foe much more powerful then themselves.
Heimdall slammed the door before they could say anything.
&&
For more then a week no fewer then five people a day showed at Freyr and Heimdall's apartment: newspaper and magazine salesman, perfume peddlers, people selling time shares and get-rich-quick schemes, all variety of charities and good causes, people with petitions, people with petitions against the petitions, scores of religious missionaries (those were the worst), and even tourists looking for directions. Pretty quickly Heimdall started asking who had sent them to the apartment, even though he already suspected the answer. They all answered along the lines of "a very polite young man with light auburn hair." "Why yes, he did wear a black coat," they'd respond when asked. "Do you know him?"
&*&*&
Author's Note: Thus ends round two of the "war" between Loki and Heimdall. Mayura did not appear, which is too bad because even though she's a little tough for me to write, I like her a lot. This story did give me a chance to play with Freyr who was very simple to write and lots of fun. So why are Heimdall and Freyr living in a crummy apartment? For some reason I assumed they were, though it seems they have lived a couple different places.
PS: At the time this was originally written, I didn't know for sure where these two lived. Now that the series is over that information is pretty clear, so please keep in mind that this wasn't always the case.