There was just something about seiðr that had fascinated Loptr as a young child. Many of his fellow jötnar only had an interest based on necessity, nothing more. It disappointed him when he learned all he could, there was so little that they could teach him. Odin however was different.
The halfblooded giant sought out to learn more with a fervor equal if not more intense than his own. He fascinated Loptr, and in turn, Oðinn seemed curious if somewhat guarded about him. It was only to be expected he though, he had been raised by Æsir unfortunately.
They became friends, Loptr making sure to properly educate Oðinn in the ways of the jötnar. It was not all violence and deception like the Æsir made it out to be. In turn, his friend told him of the halls of Asgard and the ways of the Æsir.
Sometimes a strange look would come into his friend's eyes and he would stare at Loptr when he thought the jötnar wasn't looking. He always was though, never let it be said that growing up in the harsh forests of Jotunheimr made Loptr a dull child. Eventually while resting after several bouts in what became their clearing, Oðinn asked if Loptr was willing to come with him to Asgard, and become his brother.
Both cut their hands, crimson weeping from the incisions on their palms. Loptr tightly clasped hands with Oðinn their blood mixing and bonding them together. As brothers.
Oðinn returned to Asgard from Jotunheimr with his blood brother Loki the dawn of the next day.
o) o)O(o (o
The crown of ice was a comforting weight, a diadem of glinting crystal antlers that melded seamlessly to his brow. Sharp freezing cool to the touch, many a number had died an agonizing death speared upon them, their life blood coloring the clear ice red. Pale blue feathers lightened to straw yellow at the ends, and his tail was a fan of amber feathers, the tips burning with golden flames.
From where he hung above the sky, the dying sun casting a glow upon him, Loki peered down at the land below him. Midgard. Found memories of traveling the land of men with his once brother and nephew came to mind, better times in some ways, and worse in others. With a small contemplative noise the falcon swished its tail, lazily wheeling circles in the sky, relishing the burn in his long silent spirit.
He had almost forgotten what it was like to feel Kári's fingers deftly running through his feathers in a comforting caress, helping lift him into the sky. It wasn't necessary and he wasn't quite sure if they were still siblings, but all the same whenever he flew she sprung to assist him whenever she could. It was so easy to forget the little things that he had once enjoyed, never realizing how much he missed them until they were gone.
Gazing through half lidded eyes, the jötnar lazily beat his wings, a vindictive glint in his eyes as he watched the previously calm white clouds darken to grey. He could imagine the pitiful mortals running in terror as the grey clouds from above brought darkness to their simple little world.
"Ah Oðinn you who were once my brother, fret and worry, dwell in your home and seek warmth and comfort from your cold empty hearth yet receive none."
Distantly as the rapidly descending sun was blotted out by clouds, a scream of fright could be heard. It was quickly silenced and replaced by a howl.
"Find no joy or merriment, watch as your precious mortals forsake their gods and bring about havoc and strife to their fellows. Despair as the evil that sleeps in the land you created from the flesh and blood of the primordial giant and infects the precious tree from which all come forth and return. Stand helpless and do nothing as evils delight in the growing wickedness in every heart and all you know is cast into darkness."
Snow dropped from heavy black clouds, carried off by the eager wind to blanket the land of mortal men with snow, and ice that leeched away all warmth.
"The combed fowl's croon will herald the doom of the power and helplessly you will watch as your worst fears play before you one last time."
The sky bled mesmerizing shades of red, carmine and scarlet streaking across what was left of the sky as the life blood of the brúðr dripped from Hróðvitnir's son snapping jaws. He who at last seized the bright bride of the sky in his jaws.
"As you lay dying beneath the fangs of Fenrir, in the midst of carnage twilight, watch the sons of Muspell come, guided by fire as they tear all asunder. Watch and know that you bound by the three sisters are helpless as I burn everything held dear to your heart to ashes. Go into battle knowing thatI willhaveyouonyourkneesstrung intheentrailsofyourprecious sonsbeaten, AS YOU ONCE HAD ME!"
o) o)O(o (o
All around him corpses of giants and gods alike burned. Fire demons ravaged the corpses, at ease in the fiery desolate land that was once bountiful. Standing so tall his head up against the clouds, hair brushing against the roof of the sky stood Loki, absently petting Fenrir's massive head and stroking Jormungandr's jaw, paying no mind to the puffs of deadly poison that came with the serpent's every breath.
Gavri'el wasn't sure how to feel about the carnage and destruction that had and still was taking place. The archangel had no right to denounce the Dark One's actions. If the dark being desired to pry open the rib cage of his tormentor and hand their lungs over their shoulders, it was his own business.
If his first son delighted in slowly stomping on the tips of the All-Father's toes it was also his own business, after all this world was not one of Father's making. The former king did not cry out despite the pain he surely must be feeling.
Gavri'el was not made to be a warrior like Micha'el or Hêlêl. Even Rapha'el was more suited to battle than nim. Gavri'el was a warrior just like the rest of the host, but his primary purpose was to be a messenger, not a fighter. A shiver went through the archangel's grace, nir gaze fixed upon the sight of de-winged valkyrja being carried away by the jötnar to the Bilröst. The glint in the giant's eyes left no doubt as to what fate awaited the unfortunate maidens.
As if sensing the archangel's minute unease Loki exchanged a look with the massive eight legged stallion, posture at ease despite the flames clad demons bringing down the few remaining Æsir and the jeering jötnar carrying away the bound prisoners. The eldest of Loki's children snorted, eyes rolling in their sockets. Giving one last kick to the fallen king, the horse stepped aside.
A vague sort of smile on his face, Loki elegantly stepped away from his children, gliding on light feet, flames leaping higher as he passed, the Deceiver stood above the All-Father,amber green eyes half lidded. The jötun with deceptive gentleness bend slightly at the waist, pale slender fingered hands assisting the god to his knees, hoisting him upright by thickly wound cords that shone gold were blood hadn't stained it red.
"Better is it not?" The god did not answer, mouth pinched and white.
The monstrous wolf growled a guttural deep sound that shook the ground. Gavri'el withdrew a little relived ni was not restricted by a vessel in case ni needed to flee. Loki hushed the wolf, a serene expression on his sharply features. The remaining beast's, demons and giants gathered in a loose circle to watch, the only sound the crackling fames eagerly consuming kindling in the form of corpses.
"Come come Oðinn, better to kneel than wallow in the filth, don't you agree?" When the Æsir did not answer, Loki's calm expression twisted into an ugly snarl.
Scaled clawed feet lashed out, kicking the ás viciously in the chest. Coughing and spitting up ichor, Oðinn remained, upright, for the most part.
"Freyja was an interesting, for an ásynja. The silkiness of the skækja hair was no boast" The lone blue in in a blood encrusted face was positively blank. "No, you certainty didn't appreciate her… Activities being pointed out to you Oðinn."
Frowning, arching brows pinched and eyes dark with something the archangel failed to identify Loki peered into the god's eye searching. The speed in which the jötun's mood change was impossible for Gavri'el to keep track of. Scowling harshly, Loki shook his head, hair clinking like glass as he turned his back on the silent ás, calmly surveying the watching monstrous beasts.
"All of you knew this day would come. For some it was simply a feeling, and inclination to gather at this place, for others, it was a call impossible to ignore. Regardless, you came, and lo, what we have accomplished, together."
A massacre.
"Chaos in it's finest, the proud noble Æsir are no more, the Ásynjur have been seized, Valhöll, Asgard and all the realms that stand against us have been plundered." His countenance distinctively avian and sharp, a clawed finger gestured down at the bloody bound fallen king. "Standing here in Vígríðr all that is left, Gestumblindi!"
There was much laughter, sinister dark twisted laughter.
"Unfortunately he seems to find no delight in my company, for shame, I used to be very talented in keeping company, alas what a terrible host I have been! To deprive the guest of honor the right to mingle, for shame."
Fire demons and jötnar alike cried out, mock booing and baying eagerly, barely restraining their primal urge to fall upon the ás behind Loki even with the jötun impressive presence and size commanding attention.
"As much as I would love to keep company with our…Guest, I have prior arrangements."
Smiling widely but eyes flat, the jötun gazed directly at Gavri'el despite the archangel cloaking nirself from perception. For a moment, he seemed torn gaze wandering back to the áskneeling on the ground. Those cold amber eyes burned with a dark fury, barely controlled when they settled on the three beast like jötnar. Sleipnir, Fenrir, Hel.
Grinning crookedly he stepped away from the Æsir, a glazed blue orb gingerly held between two fingers. The sea of monsters parting to make way for the Father of Lies and his offspring, moving as one they eagerly fell upon the ás. bound in entrails, bloody golden threads and blinded there was simply no hope for escape.
"Farewell, brother."
It was a mere whisper. Louder to be heard over the subsiding but still fierce roar of fire and the baying demons and all other manor of beasts Loki spoke.
"I Loptr, formerly Loki of Asgard, sound of mind and spirit freely give control over mine avatar to one Gavri'el, archangel of the entity known as... יהוה and is His Messenger for the release of me and mine from the cycle crafted by the nornir, their subsequent demise and destruction, the burning of Yggdrasil, and the revitalizing a fallen body. As I deem so mote it be."
Taking a moment to procees the jötun's word's. Gavri'el braced nimself. With nir next actions they would officially be free from the conflict going on in heaven. No longer would he be torn between nir siblings over the commands of a Father that they all loved.
Ni tried to tell themselves that they were not abandoning nir siblings, it was only a retreat, following Fater's orders to watch and love over humans in a different way. There was no going back. But eventally, Gavri'el knew there would be no more running away, and ni would have to face them. Not now, but when the time came Gavri'el would be ready.
"So mote it be."
Hopefully.
Lucidsilver: Back to having three chapters again, didn't take as long as I though it would kind of wrote itself really, already started on ch 4 too. It feels kind of short, but it seemed like a good place to leave off at. I like to know if people like what I am posting so far, Favs and Follows are nice if you don't want to leave a comment.
Tsal/Loptr seemed a bit more unhinged than I expected him to be, guess isolation doesn't do it for him. I don't have any plans of writing much about the supernatural verse since Tsal/Loptr only tie to it is Gavri'el, and after faking his death he feels no obligation to hang out with him in heaven, believing that he would be fine up there, not like Gavri'el is going to be attracting anymore attention after faking his death. He doesn't have a high opinion on Gavri'el siblings with the whole apocalypse thing going on, even if he doesn't like humans either, he's fine with ignoring them believing killing them all to be a waste of time, and not worth the lost of modern day amenities.