[AllSpeak]
[This is…somewhat embarrassing to watch.]
Loptr had to agree with that statement from his only daughter, watching the great rainbow bridge collapse underneath the weight of the jötnar tromping across it. Any sympathy he may have felt was quickly replaced with amusement at the somewhat humoring sight of the giants shamed and mauve colored faces.
Fenrir dancing around and howling with mirthful glee, still relishing his freedom and delighting in their shame did little to help matters. The irritated giants were cowed under Loptr's heavy gaze. If the wolf wanted to frolic in the manner of a puppy while delighting in their humiliation, Loptr would beat down any that would wish to prevent him from doing so.
A massive form loomed over the father daughter pair. The serpent Jormungandr mostly silent despite his gargantuan size, only the quiet rustling of scale against scale would have given him away to those who didn't see the Midgard Serpent first.
[…Did this not occur in a past iteration Faðir?]
Taking only a moment to think about it, Loptr bobbed his head. Eyes pinched slightly.
[Indeed, however the Bifröst had shattered before the Final battle had begun… I had forgotten to strengthen it for the second pass.]
Hissing wordlessly, the massive serpent glided past, mindful of some of the smaller beings more vulnerable to his size as he made his way towards the shimmering remains of the Bilröst to assist. Loptr gave Hel his full attention after a few minutes of watching, ignoring the small feeling of disappointment at the jötnar regrouping, most likely crossing to join others on Asgard, enjoying the spoils of war.
He didn't mean anything by it, Loptr had simply been deprived of amusement for far too long. The thought of sowing more misery and causing mischief made the jötunn claws itch and feathers tingle. When was the last time he had simply lived? The centuries spent gallivanting with Dionysus were all just a blur, if it had actually even happened.
[My dear Hel] Elegantly turning, inky strands floating in a wind that only effected shades and those of her realm, the Ruler of Helheim arched an inquisitive brow [your people have secured the new additions to your kingdom yes?]
Her smile was cool and somewhat condescending. Another person and another time, Loptr may have taken offense, perhaps even mutilated the offender's visage. However, Hel or Hela was his daughter, his only daughter. He knew his children well enough to know they held enough respect for him, despite their relatively distant relationship in almost every iteration, to not slight him in such a manner. It was all in good fun.
[Of course. I have many more subjects with the..most unfortunate passing of many of the Æsir. The lack of housing was a problem that had to be recertified. For the good of the residents of Helheim and all lost shades of course. It is my duty to ensure they are well cared for.] The reminder of the position that had been force upon Hel as a child in the earlier iterations was a sour reminder of the many slights Odin had made against not just Loptr, but his family.
Even if she grew into her position well, and enjoyed it now, it did not excuse forcing a child to rule a kingdom after killing her mother and separating her from her siblings.
Humming noncommittedly Loptr let his gaze wander over the smoldering fields of Vígríðr idly noting the crimson dragon Niddhog competing with the demons over the corpses that were strewn across the battle field. God and giants alike were torn and devoured by the beasts.
A small sound of distaste was the only acknowledgement he gave to their activities. Too many cycles as a bodiless wraith had come and gone for Loptr to hold much importance to an empty corpse. The shades were in their respective resting places and would be for eternity now that the cycle had ended.
Speaking of smoldering fields…
[What has become of Sutr my dearest Hel?]
[Once his battle with Beli's bane ended, the flames of his sword consumed him, and his fiery spirit wreaked havoc amongst opposing forces. He has since left. Many shades in Midgard bring tales of a frightful fire that burned a once great city. Once within its walls, their enemies conquered and plundered it.]
By the time she finished her brief narrative, his feathery ridges where visibly raised.
[..That you are aware, Surtr has no plans of burning the world and causing it to sink into the cosmic ocean once again?]
Eyes dark and smiling with wry amusement, she shook her head. [No Faðir. He seems content at the moment burning his way through dimensions, confusing mortals with the existence of a massive semi corporeal being of fire and ashes wielding a sword brighter than the sun. If you took the time to expand your awareness you would be able to perceive that.]
Fortunately she turned her attention away from Loptr, missing the large avian shaped jötunn in that moment becoming quite still, and was more focused on the large hound hobbling over on three legs. The hound didn't show any pain despite the awkward bloody stump were there should have been a left paw, a large grin displaying blooded fangs and a ragged tongue once a severed head was dropped at his Mistress's feet.
[If you will excuse me Faðir, I wish to find a place for the gift that Gram has kindly given me.] Elegantly picking up Mím's head, she gave an absent nod in farewell before departing. Gram gave a curious look towards Loptr's still form before eagerly following after Hel, both vanishing in a swirl of mist.
Despite his size and presence, none that remained in the fields ofVígríðr on the island Óskópnir noticed Loptr's distant gaze, or the brief blue that overtook his usually amber colored eyes.
|X|
The Bilröst was odd. As in it bore no resemblance to what Jormungandr had expected it to look like. Whether or not it would meet his expectations was however yet to be seen. The former incarnation of the flaming bridge was unable to support the weight of armies, perhaps this newer incarnation would.
A loud chuff from his right interrupted the serpent's studying of the presented Bilröst. The source strode forward, a sneer on a scarred angular face revealing sharp inhuman fangs and blackened gums. Hazel eyes narrowed in suspicion darted between two stiffly standing elves.
[This bears no resemblance to the bridge you claimed to have finished.] His voice a graveling sound that most would find enticing in a different situation made the two fair elves cringe. [What use is this ornamental archway? [Do you expect us to find some grand doorway to nowhere of use?]
[Fenrir. Control yourself.] He hissed in annoyance, meeting his sibling's baleful glare with his own venomous stare. Absently he noted how strange it was that there was not a representative for the fey. The small creatures did work with the elves to construct the bridge. [Cease and desist. You are behaving as poorly as an ill-trained puppy. For shame, how would Faðir feel?]
[Disappointment in my failure of raising you in a more proper manner.] The muscles in Jormungandr's jaw tightened reflexively, venom pooling in his mouth. With some effort, the Sea-Thread swallowed, inhaling the fumes he barely stopped himself from releasing in the brief moment his control slipped. The two elves that had yet to speak startled. Giving them a curious glance Jormungandr brushed their behavior off.
[Faðir. I was not aware you were there.] It was somewhat comical, seeing the large stocky Fenrisúlfr cringe, ears pinned to the side of his head and wide eyes staring vaguely but not quite in Loptr's direction.
No matter how many times Jormungandr saw him, Loptr's appearance still surprised him. Using only his vessel's eyes, Loptr appeared tall lean, and lightly tanned while still being on the pale side. Off-white blue gold, was the best way to describe his skin tone.
His hair was the flaming red that some of his feathers were, and the jötunn still had a sharp lean featured face. The only thing that would reveal his inhuman nature without a shadow of a doubt would be his eyes.
They did not fit the proportions for a human face. Overly large and obviously slanted, the almond shape primarily amber orbs saw more than any human could begin to comprehend, and reflecting his inhuman nature, impossible to completely hide. Those eyes were filled with such disappointment Jormungander felt like a small hatchling once again. The ethereal avian form he could see within those eyes and overlapping his avatar even more so.
Squinting, the Flame-Haired god titled his head in a rather birdlike manner, walking closer to inspect the large arch, Sleipner not to far behind him, dark eyes seemingly focused on the arch as well after a glance at the two elves. Jormungandr noted his elder sibling's brow furrow at the sight of them before, striding over to Fenrir's side with a soft dismissive snort.
[…It is not quite what I was expecting when I was told you had repaired the Bilröst] Curiosity evident, Loptr stopped studying the reconstructed Bilröst, placing a hand on the green veined white skull with gold for teeth and smooth blue stones for eyes. [Interesting, I could think of no better use for Heimdall than to contributing to reconstructing the bridge.]
The moment the jötunn in ás guise nudged at the seiðr within the skull, he stilled. At first Jormungandr didn't notice anything wrong, assuming that the Flame-Haired was just surveying the network that connected the nine realms.
Fenrir and Sleipnir felt a slight hint of unease quieted, and the two elves not only stiffened but grew pale, being close enough and at an angle to see Loptr's expression due to standing only a few paces away from the section of the arch the dark veined skull seemingly grew out of.
[…That is..ah, there is quite a bit of emptiness beyond Yggdrasil..] His tone was slightly off, but Loptr's avatar began performing basic subtle functions of a living being again. [I had forgotten..]
[So it works Faðir?] Shaking off any lingering apprehension and breaking the tension Fenrir leaned forward. The fact that wolf kept both feet planted were they were and the sharpness of his amber tinged hazel gaze the only sign of any wariness.
A slow nod without turning was Loptr's response. Fenrir was immediately animated, chattering in his exited puppy like manner at how relieved Hati and Sköll would be to hear pulling chariots to various realms would no longer be necessary to an empathetic Sleipnir. The later snorted at something Fenrir said, and a fierce scowl crossed the younger's face at the action and Sleipnir's retort.
[So it seems, however…]
Jormungandr caught the elves subtly trading a nervous glance. The two had long since edged a few paces aside to give Loptr his space while studying the large ark made from Uru, consequently facing the ethereal head of Jormungander's form coiled within his avatar, and catching his attention with their frequent fidgeting. Understandable given their close proximity to Loptr, but still distracting.
[There is something off..?]
If the serpent had been tuned into his avatar's senses, primarily it's eyes instead of skimming them second hand, he would have missed the lightning quick exchange. Suspicion budding, Jormungandr turned his focus completely on the two elves as they seemed to decide something, for the moment ignoring his vessel's duller senses.
[The path to Midgard is stable-]
Occupied as he was, Loptr noticed nothing, quietly murmuring to himself, to low for Jormungandr to hear, not that he was paying mind. At that moment the two doors to the circular chamber were forced open, admitting an armed group of frantic individuals comprised of elves, and fey. A furious and frenzied looking Hel swept into the room, with two shades.
[As well as the paths connecting it to the other realms,]
Eyes wide in shock, it took Jormungandr a moment to comprehend what he was seeing, but to his credit, the Sea-Thread immediately acted once he did. Springing forward, halfway out his avatar even as he was moving, the serpent cried out a warning.
[However…this path…]
Sleipnir and Fenrir caught on a couple moments later, both echoing Jormungandr's surprise the moment they saw what it was that shocked Jormungandr into momentary stillness. All three acted too late. The small band of warriors accompanying Hel never had a chance. Loptr was still focused on the workings designed specifically for a single purpose, unaware until it was far to late to prevent it that whatever it was, it was meant for him.
.
.
.
The sound of thunder was deafening.
[…Seem to lead beyond the Void surrounding Yggdrasil.]
The silence afterwards, even more so.
Lucidsilver~
Was going to post this chapter a few days from now, or after finished editing previous chapters and posting those on AO3, but being in a generally good mood from getting various gifts and much thought, decided to just post it now instead of drawing it out, and will update on AO3 soon. Tomorrow. Probably.
On that note. Thoughts? ideas? Would love to hear about what people think.