chirpchirp | ♪1 audio ♯ action

[Aha.

Well. So he can give the little creature a bit of magic so it can fly. Which is presumably what it tried to do for him. How friendly. How... cute.

Loki finds it very curious that he's not as immune to cute as he thought.]

You're a funny little thing, no mistaking.

[Still, he can't help but grin. And it's not the normal sort of grin he has on his face, where it's sly and smug. Rather, there's something startlingly boyish about this, pure and enthusiastic.

For the moment, he's forgotten everything else, even that he's out where other people can see. He does have a bad habit of getting caught up in things when he's interested.

But the magic discussion is really going to have to wait until they can actually, you know, talk. He casts around for a few pebbles, groups them up, and then counts them out using the same tones he employed to gain the creature's attention initially.

For good measure, he also counts them out loud, following the same pattern.]

One, two, three, four, five.

[Then he cocks his head in inquiry again, inviting the Traveler to count them in its own way.]

[She takes the long way around in her morning walks, and was just on her way back into the main village when she heard...whistling? And Loki. Curious and quiet Adele edged her way around a tree to peer through at the God of Mischief counting at a short red...person?]

[Yes, yes it is. Hello Adele, the traveler is way too engaged in its new non-cloaked buddy to notice, but it will run from pebble to pebble that Loki points out and chirp at them one at a time.]

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

< do the rocks do something? rocks, i know. i know rocks! there are lots of rocks in the desert>

♪♪♪ ♪ ♪ ♪~

[It looks back to Loki and then starts turning in circles, trying to find where they're supposed to go.]

[Loki cocks his head, noting the tonal variations for each number.

He lines the pebbles up again and counts them in perfect mimicry of the Traveler.]
♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

[Then he does a simple sum, one plus three equals four, then two plus three equals five for good measure. He cocks his head again, curious and eager for the Traveler to correct him and give him a bit more vocabulary.]

♪♪♪♪♪?

[Watching the little creature spin in circles, he can't help but laugh, another sound of unadulterated good humor that really should seem foreign coming from him. For just a few minutes, he's somehow managed to forget all of the bitterness, cynicism, and hatred that normally color how he sees the world.]

[Adele has no idea who the little red new feather is, but the chirping back and forth between them and Loki is almost, well. No. It is entirely adorable. She leans against the tree, grinning to herself at that burst of laughter. There was warmth in that beyond what she'd expect from a Trickster or a god of lies. This was sweet. Endearing, even, and her one regret is that she doesn't have a camera or her journal to record it.]

< WHOA WHAT IS THAT SOUND COMING FROM HIS HEAD.>

[The traveler stops when Loki laughs and peers up at him. That was a different sound. Something it's never heard before.]

♪? ♪♪

[Turning around it starts dragging its feet against the strange not!snow/sand, drawing lines in it to show:]

♥

[Loki actually looks kind of... stunned.

Stunned. Yes. That's the right word for it.

He sits back slightly, eyes gone wide, almost stricken.

Well, that probably doesn't mean the same thing for the little creatures, he tells himself. How silly. How pathetic that it would hurt like that, an odd sort of pain.

He leans forward a moment later and, feeling exceedingly foolish as he does it, draws his own little heart.]

♪♪?

[She can't quite see from this angle what had been drawn, or why it caused Loki to react in such a fashion. It's not something she'd expect to see on a man's face from something as simple as a drawing, let alone a god's. Part of her knows she should go. The rest of her remains curious.

She braces a hand against the tree and rises up on her toes as far as she can to see a three? No. A heart.]

!!

< yaaaaaaaaaaaay >

[the traveler runs in a circle and then draws another one next to Loki's before pressing up against his side.]

[He doesn't even know how to react any more.

He slumps back again, staring straight ahead as the Traveler presses against him.

This is not the sort of thing he should allow, really. He's never liked public displays of any kind. But he can't bring himself to push the little creature away. Doesn't want to, really.

There is something about the lack of language that makes this seem more real and honest. He can't lie in this moment. Can't be lied to, either, at least he doesn't feel even a hint of that suspicion.

He swallows hard, licks his lips, and rests a hand on the little creature's cloak again.]

♪

[This time, he gives it far more magic, though it leaves him feeling oddly dizzy.]

[This...isn't something she should be seeing. At first it was mindless and cute but there's something more going on here that she doesn't know enough to understand, and doesn't have the right to spy upon in such a manner. As careful as possible she lowers herself back down to the ground and starts to edge backwards. If she's quiet, they won't notice.]

[The glow is familiar, even if the source isn't. Power borrowed, flight gained. The borrowed strength will return to its owner once the traveler has used it, but for now, it is shared and the little creature keeps itself pressed close against its new travel companion. Maybe it's a little weird - with no cloak or scarf and strange wings - but it sings and it gives power and the traveler wants to go to the mountain with this new buddy.]

♪♬

[It sings back and then turns and sits in front of Loki, looking up at him. If the new travel buddy wants to meditate a bit, the traveler can do that. It's patient. It will wait to starts their journey. Since they are sitting so close, the glow on the traveler's cloak remains, lighting up glyphs on its scarf.]

[It's probably for the best that the little creature has moved away. Loki pats spot on his side with one hand, a sort of nervous gesture, as if he's expecting... expecting... what?

He doesn't know. Warmth?

He watches the little creature, gaze fastening on the glowing scarf. He can tell that's where the magic's gone, and that's another mystery he wishes to unravel. He reaches out and lightly traces the glowing pattern with one finger.

He wants to understand that, as well.

What happens now? Another question that he doesn't yet know how to ask, but somehow that answer seems even more important.

He looks back up at the little creature's face, the odd eyes.]

♪♬?

[He tilts his head, his entire body the question mark to a statement he has yet to decipher.]

[A little further back and she could take the side path to the plaza. Take the long way around and politely pretend she's never seen this.

Murphy and his law, however, had another idea entirely.

The exact moment when she'd need to be most silent is when her foot finds a twig. Cracks it neatly in half just as Loki finishes whistling to the little creature.

Merde.]

[It looks down when Loki traces the glyph on its scarf and wonders if Loki lost his scarf to one of the Stone Dragons. It happens sometimes, even to the most seasoned of travelers. Even this traveler was caught as recently as its last incarnation. It looks back to Loki when he chirps and then stands, ready to start the journey forward.

When there is a sound from behind.

Perking up, the traveler turns and trills in that direction. Maybe it's a cloth creature!]

♪　♪　♪　♪?

[Loki jerks to his feet at the sound of the twig snapping, because instinct tells him what it is - someone's been spying. He allowed himself to be foolishly caught up. Perhaps its his own fault, but he's always been much better at being angry with other people.

His expression goes cold, hard, and distant for a moment, though he manages to craft a polite smile when he catches sight of Adele. Better her, he supposes, than Stark or one of his vomitous little friends.

Loki nods acknowledgement to her as if this was his idea the entire time, as if he knew she was there and just had been politely ignoring her. He bends and carefully wipes out the little drawings in the dirt, scattering the pebbles he piled up.

He brushes the dust from his hand and turns to go.]

[Whatever this was- whatever it had been, she'd wrecked it. His guard was back up. Or the act had been put aside? She's never quite certain what to think of him, let alone now that she's seen this.

That burst of joy seemed so sincere. That aching loneliness couldn't have been feigned. Could it? To what end? Why would he let her see him like this, put on this act. To change how she saw him? Then why end it when he saw her?

Too many questions and not enough time to answer. She dips her head in turn, murmuring a faint apology.]

It wasn't my intention to intrude.

< whooooa there's another one? how is there another when I've already found my Other? >

[Confused, the traveler starts to walk toward Adele, wanting to check her out. It chirps once and then turns back to Loki, trying to encourage him to come check out this new thing. It doesn't understand the tension in the air.]

♪~?

[And yet you did. Loki manages to bite back that response before it escapes. It seems best to pretend that there was nothing to be intruded upon in the first place. And he has few enough cordial acquaintances that he should have some care for now.

He shrugs like it means nothing.]

Quite all right. I have business to which I should attend at any rate.

[He can't quite disguise the shadow of wariness that creeps in to his expression. He's not certain what he's expecting now, but he doubts it will be good. It was all like an invitation to to mock him, or something that could be used against him at a later time.

He watches the Traveler go to investigate Adele, for a moment jealous of its seemingly endless supply of innocent curiosity.

Knowing only how to count, he doesn't really understand the question, though he can guess. He doesn't know how to form an answer, either. All he can do is produce a tone of sad finality.]

♪

[Without a reason to hide she steps back around the tree, movements slow. Not skittish but...sheepish. She hadn't meant to ruin whatever it was she'd stumbled across. With no real knowledge of Loki in truth or this little musical creature, Adele is left flying blind. There are few things she hates more than flying blind.

The shrug seemed forced. Or did it? Or did it not seem forced and yet feel- interpreting Loki's body language would only leave her with a headache. Something so fluid and ambiguous is set aside in favor of how he holds himself. Braced for the worst.

It's apparent only due to her familiarity with that particular posture. Braced for ridicule, for the worst sort of news. For a blow.

Something she saw in herself far too often, but why a trickster god should be so very tense is beyond her.]

They seem fond of you. I'll go. There's no need for you to do so as well.

[Even as it approaches she doesn't...know what to make of it. Or the tones. She can't pick apart what the intent behind the music is just yet. She hasn't heard enough. What she can do is nod back in Loki's direction and offer a soft, intent tone.]

♩ ♫

[Confused that Loki isn't following and that Adele is whistling at it to go, the traveler stops and sings a few notes. Why not come investigate this new thing? Loki and the new buddy were talking in their own song and the traveler didn't understand, so why doesn't Loki explain? He only sounds sad and seems to want to leave.

Maybe this traveler is missing its buddy and Loki is going to look for one for her! Ah, that must be it! That must be!]

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪!

[The traveler runs a quick circle around Adele and then lifts off the ground, flying toward Loki. It can't stay alight for long, but it uses its height to float and close the distance, running after Loki and chiming to tell him to wait up.]

♪♪ ♪ ♪ ♪♪~

[There is a wry pull at Loki's smile at Adele's statement that the Traveler seems fond of him. Well, presumably the little creature doesn't know better. That's part of the charm, he supposes. He's enjoyed his first few days in Luceti in a strange way because there have been a few people he's had normal - if boring - conversations with.]

Perhaps you ought to save the dear little thing from me, then.

[But he can't help but smiling with genuine surprise as the Traveler flies back over. Though the question there is why, and what the little creature wants. Loki considers for a moment and does his best to convey this question, concentrating on emotion as sound rather than dwelling too much on words.]

♪♪ ♪♪?

[Another somewhat familiar expression. Resentment? Mulling it over for too long seemed imprudent. There's too much here she can't quite grasp- she doesn't know Loki. Not in earnest, not at all. For what isn't the last time she wishes she retained Levarre's empathy. It'd make interpreting the god simpler. Adele chooses her words carefully, stepping light on unfamiliar ground.]

I don't think it needs saving.

[It's impossible to not be charmed by this little Traveler, their curiosity and soft song. She doesn't quite know how to interpret the tones, not yet, but she takes the circling and flight as a bid to follow. Was that what it meant? It's tentative when she does step out onto the path proper, eyes flicking between the sudden flight and the oddly sweet smile on Loki's face.]

♪♪♪~

[When it finally manages to catch up to Loki, it runs a circle around him again and then presses up close against his side, its cloak glowing from the proximity.]

♪♪~

< are we traveling now? are we going places? are we finding the Other a buddy? oh! are we going together?>

♪♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪~

[And still, such proximity.

Loki hesitantly rests his hand on the little creature for the moment. Perhaps he should put it away, but he finds he doesn't want to, not at all.

He glances at Adele as she moves, a quick, wary flick of his gaze, but he tells himself to just let it go. Nothing will be gained by sharpening his temper on Adele. Though he must be more careful now, because weaknesses revealed are fodder for attack.

He smiles again at the sounds the traveler makes. He's still not certain what it's asking, but it isn't as if he has other matters pressing on him today. He answers with a note of assent, a little bow as if he's asking the creature to lead the way. ]

♪♪~

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