1964-05-26 - Norn Pools Visit Part 2
Summary: Second part of the norn pools visit
Related: Norn pool part 1
Theme Song: None
loki kai strange thor rogue bucky 


The stone passageway leading to the pool is not long, though it does travel further down. Its cold here, and the water is also frigid. The pool is not round, but is instead, long and narrow, the sort used in ancient times to wade into and out the other side, except that there is no other side to this, only a dark outcropping of rocks. The water is still on the surface like a sheet of glass. Along the way are warnings written in ancient Norse, urging all but the bravest to turn back. There is /presence/ here, and Strange's senses for magic and time and space are all jacked up.

Loki starts stripping out of his shirt and boots, the less that is wet the better. Once all of that has hit the stone floor of the pool's room, he turns his verdant eyes on Kai.

*

Kai sits on the edge of the pool, watching Loki undress without shame, his gaze lidded. "Are you sure you want to go in alone?" he asks. Even now, at the cusp of Loki's big moment, where - if all goes well - Loki will return to himself fully, Kai's checking out that slender form with prurient speculation. Maybe it's to hide his worry that, when Loki is himself again, he will have outgrown the elf.

*

Strange's nose itches — madly — from the silky sylph of misty, ambient power. Curling it left and right a few times, it gives him reason to sniff sharply and then grimace. Having traveled down and down, they've found the fabled pools. No warnings are needed for the Sorcerer. An eerie low-level vibration is dancing along the long bones of his body and making the lining of his inner torso tingle; inasmuch as he would have it otherwise, this confluence of heady magic is set to play his ribs like a xylophone, apparently.

Off to one side, mostly definitely playing observer, any light reflected or refracted about the room dances along his stern features. There's no smile for anyone at the moment with those tightly-crossed arms and martial stance. This is the Sorcerer Supreme, Guardian of this Reality, in all his presence with its distant rolls of Mystical thunder.

Nobody mess up now…

*

Loki reaches out his hand to Kai, and says softly, "One at a time. I have no idea what would occur if we went in groups." He pauses, and seems to sense the anxiety. "I will still be me." Then he looks at Thor, briefly, and starts to walk into the pool. Not until he is in up to his waist does he stop and he waits. The waters move up his body, its rather pretty, and Loki himself seems to go limp in their grasp. He is just…gone…in a vision, his eyes staring up at the ceiling unseeing, while the water seems to flow over his form. He's like that for minutes, and then, like a breath, the water starts to glow golden, pulsing into his form. He glows brighter and brighter until rather suddenly, the pool ejects him, throwing him towards the rough stone floor near where everyone else stands. A little bruised, Loki coughs a few times, and groans, thoroughly soaked.

*

Kai says in a low tone, "Who said anything about a group?" He smiles, and there are even dimples, but of course he worries. "If you're still you," he says, "then I'll have to welcome you back properly." Then he quiets, watching as Loki wades into the waters. His breath catches. He sits up straighter, and he bites his lower lip. In the grips of his vision, Kai's love is himself a vision.

Then the waters eject him and, showing just how quick he can be, Kai's at Loki's side in a heartbeat. He can't hold a candle to Pietro or Tommy. There's nothing preternatural about it, but he's up there in terms of natural speed. "Loki," he murmurs, stroking back the Asgardian's hair. "Loki, lover, sweetheart. Are you all right?"

*

A glance from the Trickster to the blonde older brother and back is Strange's quiet acknowledgment that he too would rather things ended well. It's brave enough being the first one into the pool. His eyes brighten to low lambence again, frosted-violet overlaying the normal colors.

The water itself…beautiful. What mortals see is pure liquid, what the Mystical see is…indescribable. That it chooses to cradle the younger Prince rather than submerge entirely soothes the worries that linger in the lines of his so-very-still frame. Golden light flashes bright enough to warrant a squint and even he steps forwards as the pool spits out the Asgardian. But no, the Alfheimian is there and Strange remains back still, hands in half-formed mudras at his waist.

"I think he's fine, Kai," comes the baritone, calming certainty in tone.

*

Yes…Loki is fine. He opens his eyes and looks at the others, further away, first, like its harder to focus on the ones closer. But yes, finally Kai comes into focus and Loki nods once to him, reaching up to grip his shoulder. He does seem a little addled, yet, but he's not suddenly bursting into an evil monologue about them all falling into his trap, so he's probably ok. He coughs again. "yes…Yes, Hjuki…" he assures, though how his memories all shake out will take a bit.

*

Kai grunts at Strange, unconvinced. This is an emergency! Loki might not like him anymore! And might start monologuing and launch an attempt to take over the world, but mostly he might not like him anymore! But then Loki looks to him, and Kai smiles for him. Yes, it's his Hjuki, faithfully here beside him. "Yes," he says, his voice lilting, carrying eerily in the cave. "It's me." He cups Loki's cheek and rests his brow against the prince's brow. Rarely is he seen to be so split open and raw, and so thoroughly real. This is love, pure and devastating for this fallen prince. He'd never admit it to anyone, even himself, that he's capable of that depth of feeling. Now his brother in spirit can see it plainly. May he someday live it down.

*

The little smile to cross the Sorcerer's face is knowing…kindly amused somehow…absolutely pleased to confirm a suspicion. In the same manner that he might have, at one point, watched his long-dead younger brother affirm affection for another, he stands and observes, keeping his thoughts on the matter to himself.

After all, he'd be a terrible hypocrite to make some careless comment given the awful parallels of possible love lost to amnesia. He once risked the very thing for the removal of a very real threat upon the veracity of his existence.

"No worse for the wear, it seems," he says as he saunters over, the hems of the Cloak swirling lightly around him. "Welcome back." This is for Loki, soaked to the bone.

*

Loki nods to Strange too, though he seems exhausted. Raw. Barren. Who knows what he's seen in the vision.

While Kai and Loki are super disgusting, other people may take their turns with the pool. Its completely optional…and after all…Strange only came to make certain the world was not going to end. But those waters suuuuuure are tempting. What might the ancient forces of Asgard tell him? What fates might they show to try to break him….or what glimpses of power and dangers might they reveal. He can only know if he braves the waters himself.

*

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