asgardeventide | 011

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011 - text;

Oh, hello, again, Asgard!

In a short time, I've been learning Italian, I've also have been learning the Jötunheim, Utgard, the nine realms, and the Æsir. To be honest, Utgard, almost sounds like... a mirror world. A looking glass world.

It means "Outyards" and it is said to be the strong hold of the Jötunn or giants. Why, there's even a Loki in Utgard, Utgarda-Loki. Do any of our Lokis know of this? Or do we have a Utgarda-Loki? Who knows what the god of mischief, I doubt either of them will admit to such a thing.

But the most peculiar thing of all I found in the Prose Edda was the "Mead of Poetry" or "Suttungr's Mead". It sounds absolutely dreadful, but wonderfully curious. It call started with a war and the gods seal a truce by spitting in in a vat. To keep symbol of this truth, they added the blood of Kvasir, who was said to be so wise that there were no questions that he couldn't answer. It concludes with Odin stealing it from Suttungr, a Jötunn.

Gunnlod sat me in the golden seat,
Poured me precious mead:
I'll reward she had from me for that,
For her proud and passionate heart,
Her brooding foreboding spirit.
What I won from her I have well used:
I have waxed in wisdom since I came back,
bringing to Asgard Odhroerir,
the sacred draught.
Hardly would I have come home alive
From the garth of the grim troll,
Had Gunnlod not helped me, the good woman,
Who wrapped her arms around me.

Terrible creatures, these Jötunn, and yet, they go quite hand in hand with the Æsir!

I suppose I should thank the dark-haired Loki for this, he's made me quite curious about these nine realms and strongholds of both gods and giants.

[ooc; Brought to you by this song which is about the mead and may or may not be in Old Norse, I forget.]

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If you believed everything that was both said and written, things would be a little less interesting. [ a moment of consideration; it's not hard to hear the smile that underpins the utterance. ] But with scepticism in mind, do you truly believe you'll understand any of it?

[ IGNORING THE REMARK ABOUT GIANTS. dnw to talk about frost giants/heritage/ANY OF IT with ~mortals~ tyvm. ]

Edited (CHANGED MY MIND) 2012-08-10 15:17 (UTC)

That would depend on what would happen, wouldn't it? Although I highly doubt seven years of winter would happen here in Asgard if that's any consolation. [But she finds herself curious and is in one of her better moods, finally. She vows not to let her deter her.]

I believe so; is credit not due for at least trying to understand?

I wouldn't be terribly upset if it did.

Your understanding isn't needed, so if it's my congratulations you wish for and expect, I'm afraid you've been mistaken.

Ah, but I am not looking for any congratulations, you see. After all, I am an English woman, I am not too terribly familiar with Norse writings. And as I've said, what you spoke of inspired me to learn more.

Perhaps I want to have more meaningful conversations. Idle hands, as they say.

Credit is similar enough. [ a mild hum. ] The Devil's playground, I believe. [ beat and a short, audible exhale that could be a laugh. ] I'm not him.

Is your distaste for mortals that severe?

[She's only curious!] Are you certain of that?

In this, I think disinterest would be the better word.

Quite certain.

Is that from the lack of acknowledgment of your kind or something else...?

[ dismissive: ] Something else, I assure you. What interest do you think your kind holds for us? You worshipped us because we saved you from [ l o l ] horrors of the Frost Giants — and then we left only to be passed into legend and forgotten. Beyond that, I only think that understanding of the Æsir is beyond you, try or not, and I'm disinclined to play games with credit and appreciation if I'm to play games at all.

[ another pause, deliberate and amused. ] You ask if I'm the Devil and, Alice, I'll tell you now that I've never been fond of idleness.

Edited 2012-08-11 07:39 (UTC)

I suppose it would be beyond me. Admittedly, some things are, it is what makes me human and anyone else human. Surely you've seen the rise and fall of many kingdoms and rules to know that nothing lasts forever, not even recognition for the Jötunn being pushed back into their homeworld, yes? Their world. Not even the most devout to your pantheon could hold a candle to that change of rule.

A shame that, Loki. Neither am I. And I am not looking forward to play games with strangers; it isn't as fun as it used to be.

The only throne that was ever of interest was that of Asgard's. Not Earth's, not Jötunheim's, not any of them. As it bears repeating: I have no care for the humans of Yggdrasil and who they claim to worship, for I know enough of humanity to know that when they are forced to face what they fear, they will reach for whatever illusion of strength is in their desperate grasp and nothing more. The devotion of humans means little and it would be in your interests not to forget it.

[ with a touch more levity: ] —If, of course, you so choose to believe my words. I am Loki, after all.

Yes, you made your stance quite clear that your feelings differ from theirs. Although humanity clings to institutions and structure out of fear and desperation, there are some who resent it. I can believe the god of mischief words, partially, on this matter for now.

Truly, how kind. Let us hope that you won't come to regret it.

[If Alice could laugh, she would.]

Partially. Only because I suppose I can share a similar resentment when it comes to institutions.

So you don't believe in a god. [ uttered mildly. ]

Has the word of and actions of man ever been faithful to who they follow and preach about?

Oh, but I've been told that the individual matters so much more than the group. What one would do to save but a soul that they would not do to save so many more.

There is no doubt in my mind that you've seen that and the rest of your ilk. But have you experienced it? Have you fell to the hands of a single being who believed they were saving a soul by erasing everything they knew and held dear for the sake of self-satisfaction or profit?

Or people who are supposed to heal. Instead they turn their backs on the abuse done by others. They install neglect in their "healing", experiment on the helpless without their consent.

All of this nonsense of salvation and healing and it's not only done by the hands of self-righteous, perverse individuals in terrible conditions. Oh, yes, that is is true kindness to awake to a dilapidated room, in darkness and in the cold.

Edited 2012-08-11 08:23 (UTC)

[ loki would laugh if this were text — alice's words and questions share enough clues and hints as to her experiences for it to be worth far more than anything else they've discussed or could discussed; there's as much in what is not said as there is in what is, after all.

there's a moment of silence and consideration followed by a breath — an exhale, almost a sigh — and his tone is briefly laced trepidation and a lack of surety (feigned). ]

The stories, am I of Jötunheim or of Asgard? [ barest of pauses; his intention isn't to have alice to answer. ] Odin stole me from Jötunheim in the midst of war, after laying waste to the land and its people. I was raised on Asgard, as an Asgardian, but whilst Odin claimed it was to save me, it was because he desired nothing more than a political tool. He took from Jötunheim its power and its heir to the throne — all in the name of kindness.

[ a beat and a smile — not visible, of course, nor is it reflected in his tone. ] I know of what you speak, Alice.

[She'll take it into quiet consideration for a moment, almost tempted to quip at least he had someone to raise him. Not growing up in an asylum and absolutely catatonic for ten years. But she doesn't. As quick as she was passionate in her words, it's quick to leave. Her tone is different -- detached. It's easier, as she knows, to completely numb herself. And that goes without saying, Alice will keep reminding herself who she speaks to.

That, and, you never know what anyone says is a lie or a truth. Bumby will always linger in her mind.]

Out of kindness? How fortunate for you, Loki.

Edited 2012-08-11 09:08 (UTC)

I believe your point was that kindness is rarely deserving of the title, nor fortunate or anything but self-serving. Do you care to rethink your response?

Unless you were able to switch places with an orphan of London, I'm afraid I cannot.

[ he does laugh at that. ]

Do you truly wish to debate where true misfortune lays, Alice? You speak of selfish, self-serving natures and your distaste of them and their lies, and yet you do nothing to distance yourself from them and you indulge in the same pitying and pitiful nature, the belief that your suffering is above all else.

That is humanity — the insistence that one can never know nor be compared, that one has uniqueness beyond belief and reproach when really, you're all the same. The doctors and the healers, the soldiers and the weapons: there is no difference — and you, Alice, you're nothing more than an example and proof of exactly that.

And what is a god to a nonbeliever, Loki?

How do I take your words as something as virtuous? I'm afraid you know nothing of me, or me. You're right, this is humanity and your behavior exactly that. Human. If you believe all us are the same and I believe "selfless" acts are all the same, then you are no better than me.

I don't claim virtue, and what I am is exactly that and not dependent on belief at all.

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