thehandmaiden | 1st Milkshake [video]

[The keepers of the dead do not sleep. It is a luxury reserved only for their charges. But some point during her forced residency in Midgard, Leah has learned to envy those who sleep. The long hours of night pass slow when there is no assignment to carry forth. Only so much of her time can be spent watching Loki's window far away in Asgardia, envious of his nocturnal rest. It is a rest she so much desires, though such a gift would undermind her duties as handmaiden. Had she not been tasked, after all, to keep watch over Loki at all hours as to ensure fulfillment of his debt to her mistress?

A little sleep, she thinks sometimes, would be of no harm. It would make instead for an interesting escape, a chance to perhaps observe her subconcious at work. Restlessness does not often get the better of her. Neither do these fancies or whims. But tonight, one does. And for a full three minute, she closes her eyes and pretends to sleep.

When her eyes open, the surroundings are not what she expects. She sits no longer on a rock outside the entrance to her dirty great hole in the ground. There is no Thori grumbling in the distance, threatening to cock his leg (tonight on the great world tree). The sky is no longer black but for the pinprick of light from stars and moons or the faint glow of Asgardia a mile away.
She is in what she recognizes as a Midgardian apartment, sitting on a twin-sized bed with an unfamiliar journal opened in front of her. Sunlight streams in from an open window and the chilly breeze of winter only faintly tickles her skin. Her arms are bare, a fact that perhaps catches Leah most by surprise. She only owns one dress, a long gown of dark green. This simple white shift is not her dress.

There is another glance down at the journal, at the words appearing on it as if it were the Stark phone Loki so foolishly brought her. Her hands ball into fists as she raises them level with her chest and sparks of neon green magic (magic that looks very much like lightning to the unfamiliar) flicker both from hands and eyes.

Leah of Hel is not amused.]

Loki Laufeyson! [The name is yelled even though she suspects the young god of mischief to be nearby, observing for himself the mischief, it seems, that he has just concluded. The hows of her sudden transport to Broxton will be puzzled later. For now, she knows no greater desire than to flush out the boy and pummel him fiercely.] Cease this joke of practical nature right now and show yourself!

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There is only one Loki Laufeyson, idiot god of Asgard.

[To think that there might be more, well, that thought is positively frightening.]

But there's two here, and they're both kinda smart! One's big and the other's a kid!

Two? [An eyebrow raises, curiosity hiding burgeoning distaste. It is, perhaps, possible. Little is impossible when dealing with the realm of the gods. But it is not a welcomed thought.]

The Loki I seek is young. Annoying. And thinks all too highly of himself.

Yeah! This world we're stuck in... It can pull in lots of people who're alike. But the two Lokis... they seem kinda different.

I... might know who you're talking about? But I don't think he's annoying.

[Loki has never not been anything but annoying. The boy must be mistaken.]

Then you might not know who I am talking about. It is one of his most defining characteristics.

Really? I don't know, then. There's not much that annoys me. He did look like he was around your age at least, maybe a little littler. [He's not exactly sure, since they've never met in person.]

[Perhaps this boy has infinite patience. Or is particularly unobservant.]

Does he often blather unnecessarily?

[Somewhere in the between.]

He says lots of words, if that's what you mean! [Of course he's been living with Ikki the last few months, who can possibly outtalk even Little Loki, so he's pretty used to it by now.]

It is close enough.

Then you should know that he's here, but he's safe. Are you a friend of his?

[She shakes her head.]

Loki owes a boon to my mistress. It is my responsibility to ensure that he fulfills it.

You mean like he's... he's gotta get her a baboon?

[Head meet palm.]

He owes her a promise. A debt?

Oh... well that sounds important! Promises are really serious. I hope he thought it through when he made it!

[He had successfully maneuvered them all to dance like his puppets at the time the deal was struck. It is, she knows, very likely that Loki did indeed think through every intention.

But that would bestow on Loki more credit than Leah wishes to give.]

Most likely not.

I'm sorry to hear that. I've been caught in uncomfortable promises before. But you seem smart, I bet you do a good job of helping him!

[Eyebrows rise. That is quite true.]

He would be lost without me.

Then I think he's been lost for a few months now!

He should not have chosen to come here without me.

The thing is... We don't really have a choice. Or I never met anyone who actually chose to come here. This world... it just pulls in people from all different worlds at random, no matter who they are or whether or not they'd want to.

Magic?

Magic, science, magic science... Whatever it is, I don't think anyone's sure and it's really hard to figure out!

[The way in which he replies seems to imply some sort of debate to Leah. She has seen what mortal sciences are capable of. The way she wrinkles her nose indicates that she does not quite think that it is responsible for her transportation here.]

Why not?

I don't know. I just know there's lots of smart people here who know a lot about science and magic, but I don't think anyone's been able to figure out anything about it.

Are these people not interested in returning to their realms?

[Video]

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