By the lake

[reindeer_games]

Loki has mostly been keeping to the area around the lake since his escape from that damnable cage. The few times he has ventured back indoors have been met with conflict and anger, so it is much safer to remain outside.

Not only safer for himself, but for his children in the lake. It will still be some time before they hatch and become able to defend themselves, so for now, Loki keeps watch out for any who may wish to do them harm. He saw no predators that might do so within the lake, but it is not those within the lake he fears. The father of his children is more than capable of frightening off any curious fish that may wander too close for comfort.

Loki has made many enemies in his time, and there are few he would trust not to harm his children. It is those for which Loki keeps a vigilant eye, prepared to do what it takes to keep them away from what is his.

Comments

[areyoumyjolly]

There's a mermaid in the lake at times as well, for example.

She's coming up to the surface now and peers at Loki.

She knows him. She thinks.

[reindeer_games]

Ah, yes. Loki knows her as well. That voyeuristic mermaid.

"Did you enjoy the spectacle?" he asks.

[areyoumyjolly]

"So many tentacles!" she giggles.

She has fangs in her mouth.

"I think squids are so cute when they mate. Well, everybody thinks squid are so cute."

Everybody who counts, that is. That is, mermaids and their ilk.

"Unless they're kraken, then they're more awesome than cute. So, you can turn into a cute squid, man?"

[reindeer_games]

"I can become whatever I wish to become," Loki says.

He does not know what will become of his children. As he has recently discovered, he has very little influence over such things.

[areyoumyjolly]

"You could grow a proper tail and scales and a fin?" the mermaid asks.

Beat.

"I've seen the eggs down there, too. So great! There are never enough cute little squid."

To her, they are basically kittens. If a mermaid had a blog, it would be full of pictures of cute little squid.

[reindeer_games]

Loki tenses with a rare protective urge.

"You would be wise to leave them where you found them," he says stiffly.

[areyoumyjolly]

"Of course!" she says. "I want them to become proper squid, silly! Who would harm little squid?"

Because, kittens.

"Well, apart from stupid animals that eat them. And silly surface people. But if one of them comes down and tries to eat the" -- kittens -- "squiddies, I can eat that sailor, and none will be the wiser. Can I?"

She would really be justified this time, in the name of kitties squiddies!

[reindeer_games]

Loki bends to meet her at her own level. "You may eat any creature, sailor or no, that dares disturb them," he says. "And you shall be rewarded for it in turn."

[areyoumyjolly]

Food and reward? And squiddies to play with when they hatch?

Win-win-win situation for the mermaid!

"I will!" she says, cheerfully. "Sailors and silly humans with snorkels and all! And all the fish."

She'll just hang out down there and watch out for the squiddies, and eat sailors.

"And when they're hatched, I can feed them the sailors' balls."

Because that's what the mermaid spawn thrive best on, too.

[reindeer_games]

"They will not be able to stay with you forever. Not all of them," Loki says, glad to have finally found an ally in this place. "Soon this lake will become too small. I may come for them myself, or I may send someone, but there will come a time when they will be taken away.

"Should I send someone, they will make themselves known to you. You will not eat this person, for they will be doing for me a favour."

While he is a god, he is not the sort to be all-knowing or all-seeing. The future is as much of a mystery to him as it is to most people, so it never hurts to be prepared for all outcomes.

[areyoumyjolly]

"Not all of them," the mermaid says, hoping to keep one or two after all. Perhaps the smallest ones? Pretty please?

She looks at him sweetly, to that effect.

"If they tell me they come from the mama squid, then I won't eat them," she promises.

But being who she is, it might need exactly those words.

[reindeer_games]

"I shall tell whoever it is I may send to deliver exactly those words," says Loki.

"And I'm sure you know their father, living in this lake as you do. He will be here to assist you as well."

[areyoumyjolly]

"That big fellow is fun!" Tamara says; she regards the squid as something like a big old tame lion.

"Yes, that'll work. Of course he will. I'll tell him slowly that I mean no harm to his squiddies. He doesn't know many mermaids yet."

[reindeer_games]

"That could be very easily remedied," Loki says simply.

[areyoumyjolly]

"He knows me," Tamara says, looking at him askance -- what does he mean?

Should she bring in more of her sisters? Would he help her with that?

[reindeer_games]

Loki tires of this crouch he's in, and sits down on the damp ground instead. He cares not what should happen to his coat or trousers. They are merely an illusion and will only become messed if he desires them to do so.

"Are you the only one of your kind in this lake?" he asks.

[areyoumyjolly]

"The only one who comes here," she says. "The lake connects to my home, Whitecap Bay, and there's a lot of my sisters living there too, and our spawn in the kelp gardens there. But I'm the only one who comes here. The surface people threatened me in case I should catch and eat one of them, but if they come down and threaten the squiddie eggs, it's their own fault. Isn't it?"

Beat.

"I could of course get some spawn and raise them here and then there's more of us, and the surface people are going to shut up."

[reindeer_games]

"I have designs after this place," Loki says. "When it is mine, you and your sisters shall never need worry of the surface people again."

He did say she would be rewarded for her duty to his children.

[areyoumyjolly]

She leans on a stone near the shore, and smiles up at him winsomely. "Finally, somebody here after my own heart!"

[reindeer_games]

"I have been wronged by these people as well," says Loki. "They would place me in a cage and destroy my children if they should have their way."

[areyoumyjolly]

"Destroy your children?" She shakes her head.

"What kind of total barbarian would do that?"

[reindeer_games]

"The sort of barbarians that rule this world and place innocent people in cages."

He's pretty sure he's got her on his side for good, now.

[areyoumyjolly]

"Why did they place you in a cage?" she asks.

"They sometimes steal mermaids, back home, and carry them away in barrels, never to be seen again."

[reindeer_games]

"Because I tried to show them how wrong they are about so many things," Loki says. "But I escaped, and now they search for me and would destroy my children if they found them. My children are innocent in this, but these people care not for these things. The sins of the father are the sins of the son to these people."

And he sounds like he believes every last word of it.

[areyoumyjolly]

"They will not get at them!" Tamara declares. "Perhaps I ought to bring a few of my sisters after all if they try. And if they can't come through, at least some spawn so there will be mermaids later."

She does believe him -- she has finally found somebody who is on her side!