First Ax [@the.boneless, video]

[ragnarsson]

[It's clear whoever is using this device is unused to it. The picture shifts around for a few minutes, and Ivar's face furrowed in concentration is seen several times before he finally realizes that it's on. He's sixteen, has blue eyes, and oddly enough, blue sclera as well. There's also an ax tucked at his side. He points the phone he's using outward, showing that he's in the kitchen, seated on a chair. His voice, when he speaks, has a vaguely European accent.] I have figured out what these do.

[He shows in turn the fridge, the sink, and the stove. The last one had caused a few burnt fingers, but hey, he'll survive.] But I still have no idea what this does. [He turns the device to the microwave. He's been playing around with the buttons, and while he's been able to turn it on, he hasn't yet realized food is supposed to go inside of it.] Anyone care to enlighten me?

Comments

[ikols]

[ Watching Ivar for a long moment, Loki takes his own plate to nibble on pancakes next to him. Meaty and sweet. ]

Tell me a tale about yourself. Anything. Something of which you're proud to talk.

[ragnarsson]

After Odin told us all that our father was dead, we knew we had to avenge him. We formed an army bigger than any that had come before and sailed to England. King Aelle met us on the battlefield, but the fool had underestimated our numbers. My brothers and I led the charge. Even I got to be in the battle. Floki-- did I tell you about him? A boatbuilder who's one of your descendants-- he built me a chariot so I could participate. After we defeated him, we dragged him behind the chariot all the way to where he killed my father. Then we blood eagled him. He screamed the entire time. I was looking right into his eyes when he finally died.

[He looks positively gleeful as he recounts the memories. For the first time in his life, Ivar had a great purpose to fulfill. He was well on his way to doing so. One king was dead and soon another would follow.]

[ikols]

He must have feared you very much. [ Aelle, that is. Floki sounds like a smart guy if he's building boats to get his people around the world. ] When you go back, what will you do next?

[ragnarsson]

He begged like a little bitch at the very end for his life. As if we came all that way to be bribed with something as simple as gold and silver.

[That was not the price that he needed to pay and Ivar had told him as much. The question about what he'll do next gets a thoughtful expression from the Viking prince.]

Kill King Ecbert. He's just as responsible as Aelle for my father's death. He claimed to be his friend and then handed him over. Then I'm going to raid all of England. They're never going to forget my name after I'm done with that country.

[ikols]

Kings of the world think they own their way around it, even at the end.

Would you like a gift, Ivar? [ A small smile curls in the corner of his lips as he sits forward, regarding his loyal disciple (weird to think one of those actually exists anymore) with open scrutiny. ] It's been a long time since anyone truly believed in the gods of Asgard. I think, perhaps, even Odin would favour such earnest faith in us.

And I like you, you know? I don't think you're a bad person.

[ Murder aside, and even then ... ]

[ragnarsson]

I suppose there had to be at least one person here who thought that.

[Ivar may not have been a bad person, but he was self-aware enough to know that he wasn't terribly good either. No one as brutal and vicious as he was could be.]

That depends on what sort of gift it is.

[He chooses his words very carefully, not wanting to offend the god of mischief. A gift from the god was nothing to sneeze at. But he's heard enough stories to know that sometimes those gifts came from the left hand instead of the right, a curse more than a blessing. The Norse gods could be terrific assholes sometimes even to their most devout followers.]

[ikols]

A good one, promise. Give me your favourite weapon, Ivar?

[ Holding out his hand, eyes glinting with mischief. ]

[ragnarsson]

[Well, if he says it'll be a good one, he supposes he has to believe the Liesmith. Ivar pulls out the throwing ax strapped to his side. He prefers it to his other weapons for its range and brutality needed to wield it.]

This one.

[ikols]

[ Taking the axe, it glows in his hand and levitates a few inches. As Loki's spell binds around the weapon from the tips of his fingers, he peers through the magic at Ivar and explains. ]

Gods are difficult to summon, they don't like to be told when and where to appear. But this is a Mirroring Spell, like a reflection in a summer pool, so it's nothing demanding ... [ The axe hits the table, glimmering green before the lightshow dies down around Asgardian runes burned into the blade, some readable to Ivar and others not. ] Whenever you throw this into something and say my name immediately after, I'll be able to see what's going on around you and where you are. [ And ostensibly come to Ivar's aid.

He gestures for him to take the now enchanted axe. ]

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar takes the ax with a reverent air, studying the runes that now surround it. He can understand some of them, having learned them in his childhood from Floki. He's reading the ones that clearly are the symbols for Loki's name surrounding the blade and looks back up at the god. He's been granted a great gift and plans not to squander it.]

Thank you. I'll use it with care.

[ikols]

Just don't embed it in someone's backside and then start talking about me, okay?

[ IMAGINE. ]

[ragnarsson]

Wouldn't dream of it.

[Well, he hadn't before, but now that Loki had given him the idea...]