Lakes and skiffs

[cutting_edgex23]

X is outside, seated cross-legged on a rock by the lake.

She is very still, breathing in, then out, then in again, and watching everything.

It is not meditation. But it is still nice.

Comments

[foolyoutwice]

She'll see a smallish flying boat approach the lake, skimming probably-too-fast over the grass and then definitely-too-fast in an arc along the shore, shrinking away from her and then growing again as it curves back. It looks to be heading away again, but then perhaps the pilot spots her: the craft whips into a turn and comes speeding straight towards her.

[cutting_edgex23]

X doesn't move, just waits for the craft to arrive.

That doesn't mean she isn't prepared to dodge if someone thinks they are funny.

(X is always prepared to move.)

She also lifts one hand in a very awkward-looking wave.

[foolyoutwice]

Loki knows he's funny.

But he's not trying to run X over. He makes a perfect stop, the skiff's curved bow a foot or two out of her fingertips' reach; it doesn't throw the same wake that a water-borne craft would, but there are certainly wavelets and ripples. Loki grins at her from the tiller.

Show-off.

[cutting_edgex23]

X leaps lightly up into the skiff without asking.

Because obviously Loki wants to show it off.

"You built it?"

She tilts her head, attention seemingly split between Loki and his floating boat.

"Or you found it. Here."

[foolyoutwice]

Damn right he wants to show it off.

"Alas, for all my immense ability and technical brilliance, I'm no shipwright. I found her in the garage. But isn't she lovely? A perfect example."

yeah this thing is loki's now, sorry if anyone else wanted to fly it
it's loki's
he's gonna put heraldry on it and everything

[cutting_edgex23]

X moves around the deck -- not that it is very large -- inspecting it with a careful eye.

"It is a hovercraft?"

[foolyoutwice]

It's not large. But there's room for two people to move around easily, without fear of going over the side. And it's not without comfort: chainmail-covered cushions provide seating. (They also add to the very Asgardian aesthetic. This vehicle was made by people who think that Wingèd Longboat is a look for a sensible everyday military transport.)

"Mm, she flies better than a simple hovercraft, but yes. The only thing missing is the armaments--and she's lighter without plasma cannons anyway."

Loki pats the skiff's side lovingly. "Where do you want to go?"

You're going for a ride, X!

[cutting_edgex23]

The cushions will be useful as temporary defense if someone boards to attack them, sure. (Thanks, chainmail.)

"Lighter means she goes faster."

This is not a question.

"Over the lake and to the mountains is possible?"

[foolyoutwice]

Plus you can sit on them without worrying about your armor and your numerous bladed weapons poking holes in the upholstery.

"Your wish is my command, Lady!" Loki sweeps a bow and returns to the tiller. They're close enough to the rock X had been sitting on that the keel very nearly scrapes as the skiff turns--nearly, but not quite. Because he's good.

He takes them along the shore of the lake at a more leisurely speed, allowing gentle arcs now and then to let X feel the way the skiff can move with or against the wind. (Particularly where the lake shifts to that odd sandy beach: there are strange air currents there, something he'll have to play with more.)

He's so absorbed with the flight that he isn't even making commentary.

[cutting_edgex23]

"X," X says, just to see if he is more easily convinced on that point than Thor was.

Then she turns to watch the scenery pass, eyes closing every so often to better feel the movement of the skiff.

Loki really is good. It is . . . nice.

"You have ridden on a motorcycle before?"

[foolyoutwice]

"Mm? Is that an Earth conveyance? I've ridden on a bus before; I don't recommend the experience. Do they have those in your cities?"

He's turned to sweep them towards the mountains now, beginning a gentle rise.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Buses are useful for people without cars. And students."

X appreciates them but does not enjoy them.

"Motorcycles are very maneuverable. And fast. They are good to race. And some of them hover."

Not the ones from Earth, but still.

"There are speeders, too. In the garage. They are more like this."

But for maybe two people to ride. Like a pony!

[foolyoutwice]

"The bus I saw was disgusting." He's not denying the usefulness, but ew. "And the private vehicles not much better. --But yes, I saw some more appealing things in the garage. Much more appealing." He'll check them out, thanks for the tip. "Have they given up on horses entirely on Earth?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"They are expensive. To keep. I have only ridden them in Milliways. Or with Amy."

A pause.

"We should race. Sometime. Not with horses."

[foolyoutwice]

"I accept the challenge!"

They're up high now, enough to glide safely over the treetops as they leave the lake for the forest and approach the mountain. "But you know, having challenged me, you ought to allow me the choice of weapons. Well--steeds, in this case."

[cutting_edgex23]

"We can spar, too. If you want. I am not good at magic."

You know, in case that is relevant.

X takes a moment to look down over the treetops, because she doesn't often have the opportunity for this vantage. Combat is different, and so is being carried by Warren.

(A lot different. This is better.)

"You will give me time to learn how to ride? What you choose. For steeds."

[foolyoutwice]

Loki makes a face at her. "What's the point of me choosing, if I have to give you time to learn? --Do they have goat chariots here? Or it could be a different sort of race altogether. A race to Jim Moriarty's world. The adult Jim, I mean." He's pretty sure Jim isn't going to let anyone in there. "A race to the Earth of my universe. A race to Asgard." Does Thor take friends there?

[cutting_edgex23]

"It will be boring if you win by default."

X could always try asking Jim. If it was to get one over on Loki, maybe he would be game!

[foolyoutwice]

"Boring for you, maybe. I like winning."

He's been taking a lazy approach to the mountain, circling it in a slow steady rise; now he takes them in close to a cliff face, curious about what looks like a cave. "So which is it? Goat chariots, or a race to one of those worlds? I'll let you choose after all."

[cutting_edgex23]

"We will start now? If it is to a world."

She's just getting the parameters laid out, all right?

[foolyoutwice]

"Very well, now. But do name the world before you take off."

Loki likes winning. He'd like even more to know some of the tricks X has up her sleeve.

[cutting_edgex23]

X considers this for a moment, reaching out to check with a certain Force that this is okay. Given that it is Loki, and occasionally the multiverse's existence trembles at his actions --

The warmth in the scar on her palm is as good an answer as any.

"Your universe's Earth. It is our multiverse, too."

There are stars in her eyes, though she is not smiling.

"We will see you on Mt. Rainier. The top."

For a brief moment X is blue as flame, blue as the heart of a burning sun, and then she's faded to a pinprick and is gone.

Tag, you're it, Loki!

(Ain't the Microverse wonderful?)

[foolyoutwice]

...Well, then.

When she's gone, he reaches out for a moment, silent, testing with his fingertips the spot where X had faded out. It feels like...no, he's not sure.

Loki drops his hand, and then drops himself back against the tiller, laughing aloud. "Nicely done, Lady X," he says to the air. "Nicely done." Now then. He has no idea where Mt. Rainier is, and no immediate way to reach the Earth of his universe. But he's all right with losing--this time.

It'll be hilarious, though, if X comes back to this exact spot in the air and plummets down to the rocks and trees with no skiff beneath her feet, so while he has his laugh he nudges the skiff along its course.


(Damn right the multiverse's existence trembles at his actions. Maybe this particular Loki hasn't succeeded yet in anything to really make galaxies shake, but he'll be disappointed with himself if he never does.)

[cutting_edgex23]

Time passes.

X eventually reappears in the spot she left, hovering and still blue.

She does not roll her eyes, just flies in the direction Loki went -- at a rapid pace -- and settles back onto the skiff gently, without even making the boat rock.

The blue fades, and she is (mostly) alone again.

"We waited. You were very slow."

[foolyoutwice]

"Show-off."

He's lounging comfortably in the back of the skiff, and doesn't make it harder for her to catch up. (Them?) "So how do I know you were in my universe? On--what was it? Mount Rainier?"