[past] [for eros]

Sep 24, 2011 00:32

Ever since gaining his freedom -- and the less said about that, the better --, Loki had made a point to avoid his old stomping grounds. Though there really was something to be said about inciting Romans to go cause a ruckus on the old home place...and he had to hardly expend any extra effort on that count, himself ( Read more... )

eros, past

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lovessweetbait September 24 2011, 05:20:35 UTC
Was it already a thousand years ago since Greece had been at its glorious height? Since supplicants had massed in his temples and disciples had moaned his name in the dark, since his name had been whispered on the wind beneath the night sky? Where did the time go? Had it been so long?

Had it been only a thousand years? It felt like tens of thousands. Millions. It felt like forever.

Somewhere near Rome's northern borders, Eros landed in the forest. It was getting more difficult to, well, maintain, but he did. Of course he did. He was fine. He just...needed a few minutes out here. To get his breath back. That was all. Then he'd return to his discipline.

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trickster_loki September 24 2011, 13:29:59 UTC
What was that?

He'd chosen this time to ride out with a legion on their way to the front though...well...he had no plans of going all the way with them lest any of his once-brethren take notice. That would completely ruin the game, now wouldn't it?

But then he'd felt...

...someone, anyway. Not the Aesir. Something worth investigating, though, so Loki peels off from the soldiers with a comment that they should continue on without him. It doesn't take too very long of riding through the trees toward that feeling before he comes upon Eros.

Of course, Eros might be more likely to see a Roman centurion riding toward him than, well, a Norse god in Roman armor.

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lovessweetbait September 24 2011, 17:34:07 UTC
Eros straightens in surprise at the sound of hoofbeats. A Roman patrol? He hadn't realized he'd remained visible. And it's too late to mask himself entirely from sight, but perhaps he can turn the Roman aside. He pulls himself together and reaches out to calm the suspicion from the centurion's mind.

Which is strangely impervious to being calmed. Perhaps he's more tired than he'd believed.

"Centurion," he greets the man, calm and cold. He has no desire at all to speak at length with any Roman carrying with him this new Christian god. There's a trace of divine resonant suggestion in his voice - Ride on, Roman - as he continues, "Your legion outpaces you."

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trickster_loki September 24 2011, 17:40:11 UTC
Loki reined his horse in and looked Eros up and down critically. The idea that the other god looked so...not himself...was intriguing.

The idea that he obviously hadn't recognized who he was faced with and was trying to influence his mind was even more interesting. "So it does. You have the look of a man who wouldn't care to have a legionnaire's attention." Yes, this is Loki keeping up the pretense of suspicious centurion.

"Explain yourself."

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lovessweetbait September 24 2011, 18:34:00 UTC
Eros bristled, anger snapping too quickly to the surface in his bright blue eyes. Tired or not, this Roman - one of the mortals who had all but destroyed his family - would not order him.

As he drew power to his voice, he thought with longing of the days when there had been so much more to draw from, but this would be enough. "I will explain nothing to you," he snapped. "Go. Catch up with your warriors, and thank your new god every day that I've spared your life, Roman."

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trickster_loki September 24 2011, 18:41:44 UTC
Oh this was just too delicious. Such anger and pride. Which one was he? If Loki had been the mortal Eros thought he was, he'd be halfway back to the legion by now. Not that he had any intention of catching up with them now that there was something more interesting to play with. And they were used to him disappearing from their campaigns anyway, they all considered him eccentric, at best. The man with the knowledge on how best to pacify the Germanic tribes who yet never participated in a single battle against them. And yet, he was so often correct in the information he provided that they tolerated his presence and even gave him certain rank among them.

So instead of riding away, he swung off his horse and raised his eyebrows at the other god. "You, spare my life?" He stalked toward Eros, hand on his gladius, ready to draw. "I should think it rather the other way around. Now...do as you're told."

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lovessweetbait September 24 2011, 21:26:32 UTC
It took a moment for the words to sink in, but then the urge to demolish this insolent soldier rose up in his veins like black poison. He even took a step forward, flexing his fingers, but...no. Eros would sooner crawl into Hades' realm on his hands and knees than do something to make his father proud.

He let the thoughts of Ares simmer away in the anger and wondered what had happened to him. Was he really so weak that he could no longer turn a single mortal's mind? That couldn't be; he'd been working so hard.

"Strike, then, mortal," he said with a calm he didn't feel and dropped the illusion of mortality. His wings were unmistakeable even held tight against his back, and his bow was in his hand in the blink of an eye. "Strike, and see what the Fates have in store for you," he continued in a low, dangerous hiss. The dull glint of lead tipped the arrow he strung and aimed; no mercy here. "Give me a reason."

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trickster_loki September 25 2011, 02:36:27 UTC
Wings. Arrows. And quite pretty, despite the exhaustion.

Oh wait, didn't Hermes talk about this one? Possibly...

He dropped the arrogant Roman pretense and smiled casually, flame dancing on his fingertips. He twiddled his fingers in greeting to Eros, "you seem to be somehow under the misconception that I am mortal, dear boy."

"So really...there's no need for threats."

Though seeing Eros all angry and dangerous was rather appealing.

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lovessweetbait September 25 2011, 02:53:11 UTC
Whatever Eros had anticipated as the Roman's next move, it hadn't been that. No mortal had yet acquired that kind of affinity for fire and he nearly loosed the arrow in pure surprise before quickly lowering the bow.

"I was," he admitted, keeping hold of the weapon for now. "You've concealed yourself well, stranger. For what purpose?"

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trickster_loki September 25 2011, 03:00:25 UTC
"Oh, several." Loki shrugged and extinguished the flames he held.

"And we're hardly strangers, are we? At least we've a friend in common."

Well, assuming this god and Hermes were friends but Loki had noted that the messenger somehow managed to avoid too much in the way of long-lasting enmity with his relatives. Which was more than Loki could say for himself.

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lovessweetbait September 25 2011, 03:16:10 UTC
The disappearance of the handful of fire seemed to signal an end to open hostilities and Eros sent his bow and lead arrow back to his temple with a thought. He felt strangely relieved that his attempts to affect the Roman had failed because he wasn't a Roman at all. Perhaps he wasn't as far gone as he'd feared.

"Do we?" he asked, relaxing his wings into a more comfortable, looser position. "And who is it that counts us both among his friends?" Fire, disguise, trickery, and a trace of an accent to his Greek...but Eros couldn't quite place his name.

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trickster_loki September 25 2011, 03:21:31 UTC
Ah, that was good. No need to be waving god-touched arrows about, was there?

"Hermes? Unless, of course, you aren't friends...I really wouldn't know but it seems to me he's spoken of you before."

Assuming Loki's assumption was correct, after all.

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lovessweetbait September 25 2011, 03:34:14 UTC
"Oh, Hermes. Yes, of course, I know Hermes well," Eros answered with the first brilliant smile that had broken through the tense expression. It made perfect sense that Hermes would know them both; he traveled widely, after all.

"I'm quite attached to that particular uncle. But we have not been introduced," he added, raising his brows with an amused look. This seemed a roundabout way to make his acquaintance, if indeed that was the other god's goal.

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trickster_loki September 25 2011, 03:42:41 UTC
Loki had been too busy observing Eros and his reactions to really get around to introducing himself. Until it was specifically pointed out, anyway.

"You're absolutely correct in that we haven't. And alas for him, Hermes is not here to do the honors." Which was just as well, Hermes would probably talk sense into him.

"My name is Loki." Among the many, many things he's called.

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lovessweetbait September 25 2011, 03:55:34 UTC
Loki, Eros thought, taking a moment to give the Norse god a leisurely study. Then another moment. He was worth more than one.

He'd heard tell of Loki, whispers of Loki, but Hermes' own mentions had been brief and casual. Now, Eros wondered why. Later, he would realize he had perhaps not wondered enough.

"My name is Eros," he answered with a faint, slow smile, knowing the introduction was an unnecessary courtesy. "Welcome to what was once proud Greece."

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trickster_loki September 25 2011, 04:02:24 UTC
"Ah," Loki smiled, "and now your problem with Romans comes clear..."

Would Eros believe Loki was undermining them from the inside for his own purposes? Well...he didn't have to actually explain precisely what he was doing among them.

"Though, perhaps you might accept the hospitality of a faux-Roman?"

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