14534/Shadow of the Father

Shadow of the Father
Date of Scene:	28 March 2023
Location:	Palace - Asgard
Synopsis:	Loki and Frigga discuss the state of lacking Odin and Thor.
Cast of Characters:	Loki, Frigga

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Loki has posed:
The central area of the private royal quarters is empty. Even the guards have been chased away, for now. Loki was, in truth, having a private visit with Odin. The visit was extremely one-sided, though -- and still very cloaked because Loki tends to have no trust that, well, Odin can't just hear EVERYTHING he was saying, even if he wasn't responding to Loki's statements, accusations, or questions.

Loki's seated there now, both long-fingered hands buried up into the hair on either side of his head, fingernails plucking a little at the scalp. Loose dark hair is in streamers, forward, as Loki rests there, forcing his breathing to even out, elbows resting at the side of the cot where Odin rests. Odin, of course, rests far more fitfully than the frustrated Loki.

Loki is dressed comfortably, in a mix of warm grays and green trims, leaving the black out for the time. He just wasn't in the mood for it, he let his mercurial choices lead his heart. They also led here, and to some venting at the sleeping Odin.

Frigga has posed:
The Queen can move silently when she wishes. She is not always attended by her ladies in waiting, nor is she always escorted by the palace guards. Days are filled with a great deal of activity, moreso in trying times than in peace. It is a peace, then, that is gained in those moments of quietude. It's something she shares with her son, or rather, a quality that her son shares with her.

Frigga feels the loss of presence of her husband beside her, and it gives her a certain bit of melancholy. That with the fact that a war rages beyond and Thor is amongst the missing doesn't do anything for her mood. She finds a particular bit of solace, however, visiting the chamber of the slumbering Odin, to speak of the day, of her fears of her hopes; al the good news of the palace, and how well their son is rising to the occasion.

The chamber door opens only enough to allow the slender queen entrance, her flat hand upon the side of the door, closing it once more. The *click* may be heard in the silence of the room, and there Frigga stands within, taking in the tableau the moment she espies her son beside his sleeping father.

"Loki." It's a single word, spoken softly, tinged with that affection that a mother has for her son, sharing in that moment of the three of them.. one of them just beyond their reach.

Loki has posed:
Loki automatically sits up straight. It's a quick flinch to having heard the approach of someone -- though it was rather delayed, considering. He could have adapted faster, or flung up illusion faster. But perhaps his subconscious is also not as immediately guarded around Frigga: or around this particular situation and this safe place.

Still, Loki's mask is sleek and appropriate: he tosses his head just a bit, which causes his hair to smoothly flip out of his face, and casts an overly slow and relaxed look over Odin's slumbering form, instead of whipping around to face Frigga. Loki's hard to catch off-balance, and he landed like a cat emotionally, just now. Loki's considered weak to many, but in some things, like this, he shows his adaptability and strength: to flex so quickly.

"Father is, as per usual, deciding to ignore my thoughts about current matters," Loki comments, offhandedly -- masking. But this is normal, too, with Odin in the room. Loki starts to rise, while turning to face Frigga. 'Lazy' is what he mouths, but there's no real force in it or real venom, as he's fully aware that is hardly the case. They both know it.

Frigga has posed:
Frigga watches Loki as he effectively checks himself as a cat that falls through the air at great height, landing upon his feet and making it appear as if it was meant all along. There is an unchanging grace to her features, that softness that speaks of her patience and forebearance to her son's ever shifting manner.

Her gaze slides towards the prone form of Odin in his sleep, and with a press of her lips, her hands come together before her in a self-soothing gesture and begins a cross towards the pair. "Sometimes I find it's the easiest time to offer counsel. Thing is, he can always deny he'd heard it and continue to do as he chooses." There is a hint of humor that underlies the gravity of 'Odin sleep'; it's a way that she copes.

"If he could speak in such a state, however, I think you might be surprised in his words." A hint of a smile brings a tip of the side of her mouth up.

Her path takes her to where he stands, and there, beside him, she glances first at his face, then down to her husband, and back to Loki once more. "How lies the head that wears that crown?" There is a silent question attached, 'Is it as you always dreamt it would be?'

Loki has posed:
Loki's shapeshifts are swift -- easy to miss if not ready for them. And he does one now. It isn't to show off magic with Frigga, though: that is never the purpose of magical use around Frigga. Instead, it's more used to punctuate a point, or display more of a thought or idea. Or perhaps an element of play. But here, Loki isn't in a play mood, so it's illustrative.

"It is a test, as all things are," Loki says with Odin-voice and visage. And immediately shifts back out of it, a ragged smirk flowing out, as he parts with the bed entirely... as if Odin might wake up and say something about Loki's little display. Though really, if it were that easy to wake or summon Odin, well. It would have been done far sooner. No, Odin has no idea. And perhaps that's worse.

"I am fine, mother," Loki says, with a touch of firmness in it. "though I think our people will need something to lift their spirits soon. I have directly decided not to entertain them, so as to be taken more ...seriously, in this time for close war."

Frigga has posed:
Frigga turns such that her legs rest lightly on the edge of Odin's resting place, her hands set before her, fingers laced and palms up. Brows rise as the visage of Odin appears before her upon where once the form and figure of Loki stood. It's there and gone, and her head cants, followed by a exhalation just short of a sigh.

Within heartbeats, however, her son is as he should be, his person restored to that which is appropriate, and there upon her face holds that perpetual patience she so has for her son. At his insistance, the first words that come, she lifts her head, searches his face, looks to his eyes before she nods ever so slightly. "I know you are," and the words are an affirmation of his own. "I had no fear that you would be otherwise." There is a pause before she adds a little softer, "There is no more difficult role to play. Caring not only for yourself, your family, but a world. Many worlds."

It's his next words that she pauses at, and Frigga studies him with a renewed interest, searching for that elusive something. "Our people undestand and need guidance in this time. They need to know and truly understand that there is care and concern for them, for their livelyhoods, their homes, for their sons and daughters." She was agreeing with him, however, and the weary Queen inclines her head. "You have given all of this consideration." It's not a question, but rather an affirmation, a recognition of his efforts thus far. And she's proud of him. "I am certain when the time is right, you will recognize the opportunity to do so and act upon it."

Loki has posed:
Loki uses that flippant, quick shapeshifting to distract, to pull attention away from himself, push people to think other things -- in this case, even to be a little off-balance or distracted... such that they aren't focused on that Loki may have had some emotional issue.

While Loki is close to his mother, of course, there's still a strong amount of 'posture' here, as he is currently holding the power of the kingship, as Regent Prince. He's felt that he cannot show weakness or anything other than that strong backbone to //anyone// for any reason. Perfection is required. Because any eye that saw otherwise might find some reason, some little speck of something, to pick at and cause rumors. Loki has too many skeptics to allow for any cracks.

"Eventually, if he continues this, I cannot continue the 'Regent' title," Loki says, then. It isn't excited, it isn't happy, it's ....fact, and he has a lot of mixed feelings around it. "I had expected this to be short." Loki pats one hand slowly along the edge of the window that he has now prowled over to. "But continuing to lack a King is not good for our people. Regardless of how /I/ feel about it."

Frigga has posed:
Frigga actually doesn't expect otherwise. While they may be mother and son, at least as far as she's concerned, she's also very much aware that it is the male heirs that reign. Not the queen, never the queen. So, while she may have that particular title and distinction, she is not the one that holds the reins. Currently, it is her son, and it is acknowledged in both manner and mien.

Looking back at the prone Odin, her expression turns softer, though there resides a decided concern there, easy to read. Her hand reaches out to her unmoving husband to touch his cool hand. "He will wake," Frigga reminds Loki ever so quietly. It could be a wish, however, put into the universe to have it come to pass.

She looks back at Loki and a soft noise exits her throat; not quite a laugh as there is no humor in it, watching his progress towards the window. Frigga looks beyond briefly at the sky beyond before her gaze moves back to her son, "I think our people understand that you are there in your Father's stead. That certainly can go far for good will."

Loki has posed:
"It isn't our people that is the issue I mentioned, not in the slightest, really," Loki answers. "Ours are... quite proper in giving the respect due to Regent," Loki continues. He hasn't had trouble getting what he's needed done -- at least, after the initial freeze that people had when Odin collapsed. There was certainly some force that had to be applied to the transition, as it jumped over Thor, and therefore surprised many.

But Loki forced that issue, and since, hasn't had a need, internally, to be 'King'... "It's the /others/, that may be wary to make deals with a Regent that could be temporary, instead of the king. That deals made with me or diplomacy could change. It's just added ... complexity to an already rough problem," Loki complains. He flutters his hands, the long piano fingers a flex of almost-magic in them, before he crosses his arms, and looks steadily upon Frigga.

"But until there is a direct reason, I don't want to shake it up, right now. As much as it pains me to lack chaos or change," Loki says, with a twinkle to his gaze. It is hard to not try new things, push things... doing so is very Loki.

Frigga has posed:
While Odin sleeps and yet lives, as does Frigga, the Queen isn't as worried about foreign affairs; at least not as keenly as her son. "You still have us behind your words. None will question you." Again, there falls that shadow.

She nods her head, her features turning a little more careworn as she looks back at the slumbering king; she has heard nothing in terms of news for Thor, and she does feel the loss of her son keenly. As any mother would. 'Complexity' is certainly the word for it.

"I do understand your position however, Loki."

It is coming time for her duties within the palace; certain things are expected of her, even in this time. There is that smile that is just for her son, one of gentle pride touched with a touch of humor at his jest. "We all must make sacrifices," is given in bemused advice. "Some more than others."

Loki has posed:
Loki watches Frigga thoughtfully, green eyes moving over Odin again -- with some anger, resentfulness - but then lacking those qualities as he again regards Frigga. He exits the window, perhaps sensing even a small shift in her demeanor to suggest that this talk is ended... at least for now. He crosses past her, with a touch to her forearm, a few fingers. Some would find that a threat, but never towards Frigga, and it certainly isn't one here.

"Let's let him continue his fitful nap," Loki determines. He isn't fronting now, this is a small window into that if Loki does just stop pretending, he CAN actually be a decent leader. It could be in him, though he's so caught up in perfection he blocks himself. "Do allow me to escort you to dinner," he queries, with a sleek but relaxed smile.

Frigga has posed:
The touch is welcomed; there is no threat from her son, nor can she imagine a day when there would be. Frigga sets her hand upon his, the returned touch brief but given with that fondness that she holds for him.

A nod, or more, an inclination of her head is given in the suggestion; it's time to leave these chambers. She'll return, undoubtedly, once her duties are completed, as will he, undoubtedly, as she'd interrupted the visit. The offer for dinner is both acknowledged and accepted graciously, lovingly with the warmth that is held for her son. "Yes, please. I'd like that."