Reversed Clock ⇒ w/ catalystrose

[catalystrose]

[The hands of the clock have spun backwards... Anyone near the clock tower in the modern era may feel a strange sensation...

❈❈❈

It's still the same old town of Blackgale. The Blackgale Clock Tower, however, seems to shine more brightly. The town is a bit quieter with a smaller population. The air has a thinner veil of mysteriousness than before.

The year is during the late 1990's. Not so long ago, but still a shadow, a memory in itself.

Inside the tower, there is a boy with soft features and leafy green hair sitting on the stairs with a few cats keeping him company. His eyes are a similar shade of leaf green and his clothing is casual and simple. He's waiting for someone to get out of school...

It's obvious there's something odd about this boy, hair and eyes aside. The atmosphere around him feels oppressively thick with something.

He sighs and immediately jumps as the clock strikes noon. He blinks looking at the large clock hands.]

That late already? But she won't be back yet...

Comments

[catalystrose]

Well...

It was lightning!

[allfatherissues]

Lightning?

[catalystrose]

Amelia said she messed up on a spell and the lightning aimed for me. As a result I finally woke up although I'm sure that wasn't supposed to happen.

[allfatherissues]

Ah, well. I imagine that was quite the interesting way to wake up. If there's one thing that wakes others from slumber, it's a good bolt of magic.

[catalystrose]

We were both really confused, me especially. I knew I was someone who was existing, but beyond that there wasn't really anything else to go on.

But now I'm here! I think things out turned out pretty well considering the circumstances. I've been able to learn a lot about the town and the outside. And I've been able to meet a lot of interesting people... like you!

[allfatherissues]

And I am certain that you will meet many more.

So you're Amelia's responsibility now?

[catalystrose]

I hope so. There's just so much to do and I want to see if I can gain more experiences.

Mm. She's the one who's been helping me adjust so to speak... ah, there's the house!

[Amelia's home looks unchanged, but the garden does not look quite as tamed. The flowers grow wildly and are vivid colors and the trees around the house cover the grounds with their branches almost sinisterly. In short, it looks more like a witch's house than it does in the future. The neglect to the garden's state adds to the atmosphere it seems.]

[allfatherissues]

[For Loki, who is well-acquainted with the way the house looks in the future, it's quite the change in atmosphere.

He approaches, looking over the flora with a critical eye.]

I see things grow as they will.

[catalystrose]

She thinks it would look too suspicious if she kept the garden neat especially since she and I are the only ones living here.

[He walks up to the door and Loki can probably notice that there's a green inscription around the doorknob, supposedly to keep intruders out if they try to mess with the lock.

Briar reaches into his pocket for a house key and unlocks it successfully, but the magic in the inscription... seeps into his skin by the looks of it. He winces, but is fine a few seconds later]

[allfatherissues]

[There's no way that Loki, attuned to magic as he is, does not see that. Does not sense that. An interesting reaction.]

What was that? The magic, you affected it somehow?

[catalystrose]

I... took the magic. Something along those lines... [He answers rather reluctantly.]

[allfatherissues]

[That doesn't seem to deter Loki.]

You absorbed it, then.

[That would always explain why Loki could feel an essence of magic radiating off of him -- off of the rose -- in the future.]

[catalystrose]

[Briar's eyes flicker with some concern, but he nods. The door is opened and he enters the house without another word.

The house... looks quite neat actually! There aren't as many books stacked up against the wall like in the future. It's as if someone took the time to clean up the general living room area. There aren't any wind chimes on the ceiling, save for one. It's a pretty glass one that tinkles normally making a pleasant sound]

Well, here's the house. Do you want anything to drink Loki?

[allfatherissues]

[A point of contention, then, he wonders? Loki does not question it further, but quietly files the information away at the back of his mind, to be used for later.

For now, he enters the house and takes in the differences. It's surprisingly neat, though he somehow preferred it when there was more than one wind chime.

He just looks up at the single one hanging above.]

No, thank you. I'm fine for now.

[catalystrose]

Okay, if you say so. It probably won't be too long until she comes back.

[Of course he notices Loki looking at the wind chime]

Do you like it? I bought that one for her. Oh, do they have wind chimes in Asgard?

[allfatherissues]

It's very... quaint. [Compared to the decorative nature of Asgard, everything is quaint on Earth.] But it is lovely, glittering the way it does.

I am certain there are those who possess such items in Asgard -- however, I'm also certain none hang from the palace's ceilings.

[catalystrose]

I'm thinking I'll collect more someday. The house seems so empty sometimes with just the two of us.

Do you want to take one back with you?

[allfatherissues]

It would be quite the collection -- calming, perhaps, with the ringing in the air.

[He grins again, but this time it's slightly pained.] When I return to Asgard? That's not necessary.

[He won't be going back any time soon.]

[catalystrose]

If you're sure then.

[Briar... seems to finally notice that pained smile. Perhaps it's because he's been around Amelia all the time who basically inflicted pain on herself. The next question he asks is spoken in a hushed tone.]

... Do you want to go back?

[allfatherissues]

[Loki realizes that perhaps he's let a little too much shine through; he composes himself a little, standing straighter, regal.]

[Yes and no. It's a difficult thing to answer.] I do. But only when the time is right. And it is not, not yet.

Of course, I should worry more about returning to my own time first before even thinking of Asgard.

[catalystrose]

[Briar studies Loki's expression. REALLY studies him this time.

Amelia had always given him warnings about certain people, people would take advantage of others when it was convenient for them. But to him... maybe those kinds of people aren't always that way.

That isn't all there is to them.

Briar takes a seat at the round kitchen table looking thoughtfully at the clock.]

There's a lot you have to do before you go back huh?

... I hope you can find your way back then. I really mean it.

[allfatherissues]

There are many things that require sorting out; of both myself and others. It will take great time and effort, but there will be an end to it. [One way or another.]

[Loki realizes that Briar's last statement is the first time anyone has wished him anything of the sort. He hesitates, but then responds in kind.]

...Thank you. Perhaps your wish is enough to tip fate in my favour. We will see.

[catalystrose]

[Briar smiles gently. All that magic that seemed to engulf and define his whole being did not suit him.]

You're welcome.

TIMESKIP

[recluserose]

[An hour or three passes and school is finally out.

Amelia Steinbeck sighs and takes her backpack full of books and immediately heads on home-- well actually she stayed a few minutes to assist the teacher in grading papers, give math tips to a struggling classmate, and wipe the chalkboards. Most everyone who was familiar with Amelia had been surprised over the months about how the quiet, but snappish redhead had suddenly became... well, she was still far from pleasantly sociable, but her willingness to help out in school was an improvement. No one would say it aloud of course, but it seemed her 'relative' Briar had induced this change somehow. Strange.

But she didn't want to keep her housemate waiting. It was afternoon and the sun wouldn't stay in the sky forever. The young girl hurries home (she wouldn't use her magic in the daylight as long as people were around) taking shortcuts to her house and in no time at all she reaches her front door.

Something is off though. Amelia walks up to her door and pauses when she takes a closer look at the doorknob. The magic was gone and it meant Briar was home already. That was good, but... she couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling. She decides not to go through the front door and instead takes a roundabout route. The back to be exact-- and peers through the windows to see if he's inside the house.

... Well, there he was. Briar had his head resting on the table, napping peacefully without a care in the world. She lets out a sigh of relief--

Wait. Who's that???]

[allfatherissues]

[Though it had been several hours, Loki had remained patient; it was always a merit of his character to be so, and after all, what's three hours to a god that had lived over a thousand years?

The Aesir sits in a nearby chair, currently unaware that he's being watched. Not that it matters, as he's not doing anything of particular interest -- merely casting illusion spells (a showman's craft, nothing more, but still something to pass the time) with small gestures of his hands. Green, wisp-like energy forms in the space in front of him, creating various shapes -- snakes, palaces, lightning -- strange imagery seemingly disconnected.

(But connected enough if you know the man.)

The spells cast a light green glow in the room as they flicker and fluctuate, but that's the extent of anything exciting going on in the house.]