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

[allfatherissues]

[The flow of time forever beyond Loki's control -- for all of his gift with the art of sorcery, there are some things that he can never touch.

But he will always move with its whims, pulled along like a puppet on strings. And though his life has been full of long and eventful years, they have -- up until this point -- been completely linear.

Not today. He's gone back; he can feel it, ever so slightly, the way things are slightly illusive and barely surreal in ways even he cannot describe, despite his silver tongue.]

[So when Loki steps inside the clock tower, his footsteps overridden by the loud chimes of the clock itself, his eyes flit about trying to decide when and where he is.

It's then he feels the oddness around the stranger nearby -- for someone so attuned to magic, to strangeness and all things not-quite-right in the supernatural sense, it wouldn't be missed. Loki approaches. Perhaps he can garner some answers.

But first, of course, a greeting:]

Afternoon.

[catalystrose]

[The boy blinks and stands up. The cats slip away behind him, but never taking their eyes off of him and the stranger.

People didn't come up to the clock tower often except during the day, but the entrance into the interior was always closed at 9 PM. He had been told by his caretaker that there was an invisible force of sorts, one that she didn't understand and felt quite uneasy around at times.

He liked it up here though. It was a nice place to wait and get lost in thought and sometimes at every hour a tune would play instead of the usual ringing. It also felt safe in an odd way. But the apperance of this stranger... was he dangerous? The boy gazed at him curiously, but he nods at Loki politely.]

Hello. I didn't know anyone else would be coming up here today.

[allfatherissues]

[Loki merely nods in return -- he does not feel threatened by the current situation he finds himself in, but he is obviously cautious. He wonders if magic is at play, or if something else altogether is moving Fate's hand this day.]

[He steps forward, composure intact. The composure and movement of a prince.]

To be honest, I did not fully plan to. I find myself completely disoriented, as it were.

[catalystrose]

Dis... orient... [He pores over the word and then lights up when he figures out its meaning]

Ah, I remember what that means now. But then that means you're not someone who lives in this town at all.

Do you need help? [He seems very sincere and earnest]

I'm not sure how I could help, but I've been around most of the town already so if you need directions...?

[allfatherissues]

You're right -- I suppose you could say I'm only visiting, though I would prefer to know how I arrived.

[The sincerity of the boy's words is not lost on him, and Loki crosses his arms a little in response.]

If you would be so kind as to tell me the details of when and where I happen to be?

[catalystrose]

How??

As for when and where... well, the clock just struck noon and we're both inside the Blackgale Clock Tower.

HA, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO REMIND ME

[allfatherissues]

Yes. How. [Loki repeats himself, his mind churning.] This is not my time -- I can feel it.

Rather, it would be more prudent for me to ask what Earth year this happens to be.

[catalystrose]

[REMINDER]

... [The realization dawns upon him and he gives a serious look to the Norse god]

It's 1996.

As for how you're here, I don't know if I'm the right person to ask. All I know is that this place is very old and that there are times you shouldn't be here because of... magic.

[A pause and he smiles gently at Loki]

There's someone I know who can help though.

[allfatherissues]

[LOKI DOES NOT REQUIRE SUCH A HARSH REMINDER FROM HIMSELF]

[Loki appraises the boy quietly before responding.]

If this is due to magic, it is of a nature that escapes even myself. And though the idea of remaining a few years behind my own time may be appealing at first, I have no doubt that it may become... tedious.

If you would be so kind to aid me? I would indeed be grateful.

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.]

[recluserose]

[Okay. So.

Briar is in the house alone with a strange man whose magic that also has a similar green glow to it. He's sleeping, but, no wait, who the hell is this man and why is he in her house.

Normally, Amelia would take a leaf from her mentor's book-- if you face the unknown, you should approach cautiously. But when it came to Briar, Amelia had the immediate instinct to act quickly instead of reasonably.

In a split second a girl appears in front of Loki blocking Briar from his view and disrupting his illusions. There is a fiery gaze in her green eyes as she stares Loki down through her glasses. Magic energy crackles around her-- it's more wild, but still in control (but not as potent somehow).

The first words that come out of her mouth are:]

Explain yourself.

Now.

[allfatherissues]

[Suddenly there's a familiar face in front of Loki, dispersing his illusion magic like smoke and brimming with magical energy herself.

Hello there, Amelia, he thinks to himself, and merely offers her a smile in the face of her warning. Despite her glaring, Loki does not seem to be terribly concerned about the threat of her magic.

A familiar flicker of mischief sparks in his eyes (though it would still be foreign to her), and he offers her a smile, still seated.]

That's no way to greet a guest. Manners, manners.

[recluserose]

[That smile and the look in his eyes is off putting and she immediately thinks of her mentor. Conclusion: she doesn't like it.]

You're not my guest. I don't allow just anyone to enter my home. So explain yourself or I'll make you.

[At least Briar was napping deeply, enough not to notice Amelia's presence and her disruptive entrance.]

[allfatherissues]

[You'll make him? He raises a brow at that and actually chuckles a little.]

I would actually like to see that, if you don't mind too terribly.

[Yes he's being difficult, and yes he's teasing her.]

[recluserose]

[And that just goads her into forming the magic energy in her hand into a dagger and throwing it at the god. It's very quick and thorough spellcasting, but...]

[allfatherissues]

[Magical daggers? Loki is nearly surprised at the similarities they share when it comes to their preferences.

However, he isn't too surprised about the dagger flying at him. He could feel that magic forming, after all -- and he raises a hand, stopping it mid-air and still fully formed.]

Quick with your spellcraft and very talented. [He clenches his raised hand into a fist and the dagger shatters in magical splinters, then dissipates altogether.]

But still some improvement to be had.

Not too long after...

[catalystrose]

[After the lengthy conversation, Amelia had Briar caught up on what was to be done that evening. For now, she needed to immerse herself in some needed review so it was just him and the God of Mischief again.

Briar seems to be quite at ease with Loki, or rather, he was just at ease no matter where, when, and what. After Amelia retires to her library, Briar goes to the kitchen to make some tea]

Are you sure you don't want anything to drink...?

[allfatherissues]

[Loki's attention is wrought from the window, where his thoughts are his own (as they often are). He had remained quiet for the majority of the time up until now, but he turns his head to look in the direction of Briar's voice.]

Ever the diligent host. I suppose I may accept a drink, if you have one to offer.

[catalystrose]

[Briar takes out some of the nicer tea cups (Amelia was still collecting rare items it seems and that would include elegant cups of course) and starts making the tea]

Since you're going to leave tonight this would be our last chance to do this together. Might as well take the opportunity right?

[allfatherissues]

[Loki smiles faintly at the prospect, leaning forward in his seat and resting his elbows neatly on his knees.]

Yes, I suppose so. An opportunity wasted is a terrible thing.

[catalystrose]

I hope Amelia wasn't... harsh to you when she came home? I should have woken up sooner.

[allfatherissues]

She has something of a cool nature, but that's hardly anything that I am not already accustomed to. I would not call her harsh.

[catalystrose]

Oh! Is that so?

Do you like her then? [YEAH...]

[allfatherissues]

[He laughs slightly at the question, surprised.] Like her?