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]

[Loki reaches out to clasp his hand in the boy's, when the latter's declaration of his name gives him pause.]

[There's a moment of silence that passes, and a cool but curious assessment from Loki before he speaks.]

Briar, you said?

[Well, the boy did mention that this was Blackgale...]

[catalystrose]

[Briar gives a firm and friendly handshake before pulling his hand away. He chuckles a bit at Loki's inquiry]

It's not a common name is it? But yes, it's Briar. It kind of just stuck after a while.

[allfatherissues]

I see -- it's a fine name, I believe. [Suddenly the situation became much more complex than Loki initially imagined, and suddenly he's not in a terrible hurry to leave.

He places his hands behind his back and offers Briar an appraising smile.]

In any case, my name is Loki.

[catalystrose]

Loki huh? That's an interesting name too. [And starting down the stairs. The cats that were with him have gone on their way]

I guess we can go wait at her house while we're at it... oh, I didn't mention who was going to help us did I?

[allfatherissues]

[Loki follows, calmly, watching Briar as he follows him down the steps.

(He needn't look at his feet. He walked so many steps at the Asgardian Palace that he could do it in his sleep.)]

You didn't, actually, but I might imagine that they're fairly powerful?

[catalystrose]

You'd be right about that!

She's a witch named Amelia. She knows a LOT about magic. [Oops before he forgets!]

It's supposed to be a secret though, but since you know about magic, it should be okay. Amelia might get grumpy when she finds out I told you so easily though...

[allfatherissues]

[Then it was as he thought -- of course it was. How strange fate often treated him. Often it was not in very nice ways, but for some reason this situation intrigues him.

Should he merely play along, then? Perhaps he will.]

I have no doubt she'll understand -- besides, I am not one to go about exposing the existence of magic to the mortal world. You need not worry.

[catalystrose]

[They make it outside the tower and are met with wonderful California weather. Blue sky, a warm sun, and not a cloud in the sky. Next stop, it's Miss Steinbeck's house.

Briar seems to want to keep up the amiable conversation]

So Loki... where are you originally from if you don't mind me asking?

[allfatherissues]

[Loki has no qualms about amiable conversation; he's quite talented in the art of it, after all.]

I do not mind at all. I come from Asgard.

[catalystrose]

What was it like if you don't mind me asking?

[allfatherissues]

[Loki laughs a little.]

Well... where to begin? The differences were great. It was a land where magic and technology intertwined, a land of warriors and golden buildings.

Most on Midgard would be surprised to hear someone claim they're from Asgard, however. You don't seem to be.

[catalystrose]

I think there was a book that mentioned Asgard, but I can't say I'm familiar with it at all so...

But I am kind of impressed. Asgard sounds like a beautiful place.

[allfatherissues]

It is. [If there's a hint of something more than just appreciation for Asgard in his tone, Loki hides it well.]

[catalystrose]

[He's way too trusting to detect that hint especially if it's from the God of Mischief]

I don't remember where I came from. I just remember sleeping for a long, long time before ending up here.

[allfatherissues]

[Loki has a feeling that this might be a familiar story, but it's interesting to hear it from the source.]

Is that so? Did something wake you?

[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?