Memories
Some months ago, Scarlett was living a life without her powers, or any memory involving them. Something brought her to the old Stark Tower, however, where she ran into Loki ( @bifrostedflake.) That’s when things got weird.
S: -It wasn’t often that she got out like this. Between all her responsibilities at work and helping Maggie out with her quickly growing business, she didn’t have much time to herself. With her birthday around the corner, she could easily justify a small weekend getaway. No work, no Maggie, no kids, she fully intended on pampering herself.
At least, she hoped she would be. Lost in her thoughts, she must have actually gotten lost. Blinking, she turned her gaze up, up, up the side of the tall tower before her and crinkled her brow in confusion. How on Earth had she ended up at the Stark Tower? It was in the opposite direction of where she was supposed to be heading. She thought it was anyway… That’s what she got for daydreaming about the cute bellhop at the hotel.
Perplexed, she nearly reached into her pocket to check her phone’s GPS, but quickly remembered that her phone had died. Someone had to know where she was, and hopefully they could give her an idea of where she was supposed to be heading.-
“Excuse me!” she called after a nearby woman she had caught out of the corner of her eye. “Excuse me, could I ask you for your help with something? I seem to be a little turned around.”
F: -Things have really been looking up for the trickster these days, and in a variety of unexpected ways, just as an agent of change liked it. She purchased the tower on a whim and now all of the wonderful little secrets it held belonged to her.
Coming out of the building Loki paused to lock it's doors and then danced down the stairs to the sidewalk, the skip in her step reflecting her eagerness to see Atros. One day she'd like to bring him here. Her train of thought began to elaborate on that when a familiar voice called out to her. For a split second it was easy to forget what Maggie advised her and she turned to greet Scarlet with enthusiasm.- "Scarlett!" -She even ran up to throw her arms around her.-
S: -Freezing as the dark-haired stranger threw her arms around her, Scar's mind went racing. Her sister always did say she had a weird talent for running into someone she knew, wherever she went, but as far as she knew, she had no idea who this woman was. Granted, her memory wasn't the most reliable, but she was positive she'd never forget a face this pretty. But... She knew her by name somehow.- "Oh! Hi-- You... How are you?"
F: -If there was anyone Loki wanted to talk about a baby with it's Scar, but her enthusiasm faded once she heard the tone of her voice and she let go and stepped back.- "Oh I'm--terribly sorry." -This is a little awkward.- "You probably don't recognize me like this, it's Loki. Remember me?" -She hoped the name is enough but just in case she pulls out her phone and steps beside Scar to shows off some selfies of himself, swiping past a few with Atros.-
S: -Maintaining a polite (if not slightly forced) smile, her eyes dart from the screen of Loki's phone, to Loki's face, and back to the screen several times. Loki... Where did she know a Loki from? And how on Earth did she manage to look so different in her photos? She ventured a guess at maybe surgery? Makeup? From the looks of her friend with the long, red wig, she may have been into cosplay. Did she cosplay?- "I--" -She pauses and heaves a sigh.- "I'm sorry, I've got such a lousy memory. Where did we meet?"
F: -Thinks back on it, looking for something she might recall and pulls up a photo of Thor.- "Maybe you recall my brother? We met after you met him." -If photos didn't work she could certainly think of other ways to jog Scar's memory.-
S: -Zeroing in on Thor, she feels a slight tingle run through her spine and she subconsciously reaches up to brush her fingers over her shoulder. There's a spark of recognition, but only for the briefest, fraction of a second.- "Alright, now I'm really wishing I could remember." -She laughs to mask her embarrassment. This wasn't the first time this had happened to her, but usually she could recall something of a person if they really did know her, like this woman seemed to. But there was nothing.-
F: "Awww well that's alright, I've been such a bother and you asked for some help." -She slips the phone into her pocket and appears apologetic.- "So what was it I can help you with? If you're lost, I can certainly provide you with some direction.”
S: "You really haven't been a bother. I just feel terrible that I'm having such a hard time remembering where we met." -This whole time she's been wracking her brain, trying to find something. It can't be a coincidence that she somehow wandered to Stark Tower and bumped into someone who seems to know her. Taking another good look at Loki's face, she has this feeling-- an ache almost-- that she really does know her.- "I um... I'm just trying to get back to my hotel. If I can just find Madison avenue from her, I'll be able to get back no problem." -Without realizing it, her focus intensifies and she almost has it. Loki, the tower, the man with the red hair... Thor? Biting back a gasp, there's a sudden twinge of pain that flares up in her head. Whatever came to her is long gone now.-
F: "The difference between streets and avenues is very critical in this town. It's a grid but it's so confusing isn't it?" -Watching her strain to remember, Loki offers to show her a map on her phone and directs her to have a look at while she raises a hand. Gently Loki places it to the side of Scar's head and gingerly attempts to pull forth anything she can. Barely a few seconds in and a red fiery spark envelopes the trickster's hand. Startled, she withdraws and the moment she does it tears at something in Scar's mind. The seams holding back years of repressed memories pop and begin to unravel, but it feels like a hammer has been taken to her skull. Crackling magic and a painful jolt race up through Loki's arm and then back down, sending out a blast of energy from her palm faster than either of them could react. She stumbles back, grabbing her wrist, rattled and confused. It takes her a moment to realize that blast hit Scar.-
S: -For the first time in months, her dormant powers surface. Unwittingly, Loki has tapped into a well of chaos magic that has sat brewing, waiting to be released. All the barriers and false memories she had willed into place buckle and split apart as the energy begins to rush to the surface, like a volcano moments before it erupts. Amidst all this, there's something else there, cracking under the immense pressure. It hasn't been there long, but it has sat unnoticed in a deep corner of her mind. The dark magic maintains its hold, for now, but given time, it just may shatter. Though, as the hex moves through Loki's arm, it backfires and sends Scar sprawling onto the sidewalk, limp and unresponsive.-
F: -A sharp smell hangs in the air as the crackling magic fades and Loki wrinkles her nose, her fingers flexing, arm still in pain. It's nothing she won't get over, she thinks anyway, but then she notices Scar.- "Oh shit." -A few cars have begun to slow, windows rolling down. People along sidewalks have already begun to stare, phones in the air. None of this went the way Loki thought it would.- "Par for the course." -She mutters and kneels over Scar's body. She attempts to cast a spell to shield them from view but it's not quite working and as she continues trying she begins to feel queasy. This is just getting worse and now she's nervous about the baby. Calmly she pulls out her phone and sends a text.-
[@Atros] Need a little help. How fast can you meet me at the old Stark tower?
A: [@Loki] I can be there in just a couple minutes. Is everything okay?
-Atros doesn't even wait for a response to get moving. With little more than a snap of his fingers, he's out of his lounge clothes and in a sharp suit. He could have been at the tower instantly, but at some point, Maggie must have disrupted the portal he had there before she vacated the tower. That was something he was going to have to remedy while he was there.-
F: [@Atros] Nnnoooo. Not especially.
-Checks Scar to make sure she's breathing and considers taking her into the tower. Though, while people are looking this is not ideal and she'd rather not draw M5's attention if she can avoid it. She grimaces, knowing there is really no one to blame for this right now but herself. Carefully she reaches under Scar and picks her up with ease, but as she's doing that people are crowding around to ask if the woman is alright. She's reassuring them everything is fine, but the pain she's feeling in her arm and the increased nausea are more than a little distracting.-
A: -Reading Loki's latest text he frowns. He had planned on teleporting someplace a little more discreet, but now he's worried. With enough forethought to at least activate his glamour, he suddenly appears on the edge of the gathering crowd. Without any hesitation, he pushes his way through and puts a good bit of energy into a persuasion charm.- "All right, everyone go about your business. There's nothing to see here. Leave us be." -As soon as the "suggestion" leaves his lips, he freezes, his eyes locked on the unconscious Scarlett. Shit.-
F: -Awkwardly waves and offers a crooked grin.-
A: -As the last few onlookers shamble away, he moves to help Loki support Scar, his brows furrowed.- "What happened? What's she doing here?"
F: -Now Loki has to ask herself a very important question. "What would Machi do?" And then decide if she was going to follow through on that. Lie to him? That would be the norm, but the little warrior made enough of impact that she actually hesitates to say and stops herself from choosing among the first ten things that came to mind. All of them lies.- "She was lost and didn't remember me. I--" -Pauses-"Tried to help?"
A: -A surge of panic runs through him, dropping his heart into the deepest pit of his stomach. His spell. Had it broken? Did Loki notice it? He had to check on it, but it was neither the best time, nor place. Outwardly, he maintained his cool and tried to make light of it.- "What did you do? Club her over the head?"
F: "More like blew her up?" -Manages a small shrug while holding her.- "Remember when I pulled up some of your memories? Welllllll it didn't really go as smoothly as that did."
A: -That doesn't bode well for him.- "Oh hell... So what do you want to do with her?"
F: -She looks down at Scarlet with a hint of an apology in her eyes and deeply sighs.- “I want to take her somewhere safe and make sure she’s alright.” -Briefly glances back to the tower. Her brows knit in concern and then she turns her gaze back to Atros.- “We’ll take her to our place.”
A: -Pressing his lips into a thin line, he mentally weighs the pros and cons. If they take her back to his place and he can sneak a moment alone with her, he can check on the memory loss spell he put on her to make sure it's still there. But if she wakes up and remembers anything about him, things will get ugly regardless.- "Fine. But as soon as we know she's okay, she's gone."
F: -Through the waning pain and nausea it finally registered how uncomfortable he is and she began to pay closer attention to him.- "Alriiight..." -She could discern that look on his face and she moves closer to him with a little bit of a saunter in her hips.- "I'll leave the trip back up to you. I can't do it." -Her eyes narrow slightly. A question is lingering on her tongue, but she'll wait until they're home.-
A: "Of course." -He says, already making his way to a spot where they can pop back home unnoticed, with Scar in his arms. Everything about this has his sense of self-preservation screaming in protest. Hyper-aware of every little move, expression and gesture, it doesn't take much to deduce that Loki has picked up on some little tell that he must have been giving off. He just needs to keep on playing his cards right, and hopefully, he'll make it out unscathed.-
F: -Once they're home she clears some books from the couch and moves aside to allow him to lay Scarlett there. As he does, she leaves the room to gather a pair of healing stones. One for herself, and one for Scarlett and she's gone for a few minutes, but that question is still on her mind.-
A: -The moment she leaves the room, he rushes over and places his hands on either side of Scar's head. Heart thumping furiously in his chest, he focuses in on her mind, trying to find evidence that his spell is there, while simultaneously trying to avoid another hex bolt explosion. Even unconscious, he can feel her fighting against him, trying to kick him out. The last time he tried to get inside her head, he wound up needing the assistance of a rare, mystical artifact which she still managed to fight through. With some struggling, he manages to locate the spell and a small, luminescent sigil appears on her forehead. It's weak. It'll hold another year at least. Maybe two at most. He's tempted to try and strengthen it, but he's already spent too long on this. Releasing his hold on her, he quickly settles into the armchair adjacent to the sofa before Loki returns.-
F: -When she returns to the room her head tilts a little bit to one side and she breathes in a soft breath, exhaling it quietly. She doesn't look directly at him and elects to keep some distance between them while she focuses on Scar and kneels beside the couch. Carefully, she holds a small greyish green stone inscribed with a glowing rune to Scarlett's head.- "Comfortable over there?" -She asks, side eyeing him-
A: "Oh, very." -He tries to appear disinterested, but the nervous bouncing of his knee gives him away. He's relieved that his spell isn't in any sort of immediate danger of dissolving, but now he has to worry about what happens when the witch wakes up.-
F: -Holding the stone in place, she turns towards him, raising her brows.- "Is there something you care to tell me?"
A: -He looks a little stunned for a moment. Had he been caught in the act? There's a part of him that feels that Loki might understand, but his nerves get the better of him. Loki can't know about what happened.- "It's just--" -He sighs and leans forward in his seat, running his hands through his hair.- "I don't think she's going to be particularly happy to see me when she wakes up..."
F: "Fair enough." -That's enough of answer for her and she shrugs at that.- "We don't have to let her wake up here." -Checks the stone to see if it's dimmed any yet.- "Once she starts to stir, you could drop us both off at Madison. I can talk my way out of it from there."
A: -Oh, her response is like sweet music to his ears. Breathing an internal sigh of relief, he nods.- "I would be more than happy to do that." -And after all the energy he had used up in such a short period, he might come right back for a nap after.-
F: -Wags a finger at him.- "That doesn't mean I don't want to know what happened between you two." -The stone dims after a few minutes, the magical energy infused within it used up. Leaning away she lies flat on her back on the floor and exhales a relieved sigh.- "I thought I'd killed her."
A: "Oh she's a tough, old thing. You'd have to try much harder than that to keep her down." -He snorts, definitely speaking from experience. Though, if she kept popping up like this at such inopportune times, he might just have to give it another try.-
F: "I can think of a few people I feel similarly about." -Shoots him a look, but she's smiling.-
A: -Now that got a laugh from him.- "Yes, I suppose that can be said about many of the people we interact with."
F: -Her brows crease with worry and she rubs her belly.- “I think I might have M5 take a quick look at me after this is over.” -Looks up at him with concern.- “Will you be fine here while I do that?”
A: -And now he's panicking all over again.- "Why, are you alright? You weren't hurt, were you?"
F: “A little bit.” -Peeks at Scar to make sure she’s still out.- “I’ve been feeling nauseous ever since that red energy tore through my arm.”
A: -It sounds like it could maybe just be morning sickness, but if something really were wrong, he'd never forgive himself if he discouraged her from getting checked out. Especially since Scarlett was involved.- "You know what? Why don't you just go now? I'll make sure she's taken care of, and you can see if there's anything we should be concerned about."
F: “No no, I’m probably worrying needlessly and I would rather get her off your hands since you did say, and I quote, as soon as we know she’s okay, she’s gone.” -Sits up and leans over the other woman, examining her.-
A: -Jaw clenched, he mentally curses. This whole day has just gone sideways, hasn't it? But by some miracle, he watches as Scar's brow furrows and her fingers slowly begin to curl at her sides.- "What timing." -He mutters, mildly amused.-
F: -Loki at least looks pleased- “Perfect, I should take her now.” -She slowly takes Scar into her arms and stands up.- “Ready to send us off?”
A: -He's on his feet, lingering perhaps a little too close. He knows she's more than strong enough and perfectly capable of carrying her but, he's still nervous.- "Yes, but promise me you'll see M5 right away." -He doesn't like the thought of not coming along with her either, but she's had enough stress for one day. -
F: “I promise.” -She thought leaving him behind would give him a chance to relax but it seems like he may not do that, so she nudges him gently- “I was trying to give you a break, but If you’re that worried about me, you could come along and linger somewhere nearby until I send her off.” -Offers him a small smile- “This is your baby too.”
A: "Oh, thank god, yes!" -He groans, his posture relaxing melodramatically.- "Let's get this done quickly then. I'm losing my mind." -Then with a pop, the odd trio finds themselves on Madison Avenue, completely unnoticed by passersby.- "I'm just going to duck into this shop for a minute. Good luck."
F: -Spies a cafe and rushes over to an empty table at the outside seating area and promptly, yet carefully, arranges Scarlett neatly in a chair. She folds her arms on the table and lays her head against them, then takes a seat across from her. With a small twist of her wrist a pair of drinks appear before them. Inside the cafe, someone just lost their drink order and they're very confused after having been called to the counter to pick it up.-
S: -The first thing she's aware of is the cool, humid air against her skin. Soon after, there's a flood of ambient noise that sounds like she's submerged underwater. Then all at once, her eyes are open and everything comes rushing back with crystal clarity and she gasps. Nearly falling out of her seat, she grips the edge of the table, staring wide-eyed at Loki- "What the hell just happened?"
F: "Oh dear, are you alright?" -Leaning forward she rests an arm on the table and one on Scar's shoulder.- "Do you remember anything?" -She appears to be so very concerned.-
S: -There's still some things mixed up between her real memories, and some of the false memories that her powers had spawned, but it's all there. Including a rather vivid dream.- "REMEMBER?!" -Suddenly aware that they're still in a very public place, and screeching like that tends to startle people and draw attention, she shrinks into her seat, her face burning red.- "Oh I remember everything now. And then some." -She hisses, her eyes narrowed.- "You're fucking Atros!?"
F: -It takes an extreme amount of effort to remain calm over this unexpected outburst and she withdraws her hand from her shoulder immediately. Questions burned in her mind. Did she hear them back at the house? How did she know? Her eyelids flutter and in her panic the word no slipped past her lips in a questioning, manner. She's fast losing her cool and gives the fuming woman a crooked grin, shrugging her shoulders, nervously laughing. The jig is up.- "Wow, go off! Aha! I hoped you'd remember something but well, this is unexpected!" -In her mind she's throwing the drink at Scar and running the fuck away from this situation. She gestures all around.- "I got you to Madison!" -Cringes-
S: -Clenching her jaw, she draws in a deep breath through her nose and does her best to calm down. While she's got a whole assortment of feelings over getting her memories and powers back, Loki was indeed trying to be helpful. Neither of them could have known that things would turn out like this.- "Thank you." -She manages, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.-
F: -Unsure what her next move would be, she quits cringing when Scarlett simply shifts uncomfortably. Loki sinks into her own seat, grabbing for the drink in front of her for some comfort.- "I was fairly certain you were asleep when I was speaking with him. I guess you must have heard all of that hmm?" -Takes a sip and scrunches her nose. This is not sweet. In fact, it's a bitter cup of espresso and she sets it back down with a frown.-
S: -She opens her mouth to correct her, but she hesitates. Maybe telling Loki that the Queen of Nightmares has been spying on everyone and feeding her intel isn't the right move.- "I was barely conscious enough to, but yeah, I heard." -Eyeing the drink that's been put in front of her, she doesn't dare pick it up. Especially after Loki's reaction to her drink.- "Though I'm guessing at least one person has told you how absolutely insane that is, right?"
F: "I think I prefer the morning sickness over the near constant stream of complaints." -Breathes out a heavy sigh and crosses her arms.- "So...what happened to suppress your memories? No one has really been able to tell me anything about that."
S: "I happened." -She says simply, bouncing her shoulders with a shrug.- "Unintentionally, but it was me."
F: "Oooh...so you never meant to cover up the past?" -Leans forward somewhat with a mixture of concern and curiosity- For that matter, is your head alright? I never meant to undo so much so quickly. I simply wanted you to remember me."
S: "It's... Surprisingly fine." -Her brows knit in confusion. A hit like that, she would have expected a migraine to rival any other she'd ever had before.- "I'll probably feel it tomorrow though."
F: “Probably.” -That’s interesting to Loki. Damn good healing stone she concludes and in Scar’s brief confusion she steals a quick glance at the shop Atros went into, then refocuses on Scar.- “What in the middle worlds were you trying to do to yourself before you accidentally sealed your own memories away?”
S: -Biting her bottom lip, she drums her fingers on the table and takes herself back to the moment it happened. It was so odd being able to recall things so readily again.- "You know, the funny thing with my powers is sometimes it takes everything I have to do something as simple as keeping myself airborne and other times, it takes no more than a thought to overturn a bus full of high schoolers because I was upset with one of the people on it." -Not that she had done that. Nope. Certainly not.- "I was having a bad day and wished that I'd never gotten these powers in the first place, and that was that. It was just like I never had them."
F: -Loki understood what it was like to have days like that and It was easy to imagine Atros being a factor in all of this. She recalled him using Scar as leverage during their own fight and for a moment Loki did feel a little bit of guilt creep over her and it settled in her stomach. Her arms were crossed, but she shifts them just enough to hug herself, shoulders slumping a little.- "Do you wish they'd never returned?" -She asks quietly.-
S: "Yes?" -She sighs.- "No... It's complicated." -A spark of red light dances around her finger as she rolls her wrist, and in turn the drink in front of her begins to swirl.- "If it were just me I had to worry about, I don't think this would have happened in the first place."
F: -There’s some fascination playing in her eyes as she watches Scar easily tap into her long repressed power.- “If I could fix this for you, make it seem like this night never happened would you want me to?” -Not that she would be the one to do it. She’d ask OL for a favor he owes.-
S: -Shaking her head, she straightens up a little, her posture stiff and her gaze fixed on the table.- "Don't bother. It's better I hang onto my memories. As unpleasant as some of them are."
F: -The knot in her gut reminds her it’s still there, twisting, churning and amplifying the nausea she’s feeling. She shifts in her chair, looking more uncomfortable. “I would offer to lend you more of an ear should you want someone to talk to, but—“ -Pauses, looking towards the shop- “—I can’t imagine you’d want to speak with me more considering the company I keep.”
S: -That's the second time Loki's focus has shifted that direction and Scar has taken notice. However, when she looks, she can't seem to figure out what it is she's looking at exactly. It doesn't take a world-class detective to figure it out though. Tensing up, right along with the tight feeling in her chest, she digs her nails into the palm of her hand. Of course Atros would be nearby. Watching. Waiting to be damage control.- "Maybe if things were different, I would." -Turning her amber eyes on Loki, there's a quiet fury smoldering behind them that may very were bore a hole in her if looks could kill.- "But you're right. I never know who else might be otherwise listening in."
F: -Refocusing her attention, her eyes meet Scar's and she can almost feel the seething flames behind them and Loki cannot help herself. She feels an old familiar feeling and has to hold back a very specific smile threatening to spread on her lips. A smug and challenging smile. It tugs up one corner, but she pushes it down and keep her expression neutral, but the tone in her voice couldn't entirely mask how pleased she was with herself for sticking with Atros.- "You never do." -She shifts in her chair and looks like she's about ready to stand up.- "I do hate to dine and dash, but I should probably be going." -She thinks she's probably left him waiting long enough.-
S: "Wouldn't want to keep daddy waiting, would we?" -The word is like poison in her mouth, and even used mockingly, it sends a shudder rippling through her body.- "Give him a hearty 'fuck you' from me."
F: -She'd begun to stand, even push her chair in, but the comment has her turning her head slowly towards Scar. She stares at her with an impassive expression, the quietness in her eyes is unsettling, but slowly they narrow and a smile, sickly sweetly, stretches her lips.- "I'll give him a hearty "fuck" on your behalf." -Pushes her chair in noisily and holds her head high as she saunters away from the cafe.-
S: -Bristling, she watches Loki leave and grinds her teeth. There's a brief crackling of energy at her fingertips, but she manages to reign in her powers at the cost of a rather sudden migraine. Wincing, she gets to her feet and stalks off in the opposite direction, only slowing when she notices a slow, steady trickle of blood running from her nose. She's going to have to cut her trip short it seems.-
A: -Meanwhile, Atros waits until Loki approaches the shop before greeting her just outside.- "So, how did it go?"
F: -If Scar is watching, she runs up and throws her arms around Atros and gives him a long heated kiss, breaking it only to give him an answer and position herself to be able to pointedly glance back at the cafe.- “Like everyone else, she wholeheartedly approves and supports our union.”
A: -Breathless, and a little dazed, he chuckles.- "That well, huh? I'm shocked." -As much as he would like to revel in the small victory she's given him, he's still anxious to get her checked out. Pressing his forehead to hers, he gently nuzzles the end of her nose with his.- "Now that's over with, what do you say we go pay M5 a visit?"
