Gallows' Burden

Despite his connections with a certain wolf, canines had always been one of Odin’s favorite animals. Strong, loyal, hard-working and admittedly very cute. They’re the perfect little killing machines, really. It was hard holding back a chuckle watching the happy-go-lucky hounds circle around their exhausted master. He couldn’t resist petting a hound or two, but her suggestion finally pulls his attention away. 

“Thank you Sadhbh, I’d be honored to. How I do it might be a bit different to what they’re accustomed to, but you have my word I will look after them. What do you two think about some friends joining a hunt? Think you can share and behave?”

In the midst of the dogs running about, two large wolves materialize by the caster’s side. They stay close to their master, curiously watching the flurry of new canine companions. There’s a few cautious nips and sniffs, but nothing aggressive or antagonistic. Soon enough, the infectious excitement spread to the pair and they join in on the fray of supernatural good boys.

“Merry Chris--”

“Happy Mōdraniht.....Look, do you want to miss the sales from the Disting with me or not? I’ll pay. Partially.” 

One of the initial reasons why the Aesir begrudgingly accepted Loki, despite his prior affiliation with the Jotnar, is because he became blood-brothers with Odin. Family bonds, even adopted ones, are considered some of the most sacred bonds you cannot break. To kill a family member or sibling is a great misdeed. 

So even with Loki’s shenanigans, no one could really do anything about it because of his relation to Odin. Add to that, Loki was also pretty useful in solving problems and acting as a scapegoat. Aside from the torture, one of the reasons why they didn’t outright execute Loki for his crimes ties back to that as well.

“So what’s the oath yer gonna make this year, One-Eye? Gonna stick with it this time?”

“There’s no use in me telling you if you already know the answer, Laufeyjarson. How long have we known each other? You should be more clever than that.”

“Wow, that’s a record for reachin’ the mask-off phase of the day. Lemme guess, someone called ya Santa Claus again?”

Some unpopular opinions (this is not to belittle, vague & say ppl are not allowed to do this): 

I generally don’t vibe with a lot of the ways the larger tumblr community likes to portray myth!Loki. Most the conventionally attractive designs does nothing for me, and I lean towards other’s more sleezy, older, grittier, rat-man designs. Sometimes people woobify him and overblow his relationship with Sigyn and his children a little too much. He can be caring and a force of good, but he’s self serving at the end of the day and is equally, if not more inclined, to be a malicious force too. By the time Baldur’s murder occurs, he’s become a flat out villain and I’m not going to water down that part of him. In all of my verses, the Loki that shows up happened after he killed Baldur and was imprisoned. 

sentence starters

“Of course, humans have their shortcomings compared to many beings out there, but your reasoning, your will to live, that is something beautiful and lifted from the gods themselves. Even the divine has their needs, their wants, and longing, as you say.” A bit on the blunt side, but he’s honest about it. Some may find fear in existing for so many years, but for the king, such a long life span fits perfectly with his interests and personality. 

“It is a pretty sad existence for y’all. Yer kind’s always been a bit mushy ‘n have pretty short lives, but we made ‘em like that for a reason, yeah?” He’s too honest! “I mean, One-Eye, ya gotta admit they came a long ways since carvin’ ‘em outta driftwood. Wasn’t supposed to be anythin’ fancy or powerful enough to match us, but somethin’ to fill Midgard with ya know? But now they’re useful lil’ buggers.” 

Been busy with things, but some WIPs in the backlog to finish are some verses:

One where Odin and Loki are on a wandering roadtrip like bros across the universe and dimensions (easier for default crossovers)

sentence starters

“Oh I’m sure yer just anxious in hittin’ that hammer ‘cross my head, sendin’ bone and brains splatterin’ everywhere in front of the Master. Like a big ol’ watermelon cracked open on a hot sunny day. Hell, I’ll bring the heat to save ya the trouble if that’s what yer asking, skippin’ this Yule and goin’ straight to next summer!” He cackles and the old chains clang against the ground as he whips them. 

The Avenger’s blood boils at her goading, yet it is always ever patient in his endeavor to annihilate everything Thor and the Aesir always stood for. The slowly rising air temperature dies down. Damn is it hard to control this saint graph when there are other Norse servants slithering about. Usually, his apparitions are more composed, but the influence of his legends and especially this class when summoned isn’t helping. Even with this new appearance she hasn’t changed a day since his imprisonment. Someone with her temperament can never appreciate the refined taste of a finely aged revenge and murder! If One-Eye still isn’t bothered enough to teach her the nicer things in life, then ol’ Loptr’s gotta do it himself.

sentence starters (accepting) 

“Good. We’re just getting started here, Rúnabarn.” These next few weeks can feel like an eternity or may pass by with a blink of an eye. Despite their repressed light, he can still sense and name each engraving carved onto her circuits. More than enough to fill a charm song, a literal prayer placed on her soul. 

“If there is one thing mages rarely realize about runes is that they are stubborn. They are impossible to remove, difficult to summon, and act as if they have a life of their own. But it’s good to know you can be equally as hard-headed.”  And at the very least, it’ll make his job easier.

It takes someone of great temperament to be a true master, and perhaps just a hint of lunacy, just like the man who discovered them. The days spent hanging on the tree, blood dripping from the spear wound, was less about meditation or survival; it was a battle of contrition. Even though he offered sacrifice, it wasn’t enough until they drew every ounce of life out before relenting and revealing themselves at the last moment. They thought they won as the last snuff of energy left his body. But the god isn’t one to let go so easily, if only for his own sake over anything else. 

She says they will be the death of her, like how they once were to him, yet they are also the source of a similar stubborn energy keeping her afloat. A constant tug of war, struggling to maintain a homeostasis the body wasn’t meant to regulate, but has adapted to over time. Her own rúnatal, stretched out on a much longer scale.

sentence starters (accepting)

Allfather is the title humans have bestowed upon him many years ago. The overseer of the slain, creator of the realms, literal father to many; what little he had in common with the other continental patriarchal gods, this aspect is one of the few things they shared.  

Odin watches her bright-eyed expression with a sincerity she would never shake even into adulthood. It is very unlike himself and he could guess why. It may be his title, but even the man can admit he isn’t the most present of parents. The wandering king’s stay in Asgard is never for too long, even if the knowledge he brings could be for the greater good. The call for travel is too great, his own selfishness unwilling to give up that old habit of his. 

He knows she’ll grow out of the days off running into his arms, nearly toppling him over, when he returns from another journey, or in this case, a mission with the Master. The strongest warrior in the Nine Realms, her own duties will force her away from home just like her father. But at least now in Chaldea, he can give her move of those “good days”, exchanging stories of their misadventures and sparring, as if they were back on Asgard.