therookery | crystal;

Is that right? I've read about some of the Blights that occurred while looking over history books but I haven't gotten to reading about how they come about yet.

[There's the sound of thick pages being flipped through as he sees if he can find anything about Blights in the books he happens to have on hand. So many books to read, so many things to know - not a bad thing, but it does take some time to consume it all.

If one is sneaky, he could definitely be surprised.]

Blights specifically involve Old Gods that have been... changed, or tainted, in some way by the mass of underground creatures. [ Loki snaps his fingers, trying to recall the name of the dangerous beasts that have overrun the underground of Thedas. ] Darkspawn, that's what they're called.

[ One can be and is sneaky, certainly, and does not enter the dining hall by the main doors, opting to go a flight of stairs out of his way to come down into the dining hall from a side hall. Loki pauses in the doorway, there, where he can see Allumin behind his little wall of books.

In the next moment, he seems to vanish from view. Which isn't exactly what's happened, but Loki is quiet enough and careful enough not to brush into or bump against anyone until he reappears, a little off to the left and behind Allumin. ]

I think you need a distraction, [ he offers, voice pitched just low enough for the elf to hear ], and you owe me a drink besides.

[ Is his offer to go to a tavern? Definitely not at this time. ]

Edited (I forgot to mention that this is live action now) 2021-08-26 00:02 (UTC)

Yes, right! Darkspawn... here it is - [there's a bit of silence as he all but literally buries his nose in the book he was flipping through.]

Well, this helps contextualize why the war is so important. [Despite trying to convince himself he should care because he lives here now, he just didn't have enough context to be emotionally invested. Gabranth would probably be disappointed in him.

He goes quiet again as he gets lost in reading a bit, and it's not until there's a voice dancing around his ear that he's pulled out of it. In his panic, book the thing in hand, he swings it back to hit the person hovering over his shoulder.]

[ Allumin doesn't manage to hit Loki in the face but it's a very near thing; he blinks into vision in a puff of green, arm coming up in front of his face to intercept the book before it manages to give him a bloody nose. ]

Hel!

[ That's going to bruise and he knows it. Also? This is entirely his fault, and he knows that too. If Allumin tries to hit him with the book again he's going to try to snatch it but he is also guessing Allumin will recognize either his voice or his bearing even with him being so close. ]

Oh, gods! [is the panicked, shuddering yelp that comes out of him when Loki suddenly appears, catching the book with his arm before it can hit him in the face. Allumin's heaves a deep breath, then two, drawing the book back to plop it back on the table. Some of the upright books wobble a bit from the shock of it but otherwise stand - securely staged so as to not create an avalanche at least.]

Sorry, I [hhh] didn't mean to [hhhh] hit you. [Well, he did, but he wouldn't have done it if he had known it was Loki.]

It's fine, I'm — [ He hisses, more annoyed and sore and sore than anything else, really. ] You've nothing to apologize for, I shouldn't have startled you like that.

[ Loki frowns, rubbing his arm where Allumin struck it with the book. ] Do you want to get out of here?

[Normally he has no regret over not knowing any healing magic. This is one of those rare moments where he wishes he knew just a little something to take the sting away.]

Get out of here to where? [And then the actual words of what Loki said and not just the experience of a disembodied voice in his ear catch up with him.]

Ah - [Even in the dimly lit corner of the dining hall, the faint pink in his cheeks is apparent. The affirmation of someone caring about his well-being, the callback to their first meeting, it's just enough to get him a bit flustered but in the kind of way that makes you happy?] yes! The drink I owe you...

[He thinks for a moment to consider where to go for one - he thinks the other dining hall would maybe have something, but that... doesn't feel like reciprocation enough. Somewhere in Kirkwall? He wouldn't really know where, the only time he's been outside the Gallows was the Tournament. After failing to come up with a suitable idea, he looks up at Loki - who he is honestly relieved to see and it shows in the earnestness in his eyes.]

Did you have anywhere in mind?

[ He and Loki are of the same mind, at this moment. Even a basic understanding of healing magic would be nice right about now to abate the dull pain in his arm.

But. That takes a backseat to the fact that Allumin is blushing again. Good. So he's not still thinking of Asterion's... trick, for lack of a better word. Loki smiles, an uptick in one corner of his mouth, and nods. ]

Well, there are more than a few taverns of various repute within Kirkwall, but the best ones are all in Hightown where most people presume any elf on the property is the help, and I'd rather avoid us having that particular interaction with strangers, if at all possible. [ He taps a finger to his lips. ] I have an apartment, courtesy of the Lady d'Asgard, neé de la Fontaine. Would you be fine with going there?

[Loki's smile extracts one of his own from Allumin. His bamboozlement of earlier is far from his mind, especially now that his friend is here in front of him.

His eyes linger a bit as Loki's finger taps. The invitation to go to his private residence is given and his thoughts are tame enough until they're not, and he wonders at himself why he has to be like this. Calm down, it's just going to be a drink or two is what he tries to convince himself.]

Well, I could wear a hat or something. [He tries to joke, just to stop his imagination from getting away from him.]

Only kidding - [gulp, be cool] I'd like that very much.

You could, that's true enough.

[ Does he think that'll work? Possibly, but it would really depend on entirely too many moving parts. He'd rather not bother for this particular evening, but it's definitely an idea for the future.

But. Allumin agrees to go and Loki smiles again, a little wider this time. ]

Do you have somewhere to put this cadre of books? Or do you think they'll keep here?

Hmmmm...

[He looks over his impromptu paper fortress, surveying it.]

Well, I think that the conditions here are just right to let them mature. Aging them really brings out the vintage of the paper.

[If someone finds and returns them to the library, fine. If he gets in trouble for leaving them there, fine. If they are left alone until he can come back and return them? Even better.

He does take the open upright ones and shut them before setting them back down on the table though, then rises to his feet. There's a moment where he seems to hesitate, wrestling with himself before eventually looking Loki in the eyes.]

Thank you for this - for coming to see me. [Having the courage to be candid, emotionally vulnerable is a struggle, and he's trying really hard to control his breathing and not go completely weak in the knees (Loki's smile, once again...).]

[ Loki huffs out a little laugh at the idea of letting the books 'age' in the dining hall area for a while. He suspects someone might take a few while Allumin is gone, but it's doubtful in his mind that the entire stack will be cleaned up unless he leaves it for days or weeks.

The thanks are unexpected and something not unlike surprise flits across Loki's features before he closes his eyes and shakes his head, still smiling. ] Next time I won't announce myself from behind you, [ he promises, in lieu of telling Allumin he needn't thank him. It's nice, he supposes, to do things for others like this. It isn't terrible by any stretch at least, and it's cost him only... a now slightly less sore arm and a sliver of pride but he's lost the latter before and over less. ]

Come on, [ he says, taking Allumin's arm as he had at the tourney. ] To the docks, and then to Hightown. Hopefully, we won't get rained on along the way.

Edited 2021-08-27 09:36 (UTC)

[He nods, ready to fall in step with Loki as they head off to the docks.

There's something about what he said, his face, how he said it that lingers heavy on his mind. After some consideration of what to say, he speaks with a different kind of anxiousness than he has before. There's concern, maybe guilt too, behind it.]

Only if you want to - the announcing thing -, [He clarifies, to be sure his context isn't misunderstood.] I don't want you to change who you are or your behavior for my benefit.

[ Loki turns his face towards Allumin, confusion showing up in the furrow of his brow. He hears the concern, the anxiety, and can't place for whose benefit either of those exists. ]

You mean that, [ comes out with more than a little surprise, but in the next moment he raises an eyebrow. ] I merely meant to avoid being struck by objects one might have at hand.

[ That's a lie, actually, mostly because lies are where he is the most comfortable and partially because he doesn't know what to do with Allumin’s earnestness and unexpected kindness. ]

Oh, of course. That's fine then, I did hit you quite hard, didn't I?

[He has a feeling there's something more going unsaid, but he doesn't press. Instead, his expression takes a turn toward playfulness as he casts a glance in Loki's direction.]

You should feel lucky I'm a wizard then and not a fighter. It would have probably hurt more.

You did, in fact. I'm fairly certain it's going to bruise.

[ This is said pretty casually; bruising from something as simple as a book is a new and fascinating experience, actually, and now that the pain is not at the forefront of his mind he doesn't care. As much.

He still cares a little. Bruises should be from battle or from bedrooms, not startling people. ]

I think if you had been a fighter instead of a wizard you'd get along with my brother better than I, but he's not here. [ Well. The version this Loki knows isn't here; presumably Thor d'Asgard is running around Thedas somewhere, probably in Tevinter. ]

Do you really think I'd be so different we wouldn't be friends?

[They met and bonded over magic, sure, but that couldn't have been totally out of the question for this theoretical even if he had been a fighter instead. There are some paths that still lead to the arcane even if you prefer to fight with a sword, or mace, axe, whatever.

And if he didn't have any magic at all, but still ended up here, he'd hope to be enough of the same person that if the meeting had been different they could still have moments like this one.]

[ Loki hums in consideration at Allumin's question and then smirks. Friends, good. ]

Possibly not.

[ He doesn't know, really, how much of who Allumin is would change based on what he does for a living, or however he would consider being a wizard versus being a fighter. ]

Hopefully not. [ It's not like Loki has a lot of friends, is it? ]

Hopefully not? [He feels a little bit of self-satisfaction that Loki would value him enough to say that, and it shows. It shows in the way he smiles with a rare confidence, and especially shows in the way that he hugs the arm linked with his and leans in close, speaking next in a lower tone.] Good.

[And then he draws back, casual enough to pretend that the fleeting moment maybe didn't happen.]

I rather enjoy spending time with you.

[ It's Really A Problem (read: kinda hot, actually) that Allumin is a few inches taller than Loki because when the elf leans in that means that he has to tilt his head back juuuuuust a little bit to maintain eye contact. Usually, he's taller, and thus, it's the other way around.

Still. It's Good, Also to see Allumin smile like that and to know it's his fault? Even better. ]

I can easily say the same. [ He reaches over and pats Allumin's hand. ] Spending time with you is quite nice, actually.

[That elicits a laugh, bashful in nature and accompanied by a token reddening in his cheeks. He's comforted to hear that, and welcomes the feeling of ease alongside the fluttering joy in his chest.]

Only quite nice? Well, I'm going to have to do better than that, aren't I?

[He says it in a playful manner, but he does also start to consider what sort of things they could do together that would have Loki saying more about their time than just it being 'quite nice' - which unfortunately leads his imagination down a road to things that are bordering on if not completely indecent. This leads to him turning even more red in the face and looking away.

There are plenty of Perfectly Platonic Things he could think about, but instead his mind is caught up on all of Loki's casual little touches. Confidence from earlier, come back!]

[ Loki thought it was a quite respectable compliment actually, somewhat unused to saying nice things and meaning them, though all he does is smile in light of Allumin's laugh. ]

I, personally, would not say there's anything wrong with 'quite nice', considering our interactions thus far. Though I suppose there's always room for improvement. [ He reaches over with his free hand and attempts to turn Allumin's face back in his direction. ] You do blush quite nicely, however. How far down does that go, I wonder?

[ So much for platonic anything, really. ]

[There absolutely was nothing wrong with 'quite nice' - Allumin just wanted to be a bit cheeky and now look where that's gotten him. Loki definitely succeeds in his intent, netting him another one of those pent up sounds of Allumin's that had been heard before at the tournament. Unlike then, however, Allumin's free hand doesn't fly up to hide his face this time, thoughts abuzz with a fresh new touch to catalog.

And of course, the musing as well only leads to Allumin imagining himself bare in front of him as he finds out the answer firsthand. Which leads to another little sound somewhere between a whine and a moan escaping on shuddering breath.

Words, Allumin, do you remember how to use them?]

I, ah, mm, - [words] - it's fine. [His eyes keep darting up and down Loki's face, lingering on his eyes and then scanning when that's too much and then lingering on his lips and rinse and repeat.] 'Quite nice' is fine.

[ Oh, but Allumin makes the most intriguing sounds when he's all flustered like this. Still. Loki wonders if some clarity would help or hinder things, and thus: ]

I am interested in you, Allumin.

[ He laughs, a subtle flash of teeth, before his hand on Allumin's chin shifts to touch his cheek. ]

I want to know what sort of sounds you make when you're overwhelmed and there's no one else there, amongst other things; but that doesn't have to be today if you'd rather wait. Think about it, and let me know.

[ Either way, they're going to get on this ferry and then make their way to Hightown and the apartment Alexandrie has granted Loki the use of. There will be drinks, and it'll be fun, even if Allumin decides he'd rather not fall into bed right away.

Loki just enjoys giving people options. ]

O-oh...

[He can't help but lean into the touch, a comfort to the absolute rollercoaster he is on right now. There is equal parts relief and a new, different excitement that comes with the affirmation, and Loki's words and the glimpse of teeth work together to conjure images of all manner of touches and noises they might inspire.

He tries to wade past the images swirling around in his head to speak, but it's hard. It feels like his throat is stuck and he can't say anything at all, but he wants to be clear that he does want to, he is also interested, just some kind of positive reciprocation... but he can't quite do it, so he does something else instead.

Allumin reaches up, fingers lightly grazing across the side of Loki's neck to become a firm grasp at the base of his skull, and pulls him into a kiss.]

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&action;

allumin jumps ten feet in the air like a spooked cat

loki rolled a 5 out of 5 for dodging at this close space

you got lucky this time loki

He knows it

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allumin played himself in this one, the fool

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