At What Price Respect

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity in the forum? Not a strange sight. Verity without coffee? Rather less common. Verity slumping, exhausted, into a couch? Unusual. Verity covered in scrapes, bruises, and dust? Definitely strange.

"Help isn't if it's forced on someone. This is true. Someone not in possession of all of the facts cannot give fully informed consent. This is also true. But nobody can be forced to listen." Of course Verity has things on her mind. Who here doesn't? "How do you reconcile that? Is ignorance truly bliss? Or do you do what's needed to save someone despite their choices?"

((A note before you come to play with Verity: she's got a magic spell stuck in her that lets her always know when someone is lying to her. This includes sarcasm and knowing when someone believes something to be true when it isn't. This doesn't include lies of omission. She can also see through illusions. Please respect this; if your character is trying to lie to her, please make that known so she can react appropriately. [I completely understand this isn't going to be everyone's idea of fun.] Thanks.))

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

"I know it's hard to believe, but yes, he really did. Does. He really does appreciate me. I don't care that he had ulterior motives, I just wanted to know what they were before I agreed to things." She just moved in with the local gremlin clearly good decision-making is not part of her power set.

[ixis]

To be fair, he'll probably be one of the most unobtrusive roomies ever; either here in the Nexus, holed up in his study, or asleep. Just ignore the occasional magical noises coming from upstairs.

But still. Local gremlin as a roomie.

"Do you think he'll find his way to the Nexus proper at any point? It seems like this place would attract his kind."

[brave_heart_verity]

It's not so much different than he making friends with Loki or Lorelei, and that worked out super well for her until it didn't.

"Maybe? If anyone was going to end up here, I'd expect it to be him. He'd like it here. Or maybe he ran away to the past and is hiding there."

[ixis]

"...I'm not versed enough in chronomancy to fathom the implications of that. Retreating to a doomed world's past. Would that be safer or-..." He shakes his head. The notion is giving even his magical brain a distinct ache.

"As it is, given that he is a god and they tend to have no shortage of power and omnipresence at their disposal, perhaps you shouldn't worry overmuch about him? I suspect that is easier said than done, but again: he is a god. And you are just Verity."

What a pep talk. Though at least he adds, "And you should be no god's keeper. You'll ultimately only worry yourself to sickness at this point. You've done all the actions you can take on the matter."

[brave_heart_verity]

She nods a little, her head and shoulders drooping. "You're right. There's nothing else I can do but wait, is there?" She takes off her glasses to rub at her eyes and temples. "He'll find a way to take care of himself. He probably already has."

[ixis]

"And then he will find his way to the Nexus and make fun of you for being such a worrywart." He gives her a less toothy smile, something a bit more kind. "You'll see."

[brave_heart_verity]

She laughs a little at the idea, although it's a very sad sort of laugh. "True. He probably will. And then he'll demand bacon and tell me all about the things he's been doing that have kept him so busy."

That might help explain all the bacon in the fridge. It's hope bacon.

[ixis]

Bacon tastes best when brined in hope.

"That was a great deal of bacon in there. I didn't take you for the type who ate so much of it, but I suppose that explains THAT." He chuckles. "Best he arrive before it all spoils or he'll make jest about THAT as well."

[brave_heart_verity]

She would have pegged him for a "tears of my enemies" type. It's saltier that way.

"Yeah, wouldn't be the first time. You wouldn't believe how often the jobs his parents send him on have interrupted our brunch plans." So rude.

[ixis]

Ixis Naugus does love him some salt.

"Do you know his parents all that well? Are they even reachable? I feel like we've discussed this once before, but I do not recall the particulars. Were you to invoke their favour and demand they tell you where their son has spirited away to..." Why would he ever suggest doing the nice thing for gods and supplicating before them? No supplication! Ever!

[brave_heart_verity]

"I've never met them," she admits. "He and his brother and their friends from... back home weren't on good terms with the All-Mother or the All-Father. But. I could ask them."

Because he's totes not going to mind her trying to build a shrine in the living room right?

[ixis]

Just don't let it fuck up his leylines. He might mysteriously move it a few inches to one direction if it does and not explain himself.

"It's worth a try. To give yourself some peace of mind and point of reference, if nothing else. It may make you feel better to do that one last piece of effort as well, to rest in the knowledge you truly exhausted all your options and all that is now left is to wait."

[brave_heart_verity]

She'll think about that for a few minutes before admitting, "You're right. It's time for the truly drastic measures."

Because calling someone's mommy is way more serious than the potential of facing giant venomous snakes or having to climb around in caves.

[ixis]

He'll roll with it, since calling up favours from gods seems so...humble. And if there's one thing Ixis Naugus is not, it's humble. Drastic indeed.

"Do you know how one is able to contact them? Do they just walk about like your Loki apparently did, or do they have to be invoked as a proper god?"

[brave_heart_verity]

Begging. She's going to be straight-up begging. Let's be honest about this.

"Now that, I'm not sure. I know they're like Loki, but I don't think they leave Asgardia much, if ever. But there are other Asgardians who visit Midgard. I might be able to get in touch with them."

[ixis]

"A good a plan as any! You say often he has a brother, after all. Where is he in all of this?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Doing more or less as usual I think. Playing hero, trying to get Mjolnir back, having tantrums." She doesn't think highly of Odinson.

[ixis]

"Sounds like a delight." He claps his hand and claw together, though. "But still! Something! I'm shocked you didn't go to this oaf sooner." Oh yeah, he's already got an idea of what the guy is like, just going off the phrase 'playing hero'. The worst sort.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Last time I saw him he nearly killed Loki." And she tried to stop him. That worked out really well for her. "I don't think I'm exactly his favorite person right now."

[ixis]

"Why? Because you favour a brother he wants dead? I suppose that would complicate things; why would he care about locating a lost god who he wanted dead at one point? Hrrrm." He strokes his beard, thinking.

"Can he be bribed?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"I really doubt it. He'd probably find that offensive. And I don't have anything he'd want."

[ixis]

"What about threatened?" He says this like it's a perfectly normal option that perfectly normal people will consider. "Blackmail? It's frustrating that a clear link to your godfriend is right here before you, but his so-called valour prevents him from assisting you."

[brave_heart_verity]

"If I threaten him, I'm going to end up in the hospital. Or worse." That's just fact.

As for blackmail, she briefly considers the idea. "I'm not sure what I'd blackmail him about. He's already lost Mjolnir. There's not much more embarrassing for him than that."

[ixis]

"Lie that you have it?" Then he stops. His ears do a few twitches, thinking. Then he rubs his eyes wearily with his one hand.

"...What am I saying. Telling you to lie."

[brave_heart_verity]

Seeing him tired makes her pause. "Yeah, not exactly my best skill. It's okay, Naugus. Thank you for trying to help. I'll figure it out from here."