the 'doctor' is in

[story_and_teller]

WHO: Storyteller Loki; COME ONE COME ALL
WHAT: A bored Loki is a dangerous thing.
WHEN: Sometime after dawn.
WHERE: City of Sorcery
NOTES/WARNINGS: ...so yeah I'm totally gonna flip a coin every time for which gender Loki you get. :B


[Gosh, there have been an awful lot of new people showing up in the Sevenfold City lately.

Surely it would behoove some kind soul to offer them some help - above and beyond the standard fare given in the City of Tomorrow.

Perhaps that's why there's a booth set up outside one of the street markets of Sorcery with a big, friendly sign reading FREE* Advice, with a cheerful, attractive young person - appropriately garbed for the area in scalemaille - sitting behind it with mugs, and a couple of barrels.]

Comments

[ikols]

[ While Loki has been filling up his days and nights stealing from banks across the SFC, collecting treasure from random mini-quests in Adventure, and generally putting away a tidy sum off of which to live, along the way he comes to notice the differences between himself and his counterpart; largely, that Storyteller is less concerned with having a back-up fortune (with which to buy out whoever can't be tricked) and more interested in actively ferreting out information indiscriminately. Loki honestly admires the gall of it because he wouldn't want to advertise where he's going to be even in the short-term and it's a conversation on personal safety that will have to be marketed to Storyteller at some point in the near future.

It's only everyone who wants them dead from their Multiverse, after all. Sue Loki if he's a little over-protective of his new, literal partner-in-crime.

Storyteller is, however, one of the few people he doesn't like to lie to if he can help it, a habit which he's sure Verity would be proud of (he's wearing her soul on his wrist in the bracelet Storyteller gave him, hopefully she's being a silent but proud party), so he doesn't spy on ST (for long) and instead heads over the booth proper. To anyone else, he looks like a forty-something blond.

He also happens to be carry a sack of said treasure from Adventure City over a shoulder. Black nails drum along the counter. Barrels, what. ]

Are the drinks free also?

[story_and_teller]

For a handsome cad like you? Always.

[It probably doesn't hurt that the God of Stories is ever-so-good at providing a distraction; if Loki is here, surely he can't also be over there?

There are multiple motivations for everything he does.]

Dunno if you'll like it though.

[ikols]

[ Uh oh, what the heckie is in those barrels. ]

Somehow I get the feeling it's not going to be elf-rum daiquiris or dwarf-brewed corn whiskey.

[story_and_teller]

[...something. To loosen the tongue?]

Nope. Not either of those. Luckily for you, I have a very special Loki-only drink hidden under the table. [Wink. Here, have a mocha.]

[ikols]

[ Loki, are you offering Loki your own drink because that's gross. (But, okay. Because mocha.) The sack of tinkling treasure is dumped between his legs as he sips, ankles crossing when he leans on the counter at a slouch. ]

So-ooo, what sort of advice has been requested by the conflicted masses today?

[story_and_teller]

I have had no fewer than three requests for advice on winning the heart of an Amazon Princess, and it's not even lunch time.

[It's. Entirely possible, yes.

It's equally possible that he has an entire giant thermos of mocha down there.]

A few questions about personal finance, and sixteen different requests for my tailor.

[The advantages of setting up in Sorcery.]

[ikols]

[ He tries not to laugh and comes out grinning instead. ]

That's what you're going to get if you have few to zero standards about your shifty clientele, my love. [ Ferreting in the sack, he plucks out a gold coin and flicks it over. ] While you've been collecting info on hearts and fashion here, I've been setting us up for a nice little tower.

[story_and_teller]

[He catches the coin, and rolls it over the backs of his knuckles, before vanishing it up his sleeve.]

So I see. Well, in that case you'll be pleased to hear that despite offering my sage wisdom to one and all with nary a charge in sight, most of my shiftless clientele have been ever-so-insistent that I accept their heartfelt thanks - and a donation for my trouble.

[ikols]

If these donations are sexual favours, I'm good with just the mocha.

[ Sticking out his tongue. Flicky fingers gesture. ]

Go on, tell me what goodies you've rattled out of the masses.

[story_and_teller]

They're a little more substantial than that. [Though he thoughtfully adds: ] Would've taken them from one of the would-be wooers of Amazons, in the right circumstances. [There's that tricksy Loki glitter in his eyes though, the sort that would be laughing at anyone else--

Much better to laugh with than at though.]

As for the masses--

[Most of it, alas, is only gossip. There are a few kernals of something worthwhile there though, people who can be bribed or blackmailed, or tricked for a good laugh, and he'll tell you all about it, Loki-- except for a brief pause when a small child comes up to ask if she should get a puppy or a kitty.

The answer is naturally 'both'.]

[ikols]

[ Somehow he has become not only the more responsible trickster here but also the one with the lower libido. It's weird. This being a big brother thing is odd beyond belief, Thor gets a smidgen more kudos.

Listening to the haul of the day, he takes on board the useful snippets and hands over a ruby necklace to the kid that interrupts, along with a flashy gauntlet. "Buy a really big dog" is his personal advice, "and possibly a tiger". Once the Pintsize One is skipping off, he tilts his head thoughtfully without looking back at Storyteller. ]

You've been busy. Are you encountering any trouble?

[story_and_teller]

Not yet. It'll come; it's inevitable. I've decided to try and enjoy the 'quiet' for the nonce.

[Which is a perfectly ridiculous word, come to think of it.

And who says Loki is the more responsible of the two? Loki is the pinnacle of responsibility! He has an actual factual job! With forms he had to fill out, and the best plausible deniability a thieving magpie could ever want in the form of generous tips.

...that's responsible, right? It is. It totally is.]

[ikols]

[ Crafty does not a responsible godling make. This is gross, time to think of all the things he's stolen lately. Much better. ]

You enjoy the quiet, I'm setting us up with a safe-house. Here, in this section somewhere about the forests, although not one of those forests. [ You know the type. ] If we get any more Avengers turning up then we ought to play to their fears and estrange ourselves on territory that keeps us strong where they're also hesitant to tread.

[story_and_teller]

Good idea. I'll keep worming us into the good graces of everyone here who's not an Avenger. Become a pillar of the community.

[Grin.

Kinda hard for heroes to pick on you when the locals like you.

In the distance in the market, a tiger's roar is accompanied by a high-pitched giggle, and followed by a a series of alarmed shouts, growing ever closer, until a small girl holding a small puppy, and riding a full-grown tiger comes zooming past with a shouted "Thanks Misters!"

A small mob follows on her heels. ]

[ikols]

Which reminds me, [ calmly snapping his fingers as he remembers, the hoard of anti-tiger folk rushing by behind while his attention is fixed squarely on Storyteller, ] if anyone asks about a Luke fitting our description ...

[ Twirling a finger onto himself. ]

Been leaving the horns at home, as of late.

[story_and_teller]

[Loki gets a wink from Loki, and an I-see-what-you-did-there point.]

Gotcha.

[ikols]

I'm declaring this your break-time, [ he says with a wistful flourish, dumping the sack of treasure heavily on the counter and sitting on said counter backwards, legs framing Storyteller where they dangle, ] tell me more of with whom you've been talking.

[ Mostly just to have someone to talk to, since Verity's off the current list of conversationalists. He plucks at a darker shade of fur-collar than his own. ]

There must be someone who stands out in a crowd.

[story_and_teller]

[The Storyteller leans in closer, hands finding their way to a comfortable resting place on Loki's knees.]

There was one fellow asking what I'm sure he thought were roundabout questions about raising armies of the dead.

[ikols]

Makes me miss a reliable Hel, to be honest. What did he look like?

[story_and_teller]

About like you'd expect: tall, saturnine, trying to look sinister under a faded black cloak, stringy dark blond hair.

[He waves up a quick illusion of the fellow.]

[goblinjr]

[Because Harry hasn't had enough of the Trickster "siblings" yet, you see.

It's hard not to spot him moseying through the City of Sorcery in his terribly out-of-place clothing — a pair of slacks and a simple button-up shirt. He's been poking his nose around a bit, checking out the various stalls and chatting up some people. It's only a matter of time before he happens upon Loki's booth, and the sign gets a snort out of him.

He can't help but wander over, eyebrow raised. If only he knew who he was talking to; he'd run the other way so fast.]

What's the small print on the "free advice"?

[story_and_teller]

Well. You know. You get what you pay for.

[Loki gives an eloquent shrug, and a wry grin.

He should run. Running would be the smart thing to do.]

[goblinjr]

[Well, Harry doesn't always have the greatest judgment. He loosely crosses his arms, a lopsided grin finding its way across his lips.]

So... the free advice is questionable, basically?

[story_and_teller]

[You get the double-guns, Harry.]

Exactly. Might be just what you need to win the day - or it might get you eaten by something with entirely too many teeth. But what's life without a little risk?

[clay_and_truth]

[She is carrying a bottle of wine, a large, heavy sword, and a bouquet of abnormally fragrant roses. All are set down on the booth.]

I've been told you're giving advice about winning the heart of an Amazon princess. I feel like you should have a hand in returning some of these gifts.

And these are just the inanimate gifts. I find myself with an over-abundance of puppies.

[story_and_teller]

[Loki laughs delightedly! Who knew people had been asking after one specific Amazon princess?]

I had no idea they were all asking after the same woman!

[clay_and_truth]

I wasn't aware there were any other Amazon Princesses here. Though I guess in this world, that isn't exactly out of the question.

I really... don't know what to do with the animals.

[story_and_teller]

City of Adventure, or so I've heard. Probably a good place for the animals, too.