ax_main | Piotr and Loki

Piotr learns that unexpected visitors don't always use the door.

Piotr stepped back from the easel he'd borrowed from the art room and scrutinized the painting he was patiently working on. A lone, red-haired figure standing in the middle of what looked to be a library of some sort, dressed in a green doublet and white jabot. His arms were outstretched and floating from his hands were spectral dahlias formed of what appeared to be emerald light. The air around him was filled with more of the same flowers, one in particular placed in the foreground to serve as the focus of the piece.

He glanced up from the canvas toward the sound of a gentle breeze and animated conversations. It looked like Molly had left the window open again. He was steadily becoming accustomed to his roommate's quirks, and assumed that Molly's habit of leaving without closing the window was simply a bit of harmless absentmindedness. It wasn't anything Piotr minded, since it was really no trouble to do the responsible thing and shut it himself. Sometimes he even made a bit of a game of it.

This time, however, Piotr decided to leave it be. The breeze wasn't strong enough to disrupt anything, and actually felt quite pleasant. It was fine for now. Perhaps later he'd take care of the window, but for now he turned his attention back to the array of acrylics and once again lost himself in the developing image.

If only Piotr realized the open window would be taken as an invitation. As he was painting a large raven landed on their window ledge and hopped into the room. He fluttered over to Molly's bed, depositing a small velvet pouch on his pillow. The raven turned to cock a head at Piotr.

"Roommate?" he asked. "You're that new guy. Were that new guy. It's been months now, I guess. Hello, stranger."

Piotr was glad he hadn't gotten up to shoo the bird away when he'd first caught sight of it in the window. The pouch it carried had been the thing to make him hesitate, and so his reaction went no further than a soft gasp and a slight bulging of his eyes. He was hardly immune to surprises, even after everything he'd encountered, but in the time between his arrival and the ever-nearing start of Fall classes, Piotr had thought he'd learned how to handle them with a bit more composure. The same could be said of visitors, most of whom were Nora, freely letting themselves into the room. Clearly he'd been mistaken on both counts.

"All of these things you have said are correct," Piotr answered once he'd processed the words themselves. He spoke in the measured tone of one who at least tried to choose his words carefully before speaking them. He set his brush into the water jar on his desk and turned to face the raven properly. "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Piotr, and now that I have told you this, I am no longer a stranger, yes?"

The raven tilted their head in the opposite direction, scrutinizing Piotr. “I suppose that’s how this works.” He dropped the shape and appeared in human form, legs dangling off Molly’s bed. His tunic and leggings were more Asgardian fashion than local. “I’m Loki, Prince Of Asgard, friend of Mollymauk, frequent visitor to this abode when I’m not traveling abroad. I suspect we’ll see more of each other, though rarely in this shape.”

So this was Loki. For the second time in less than a minute Piotr found himself momentarily thrown off balance. There was a lot to unpack in everything Loki had just said, not to mention what Piotr had just seen. At least he recognized the name, which made it easier to properly manage the many questions and visuals sparked by his introduction. "I appreciate knowing this," he said with a slow nod. "And I am happy to welcome anyone Molly considers the door open to."

But he hadn't used the door, had he? Piotr's brow furrowed for a moment. "Speaking of which," Piotr said, "I must apologize if you have tried to visit recently and found the window closed. I did not realize he might be leaving it open on purpose. Or that company might come through it."

“Probably for the best if you hadn’t chatted about it,” Loki pointed out with a grin. “I’d hate to fly in while you were in having a private moment.”

Piotr made a slightly strangled noise and felt his cheeks warming. "Ah, yes. That is very considerate of you."

Loki smiled sweetly. “So, Piotr the roommate, how are you settling in?”

"It seems that there are always new experiences whenever I least expect it," Piotr confessed, the note of humor directed at himself. He inclined his head in Loki's direction with a slight smile. "Case in point. I am learning that this is something I enjoy. For the most part." The last comment came as something of an afterthought. He tilted his head slightly and added, "And my friend Nora is very happy here." In many ways, that mattered more than anything else.

“Ah yes, she seems it. Did she live with you in Russia? Was that what is was?” Loki asked curiously.

Piotr frowned slightly. Nora had of course told Piotr all about meeting Loki, Prince of Asgard, but he hadn't known the subject of what she'd been doing in Russia, or what had happened after she met Piotr had never come up. She was always so free about talking about her life, always so confident, even when it came to the worst things. He tended to assume that anyone who'd known her more than a week had heard her entire life story. But now that he thought about it, Loki had left shortly after, hadn't he?

"That is... not what it was," Piotr said. His lips thinned for a moment. "I do believe my parents might have adopted her if things had been different. But, after what happened, it was more like we adopted each other."

Loki studied him thoughtful. “Mutant bullshit?”

Piotr nodded with a bitter smile. He hated how easy it was for others to guess. Not because he was being obvious, but because it was such a common story it seemed everyone knew how to recognize the signs. "Nora and I look out for each other. It is the only reason we lasted long enough to make it here."

Loki tucked his feet up on the bed. “One day I would like to build a school in Asgard. We’re not there yet, but I think now that Thor is here as well, it shouldn’t be hard to advocate.”

That was interesting news. Piotr considered that. He hadn't expected such an idea, and hearing it from another student made it even more thought-provoking. He moved toward his bed and settled on the edge, fingers threading together in front of him. "And would a school there also have an X-Force made of its own students?"

Loki frowned at that. “I would rather not mix the two. Are you excited to join the teenage task force?"

Piotr held his gaze as he measured Loki's words. "I find it troubling," he said frankly. "No school should have to ask its students to provide the means of their own safety."

There was an edge to Loki’s smile. “I agree. I couldn’t provide a safe place if i was unable to protect it myself. And trust me, signing up for X-Force wasn’t on the brochure. If I joined I’m quite sure my parents would disown me.”

Those last words hit Piotr like a slap in the face. He tensed slightly, but managed to avoid letting it show in his expression. After all, Loki couldn't have known how deep and fresh a nerve that had struck.

"I am sure those who have chosen to join have their reasons," he said. He unlaced his fingers and looked down at his hands. "My choice is to never again use my mutant abilities to do harm, no matter the reason." He lifted his eyes back to Loki. "But this school you wish to build. That interests me."

Piotr's expression didn't give away his reaction, but Loki caught a flare in his emotions. Perhaps there was the mutant bullshit mentioned earlier. "If you like to teach, there's a thought for the future. Half the issue feels like we have too few adult mutant role models. Next generation will luck out. For us, it's a shitshow."

That was something to consider. Piotr didn't really know if he liked teaching or not, but there was plenty of time before he graduated for him to find out. "I agree, it is a shitshow," Piotr said, expression growing grim. "Every time I learn of something else from the years Nora and I missed, I think about how hard it must be for the mutants who must deal with it on their own."

“I know she has some sleek powers, but I’m glad you’re keeping and out for her,” Loki commented.

A soft smile settled on Piotr's face. "There is nothing I would not do for her. But, believe it or not, most of the time she is the one who looks after me."

Loki gave Piotr a once over. He was a very big guy. Hm. Good looking too, but that wasn't the point of the moment, don't get distracted. "Oh, I believe it. You might be an impressive figure, but girl has lightning and mischief on her side. I wouldn't mess with her."

Piotr chuckled. "It is quite the combination," he agreed. "It is good to know you have her best interests at heart. Felix did mention you are trustworthy."

Loki found that statement interesting. Only in this place would that be the reputation preceding him. Mission lure friends back to Asgard was underway. “She’s Asgardian,” Loki elaborated. “Sometimes home is a people, not a place.”

That sounded almost poetic. "I can relate to that sentiment," Piotr said. "I miss the farm where I grew up, but my Person is here." The capitalization was both deliberate and audible. It seemed like a fitting way to express how important Nora was to him. And it was true: he couldn't imagine feeling like he was home if she wasn't around.

Loki smiled. He reached to move the velvet pouch to a more prominent position on Molly's pillow. "I suspect I will see you around quite a bit. Here's hoping you enjoy this place." Loki's shape changed from boy back into raven. "If want to keep errant princes out of your room I recommend putting a sock on the door or shutting the window. If you're really craving a breeze I guess we can upgrade to some kind of scarf out the window system." Knocking or calling ahead wasn't on the offered suggestions. Loki fluttered back over to the windowsill.

Piotr rose to his feet and nodded to acknowledge both the advice and the farewell. "I appreciate it. Is this the only other, ah... shape, as you said, I should expect to see you in?"

“Oh no, I can be pretty much anything.” He cawed an eerie chuckle. “Be kind to the local wildlife! You never know when it’s a student.”

Loki hopped out of the window and took off.

"I will do that," Piotr said, though he was reasonably certain Loki would not hear. He went back to the easel to resume his painting. It had certainly been a notable encounter, and he'd enjoyed the company, however brief, more than he might have expected. As he took up his brush he felt both surprised and encouraged by this new interest in the future's possibilities the Asgardian prince had given him.