Illyana and Loki (July)
Jul. 15th, 2019 11:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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ax_mainLoki and Illyana visit Limbo..
Loki wasn’t sure what to expect from a trip to Limbo. He asked Illyana what appropriate attire entailed. What fortune to visit a new kingdom without formal regalia. He also asked Cal what to expect and received an alarming story about the start of Cal and Illyana’s friendship.
So this was going to be exciting.
Loki dressed comfortably, but respectfully, in black trousers and low boots. His green top was an homage to some of the tunics of home without the formality. Both he and Yana could shift reality for costume changes if there was demonic hostility and sturdier garb became necessary. Loki met Illyana at her room.
“Before we travel, I have something for you,” Loki said, fishing the item out of his pocket. He handed her hair pin of an elegant, black glass flower. “It seems wrong to travel to another kingdom without offering a token of appreciation for your hospitality.”
Illyana accepted the flower with obvious confusion, pushed her hair back on one side, and pinned it in place. "Thanks," she replied with an awkward smile, though her appreciation was obvious. "I think that's the first time I've ever gotten a gift for taking someone to Limbo. Mostly I just get freaked out at once we're there." Which, okay, she still wasn't ruling out, but Loki didn't really seem like the freaking out type.
“So I’ve heard,” Loki said with a grin. “This is consenting travel, so we’re off to a good start. Don’t abandon me to demons, and I’m sure it’ll be delightful?”
"Hey, I never even abandoned Tamara to demons." Illyana smirked. "Though I've gotta admit, I was tempted more than once." She moved in close and summoned up a stepping disk with a wave of her hand. "And we're off!"
They reappeared moments later in a substantially different location, just outside the fire moat surrounding her tower. Green and purple flames flared up before them, casting bizarre shadows on the mostly barren landscape, while several small dragons circled around the tower's spire.
The tower itself, Illyana decided, was looking...well, darker than it had been when she'd seen it last. A little more forbidding. She glanced over at Loki surreptitiously to see his reaction, then inwardly shrugged. It wasn't as if he knew what it had looked like before, and she'd worry about the changes another time. "Home sweet home," she said instead, smiling, and raised her arm to lower the drawbridge.
Loki took in the landscape and grinned. “Look at those beauties,” he commented, eyes on the dragons. The flaming moat was quite dramatic. Loki approved.
llyana's smile brightened. "I made them," she admitted with pride. "A couple of different types - you'll probably see some of the big ones later, there's usually a few around in the evening. We can watch them from the top of the tower."
“How sentient?” He asked curiously. “Generally lizard like, human intelligence, shrewd like cats? I’ve never met another dragon. When we were in Yorkland not many entered my territory in scaled form.”
"You were the dragon in Yorkland? I heard there was one, but I never saw it." The drawbridge settled before them, and she gestured for him to follow her inside. "They're smarter than the demon lizards I made them from," she added, answering his question. "Not human level intelligence. I've got enough trouble reining in the demons I've already got; I didn't want anything else I had to actually keep tabs on." She paused a moment, thinking of Pita, and shrugged. "They're probably about as smart as cats. Not as sneaky, though."
“For the best, if they have any ability to breathe fire.” Loki followed her inside, taking in the ambiance as they walked. “If you needed something badly enough in Yorkland we might have met. If you had no need to a deal, we might never cross paths. It was quieter beneath the city.”
Illyana was quiet for a moment as they passed through the halls, then started up the stairs that led to the library, apparently oblivious to the small demons chittering in the shadows round them., "I made a deal with the Hag of the Forest there," she admitted after a while. "It didn't exactly go well. Maybe I should've tried you instead."
“Ahh, the hag. You wouldn’t believe the number of people that tried ‘I can get a better deal from the Forest Hag’ as a bargaining trick. Fools.” Loki glanced at the architecture looming before them. “Did you survive your agreement?”
"Yeah. I'm not sure I would have - I got locked up by the guard, and while I wasn't supposed to be executed, they were definitely in an execution-y mood. But then...things ended." Just not soon enough to save Pyro. She still kind of wondered if that wasn't where things had started to go wrong between them. Granted, he'd never said he hadn't forgiven her, but...she wasn't altogether sure she'd forgiven herself.
Loki made a face. “Fortunate. I miss some of that world, but I can understand why not everyone wishes to go back.”
"Do you think it's likely we will?" Illyana frowned. "I didn't think anyone had ever figured out how we got there in the first place." She stopped at a landing, where a locked, foreboding looking door loomed, and Illyana murmured a few words to unlock it, leaving it to creak open slowly. "The library," she offered, gesturing for him to enter the circular room, which was lined floor to ceiling with bookshelves containing an array of arcane looking volumes, a handful of other books of more recent origin (some sporting covers that revealed them to be teen romances) and not a few grotesque items displayed as if they were normal knick-knacks.
Loki was about to answer when the doors swung open and he was distracted. He wandered forward, captivated by the space. “Is it safe to touch the books?” He asked in a hushed voice. “Anything you’d rather I not meddle with, or that might harm someone if handled?”
"There are some over there that it would probably be better you didn't." Illyana gestured to a shelf fronted by glass doors, behind which were some volumes that looked as if they might have been bound in human - or something nearly human - skin. "Everythng else should be okay to touch. I wouldn't read the spell books aloud unless you're 100% sure you understand them, though." She smiled, a little. "If you're wrong and your powers are at all magic-based, they'll likely be amplified here. Be careful."
Loki smiled brightly. “I’ll read silently. Thank you, Illyana.”
"Not a problem." Illyana made a swooping gesture with her hand, and the halter and jeans she'd been wearing were replaced by a similar black leather top and pants. High heeled, knee high boots replaced her sandals, and a silver amulet hung between her breasts, barely visible over the top of the halter. "I'm gonna go take care of some stuff, if you don't mind? Just call my name if you want anything; one of the demons'll find me."
Loki gave the costume change an appreciative look. “Your royal regalia is much more fun than mine,” he commented.
"Definite benefit to being the ruler; I get to pick." Or did she? Sometimes she felt as if Limbo itself picked for her. Still, it wasn't as if she were complaining. "You're welcome to wear whatever you want, though. Even," her eyes glistened with amusement, "the traditional Asgardian regalia as seen in the travel magazines." Because she'd looked, she had to admit.
Loki laughed. He let modern clothing fade, replacing it with an outfit that suited their current locale. This wasn’t his full helm with armor and velvet cloak. Like Illyana, he wore black leather pants and knee high boots with a chunky heel. The scaled leather tunic over his cloth shirt was a toned down version of anything seen in travel magazines, but still his traditional greens and golds. And if she was mentioning it, he let a demure version of his golden crown manifest, with his symbol and a stubbed version of the horns.
“Amazing how this fits into your realm’s aesthetic. Can’t say there’s much cause to put this apparel on anymore.”
"Obviously, you were born to live in this dimension," Illyana replied with a grin, only partially teasing. He certainly looked the part, and seemed right at home. "I'll keep it in mind in case I ever decide to establish a court. Or, y'know, choose a consort."
Loki winked. “As long as you don’t mind sharing, I’ll keep that in mind on the list of political alliances.”
Left unattended with this many books Loki started skimming titles and pulling down interesting options to leaf through. He also kept his eye out for the most dangerous looking corners of the room. One could look without touching and unleashing chaos. By the time Illyana returned he was at a table with a stack of seven books, deeply engrossed in reading the text in front of him.
A circle of light preceded Illyana's arrival by only a moment, and she plopped down into the opposite chair without preamble, grinning across the table at Loki as she leaned back and propped her feet on its edge, careful not to kick the priceless volumes he'd stacked beside him. "So, found some light reading?"
Loki caressed the page. “Does limbo by chance have a library card system?” He asked with a grin. “You have some fascinating texts.”
"Really not comfortable with the books leaving the library," Illyana admitted. "You're welcome to come hang out for a few days or months, though, whenever. We can always be back when we left."
Loki understood the precaution. “When we get back to school can I introduce you properly to Felix? I think this is what he’s been wishing for.”
"Oh, we've met." Illyana grinned a little and waved his offer aside. "He's already been invited to visit. We just haven't come yet."
“Good,” Loki said. “I promised I’d find him magic books. This is clearly where he needs to come.”
"So...basically you wanted to come here to make sure you could keep a promise to Felix about magic books?" Illyana replied, her eyebrows rising.
Loki shrugged. "Happy bonus. I'm here for the ambiance." He grinned.
Mostly mollified, Illyana smiled back. "If that's the case, I should really give you the full tour."
Loki moved his book pile tidily to the side. He got up from the table and stretched. "A tour would be lovely."
"Any place in particular you'd like to start?" Illyana asked.
Loki grinned. “Your favorite place.”
Illyana grinned back. She debated, for a moment, taking him to her room - but that really wasn't her favorite place, was it? "It's a long climb to the top of the tower. Want to skip the walk?"
Loki was appreciating visiting a proper castle. Magically suffused if that. “How do you suggest we do so? Teleportation or flight? I think we have both options covered.”
"Can you fly without shapeshifting?" Illyana asked, surprised.
"I can," he confirmed. "Not sure about carrying someone else for a distance, but there's also wings and depending on how friendly your dragons are to others I make a pretty awesome dragon."
"Mmmm...not sure how well the dragons play with others," she admitted, then grinned. "But I'm willing to take my chances being carried. It's Limbo, I can pretty much guarantee I can keep myself from going splat."
Loki laughed warmly. “So Superman style instead of Queen of Dragons?”
"This time, anyway. But I'm holding you to the dragon offer another time." She nodded decisively.
“You may have to hold to it halfway up,” Loki jested. He was no Thor. His personal strength didn’t hold the same prowess. Once they stepped outside he assessed the best way to do this and held his arms open. “Okay, consider this an elevated hug. Arms around the shoulders and hold on tight?”'
"On it," she assured him, wrapping her arms tight around his shoulders. "And if it doesn't work, don't shift - I can just call a portal underneath us, we'll fall right through."
“Sounds great, GLADOS.” Loki grinned and wrapped his arms securely around Illyana’s waist. “Going up.”
Funny that this was the first time Loki tried to carry someone while levitating. This was a missed opportunity during PE and powers training. Mind you, he’d finally mastered flying in a straight line, taking turns at speed, and looking graceful while doing this whatsoever. Compensating for the extra person meant their trajectory was off to a wobbly start but if he focused on up they made progress. Loki laughed as they drifted upward. “We aren’t winning any points for speed,” he promised.
"Who cares?" Illyana laughed. "The view's good. So's the company." She grinned teasingly, but wasn't lying. She liked Loki, the fact he'd actually wanted to come to Limbo (for whatever reason) was definitely in his favor, and being held like this didn't suck. Neither did the view, she decided as she looked down at the slowly receding landscape. The fire moat looked really cool from above.
Loki spied over her shoulder and had similar observations about this landscape. “This is really fucking cool. I can see the danger appeal. Your demons do great landscaping.” He glanced back toward the top of the tower to make sure they were still on track.
"It's been an uphill battle." Illyana's grin tilted, though, and she forced herself to be honest. "The demons didn't do the moat, though. Pyro did. Though the spell that keeps the fire from burning through the walls of the moat is mine."
“Are your powers stronger here?” Loki asked curiously.
Illyana grinned impishly, muttered a few syllables, and watched as the tower started to glow with a cold, purple-ish glow that blended nicely, she thought, with the green and purple flames of the moat. "Definitely."
Loki studied the light show with approval. “Do you stay at school for the company, then? This is very impressive.”
"Thanks." Illyana's face warmed and she smiled. "And yeah. I mean, I like it here, mostly? But demons are crappy company, and no one much wants to come here." She shrugged as best she could without moving her arms from around Loki's neck. "Can't blame them. It used to be a lot worse, and...well, not gonna lie, most of it still sucks. I've done what I can with the area around the tower, but...it's still Limbo. And I'm still the only way in or out. Most people don't want to risk it."
“I admit, I asked Cal for advice on how to dress for the occasion and he looked at me askance when I said I was looking forward to the trip." As they got higher the wind got trickier, causing Loki to hug Illyana closer as he course corrected. Still heading upward, still not running into the tower.
Illyana laughed, though her face warmed a little. "Yeeaaah, he's not a fan. I maybe got pissed off at him when I met him and sent him here," she admitted. "He's the only person who can get himself out, but he's never wanted to come back. Caleb's been here with me, though. And Kitty and Billy." Which, okay, maybe wasn't a great example, and she couldn't remember whether or not Loki'd been at the school when that had happened. Well, too late now.
Loki only knew what Cal told him. The fact that Illyana and Cal were friends helped. “Did Caleb also manhandle you library?”
"He's checked it out." Illyana smiled. "You're the first person who's ever wanted to take up extended residence, though." She tightened her arms around Loki and, experimentally, nuzzled his shoulder.
As someone who spent frequent time as a cat, he was open to nuzzling. Loki gave them a slow swirl as they moved upward. Fortunately they were nearing their destination and they don’t fall too astray from their path.
"Are you in any particular hurry to get back?" Illyana peered up at him, her eyes half lidded and a suggestive smile playing at her lips. After all, he didn't seem to be complaining, and it wasn't every day she had company, let alone company who actually seemed to like it there.
Loki smiled in return and glided in to carefully land them. “No hurry. I promised Cal I’d come back and not to worry, but there was no time estimate.” His feet touched down on the tower.
Illyana reached up to brush his hair back from his face as they settled down on the roof of the tower. "I can get you back to whenever you want," she reminded him. "I'm just asking if you maybe want to stay here a while longer first?"
Loki smiled as he arched a brow. “How long were you thinking of keeping me in your magic realm, dear sorceress?”
"Mmmm," Illyana hummed and stroked her fingers back through his hair, then leaned in and brushed her lips over his. "I wasn't exactly suggesting we set a timer."
Despite the flirting, Loki was surprised when Illyana kissed him. Loki was a lot of talk with little follow through. It surprised him when flirting actually turned into something else. He couldn’t help a soft, surprised, “Oh.”
Which was not smooth. Totally not smooth.
"Oh." Illyana dropped her hands and took a step backwards, looking awkward. Apparently she'd misread. The thought was both disappointing and slightly annoying, the latter just because she'd thought she was getting better at this. "Sorry. I thought you were serious."
“Serious?” Loki echoed. “About...?”
"The flirting?" Illyana sighed. "Nevermind. I thought you were interested, you're not. It's not a big deal."
“I mean, yes, I’m flirting. I’m just not used to it becoming more than that,” Loki admitted, feeling foolish even as he said it. “Sorry. You surprised me.”
"It's okay. It's not a big deal," she repeated. "You want me to just take you back to Earth?"
“The kiss was that bad, huh?” Loki said wryly.
"No. Just kinda got the impression you're not up for another," Illyana admitted, shrugging.
Loki ran his fingers back through his hair. “This is going to kill all of my cool points, but I’m going to admit it anyway in the spirit of friendship. You are the first girl to ever kiss me and not, you know, push me away afterwards and threaten to punch me if I tell anyone. So please excuse my surprise.”
"Seriously?" Illyana offered a crooked smile, because that put a whole new spin on things. "Now that you're not surprised, want to try it again? Or, y'know, anything else? I promise not to threaten or punch."
Loki smiled wryly. There was a reason he both feared and respected women more so than boys. Girls in Asgard. Frequently kicked ass. And Loki wasn’t Thor.
“Two conditions. One, don’t punch me. Two, since you’re also friends with Cal, you probably know he and I are close in a not dating way? But he’s important.” Loki’s first priority, if he was being honest. “So if you’re okay kissing me despite that, then by all means.”
"You guys aren't exclusive?" Illyana checked, just to make sure she'd understood.
“Not exclusive,” Loki acknowledged.
A smile spread over Illyana's face slowly. "I think I can agree to those conditions." She stepped back in towards him, considered what to do for a minute, then laughed. "Okay, I'm all self-conscious now," she admitted.
Loki grinned. “It’s so much easier being smooth and badass before the conversation part, am I right? How about we keep up the tour, and if the mood strikes you, we can try again.” He offered Illyana his hand. “Show me why this is your favorite part of your castle?”
Illyana slipped her hand into his and nodded. "Sounds like a plan. And y'know...if the mood strikes you? That's okay too."
He squeezed her hand and chuckled. “Deal.”
Loki wasn’t sure what to expect from a trip to Limbo. He asked Illyana what appropriate attire entailed. What fortune to visit a new kingdom without formal regalia. He also asked Cal what to expect and received an alarming story about the start of Cal and Illyana’s friendship.
So this was going to be exciting.
Loki dressed comfortably, but respectfully, in black trousers and low boots. His green top was an homage to some of the tunics of home without the formality. Both he and Yana could shift reality for costume changes if there was demonic hostility and sturdier garb became necessary. Loki met Illyana at her room.
“Before we travel, I have something for you,” Loki said, fishing the item out of his pocket. He handed her hair pin of an elegant, black glass flower. “It seems wrong to travel to another kingdom without offering a token of appreciation for your hospitality.”
Illyana accepted the flower with obvious confusion, pushed her hair back on one side, and pinned it in place. "Thanks," she replied with an awkward smile, though her appreciation was obvious. "I think that's the first time I've ever gotten a gift for taking someone to Limbo. Mostly I just get freaked out at once we're there." Which, okay, she still wasn't ruling out, but Loki didn't really seem like the freaking out type.
“So I’ve heard,” Loki said with a grin. “This is consenting travel, so we’re off to a good start. Don’t abandon me to demons, and I’m sure it’ll be delightful?”
"Hey, I never even abandoned Tamara to demons." Illyana smirked. "Though I've gotta admit, I was tempted more than once." She moved in close and summoned up a stepping disk with a wave of her hand. "And we're off!"
They reappeared moments later in a substantially different location, just outside the fire moat surrounding her tower. Green and purple flames flared up before them, casting bizarre shadows on the mostly barren landscape, while several small dragons circled around the tower's spire.
The tower itself, Illyana decided, was looking...well, darker than it had been when she'd seen it last. A little more forbidding. She glanced over at Loki surreptitiously to see his reaction, then inwardly shrugged. It wasn't as if he knew what it had looked like before, and she'd worry about the changes another time. "Home sweet home," she said instead, smiling, and raised her arm to lower the drawbridge.
Loki took in the landscape and grinned. “Look at those beauties,” he commented, eyes on the dragons. The flaming moat was quite dramatic. Loki approved.
llyana's smile brightened. "I made them," she admitted with pride. "A couple of different types - you'll probably see some of the big ones later, there's usually a few around in the evening. We can watch them from the top of the tower."
“How sentient?” He asked curiously. “Generally lizard like, human intelligence, shrewd like cats? I’ve never met another dragon. When we were in Yorkland not many entered my territory in scaled form.”
"You were the dragon in Yorkland? I heard there was one, but I never saw it." The drawbridge settled before them, and she gestured for him to follow her inside. "They're smarter than the demon lizards I made them from," she added, answering his question. "Not human level intelligence. I've got enough trouble reining in the demons I've already got; I didn't want anything else I had to actually keep tabs on." She paused a moment, thinking of Pita, and shrugged. "They're probably about as smart as cats. Not as sneaky, though."
“For the best, if they have any ability to breathe fire.” Loki followed her inside, taking in the ambiance as they walked. “If you needed something badly enough in Yorkland we might have met. If you had no need to a deal, we might never cross paths. It was quieter beneath the city.”
Illyana was quiet for a moment as they passed through the halls, then started up the stairs that led to the library, apparently oblivious to the small demons chittering in the shadows round them., "I made a deal with the Hag of the Forest there," she admitted after a while. "It didn't exactly go well. Maybe I should've tried you instead."
“Ahh, the hag. You wouldn’t believe the number of people that tried ‘I can get a better deal from the Forest Hag’ as a bargaining trick. Fools.” Loki glanced at the architecture looming before them. “Did you survive your agreement?”
"Yeah. I'm not sure I would have - I got locked up by the guard, and while I wasn't supposed to be executed, they were definitely in an execution-y mood. But then...things ended." Just not soon enough to save Pyro. She still kind of wondered if that wasn't where things had started to go wrong between them. Granted, he'd never said he hadn't forgiven her, but...she wasn't altogether sure she'd forgiven herself.
Loki made a face. “Fortunate. I miss some of that world, but I can understand why not everyone wishes to go back.”
"Do you think it's likely we will?" Illyana frowned. "I didn't think anyone had ever figured out how we got there in the first place." She stopped at a landing, where a locked, foreboding looking door loomed, and Illyana murmured a few words to unlock it, leaving it to creak open slowly. "The library," she offered, gesturing for him to enter the circular room, which was lined floor to ceiling with bookshelves containing an array of arcane looking volumes, a handful of other books of more recent origin (some sporting covers that revealed them to be teen romances) and not a few grotesque items displayed as if they were normal knick-knacks.
Loki was about to answer when the doors swung open and he was distracted. He wandered forward, captivated by the space. “Is it safe to touch the books?” He asked in a hushed voice. “Anything you’d rather I not meddle with, or that might harm someone if handled?”
"There are some over there that it would probably be better you didn't." Illyana gestured to a shelf fronted by glass doors, behind which were some volumes that looked as if they might have been bound in human - or something nearly human - skin. "Everythng else should be okay to touch. I wouldn't read the spell books aloud unless you're 100% sure you understand them, though." She smiled, a little. "If you're wrong and your powers are at all magic-based, they'll likely be amplified here. Be careful."
Loki smiled brightly. “I’ll read silently. Thank you, Illyana.”
"Not a problem." Illyana made a swooping gesture with her hand, and the halter and jeans she'd been wearing were replaced by a similar black leather top and pants. High heeled, knee high boots replaced her sandals, and a silver amulet hung between her breasts, barely visible over the top of the halter. "I'm gonna go take care of some stuff, if you don't mind? Just call my name if you want anything; one of the demons'll find me."
Loki gave the costume change an appreciative look. “Your royal regalia is much more fun than mine,” he commented.
"Definite benefit to being the ruler; I get to pick." Or did she? Sometimes she felt as if Limbo itself picked for her. Still, it wasn't as if she were complaining. "You're welcome to wear whatever you want, though. Even," her eyes glistened with amusement, "the traditional Asgardian regalia as seen in the travel magazines." Because she'd looked, she had to admit.
Loki laughed. He let modern clothing fade, replacing it with an outfit that suited their current locale. This wasn’t his full helm with armor and velvet cloak. Like Illyana, he wore black leather pants and knee high boots with a chunky heel. The scaled leather tunic over his cloth shirt was a toned down version of anything seen in travel magazines, but still his traditional greens and golds. And if she was mentioning it, he let a demure version of his golden crown manifest, with his symbol and a stubbed version of the horns.
“Amazing how this fits into your realm’s aesthetic. Can’t say there’s much cause to put this apparel on anymore.”
"Obviously, you were born to live in this dimension," Illyana replied with a grin, only partially teasing. He certainly looked the part, and seemed right at home. "I'll keep it in mind in case I ever decide to establish a court. Or, y'know, choose a consort."
Loki winked. “As long as you don’t mind sharing, I’ll keep that in mind on the list of political alliances.”
Left unattended with this many books Loki started skimming titles and pulling down interesting options to leaf through. He also kept his eye out for the most dangerous looking corners of the room. One could look without touching and unleashing chaos. By the time Illyana returned he was at a table with a stack of seven books, deeply engrossed in reading the text in front of him.
A circle of light preceded Illyana's arrival by only a moment, and she plopped down into the opposite chair without preamble, grinning across the table at Loki as she leaned back and propped her feet on its edge, careful not to kick the priceless volumes he'd stacked beside him. "So, found some light reading?"
Loki caressed the page. “Does limbo by chance have a library card system?” He asked with a grin. “You have some fascinating texts.”
"Really not comfortable with the books leaving the library," Illyana admitted. "You're welcome to come hang out for a few days or months, though, whenever. We can always be back when we left."
Loki understood the precaution. “When we get back to school can I introduce you properly to Felix? I think this is what he’s been wishing for.”
"Oh, we've met." Illyana grinned a little and waved his offer aside. "He's already been invited to visit. We just haven't come yet."
“Good,” Loki said. “I promised I’d find him magic books. This is clearly where he needs to come.”
"So...basically you wanted to come here to make sure you could keep a promise to Felix about magic books?" Illyana replied, her eyebrows rising.
Loki shrugged. "Happy bonus. I'm here for the ambiance." He grinned.
Mostly mollified, Illyana smiled back. "If that's the case, I should really give you the full tour."
Loki moved his book pile tidily to the side. He got up from the table and stretched. "A tour would be lovely."
"Any place in particular you'd like to start?" Illyana asked.
Loki grinned. “Your favorite place.”
Illyana grinned back. She debated, for a moment, taking him to her room - but that really wasn't her favorite place, was it? "It's a long climb to the top of the tower. Want to skip the walk?"
Loki was appreciating visiting a proper castle. Magically suffused if that. “How do you suggest we do so? Teleportation or flight? I think we have both options covered.”
"Can you fly without shapeshifting?" Illyana asked, surprised.
"I can," he confirmed. "Not sure about carrying someone else for a distance, but there's also wings and depending on how friendly your dragons are to others I make a pretty awesome dragon."
"Mmmm...not sure how well the dragons play with others," she admitted, then grinned. "But I'm willing to take my chances being carried. It's Limbo, I can pretty much guarantee I can keep myself from going splat."
Loki laughed warmly. “So Superman style instead of Queen of Dragons?”
"This time, anyway. But I'm holding you to the dragon offer another time." She nodded decisively.
“You may have to hold to it halfway up,” Loki jested. He was no Thor. His personal strength didn’t hold the same prowess. Once they stepped outside he assessed the best way to do this and held his arms open. “Okay, consider this an elevated hug. Arms around the shoulders and hold on tight?”'
"On it," she assured him, wrapping her arms tight around his shoulders. "And if it doesn't work, don't shift - I can just call a portal underneath us, we'll fall right through."
“Sounds great, GLADOS.” Loki grinned and wrapped his arms securely around Illyana’s waist. “Going up.”
Funny that this was the first time Loki tried to carry someone while levitating. This was a missed opportunity during PE and powers training. Mind you, he’d finally mastered flying in a straight line, taking turns at speed, and looking graceful while doing this whatsoever. Compensating for the extra person meant their trajectory was off to a wobbly start but if he focused on up they made progress. Loki laughed as they drifted upward. “We aren’t winning any points for speed,” he promised.
"Who cares?" Illyana laughed. "The view's good. So's the company." She grinned teasingly, but wasn't lying. She liked Loki, the fact he'd actually wanted to come to Limbo (for whatever reason) was definitely in his favor, and being held like this didn't suck. Neither did the view, she decided as she looked down at the slowly receding landscape. The fire moat looked really cool from above.
Loki spied over her shoulder and had similar observations about this landscape. “This is really fucking cool. I can see the danger appeal. Your demons do great landscaping.” He glanced back toward the top of the tower to make sure they were still on track.
"It's been an uphill battle." Illyana's grin tilted, though, and she forced herself to be honest. "The demons didn't do the moat, though. Pyro did. Though the spell that keeps the fire from burning through the walls of the moat is mine."
“Are your powers stronger here?” Loki asked curiously.
Illyana grinned impishly, muttered a few syllables, and watched as the tower started to glow with a cold, purple-ish glow that blended nicely, she thought, with the green and purple flames of the moat. "Definitely."
Loki studied the light show with approval. “Do you stay at school for the company, then? This is very impressive.”
"Thanks." Illyana's face warmed and she smiled. "And yeah. I mean, I like it here, mostly? But demons are crappy company, and no one much wants to come here." She shrugged as best she could without moving her arms from around Loki's neck. "Can't blame them. It used to be a lot worse, and...well, not gonna lie, most of it still sucks. I've done what I can with the area around the tower, but...it's still Limbo. And I'm still the only way in or out. Most people don't want to risk it."
“I admit, I asked Cal for advice on how to dress for the occasion and he looked at me askance when I said I was looking forward to the trip." As they got higher the wind got trickier, causing Loki to hug Illyana closer as he course corrected. Still heading upward, still not running into the tower.
Illyana laughed, though her face warmed a little. "Yeeaaah, he's not a fan. I maybe got pissed off at him when I met him and sent him here," she admitted. "He's the only person who can get himself out, but he's never wanted to come back. Caleb's been here with me, though. And Kitty and Billy." Which, okay, maybe wasn't a great example, and she couldn't remember whether or not Loki'd been at the school when that had happened. Well, too late now.
Loki only knew what Cal told him. The fact that Illyana and Cal were friends helped. “Did Caleb also manhandle you library?”
"He's checked it out." Illyana smiled. "You're the first person who's ever wanted to take up extended residence, though." She tightened her arms around Loki and, experimentally, nuzzled his shoulder.
As someone who spent frequent time as a cat, he was open to nuzzling. Loki gave them a slow swirl as they moved upward. Fortunately they were nearing their destination and they don’t fall too astray from their path.
"Are you in any particular hurry to get back?" Illyana peered up at him, her eyes half lidded and a suggestive smile playing at her lips. After all, he didn't seem to be complaining, and it wasn't every day she had company, let alone company who actually seemed to like it there.
Loki smiled in return and glided in to carefully land them. “No hurry. I promised Cal I’d come back and not to worry, but there was no time estimate.” His feet touched down on the tower.
Illyana reached up to brush his hair back from his face as they settled down on the roof of the tower. "I can get you back to whenever you want," she reminded him. "I'm just asking if you maybe want to stay here a while longer first?"
Loki smiled as he arched a brow. “How long were you thinking of keeping me in your magic realm, dear sorceress?”
"Mmmm," Illyana hummed and stroked her fingers back through his hair, then leaned in and brushed her lips over his. "I wasn't exactly suggesting we set a timer."
Despite the flirting, Loki was surprised when Illyana kissed him. Loki was a lot of talk with little follow through. It surprised him when flirting actually turned into something else. He couldn’t help a soft, surprised, “Oh.”
Which was not smooth. Totally not smooth.
"Oh." Illyana dropped her hands and took a step backwards, looking awkward. Apparently she'd misread. The thought was both disappointing and slightly annoying, the latter just because she'd thought she was getting better at this. "Sorry. I thought you were serious."
“Serious?” Loki echoed. “About...?”
"The flirting?" Illyana sighed. "Nevermind. I thought you were interested, you're not. It's not a big deal."
“I mean, yes, I’m flirting. I’m just not used to it becoming more than that,” Loki admitted, feeling foolish even as he said it. “Sorry. You surprised me.”
"It's okay. It's not a big deal," she repeated. "You want me to just take you back to Earth?"
“The kiss was that bad, huh?” Loki said wryly.
"No. Just kinda got the impression you're not up for another," Illyana admitted, shrugging.
Loki ran his fingers back through his hair. “This is going to kill all of my cool points, but I’m going to admit it anyway in the spirit of friendship. You are the first girl to ever kiss me and not, you know, push me away afterwards and threaten to punch me if I tell anyone. So please excuse my surprise.”
"Seriously?" Illyana offered a crooked smile, because that put a whole new spin on things. "Now that you're not surprised, want to try it again? Or, y'know, anything else? I promise not to threaten or punch."
Loki smiled wryly. There was a reason he both feared and respected women more so than boys. Girls in Asgard. Frequently kicked ass. And Loki wasn’t Thor.
“Two conditions. One, don’t punch me. Two, since you’re also friends with Cal, you probably know he and I are close in a not dating way? But he’s important.” Loki’s first priority, if he was being honest. “So if you’re okay kissing me despite that, then by all means.”
"You guys aren't exclusive?" Illyana checked, just to make sure she'd understood.
“Not exclusive,” Loki acknowledged.
A smile spread over Illyana's face slowly. "I think I can agree to those conditions." She stepped back in towards him, considered what to do for a minute, then laughed. "Okay, I'm all self-conscious now," she admitted.
Loki grinned. “It’s so much easier being smooth and badass before the conversation part, am I right? How about we keep up the tour, and if the mood strikes you, we can try again.” He offered Illyana his hand. “Show me why this is your favorite part of your castle?”
Illyana slipped her hand into his and nodded. "Sounds like a plan. And y'know...if the mood strikes you? That's okay too."
He squeezed her hand and chuckled. “Deal.”
