futurology | VIDEO. UN: LOKI

[ the sound of the wind storm hollows dully against the cave walls. Loki's squidge, Bacon, can half be seen crawling in the confines of his tacky green jacket and over his knee from where he sits, sometimes ducking and squeaking when a particularly large gust hits. to keep it from screaming, Loki offers his fingers absently, which the little squidge pulls on with its pudgy arms before ducking low again. ]

Hello there, it seems like we'll be waiting this out for some time considering the weather-type circumstances. While we're all rotting away, etcetera etcetera, I thought we could amuse ourselves with a game. A little bit of team bonding funtimes, so to say. [ he twists a dark nailed hand in the air, gesturing. ]

Soo—oo ... it's called Two Truths and a Lie. How do you play? Glad you asked, it's simple! Give two true statements about yourself and add a lie to the mix, shake it up then toss it out there and see if your team members know you well enough to spot the lie.

Usually this is done with copious amounts of alcohol, but we're lacking at the moment. [ pause. ] But—ah—you could always enjoy the satisfaction of being right. It's not like we're doing much else.

NOTE | Feel free to threadjack if that's your thing!! :****

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[He's struck briefly by surprise, having known of Olivia's affections for the man, but not the state of their relationship. It passes swiftly enough, ushered away by gladness for her, because someone as kind as Olivia deserves her feelings returned in kind.

And he tries not to think much on the 'while here I stay' part. It's a matter that once concerned him, when Sieglinde asked about his own romantic pursuits, of which there were naturally none]

In that case, congratulations are in order. I'm delighted for you both.

[His smile is even evident in his words, lingering there before he moves along to addressing his question]

Olivia had expressed concerns about her combat skills. Since I have some background in formal instruction there, I've been teaching her some tactics that can overcome, for example, differences in size. Where I come from, we have a discipline called judo, although we began with basic grappling and counters. Size doesn't matter if you've got a good hold on someone's head.

[If Haise has heard his story, then too should he know that Achilles' time is finite: whether he shall fall here in the service of ALASTAIR or whether he shall soon return and there fall upon the plains surrounding Ilios, he knows not, but he does not presume that he shall live long. This truth hangs from the back of his mind as if from a tree branch with the rope around its throat, and while he accepts it, it is nevertheless difficult to embrace.]

Although I've not known you long at all, I give my thanks for your blessing.

[Then allow him a moment to process this new information. His words come now with a measure of deliberateness.]

So too must I thank you for teaching my dear Olivia skills in battle, for the nature of these missions on which we are sent is quite unpredictable. Although we wage no war in the lands to which we travel, already we have been thrust into the bloody jaws of battle on several occasions, and it would be well for all of this crew to be prepared thus.

[Although he is not terribly fond of the idea of another man "grappling" with his lover...]

Perhaps I might one day watch you in your practice, if you would be so amenable, Haise.

[Though Haise has both male and female subordinates, and has been brought in to teach full classes on occasion, he's never drawn distinctions there. Perhaps if he were of a different mind, he might, but for him it was all business. Helping others learn to defend themselves was of vital importance.

Besides which...Olivia was a good friend, and he wanted to build her confidence in battle up, not undermine it. While all this is in mind however, knowing that she and Achilles are married, he can understand there being some discomfort on the other man's part.

He knows enough of old stories to imagine why, so hopefully he can show Achilles that there's no need for concern]

Please, by all means. Actually...perhaps you could weigh in on the tactics I've been working on with her. Another perspective is always beneficial, not to mention, she could use someone other than myself to try techniques out with, if it wouldn't be an imposition.

[Haise is just a scant few inches taller than Olivia, and his build is quite lean. If Achilles wouldn't mind participating, it would help keep her from getting too routinely accustomed to an opponent roughly her size, not to mention the experience he comes with]

[Cuckoldry was a wildly popular topic in storytelling for centuries. It is not that he believes Haise to be a dishonorable young man who would aim to sway Olivia's heart away from him: these circumstances are so strange to his cultural sensibilities that he cannot help but be perturbed. Such cares, however, are allayed by his offer.]

This would indeed be to my liking, Haise. Among the Achaeans such techniques are for sport, when men wish to test their strength one against the other in friendly competition - yet while it seems strange to me that one should enter single combat in this manner, I can offer my skills thus. So too should I like to see how fast-dancing Olivia fares.

[He had seen how fiercely strikes her fighting spirit when they had battled the beast in the swamp, yet still he must strain to imagine her lithe dancer's limbs purposing to wrestle.]

[Haise finds himself both relieved and pleased that Achilles accepts the offer. When he sees for himself what Olivia is learning, it'll be good for him to know what's been going on — and he can assess and weigh-in with his own experience. That ought to be a great benefit to Olivia as well]

Great! When we're back in Oska, let's find some time that works for you both, and get a training session in. She's a very able student, though I'm sure you're already well aware of that.

[Olivia had proven better at mimicking movement than Haise might've assumed of anyone, though given her poise he supposes that's not surprising at all]

And I can prepare some lunch afterward as thanks.

[After all, Achilles is doing him a big favor participating in training]

VIDEO. UN: LOKI

nah now i just want an achilles!inigo

whispers no

but what if...

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