Bryn Zethir (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
inlaid) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
riverviewlogs2018-05-06 12:14 pm
inlaid) wrote in riverviewlogs2018-05-06 12:14 pm
[Bryn could perhaps be excused for not heading straight home. It's not that she doesn't want to see Thor again, because she does, it's just that she knows once she sees him it will probably be a while before she has a chance to check up on her other friends. So, the first moment she gets a chance to hit the road she heads straight to Taako's home.
She probably doesn't look terribly different from when he last saw her. Still short, still dark-haired, and still subtly armed even for a walk through the city. It's been eight months for her since she left, compared to Riverview's three. If she's aged any more in that time it doesn't show. There's just a sort of weariness and sense of relief that hovers around her as she drops her dufflebag to the ground and knocks on the front door.
It had been her fear once she left that she'd never make it back. Each week she spent back home in Askoupur had been one filled with tension and worry that perhaps years would pass before she would pass through the portal again. It's hard to think of words to describe how she feels now, standing on Taako's doorstep knowing that the life she'd thought she'd had to abandon is there to recapture once more. And when the door opens, Bryn's face splits with a wide smile.]
Hey, it's ya girl.
She probably doesn't look terribly different from when he last saw her. Still short, still dark-haired, and still subtly armed even for a walk through the city. It's been eight months for her since she left, compared to Riverview's three. If she's aged any more in that time it doesn't show. There's just a sort of weariness and sense of relief that hovers around her as she drops her dufflebag to the ground and knocks on the front door.
It had been her fear once she left that she'd never make it back. Each week she spent back home in Askoupur had been one filled with tension and worry that perhaps years would pass before she would pass through the portal again. It's hard to think of words to describe how she feels now, standing on Taako's doorstep knowing that the life she'd thought she'd had to abandon is there to recapture once more. And when the door opens, Bryn's face splits with a wide smile.]
Hey, it's ya girl.
[Bryn would have liked to spend the day with Taako to catch up and settle back into their friendship. A few drinks, some crappy movie or a night out on the town sounded fabulous. Still, she knew that there was time enough for that later, and as anxious as she'd been to see Taako, she was equally anxious to see Thor. Her initial focus upon return to Teru had been getting back across the border to Askoupur to save her father. The memory cannister had shown her what would happen if she remained absent, if she wasn't there to prevent his untimely death. However, once all had been resolved, her thoughts drifted back frequently to Riverview and the Asgardian she'd left behind.
While her thoughts had not always been with him upon her return to Askoupur, her heart had never left. For eight long months she'd missed him and hoped desperately that each day would be the one when she found herself back in the quarantine and standing on the front doorstep to the house they'd picked together. As she does now.
She knows that the house is still keyed to open to her, even though she's been gone for months. That sort of magic doesn't fade, and Thor would have no reason to revoke her access. Still, she doesn't know what might have changed in the last few months for him. She doesn't know if anything changed at all, but having been the one to leave...it seems better to stand there and knock instead, and hope that he'll be glad to see her once more.]
While her thoughts had not always been with him upon her return to Askoupur, her heart had never left. For eight long months she'd missed him and hoped desperately that each day would be the one when she found herself back in the quarantine and standing on the front doorstep to the house they'd picked together. As she does now.
She knows that the house is still keyed to open to her, even though she's been gone for months. That sort of magic doesn't fade, and Thor would have no reason to revoke her access. Still, she doesn't know what might have changed in the last few months for him. She doesn't know if anything changed at all, but having been the one to leave...it seems better to stand there and knock instead, and hope that he'll be glad to see her once more.]
[This wasn't how she pictured her reunion with Thor.
It's been two days since she showed up on the doorstop and rather than spending them rolling around with him in bed, she's been sitting next to it instead, keeping an eye on him while he lies there comatose. Truthfully she hadn't expected that Thor would be susceptible to illness, not like this, but from what she's gathered on the network it isn't strictly biological in nature so much as technological and magical. Lacking expertise in any of these areas, Bryn has been forced to simply sit by and hope that he recovers on his own somehow.
It had been frustrating to learn that even upon regaining her powers in Teru, what healing gifts she had did nothing for Thor. At best, what water spells she'd learned made it easier to keep him clean rather than force her to try and lift him and roll him around for a sponge bath, but it seemed a paltry silver lining. What good was the magic she had if it couldn't heal the man she loved?
During her second afternoon on sickbed watch, Bryn wakes up from a nap beside him and yawns. As expected, Thor doesn't look any different from when she dozed off, but with a wrinkle of her nose she reaches out and pokes his cheek.]
You know, this is ruining what I'd expected to be a dramatic and romantic reunion, Thor Odinson.
It's been two days since she showed up on the doorstop and rather than spending them rolling around with him in bed, she's been sitting next to it instead, keeping an eye on him while he lies there comatose. Truthfully she hadn't expected that Thor would be susceptible to illness, not like this, but from what she's gathered on the network it isn't strictly biological in nature so much as technological and magical. Lacking expertise in any of these areas, Bryn has been forced to simply sit by and hope that he recovers on his own somehow.
It had been frustrating to learn that even upon regaining her powers in Teru, what healing gifts she had did nothing for Thor. At best, what water spells she'd learned made it easier to keep him clean rather than force her to try and lift him and roll him around for a sponge bath, but it seemed a paltry silver lining. What good was the magic she had if it couldn't heal the man she loved?
During her second afternoon on sickbed watch, Bryn wakes up from a nap beside him and yawns. As expected, Thor doesn't look any different from when she dozed off, but with a wrinkle of her nose she reaches out and pokes his cheek.]
You know, this is ruining what I'd expected to be a dramatic and romantic reunion, Thor Odinson.
[The wards around Taako's house are complicated, a mess of his own, Lup's, Lucretia's, and he wouldn't be surprised if Loki had tossed something up at some point, but they don't change very often. He makes exceptions as they're needed and rarely revokes access, so Bryn doesn't have any trouble getting inside. The minor trouble is that on Taako's end, the little ping he gets feels familiar, except that can't be right.
He's maybe a bit apprehensive as he opens the door, but it fades away instantly, replaced with a grin.]
What the fuck.
[It's not really a question, since he's too busy pulling her into a hug for her to answer.
Taako's not a hugger, but he's missed Bryn.]
He's maybe a bit apprehensive as he opens the door, but it fades away instantly, replaced with a grin.]
What the fuck.
[It's not really a question, since he's too busy pulling her into a hug for her to answer.
Taako's not a hugger, but he's missed Bryn.]
[It's weird and horribly cliche, but she hadn't realized just how much she'd missed Taako until she saw him standing in the doorway. Just like that, her heart swelled and somehow her wide smile stretched wider at his response.
If she had an answer for him, it's muffled against his shoulder as he pulls her into a hug and Bryn returns it with a tight squeeze. Deities, it feels good to see him again, and just for good measure she gives him another squeeze before pulling back.]
Careful, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were happy to see me again.
If she had an answer for him, it's muffled against his shoulder as he pulls her into a hug and Bryn returns it with a tight squeeze. Deities, it feels good to see him again, and just for good measure she gives him another squeeze before pulling back.]
Careful, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were happy to see me again.
[As soon as Bryn pulls back from the hug, Taako gently frames her face in his hands, almost like he's studying her, looking for the subtle differences that might clue him in to how long she's been gone.]
If you tell anyone they won't believe it.
[There's no real reason to continue his masquerade about not giving a shit, but it's habit at this point.]
You coming in or is this a drive-by before you go bone your boyfriend?
[He knows her.]
If you tell anyone they won't believe it.
[There's no real reason to continue his masquerade about not giving a shit, but it's habit at this point.]
You coming in or is this a drive-by before you go bone your boyfriend?
[He knows her.]
[Bryn responds with a soft snort and lets the elf cup her face and study it to his heart's content. Aside from looking a little less vibrant than before, and perhaps a little thinner, she seems about the same. Maybe closer to how she was when they first met than when she left.]
I'm coming in before going to bone my boyfriend.
[It's a drive-by, but that doesn't mean they can't go inside for a little bit and go through the basics in some semblance of comfort.]
Seemed smarter to come visit you for a bit before disappearing for a day or three instead of doing the reverse, unless you don't have time right now?
I'm coming in before going to bone my boyfriend.
[It's a drive-by, but that doesn't mean they can't go inside for a little bit and go through the basics in some semblance of comfort.]
Seemed smarter to come visit you for a bit before disappearing for a day or three instead of doing the reverse, unless you don't have time right now?
[Taako presses a kiss to Bryn's forehead before releasing her and stepping back to usher her inside. It's nice that she's staying for a little bit, because the fact she's back is a whole lot of emotions to deal with and he'd like to have a few moments for that.]
I've always got time for you, bubbale. You want tea, coffee, something a little stronger?
[She seems more tired than he remembers, but he knows that what she went back to wasn't easy.]
I've always got time for you, bubbale. You want tea, coffee, something a little stronger?
[She seems more tired than he remembers, but he knows that what she went back to wasn't easy.]
[For the last four months, Bryn's mother kissed her forehead every morning before Bryn left for debriefings with the Council and various members of the Twelve. Each morning doing so because it might be the day that Bryn would end up back in Riverview. There was just no knowing. Being greeted with a kiss to the forehead made her feel like she'd come full circle. A good bye and a greeting. The end of one chapter of her life and the start of another.]
Let's start with tea with a splash of something stronger in it.
[She heads inside at Taako's prompting and heads for the soft couch where she's used to flopping whenever she comes over.]
Do you want to start with me or you?
Let's start with tea with a splash of something stronger in it.
[She heads inside at Taako's prompting and heads for the soft couch where she's used to flopping whenever she comes over.]
Do you want to start with me or you?
[There's a carafe of iced tea in the fridge already so he opts for that, pouring two glasses with a splash of a sweet liquor and bringing them over to the couch where he sits maybe just a tiny bit closer than he normally would.
At her question, he does his best to look super innocent while he raises his glass to his lips.]
Well, me and your boyfriend fucked, so there's that.
[siiiiiiiiiiip]
At her question, he does his best to look super innocent while he raises his glass to his lips.]
Well, me and your boyfriend fucked, so there's that.
[siiiiiiiiiiip]
[And just like that, whatever soft, fuzzy feelings she had that made her heart full and gave her a sense of rightness disappear in a moment of stunned silence, followed quickly by bubbling laughter.]
I can't even say that I'm actually surprised.
[Bryn grabs her glass and takes a sip as well, looking over at Taako speculatively.]
I assume you both had a good time.
[It's not even really a question.]
I can't even say that I'm actually surprised.
[Bryn grabs her glass and takes a sip as well, looking over at Taako speculatively.]
I assume you both had a good time.
[It's not even really a question.]
[There'd been only a brief moment of worry that Bryn might actually be annoyed about what happened, but only brief, she understands that sometimes these things just sort of go the way they do.
So he just shrugs, trying not to grin.]
I mean, he basically booty called me while wearing boardshorts, so I dunno if I'd say it was good.
[It was great, he's being a shit. But more seriously, because the best way to deal with feelings is to just drop them at the tail end of a joke:]
Rin left, about the same time you did.
So he just shrugs, trying not to grin.]
I mean, he basically booty called me while wearing boardshorts, so I dunno if I'd say it was good.
[It was great, he's being a shit. But more seriously, because the best way to deal with feelings is to just drop them at the tail end of a joke:]
Rin left, about the same time you did.
[He's right, she gets it. She left. They had no reason to believe she'd come back. It might be a bit harder to cope with if they'd fallen in love while she was gone, but sex was, well, just sex.
So she takes it in stride, because what else is there to do? She doesn't need or want to ask for more details beyond that, and the far more pertinent matter at hand here is the fact that Rin apparently is gone also. Still watching Taako, she drinks again, purses her lips together.]
Well, shit. Are you alright?
So she takes it in stride, because what else is there to do? She doesn't need or want to ask for more details beyond that, and the far more pertinent matter at hand here is the fact that Rin apparently is gone also. Still watching Taako, she drinks again, purses her lips together.]
Well, shit. Are you alright?
It is what it is.
[He's working on the assumption that Bryn has looked at a local calendar between coming through the portal and arriving at his front door, so she'll know that it was a few months ago now.]
Uh, Kravitz is here? And Barry. Magnus left like two fucking days ago but that's cool, I'll see him again. I'm thinking about buying an actual shop for Flour It Up? That's kinda what cha boy's been up to.
[Just... skipping over the whole hologram mess cause it's too complicated for a quick catch up, even if it does tie into the whole 'sleeping with Thor' thing.]
[He's working on the assumption that Bryn has looked at a local calendar between coming through the portal and arriving at his front door, so she'll know that it was a few months ago now.]
Uh, Kravitz is here? And Barry. Magnus left like two fucking days ago but that's cool, I'll see him again. I'm thinking about buying an actual shop for Flour It Up? That's kinda what cha boy's been up to.
[Just... skipping over the whole hologram mess cause it's too complicated for a quick catch up, even if it does tie into the whole 'sleeping with Thor' thing.]
[ Since Thor fell sick, Loki has kept a close eye. And when he collapsed, Loki immediately spirited him away to his house and stayed there. He hasn't let any of Thor's friends visit. He doesn't want them here and he suspects they were the reason Thor fell sick to begin with. When the wards tingle, Loki rises to his feet, sharp and taunt before he notices who it is. ]
Bryn?
Bryn?
[She has looked at the calendar, but that doesn't mean that she can't ask, just in case. As always, Taako doesn't hesitate to remind her that whether he's okay or not, it doesn't change the situation. They both understand that sometimes it's better to just...be okay with the circumstances because it's all you can do.]
Seems like I've missed a lot in the last few months. I'm sorry to hear about Magnus [she'll have to find out how Qiri is doing, now that she thinks about it] but...Lup must be happy that Barry is here. And Kravitz? How is that going?
[The shop is the shop. It's not that she doesn't care, but, well, let's be real it's not as critical to her right now as Rin and Kravitz both leaving and arriving respectively.]
Seems like I've missed a lot in the last few months. I'm sorry to hear about Magnus [she'll have to find out how Qiri is doing, now that she thinks about it] but...Lup must be happy that Barry is here. And Kravitz? How is that going?
[The shop is the shop. It's not that she doesn't care, but, well, let's be real it's not as critical to her right now as Rin and Kravitz both leaving and arriving respectively.]
She's pretty fucking stoked, for sure.
[So is Taako, honestly. He's not as close to Barry as Lup is, obviously, but he's still family and it's reassuring to have him around. Barry was the first person he really talked to, about everything with Rin.]
It's uh-- we're working on it, you know? He's sort of from the future so that's fucking wild.
[So is Taako, honestly. He's not as close to Barry as Lup is, obviously, but he's still family and it's reassuring to have him around. Barry was the first person he really talked to, about everything with Rin.]
It's uh-- we're working on it, you know? He's sort of from the future so that's fucking wild.
[Loki isn't the person she expects to see opening the door, but she's not surprised in the least. Why wouldn't Loki be visiting the house? She greets the much taller Asgardian with a wide smile.]
In the flesh. I made it back just today...it's good to see you.
[And it really is. Perhaps she and Loki are not particularly close but she considers him a friend, not just Thor's brother, and he's sort of trolled her before which more or less counts as a form of affection, doesn't it?]
You're doing well, I hope?
In the flesh. I made it back just today...it's good to see you.
[And it really is. Perhaps she and Loki are not particularly close but she considers him a friend, not just Thor's brother, and he's sort of trolled her before which more or less counts as a form of affection, doesn't it?]
You're doing well, I hope?
And all of this, people coming and going and a new business location...not even counting all of the typical holiday chaos and unexpected events that seem to crop up in this place?
[She drinks more...and then on a whim shifts until she's settled against Taako. It's been months since they sat on the couch like this and the physical contact is appealing after the separation. It's only been three months for him, but it's been eight for Bryn, and they've been largely unpleasant.]
Has anything major happened in the city itself or is it all business as usual?
[She drinks more...and then on a whim shifts until she's settled against Taako. It's been months since they sat on the couch like this and the physical contact is appealing after the separation. It's only been three months for him, but it's been eight for Bryn, and they've been largely unpleasant.]
Has anything major happened in the city itself or is it all business as usual?
I was fucking blind for a bit, that was stupid.
[Obviously he's fine now, and it relates to that whole 'typical holiday chaos'.
When she leans against him, Taako loosely wraps an arm around Bryn's shoulders, lazily twirling his fingers in her hair as he talks.]
That was cause of these big ass creatures that migrated through the river, there was all this flooding and shit, Lucretia lost her apartment but she's all good, living with Beverly now. I think the rest of it's calmed down? There were-- [okay, he should actually talk about this if they're doing the whole 'bad things in the city' rundown.] There were holograms? That seemed real fucking legit until they disappeared. Fucked with a few people but I think that's about the extent of it, the usual minor bullshit went on but it wasn't noteworthy.
[Obviously he's fine now, and it relates to that whole 'typical holiday chaos'.
When she leans against him, Taako loosely wraps an arm around Bryn's shoulders, lazily twirling his fingers in her hair as he talks.]
That was cause of these big ass creatures that migrated through the river, there was all this flooding and shit, Lucretia lost her apartment but she's all good, living with Beverly now. I think the rest of it's calmed down? There were-- [okay, he should actually talk about this if they're doing the whole 'bad things in the city' rundown.] There were holograms? That seemed real fucking legit until they disappeared. Fucked with a few people but I think that's about the extent of it, the usual minor bullshit went on but it wasn't noteworthy.
[Okay, she's glad she missed the blindness, and as for the flooding, well, she assumes that Taako would tell her if somehow her house was affected by that. His hesitation about the holograms draws her attention, however. She glances up at him out of the corner of her eye.]
What were the holograms of? How did they fuck with people?
What were the holograms of? How did they fuck with people?
People from everyone's worlds, you know? There was one of Kravitz. That's kinda how the uh, the shit with Thor happened.
[He doesn't say 'I was kinda fucked up about that and Thor was fucked up about losing you so we had bad decision sex', he just assumes that's implied.]
So like - try not to hold it against him. Loki already punched him for it, he's had his comeuppance.
[Distraction~]
[He doesn't say 'I was kinda fucked up about that and Thor was fucked up about losing you so we had bad decision sex', he just assumes that's implied.]
So like - try not to hold it against him. Loki already punched him for it, he's had his comeuppance.
[Distraction~]
I am fine. Your timing is . . . [ Loki trails off, glancing at Thor. ]
It could be better.
[ He straightens himself, adjusting his clothes, making himself look more presentable. ]
It could be better.
[ He straightens himself, adjusting his clothes, making himself look more presentable. ]
[It's implied, and Bryn catches it. One of the good things about Taako is that there are so many things they can leave unsaid, knowing the other will already catch it, understand it. So she just nods. Yes, she gets it. She didn't expect Thor to handle it well that she'd left, and that he and Taako hooked up...
It is what it is, isn't it? Another one of those situations where she can't change anything, just accept it.]
Loki punched him? [That surprises her.] I can't really hold it against Thor. I left, and he didn't know if I'd ever come back. I didn't know. He knew that...that he was free to do whatever he needed or wanted to cope or move on. Interesting that Loki punched him over it...
[How 'bout that side-long glance, Taako.]
It is what it is, isn't it? Another one of those situations where she can't change anything, just accept it.]
Loki punched him? [That surprises her.] I can't really hold it against Thor. I left, and he didn't know if I'd ever come back. I didn't know. He knew that...that he was free to do whatever he needed or wanted to cope or move on. Interesting that Loki punched him over it...
[How 'bout that side-long glance, Taako.]
[Well now, isn't this...odd. Alarming.
Bryn glances down to the large bag at her feet, wondering if she'll need to drag it back to Taako's after all. Somewhat stiffer, smile not quite so bright anymore, she looks Loki in the eyes, searching for some sign of what the problem is.]
My timing would have been better if I hadn't had to leave at all. Would he not want to see me?
[Should she go?]
Bryn glances down to the large bag at her feet, wondering if she'll need to drag it back to Taako's after all. Somewhat stiffer, smile not quite so bright anymore, she looks Loki in the eyes, searching for some sign of what the problem is.]
My timing would have been better if I hadn't had to leave at all. Would he not want to see me?
[Should she go?]
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