innkeeps

 ⠀⠀⠀⠀ hallie was used to many things, like beings with fire for hair and ones who didn’t speak a language known to earth. thankfully, she had the lovely occupants of her inn to translate for her. what she wasn’t used to was inebriated gods using her countertops as a pillow, on the verge of crying. perhaps loki was not there yet, but his utterly dejected state of being suggested that he was nearly there. she had been there quite a few times herself throughout the years, especially when she first got here—- to this exact spot—- when it looked nothing like it does now. she didn’t know what exactly he was going through, but it was quite clear that it was tormenting him. she sucks in a breath, and then she leans forward.
             ⠀⠀⠀⠀ “you know,”  she starts, her voice barely above a whisper,  “drinks and food are included with the initial price.”  that was not going to give loki any comfort, she knows that, but it was the alternative to getting her hand cut clean off. she was quite attached to it, after all. she rests her forearms on the counter, lips forming a thin line as she stared as the god cracking beneath the weight of emotions he probably thinks are just foolish. she doesn’t, though. she understands them, perhaps better than anyone else could have. she’s not sure what she does next will do anything at all to relieve his turmoil, but… well, it’s the only option that she has right now.
             ⠀⠀⠀⠀ “have you decided what you want your compensation to be? if not, i have something you might find… suitable.”  was she really going through with this? yes, probably. what choice does she have when her heart aches knowing that his does the very same?
            @liesgard 

*    @innkeeps
            
                amidst his drunken stupor,  loki had not a morsel of stability to spare on masquerading as a fool blind to his own emotions any longer.  the task had grown increasingly impossible since his arrival from asgard,  and this was the fruits of his labour,  the unadulterated anguish he was plagued with against his will.  what a bother to be affected by such human feelings like homesickness and abhorrence,  especially once the two combined into the—  apparently—  unstoppable amalgamation of torment he experienced now.
                `  yes,  `  something jerked violently at lokis throat as the reply came.  utterly dejected,  he abandoned all his majesty and dropped his head into his cradled arms,  shielded from the light that had in an instant become unbearable.  his ebony curls had come undone as the evening progressed and now tumbled,  unruly,  around his slumped shoulders,  a black curtain smothering the pitiful face underneath.  another sharp exhale resounded as he rubbed his weary eyes with a knuckled fist.
                `  take whatever gold i have left if you must,  it was all stolen anyway.  thank my father.  `

 ⠀⠀⠀⠀ “i wasn’t going to ask.”  that wasn’t the truth, but loki didn’t need to know that. loki probably saw right through the lie, actually. it was a concept practically invented by the deity, wasn’t it? the tip of her tongue presses against the inside of her cheek as she grabs the god yet another, the movement muscle memory rather than a conscious decision. her whole purpose was to please the guests who stayed at the inn, after all. loki was a guest, she was supposed to make sure he was pleased while he stayed.
             ⠀⠀⠀⠀ “i’ll be out of stock within the night if you’re going to keep this pace.”  unless she went to the market right now, which wouldn’t take too long but it would involve her secrets no longer being so. her gaze flicks to the mirror alongside the east wall, contemplating allowing herself to expose her own secrets just to please the deity.  “you are, aren’t you?”
            @liesgard 

@innkeeps //
            
                  He looked around and he nodded some, he was still a little curious about the place, “it’s really serene here, I’m already feeling quite at ease.” The witch spoke and he clasped his hands in front of him. He seemed to think for a second and he fixed the glasses over his face. Suddenly he looked back at her and he spoke up, “yes I shall join you here, I could use a break for a bit.” He then gave her a closed eye smile and shifted on his feet as his robes swayed gently around him.

 ⠀⠀ “this is the emerald inn. it is a sanctuary for those in need of a safe place to rest and regain their energy, those who seek an escape from their stress-filled daily lives, and many more.”  the innkeeper offers a kind smile as she moves to rest her hands on the desktop, her gaze landing on the man before her. his words, mixed with his attire, allows hallie to make the snap judgement that he’s a wizard—- or at least something similar. the pointed hat is what sells her on the wizard thing.
             ⠀⠀ “it seems they think you need a getaway of your own, otherwise they would not have led you here.”  cryptic responses that offer no real information was where hallie specialized; she never gave too much information away, but at least offered the necessary hints at it.  “will you be joining us?”
            @-InkAndMagic 
            
            /          i’m all for being a guinea pig when it comes to these sorts of things! i can’t wait to see what it’ll be like when you have him all figured out <33 

 ⠀⠀ i assumed so when you showed up with blood on you. it wasn’t from tripping.  (..)  you are more than welcome to stay here, where they won’t find you.
            @baredclaws 

 ⠀⠀ all right,   [hallie hums. she puts the fresh croissants on a large plate with flower designs on it, not looking at charlotte but still listening to her nevertheless. she didn’t ask questions of her own to her guests, but she never made the rule that they couldn’t. clearly, charlotte was quite the curious one. with a smile on her lips, she answers,]   if i were to call myself a witch, it would be a lie. i don’t want to lie to myself, or to anyone else.

⠀ ⠀ um,  no  thank  you.  (  lettie’s eyebrows furrow,  she’s met plenty of witches but most wear it on their sleeves with obvious magic and powerful spells.  hallie,  though,  did none of that.  even the smell of magic was something that blended in with her nature scent rather than a different scent entirely.  )  but  / you /  don’t  call  yourself  a  witch  ?  why  not  ?  

 ⠀⠀ well.. if you would like to call me that, you most certainly can. i think you’re smelling the croissants, though. they’re delicious. would you like one?
            @baredclaws 

╱⠀⠀ @crimsonhour 
            thank you so much, ml!! it is always an honor for you to call my accounts gorgeous ❤️

/     i should have said it earlier buuut i am so late  !

╱⠀⠀ @liesgard 
            that second message is soooo real omg. && i sort of figured it would be a bit like marvel rivals when i peeped that pfp, and i am absolutely smitten with the way you give her those written thoughts. i haven’t seen many people ever attempt it. it feels like it’s mostly just actions now, so it’s a breath of fresh air.
            i love mythos loki and i love rivals loki, but i do like mcu! i just hate that they made thor, loki, and hel(a) siblings </3 i believe rivals did too, but then they switched out hela’s voiceline calling him sibling/brother, fixing the fact that hel(a) is, in fact, loki’s daughter! 

idk where that second asterisk OR those spaces came from fml

 ⠀⠀ “oh, but it is actually quite the opposite. if someone does rat you out, it is because they are loyal, it would just so happen to be me.. not to a god they’ve never heard of before.”  she had heard of him before. briefly, through the stories of those who had been welcomed to her home. she wasn’t impressed with the emerald inn allowing his presence, but at the end of the day.. it was a mixture between her own magic and the sentient beings of the land that allowed it. she was partially to blame, too.
             ⠀⠀ “right,”  she whispers,  “you want to be kept away from the ‘heroes,’ whatever that means.”  she clears her throat, pursing her lips and allowing her gaze to flick up to the chandelier that hung in the tea room. cherys will need to be dusted soon, but hallie will get to that during the night. no one will disturb the conversation then. she taps her fingers against the table in thought, trying to figure out exactly what fake name would suit the god of mischief. then he speaks of her adequacy, and she laughs. the sound is as warm as the tea she serves, carefree like the wind that blows through the inn’s open windows.
             ⠀⠀ “until this interaction, all i knew was that you had asgardian gold. that usually means you are an asgardian, but.. on very rare occasions, i am wrong. shall i give it a redo?”  she doesn’t offer the god her own name. she’s ninety-nine percent sure that loki wouldn’t use it anyway, and therefore she didn’t see a point in doing so. despite the fact that she has opened her home to him, and he was an absolute twat when he first arrived, she does still intend to be a good hostess.  “it wouldn’t take me very long, and i would be happy to do so if it would make you more comfortable.”
            @liesgard 

*    @innkeeps
            
                `  anyone who  '  tattles  '  on loki of asgard is a traitorous fool,  `  threats were not so exciting when they were presented in the most discreet manner.  they were nevertheless wonderful at making another fall into place without exerting force.  this he could respect,  he supposed,  though he would never yield to them himself.  it was not the notion of his whereabouts or the details of his misdemeanours being uncovered that encouraged this docile behaviour,  but his own personal volition.  abiding by the rules of another as opposed to his own were two very different matters,  and thus he was unintimidated and uninspired by all but himself.
            
                loki had no intention to insult the intelligence of the woman before him,  but at her next declaration,  the whim presented itself just for a moment.  although he smiled,  it was a strained one,  the burden of holding his tongue immense as he raised his hand—  to silence his own considerations or her words,  he had no idea.  a brief silence followed,  wherein he abandoned those desires with a short chuckle.  
                `  no no.  *  loki  *  has never been here.  i want a pseudonym,  something...  unremarkably average and quotidian,  like all the other guests here,  `  somehow,  that natural talent to belittle the commoners that surrounded him never quite dispersed.  as he went on,  loki found himself seated at the same table that had only just been cleaned.  a palm supported his chin,  gaze set upon the innkeeper without lifting his head,  `  the room is adequate.  the tasteless asgardian decor is astonishingly accurate.  well done,  you.  `

 ⠀⠀ hallie’s right brow raises in what could be considered confusion, but that’s not quite true. the faintest tug at the corner of her lips could suggest she hides amusement, which is a fair assumption. this being was unlike many who visit her inn, going from murderous to scared in a mere moments notice. everybody had their mood shifts, she was familiar with that—- she once did that, too. but nobody had given her such a feeling of whiplash before. she stands a little taller now, the rag she was using to wipe down the table in the tea room momentarily forgotten now, her hands clasping behind her back.
             ⠀⠀ “oh, i am under no obligation to watch you in case you screw this up for yourself. however, that being said, i would still advise you to be on your best behavior while you are here. you never do know who watches and may tattle.”  the innkeeper flashes a smile, warm and gentle in nature as if she not just deliver her own, quite non-intimidating version of a threat. she would not deliver a traditional threat to those who did not truly deserve it, for that is not the kind of woman she is.
             ⠀⠀  “oh, it is so good to finally know your name so that i can put it in my records! i tried not to ask. respecting the privacy of my guests is the first rule, after all.”  she waves her hands as she speaks, rather expressive now that she’s not sitting behind a desk and they’re not hostile. now that her hands are moving, she’s finishing her quick little clean up of the table.  “how are you liking your room?”  just because she was respecting privacy didn’t mean she wasn’t going to ask the important questions. well, her version of important questions.
            @liesgard 
            
            ╱⠀⠀ i will love every version of loki i have the pleasure of coming across, but yours just might be my favorite!! you give both internal and external, which not many people do anymore. the internal monologue is how i’d imagine loki talk, too (‘:

 ⠀⠀ oh. well, that’s not a problem! you don’t have to worry about any of that, dear. just sit, eat something fresh and warm, and i will get you a room figured out. does that sound all right?
            @baredclaws 

 ⠀⠀ oh, don’t worry about that! are you all right? where are you bleeding, dear?
            @baredclaws 

*⠀ ⠀ first  showing  up  to  the  inn  ?

 ⠀⠀ if she notices the being’s rage, she doesn’t let it faze her, much like the coins thrown on her desk didn’t. this was a woman who kept a magical inn alive for almost her entire life, a woman who had seen far more threatening things than the being before her, and she stood tall—- unafraid, unfazed. in this inn, hidden away between the mountains and the forests, her word was law. it was her authority, and the inn knew that, as well as those who visited. at least, most of them. clearly, he did not know better.
             ⠀⠀ hallie finally looks up at him, but it is only when he speaks the nonsense of ‘sparing’ her life. she leans forward then, her forearms pressing into the dark wood of her desk, her hands clasping in her hands. the pen is still tucked between her fingers, though it moves to fit between fingers of both hands comfortably. her brows furrow, and her blue gaze flicks over the appearance of the being—- at least what she can see of him. it was clear he held power of his own, many who visited this inn did, but that wasn’t intimidating in the slightest. a sigh escapes her lips, and then she’s setting down the pen for the first time.
             ⠀⠀ “whether or not we get along swimmingly, whilst you are here, it is my duty to keep you and the other guests safe. those who disobey the rules will be handled accordingly, as well as those who seek this place for the wrong reasons.. although it is entirely unlikely the inn will allow them to enter in the first place.”  whether or not he truly understood what she was saying, or implying, that didn’t matter. her sole purpose to was to provide safety, a warm bed, and delicious things to eat or drink. even to those like him.  “are you satisfied with my answer enough to go to your room, your highness?”
            @liesgard 

*    @innkeeps 
            
                this is not a man so willing to be treated in the same way he acted towards others.  this was a spoiled,  pompous,  arrogant royal who saw those who denied him the respect he deserved as an enemy.  no other would hold a grudge with such vehemence as loki of jotunheim,  king to be of asgard and the cosmos.  a thick silence settled between the two of them.  loki yearned to gut this innkeeper even if it drew assailants to the scene.  it took much deliberation to deem this idea largely unprofitable—  although the satisfaction would be grand—  and only then did he stand down.  his shoulders,  stiff with trembling rage,  dropped and the clenched fists at his side poised to summon his dagger unfurled with time.
            
                another day.  another time.  his only solace in such ire was that the time would come when not only she,  but all living creatures would receive their dues for insulting his pride.  for now all loki could do was raise his hand and snatch the key while he struggled in his attempt to find words.  what came was spat with such vice,  yet the utterance was akin to a child losing his temper.
                `  i will have many complaints!  and—  `  here,  his tone died down almost instantaneously,  grudge forgotten for the time being.  he continued on urgently,  `  if anyone should come here who looks...  *  heroic  *  or...  *  vindictive  *  ,  i never came to this inn and you have never heard a word of me.  grant me this favour and when i am king,  i will spare your life.  `

 ⠀⠀ the clattering of the gold pieces does not startle her. it annoys her. while she was looking down at the book previously, ready to take the his name for her records, her eyes snap up. her focus isn’t on the coins that now splayed across the wooden surface, but rather at the being who threw them. she stares at him for a long moment, but then she stands from the stool. she turns towards the wall behind her, where a giant key collection resides—- all of them unique in shape, size, and color.
             ⠀⠀ “i understand that you may be in a hurry,”  she speaks calmly despite her annoyance,  “but do not take that tone with me.”  she turns around with the green key in hand, her index finger curled through the ring it was connected to, before she’s throwing it at him in the same manner he had thrown his coins at her desk. hallie pushes the asgardian gold into a pile, and then she’s dropping into a drawer. she sits back down at the desk, writing something in the book.  “room thirteen. if you have complaints, write a note and leave it in the basket. if you wish to extend your stay, simply make another payment. thank you for deciding to stay at the emerald inn.”
            @liesgard