princex

[purposeful_glory]

In the largest city on Asgard is the second-largest marketplace. (There is a smaller city with more of a commerce focus. Still.) In it, Asgardians are buying and selling objects. The aesthetic is premodern but the technology is high and the magic subtly prevalent; everyone is LARPing their very hardest that they are primordial forces of nature with only pointy sticks and their wits, and the electronics are gracefully hiding while the spellcraft props up the illusion.

Here is an Asgardian with a pointy stick, her wits, and more magic buzzing along in her than any other person for miles around. This is particular notable because she's a she. The more conventional amounts of magic locally had are all found in men.

She's not doing any magic right now, though, she's talking to a paper-seller.

Comments

[purposeful_glory]

"It's unfeminine."

[disregards_the_lines]

"How so?"

[purposeful_glory]

"I am not a cultural guide for impolite tourists."

[disregards_the_lines]

"Fair enough. I suppose it can't be too great of a taboo if a member of the royal family so casually breaks it."

[purposeful_glory]

"I'm reconsidering beating your head in to drive home the point."

[disregards_the_lines]

Raiden laughs, "You are welcome to try."

[purposeful_glory]

"You're unarmed. It wouldn't be sporting. But do stop being deliberately obtuse."

[disregards_the_lines]

"I'm not being obtuse, just difficult."

[purposeful_glory]

"I don't care what you call it."

[disregards_the_lines]

"That must make life easier. I have too many friends who get tangled up in words, I doubt they'd like you much."

[purposeful_glory]

"Nor do I care about your social circle. Regarding the only topic of mutual interest, are you done being difficult?"

[disregards_the_lines]

"It depends. If I stop being difficult, will you start being interesting?"

[purposeful_glory]

"Excuse me?"

[disregards_the_lines]

"You have more magic, more potential than I've seen in years. But so far all you've done is play the role of offended nobility, and I grew tired of that particular song and dance long ago."

[purposeful_glory]

"Your actions so far have all been various flavors and degrees of offense, and I am a princess. If you desire results other than offended nobility, you will have to be something other than offending visitor."

[disregards_the_lines]

"Very well," Raiden says.
He reaches out, and lends her his sight.

The world recedes slightly. It becomes harder to focus on her immediate surroundings. The people in the market are visible again, as are many people who are farther away. Trying to look at any one of them brings a brief, barely intelligible barrage of sensory input that leaves her with faint impressions of cold passion, old pain, new ideas, magic, war...

The man in front of her is one of the brighter ones. From him there is a brief, vivid impression of distance, regret, and boredom and a chaotic collage of a dozen different worlds.

[purposeful_glory]

"This is an interesting trick. Where did you pick it up?"

[disregards_the_lines]

"Observation, practice, and a few powerful friends."

[purposeful_glory]

"That's a how. Not a where."

[disregards_the_lines]

"The location wasn't important. You wouldn't recognize it."
Raiden glances away, "Besides, it doesn't exist anymore."

[purposeful_glory]

"Who are you?"

[disregards_the_lines]

"Raiden," he inclines his head.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."

[purposeful_glory]

"Loki Odinsdottir. Can you teach this skill?"

[disregards_the_lines]

"Perhaps. It depends on luck and whom I'm trying to teach. Proficiency with magic seems to help."

[purposeful_glory]

"I've never heard of someone who could see what you apparently can."