Hare today gone tomorrow (For Loki)

[inkstainedheart]

Quill still wasn't entirely sure this wasn't some corner of the Feywild. Logically it wasn't, he could sense pockets of Fae magic here and there that he studiously avoided, but otherwise... it didn't have the same feeling. But the oddity of the place, the way it apparently resisted order in shifting about if the claims were true rather reeked of the sort of mischief the Fair Folk enjoyed.

But nothing for it. He was here now, he'd just be mindful as he looked about. Because the discomfort of potential new entanglements were trumped with a new place to explore. Both for the practical idea of new information or possible power to be had, and well...

The less logical side of him itched for a quill to write another letter.

It was that more than practicality that kept the little brightly-dressed harengon moving through the Plaza, dodging the taller folk with easy experience as he considered his options. It was a busy place... likely easy to make a bit of coin if he were to play near that fountain. Good way to snoop for information too.

A long, black ear flickered faintly towards a noise nearby, but otherwise Quill didn't overly worry about it just yet as everything still sounded conversational around him.

Comments

[coldsong]

What approaches Quill first is not a human or similar entity, but a cat. Or...is it a cat? It appears to be metal, with glowing eyes. Some kind of automaton. It gallops past him in a way that says this is not a hunting animal, turns and gallops back, and then stops and rolls onto its back and makes a whistling, clicking noise.

"Freya, no! Come back here!" A moment later a blonde girl, a child, comes into view, holding what appears to be a remote control. It must be a malfunctioning remote, though, because the automaton cat only wiggles its legs in the air.

[inkstainedheart]

Well now, that's not what he expected today. The odd metal cat reminds him somewhat of Sira and her steel defender, though that was much larger, given it was modelled after a lion. This little feline was not nearly as menacing, even earning a wry little grin from Quill as it rolled over showing it's belly. But he didn't have enough time to say or do anything in response before he heard that call, opal-swirled gaze turning towards the girl and the device she was clutching in her hand.

That just cemented the idea of some manner of artificer invention, the little harengon gesturing towards the cat. "This yours then?"

[coldsong]

The little girl comes up short, and her eyes get big for a moment as she looks over the rabbit in fancy clothes. In her opinion, it could use a little more pink, but still, wow! "Yeah! She's mine. I don't know why she's not responding to vocal commands. I might have to take her to the shop."

The cat rolls back to its feet and trots toward the girl, bonking its head against her legs. "She won't hurt you. She doesn't have a hunting mode or a battle mode."

A second girl, a little older, approaches at a casual walk, and gives a shy smile as she sees who her sister is talking to. "Oh, I really like your hat!"

[inkstainedheart]

"Artificer things can be like that sometimes, I've noticed." It wasn't the first time he'd gotten that kind of wide-eyed look, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Both just for the fact of the clothing he chose and being... well harengon weren't super common.

At the assurance of the cat's friendliness he nodded, reaching a hand in her direction to see what the feline would make of it before the girl's... sister? Friend? Came to join them. Her compliment earned a nod from him, and a bit of a smile as he tugged lightly at the brim briefly.. "You're too kind."

[coldsong]

"Artificer? I mean, she's technically a toy," The blonde girl looks uncertain, reaching down to haul the robo-cat into her arms. It's almost as long as she is tall, so this takes a fair bit of effort. From this vantage point, the cat bonks its head into the harengon's hand. It's friendly.

"Are you new to the Nexus?" the older girl asks. "I don't think we've ever seen a rabbit person here before. Oh--um, is that rude? What do you like to be called? My name is Sigrid, and my sister is Una. We're Asgardian."

[inkstainedheart]

"Artificers are the people who make mechanical things like your cat there. At least back home, that is." Who knew what they would be called here after all. The headbonk is duly rewarded with a rub behind kitty ears.

"Rude? No, I mean I do look fairly rabbit-ish and all." A faint flick of his ears, as their easy sharing of their names meant this was entirely less likely to be any corner of the Feywild or even adjacent to it. "I am new though. You can call me Quill, I can't say I know what Asgardians are but I'm a harengon myself."

[coldsong]

"I've never heard that word before," Una says thoughtfully, but she appears to be convinced regardless.

"Hello, Quill!" They're trying so hard to be polite, but these are two little girls who absolutely love soft furry animals and pretty clothes. They are probably itching to touch his ears.

That can wait, though. The rest of the family is arriving now, an adolescent boy with dusky skin slinking over behind a tall man with raven hair, carrying a toddler in his arms. "Are we making friends?" the man asks in a way that suggests he's watching out for his kids very closely indeed. His gaze is curious rather than hostile, though.

"Loki, have you ever heard of a harengon?" Sigrid asks, looking up at her guardian.

"Mmm...I know the name, but little else."

[inkstainedheart]

It would not be the first time someone's been desperate to touch those fluffy ears. Given they're children, he wouldn't even threaten them if they got excited enough to do it!

Aaand there's the minder. He figured there had to be one, the girls had the air of children well-loved and watched. The little group of them painted quite a picture, Quill's attention pulling from the cat and girls to sketching a polite little bow to their guardian. "Well met, sir."

Hmm... he knew of harengon but only vaguely. Okay, that was fine. Quill would just have to make sure his Adult act was on point, and the stranger would clearly be none the wiser! Everything was fine!

[coldsong]

Harengon. Rabbitfolk from one of many realms of Faerie in the multiverse. Aren't they meant to be good luck? Or are they merely meant to have good luck? (And again, how good can this one's luck be if he's arrived in a new place and immediately bumped into Loki of all people...)

"I am Loki, of Asgard and Jotunheim," he says politely, looking this stranger over keenly. "My oldest son is Agnarr, and the one in my arms is Eindrid. You've met the girls already, I see."

"Isn't his hat cool?" Sigrid is enthusiastic still. "I like the feathers!"

Loki's lips twitch, fighting laughter. "It's an elegant outfit, yes. Would you like to invite your new friend to join us for ice cream?"

[inkstainedheart]

"Quill, of... well Candlekeep at the moment, I suppose." Assuming that Loki knew of the place. It was strange enough that maybe he did? "A pleasure to meet you all."

The girls were charming, and despite his inward admonishments to be mindful of himself and his reactions, Sigurd's comments earned a grin from him. "I snatched them off an inattentive peacock gryphon."

Was it true? Was it a wild fabrication? He wasn't telling!

[coldsong]

"I'm unfamiliar," Loki tells him, "but that's hardly a surprise in this place. It's a crossroads for as many odd places as you can dream of, and then some."

It takes a little juggling of Eindrid, but he leans down and offers to shake Quill's paw. If accepted, Agnarr will be quick to follow the gesture.

"Are there really peacock griffins?" Sigrid is fascinated.

"I saw a picture of a griffin that was half pigeon and half raccoon," Una says.

"Someone drew that, though, that doesn't mean they're real."

"Loki says everything we can think of is real somewhere." Una sticks her tongue out at her sister, who rolls her eyes and gives a longsuffering sigh.

[inkstainedheart]

"Fair enough! Candlekeep is... while not the oddest place to be found, it certainly is an interesting place I've discovered." Maybe he'd tell some idle tales of the oddities he'd been involved in within it's walls if the conversation meandered on long enough. The children would certainly enjoy the stories he was sure.

And the minor argument over the existence of peacock gryphons just had him smiling as he accepted Loki's and then Agnarr's handshakes. Pawshakes?

"There are indeed! Sometimes you'll find a Summer noble with one as a loyal steed but otherwise they are temperamental creatures at the best of times. Loki isn't wrong though... and even if something didn't exist, give a wizard enough time and inclination and they could probably change that little detail."

[coldsong]

"I try to balance their lessons in metaphysics and multiversal theory with the scientific method and critical thinking skills," Loki says dryly, watching the girls. "But it's a work in progress. Girls, you're actually both right...and I do tend to believe our new friend's story about peacock griffins. It sounds like just the thing a faery court would want around. Beautiful, cranky, probably carnivorous..."

Peacocks themselves are more dangerous than they have any right to be.

"Whereas if there are real pigeon-raccoon griffins, I'm sure some will make their way here eventually. You can't have any as pets unless they're small enough to fit in the palm of my hand."

[inkstainedheart]

Peacocks are a goddamn disaster, who thought those were a good idea?

The eager chatter of the girls was charming though. Quill tended to be a bit uncomfortable around other children usually, for reasons he tended not to look at too closely. But these ones seemed... well, something about them forestalled that. Maybe just the inordinate cheer that reminded him enough of someone else, enough to make him more willing to chat.

"It wouldn't surprise me in the least if pigeon-raccoon gryphons were real. If I manage to find proof, I can bring it to show you if you'd like, Una."

[coldsong]

"Yes please! Can you take pictures if you see one? Do you have a camera or--oh, did you get a PINpoint yet?" Una is maybe excessively enthusiastic about this, and Loki places a hand on her head casually as if to calm her, ruffling her pigtails.

"We've already invited him for ice cream. Perhaps you can hold your questions for after he's eaten, alskling." He's amused, but he's also trying to give the poor fellow an out. "Will you join us, Quill? If you don't have a PINpoint yet, we can get you one of those, as well."

[inkstainedheart]

"I can't say I know what a camera is... I probably would have tried to catch one, truth be told."

Bringing the children a questionable animal? Totally fine! But Loki seems to stem the eagerness, Quill nodding agreement at the offer with a smile.

"That sounds fine to me. I haven't gotten one of the... PINpoints yet, but certainly wouldn't mind if we were to stop on the way so I could pick one up." He's definitely here to mess with weird maybe tech maybe magic artifacts.

[coldsong]

"Anything that's half raccoon would definitely bite," Loki says. "I wouldn't recommend it."

It might also be Quill's size, or larger. Pigeons are on the small side, but raccoons, not so much. "But you know your own business, I'm sure." He gives him an arch look, stifling a grin. If Quill ever shows up on their doorstep with a questionable animal in a box, Loki will be impressed.

"Are you planning on staying? Some people arrive here unintentionally and want to leave as quickly as possible. Others linger, or even move in."

[inkstainedheart]

"Wouldn't be the worst thing I've been bitten by!" Quill replied cheerily, especially spying that grin. Which just guarantees that he's going to make a point of finding and catching one of the supposed little beasts.

Briar would think it's great, and it would probably bite Lilly, so it'd be entirely worth it.

"I'm likely at least going to poke around some. Candlekeep is nice, but it's rather isolated if you're interested in most anything other than copious amounts of books and scrolls."

[coldsong]

"What's the worst thing you've been bitten by?" Sorry, Quill, but you asked for that. Una is all primed for a scary story.

Loki makes a quiet snorting noise, and bites his tongue, glancing at Quill as if to tell him he's on his own for this question. What he will do, however, is offer gentle advice: "If you'd like directions to an inn, I'm sure we can help you with that, once we have our treat."

Agnarr makes a couple quick motions with his hands, signing something to his parent.

"...maybe," Loki tells him. "But let's see how we all get along first. If I start inviting in every guest you lot befriend, the house will explode."

[inkstainedheart]

"Oh, probably the teethling. Horrible little creatures- they look somewhat like armadillos except instead of armor plates, they're covered with teeth." Quill explained, with a grimace and a shake of his head. "At least the ones who have more shape than 'tooth-covered mass' that is. Those ones are uglier to be sure, but at least they don't yet have proper mouths to bite with."

Loki's offer gets a nod from the young harengon. "Directions would be useful, yes. After ice cream of course."