Magic Circles

[raihnstar]

There was an eerie golden glow on the small field, which, seen from the outside would look like a place where fireflies congregated. If a human had stepped over a small circular boundary made of small white pebbles they would have suddenly found themselves in the middle of a large orchard, where the fae were having a party. The moon was full, and like in teh days of old Kassidy had declared the spring festival.

There weren't throngs, as there had been at the beginning, but a small crowd of the Queen's closest followers. Grench found herself among these and she didn't mind one bit. The larger party had been pleasant, of course. There had been dancing, and entertainment, but slowly they'd left, and now Dax and Kassidy were sitting next to each other looking, according to Grench, disgustingly romantic. They were holding hands and Kassidy looked completely at home with herself, leaning into him as if she'd been born to do it.

Grench rolled over on the crisp green grass, and nudged Loki, with her shoulder. "Isn't that gross?" she asked with half a smile, plucking a dandylion and weaving it into her hair. "Luckily they've got me here to balance out the cheerfulness of the whole situation." Not that she looked bad-- au contraire... she wore a dress made out of leaves that looked as if it had been grown for her to wear it, and her hair was threaded with flowers. "And you. They can't very well glare at the king for being a pixie but you're fair game."

[ßlue]

<sub>Loki looked on, feeling a sad sort of sigh well up. His friend, king of the...fairies? Hmmm, he'd have to get use to it, and till then he got to hang around all these smoking fairy babes and live in luxury. He smiled, the thoughts of hot baths and royal clothes. He was the King's bestest bud, he was living the good life, and it made him content. There was a nudge and he looked over. Ahhh Grench, his sweet little butter blossom. With a tongue and attitude of a viper, but he shrugged off her venomous comments as if immune to her poisons. He nudged her back.

"Yes yes, I know, I suck, fairies still don't like Pixies, but, you gotta admit..."

He smirked, taking her chin gently and pulling her face to his, lips hovering above her own.

"We are damn sexy..."

He grinned, black eyes looking into hers, white hair flitting across those deep bottomless orbs in a small flower scented breeze. Dax and Kassidy really were almost sickeningly happy together and that didn't leave much time for hanging out and carousing, so Loki was mostly alone, off flirting or getting into minor mischief alone. Except for the times he was with Grench. He loved to spend most of his hours trying to woo her, just for the fun of it. It had become a game, a sport even. He would put out all his charms and she would usually flit away or give him sarcastic remarks, but he would try again, flirting harder until he went with moves like this one, the kind that usually made women's heartbeats quicken and make them swoon for him. He was so use to it working. He was actually starting to get a little irritated. He had played this game with her for so long now and still her walls remained intact. It didn't even feel like he'd made a dent in her defenses! Why didn't she like him? He could make ANYONE fall in love with him! It was a gift, and a curse. He was just irrististable like that.

He ran a hand through his soft snowy hair, eyes sparkling with his arrogant self, reflecting her in them as he waited to see her next move. Check and Mate.</sub>

[raihnstar]

Grench turned towards him, with his fingers on her chin making little parts of her stomache jump about excitedly and she looked at him passively, as if he didn't have an effect on her at all. "I...couldn't agree more." she said, pretending to be breathless, leaning in just a little closer, tilting her head just a little more-- and picking up the last chunk of cake that she had left, stuffing it into her mouth unceremoniously, "Mmm. Cake." she said with a devlish grin. "What, did you think I'd give in to your sexy whiles so easily, Loki?" she asked, rolling her eyes.

"You're such a flirt, honestly. I bet-- I bet you couldn't stop flirting with me--" she paused and pushed him over so that he lay flat on his back, positioning herself so that her face was above his, "For a month. What do you say to that? If you can stop yourself from touching me for a month, no contact at /all/," she lowered her face so that it was inches from his, "I'll tell you my secret name." she whispered right into his ear, and then pulled herself away from him (too close, grench! Too close!), picking up another flower and plucking aimlessly at the petals, watching him closely to see what he would say.

...what are you /doing/? she thought to herself a moment later, hoping that he'd think it was a dumb challenge. Her secret /name/! That was-- For a stupid contest! And if he said yes she was bound to it--... Hush! It's not like he knows the significance...he'll just think it's a secret name... he doesn't really talk to any other of the fae anyway...right? right. Chill. You're cool, Grench.

[ßlue]

((XD bwahahahaa Loki does NOT GIVE IN TO CHALLENGES!!!))

<sub>Loki waited, she was leaning in, was this finally the moment? Had all his flirting paid off? Was she going to kiss him now? Was he going to be able to roll onto her and have her succumb to him and his awesomeness? While it was a nice thought he pushed it away, stopping with just a kiss. His eyes drew heavy as she was so close, his eyes devilish and wanting, there for her to see. Then she was eating cake and he sighed, leaning on one elbow to watch her with a lazy irritated look. Damn her. She was such a tease. F.u.c.k. He shrugged, answering her.

"Give in? You? Ha! I was just hoping you'd see reason and come away with me. We could alope and have twenty kids. It'd be fun making them all..."

He grinned at her, watching her with those dark endless eyes he had that so easily seduced so many fairy girls. He didn't know why they had become so boring now, but he just didn't like them as much anymore. Thats when a challenge came from her and Loki perked up. A Bet you say? Hmmm, interesting. The prize didn't sound all that important, but Loki did not back down from a challenge. NEVER. He grinned, sitting up finally and standing. Her secret name. What was that? And not flirting with her for a month would be the challenge. He did LOVE a challenge.

"Alright then I suppose I'll have to be halfway civil with you for a month. Good day milady...Or bet is on. And in a month..." He lowered his face to hers again, his sweet breath caressing her ear as he angled his head to whisper to her, his soft cheek touching her own. "You'll have to tell me of this... secret name."

He grinned, straightening with a look of mischief and flying down to the remaining guests. There had been a killer beauty, silvery blond hair and violet eyes. He stepped up to her, kissing her hand before she knew what was happening. She was bewildered, but the stunned look on her face seemed curious and entranced. He drew her away and apparently asked her to dance for his hand wrapped around her waist, taking her hand and spinning. His eyes looked into hers in the same passionate way they looked into Grench's. A way she wouldn't be seeing for another month.</sub>

[raihnstar]

FRIGGIN HELL! Grench moaned in her mind smiling outwardly with her eyelids half closed and watching Loki closely as he went to go dance with some stick of a fairy....Well. She'd show him. Her eyes scanned the room and she found Charlie-- the golem. Yay. She sprung up and skipped over to where he was, cajoling him until he gave in and let her dance with him. She pulled the man to the dancing area and let him lead, stepping in time, and smiling up into his face as if the sun itself was shining out of it. I'll teach you, you bastard. You may think I'm easy to give up but I'll be damned if I am. You're going to /earn/ that secret name.

From across the space, Kassidy choked on her wine and stared at Grench, who was suddenly dancing with Charlie, and looking like she wanted to marry him. The Queen glanced at her husband, "...Am I the only one who thinks this is a little odd?" she murmured, her eyes slightly troubled. Loki and Grench-- were not enemies, no. They'd be staunch ... well not friends, but not lovers either ever since they'd met... Not that Loki didn't flirt with other women but when Grench was present he usually saved his time for her, and even kassidy could see that Grench made an effort to be the center of his attention. "I mean, I know they're not together but they were...something...right Dax? Maybe I'm going mad." she said, unconciously moving her fingers in circle motions over his hands. You know him better than I do, Dax... maybe I'm just being paranoid...but this seems a little out of place...

[ßlue]

<sub>Loki sent a fast glare at the back of Charlie as he spun Grench around. That f.ucking idiot couldn't even dance! When you danced with a girl you were supposed to compliment them, make them beautiful and the center of attention. Charlie was a buffoon and Loki could have done a much better job. He spun the violet eyed Fairy around, clasping her tightly to him, her back pressed against his chest as a devilish smile appeared on his face. He whispered something into her ear and she gasped and then giggled in a sleazy yet sexy way, telling him to stop. He spressed against her tighter, whispering something else, lips grazing her ear as she squirmed against him. She let out an annoyin and startlingly high pitch squeal of a giggle, Loki's face making a 'WHAT THE HELL!??! You GOT to be kidding me...' face for an instant before going along with it, grinning and adding his own slinky laugh to her squeal.

Dax looked over at Kassidy, eyes widening with a slight worry as he instantly caught the worry in her voice. He looked out and sure enough Loki was off with some bimbo fairy and Grench had dragged Charlie the Golem onto the dance floor. It seemed that everytime the other was not looking they would send jeaous or heated glances at the other, the poison and fierce want to pull away the other's dancer and beat them into a pulp seeming to spark in their eyes. He nodded.

"Maybe they got into a fight? Ha. It kind of reminds me of us back at Magikus. Only, Loki flirts a LOT more than I did and grench doesn't seem to hate his guts, at least not publicly."

Dax grinned, thinking they should just give up and get together. Whenever Dax and Loki were together loki only talked about her. He flashed back to a conversation just three days ago. Loki had come to him in a rage. THAT WOMAN! DAMN HER! Loki? Whats wrong? What woman? What happened? I cannot believe her! She is an idiot! SHE ACTUALLY FLEW AWAY FROM ME! NO! SHE SAUNTERED! LIKE SHE TOTALLY DIDN'T KNOW I WAS OFFERING HER A FLOWER! She can't even bend for one damn second! I thought the flower would get her! I mean who ever heard of a fairy not accepting a simple flower?!?! It's not like it was made of gold or anything... He seemed to pause and think then shake his head, Dax lifting and eyebrow and Loki stormed off again. They really should just give in and get together...</sub>

[raihnstar]

"I didn't...hate you." Kassidy muttered in an embarassed whine, leaning her head on Dax's shoulder comfortably, "You just annoyed me. And I was a spoiled brat. I never...hated you." She watched Loki pull the fairy girl closer with a twinge of simpathy towards Grench. Charlie wasn't really a fantastic dancer... "...did it even seem like they felt that way about each other? I mean-- I knew Grench thought Loki was amusing but...well she's kind of an anti flirt." Kassidy huffed, "We probably shouldn't get involved." Even so, I might talk to Loki to see what's going on...

Farther away Grench told Charlie a joke and he grinned, looking a little bit more handsome because of the smile. Loki and his girl were positively guffawing at something, which made Grench cringe with annoyance Are they laughing at /me/?!. She told Charlie to dance closer to Loki and he obliged meekly, sweeping them so that the couples almost grazed each other before moving away. Grench didn't give a sign she'd noticed the proximity, glad that nobody had put an amplifier in her heart to hear how hard it was thumping. Chill, Grench! What the heck-- he's not important and you know it. You're just being silly. Slowly, she managed to bring down her pumping heart back to its serene self, and her wildly flushed face went back to looking healthy and pale. Now meet his gaze, but don't look like you're gloating...look like you don't notice anything is out of the ordinary... She turned her head and caught his eye, gave him a politely wry smile and laughed when Charlie spinned her just then.

Better, Grench. Much better.

[ßlue]

<sub>Dax looked over, smiling at the beauty next to him. She was to die for... and, well... He almost had died for her. He remembered the darkness, the feeling of floating in nothing and the sound of her voice. He squeezed her hand, feeling his heart give a little flop that thanked God he was alive in the end. He looked back out to Loki and then off to Grench. The two were both stubborn and full of pride. Dax remembered telling Loki lots of times that if he was going to win her over he'd have to loose some of that pride. But of course then Loki would just scoff and say he didn't need to give up anything for any woman and he'd skulk away. Dax sighed at them. They were both childish dunces that needed to be hit upside the head and sat in a corner for time out till they learned to play nice. Dax grinned.

"You know you want to get involved. I mean, I would too if I didn't already know Loki was a selfish git and wouldn't listen. He's usually always after Grench these days though and... I haven't seen Grench try so hard to make a guy jealous before... Maybe we should send them to bed without supper?"

Dax laughed, letting his thumb caress Kass' hand slowly. He was fully and hopelessly in love with the fairy queen, and he was glad.

Loki on the other hand watched as Charlie grinned and he felt a hateful stab of jealousy. Not that he would ever admit to anyone that it was jealousy. He decided to up his game and he grinned in a dirty way, spinning his own fairy as Charlie spun Grench and he flicked them an ugly sneer before regaining his smile. He caught the fairy, dipping her and pausing, looking long into her eyes as she seemed mesmerized, her arms around his neck as she blushed and Loki gave a dazzling debonair smile. He straightened her, looking down into her eyes as she pressed herself against his chest. He could hear her heart fluttering and he could almost feel her thoughts, wondering what would come next. Now was time to strike. He doubted Grench would go as far as he would, and his mouth came down, landing a soft gloating kiss on the fairy girl's lips. She swooned, going limp so he had to wrap his arms around her. He decided i was a great dramatic effect and he pulled off, seeing her eyes flutter in confused pleasure that made him feel a wave of satisfaction himself. He aimed a 'what now?' sort of grin at Grench, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

Lets see you top that Grenchy...</sub>

[raihnstar]

"I think Charlie's the only one who's noticed that they're the only two couples on the dance floor." Kassidy murmured with a girlish giggle into his ear, nuzzling his neck and fluttering her eyelashes against his cheek. Yeah, so he'd guessed that she wanted to interfere, because he knew her that well... or maybe he just wanted to as well. Kassidy didn't waste time pondering it, instead she got up and sat on his lap, her skin tinged with tiny goosebumps from a chilly wind that had just gusted by. "Maybe we should send us to bed without supper." she whispered into his ear and put her arms around his neck like a child. A very sexy naked child who was really not a child, but a woman. "You're warm. Have I ever told you that?"

Grench glanced up at the throne as the Queen got up from her chair to sit on her other 'chair' and felt a deep wistfulness fill the cavity of her chest. Her and somebody else...somebody warm to sit on. Maybe even Loki. Charlie was dancing like a plank of wood so her mind naturally wandered to somebody who she thought of in her spare time. Charlie spun her again and they turned. Grench glanced over to Loki just in time to catch him stealing a kiss and felt her whole body freeze up with hatred, jealousy, and anger. Luckily the golem spun her again, and the brief moment where she couldn't control her features was masked in a flow of coal black hair. She turned and saw him smirking at her.

Enough. It has gone far enough. She was aware that somewhere deep inside he had really hurt her. Really hurt her badly. Grench stopped dancing, thanked Charlie and walked over to Loki unhurridly. "Another one. Congratulations." Her voice was dry, and extremely unimpressed. Her face hinted at the disgust she felt for him at this moment. Since when did a game turn into a weapon? No. This has gone on enough. "I hope you sleep well after this, pixie." Her voice had hardly changed, but her eyes were suddenly distant towards him, as if she could care less about whether he lived or died. She wore the face that most of the fae wore when they looked at the 'disgusting /pixie/ thing'. They couldn't be outright rude, but they could ignore him.

Grench fluttered over to where Dax and Kassidy was and curtsied deeply, "My Queen. Her King." she greeted them formally, smiling and not meeting Kassidy's eyes, "I bid you a good night. I find the nights dancing has tired me." Before Kassidy could speak up she was gone, leaving Kassidy sitting on Dax rigidly.

She was frowning and her teeth were clenched. Orange eyes searched out Loki and blazed with anger. "How dare he--" she cut herself off and turned to Dax. "...May I have a word with your friend, Dax?" she asked him through a thick voice.

[ßlue]

<sub>Loki watched and he thought he saw rage and hurt flicker onto her face but her hair swirled around her as Charlie spun her and he cursed the giant oaf. He watched her bow out of the dance with him and Loki grinned, thinking he was victorious. He let her walk all the way over to him, but he knew instantly something was wrong and he realized he might have gone a little too far. The fairy in his arms was still dizzy but she was standing, one hand on his chest, looking up at him dreamily. Then she realized he was watching something else and looked over to see Grench. The fairy slipped off of his arm, feeling the vibes from them both and flittering back into the rest of the guests, leaving Loki alone as Grench eyed him with that disgusted look. He stood tall, letting himself look angry himself as he watched her. He felt something poke at his chest when she spoke and he gulped, clenching his teeth and eying her up and down. The next line seemed a greater poke and for a second hurt flashed in his own eyes before he glared at her. She couldn't hurt him with words! That was stupid! But he still stepped forward as she turned away from him, opening his mouth about to say something and reaching out. His hand got to her arm but his fingers didn't close around her and she slipped away. Loki's spine felt rigid and frozen. He had won this time, right? He wasn't exactly sure. Crap. This was one day and he was supposed to not flirt with her for a month?! What was he to do?! He wanted to keep trying but she wouldn't let him! She was the one who had challenged HIM!!! HE COULDN'T JUST BACK DOWN FROM THAT!!! CRAAAAP!!! He looked down, glaring at his feet and sighing, thinking and running around in agitated circles in his head. What was he going to do NOW?!

Dax watched as Kassidy sat on his lap, whispering things to him as he smiled, but he looked back out to Loki and his smile vanished. He groaned. "Oh no..." He watched everything happen, Grench finally coming up to them, Dax's eyes flickering back to Loki as he watched hurt and confusion and many different things flip across his face. He was angry, but not angry at Grench. Dax already knew Loki was secretly angry at himself, even if he didn't know. Grench left and Kassidy turned, poison in her eyes as she glared at Loki. Dax's arms entwined around Kass' waist as she asked to go talk to him.

"My love, wait. You can talk to him, but you have to remember, Loki loves two things. His ego, and his pride. Grench hurts his ego every day, and he still goes after her, but his pride makes him a greater idiot and I think he already is sorry for what he did. If you are going to talk to him, try not to scorn him too much? He's really a very kind person, but he's not one to just humble himself unless he knows for fact he will get the reward. There must be some reason he did this..."

Dax looked up into Kassidy's gold eyes, pink meeting them calmly. Dax had known Loki his whole life almost. He knew how his friend worked. Dax had been kind of like Loki when he met Kassidy, but Dax knew when he needed to have faith in people and trust. Loki didn't trust anyone. Except MAYBE Dax. That was probably the only person.</sub>

[raihnstar]

The Queen relaxed automatically at the sound of Dax's voice, and some of her anger seeped out of her. She listened to her husband quietly, her eyes still arrow pointed at Loki and then finally sighed in a defeated voice. Kassidy turned and kissed Dax lightly, "Fine. I'll be kind. Kinder than he deserves me to be. For you." she murmured, pressing her face to his hair and inhaling for a moment before vanishing and reappearing next to Loki the next moment, clothed in draping purple robes. She knew Loki didn't look at her because of Dax, but so much time with the humans had made her accustomed to their traditions. She touched Loki's shoulder and pulled on a thread of freefloating magic in the air towards them, and made the magic circle dissolve around them.

They found themselves in a round room surrounded by windows, and draped in dust. "Excuse me for relocating you so rudely, but I thought it more rude to make a scene in public. I'd rather speak to you privately." she said, keeping her tone light and keeping Dax's words in mind. Yelling at him would do nothing...make him angry, probably. Make him back away from what Kassidy was trying to show him... but he had seriously hurt Grench. Kassidy hadn't seen her that upset since the first time she'd met her-- but this time instead of bursting out she'd held back.

It was worse, perhaps, because of that. "Loki I will admit, I don't know you very well. You're a hard person to know...and yet I had thought you a little kinder than I saw you behave tonight." She paused, reigning her anger in and closing her eyes to keep her face more or less blank, "I don't know what kind of game you and Grench are playing-- And I will not inquire further into it-- lest I lose my sanity-- but after tonight I've got to say something."

Kassidy had slipped into her diplomatic voice. It was easier to be less angry when she was pretending to speak to someone else than the arrogant jackass who had hurt her minister of war. "You seriously hurt Grench. In the short time I've known her, I've not seen her lose her composture over any of the outrageous things that have been presented... I'm not sure if it was your /aim/ to hurt her, but whatever you did, it worked." Her voice was frosty and distant.

"You may do what you like with each other, that is not my business... but if I see you purposely harm her in such a way again, you'll have to worry about more than her anger. You'll have to worry about mine." She opened her eyes and gave him a light smile, "It's not pretty...you can ask Dax."

[lecture lecture lecture. XD maybe some of it'll get through to him.]

[ßlue]

<sub>Loki fought with himself mentally, telling himself she was being stupid and he shouldn't feel bad and this was her fault anyway, she had started it! But he still called himself a jerk and an ass and for some reason he'd done something wrong. He knew what. He'd kissed that fairy girl. He shouldn't have done that. He ran his hand through white snowy hair, his dark eyes thinking so he didn't notice the Queen till she was to him and by the time he looked up they were already somewhere else. He cursed himself for his laziness. Dammit, this is why women were dangerous, just thinking about them could get you killed. If the Queen had been an enemy he would be dead all because Grench was playing some sort of game with him. The Queen spoke and his attention snapped to her, half of him still going on about what he should do. He couldn't just not play this game. He couldn't just go up to her and forfeit, she'd never let him live it down. He realized the Queen was lecturing him. Grench, hurt? He thought about it, imagining the look he thought he saw. Dammit. He hadn't meant to. He wouldn't have if she hadn't made this whole bet! At the end Loki felt like he was being threatened and he eyed the Queen suspiciously, anger in his eyes.

"I know what I did wrong, you don't have to lecture me. I didn't want to! Don't you think I'd rather be kissing her instead? Not that she'd give me the time of day anyway. I mean, I don't know why I keep trying so much. Evey time I get rejected, again and again and I brush it off! Her and her stupid games! Thats what this is! Another game! I wouldn't play if I knew how to..."

An idea hit him. He'd have to play it off if he'd do it. He smiled, thinking it over and anger leaving as he turned slightly form the queen, hand going to his chin as he thought. If he told her he didn't want to play this stupid little game then he could get out of it. She could say 'Why? afraid you'll loose?' and all he'd have to say is 'I'm already bored with it, I don't care about a dumb bet...' It was a good plan. He grinned, face looking victorious. Ha! He could get out of this bet and... wait... if he got out of the bet could he still flirt with her? He refused to call it courting. But, if he said it was dumb and he flirted with her again she'd throw it back at him that he only backed out of the bet was to keep flirting with her and he'd be wrong. He growled, hands going to his head and grabbing a fistfull of his own hair.

"DAMMIT!!! IT WON'T WORK!!!"

His eyes went sideways, as if just noticing Kassidy there. He straightened, hands falling slowly. He smiled, another idea coming to him.

"You can do it! Order her to cancel the bet! Make her stop! I can't refuse the Queen after all, and she can't either right? I don't see any way around it where I could win except this one..."

He seemed like he thought he was a genius, grinning at her, hands on hips. Yep, he was smart ^`_^.</sub>

((XD lol I bet Kass would woop him upside the head and be like "WTF IS GOING ON?!?!" XD ROFL))

[raihnstar]

"...What are you talking about?" Kassidy asked in a strangled voice, glaring daggers into him. She didn't like being kept in the dark. "What bet? You made a bet with each other?" Her eyebrows formed a V on her face and her fingers had gone to the table, drumming on it impatiently, "This would really be much easier if you told me what was going on." Kassidy grumbled resentfully. Yeah, so she'd told herself that she wouldn't get involved...but this was like offering a steak to a hungry raptor.

She was Queen, yes...but gossip was incredibly scarce here...people didn't have much to gossip abou, really. Or they refrained from doing so with the Queen, because they thought she was above gossip. Damnit I am SO not above gossiping! I want my fair share please! She promised herself that from now on she wouldn't interfere....if he told her what this was all about. Because despite her hunger for gossip she really was concerned. Kassidy couldn't remember a day since her marriage that Grench and Loki hadn't been around each other at some point in the day... And if it was what Kassidy thought it might be...

STOP JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS!!! Kassidy shut her eyes and opened them, trying to clear her head. She was just over analyzing. "Look, if you could just tell me what this is about..."

[ßlue]

<sub>Loki realized the Queen was there again as she asked him what the hell was going on. He blinked, thinking it all over. What was going on. His mind did a quick scan over the past hour and he came upon the conclusion that he was right and all this was Grench's fault. He nodded.

"Well I was flirting with Grench like i always am and she makes a bet with me. She said I couldn't stop flirting with her, i told her i could so and she bet me some sort of name or something that I couldn't... The entire thing is erroneous anyway. It was a stupid bet and... it's not like I wanted to! She doesn't know when to quit and I don't either..."

Loki stuck his hands in his pockets, a serious slightly angry expression on his face. Yes, he realized he usually got in trouble and did things wrong. He always seemed to do things wrong. He'd done wrong when he was born, he'd done wrong talking Dax into robbing that bank that one times, he'd done wrong trying to steal those diamonds. He'd done wrong for kissing that fairy and making this ridiculous bet with Grench. He didn't even know what his prize was. He was just hoping she'd be his prize. He hit himself in the forhead, staggering back a little form the impact. Ow. Okay! Think straight! Have to fix this! He looked back at the Queen. It seemed like everytime his eyes landed on her he just realized she was there.

"What do you think I should do? I mean, order her to stop the bet and I won't mind. I wouldn't rub it in. But if I give in I think she'd rub it in. I refuse to loose to that woman. Refuse... Why is this so hard? Why don't I just STOOOOOOP?!?!?"

Loki groaned, letting his hand slip into the snowy pureness of his soft hair for a moment as he stared at the ceiling. What to do, what to do...</sub>

[raihnstar]

"...Grench...made a bet with you about her name?" Kassidy asked in a faint voice, staring incredulously at Loki. Obviously the pixie didn't know the significance of a fairy's secret name. Telling it to somebody else was basically saying that they had achieved wholehearted trust-- with no going back. It was sacred. Kassidy's name was revealed to all people to signify her trust in all fairy's, but-- Are you really surprised that she would choose a pixie? You chose a pixie. You're letting old racial prejudices get in the way of reality.

So Grench was either incredibly stupid or she was trying to get something out of this....somebody...somebody she could trust. Somebody besides the Queen. Companionship. Love? Maybe. It wasn't for Kassidy to know, but for Grench. The Queen shook her head to clear it and glanced back at Loki, her brow slightly creased, "I...It isn't really my place to say..." she began evasively, "But I don't think you should...try to stop." You're not only letting yourself down...she's trying to let herself trust you. She's trying to do something new. "I...don't know, but maybe Grench just ah...wants to know somebody would fight for her."

...That totally didn't make sense... Kassidy was talking out of her ass. Fight for her? He'd shown that by endlessly courting her...this was something different, but... but it wasn't her place to steer him the right way. He had to find it. "Even for something so...silly...like a name." She blushed a little at the lie and her hands tensed for a moment, "If...you would have her, do as she says and try not to harm her in the process. I don't know if she'll consider letting the bet continue after...after what happened but... it uh...might be important to her... you might want to ... consider apollogizing..."

By the Gods she was bad at this!