Loki Laufeyson [Odinson] (
tr1ckortreat) wrote2020-06-04 11:39 am
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Knife Throwing at the Viper's Pit [Nexus_Crossings]
Loki had been in the Nexus a good few weeks now and had gotten used to some of the locale and locals inhabiting the place. His brother was a welcome addition and even some of the mortals were not too bad considering. Yet, he felt wasted. He had to hone his skills, so he had decided to use the opportunity to frequent the Viper's Pit establishment owned by another Loki.
A knife throwing contest.
It was open to all out in the back so that people had enough room to move and spectate if they so wished. The knife throwing board was a straw target perched up with a bulls-eye painted in the middle. A standard target used by archers and knife-throwers alike. Loki also arranged for a few jugs of mead and wine to be close by so that spectators and opponents could keep themselves hydrated.
"I wonder who the first will be to reach a bulls-eye. Anyone feel up to challenging a god?"
His smirk was genuine and so were the black-hilted knives he was currently flipping into the air and catching deftly. His long digits easily finding the handle avoiding the blade effortlessly. A thousand or more years being trained in knives helped.
A knife throwing contest.
It was open to all out in the back so that people had enough room to move and spectate if they so wished. The knife throwing board was a straw target perched up with a bulls-eye painted in the middle. A standard target used by archers and knife-throwers alike. Loki also arranged for a few jugs of mead and wine to be close by so that spectators and opponents could keep themselves hydrated.
"I wonder who the first will be to reach a bulls-eye. Anyone feel up to challenging a god?"
His smirk was genuine and so were the black-hilted knives he was currently flipping into the air and catching deftly. His long digits easily finding the handle avoiding the blade effortlessly. A thousand or more years being trained in knives helped.
Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Moloch
Truthfully, they could have done this at the villa but they had brought Moloch along. He had few positive outlets and the other two angels agreed that this might satisfy some of his needs. Moloch approached Loki in the ring without hesitation. He's only six foot, shorter than some of the angels, and dressed completely in black leather. His hair and wings are black too, but oh those wings; feathered with bat like claws at the knuckles and flight feathers metallic silver with red edging that gave them the look of bloodied metal blades. His eyes are golden with irises ringed in red. Those eyes are focused on Loki and full of a predatory quality. It was there in all of his movements, the predator.
Moloch is also incredibly arrogant. He walks right up to Loki without words and snatches one of the daggers out of the air. Once he has it, the angel smiles revealing razor sharp teeth that appear more like a shark than a human. "Do you feel up for losing, god?"
Lucifer was watching closely. With Moloch things could go south in a hurry, even if he had been on better behavior as of late.
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"I think your words are misplaced, sir. Although, I do congratulate you on your attire this evening."
His piercing gaze ghosting over the leather and slightly metallic look the man was rocking. If it was sass Moloch wanted then Loki could offer it in droves. Many a man, god and mortal had faced the slicing tongue of the god of lies and being within the Nexus was no different for Loki. He could throw insults with the best of them. Cocking his head to the side when he felt the knife snatched out of his hand caused him to smile slightly.
Arrogance. He had seen among countless people and this angel was no different, even if he did smell like death. The tang of blood could almost be tasted on the tip of Loki's tongue.
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"Are you going to prove they're misplaced?" Moloch questions while testing the sharpness of the knife he'd taken. "I prefer the axe and whip but I'm willing to play your games."
Though Moloch was arrogant, typically it was his fearlessness that made him cocky in the face of others. His wings shift, silver flight feathers dragging on each other like the sound of sharpening knives.
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"I suppose I could but then it would rather ruin the whole decorum of the evening. We're here to have fun and not make threats. Please, enjoy yourself."
He offered the angel a bow and a quick smirk. Being intimidated did not often affect Loki and right now, he was enjoying the creature's obvious sass. His keen eyes flick to Moloch's wings, feeling the grating sound reverberate through him. It was slightly unsettling but Loki was not going to back down to this man, who probably intimidated most that came near him.
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"Yes, we are." Moloch purred the words. "Unfortunate, that enjoyment is such a limited concept here."
He's twirling the knife with the point pressed against his finger tip and slowly drawing blood. The interaction is enough that Lucifer is watching. He doesn't think Moloch will actually bite anyone, or that the anti-violence field would stop it, but who knows. It is enough to keep an eye on his own.
Moloch does stop and consider Loki with a long gaze that is somewhere between predatory and darkly sensual. "A drink, then, if you are going to be so mundane with your fun and enjoyment."
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"Oh, I do understand your words. Enjoyment could mean a vast range of things and I know a man of your calibre has probably delved into sordid varieties of enjoyment."
He stepped back after passing the angel his drink, clasping both hands behind his back and watching. The man was obviously trying to get into Loki's space and intimidate him, yet he stood his ground. It would take much more to intimidate Loki of Asgard. As for how Moloch was going to enjoy the evening, that was going to play out right here, right now.
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"My taste for drinks isn't so common." Moloch grins wickedly. "I am the Horrid King by title."
He kept pushing the cup and stepped forward into Loki's personal space. It's getting hard to tell if this is sensual or predatory action. The smile hasn't faded. "I thought you likes people close to you."
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"Oh? Then, what would you prefer? I can summon up a drink of your choice with my magic."
He wasn't about to be upstaged by this winged demon and Loki was the host tonight so was in charge. Moloch, as demanding as he was, would be sated with a refreshment one way or another. The challenge was ripe for the taking. The invasion of his personal space caused Loki to inhale sharply and then cock his head.
"I do, yet there is a time and place, Moloch. If you might notice, we are not alone, but in a tavern full of people. This is hardly the time or place for us to--get acquainted in such a way with one another."
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Moloch grins and then laughs at his response. "What are you, scared and ashamed?" Moloch was continuing to press closer. "Just like the humans you try to distance yourselves from and bound by the same modesty of God's dicta."
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"I may not be as good as you, but I learned how to do that years ago."
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"Evening, Mantis. I am glad you could show up to the event. You are skilled with knives?"
There was an air of surprise in Loki's voice since he had no idea the man actually enjoyed throwing blades at things--or people. The mug of mead was also a welcome sight clutched in Mantis' hand. Good. The peek of his exposed flesh caused the god to smile slightly at how comfortable his friend was in this environment.
"The trick is to get the bulls-eye in the middle. But I'm sure you know what I mean."
Loki took a sip of his red wine as his eyes flickered between Mantis and the knife-throwing board.
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Mantis walks closer, letting the mead mug dance in the air around him like a butterfly. He wiped at his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket and had a look at the bard. It wasn't much of a distance. Not really. And he was drinking already, so it was a perfect time to make questionable choices.
"I might still have it in me. How many knives do you have to spare?"
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He summoned a pair of green-hilted knives, offering them to his masked friend. The god's magic was infinite so could summon any knives he wanted at will. Being a god had it's advantages. It took Loki a few seconds to notice the mead mug currently dancing around Mantis like a butterfly. It seemed the man had magic talents also. How fascinating.
"That's a nice trick."
Loki pointed to the mead mug in the air and summoned his own mead mug to appear in the air beside Mantis' one, clinking together.
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"I only know a few, but the ones I have tend to be eye-catching."
He steps forward, letting the mug bob worriedly behind him as he tries to get himself lined up in front of the target. It's hardly his specialty, but he had to try. A swift shift of the hips and arm send the knife going, but it landed completely outside of of the circles.
"That... That's about right."
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"Don't worry. You can try again. I know you can do better than that, Mantis."
Words of encouragement? Perhaps. The man was new to the Nexus and Loki had come to respect the masked man a friend in many ways. Maybe it was the fact the he could wear leather with the best of them and then there was the mask aspect. Loki just ached for him to take it off one day and reveal the true man underneath. His eyes flickered back to the throwing board, wondering if Mantis' next throw would indeed be better.
"Perhaps another drink for courage?"
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"I can. I'm going to." He hands the mug to Loki and holds out one hand. The knife shook a little before flying off the board and back into his palm. He looked at Loki and nodded. "Another drink. I'm not leaving until I get this right."
There was an unspoken caveat that he might get a little too drunk to pull it off, but he was more than ready to face that possibility. Mantis was starting to really feel alive again. He hefted the knife and took aim again. The knife landed a little closer, in the most outer ring. It was all right, but not good enough.
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"That's more like it."
Loki readied another mug of mead for Mantis, summoning the jug to tip a fair amount of mead into both their mugs. Always handy to have a magic jug filled with booze when things got tough. A knife throwing contest was the perfect occasion to use said magic. He offered Mantis an encouraging smile and sipped some mead from his vessel.
"I bet you can get a bulls-eye, Mantis. Just imagine someone or something you don't like."
He spoke the words close to the other man, leaning over his shoulder for a brief moment.
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"I don't blame him at all for fighting me the way he did, but I'll be damned before we ever make some kind of peace."
Arm draws back. Blade goes flying. If it had really been Solid Snake in front of him, it would have been in the arm. Second ring, but not quite a bull's eye.
"We got into a fight. I was supposed to let him win and he decided to kill me. We're on the same side of life, but I'll never talk to him."
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"How would you like to challenge a Skeksis, lad?" She draws one of her knives, ready to toss it at a moment's notice. Her tail twines with anticipation. She liked Loki well enough when she met him, but arrogance annoys her - ironic for a being made out of passion and the urSkek saSan's flaws.
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"Ah, skekSa. Welcome. I'm glad you could make it."
He was in a good mood so greeting his guests and possible opponents was Loki's job tonight. A good host was one with a quick wit and silver-tongue an he had both. As for losing? That made him cock his head curiously. His eyes flick to the knife she drew and wondered how quick were the Skeksis in their craft?
"I always enjoy a good challenge."
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Loki's guess is right. skekSa reveals her secondary pair of arms, smaller but very capable of holding knives as well. She and the Hunter are the only two Skeksis whose secondary arms are neither withered nor useless - which makes her especially dangerous in battle as someone who can wield four blades at once rather than one or two. It also is an asset to knife-throwing.
"Should we use your blades or mine?"
She shifts, showing Loki the set of knives she has along with her cutlass. There are throwing-knives along with daggers there. While her cutlass is her favorite weapon, there are times when smaller blades are more useful, so she prefers to keep a variety of them on her person at all times. Unlike most Skeksis, with the exceptions of the General and the Hunter, she actively fights and keeps herself active.
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The mischievous smile was now shining through his obvious expression of amusement regarding the Viper's Pit. The younger scamp version of his owned this place and it didn't surprise Loki to know this, since he had good taste in things. The arms though? Those caught him off guard somewhat.
"I never knew you had two pairs of arms, skekSa. They must come in useful when stabbing your enemies multiple times."
A dangerous flash from his eyes and then a sip of his wine whilst he contemplated how she would fair in battle. The avian was practically a one-bird army. She was probably ruthless with that cutlass too. An interesting creature indeed. Loki's eyes ghosted over her throwing knives and knew it probably made no difference since everyone was welcome to bring along their own weapons. As long as they were knives of course.
"You may use your own weapons. As long as you don't cheat. This is a fine establishment, after all."
Of course it was. Run and owned by a Loki. The sarcasm was all there to see in his voice and Loki loved it.
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skekSa withdraws her secondary arms some, but they're still in plain view.
"All Skeksis have four arms, though not all of us can use them. Most of us let them grow atrophied from lack of use, all but myself and the Hunter. It's an unfortunate consequence of the castle-dwellers' lifestyle. Hardly any of them do their own fighting anymore."
While skekMal allows himself to be used by the Emperor, she respects him for keeping himself in good fighting condition if nothing else. skekGra's secondary arms were damaged as part of his punishment. The Conqueror she knew was a crafty and unscrupulous fighter, one of the most feared Skeksis for good reason, but the Heretic he is now doesn't fight at all.
The Mariner nods. She's not above cheating - while she prefers a clean fight when she can get away with it, she's no fool. skekSa is a pirate. Being willing and able to fight dirty comes with the territory, and while she likes Loki well enough she doesn't trust him, either.
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"Such a shame that many of your race have lost the use of their many arms. I am sure you are quick and skilful. We shall see."
He offered skekSa a coy grin and moved back a little so she could get her first throw off. How would she do? For an avian pirate she looked the part in a bar knife throwing contest and Loki guessed she might be more skilled than most. Those arms though--they were impressive. Sipping his wine carefully, he watched the large pirate bird make her move.
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skekSa uses her primary arms to throw the blade. This is a casual game, not battle, though she does use her secondary arms to make sure they stay strong. Her primary set is more muscular and a little better at aiming. She narrows her eyes, gauging the distance before she makes her move. A calculated toss is different from the rush of combat. It's a different sort of skill.
She throws a blade and it hits the middle ring, not hitting the center but not far from it, either. "How was that for a first throw?"
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He offered the huge avian a challenging stare, hoping to bring out her competitive nature. Loki loved a challenge and he also loved winding people up to his own end. Surely, skekSa could see that in the mischievous nature of the god. Yes, he was enjoying seeing how people threw their knives, but he also wanted to create an atmosphere of challenge and fun. Always the fun element added.
"I do hope you won't dream of cheating. That just won't do at all."
There was mock scolding in his voice as he sipped his drink and licked his lower lip. His eyes shone with a dangerous energy and his voice was no more than a sultry purr. How he loved goading his opponents on.
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The Skeksis's red eyes narrow as she turns to Loki. She has a temper, all right, but these aren't really the circumstances when it comes out. But she's definitely provoked a little bit. His arrogance annoys her, and she has yet to assess his skills for herself.
"The way you talk," skekSa mutters, "I can't tell if you want me to cheat or not." She's not going to until he does, but he's anything but straightforward about what he wants. She backs up to try again. She tosses, the blade landing closer to the target this time.
She prefers using a knife from her own set. While Loki's magic knives aren't bad, they're what she knows best.
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He offered her a brief nod and leaned back against the wall wondering where her next throw will end up. There was no doubt that she had a slight irritation in her voice and Loki could pick out the slightest of annoyance in someone's voice. It was part of the reason why he was good at stepping back to watch and listen, unlike Thor, who charged in head on. The brothers had their own skills and Loki's excelled in speech. skekSa's throw was better this time.
"Ah, good. Your knives are keen and your eye is getting sharper I see. That was a better throw."
Perhaps there was a reason why she chose her own knives over his. Preference often made the difference.
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skekSa tosses again, hitting the border between the innermost and second smallest ring.
"These knives were made on the planet of Thra." Not her home world, but the world she considers home nevertheless. "They're made for my kind's use."
Since they're bigger and stronger than humans, Skeksis weapons are differently built. That, and she's attached to her own weapons.
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If Loki's going to use his abilities to help in the contest - and as the God of Mischief, Ben wouldn't put cheating past him - Ben will use his powers, too. And you don't out-cheat a Solo.
Ben comes forward, a quiet, sly confidence to him. "Well, well. Don't mind if I take you up on that challenge."
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"I wouldn't have it any other way. Feel free to try and hit the bulls-eye. I must warn you though, it is harder than it looks."
He took a sip from his wine glass and leaned back against a nearby table, just watching Ben to see what he could do.
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It isn't just arrogance, though a good part of it is the standard Solo cockiness, bolstered with a bellyful of mead. Ben isn't exactly known for good decision-making skills when sober. Being mildly drunk doesn't help. Still, he feels he can give Loki a good challenge, and at the very least it'll be practice with a relatively new weapon.
"What kind of knives will we be using?"
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Loki enjoyed a good challenge and his idea of fun was often disorganised chaos. Why else would the God of Mischief enjoy it so? Yet, this was more organised and civil, for the moment. If too many of the opponents got drunk and disorderly then perhaps Loki would slink away unnoticed under the shroud of his magic.
As for the knives? Loki procured a pair of green-hilted dwarven knives, offering them to Ben. If anything, the god did enjoy a good aesthetic and the knives were sharp and honed.
"These should suffice, don't you think? They are keenly sharp, rather like my tongue."
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Ben has a sharp tongue, too, though he's learned to hold back in the Nexus. There are beings who outstrip him in power and require caution. While the other two present are his friends, more or less, there's one angel here he doesn't know and who looks distinctly intimidating even by angelic standards. Most of the other people here he knows - Mantis, Atreus, Beelzebub, Lucifer.
But he turns his attention back to the challenge. Loki's ego, while Ben can't help but find it annoying, almost certainly comes from a place of some confidence. So he doesn't let his guard down.
"Enough talk, then." He faces the target, a hazel eye flickering back to Loki. "Are you ready?"
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He had always wondered about how the dwarves had procured such good weapons and one day Loki found out by stealing a pair from the dwarves of old. This was centuries ago and he was rather proud of his acquirement much to the dismay of Thor, who despised stealing.
"Oh, I have been ready for centuries. Please, carry on."
Stepping back to allow Ben to throw, Loki clasped his drink and sipped it slowly, watching Ben with a coy expression written all over his face. Would the man fail? Would he throw true? It was all up to the moment.
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The sight of Loki's smug expression fires Ben up. He doesn't use his powers, but he isn't going to just yet. However, he wants to rub that smirk off Loki's face. He quietly measures the distance between where he stands and the target. Then he smiles, toothy and sly.
"Yes. Let's not waste any more time."
Ben lunged suddenly and threw the first blade. It didn't hit the center, but it hit the second smallest ring. He turns, holding the remaining knife.
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"There is a similarity, yes. We both hail from Northern lands and our weapons both hail from dwarven lands."
Although, he doubted Atreus stole his. More likely the dwarves forged them and he purchased them perhaps? Whatever the story, Loki knew his knives were true and focused. A man should never blame his lack of skill on the tools he bore.
"Not bad. Second smallest ring on your first throw? I'd give that an acceptable."
Loki licked his lips and felt a smirk tug at his lips. Ben was skilled no doubt, yet so far no one had thrown a straight bull.
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But the cordiality slipped away when Loki taunts him. The challenge was accepted as Ben's expression turned fierce.
That did it. Ben growled, whipped round, and threw the remaining blade. Despite his irritation, he was focused. His goal was simply to show Loki up.
He stepped back, satisfied. Bulls-eye, from the looks of it. Ben pulled the two knives out of the target and turned to face his challenger.
The surprise for him was that no use of the Force was necessary. He folded his arms, giving Loki a smug look of his own. "Acceptable, you were saying?"
HERE BUT NOT HERE
And considering there are a bunch of mildly intoxicated adults here throwing knives at a target something memorable is bound to happen.
He is sitting crosslegged on top of a mead barrel in a shadowy corner a way off from the main action though. Because, once again, bunch of mildly intoxicated adults here tossing pointy things. He doesn't really want to be in the thick of that.
Re: he sees you O-O
"Atreus. I'm glad you could make it this evening. Enjoying the show?"
His words were nought but a whisper since he guessed that Atreus didn't wish to be spotted as of yet. Besides, Loki's best friends were the shadows so he knew all about discretion regarding such matters. Many a time he had done what the boy had done, sitting in the dark, watching and observing within the vast feast halls of Asgard.
*surprised pikachu!*
...Oh. Him. Well, yeah. That makes sense. He probably should have expected that to be perfectly honest. Doesn't matter too much, Loki hasn't dragged much attention over here with him either.
"Well things are just starting up," which is good because he's still experimenting with the focus and settings, "I thought it might be a fun exercise to see if I spot any cheaters. There's lots of people who can do all sorts of things around here. I'd be surprised if there wasn't at least one person who tried something."
Re: *throws trick ball*
At the mention of cheaters, Loki could only smirk to himself at the very idea that there would be cheating at his event. Perish the thought indeed. The God of Mischief running a contest that was completely devoid of ill-will and cheating. Ah, the innocence of youth.
"Let me know if you spot anyone cheating and I'll give them a good telling off."
It was too good an opportunity to pass up. The cheating was bound to happen at some stage in the game and Loki wondered if it would happen before he possibly cheated himself. Atreus was welcome to be the god's eyes in the shadows, since two sets of eyes were better than one. The advantage would be the both of theirs.