Master of Disaster [Sigyn/Vali]

[Loki Laufeyson]

Upon waking, or perhaps before even that, Loki had decided that he would have a talk with his oldest son this morning. After the revelation of his true blood, Loki had not been able to convince Vali that being part Frost Giant did not inherently make him evil. Narvi had had better luck, or so Loki hoped. He would find out soon.

The family had sat down for breakfast together. Loki had already told Sigyn of his intentions; it had been her idea that they have this talk, and they both knew it was needed sooner rather than later. Vali was still very unsure of himself, and he had been angry over learning his heritage. Loki had not forgotten that. His anger had stung deeply. Yet it was the same anger that Loki had felt, among other things, upon learning of it all himself.

So, as they finished eating, Loki took Vali aside and said casually, as though he had not been planning this for some time, "Vali, would you like to go hunting today? Just you and I. Your mother and Greta will take care of Narvi while we're gone."

Of course, the real question was whether Vali wanted to go hunting, or do something else. Time spent with his father was a given whether Vali wanted it or not. Surely Vali could guess what his father intended to talk about; the boy was smart, and very perceptive. Loki would not even pretend that there was much else on his mind but discussing this anger. But at least Vali would get a hunting trip or whatever else he might choose out of it.

[Sigyn Laufeyson]

Sigyn was happy about Loki taking Vali hunting. This was probably the best way to make Vali go, in case he didn't want to. The boy loved hunting. Moreover, he loved his father, but he was confused at the moment. He needed someone to relate to and Loki could be that person if he played his cards right.

Moreover, with Loki and Vali out, Sigyn could focus on Narvi. They could practice a little magic together and take a walk. She'd soon have to talk to Loki about their boys' schooling and education. Sigyn did not want them to grow up in the solitude of this palace, they needed contact to other children their age, needed playmates, friends. But today was all about bonding with their parents.

Vali had just gotten up and was about to head to his room, when Loki took him aside. The boy shrugged, "Alright."
Usually, Vali would have screamed in excitement. But he knew what Loki was up to. Or at least, he figured that this was about more than just hunting. That had curbed his enthusiasm.
"I will get dressed.", Vali said, eventually departing.


Sigyn, who had watched the scene, approached Loki as Vali had left. "It is going to be fine," she said, squeezing Loki's arm.
"Mother you are making me wait!", Narvi called out to Sigyn.
"Yes, I know, my apologies," she chuckled. Once more, she squeezed Loki's arm. "Have a good day." With that said, she left to spend her day with her youngest.


Fifteen minutes later and now properly dressed, Vali opened the door to the family's private salon. "Father?", he called out. He felt nervous, fidgetted with his hands. Whatever it was that Loki was going to tell him, Vali expected one of his favourite pastimes to be ruined forever.

[Loki Laufeyson]

This would have gone much better had Vali been more enthusiastic, but Loki would have to take what he could get, it seemed. Perhaps he deserved it. He had not gone about revealing his background the right way. He should have told his sons much earlier, instead of risking them finding out for themselves, as they had. But that could not be changed now.

Loki looked at Sigyn as she squeezed his arm. Could he do this? Could he talk any sense into his son, with the tings he still believed about himself? He would have to try, for Vali's sake. His sons deserved better. They deserved to live in a fair world, one that would not judge them based on their race. Such a world would never exist… unless Loki ruled it….

Dressed in riding clothes, with a bow in his hands and a quiver of arrows slung over his back, Loki emerged from his and Sigyn's wing to find Vali waiting. "Ready, Vali?" Loki asked, handing Vali his own bow and quiver. They would take the horses that had been prepared for them and ride out to the forest, and see what they might find to hunt there.

On the ride there, Loki pointed out a few things, like this tree and that bird, trying to start a light conversation that Vali may or may not care about. Eventually they came upon a majestic wild turkey strutting about in the forest. Without making a sound, Loki gestured for Vali to try to hit him, knowing a turkey was not as large and easy to hit as a boar, but that a turkey would be less violent if Vali missed.

[Sigyn Laufeyson]

Vali reluctantly nodded. The boy had some kind of feeling about this, yet he couldn't withdraw. Even though the big revelation was not as fresh anymore as it had been right after he had gotten the news, he still kind of blamed Loki for everything. Vali was old enough to realize that mere biology had done this and that his father hadn't had a say in it, but he was still a child to begin with. Children didn't always consult reason and logic.

So while Loki was pointing out to different things on the ride, Vali merely nodded every now and then. He barely talked, he barely joked, he just endured whatever his father was putting down. Eventually, they stopped their horses. The boy dismounted. He was getting better at riding with every step he made his horse take. He still wanted a bigger, stronger horse. A horse like Sleipnir, for instance.

"Are we hunting for fun or are we hunting for supper?", Vali asked. Maybe, they weren't hunting for either. Perhaps, they would not be hunting to begin with. Loki was too intimidated and ashamed to call Loki out on anything. So he just started to walk. If someone watched closely, they'd realize that Vali's composure was matching Loki's. Like father like son.

[Loki Laufeyson]

This little excursion should have been a happy father-and-son outing, but the matter that lingered between that father and son soured the mood. There was much Loki regretted - having not been honest about his true heritage as soon as possible, for one. That was something he could have done to prevent this exact situation. Yet he had not, and for no reason other than he simply had chosen not to.

"Both," Loki answered confidently, when the actual answer was neither. They were out here to talk, of course. But if they could get some dinner out of it, then why not? Vali would be proud to have fed his family, or so Loki hoped. Besides, Loki was not one to waste good meat. If Vali managed a clean kill that they could use to eat, then so much the better.

There was plenty to hunt, from wild birds to smaller fare like squirrels and such. But a larger, slower target would be easier, and Loki had only just started to teach Vali how to take down a bird in flight. It was a challenging skill. "Focus on your target, and keep your body in perfect control, as your quarry will not do the same," he said quietly, drawing an arrow and setting it in his bow. This was all information that Vali was already aware of, but could always stand to be reminded of. Besides, it was not time for them to have the talk Loki had brought Vali out here for. Not yet.

[Sigyn Laufeyson]

Vali just shrugged his shoulders. Was he surrendering? The boy definitely felt somehow defeated. However, he was torn. After all, Sigyn and Loki were still his parents. They had never treated him badly and he loved them. That love contradicted with his confused feelings about the revelation he had received the other day. It was a little too much for the boy to take, so he was rather quiet today. He just did as he was told, hoping the day would pass.

In fact, he was just hoping these weird feelings would pass.
He did as Loki told, lifted his weapon and aimed. He was not perfect, far from it, but he seemed to be understanding the hang of it. The arrow flew fastly, but it lacked direction. Vali had managed to sent it flying with force, but he was not yet capable of combining force and aiming. It missed the bird, instead, hit a tree. The impact shook the leaves and a flock of birds erupted from its leaves, departing into safety.

Vali and his cumulated, angry feelings couldn't take it. Vali growled in anger, threw his bow to the ground. "This is stupid. I'm not old enough to do this. I'm a child, not a warrior or a hunter. Sent someone to do this. I can't.", he complained. Usually, he'd be the one to not give up. He'd be the boy claiming to be a warrior. Angry tears left his eyes. Having missed the bird was not the problem. It was something else. And Loki knew exactly what it was.