Personification Life - IC Part VIII [open]

[The BranRiech]

Rylli decided on playing along, she knew basically what a secretary did, look busy and warn the boss about meetings or holding calls. She immediately whipped out her cell phone and started messing around with it. She stood stiffly behind her "Boss" and waited silently for a request, as well as keeping an eye on the Boss' daughter.

[New Aksarben]

Sigtrygg was a bit startled by the fact he was now wearing a suit, but he sighed and nodded. He guessed Loki was about to live up to his title as the Trickster God, and decided to just go along with it. It couldn't be that bad whatever Loki was planning..... Could it? Sig stood up straight and waited for Loki to tell them what to do. The normally relaxed and casual Viking took on the air he had observed from the stadthalters of Holland, and the nobles of the Imperial court. Which was to say, very uptight and expecting others to respect them, but still showing deference to their lord, which were the Finnish King and Roman Emperor respectively.

[Giovenith]

The man was now huffing and reading the back of a box in frustration, unprepared for the sudden word of CEO Loki.

"I appreciate your assertiveness, sir," said the Trickster, sounding liking he truly believed this. "Hard to find that in a good man these days."

The man was silent for a moment, probably wondering what random stranger had dared to come up and just start talking nonsense to him. However, as soon as his eyes caught Loki and the other's expensive and official-looking clothes, his expression softened from a cold glare to a prideful sneer.

"I know, right?" he said to Loki, now taking him in as a peer. "My son. I did what I could with that boy, but what can I say? He's just like his mother. Stupid, and thinks money grows on trees." He laughed, and as if on a wonderfully-timed cue, Loki laughed along.

"Ohhh, I know what you mean, I know what you mean," breathed Loki with a good-natured tone, "Some people just don't have it, you know?"

"The obnoxious part is when they don't realize it."

"Truly," Loki gestured to himself. "I'm in business myself, as you can see. You?"

"I own this very chain's rival!"

"Really! Well good to meet you, sir," He extended a hand, and the two shook on it. "You know, you remind me of my father..."

"Farbauti?" asked Giovenith, not grasping the concept of 'staying in character.'

"James Farbauti," Loki made a flawless save, patting Giovenith's head with a little heavy force, warning her to watch her words. The godling looked to Sig and Rylli with some confusion.

[The BranRiech]

"Sir, shall I take your daughter to get a snack?" Rylli asked obediently, looking to Gio and smiling in a motherly way, as if she hadn't much exposure to anyone else but her father's secretary.

[New Aksarben]

Sig offered Gio a small, almost imperceptible shrug, and gestured for her to be quiet so Loki could work his magic. Which was almost literal in this case. The Viking contined watching the exchange silently, putting a serious, almost annoyed expression on his face. He was taller than the others in the group, and stood in a way that would use that to intimidate this man that Loki had spoken to.

[Giovenith]

"Sir, shall I take your daughter to get a snack?" Rylli asked obediently, looking to Gio and smiling in a motherly way, as if she hadn't much exposure to anyone else but her father's secretary.

"No, no, let little Julie stay," said Loki, adjusting the hat he had made appear on Giovenith's head. "It's good for her to learn about the business. And not to repeat her Daddy's mistakes...."

"I take it it's been a rough ride to the top?" asked the man, putting a box back and reading another one.

"My own fault, I have to admit," sighed Loki, suddenly taking on a sorrowful air. "In my youth, I was not a very... grateful child. I really should have listened to my father sooner."

"Hmf, shouldn't they all?" snorted the man, not taking his eyes off the ingredients, obviously remembering his recent conversation.

"Precisely," agreed Loki with some disgust in his tone, as if to silently agree with the man's sentiments. "He was just like you. Strong, smart, savvy, epitome of 'father knows best.' I was just too stupid at the time to listen. Got into some trouble... with girls."

If one was an hyper-observant individual, like the Trickster, they could have seen the ever-slightly tensing of the man's muscles beneath his thick suit. Loki broke character for but a millisecond, allowing the corners of his mouth to twitch a bit in a smile to see that his words were having an affect, as usual. He then went back to his professionally feigned sorrow, continuing his story.

"I was only fifteen, and father warned me about that hoe, but I didn't listen," said Loki, eyes looking down. "Looking back, I think it was the worse time of my life. Only good thing she wound up giving me was Julie here, before running off with some damn dirty hippie. Probably overdosed in a ditch somewhere. It wouldn't hang anything on my conscious."

Giovenith was somewhat disturbed by these words, though she knew enough about Loki to know that they must have been all part of some bigger ploy. None the less, she turned and hugged Rylli for comfort, also reaching out and holding Sig's hand. Without realizing it, she had made herself further endearing in her sadness, only giving more weight to Loki's story in the man's eyes.

"I see," he said, a little remorse in his voice.

[New Aksarben]

Sig accepted Gio's hand and continued listening and watching loki's ploy. Sig wasn't sure what to think, but continued to stand there silently, letting Loki tell his story.

[The BranRiech]

"It's alright, Julie. Your father loves you very much." Rylli whispered comfortingly and knelt down to make sure her boss' daughter was alright. It was what she was payed to do anyways.

[Giovenith]

"But you shaped up?" asked the man, trying to hide his eagerness to hear the story.

"Damn straight I shaped up," said Loki, giving the handlebar on the cart a light slam with his fist. "Had to, couldn't care for Julie like I could until I did. Finished school, inherited the company, running smoother than it ever was. But..."

"But?"

Loki drummed his fingers on the bar, resting his head in his other hand. It was his replacement for crying, seeing as the type of person he was playing wouldn't have cried in front of a fellow businessman. "Cancer got the old man before I could say he was right. And thank him for everything."

"... Oh. ... I'm sorry."

"Mmm."

There was a moment of silence.

"... You know," said Loki, looking down and smiling. "It never really did leave me, never getting to say what I wanted to father... but... and, uh, jeeze, this is going to sound real weird... but, since I'm going to be checking out soon, and you're like the spitting reincarnation of the old man, would you mind if... no, naw, never mind. Sorry I bothered you." He turned to move the cart ahead.

"No, what?" asked the man, lightly stopping the cart. "Tell me."

Loki smiled with sentimentality. "Would you... just let me say, 'Thanks, Dad' to you when I go out of the store? Just to... I don't know, symbolic peace-making. I know it's odd, but-"

"Sure, why not?" The man smiled.

Loki pretended to be dumbfounded, before grinning and shaking the man's hand. "Thank you, sir! You don't know how happy you've made this man! Come along, team." He gestured for the others to follow him to the check out counter.

[Tiltjuice]

"I was thinking of the main vehicle bay. Always fun to see the heavy armor that's stored. The ship also has a contingent of AT-AT's, which I know you'll like. Large, lumbering quadruped mechanized armor shaped like an old Sith Spawn. I'm going to just take a wild guess and say you'll want to take the train there, and not bother walking a couple kilometers?" Ozzall asked while he led Dora down the ramp of the Lambda-Class shuttle and onto the surface of the hanger.

"Only if it's fast," Dora replied, winking. She paused briefly to look around the huge space - things always looked different from the inside.

(With AETEN's approval)

The train turned out to be a blocky, substantial thing inside a blocky void. A staggeringly large number of white-armored figures, several cargo pallets, and a few light vehicles here and there throughout the length of the transport system. Ozzall led Dora onto one of the compartments.

The repulsorlifts activated with a low thrumming that made Dora bite her tongue and glance sideways at the Stormtrooper, and then they were in motion. The blur racing by was reminiscent of a power-enhanced run. It came to a stop, though, in a chamber almost as large as the boat bay. Some budging and commotion occurred as a number of the troops exited with the vehicles, as did the clone and the PI.

[New Aksarben]

Sigtrygg followed along with Loki, a bit amazed by Loki's skill. He knew that Loki was the trickster god, but still it was amazing seeing him work. Sig continued to hold onto Gio's hand, motioning her to follow along with the group.

[The BranRiech]

Rylli followed, always humbled by the boss' story. It was part of her fabricated reasoning to why she took this fake job, and she'd get to work with his daughter more, she always wanted kids . . .

"Sir, you have a meeting in 30 minutes, and your flight has been arranged for next week."

[Torsiedelle]

Torii looked a little sad. She peaked in near Drove and checked the CD player. "What's wrong? Not a fan of Bon Jovi?"

[The BranRiech]

Torii looked a little sad. She peaked in near Drove and checked the CD player. "What's wrong? Not a fan of Bon Jovi?"

"I just think my music is better is all, a cultural thing, perhaps." Drova said politely and handed the Cd player back. "If you don't mind, I must be going." He said.

[Giovenith]

"Thank you Emma, I'll remember that," said Loki, smiling politely but not looking at Rylli. She was just playing an underling assistant, after all. By the time they reached their turn at the check out counter, the man from before was about four people behind them. It was a busy day. Loki looked at the man out of the corner of his eye, receiving a smile and nod, then returning the favor.

"Chips, cat food..." said Giovenith, entertaining herself by naming the things as they slid into the check out.

"For your new kitten," said Loki, lovingly patting her head. Giovenith just nodded, knowing she was not a very good actress.

Before the check out lady could finish up the last few items however, Loki carefully leaned over and said something quietly to her so that only she could here. The young lady looked confused at first, looking quickly at something toward the back of the line, before Loki laughed and nodded, earning a chuckle from her as well. It would appear as if they had just shared some fond joke, casual flirting between two young people. She bagged their things, then placed them in the cart.

As per agreed on before, Loki stopped, slowly turned, and faced the man across the line. He carefully raised his hand, smiled wistfully, and said in a half-pained, half-joyous voice, "Thanks, Dad."

The man beamed a smile, giving the other man a thumbs up. "No problem, son."

Loki nodded, calmly leading the others out of the store. As soon as they were out the doors, their clothes changed back to normal, and Loki began running.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" he snapped to them. "We've got an ever-closing window of opportunity here!"

He pulled a small toy Hot Wheels car from his pocket, throwing it on the ground, and it instantly popped into a full-sized sports car. "Load them up!"

[The BranRiech]

"Huh? What?"

Rylli had kept up the act up until now, when they suddenly poofed back to their normal, non rich selves. She obliged and quickly started tossing groceries into the backseat of the car, before diving in as well and buckling her seatbelt.

[Torsiedelle]

Torii looked a little sad. She peaked in near Drove and checked the CD player. "What's wrong? Not a fan of Bon Jovi?"

"I just think my music is better is all, a cultural thing, perhaps." Drova said politely and handed the Cd player back. "If you don't mind, I must be going." He said.

Torii smirked. "Um....okay..."

She set the headphones down and walked away, behind Drova.

[New Aksarben]

Sigtrygg blinked, confused where the car had come from and from this whole ordeal, but instinctively began working to load their things into the car, following Loki's orders like a soldier would. He muttered something about not believing this was happening in Norse, and wondered why he had gone along with Loki's plan.

[Giovenith]

Meanwhile, back in the store, the business man had finally gotten his turn at the check out. He hadn't bought much, just some coffee, a bottle of cough syrup, and a carton of cigarettes. He had a pretty good feeling inside at having helped a fellow man of business out, thinking his own train wreck of a son could learn a thing or two from his new acquaintance. It was amazing how many similarities the story and his own situation seemed to have, but brushed it off probably as something typical that happened to the son's of men such as himself. Maybe if that one had found integrity, there was hope for George yet-

"Okay, that will be two thousand three hundred dollars, and fifty nine sense, plus tax," said the check out lady in her cheerful valley girl accent.

"What?" snapped the man, personal serenity completely shattered. "Are you blind or just stupid, woman? I only have three items! This brand's machines were always crap." His own store's were of similar quality.

"Well sir, your son did buy an awful lot of things..."

"Wait, wait, wait... what? My son?"

"Your son," repeated the lady, looking confused. "The red haired young man. Your son said you would pay for his groceries."

It felt as it the floor had collapsed beneath the man's shiny, leather shoes. What? Who? HOW?!

"That- That wasn't- I- But he-" he stammered.

"Wasn't that was he was thanking you for back there?" asked the lady. "Thanks for paying, Dad?"

The man was frozen in shock. He just stood there, letting the realization that he, he of all people, had been swindled by some off-the-street conman. After all his years of business ingenuity and general bullshit-sniffing, he had played right into this random bastard armed with nothing but a sob story's hands.

He snapped. "THAT SNIVELING, RATTY, SON OF A-"

---

Loki was laughing wildly as he drove the car, the group already a good mile from the grocery store, any attempts to pursue them long killed by now.

"I can't believe that guy actually called me his son!" he laughed, holding his head and shaking it for a moment before returning his eyes to the road. " 'Thanks for everything, Dad!' Oh give me a fucking break! People are just too easy sometimes!"

"Loki, you said you'd pay for those groceries," said Giovenith in an annoyed voice, who was sitting in the back passenger seat with Sig, directly behind the Trickster.

"I said they would be paid for," Loki corrected her. "I never said I would be the one paying for them."

[The BranRiech]

"Please stop the car." Rylli requested uncertainly, completely not alright with the idea of fraud.

[Giovenith]

"Please stop the car." Rylli requested uncertainly, completely not alright with the idea of fraud.

The car screeched to a halt before disappearing, dropping everyone onto a parking lot ground. Loki lay on his stomach and smiled up at her.

"Yeeeeeeeesss...?" he asked, smiling innocently.

[Torsiedelle]

Torii left the store and began to cross the street. She was thinking about Drova.

....

Katya went into her apartment for a shower.

[The BranRiech]

"Please stop the car." Rylli requested uncertainly, completely not alright with the idea of fraud.

The car screeched to a halt before disappearing, dropping everyone onto a parking lot ground. Loki lay on his stomach and smiled up at her.

"Yeeeeeeeesss...?" he asked, smiling innocently.

The woman yelped but otherwise dusted herself off and stood up.

"Did you just commit fraud?" Rylli asked and looked at him sternly. "I'd rather go without all this junk, than know that someone payed for it unwillingly."

[Giovenith]

The car screeched to a halt before disappearing, dropping everyone onto a parking lot ground. Loki lay on his stomach and smiled up at her.

"Yeeeeeeeesss...?" he asked, smiling innocently.

The woman yelped but otherwise dusted herself off and stood up.

"Did you just commit fraud?" Rylli asked and looked at him sternly. "I'd rather go without all this junk, than know that someone payed for it unwillingly."

Loki shrugged without getting up. "If that's what you want to call it."

[The BranRiech]

Loki shrugged without getting up. "If that's what you want to call it."

"And why'd you do that?" Rylli questioned, not at all happy anymore as she was.