Story: "Brotherlove, Brotherlust" Part 1
May. 14th, 2014 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis is a standalone story inspired by Norse mythology about Loki and Odin, who were originally blood-brothers and/or lovers depending on which sources you consider. It's a plotty exploration of how Loki tries to right wrongs, in ways that never quite work out as intended, with a layer of kinky erotica wrapped around it. Some parts are silly and others are really intense. This story is being revealed in pieces based on audience participation.
Warnings: Some of these are touchy topics and some are spoilers. Highlight to read them. Bondage (consensual and nonconsensual), torture (nonconsensual), self-injury causing handicap (consensual), dubious consent (various cases), arranged marriage (consensual), cock and ball torture (consensual), verbal abuse (nonconsensual), running away from home, dysfunctional family dynamics, flogging (consensual), crossdressing (consensual), adultery, drunken shenanigans, acquaintance rape, deceit leading to death, murder.
Supporters include:finch, dialecticdreamer, thnidu, hrafn
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.
"Brotherlove, Brotherlust" Part 1
A droplet of emerald gathered, grew, and finally fell.
Loki heard it splash into the wooden bowl held by his wife, the ever-faithful Sigyn. He could tell by the trembling of her arms that the venom had almost reached the brim again. Soon she would need to empty it. He dreaded that time, when the acidic venom would sear his skin. Another drop fell. Loki’s mind wandered, as it often did, back toward the happier times before his binding…
Another drop. Sigyn whipped the bowl away and dashed for the mouth of the cave. Loki could not help writhing against his bonds, but they held fast. The stone walls shivered in sympathy. Venom rained down on his naked face.
Loki screamed.
* * *
In the morning of the world, when the gods wandered at will through forests new with wonder, they met: fair-faced Loki with eyes blue as fire and hair red as flame, and far-traveling Odin, already a graybeard. Such a love sprang up between them that it endured past all offenses and dalliances. No skald now recalls the beginning of their adventures, only that they shared many down through the ages.
Soon Odin conceived a desire for wisdom which nothing else would quench. He went to the well of Mimir and traded his right eye for the right to drink from those waters. Then he became wise; the twin ravens Hugin and Munin, Thought and Memory, settled upon his shoulders.
But when he returned, Loki cried out, “Odin! What happened to your eye?”
“I gave it away,” said Odin. “Never fear – I can still see your handsome face.”
“I can still see your handsome face as well,” said Loki. He came to Odin’s arms and kissed the empty socket.
Odin flinched back in surprise, expecting that his tattered visage would horrify everyone. Loki did not release him, though. Odin spread his gray cloak on the grass and they lay down together. Then Odin laughed, saying, “Others may complain of your too-quick tongue, Loki, but I find it marvelous indeed!”
Loki kept his head in the other god’s lap until Odin’s shout of pleasure startled the ravens into flight. Only then did Loki sit up and say, “You should not let people trap you into ill-fated bargains, Odin. You need me around to keep you safe from such things.”
“As you wish,” said Odin. Then he drew his knife, and they clasped hands around its bright blade, mingling their blood; together they walked beneath an earthen bridge and made a pledge of brotherhood. It was the first time that the blood of a god and the blood of a giant blended – but it would not be the last.
* * *
Odin and Loki often went wandering about the realms. On one occasion, they killed an ox to feed their hunger but could not get the meat to roast properly. A stranger appeared and offered to help them. One thing led to another, and Loki wound up helping the giant Thjazi to kidnap Idunn, keeper of the apples of immortality. Then he sallied forth to rescue her again. When Loki returned Idunn to Asgard, with the giant in hot pursuit, the Aesir built a huge bonfire and slew Thjazi.
Now all of this might have been forgotten as another squabble among the mighty ones, except that Thjazi’s daughter Skadi journeyed to Asgard seeking vengeance. Balder took one look at the giantess, so tall and strong, with sturdy snowshoes strapped to her feet and a thick bow in her hand, and said, “We have a problem.”
Odin went forth to parley. “What do you seek here, giantess?” he asked.
“I am Skadi, daughter of Thjazi who found his death in Asgard. I come to demand weregild for my father.” The chill winds whipped her dark hair around her face as she spoke.
“We will pay weregild,” said Odin, who loved order above all else. “Name us your father’s weight, and we will match it in gold.”
“I do not want your gold,” the giantess spat. “I want your blood! Give me the life of he who slew my father. Only then will I go away.”
“All of us together did the deed,” said Odin. “Surely you agree that the deaths of every Aesir would be an excessive price for one giant, however dear to your heart.”
Grudgingly, Skadi nodded.
“Then take the other you named, our blood: choose any unmarried god to become your husband,” said Odin.
“Very well,” said Skadi.
Odin went back to share this judgment with the others. “I have struck a deal with Skadi,” he said, and told them the terms.
But Balder balked. “She is sure to pick me, for I am the handsomest of all,” he said, “and I refuse to marry a giantess!”
The Allfather drew himself up, a storm-dark frown covering his face. “You will do as I command!”
Then Loki intervened, saying, “Brotherlove, friend Balder, only leave it to me. I can arrange matters so that Skadi chooses someone else.”
“Fine,” said Balder, who cared only for himself.
So Loki lined up all the eligible gods behind a blanket, so that only their feet showed. He brought Skadi to the line and said, “Here are your groomsmen; choose what husband you wish. But because the feet of your father remained unburnt, you must pick your husband by looking at his feet alone.”
Skadi pointed to the prettiest feet, and the gods dropped the blanket to reveal Njord as her choice. Being the god of the fruitful ocean, he waded often in the waves, which left his feet clean and white. Skadi shrieked in protest. “You cheated me! I wanted Balder!”
“Too bad,” said Balder. “I wouldn’t sleep with a giantess for all the weregild up and down Yggdrasil.”
Outraged, Skadi nocked an arrow at Balder and declared, “You owe me, Aesir, for this insult! Make amends, or I shall take my blush-fine in this oaf’s blood, and call off the wedding as well.”
“You cannot go back on our agreement,” Odin said, shocked.
Skadi drew her bow. Balder cringed. She followed the motion effortlessly.
Loki sprang forward and said, “Skadi, forgive him, his mouth ran away with his wits. Let us make fools of ourselves for your amusement, and accept that instead of Balder’s blood.”
“Very well,” said Skadi, “but only if one of you can make me laugh.”
So the gods set about the task. Balder sang a bawdy song. Odin tossed crumbs in the air for his ravens to catch. Njord dropped a squid down Thor’s tunic. Thor emptied a mug of mead over Balder’s head, which made everyone shout in dismay.
None of it made Skadi laugh, or even so much as smile. She sat there with a face bleak as shale.
“Somebody do something,” said Balder.
“How are we supposed to make the man-hating bitch laugh?” muttered Thor.
“You just answered your own question,” said Loki. “Thor, loan me one of your goats.”
Thor brought out Toothgnasher. Loki tied one end of a rope to the goat’s beard, and the other end to his own testicles. The goat shook his head, trying to rid himself of the annoyance. Loki bleated.
Skadi began to smile.
Toothgnasher bleated louder and began to pull forward. Loki grabbed the rope with both hands and backpedaled frantically. The goat tossed his horns and ran in a circle, butting Loki from behind. Loki tripped over the rope and yelled.
Skadi stifled a snicker.
Loki and Toothgnasher went around and around, pulling and bellowing, thrashing around in the grass. Finally the rope broke, and Toothgnasher bolted away into the woods. Loki fell over backwards, right into Skadi’s lap.
Skadi burst out laughing. She laughed so hard that she dropped her bow.
Njord came over and hauled Loki off her lap. Then he handed Skadi her bow back. “Welcome to Asgard, my bride,” he said.
The other gods held their breath.
Skadi took Njord’s hand and said, “Thank you, my groom.”
Odin followed Loki as he limped away. “You handled that rather well, brotherlove,” he said. “Especially since it was your appetite that got us into the whole mess in the first place.”
“I don’t recall you declining a slice of that ox,” said Loki.
“Well, perhaps not.” Odin grinned, and patted Loki on his sore balls. Loki winced. Odin grinned wider.
“So, am I forgiven?” said Loki.
“Always,” said Odin.
[To be continued in Part 2 ...]
Warnings: Some of these are touchy topics and some are spoilers. Highlight to read them. Bondage (consensual and nonconsensual), torture (nonconsensual), self-injury causing handicap (consensual), dubious consent (various cases), arranged marriage (consensual), cock and ball torture (consensual), verbal abuse (nonconsensual), running away from home, dysfunctional family dynamics, flogging (consensual), crossdressing (consensual), adultery, drunken shenanigans, acquaintance rape, deceit leading to death, murder.
Supporters include:
finch, dialecticdreamer, thnidu, hrafn Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.
"Brotherlove, Brotherlust" Part 1
A droplet of emerald gathered, grew, and finally fell.
Loki heard it splash into the wooden bowl held by his wife, the ever-faithful Sigyn. He could tell by the trembling of her arms that the venom had almost reached the brim again. Soon she would need to empty it. He dreaded that time, when the acidic venom would sear his skin. Another drop fell. Loki’s mind wandered, as it often did, back toward the happier times before his binding…
Another drop. Sigyn whipped the bowl away and dashed for the mouth of the cave. Loki could not help writhing against his bonds, but they held fast. The stone walls shivered in sympathy. Venom rained down on his naked face.
Loki screamed.
* * *
In the morning of the world, when the gods wandered at will through forests new with wonder, they met: fair-faced Loki with eyes blue as fire and hair red as flame, and far-traveling Odin, already a graybeard. Such a love sprang up between them that it endured past all offenses and dalliances. No skald now recalls the beginning of their adventures, only that they shared many down through the ages.
Soon Odin conceived a desire for wisdom which nothing else would quench. He went to the well of Mimir and traded his right eye for the right to drink from those waters. Then he became wise; the twin ravens Hugin and Munin, Thought and Memory, settled upon his shoulders.
But when he returned, Loki cried out, “Odin! What happened to your eye?”
“I gave it away,” said Odin. “Never fear – I can still see your handsome face.”
“I can still see your handsome face as well,” said Loki. He came to Odin’s arms and kissed the empty socket.
Odin flinched back in surprise, expecting that his tattered visage would horrify everyone. Loki did not release him, though. Odin spread his gray cloak on the grass and they lay down together. Then Odin laughed, saying, “Others may complain of your too-quick tongue, Loki, but I find it marvelous indeed!”
Loki kept his head in the other god’s lap until Odin’s shout of pleasure startled the ravens into flight. Only then did Loki sit up and say, “You should not let people trap you into ill-fated bargains, Odin. You need me around to keep you safe from such things.”
“As you wish,” said Odin. Then he drew his knife, and they clasped hands around its bright blade, mingling their blood; together they walked beneath an earthen bridge and made a pledge of brotherhood. It was the first time that the blood of a god and the blood of a giant blended – but it would not be the last.
* * *
Odin and Loki often went wandering about the realms. On one occasion, they killed an ox to feed their hunger but could not get the meat to roast properly. A stranger appeared and offered to help them. One thing led to another, and Loki wound up helping the giant Thjazi to kidnap Idunn, keeper of the apples of immortality. Then he sallied forth to rescue her again. When Loki returned Idunn to Asgard, with the giant in hot pursuit, the Aesir built a huge bonfire and slew Thjazi.
Now all of this might have been forgotten as another squabble among the mighty ones, except that Thjazi’s daughter Skadi journeyed to Asgard seeking vengeance. Balder took one look at the giantess, so tall and strong, with sturdy snowshoes strapped to her feet and a thick bow in her hand, and said, “We have a problem.”
Odin went forth to parley. “What do you seek here, giantess?” he asked.
“I am Skadi, daughter of Thjazi who found his death in Asgard. I come to demand weregild for my father.” The chill winds whipped her dark hair around her face as she spoke.
“We will pay weregild,” said Odin, who loved order above all else. “Name us your father’s weight, and we will match it in gold.”
“I do not want your gold,” the giantess spat. “I want your blood! Give me the life of he who slew my father. Only then will I go away.”
“All of us together did the deed,” said Odin. “Surely you agree that the deaths of every Aesir would be an excessive price for one giant, however dear to your heart.”
Grudgingly, Skadi nodded.
“Then take the other you named, our blood: choose any unmarried god to become your husband,” said Odin.
“Very well,” said Skadi.
Odin went back to share this judgment with the others. “I have struck a deal with Skadi,” he said, and told them the terms.
But Balder balked. “She is sure to pick me, for I am the handsomest of all,” he said, “and I refuse to marry a giantess!”
The Allfather drew himself up, a storm-dark frown covering his face. “You will do as I command!”
Then Loki intervened, saying, “Brotherlove, friend Balder, only leave it to me. I can arrange matters so that Skadi chooses someone else.”
“Fine,” said Balder, who cared only for himself.
So Loki lined up all the eligible gods behind a blanket, so that only their feet showed. He brought Skadi to the line and said, “Here are your groomsmen; choose what husband you wish. But because the feet of your father remained unburnt, you must pick your husband by looking at his feet alone.”
Skadi pointed to the prettiest feet, and the gods dropped the blanket to reveal Njord as her choice. Being the god of the fruitful ocean, he waded often in the waves, which left his feet clean and white. Skadi shrieked in protest. “You cheated me! I wanted Balder!”
“Too bad,” said Balder. “I wouldn’t sleep with a giantess for all the weregild up and down Yggdrasil.”
Outraged, Skadi nocked an arrow at Balder and declared, “You owe me, Aesir, for this insult! Make amends, or I shall take my blush-fine in this oaf’s blood, and call off the wedding as well.”
“You cannot go back on our agreement,” Odin said, shocked.
Skadi drew her bow. Balder cringed. She followed the motion effortlessly.
Loki sprang forward and said, “Skadi, forgive him, his mouth ran away with his wits. Let us make fools of ourselves for your amusement, and accept that instead of Balder’s blood.”
“Very well,” said Skadi, “but only if one of you can make me laugh.”
So the gods set about the task. Balder sang a bawdy song. Odin tossed crumbs in the air for his ravens to catch. Njord dropped a squid down Thor’s tunic. Thor emptied a mug of mead over Balder’s head, which made everyone shout in dismay.
None of it made Skadi laugh, or even so much as smile. She sat there with a face bleak as shale.
“Somebody do something,” said Balder.
“How are we supposed to make the man-hating bitch laugh?” muttered Thor.
“You just answered your own question,” said Loki. “Thor, loan me one of your goats.”
Thor brought out Toothgnasher. Loki tied one end of a rope to the goat’s beard, and the other end to his own testicles. The goat shook his head, trying to rid himself of the annoyance. Loki bleated.
Skadi began to smile.
Toothgnasher bleated louder and began to pull forward. Loki grabbed the rope with both hands and backpedaled frantically. The goat tossed his horns and ran in a circle, butting Loki from behind. Loki tripped over the rope and yelled.
Skadi stifled a snicker.
Loki and Toothgnasher went around and around, pulling and bellowing, thrashing around in the grass. Finally the rope broke, and Toothgnasher bolted away into the woods. Loki fell over backwards, right into Skadi’s lap.
Skadi burst out laughing. She laughed so hard that she dropped her bow.
Njord came over and hauled Loki off her lap. Then he handed Skadi her bow back. “Welcome to Asgard, my bride,” he said.
The other gods held their breath.
Skadi took Njord’s hand and said, “Thank you, my groom.”
Odin followed Loki as he limped away. “You handled that rather well, brotherlove,” he said. “Especially since it was your appetite that got us into the whole mess in the first place.”
“I don’t recall you declining a slice of that ox,” said Loki.
“Well, perhaps not.” Odin grinned, and patted Loki on his sore balls. Loki winced. Odin grinned wider.
“So, am I forgiven?” said Loki.
“Always,” said Odin.
[To be continued in Part 2 ...]
