Post by Signe on May 28, 2022 21:33:35 GMT -5
Signe stepped out into her backyard, dressed in a simple while linen dress, her long blonde hair braided up atop her head and allowed to flow freely down her back. She’d look around the fenced in back yard. It was dark, though never too dark with the city lights and the neighbors not too far away from her. What she hated most about this place was the lack of stars overhead, as hazy as the skies above LA always were. Still, she had the ceremony set up as best she was able, working with what she had.
She’d flick the lighter and light the old fashioned looking torch she held, waiting until it was fully ablaze before walking the perimeter of her fence, lighting similar torches with runes carved into the wood until all that circled her space was lit.
She’d move then to the center of her yard where a makeshift altar had been erected. The trapped coyote yelping at her approach and whining in it’s cage. Upon the alter lay the large tooth entrusted to her by her client, several carving tools, and a large knife and bowl.
Signe stopped in front of the altar, looking to her left and right at the torches and held up her arms. The flames would flicker as if disturbed by an unseen wind.
“Forbli usett. Forbli uhørt.”
Her voice nearly growling out of her throat as an unseen force ripped through the air and touched upon each of the runes carved into the torches. Her yard would grow eerily silent and devoid of any noise from the surrounding city and as she was protected, so were her neighbors from seeing or hearing anything that went on in her back yard that night.
Signe opened the cage. The Coyote would bear it’s teeth but would otherwise be too scared to move. It would let loose a loud yelp as she grabbed it by the nape of it’s neck, taking up the knife and holding both aloft at the altar.
“Kom Coyote, bedrager i dette riket. Gi meg din tjeneste. Så jeg kan…”
“You know….”
A voice from behind would cut her off, keeping her grip tight on the nape of the coyote’s neck she’d whirl, the large knife pointed at the man with twin plats of long black hair. He’d instantly raise his hands and wince, peeking open an eye since he didn’t feel the blade strike him.
“Hey yah…. Was just saying. You’d have better luck with a chicken. Or maybe a cat. But that just seems to piss off the neighbors.”
He’d grin wide as the look of anger for intruding upon her space shifted to one of slight confusion as to who this man was and how he made it past her wards.
“You. Uh. You can put the coyote down.”
The creature would whimper and wiggle in her grasp until it suddenly felt very still. Cold eyes turned to look briefly to see the animal was missing, only to find it curled up in the strange man’s arms with an equally confused look.
“I’m sorry for coming early and unexpected. You’re not the only Lady I’ve offended with that problem.” He’d chuckle mischievously as he pet the coyote. The silence would fill for a full beat and he’d figure she just didn’t get the joke or just wasn’t much of a talker. He’d shrug, setting down the canine who scampered off towards Signe’s back porch.
“Guess no one told you all this wasn’t necessary huh. No need for sacrifice. Sorry about that. But I get it. Your gods are all.. GRR.. ARGH… BLOOD… Blech…”
He’d take a step towards her, not once had she lowered her knife, yet he approached anyway with an easy going gate, stopping just short of it touching his chest. He was short. Or at least, shorter than Signe, standing only around 5’6”. He appeared to be a native man with reddish skin and long ebony hair braided into two plats that draped over his shoulder. He wore jeans, tennis shoes, and a simple grey T-shirt that read “Say: EYE Spell: MAP Say: NESS”. His eyes were a light shade of golden brown. It reminded her of a wolf. Or perhaps more accurately… a coyote.
“So. You called? What do you want from me toots?”
Signe seemed taken back by the informal language and would still lower her blade, taking a step back away from the short man.
“Toots? You?! You are Coyote?”
He’d spread his arms out wide, taking a turn, pausing mid way to settle on his hip and stick out his ass the way a model would before turning all the way around.
“Yup. In the flesh. Unless you’d rather in the fur. I can see you being into that kind of thing. I wouldn’t recommend it though. Maybe in the buff?”
Signe would raise her blade again and once more the older man would laugh and raise his hands high.
“Hey yah… no sense of humor. That’s a shame. But really… what can I do for you? I’ve got a standing poker game in Cherokee NC at Midnight and I see you have something of mine that I didn’t give to you.”
The smile wouldn’t leave his face and his body language would relax as he lowered his hands, yet something in his voice sounded a bit like a threat.
Again Signe lowered her blade, taking steps backwards so as to keep this man in her sight until she stood beside the alter with the extra large tooth. She’d lay her blade down and motion towards it. It had to be Coyote. No one else could have broken through her wards, much less without her knowledge.
“You did not give this to me. You gave it to a man named Donnalbane De’Asandir. In addition to my other duties, I am a weapons crafter by trade. He asked I forge this for him. The tooth being a reward in advance to a possible future son-in-law?”
Coyote’s grin would only grow wider, as if he had just been told a secret he shouldn’t know.
“That little Nunnehi said that, huh? Well, Signe… I can call you that right? Or do you prefer Toots… “
Signe’s eyes would narrow.
“Signe it is! Anyway, Signe, this tooth was a gift. For a show of cleverness and a trial of facing his fears. I’m just a little surprised he’d find a Valkyrie weapon smith he’d trust this gift with. You sure you know what you’re doing?”
Her eyes would remain narrowed as his grin grew more lopsided. He’d lean in, purposely baiting the woman. She was full of fire and likely had not had a true fight in a long time. Would her temper break this deal she needed? She obviously needed something from him or else she wouldn’t have summoned him from his poker friends.
Signe to her credit would only inhale and exhale slowly. He was purposely trying her patience. She had been around enough Gods to know when it was best to engage or not. She would much rather get to the point.
“Since this gift was not granted to me I seek only your permission to forge it. As this is a piece of your body I assumed carving into it without your permission would either be impossible, or would disrupt the magic that flows through it. I would rather return the tooth to my client unaltered if it means the possibility of damaging it.”
Coyote would reach up, cupping his own chin in thought. It was his turn to narrow his eyes as he observed the tall leggy blonde that stood in front of him. At least, he imagined her to be leggy. Those basic shift dresses did nothing for a woman’s figure.
“I suppose I could do that. So long as you meet my conditions.”
“Which are…”
He’d grin. “Every piece of this tooth is to go into the weapon. Nothing is to go to waste. I know it’s tempting… to keep a piece of me around…” He’d give her a dirty grin and a wiggle of his brows. “But you can’t. If even a sliver of bone is left behind then poor Donnalbane will be left with just an ordinary weapon made of bone and metal.”
He’d chuckle, moving up closer with a little bit of a growl in his voice. “But don’t worry. I’m willing to give you a piece of me.” And he’d lean in, puckering up his lips.
Signe’s lip would curl as she leaned back, trying not to be too insulting if this was not another of his tests.
“It is unnecessary. Your conditions will be met. Every sliver shaved away will be used in the crafting of this weapon.”
Coyote’s puckered lips would turn downwards into a pout as the Valkyrie leaned away from him.
“Eh. Your loss. I’d need a step ladder to get to you anyway. Unless of course you got down on your…”
Signe was quick to interrupt that train of thought. “An agreement has been struck then, Great Coyote. You have my word not a piece will be left behind or else the tooth will be rendered as nothing but a normal tooth. I have bothered you long enough. As it is nearly 9 pm here, I believe midnight fast approaches in North Carolina. I would not be the reason you miss your poker game.”
The old man would just shake his head, throwing up his hands in amusement and giving up the act.
“Fine. But I’m taking this Coyote with me. He peed on one of your potted plants and I’ll not have him end up a hat.”
He’d let out a sharp and loud whistle and the coyote would come trotting out from where she kept her blackberries. It looked relaxed with its tongue lolling out of it’s mouth, stopping long enough to leap into the man’s arms.
“Friend, we need to have a discussion about how you got yourself trapped in the first place. You should be ashamed.”
And in a blink the man was gone, leaving Signe alone in her extra quiet back yard. She was uncertain what had just happened, but she had what she needed. With the wave of a hand she’d draw the energy back to her and once more the sounds of the city would invade the space, the torches flickering out as if extinguished by a heavy wind. She’d take up her tools in the bowl and move the tooth inside to begin her work right away.
She’d flick the lighter and light the old fashioned looking torch she held, waiting until it was fully ablaze before walking the perimeter of her fence, lighting similar torches with runes carved into the wood until all that circled her space was lit.
She’d move then to the center of her yard where a makeshift altar had been erected. The trapped coyote yelping at her approach and whining in it’s cage. Upon the alter lay the large tooth entrusted to her by her client, several carving tools, and a large knife and bowl.
Signe stopped in front of the altar, looking to her left and right at the torches and held up her arms. The flames would flicker as if disturbed by an unseen wind.
“Forbli usett. Forbli uhørt.”
Her voice nearly growling out of her throat as an unseen force ripped through the air and touched upon each of the runes carved into the torches. Her yard would grow eerily silent and devoid of any noise from the surrounding city and as she was protected, so were her neighbors from seeing or hearing anything that went on in her back yard that night.
Signe opened the cage. The Coyote would bear it’s teeth but would otherwise be too scared to move. It would let loose a loud yelp as she grabbed it by the nape of it’s neck, taking up the knife and holding both aloft at the altar.
“Kom Coyote, bedrager i dette riket. Gi meg din tjeneste. Så jeg kan…”
“You know….”
A voice from behind would cut her off, keeping her grip tight on the nape of the coyote’s neck she’d whirl, the large knife pointed at the man with twin plats of long black hair. He’d instantly raise his hands and wince, peeking open an eye since he didn’t feel the blade strike him.
“Hey yah…. Was just saying. You’d have better luck with a chicken. Or maybe a cat. But that just seems to piss off the neighbors.”
He’d grin wide as the look of anger for intruding upon her space shifted to one of slight confusion as to who this man was and how he made it past her wards.
“You. Uh. You can put the coyote down.”
The creature would whimper and wiggle in her grasp until it suddenly felt very still. Cold eyes turned to look briefly to see the animal was missing, only to find it curled up in the strange man’s arms with an equally confused look.
“I’m sorry for coming early and unexpected. You’re not the only Lady I’ve offended with that problem.” He’d chuckle mischievously as he pet the coyote. The silence would fill for a full beat and he’d figure she just didn’t get the joke or just wasn’t much of a talker. He’d shrug, setting down the canine who scampered off towards Signe’s back porch.
“Guess no one told you all this wasn’t necessary huh. No need for sacrifice. Sorry about that. But I get it. Your gods are all.. GRR.. ARGH… BLOOD… Blech…”
He’d take a step towards her, not once had she lowered her knife, yet he approached anyway with an easy going gate, stopping just short of it touching his chest. He was short. Or at least, shorter than Signe, standing only around 5’6”. He appeared to be a native man with reddish skin and long ebony hair braided into two plats that draped over his shoulder. He wore jeans, tennis shoes, and a simple grey T-shirt that read “Say: EYE Spell: MAP Say: NESS”. His eyes were a light shade of golden brown. It reminded her of a wolf. Or perhaps more accurately… a coyote.
“So. You called? What do you want from me toots?”
Signe seemed taken back by the informal language and would still lower her blade, taking a step back away from the short man.
“Toots? You?! You are Coyote?”
He’d spread his arms out wide, taking a turn, pausing mid way to settle on his hip and stick out his ass the way a model would before turning all the way around.
“Yup. In the flesh. Unless you’d rather in the fur. I can see you being into that kind of thing. I wouldn’t recommend it though. Maybe in the buff?”
Signe would raise her blade again and once more the older man would laugh and raise his hands high.
“Hey yah… no sense of humor. That’s a shame. But really… what can I do for you? I’ve got a standing poker game in Cherokee NC at Midnight and I see you have something of mine that I didn’t give to you.”
The smile wouldn’t leave his face and his body language would relax as he lowered his hands, yet something in his voice sounded a bit like a threat.
Again Signe lowered her blade, taking steps backwards so as to keep this man in her sight until she stood beside the alter with the extra large tooth. She’d lay her blade down and motion towards it. It had to be Coyote. No one else could have broken through her wards, much less without her knowledge.
“You did not give this to me. You gave it to a man named Donnalbane De’Asandir. In addition to my other duties, I am a weapons crafter by trade. He asked I forge this for him. The tooth being a reward in advance to a possible future son-in-law?”
Coyote’s grin would only grow wider, as if he had just been told a secret he shouldn’t know.
“That little Nunnehi said that, huh? Well, Signe… I can call you that right? Or do you prefer Toots… “
Signe’s eyes would narrow.
“Signe it is! Anyway, Signe, this tooth was a gift. For a show of cleverness and a trial of facing his fears. I’m just a little surprised he’d find a Valkyrie weapon smith he’d trust this gift with. You sure you know what you’re doing?”
Her eyes would remain narrowed as his grin grew more lopsided. He’d lean in, purposely baiting the woman. She was full of fire and likely had not had a true fight in a long time. Would her temper break this deal she needed? She obviously needed something from him or else she wouldn’t have summoned him from his poker friends.
Signe to her credit would only inhale and exhale slowly. He was purposely trying her patience. She had been around enough Gods to know when it was best to engage or not. She would much rather get to the point.
“Since this gift was not granted to me I seek only your permission to forge it. As this is a piece of your body I assumed carving into it without your permission would either be impossible, or would disrupt the magic that flows through it. I would rather return the tooth to my client unaltered if it means the possibility of damaging it.”
Coyote would reach up, cupping his own chin in thought. It was his turn to narrow his eyes as he observed the tall leggy blonde that stood in front of him. At least, he imagined her to be leggy. Those basic shift dresses did nothing for a woman’s figure.
“I suppose I could do that. So long as you meet my conditions.”
“Which are…”
He’d grin. “Every piece of this tooth is to go into the weapon. Nothing is to go to waste. I know it’s tempting… to keep a piece of me around…” He’d give her a dirty grin and a wiggle of his brows. “But you can’t. If even a sliver of bone is left behind then poor Donnalbane will be left with just an ordinary weapon made of bone and metal.”
He’d chuckle, moving up closer with a little bit of a growl in his voice. “But don’t worry. I’m willing to give you a piece of me.” And he’d lean in, puckering up his lips.
Signe’s lip would curl as she leaned back, trying not to be too insulting if this was not another of his tests.
“It is unnecessary. Your conditions will be met. Every sliver shaved away will be used in the crafting of this weapon.”
Coyote’s puckered lips would turn downwards into a pout as the Valkyrie leaned away from him.
“Eh. Your loss. I’d need a step ladder to get to you anyway. Unless of course you got down on your…”
Signe was quick to interrupt that train of thought. “An agreement has been struck then, Great Coyote. You have my word not a piece will be left behind or else the tooth will be rendered as nothing but a normal tooth. I have bothered you long enough. As it is nearly 9 pm here, I believe midnight fast approaches in North Carolina. I would not be the reason you miss your poker game.”
The old man would just shake his head, throwing up his hands in amusement and giving up the act.
“Fine. But I’m taking this Coyote with me. He peed on one of your potted plants and I’ll not have him end up a hat.”
He’d let out a sharp and loud whistle and the coyote would come trotting out from where she kept her blackberries. It looked relaxed with its tongue lolling out of it’s mouth, stopping long enough to leap into the man’s arms.
“Friend, we need to have a discussion about how you got yourself trapped in the first place. You should be ashamed.”
And in a blink the man was gone, leaving Signe alone in her extra quiet back yard. She was uncertain what had just happened, but she had what she needed. With the wave of a hand she’d draw the energy back to her and once more the sounds of the city would invade the space, the torches flickering out as if extinguished by a heavy wind. She’d take up her tools in the bowl and move the tooth inside to begin her work right away.
