The gods do not have to believe in eternity any more than mortals do in gravity. Loki has to learn the shape of its absence: Jormungandr sheds skin after skin, Fenrir's limbs lose their puppyish lack of definition. But there are diversions enough here, and Midgard's apples too are sweet, and there isn't that much, he thinks, that relies on the promise of ‘forever’.
Memory becomes a substitute even for regret. He could not lead her out of the underworld, all those Midgard-months ago. All that means is that he can look back, now; there is nothing left to lose.
no subject
but still:
The gods do not have to believe in eternity any more than mortals do in gravity. Loki has to learn the shape of its absence: Jormungandr sheds skin after skin, Fenrir's limbs lose their puppyish lack of definition. But there are diversions enough here, and Midgard's apples too are sweet, and there isn't that much, he thinks, that relies on the promise of ‘forever’.
Memory becomes a substitute even for regret. He could not lead her out of the underworld, all those Midgard-months ago. All that means is that he can look back, now; there is nothing left to lose.