Trapped in the past?

[strippernameserendipity]

Claudia didn't know exactly how it had happened, but the guy she'd been trying to snag an artifact from had caught her instead. She remembered being dragged through some kind of portal, and a conversation with some very strangely-dressed individuals that would have scared even some of the toughs she'd known in her time on the streets. It had been hours before she really understood what had happened, to get even a slight grip on the foreign words and sights around her. Somehow, she'd been sent back in time, when exactly she wasn't certain, and given over to these scoundrels to do with as they pleased. It wasn't until she saw the city that she even knew where she was. Nobody could mistake Rome, even this ancient shining city.

Her wrists tied together and into a string with the other unfortunates, the only real indignities she'd been spared were being stripped of her possessions and raped. From the little she could catch, they thought she would being them quite a small fortune as a wonder. Maybe even one of the senators would find her worth having, and it wouldn't do to damage the goods unnecessarily. Still, she had quite a few bruises and a blackening eye from the casual 'encouragements' she'd received. A halting attempt at what she knew of Latin and Greek had only resulted in snickering laughter and an incomprehensible reprimand with a threatening knife at her mouth. Apparently their definition of 'damaged goods' didn't include the ability to speak.

Now, she was turned over to the slave auction, and there, nothing could have prepared her for the indignities. Her clothes, much the worse for wear after all the travel were unceremoniously stripped off her in front of the noisy crowd as one man gave a long-winded description of her, enthusiasm clear even through the language barrier. She struggled against the touches of interested parties, only her bonds keeping her from being able to strike back.

She'd yanked away from yet another impertinent squeeze when she finally saw a familiar face. It made her gasp, her thoughts latching onto the name that went with it in what might have been a prayer of salvation, but she had to get his attention. And if he was the one from this time, she couldn't just call him by name. Not his real name. Still, she knew one of those he'd used in the millenia he'd been hanging around pretending not to be an archangel.

"Loki! Help me!" The words were in modern english, and that was probably a mistake, but she was too distracted to try for something more appropriate to the era just now. She had to get his attention, maybe get the eager shoppers to give her some space. She had to get out of here.

Comments

[strippernameserendipity]

"We'd actually discussed having a child," she admitted, looking off. "I'm going to outlive nearly everyone I know, even if...even if we never manage to get in touch with the Warehouse. There aren't a lot of people who know what that's like."

[lotsoflaughs]

Gabriel blinks at that. Well, that's just... huh. "What did you end up deciding on that front?"

[strippernameserendipity]

"For the moment? That we should probably give at least a few years to see whether the world was going to implode or something. We were half-joking about naming Castiel godfather," she said, her tone a little wistful. "Making sure his or her uncles weren't gunning for blood would be important, too. It could attract unwanted attention."

[lotsoflaughs]

"Castiel," Gabriel echoes. "I take it he's gone through some changes between now and then."

Actually, on second thought. "Never mind, don't tell me, I'm not sure I want to know," he sighs.

[strippernameserendipity]

"It'd be a long story, anyway," Claudia admitted. "Let's just say that there are some who have come to realize you may have had the right idea."

She decided to go back to a slightly less paradoxical subject. "Are you trying to seduce me, my lord?" she asked, with a teasing tone.

[lotsoflaughs]

"What, just now realizing I'm trying to get you to do more than just sit on my bed here?" Gabriel deadpans.

[strippernameserendipity]

"Well, most of the time when you invite me into your bed, you aren't planning to continue being in it," she responded. "So perhaps I'm wondering what has changed."

[lotsoflaughs]

"I haven't gotten laid for awhile," Gabriel says with a shrug. "And I can see why future-me is interested."

[strippernameserendipity]

"It's a bad idea, though. If I go home, it'll be close to two thousand years before you see me again," Claudia felt she really should point out. "A lot of things can change in that kind of time."

[lotsoflaughs]

Gabriel gives her an exasperated look. "Would you rather I go out and ask one of the pretty young things who'd say 'yes' without a second's thought?"

Given it's not every day one's god voices interest in sex with one.

[strippernameserendipity]

"Might be a lot less complicated for both of us. And really, you think I'm going to remember which name to scream in the middle of things?"

[lotsoflaughs]

"That's what blocking sound is for," he retorts without batting an eye.

[strippernameserendipity]

"Given this a bit of thought, have you?" Claudia said, standing up with every intent to make him sweat a little. But only a little, because she started to disrobe. "Word of warning: I really enjoy waking up next to the guy I just had wear me out with his godlike prowess, even when he doesn't actually sleep."

[lotsoflaughs]

"I'm not going to blow my cover through a stupid mistake," Gabriel points out, putting up the shielding with a quick flick of his hand. An instant after the shielding's up, he's naked. No need to do it the slow way like the other demi-gods who didn't have super speed.

[strippernameserendipity]

Claudia can't help a chuckle at his response.

"Who's going to be checking come sunrise?" she asked as she knelt to build up the fire a little. She knew he could fix that with a snap of his fingers, but she was actually feeling a little pleased with her new ability to deal. "Oh, wait, I'm the one who's expected to take you your morning meal or cook one."

[lotsoflaughs]

"Doesn't keep people from choosing a bad time to wander by, smartass," he snorts as he watches her.

[strippernameserendipity]

Claudia rolled her eyes at him because she had to. "Some things will never change. And you have the major magic, so not getting interrupted or discovered is totally your problem."

[lotsoflaughs]

"At this point, no one walking by for whatever reason is going to hear anything," he tells her primly. Which is quickly followed by, "Quit playing with the fire and get over here."

[strippernameserendipity]

"As you wish," Claudia said, standing and moving to the the bed, but stopping in front of him. Teasing Gabe was always worth it.

[lotsoflaughs]

Gabriel waits for a moment and when she seems disinclined to actually fully comply with his order, he rolls his eyes and reaches out to snag her to pull onto the bed.

[strippernameserendipity]

Claudia goes with his grab easily, letting him pull her down. "Problem?" she asked, eyes glittering a little with good humor.

[lotsoflaughs]

"You're too slow," he informs her before lowering his head to a breast, worrying the nipple with his teeth.

[strippernameserendipity]

Claudia was just about to make a comment when he did that, stealing her breath away. It was so familiar and yet not the same.

[lotsoflaughs]

She'll find a way to cope, he's sure.

Gabriel worries at that one for a couple of minutes before swapping to the other to give it the same attention.

[strippernameserendipity]

She raises a hand to run it through his hair, just to encourage a little, although it isn't long before she's using that grip to pull him up into a somewhat tentative kiss. It feels strange, to be with Gabriel again, after over a month, and to also know that he hasn't yet experienced a lot of what shaped him in her time.