AN: (AN edited 6/20/2020 from 6/19/2020 version) I deleted the note meant for the guest reviewer (and any mention towards it in other parts of the ANs) as I didn't actually want to keep it up. They read it and responded. Everything is alright now.

Thank you for everyone who has been patient and willing to stay with an author who sucks at updating. I wanted to make it longer but at least it matches the previous chapters in length. I'm not sure when the next chapter might come out so please be patient. I do want to finish this, no matter how long it takes. I'm proud to have finished Pumpkin Eater but honestly not entirely thrilled with its quality. I want this fic to at least match Pumpkin Eater in length and beat it in quality.

Not much really happens but I've set up some things in this chapter for me to build on later. So yeah, basically a filler chapter, I'm sorry. But I hope you enjoy :)

Title of this chapter comes from Panic! At the Disco's Nails for Breakfast, Tacks for Snacks. (Not exact lyrics because spacing constraints)

She was walking towards her next meeting, willing her brain to stay solid as she struggled to keep her eyes open through the debates. Each meeting was practically the same and she didn't have much input. They were basically going, point by point, through the old treaty.

"Lady Percia," a guard approached her.

She paused in her walking, "Yes?"

"This is for you mi'lady." He held out a rolled piece of parchment it was sealed with gold wax, a simple 'S' imprinted into it.

"Oh, thank you." She nodded as she took the paper. The guard briefly stood at attention before turning and walking off. She was puzzled why a palace guard delivered the letter and not a servant.

She briefly checked the time before deciding she wouldn't be late and broke the seal.

Dear Lady Percia,

I hope my letter finds you, the guards don't seem likely to deliver a message and that you don't mind my forwardness in contacting you. I realized you had no way of contacting me yet I know who you are and where to find you. Despite all the talking we did, I don't know how much longer you will be in Asgard.

If you receive this message and wish to stay in contact then you can simply write your response on the back. To send it back you can write the following symbols. The S will alert me that it is ready and designates me as the recipient while the rune will contain the magic needed to send it.

I hope to hear from you. I had a good time last night.

Sincerely,

Siya

Percy smiled as she read. She hoped that she could use that rune to send a message back. She didn't know which one it was but she trusted Siya to pick the right one. She slipped the parchment into the pocket of her dress before continuing to the meeting. It'd give her a chance to come up with a response.

She wanted to continue to talk with Siya. She was intelligent and captivating. They had mostly talked about their cultures and fun stories. Percy desperately hoped she wasn't reading this wrong and that Siya was interested in something more than friends.

Loki fell into step with her as she left the meeting. "Hello, Lady Percia."

"Oh, hello, Prince Loki. You don't have to add the 'lady'."

"Oh? But then how will I designate the proper respect unto someone of your power?" He asked hands loosely behind his back.

"I'm not that powerful." She waved away. "Really, I'm not all that into titles for myself."

"Well, Percia, then I must insist you not use mine. My brother is the Crown Prince."

"That doesn't make you not a prince, Prince Loki." Percy gave a lazy smile. Truly, she didn't want to drop the title because no one else seemed to say it. But, she supposed, she could drop it in private to comply with his request but say it around others. "But your wish is my command, Your Royal Highness." He looked reluctantly amused.

"Our last encounter got unfortunately interrupted. I was hoping you'd be willing to pick up where we left off?" Percy thought about the note in her pocket but figured that responding could wait a little longer.

"Yeah, I have been meaning to talk to you actually. Can we go somewhere private?"

"Anywhere is private with me." She glanced over at him in confusion until he brought a hand up and green magic swirled around his fingers.

"Huh, alright then."

"I wish to learn the answer to my previous question about the markings on your ring. What do you hope to discuss?"

"Magic actually. Or seidr?"

"You want me to spill all our dirty little magical secrets?" Loki joked.

"Well, not for nothing. I've actually been sent with a proposal. I was going to talk to King Odin but after a few meetings I realized you should be the one I brought this up with."

"Me?"

"Well, I've gathered you're the local magic expert. You must be some sort of scholar if you're friends with Athena. Not only would you have the answers I want. You'd also be the person most enticed by my offer."

"Well, I can't lie, I am intrigued. But you must know I already know about Greek magic. I have been friends with Athena for centuries. What could you give me that Athena hasn't already?"

Percy paused, she was about to spill the best-kept secret of her people. She scanned Loki. He'd know the importance of this information, right? Would he keep it for himself or share it with his people? Poseidon had already said he'd be okay with it getting out. They were self-sustaining in the sea. Zeus couldn't touch them. And they've kept this long enough.

"The long answer about my ring and why Athena wouldn't be able to explain to you what it means. A secret that has been kept since the beginning."

Loki looked at her in suspicion. "Why tell me such an old secret? Just to learn about seidr? Something that Athena already knows about."

"Not just about it. We want to learn it. How to use it. In return, we offer you something just as powerful. You share your vulnerabilities and we share ours."

"Who's 'we'?"

Percy licked her lips. "My father, King of Atlantis. There's more to us and our people than outsiders know. Including the rest of the Greek pantheon."

"Why now?"

"We've had a long time to perfect our craft without interacting with outsiders. The royal family decided it was time to expand our knowledge."

"I was under the impression that your father held no real power. That King Zeus controlled Atlantis." Loki watched Percy start an eyeroll before reigning it in.

"I can explain everything. If you're willing to trade."

"Odin wouldn't be interested." Percy was willing to bet he was disappointed in passing up the opportunity to learn something new.

She stopped, turning to face him fully. "I'm not asking King Odin now am I, Prince Loki?" She used his title deliberately.

He stopped in his tracks. He looked her over, trying to pick apart her meaning and intentions. "No, you're not," he said slowly, "Princess." His tone trying to confirm her title. She smiled in confirmation. The use of it suggested he was at least humoring her. "Let's sit and talk."

He guided their walk to a little garden, waving away the gardener who bowed respectfully before departing.

"Shall we begin our quid pro quo?" Loki quirked an eyebrow at her and she smiled.

"Where should we begin?"

"I presume you know the history of seidr to at least some extent?" They sat at a little table where Loki summoned a kettle and cups.

He presumed correctly, she had read what she could on seidr before her trip, Athena had also seen fit to lecture her on it (one of the few lectures she truly listened to). Siya had also given a native's perspective on it. How it actually felt instead of how it supposedly worked.

"I've been tutored on the basics." She confirmed. "I've also learned about your runes and I believe mine are quite different in both source and uses." Percy paused, suddenly feeling like this is happening too fast with too little safeguards. She was warring within herself. This was their biggest and longest kept secret. Of course she'd feel anxiety over revealing it.

"Before I go much further I want to go over our intentions."

Loki tilted his head, a corner of his mouth twitching up, "I'm sure this conversation typically happens with a friend. Perhaps Athena should be the one asking me that question?" He crossed a leg over his knee and brought his cup up.

Percy blinked at the prince before realization dawned on her and her heart sped up, setting down her own cup that had been making its way to her mouth. She wasn't used to people flirting with her so blatantly. She and Siya teased back and forth, perhaps seeing if the other was open to a relationship with her own gender. Loki was bolder, not feeling the need to test her inclinations. She glanced away briefly before lifting her cup to take a sip.

"As far as I'm aware that conversation happens after interest is expressed. I'm afraid it's too early for Athena's questions."

Loki hid his smile at her response but let the topic wane as he took in her stiff posture. "Very well. What magical intentions do you have if you were to learn how to wield seidr?"

"I will disclaim that anything taught to me will be taught to our scholars. Perhaps even to our people. However, it is highly unlikely we will share this beyond my father's realm."

"I must admit I'm concerned at the secrecy you seem to be shrouding yourself in." Loki leaned forward slightly. "Do you expect the same of myself? If so, that is unequal. One man versus an entire realm?"

Percy shook her head, frustrated at herself. "It's habit that makes me so vague and defensive. My father has said he is willing to deal with the fallout of this information spreading. You'd be free to share the information you learn."

Loki leaned back, his body relaxed. He mulled over the answer. Truthfully very few people would be interested in new magic. A few acquaintances perhaps, but none that ever interact with the Greeks. Her secret would remain safe. Truly it would only be him.

"I don't believe the Norse have any use for more magic or runes." He watched her try to hide her disappointment. "But..." he drew the word out, "I am always willing to learn something new. My intention would be just that. Asgardians don't care much for magic so the information won't spread much farther from me."

"You're willing to overlook the unbalanced sharing?"

"I will. On the condition that, like your own magic, it's kept within your realm completely." He wouldn't want word getting our through the Greeks to Odin that he had taught them about seidr.

Percy gave a slow smile as, instead of throwing off the shroud of secrecy altogether, she was merely pulling Loki in with her. "Deal."

They didn't immediately jump into teaching one another. They delved into mechanics and sources. The theory behind them. They cleaned up the terms of this trade. Limits as to what was going to be taught before more trust must be earned.

Percy felt her shoulders loosen the longer she talked with Loki. He was smart and definitely knew his stuff. He didn't assume that Atlantean runes were inferior or easy.

"Seidr has its original source, the thing that implanted it in individuals. And from there each person has their own well to draw from, given that their will is strong enough. We don't know enough to determine if that well and will are inherited or if the Norns play the only hand in someone's magic."

"Norns, like the Fates right?"

"Correct."

Percy nodded before launching into her explanation. "As far as I understand your runes attract and hold seidr to them if used with that intention. Atlantean runes aren't a container, they are a passageway. The source of our magic is outside of ourselves and we summon it through the runes. The magic and energy of the ocean is where the power comes from. If the person has their own innate magic like gods then that can help shape the result. But for those who don't, it entirely relies on how they draw the rune and how accurately."

"Being an outside force, are people denied or punished for its use? Seidr can backfire if improperly handled but it has little sentience beyond the subconscious of its user."

"Certainly. Though it is unlikely to punish someone unless their intentions are evil. Most often it will only leave the rune inert if it doesn't want the person to use it. I'm not sure how to compare its sentience. It doesn't," Percy tried to think, "it doesn't think like you or me. Doesn't even really feel. It's just-the raw energy that bore Pontus into being. To be honest, it's so much older than the gods that we're not entirely sure where it came from."

Percy seemed embarrassed for her lack of knowledge but Loki didn't blame her. Some things were just so old no one knew its origin anymore.

Loki watched her blink as if in surprise before she spoke. "It's late, perhaps we should retire? We can do a more practical demonstration next time?"

He came back to the real world at that suggestion. It did indeed feel late but he had no idea at the exact time. Although he supposed she did. "That sounds agreeable." He banished the cups from their long finished tea and they stood.

"Thank you, Prince Loki, for accepting the trade proposal. My brother will be extremely pleased as am I."

"The pleasure is all mine. I find our topic of conversation refreshing."

They parted ways to make for their respective rooms where Percy remembered the letter in her pocket. She pulled it out, ready to write her reply.

Dear Siya,

I'm glad you reached out. I was saddened at the prospect of not being able to talk to you more after my abrupt departure. As you can see the guard did in fact deliver your message to me. I was surprised it was not a servant, I will admit. Although, I suppose you wouldn't have been able to give it to a servant outside of the palace while guards are posted at the entrances.

I am regrettably not in Asgard for much longer and my free time will dwindle as the week continues. Will this system continue to work after I've returned home?

I will try to make time before I leave but I have picked up a new responsibility while I'm here that I'm afraid will take what free time I have. Are there any times that are best for your schedule that I should aim for?

Sincerely,

Percy

She read over her message, belatedly realizing she had written the whole thing in Greek but took solace in the fact that Siya, as an Asgardian, could utilize Allspeak. She scanned over Siya's writing for the needed symbols before putting them down on her own side of the paper.

She wasn't sure how it worked since she wasn't even sure yet if she could use seidr. Something she and Loki were going to test the next time they met. But based on Siya's instruction it seemed that the rune would pull from Siya's seidr, not on Percy's own well in question.

She took her time getting ready for bed, vaguely hoping Siya would respond soon. She wasn't sure if Siya could send a letter like Percy returned hers or if on Siya's end it had to be delivered the non-magic way. The goddess couldn't imagine she'd be able to poof a piece of paper into the palace. Slightly disheartened, Percy climbed into bed.

AN: Please let me know if anyone's interactions seem stilted or OOC. I may just go back and rewrite or add on. And thank you again to everyone who's keeping tabs on this story and snail of an author.

(Just rambling can skip if you'd like) There may be inconsistencies in the way Percy speaks or write as I try to keep her speech more relaxed since she was a mortal in New York and not an ancient being (although there are times in which she does speak formally because of where she is and who she's talking to. She's had centuries to learn these things). I find it difficult because I find myself mimicking the style of writing that I'm currently reading and I've recently gotten into Hamilton. So I find myself slipping into that sort of old/formal diction and syntax.

Thank you for the wonderful reviews Annalise93, Adamcoyne, and especially the enthusiastic reviews of DragonLover1551 (who I remember was a huge help in planning/brainstorming parts of both this fic and Pumpkin Eater). And thank you as well to Arianna Le Fay who followed from Pumpkins Eater to Seven for a Secret.

(If any of you four rather your name be removed from this AN just let me know and I can edit this.)

~Dawn