riverviewlogs | [open] As good as life will ever get.

who: Thor and you, please.
what: Beetle Battles, Drift Compatibility and a Dream you Share With a Small Thor.
when: Right here, right now.
where: The jungle, the abandoned city, robot place and bed.
warnings: Nothing specific.

i. beetle juice
[Fighting back with brute strength is what Thor does best, so he gladly strides into the front lines. The lightning he can conjure from himself is as good as a flare, so fighting alongside him can make things static-y. The air crackles around him when he's about to summon a blast, but he's in his element when his eyes are glowing and he's incinerating beetles.

He's beta-testing his own weapon, right now. One of his eyes is bionic, with a number of useful functions that he has yet to properly try. He scans his surroundings before he feels his eye focus on a beetle approaching from the thick of the jungle.

He only needs to think about lasers to make them work? Right? So, he thinks intently about a laser.

Without much warning, a hot burst of light springs out of Thor's eye and hits the beetle before him. Unfortunately, a blast of heat is precisely the kind of thing that makes a beetle explode. Thor cringes as beetle innards splatter him and anything and anyone close by. It's all punctuated by a leg falling with a thud in front of Thor, still twitching.]

ii. get in the robot, thor
[Thor isn't sure he really needs to be in a mech to fight bugs, but he respects the fact that he's being trusted with the responsibility of piloting one. His piloting experience is.. weak, at best, but he's managed to be adaptable with a variety of different ships and vehicles from different realms. Perhaps that's what works in his favour.

Thor dons the suit, helmet tucked under his arm, ready to meet his partner. He expects they will have some acclimating to do together before they set forth to fight in unison.

He'll extend his free hand in greeting, quirking a brow.]

Looks like we'll be fighting together.

iii. dream theater
[The first thing you feel when dipping into Thor's dream is warmth. You're lying flat on your back, as if you've just rolled down the hill that you're lying on the foot of. The sun is warm on your skin, the grass is thick and lush and when you look up, you can see either mountain ranges or a beautiful, golden city in the distance.

Suddenly, that view is eclipsed by a curious, chubby face looking down on you. You might not recognise it as Thor, but it is him. Almost a thousand years younger and decidedly less muscular. He's just big boned, his mother says he'll grow into it.

Maybe you're his age too, maybe you're the same age you were when you went to sleep. It doesn't matter.]

You're not supposed to be down here! [He declares loudly, so loudly.] There's monsters in the forest.

[He points at the trees nearby. It doesn't occur to him that anyone could say he shouldn't be here either.]

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[ Loki has a terrible retort on his tongue but it dies quickly as he avoids eye contact, straightening himself. ]

It's not like you to fear monsters.

[It's not unusual for people to know of him, Thor is used to his reputation preceding him. It does catch him off guard, because it's such an odd thing to know about him.

His reputation, however, is far more valuable to him than his safety.]

I'm not afraid. I'm just warning you. [He explains, frowning.] How do you know what I'm like, anyway. I don't know you.

[ His answering chuckle is wry and full of heavy feeling, which Loki brushes off easily with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. ]

No, I suppose you do not.

What kind of monsters reside here?

Big ones. [Thor answers, plainly.] With tusks and horns and claws. And beady eyes. And snakes. But snakes aren't so bad. You should know, don't you live here?

[The words come out as one, continuous stream.]

[ Does he? He is Loki of Asgard. A title he has worn proudly, clung to when the rest was slowly stripped away. He knew its fields and trees, the dusky autumn leaves of his mother's gardens, the wrinkled feel of his father's books. The smell of blood and iron. But on his tongue is the taste of winterfrost and cold things. Lately, he's been questioning it more and more. Whether the new Asgard has room for him. What direction it will go or whether Loki once more will feel restless at its feet.

Either way, these are thoughts that no longer swarm his mind. Loki merely smiles, his eyes holding a glint of mischief as he settles himself on a boulder, not a hair out of place. ]

Perhaps. It was a long time ago and I've forgotten a lot.

What do you plan to do about them?

[ Maybe it's a little cruel, indulging this line of thought. It does Loki and Thor no favors. But the first thing Thor speaks of is monsters and Loki cannot shake it off, a rash slowly bubbling under his skin. ]

[That answer is extremely vague, and Thor scrunches his face up as he tries to comprehend what Loki is inferring.]

You're a nomad? [He cocks his head to the side. He doesn't really understand, but he's more interested in answering Loki's question. He brightens up, puffing out his chest and raising his chin.]

I'll hunt them down and slay them, to protect Asgard!!

[ Loki's smile is bittersweet. ]

Of course you will. I expect nothing less from my brother.

[Excuse Thor, his tiny little face goes completely blank for a long moment before he furrows his brows once more.]

No! [He declares, in a steady, certain voice.] I only have one brother, his name is Loki and he's not taller than me.

[ He chuckles. It does little to hide his unease but Thor is too young to pick up the telltale signs of apprehensions on Loki’s face. ]

And where is your brother? Is he not going to help you on your quest?

[Thor needs to stop and glance around, as if he needs to confirm that his little brother isn't in his vicinity.

When he realises he isn't, he seems confused.]

Sometimes he thinks my ideas are stupid. [He admits.] But he might be with mother. And if I find him and you see him, then you have to admit that you aren't my brother.

[Sadly his logical thinking skills never improved.]

[ Loki's smile goes crooked. He glances at the backdrop of Asgard, gleaming golden eternal city. Home. Is this Thor's happiest dream? Fighting the monsters like he always wanted?

( a dream without Loki? ) ]

That seems easy enough.

[ He's worn out his welcome here. Any more time spent and Loki knows his tattered walls will crumble. ]

I wish you all the best in your monster-slaying, Thor.

Are you leaving now? Already? [Thor's eyes widen, suddenly seeming opposed to the idea.]

Is it because I don't believe you?

[ He shakes his head. ]

Not at all. I simply have no skill in killing monsters.

Loki doesn't think he does either, but I think he does. Or he will, when he's bigger. [Thor says, encouragingly.]

I'm just better at it. But maybe you're better than you think you are. Father says that people who doubt themselves are giving into self-fulfilling crocodiles [Not exactly what he said.]

Prophecies, Thor. Not crocodiles.

[ The correction comes automatically, even if the tone is gentle. Loki swallows it back, surprised at himself. Caught in the snare of nostalgia, it seems, despite the implications. ]

And I think this is one matter I prefer to invite doubt than certainty.

Pretty sure it's crocodiles. [Thor says, cocking his head to the side.]

What's that supposed to mean?

[ Loki rolls his eyes. ]

You've never even seen a crocodile.

It means I don't want to know if I'm better at killing monsters or not.

You don't know that. [Thor seems really sure about that.] What's bad about being able to kill monsters? It's good to be able to protect your family and your friends, isn't it?

[ That's not fair, Loki thinks, briefly caught up in his own thoughts, I was doing that. I was doing it for all of you. His fingers shake and he rubs them together in his usual habit. ]

Is it?

Yes? I don't know. [Thor scrubs at his face.] You ask really weird questions and you say really weird things.

Pay it no heed.

[ He smiles faintly, removing any traces of doubt on his face. ]

You'll be a great monster slayer.

[open] As good as life will ever get.

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