[ open to all ] rest in the silhouettes our fathers and mothers laid before

[dothelokimotion]

who: Loki + You
what: Monthly Prompts + Daily Stuff
when: May
where: All around the city
warnings: N/A, will update if necessary


[ i. floating lanterns]

[ Loki remembers.

It almost feels like another lifetime ago. He had come here just after he snatched the throne (or had it been a few years? Time still slips through his fingers) along with Thor. Their conversations had been rough, abrupt. Loki had taken a lantern and hidden himself in the night, a testament to his weakness. A testament to his mother. That wound may never fully heal. But Loki has many wounds like that one and they have eventually lost their power over him. Or their power remained, but they no longer scatter his head with doubts and recriminations. So, he doesn’t hide himself this time, though he may linger at the back. One lantern for one person Loki has not taken the time to mourn. He draws a black crown of thorns with a steady hand. When it’s done, he pulls back, turning it over with his fingers before igniting it with a small globe of light which he conjures in his palm. Both of these combined, Loki lets it bob briefly before lifting it into the air with a murmur. ]

Goodbye, sister. You died a glorious death.

[ ii. sharing life ( and magic ) ]

[ In many ways, Loki was easy. He doesn’t like to admit it, but a little flattery, smiling, buttering him up can go a long way. Of course, not everyone can pull it off. There are only a scant few whose opinions truly matter to Loki and even then, he wavers. It is a dangerous thing, trying to earn a person’s regard. Loki only had to look at his own father to know that it is a treacherous path. But he has also been softened in time, the edges going a little blunt. Laura had asked for a magic show and Lucy wanted to know more stories. Both of which Loki is more than happy to combine. On the steps of his theatre, he holds a tiny street play.

With puppets. Yes, puppets.

Though he’s not moving them with his hands. There are small bursts of gold sparkles and sometimes, the puppets change size, voice and colour. The children clap in delight as Loki hangs back, letting the show play out. ]

[ iii. a boy and his lying cat ]

[ Recently, Thor had gifted him with this . . . animal which meant Loki was partly saddled with it. He says partly because for the most part, the creature itself doesn’t seem to need more attention. It mostly spends its time, slinking around Loki’s legs, yawning and —

— and mocking everything Loki says with a low drawl, constantly uttering Lying at him. What was he even lying about? And it was worse in public when he is talking to someone and almost immediately — ]

Lying.

[ Loki lets out a hiss, turning away from whoever he was speaking to, to address the cat. ]

I will strangle you.

[ The cat blinks, licking his paws, not the least bit perturbed. ]

[ closed - to alex ]

[ True to his word, Loki does make an appearance at the coffee shop. It is fascinating how many life-changing or important moments have taken place here, he muses briefly. Here, he started talking to Steve as an equal. Where he slowly forged an (uneasy) connection with Tony Stark. For this, he dressed in his black suit, waiting at a table politely, his hands folded on his lap as he watches the people pass by. For once, he doesn’t feel quite so . . . apart.

Was that wrong? These people would be gone. He could close his eyes and forget they ever existed. But Loki struggles with wrongness and his ability to tell such things apart has long eroded away. ]

[ wildcard ]

[ Loki mostly spends his time at Gramarye, working his magic or answering queries. The Odin's Odeon is also a location where Loki spends most of his time, so if anyone is interested in hosting an event/play/the arts, Loki will support it. If you have an idea, pm this account or hit me up at captainkink ]

Comments

iii

[felinefox]

Well that's no way to talk to someone.

[It's as much a case of right place, right time that Shalimar is around to overhear the threat and notice the man and his indifferent cat not too far away. She's heard the sound that she's assumed replaces the usual meow and that had got her curiosity raised, but for now she'll focus on the threat and the effect it's having (or not) on the cat.

And so she comes to a stop next to them, gaze dropping to the cat before she focuses again on the man.]

Then again, it doesn't seem that bothered. Either it doesn't understand you or it doesn't believe you. Possibly both.

[And there's a bite to her tone enough that it can't be mistaken for encouragement to convince the animal otherwise.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ The large cat seems indifferent, slinking behind Loki's long legs as Loki continues to glare at it pointedly. Then Loki straightens himself, not pleased in this break in his demeanor. Appearances mattered to him, even with strangers. ]

Oh, it can understand me perfectly.

[felinefox]

Then that leaves us with just one option, doesn't it?

[Which is probably just as well. At least Shalimar is convinced of the animal's safety, at least for now - true, it would be foolish to follow through anyway with an audience but either way the cat doesn't seem afraid of Loki, regardless of what he says or how he behaves.

Still, she'll grant him the benefit of the doubt, if only because the current festival seems designed to bring a lot of morose feelings towards the surface and not everyone deals with that in a healthy manner.

She certainly doesn't.]

Bad day?

iii

[thisisamazing]

[It seems fitting, in a way, that Memoria is this month. Hiccup has a lot to think about, with the news Astrid brought from Berk, with the things he saw - remembered - when he accepted a canister of nanobots from the city officials. Setting a lantern afloat down the river, it's a fitting way to mourn a viking, a chief.

Hiccup is out and about with Toothless that day, trying to choose a lantern to set adrift on Sunday. There are a couple of them tied together with string and hanging off Toothless' saddle as he walks alongside his rider. He's saying something to the dragon when he spots Loki, and... the cat? It's a new and interesting creature, and his somber mood brightens as he makes his way over.]

Woah, hey, who's this guy?

Re: iii

[dothelokimotion]

A new addition, courtesy of Thor.

[ The Lying Cat hisses briefly at Toothless, winding around Loki's legs. ]

Though I'm tempted to return — Lying — return it.

ii. sharing life

[tevinteraltus]

[Stopping on his way to a favorite boutique to watch Loki and his magic puppet show was almost required. Loki's magic fascinated Dorian, but more than that, Loki himself was a pleasure to engage in conversation. He'll wait, of course, for Loki to stage an intermission between his, admittedly, rather adorable magical stage plays involving at least one puppet that was suspiciously familiar.

He couldn't blame the man for self-inserting of course. If he were staging a play, puppetted or otherwise, he would, most likely, do the same. At the end of the "act" he claps politely, smiling at his co-worker and, if he may be so bold, friend.]

Bravo! Quite a lively performance, and with only the one puppeteer. Is this an original script?

[dothelokimotion]

All my scripts are original.

[ Mostly. Loki rises, straightening his clothes, the glint of a smile on his lips and eyes. ]

But this is merely a request.

[11calls]

[Alex actually tends to run on time for a reporter, which is to say actually on time, even if she did actually stop in line and get herself a coffee, and a cup for him too to decide whatever he wanted. It was one of those things that would be a lot easier for her to do if they met again, but for right now an empty cup meant whatever Loki wanted. On her because it was only polite since she'd dragged him out here, after all. Alex found that it was best to have perks when she did her dragging.

Which is why the girl came behind her with a couple different pastries. Just in case.]

I'm glad you came!

[She kind of didn't think he was going to.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's eyebrows go up at the amount of pastries. ]

I gave my word, so to speak. What's all this?

i

[scholiast]

(She's not watching him so much as she happens to be nearby, holding her own lantern, and watching other people release their own into the night sky. There is no rhythm to it, no schedule. Lucretia finds it difficult to know if she should say something meaningful, or simply release the lantern and hold a moment's silence, but... it all feels so performative.

She draws closer as Loki lets his gently alight into the air, giving his elbow a little brush with her fingertips to let him know she's there.)

Is it better, that it was glorious?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki glances at her briefly. ]

Yes. Valor in battle guarantees you a place in Valhalla.

sorta iii, sorta wildcard

[spellslots]

[Coffee with Loki is a regular occurrence; sometimes Taako swings by Gramarye with some, occasionally Loki turns up at the house and Taako makes it for them, but more often it's a cafe, where Taako can get the ridiculous concoctions that he's so fond of.

What he's not expecting, when he spots Loki at a table, is the blue cat (?) curled up at his feet.]

What the fuck is that?

[Be nice.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki snorts. ]

Who knows. Some form of inbred feline Thor fetched for me.

[ i. floating lanterns]

[whatarethose]

[The Wakandan princess doesn't put a lot of faith in tradition and yet, when she heard about the lanterns, there is one person who came to mind. It won't hurt to go and see.

Shuri has a decorative paper shell held lightly in her palms as she joins those releasing their lanterns to the sky. Hers isn't lit yet. She doesn't want an audience for her mourning. She moves off to the side, close to Loki's corner though she doesn't see him yet.

She drags her finger along one of the beads at her wrist and a spark ignites the lantern.]

I miss you father.

[The words are mumbled beneath her breath as she lets the lantern go. Shuri doesn't stay to watch. She turns, her dark gaze landing on Loki instead of an exit.]

I didn't think I'd see you here.

[Not that she knows a lot about him.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki bows slightly out of respect though his lips tilt upwards in bemusement. ]

Because I'm incapable?

ii

[thestoriesarereal]

[Lucy did want to more about the Norse God. She was still trying to find a way for him to preserve memories--ones that wouldn't fade in time, or be corrupted in a USB drive, but she was working on it. She wanted him to have something happy to look back on, something to remember even eons from now. It was an impossible task, but she was willing to try!

So when she heard there would be stories and magic, she had to see it for herself.

Out by the theater, in the street itself was a play and there were puppets! Who could say no to puppets--and there was bursts of gold sparkle that reminded her of Regina's magic. Lucy could only stare in awe at the show and tried to commit each word, each movement to memory.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki waits until it's done before coming up to greet her. ]

Did it meet your standards?

iii

[nobasisinfact]

[Richard wasn't even involved in the conversation. In fact, he'd simply been here for a coffee and croissant. Still, watching the other man struggle with a cat (clearly Alex's doing) was more than curious. Knowing that this was a delusion and that Alex must have thought up the whole thing made him think that perhaps she had been reading a bit too much 'Alice in Wonderland'.

Watching the interaction brought a small smirk and a raised brow. He had to wonder if this was, possibly, a way that she saw him. Which only made him more curious as to what this particular delusion was like.]

Do you often have trouble with your cat?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki narrows his eyes briefly. Strange? No, the man was clean-shaven. The Lying Cat adopts Loki's narrow look before slinking back behind his knees. ]

No, not often — Lying — [ Loki lets out a huff. ] — At times.

wildcarrrd

[valr]

[Thor is ill.

It's unsettling, to say the least, made all the more so by Loki's obvious fretting. Val is more familiar with both of them, but Kara isn't sure how to handle any of this, except in the most functional way.

Loki could likely survive without food, but eating isn't just about nourishment, so she spends one evening over the stove, something she doesn't often do, but luckily the dish she has in mind doesn't take long to prepare. Once done, she makes her way into Thor's room, where Loki sits at his bedside.]

Come out, Loki. I made Nässelsoppa and even a god must eat.

[He could theoretically eat it in the room, but she thinks he needs a little fresh air, too.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki hates this. It was one thing when they fell sick during their childhood (Loki being susceptible to heat stroke and Thor because he blundered into a fight and got himself injured) because they had the security of Asgard all around them. Loki was always there when Thor was sick and vice-versa. That's how it was. But everything had changed. There is no Asgard, no healing halls. No quick fixes or poultice to seep away the fevers. Thor just lies there and Loki feels helpless and scared because there is no one left. Just Thor and Loki, the last remnants. ]

I'm fine.

i. (eight thousand years late whoops)

[buildsomething]

[Tony does not have a lantern. Tony is a little afraid that if he starts lighting them he'll never be able to stop. And remembering has never really been his problem. He lingers by the river anyway, because why not. Maybe something about the whole thing will rub off on him, though a part of him suspects that if he hasn't gotten any closure yet, a festival he feels no real connection to isn't going to do it.

So he isn't really looking for anything in particular, but Loki's kind of hard not to spot. One of Tony's eyebrows lifts has he catches the tail end of whatever is being said, though he does make himself wait until the lantern is long gone with the rest to say anything. He does have some sense of decorum.]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't she trying to kill you?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki cocks a delicate eyebrow in his direction, which says a lot of what Loki thought about people trying to kill him. ]

I was in the way.

[ Even a second prince had claims to the throne. ]

And it's not worth holding a grudge for that.

wildcard > gramarye.

[hylights]

[Zelda waits a few days after running into the boy at the flower festival, just in case. Away from the vibrant unconcern she'd had on the day, she feels a little disconcerted about what had happened to turn Loki into a child. It hadn't seemed important at the time but now in hindsight, well... it's kind of strange and awkward, isn't it?

It's silly to avoid a conversation though. Towards the end of the working week, she heads down to Loki's office and knocks on the door.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki blinks. His powers let him know who is outside. With a wave of his hand, he opens the door with a faint smile. ]

Princess Zelda.