[ 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

[dothelokimotion]

[ Hm. ]

I suppose not. What do you think matters here?

[felinefox]

I'm not sure yet. Cooperation, apparently, but that could just be a cover for what they're really about.

[Cynical? Just a little.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Ahh. New-ish then. ]

If you think there is a grand conspiracy at work here, you won't find anything.

[felinefox]

Because there's nothing to find or because they've hidden it well?

[She doesn't seem like she's leaning in either direction particularly strongly, more curious to hear from people who likely have seen and experienced more than she has.]

[dothelokimotion]

The former. There isn't anything to unearth.

[felinefox]

Huh. Guess I'm not used to things being that straightforward.

[She's still not entirely convinced, either. But she'll accept it for what it is, for now.]

[dothelokimotion]

No one is.

[ Loki least of all. ]

But it is a truth here. This is a waystation, not an illusion.

[felinefox]

Hmm. That's the kind of thing I'd expect them to be upfront about, though.

[Besides, she's been outside the walls and didn't feel anything strangely different between inside and outside, though she's aware she's not really the person to be determining that in the first place.]

[dothelokimotion]

In what way did they lie?

[ The residents are painfully honest. It annoys him. ]

[felinefox]

I'm not saying they did. I'm saying, just because they didn't lie about that doesn't mean they don't have something to hide.

[And if that makes her paranoid, so be it.]

[dothelokimotion]

Ah. Well, that sounds like a fruitless circle of thought.

[felinefox]

Sure, if it were all I thought about. This is more just something to keep tucked at the back of my mind. A little healthy suspicion never hurt anyone.

[And a little too much blind trust has bitten her hard before now.]

[dothelokimotion]

Healthy, is it?

[ From what he's seen of most people here, healthy isn't the word he'd use. ]

[felinefox]

So long as you don't let it get out of hand.

[And she likes to think she has a handle on that, most of the time.]

[dothelokimotion]

I find such things are easier said than done . . . but I suppose I would not say it is impossible.

[felinefox]

Depends on the person, I guess. But you're happy to accept everything's above board?

[Which either means he's less cynical, he knows more or both.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki snorts delicately. ]

It would take a great deal of power to lie and hide something from me.

[felinefox]

Then I suppose it all depends on how much they know about us.

[Because if the powers that be know that? Shalimar reckons they've probably accounted for it.]

[dothelokimotion]

They can know what they like so long they don't use it.

[felinefox]

And you're convinced they won't?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki is never convinced but this much he's learned. ]

This place plays tricks. The residents, less so.

[felinefox]

Well then either 'this place' has a mind of its own or there's someone else involved we should be worried about. Or the residents aren't all so spotless as we might think.

[Because if tricks are happening, there's usually a mind behind them.]

[dothelokimotion]

Of course they're not. There are a few that sow discord and create trouble. Like any place.

[felinefox]

Well then let's hope it stops at just a few.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki chuckles. ]

You have a very unique take on reality.