[ 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]

My mother.

[ His reply was curt. He doesn't feel the need to add any more to it. ]

[buildsomething]

[And Tony just nods once. Yeah, that makes sense.]

Sounds like fun family holidays in the making.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki shrugs. ]

Mmm. But perhaps not as bad as yours were.

[buildsomething]

[Tony snorts out a laugh at that, eying Loki sidelong. Good guess or someone telling stories? Hard to tell.]

We'd all have had to be in the same place for those.

[dothelokimotion]

[ The former, really. ]

Is that better or worse?

[buildsomething]

It is what it is.

[He's learned to be blase about it. Helps that it hasn't really been an issue for over two decades now.]

Or was, I guess. If you want to be technical.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki glances at the lanterns. ]

This is a festival for the dead. Do the technicalities matter?

[buildsomething]

Probably not.

[He shrugs a little, not quite looking at anything in particular.]

Not like they're going to complain. Unless you get to visit your afterlife, I guess.

[dothelokimotion]

That does not mean it ceases to stop mattering.

[buildsomething]

Maybe. But at what point does it matter too much?

[There is such a thing as lingering too long. Tony would know.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki gives him a Look ]

Isn't that what you're known for?

[buildsomething]

[He cocks an eyebrow back at him.]

What, caring too much about things?

[Maybe so. It's something he's at least trying to work with.]

[dothelokimotion]

Caring to the point of micromanaging it, yes.

[buildsomething]

[Tony's mouth twists a little. He might have a few control issues, yeah, but he's not sure he likes Loki pointing them out. As if it's easy to miss.]

Someone has to.

[No. No, they don't.]

[dothelokimotion]

Yes.

But you are not the only one.

[buildsomething]

[He turns enough to give Loki an intensely dry look.]

Why, you offering?

[dothelokimotion]

[ His nose wrinkles. ]

Don't be absurd. It is not within my power or ability.

[buildsomething]

Uh huh. But it is in mine.

[Well. Sort of. He's going to make it within his ability if it kills him, though.]

[dothelokimotion]

Is it?

Or is that something you tell yourself because you will not recognize anyone else's ability to do so?

[buildsomething]

[It takes a lot to render Tony speechless, but that might just have done it. He stares Loki's way for a long moment, trying to figure out how to even respond to that.]

Look, if other people want to step up? Fine. But they don't. So I take care of it.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Dryly. ]

Other people like the Avengers? Yes, I can see how they do not step up. It must be you and only you that took me down six years ago.

[buildsomething]

[Tony just rolls his eyes.]

Don't purposefully misunderstand me, you know I don't mean them.

[dothelokimotion]

I didn't.

And I don't think you do, either.

[buildsomething]

...okay now I just have no idea what you're talking about.

[Where exactly did this conversation derail so badly?]

[dothelokimotion]

There is a disconnect between what you say and what you do, Stark. You may say you treat them differently, but in the end, you put them under the same umbrella.

You want to protect them as well, so you remove their equality. Oh, I'm sure to some degree, you do but not when the stakes go higher.

[ Loki's gaze tapers off. ]

You cannot fight the unknown that way.