[ 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]

[ 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.

[buildsomething]

[Tony shifts, shoulders rolling uncomfortably. That's a bit more honestly than he really likes in a conversation, and way too close to things he's never really talked about. He knows a few people here have seen farther inside his head than he might have wanted, but he's fairly sure this Loki never saw Wanda's vision.

Which means what, exactly?]

So what, I'm supposed to just let it happen?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki wouldn't need to know. Tony saw a glimpse of the Void. Loki's been there for . . . well, far longer than any being should be. He's perceptive enough to put the pieces together. It's his greatest power, so to speak. ]

You know that's what I mean. You simply have to give other people a chance.

[buildsomething]

[What he wants to do is open his mouth and say but what if they do it wrong, but Tony does have enough sense to know that is not the right answer. He subsides with a small, disgruntled sound.]

There's nothing wrong with wanting to protect people.

[dothelokimotion]

No. But that also was not my point, which you are well aware of.

[ Why was Loki doing this? On some level, he truly does not care. But Asgard is coming to Earth. So is Thor. And Loki is all too aware what bigger forces are out there, that'll come. Should destiny come knocking, he does not want to waste time bickering in the woods. ]

[buildsomething]

So what is your point?

[This is the problem with a conversation involving two people who like to talk in circles. Tony would just leave except that he's kind of fascinated to see where this is going, in a weird way.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ A beat. ]

That there is not only one Avenger.

[buildsomething]

...you know, I noticed that?

[He just gives Loki a look.]

[dothelokimotion]

Have you?

Because I can assure you, no one else did.

[buildsomething]

Okay seriously, what does that even mean?

[Even Tony gets tired of talking in circles occasionally. Mostly when it's being done to him, granted.]

If you've got a point here, let's hear it.

[dothelokimotion]

Just that there's a discrepancy in what you say and do, Stark. And it is really obvious to most.

Team work is not what they praise you for, after all.

[buildsomething]

Yes, thank you, I'm aware.

[He could be offended by that, but well. It's true. And he's still not sure where Loki is even going with this. Unless he's just needling Tony for fun, which is entirely possible.]

And yet somehow I've managed.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Dryly. ]

Yes, the killer robots and civil unrest really shows your management skills.

[ But his tone fades slightly, evolving into something sharper. ]

Thor is bringing Asgard to your world. Our people. And you and the rest of you so-called heroes have sat around, fighting among each other while the universe gets smaller. I'll not have Asgard ruined any further because of it.

[buildsomething]

[Tony just gives him an incredulous look. Loki is going to lecture him about infighting? But it melts into something more considering as Tony thinks it through. Sniping at Loki is all well and good, but there's something else here.]

You know something bigger is coming.

[It's not a question.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki stiffens briefly, an unfamiliar emotion flashing through his eyes before he gets it under control. ]

Earth was on the map long before I came along.

[buildsomething]

[There's the briefest confused hesitation before Tony shakes his head.]

I'm not blaming you. [For once.] I'm saying. You know.

[dothelokimotion]

[ All the same, none of that stiffness leaves. ]

I may know.