OTA LOG: ACID RAIN EDITION

[ikols]

who: loki laufeyson (616) and you!
what: prompts taken from the july tdm
when: post-july 20th
where: all over
warnings: tba


1. RESCUES IN THE ACIDIC RAIN.

[ Whenever Loki ventures out into the foul weather he conjures a green magical shield, the same he last used when Leah's construct was attempting to sever his head in Mother's dimension. Droplets that spatter all over it flash a pale lime-gold so that it appears he may be walking around in a glittery bubble, but the fact remains he only dons the protective enchantment to get from Point A to Point B; reaching outside of it is an unpleasant experience even for him.

That's how it starts, anyway.

He eventually finds himself an inadvertent taxi service for anyone caught in the downpour. Whether it's a person hunched down against an abandoned vendor's cart, someone shrieking in a panic as their tenth umbrella of the day turns to tatters, or reluctantly agreeing to ferry food from one household to another (no good deed is too menial for him this week) the God of Mischief is obliging to those in need.

But he doesn't decline any rewards for services rendered, either. ]

2. FIREFLY AT 2AM.

[ The magical shield also happens to glow in the dark, making it a point of interest for anyone with eyes who happens to spot Loki moving around the Quarantine like a mobile nightlight, along the streets and up the glassy walls of skyscrapers. Green orbs swish overhead and light his way as though streetlamps are bobbing along at his request.

If anyone wants one, they are free to shout him over from their hidey-hole. There's not much else to see out there that wanders around so casually in a corrosive downpour, let your curiosity take over. ]

3. A REAL BOAR OF A TIME.

[ With his spellcraft invulnerable to something as ordinarily challenging as acid rain for everyone else, one way or another word gets out about what Loki can do and he feels compelled to help some of the teams ranging out into the jungle intent on setting up their scientific dohickies. The most important turn of events, he feels, is that with his full-body bubbleshield there is no need for a fugly bodysuit, while on the flipside his permanent shimmer in the drab conditions mean that Loki is often requested to head up the front of a party.

When boars attack, the green glow of his shield is joined by the crimson glimmer of his ancestral blade Laevateinn, slashing down their beastly opponents in two or three nimble strikes. Curious why it doesn't take much more effort than that? Loki himself will shrug and tell you, ]

The blade cuts through any hide.

[ It can be intensely handy sometimes when people can bear to have such a dangerous thing around, much like Loki himself. Additionally, he provides marshmallows for those hard at work in the jungle. ]

4. DRAINED.

[ A near daily, constant use of sorcery has Loki on edge during rare moments, rubbing his head as he takes refuge in shops and under eaves of buildings when his headache worsens. He can be found with his feet up on overcast veranda benches, taking a break from supporting his own shield and the magical orbs loaned out across the city, tired-eyed and usually nibbling at a snack for an energy boost. Not that he needs to eat anything, it's more a comfort thing. Mental rousing.

Anyone who spots him will find he doesn't leave in a hurry when approached and those who depend on his magical orbs are free to call him up and find out why their rooms have suddenly gone dark. ]

Comments

[amelioraate]

The oddest acid rain-proof turtle. Who is giving you a ride home to pillows, you're welcome.

[ he sticks his tongue out, over his shoulder, and smiles back at Loki as he climbs astride him. there is a moment where Tony makes sure that Loki is secure, that the awning covers them both, before he slowly starts to walk back towards where the Sanctum is.]

Mmm, no worries about that, I like my face sans chemical burns myself.

[ikols]

I like it too.

[ Before the faceplate can come down he pokes Tony on the nose, then gets back to the business of hopping on his back properly, knees tucked into iron sides. ]

All systems are go.

[amelioraate]

[ Tony goes a little cross-eyed for a moment then, as Loki climbs onto his back, makes the choice not to cover his whole face. he leaves the faceplate open, enough that he can talk to Loki easily, even while the rest of the helmet protects his face from any stray droplets.]

Mmm, so I shouldn't try for the Phantom look? I mean, can't sing as well as him, and capes are kind of weird, but--

[ a small shrug, the plates shifting easily with the movement, even with the extra weight on his back. Tony moves easily, not as quickly as he did when he was getting here, but fast enough that it shouldn't take them more than ten minutes to get to the Sanctum. ] WIll bacon laden pizza help with your fatigue? Because I can order some and pick it up once I have dropped you off.

[ikols]

Capes are awesome.

[ Loki clings like a limpet, enjoying the view as they fly. Were the weather nicer he might have consented to a bridal-style trip, but this is nice enough; it isn't lost on him that Tony keeps the faceplate up. He does want Tony to stay with him and eat bacon-slathered pizza, to cuddle down in the Sanctum which is starting to slowly feel like a safe-haven, but,

'Steve ... I've loved him for a long time.'

Loki stays quiet for a long moment, aiming for a neutral tone as his insides broil with thorns. ]

I'll be okay. We can hang out when the weather's not so rotten.

[amelioraate]

Dunno, more fond of suits of armour myself, capes just seem very... dramatic.

[ capes make him think of Doom. and Thor. and he really doesn't see the point except for the fun swishing that can be had with them. and the forts you can make.

speaking of forts.

an eyebrow goes up at the response and Tony looks at Loki from the corner of his eye, gauntlets squeezing the godling's thighs as gently as he can.]

That wasn't what I asked, Lokes. I asked if you wanted pizza. And I also fail to understand the impact the shitty weather would have on any of this honestly.

[ikols]

[ Too tired even to continue lying, he aims a scathing truth over Tony's shoulder in a drawl. ]

I was trying to get rid of you so I could throw magical darts at a picture of Rogers' head, but since you don't want tact ...

[amelioraate]

[ and that makes Tony pause, just a moment before he laughs. and it isn't a quiet laugh either; it's a loud thing that sounds almost like it was startled out of him. there is a part of him that is bruised because he knows that the two of them, these two men that he loves dearly, will never get along. not more than slightly amiably at least. but at the same time....]

You know, there have been times when I have wanted to throw darts at his actual head, so I won't say anything. [ still, please don't throw things or be hostile to him, Loki, Tony won't be able to handle that. ] But it that truly going to take up your whole evening? Perhaps you can do that while I am off getting you pizza?

[ikols]

Why don't you go and share some tenderly baked bacon-pizza with him?

[ Gloomy, with every right to sulk, he does so on the suit's shoulder just out of Tony's eye-line, hiding under the protective shell that shields them from the rain. ]

[amelioraate]

[ that earns Loki a sigh, the flicker of good humor that was there, sparked by Loki's presence, gone. the grip on the godling's thighs tightens again.]

Lokes, I am not ditching you for him okay. And I want to eat pizza and build terrible forts to terrorize Stephen with you, not -- not Steve.

[ikols]

[ His pout turns into a hard line that mutters out an unenthused, 'Whatever', and he shrugs as best he can without falling. The grip on his thighs says he won't, yet that one vague fear remains. It's mainly what stops him from complaining further, not wanting to be ditched in any form before they reach the cover of the Sanctum where he has better ground to stand on, literally and figuratively. ]

[amelioraate]

[ Tony is well aware that he has an uphill battle a head of him, that it will take more than a little while for him to prove to Loki that he isn't about to abandon him at a moment's notice for Steve. that this isn't a choice to be made, not just because Tony has no idea what Steve wants from him, but because even if Steve did want something, want more, Tony wouldn't be inclined to leave Loki behind even then.

but that is a bridge he will cross when he comes to it.

for now, Tony keeps his grip tight on Loki's thighs and makes the rest of the trip to the Sanctum in silence, but not a hard one. when they reach the front door, Tony shifts to make sure that Loki doesn't get any acid rain on him well he gets off Tony's back.]

Anything other than pizza then?

[ikols]

[ He dozes as they soar, half-asleep like a grumpy cat when dislodged. ]

I'm getting some milk.

[ The Sanctum's atrium is where he heads inside out of the rain with an open invitation for Tony to follow and also seek refuge, the hall roomy with a large staircase that leads up although Loki intends to walk around it to a room on the ground-floor.

His armour and the shadowthread coat, the horns, all peel away with a shimmer of green sparkles to be replaced with a dark red tshirt and grey slacks, barefoot on the tiles as he heads to the kitchen which stands in disrepair; two sorcerers do not engineers make. ]

[amelioraate]

[ even as Tony sighs, there is something almost fond on his face as he follows Loki into the Sanctum. there is a low whistle as the suit peels away and remains at the front door, like a suit of armour in a castle. this place was... well it was slightly better than when Tony was helping Stephen out a while back but-- he didn't think that so little had been done to it.

leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed loosely, Tony watches the godling make his way around the space, willing to wait until he was spoken to. of course, it did make him wish he had Friday, so he could just send the armour to the pizza place, but alas, he could not do that. and he doubted anyone was delivering in this weather. ]

[ikols]

[ Loki drinks from the carton of milk in the fridge, ferreting around for what passes as jerky and chewing on it as he turns to find Tony in the doorway. He doesn't know what to do with him, displaced without a real home or reason to be around anyone, because whatever distance Tony created by admitting he's the type to swoon over Rogers is very real and Loki is too tired to play games about not caring. ]

Loitering is a crime.

[amelioraate]

Is that what I am doing?

[ pushing off the doorframe, Tony sighs and runs a hand through his hair before he moves up to Loki, standing well within his personal space, and letting his hands settle against the god's hips. it isn't a tight grip, Tony won't make Loki put up with him right now if he doesn't want to, but he isn't about to just turn and leave either.]

Do you want me to go, Loki?

[ikols]

[ The precious jerky is slid safely away on a counter before Tony traps him there by the hips. Loki turns his head aside as he deliberately inclines his body back at a would-be casual slant, were it not for the guarded look in avoiding eyes, arms remaining loose at his sides. ]

It's up to you.

[amelioraate]

I already told you that I would stay. Build a pillow fort. Those weren't empty words you know.

[ Tony stays still for a moment, eyes travelling over Loki's face before he drops his hands slowly. he doesn't pull back though, shifts so that he is leaning against the counter next to Loki, rather than trapping him.

A Loki never stays long in any box, after all.]

[ikols]

... I don't have enough pillows.

[ After the day he has had, first physically and then emotionally wrecked, Loki shakes his head and hugs his own arms. ]

I want to sleep, Tony. That's all I want right now.

[amelioraate]

[ for the love of-- Loki's movements, his whole demeanour, squeeze at Tony's chest like a vice. he moves one arm around the god, pulling him to his side and presses his lips to Loki's hair.]

Then I will go and get you pillows. And we build a fort, and we sleep. I'm not here for anything else.

[ikols]

[ Tony is so persistent, it's one of the reasons Loki warmed to him as quickly as he did once barriers were shed and time was spent together outside of a battle (or theft, or heist), and it's too difficult not to lean into the kiss at his crown so he gives in like a reed in the strong pull of a river. His head bows and while Loki remains close he can't make the anchor in the pit of his stomach lighten, weighed down by knowing someone he can't compete with has also been on the receiving end of those lips. ]

That's almost worse.

[ The quiet words underline his aching heart's sentiments because without the sex, without mindless distractions, he has to think about how much he genuinely likes Tony. ]

[amelioraate]

[ there is a small noise at that, something pained that is caught in Tony's chest at the words. because he gets that, the sentiment of the physical being the distraction and he hates himself a little bit for having caused this in Loki. he didn't-- he never wanted Loki to feel less than, that wasn't his intent. he wanted to be honest, because it was something that he prized, something he wanted out of all his relationships more so now than ever because he knew just how devastating a single lie could be.

the arm around Loki tightens, and he keeps his lips pressed to the godling's head as he closes his eyes.

I'm sorry will never be enough, not after this.]

If I also bring a makeshift Nintendo console with my own version of Mario Cart, would that make it even worse?

[ikols]

Which part of 'sleep' translated as 'ply me with gifts'?

[ With a hand pushing gently but firmly at Tony's chest, Loki extricates himself from the warm embrace and takes steps to leave the kitchen. ]

Thanks for the ride home, Stark.

[ His Anthony would have left him with more, but Loki is too tired to deal with much until his energy levels are back. ]

[amelioraate]

It's not--

[ Tony cuts himself off, swallows down the words that probably sound hollow and false to the being before him and, for a moment, watches as Loki moves to leave. Tony knows, deep down, that this is one of those moments where everything is made or broken, but he doesn't know what action will result in what outcome, thoughts too tangled with emotions to really see the patterns and the future clearly.

but Tony does know that he isn't willing to let this go, not like this.

so when Loki moves to leave him in the kitchen, Tony moves with him, presses close to the godling and makes it clear he isnt leaving, not like this.]

I'm not giving up on this, on you, Lokes. You can't 'Stark' me out of trying, I hope you know that.

[ikols]

Oh, for ...

[ His voice quavers as he tips his head back, eyes closed while gathering his turbulent emotions. He wishes he were as strong-willed as Thor, able to walk away from people who play with his heart, but things have never been easy for Loki in anything and he grips Tony's wrists with kneading pressure, ever a half-moment away from shoving them off.

Loki rubs the bridge of his nose and takes one of Tony's hands as he turns away, tugging him along instead. ]

Come on, then.

[ Lying to himself about wanting Tony gone would have worked if Tony had left. That he hasn't means Loki doesn't have the staying power to keep up the distance and his resolve crumbles at the notion of getting to steal him away a while longer, just for a few hours while he naps. ]

You're too stubborn.

[ Not that he sounds angry about it. ]

[amelioraate]

[ the laugh caught in his throat isn't one that is light, more self-deprecating than anything, but the fact that Loki is tugging him along, isn't demanding that Tony leave right now, soothes the ragged edges that would make it sound too dark.

he knows that he is stubborn, can be unwilling to bend for most people. but he needs Loki to see that he isn't lying about that. he isn't about to drop Loki like some idle trinket that was picked up to sate some curious itch. what he felt for the god was just as real as what he felt for Steve, and just because he hadn't loved Loki for years didn't make it any more important to him to protect.

Tony twines their fingers together, eyes on the digits, as Loki leads him into the Sanctum.]

I know... it is one of my more endearing qualities, you know that right?