[ open ] And they said you were the crooked kind

[dothelokimotion]

who: Loki + You
what: catchall for CR
when: August
where: Around
warnings: N/A


[ Closed to 616!Tony Stark ]

[ Early mornings, Loki finds, are the best times to wander Riverview. Most people are still sleeping and the streets are all but empty. Of course there are a few stragglers around, but Loki finds it easier to ignore them as he enters the coffee shop. This is one of the few strange conventions he enjoys though he tends to leave after a certain hour. He orders a different coffee every time and settles himself next to the window with a book. To everyone else, he looks . . . normal. Ordinary. It's not an image Loki wishes to present to other people.

The Once and Future King lies open on the table as Loki takes a sip from his straw, occasionally glancing out the window and watching people drift. Living was so slow when you reside among humans. ]

[ Closed to VICTOR VON DOOM ]

[ While Loki loves his work at Gramarye, he does not care much for the people. And quite often, Loki gets tired of the inane questions that people bring him. Loki does his duties with aplomb because he dislikes being accused of doing a terrible job but eventually, people grate on him long enough to lock himself in the break room with Victor. ]

How do you even work with these people?

[ He trudges off to the coffee machine, looking harangued. ]

[ OPEN TO ALL daily life ]

[ If anyone wants to catch Loki, he can be found at Gramarye Institute of Magic, somewhat willing to answer queries or the library where Loki is slowly churning through the various literature available to him. You can also catch him wandering around Riverview in the rain without the slightest fear of being burned by acid rain.

If you need a personalized starter, please drop me a PP or ping me on quixotically#8692 ]

Comments

[metalmenace]

[Victor watches Loki head to the coffee machine, drinking his own cup of coffee (not his preference, but he can deal with it for now) while his lips turn up into a hint of a smile.]

I had practice dealing with inane comments and mindless fools when I was still king. In my experience, you learn to either deal with them or end up killing them.

[That's...not helpful, Victor.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki takes a seat opposite him, his fingers curled tightly around the mug. It's discomforting, but Loki has gotten used to discomfort. ]

You were a king? I thought the old monarchies were all but gone on Midgard.

[amelioraate]

[ if there was one thing that Tony was going to say that he enjoyed on this moon, it was the fact that there were some really damn good coffee places. sure, you could find them in New York as well, but he was looking on the bright side here and coffee was always a bit of a bright side for him.

that and New York didn't have the strange pastries that were filled with an assortment of different fillings that he couldn't identify. not that him being unable to identify the filling was the good part, but rather that he was sure New York didn't have some of these fruits.

so Tony had taken to a bit of a routine; in the early morning hours (not before the sun rose, but sometimes) he would make his way to town to grab a coffee (okay, sometimes a coffee but once in a while he would get something ridiculously complicated and impossible to order without the help of the charming owner's help) and something to eat before making his way back to either the lab for more work or to the housing for something like an attempt at sleep. a simple routine but one that managed to remind him of the passing of days every once in a while when he got too tangled up in his work to note the movement of time.

making his way easily to the cafe, Tony finds himself slowing as he nears, catching a glimpse of an all too familiar figure in the window seat.

Loki.

the last time they spoke wasn't the best, but Tony finds himself at the very least curious about the younger god of lies, so once he has picked up his order (just black coffee today, with something that almost looks like a blue doughnut), the engineer moves over to the open seat across from Loki, eyes flickering between the book, the empty seat and the god.

he doesn't sit, not yet.]

Do you mind if I sit, or would you prefer quiet time with Arthurian legends?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Stark. His eyes flash as he purses his lips before nodding. Loki was not fond of the Starks by the simple virtue of their similarities. And this Stark had gotten far too close for Loki's comfort. Loki can handle his universe's counterpart easily and the other one was too mired in his own problems to truly be a hindrance.

Still. If he said otherwise, it would be perceived as a weakness. ]

The seat is free if you like, though I cannot promise good company.

acid rain;

[krasnaya_vdova]

[Ava is out in the rain, rescuing people. With how wet out it is, she's a bit too hesitant to use her powers, doesn't even touch people directly. Not to mention that she's still trying to keep them quiet.

She's pretty good at avoiding the rain, whether it's through the environment or a stolen poncho that takes the rain a while to eat through, or running fast and hoping her skin doesn't spark. She'd just been concerning herself with a young woman that had been trapped, and it's when she helps her make it to the side of the street where she can make it back to the residential building that she catches a man stepping blithely into the rain from the corner of her eye.

She's turning, catching sight of him from the back and she doesn't parse it entirely until she's trying to pull him back under the awning.] It's dangerous, you'll--

[And then she catches the profile of his face and it clicks, leaving her with her least favorite Asgardian as her hand pulls back.] Loki.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki blinks, not used to be called out to before he surveys who it is. Recognition sets in his eyes. ]

The little spider. Doing your heroic duties for the day?

[metalmenace]

That's what some people wish was true, but some monarchies have survived the test of time. I was a king, yes, king of my homeland of Latveria, but I stepped down recently and put people in place to help transfer power. Unfortunately, the people I appointed weren't up to the task.

[He looks somewhat frustrated and his hands grip the mug tighter. For all he may be considered a villain, Victor loved his country and loves his people and knowing that they're suffering, even indirectly because of him, makes him furious. If he wasn't here, if he didn't have plans for when he returned back to his universe, he would immediately take his place as king once more. Because clearly the only person who can lead Latveria properly is Doom.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ It was a strange thing to see another king. Loki finds it surprising that his other self glossed over that fact, considering what kingship means to them. Well . . . to him. His hum is sympathetic as he takes a sip of his coffee. ]

Most people are not. Heavy is the crown, after all.

Acid Rain |

[fingerstripes]

[ The fact that he's lasted even this long in a pelting acid rain storm probably should have clued him in. But this is a possibility he'd been dreading, an eventuality that seemed inevitable. He has to ask. ]

Hey- [ He lands nearby, knowing he looks patently ridiculous in a hazmat suit worn over a domino mask. His escrima sticks are tucked away, but they're similarly wrapped up in the material. ]

Not sure if you've seen the forecast, but it's not safe out here now.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki stares at his clothing, torn between bemused and curious. Sometimes it is easy to forget that he's not known here. Granted some Avenger or some figment from his world is quick to remind him otherwise. ]

What's your point?

[metalmenace]

Which is unfortunate for my people. There was a civil war and now the country's in ruins. If I could return without there being a outcry from other countries and certain government agencies, I would, but that would only make SHIELD send a rather large and rocky annoyance to "deal" with me more than they already have.

[He takes a sip of his coffee. Victor figures that if Loki and others from his universe haven't heard of him, then clearly the Fantastic Four aren't actively around either. Well, he hopes they aren't, otherwise he might be a little annoyed.]

[fingerstripes]

Well, it seemed like an occasion to ask if you need a spare. [ There's an extra bat umbrella he'd been carrying for that purpose, carefully reinforced with material from another hazmat suit. He tucks it away a little awkwardly, with a halfway sheepish smile. ]

But I can see now that I'd be wasting my bandwidth.

[dothelokimotion]

[ It's the tone of voice that bothers him. Loki is still not used to simple gestures of kindness and generosity. Loki eyes the man before softening a little out of curiousity. ]

You are another costumed hero. From . . . Gotham city, I presume?

[dothelokimotion]

Your world is a . . . complicated place.

[ At least that's the impression Loki seems to get. Burdened with a long history that never seems to end. ]

But I imagine our positions are similar. We survive on the "if" that better men have graciously given us.

[metalmenace]

Ours has had some time to get itself that complicated.

[It's so complicated and messed up. Loki is so lucky he is from a baby universe.]

Or at least what they think they gave us, but what we have actually grabbed for ourselves.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki wonders if the same will happen to his. Not that he believes he'll live long enough to see it. His time is finite. Victor's response has him smiling faintly. ]

Well. I don't mind letting them believe that. But what is it you truly plan to do here?

[fingerstripes]

[ The tension across his face is there and gone in a flash. It's not as if that's a tremendous leap, with so many of them regularly patrolling the streets. He's been working on stepping down on reflexive paranoia. ]

You've run into friends of mine?

[dothelokimotion]

I believe so?

[ It's a club, but not one Loki fully understands. Tim had told him a little of Gotham but costumed identities are unusual in a world where all of them are known. ]

I've only spoke to the one.

[amelioraate]

I didn't ask for good company, just if you would mind some yourself.

[ it is said easily enough as he slides into the seat, setting the coffee and pastry down.

there is a moment where he looks at Loki, blue eyes sharp and perhaps mostly unreadable, but it is clear that there are no negative feelings that he harbours towards the god. curiosity, yes. understanding, a little. but for the most part, Tony is neutral. ]

Do you find yourself enjoying those legends?

[ he nods towards the book as he takes a sip of his coffee. ]

[dothelokimotion]

Why not? I am legend, after all.

[ But Loki has a growing fondness for this story. For Lancelot, the misshapen heap of ugliness that pervades his inner core. For an unhappy end. He sips his coffee through a straw. ]

“They made me see that the world was beautiful if you were beautiful, and that you couldn't get unless you gave. And you had to give without wanting to get.”

[ His eyes slide over to Tony. ]

Words, no doubt, you are familiar with.

[amelioraate]

I thought you were more of the historical myth, a fairy tale of sorts, than you were a legend. A reminder and a warning rather than a tale spun to dismantle courtly virtue.

[ not that he says that with any derision; he was more a fan of fairy tales and myths than he was the typical legend. there was more to them, more reality despite the fact that they spoke of gods and monsters and the men who tried to tame them. warnings about reaching too far.

he takes a sip of his coffee, corner of his lips quirking up at the quote.]

Am I to be your confessor then? Or are you saying we should do battle, because I never saw myself as Galahad honestly.

[dothelokimotion]

You'd make a terrible priest.

[ He shrugs casually. It's harder to unnerve this one than the others. Which annoys him but Loki isn't helpless by any means. He can find a way. Though . . . grimacing to himself, his other self would not take kindly to it. ]

I'm surprised you even know of fairy tales.

[winscenario]

[ Between working on the shuttle and dealing with the repercussions of the acid rain, it's over a week after he's spoken to Loki that Jim manages to get some free time to meet up. He's not particular as to where they meet up for drinks, so he leaves it up for Loki to decide— if not, he'll pick just about any decent and quiet enough bar where they can have a chat.

It's later in the day, though the sun hasn't yet set, and it should be a while before dinnertime, and certainly a while before Bones's shift is over. Until then, Jim's in no particular rush. He shows up at the bar a few minutes early, in a set of casual dark clothes and a worn jacket he shrugs off as soon as he steps inside, looking around the place in search of Loki's face. ]

[amelioraate]

I would make a terrible priest, I discounted that career path when I was four actually.

[ well, maybe not four, but close enough. there is something there, an unease that sits beneath Loki's skin when he is faced with Tony, and Tony would not be foolish enough to say that it was a one-way thing. there were parallels between them, similarities that were unnerving and sometimes he can't help but wonder if that was what drew Steve to the god.

wonders if maybe Loki is a better version of himself in some sense.

abandon all hope, ye who enter here indeed.]

Do you think I was raised on engineering manuals? I mean, I was reading them, but I was a voracious reader as a child, and fairy tales... they were interesting. Telling about human nature, don't you think?

[metalmenace]

[That's a good question and one Victor has been thinking on quite a bit since he's found himself here. He's not planning on attempting to go back home any time soon, knowing that what's waiting for him is distrust and things that, quite frankly, he doesn't understand.]

I want to figure out if the path I'm currently on is the one I want to stay on or if I want to return to being the man I once was.