Video & Action ⊱ Day 142

[notatroll]

[ When the feed begins, it focuses on the face of a young boy, barely that of a teenager. He takes a second to ensure that the phone is recording and, when he's certain it is, he breaks out into a small, pleased grin. ]

Ah! It does indeed function exactly like a Starkphone! Most excellent!

[ Then he tilts his head to the side, considering the phone and everything else along with it. He'd been told he was never to exist again. Total annihilation was required in order to save the lives of billions of people.

And this place? Well, it looks fairly existence-y to him. But he says none of that. Instead, he says this: ]

I've not heard of the lands of Cape Kore. In what realm to they hail? For, you see, I must return to Asgardia with great haste. I assure you, it is a matter of major importance that can not be ignored. So, if you could point me the way home, I would be most grateful.

Although, failing that, the internet would not go amiss. Is there no wi of fi here?

Comments

[hung_garian]

Great. Another wannabe Áss - like we didn't already have enough figures of Norse mythology for our very own Ragnarok.

[Three Lokis, if Gabriel counts as one - a Thor and a valkyrie, too. Not a promising group, unless Ragnarok really is the aim.]

Which one d'you reckon you are, then? Baldr? You've certainly got the voice for it. And by the looks of you, you're definitely not one of the einherjar.

[notatroll]

I thought Ragnarok was over.

[ He raises an eyebrow, challenging. He doesn't know much about it, sure, but it's not his fault the Aesir do not wish to speak to him about it. Likely this is because his older, evil self caused said Ragnarok, but that's neither here nor there. Besides, he has books. And books do not lie. ]

That is why Asgardia is located on Midgard, yes?

[ He gives a snort of laughter at the guess, looking incredibly amused. Ah, the irony. Him, being mistaken for the god of goodness and light. ]

Balder? Nay, I am Loki.

[hung_garian]

[He raises his eyebrow right back. There are differences between his world and the other Loki's, he knows that, but it seems this kid's from an even more different world. Though he does have the same colour scheme as Loki 1.0... maybe that's just coincidence. He'll assume so, for now.]

It isn't on Midgard where I'm from. And you're looking pretty sprightly for a dead guy, 'Loki' - Heimdallr decide to cut you some slack? Or didja get your mom to write you a sick note that day?

[He doesn't just pronounce the air quotes, he makes the gesture with his fingers, too. Patronising actual Norse gods might not be a good idea, but then, Gabriel's not known for good ideas.]

[notatroll]

Aye? Where is Asgardia where you are from? [ Then, condescendingly, ] Is it in Asgard-space?

[ The huff he gives now is derisive. Because, honestly, he might look like a child, but he is not. Nor is he disillusioned as to where he stands with the Aesir. ]

Neither the All-Mothers nor Heimdall would do such a thing. [ He brushes off the comment with a sweep of his hand, dismissing the idea entirely. ] T'was Thor who brought me back.

[hung_garian]

Sure. I'm from space. How'd you figure it out, did I miss a spot of green? It's so difficult to find a foundation that'll cover it completely, you know.

[He can do derision too, after all. Including when it's totally not warranted.]

Back in his good books, are you? [But then, maybe that's not so surprising if-] Don't tell me, let me guess - in your bizarro version of Asgard, he's your brother? Or maybe your world's more inventive still. Maybe he's your dad.

[notatroll]

Green? [ There's a good deal of confusion in his tone. ] What does Asgard-space and the color green have in common?

Unless you are the Serpent. [ He looks the other up and down, as much as he can in the feed. ] In which case, you looked a great deal different the last we met, Mr. Serpent.

[ Boredom. That's what Loki looks with this conversation. ]

It would be hard, I think, to get out of Thor's good books. After all, he was the one who brought me back, despite the protests of many and despite all the evil I have done.

[ He raises an eyebrow, curious now. ]

In what world are Loki and Thor not brothers?

[video]

[angelofhope]

Afraid that wifi's kinda out of our reach, along with the internet. Sorry. [Remiel's smile is friendly, though he feels a certain amount of bemusement with how this kid talks. It's familiar... and not.] And so is going home. But we do have these phones. And a library.

[video]

[notatroll]

[ Loki frowns, looking entirely put out at the lack of internet, and even more so at not being able to leave this place. In fact, he's practically pouting. ]

I suppose other realms might not have the wi of fi. But is there truly no way to get home? Surely someone can open a portal to Midgard.

[ If Leah were here, she'd -- Oh. No, no, this is a bad subject to dwell upon, one he quickly changes, even if it were in the confines of his own mind. ]

A library? [ That actually seems to cheer him up. ] Is it large and containing of dusty old books? Those are the best kinds, you know.

[video]

[angelofhope]

[The archangel chuckles.]

I agree completely, but I can't say for sure. I haven't poked around it yet, I've just heard about it. The building changes, so sometimes it's hard to find the room you want to go to. [And by 'hard', he means 'nearly impossible'.] I don't know if anyone's tried opening a portal. I'd guess so. Seems like that'd be an easy fix to get out.

[So obviously that doesn't work, right?]

[video]

[notatroll]

[ Is it even possible for Loki to get even more excited about a library? Yes. The answer is yes, because Loki most definitely is. ]

A library and a challenge? Even better! Perhaps this Cape Kore will not be as boring as previously thought, even with it's lack of internet.

Making a portal is easy. It's similar to walking though a doorway, except instead of walking into another room, it's into another realm. [ That's it, it's that easy]

But you must have magic to accomplish it. [ Magic, of which he has little. But little is not nothing, and so Loki has a feeling he knows where he will be spending most of his time. ]

[video]

[angelofhope]

Not everybody does. [Have magic, that is. He smiles.] I can get around pretty fast, usually, faster than most people, and it's still an adventure getting around here. I think it's safe to say that you'll be entertained for a while.

Video

[grimholdkeeper]

[Balthazar didn't realize there were children here, and he's immediately concerned. Of course, the last time he was concerned for someone on the network, he ended up frightening them, so he's hesitant to interfere this time.

But still. Kid.]

As far as I know, there's no internet here, and unfortunately no one seems too certain where we are in the universe, either. Are you...all right? Anything worse than bored?

Video

[notatroll]

I'm not injured, if that's what you're asking.

[ Don't worry, Balthazar. For all that Loki looks like a child, he's really not. He can take care of himself. ]

But I'm afraid it is truly a matter of great importance that I return home. [ Yeah, he's not kidding about that. ] If you do not know where we are, how can we possibly hope to return home?

Video

[grimholdkeeper]

More or less. Some people would be frightened or angry.

[He definitely doesn't look frightened, though.]

And I suspect that's the point. We've been abducted for some purpose, but our captors haven't shown themselves. Keeping us disoriented may be a better way to trap us than walls or iron bars.

Video

[notatroll]

I feel no fear nor anger. Only an urgency to return home, for the lives of a great many people depend on it, and I am certain that being in a different realm will not be an excusable absence.

[ But Loki does pause to give Balthazar's words some thought. ]

Surely if we have been taken, we can return in the same way, yes?

video;

[taserhappy]

[Darcy just got here, but hey, at least she's not the only one that seems new. Not that the fact taht they bring kids here is that comforting either.]

Asgardia? As in, Asgard?

[She studies the face on the other end of the feed.]

Do you know Thor?

video;

[notatroll]

...No. [ Loki, you are like, 12. You shouldn't be speaking to Darcy as though she's younger than you are. ] As in, Asgardia.

[ But his eyes light up at the mention of Thor. ]

Aye! I know Thor -- he's my older brother! Do you know Thor, is he here?

video;

[taserhappy]

[Darcy lets out a little snort at the sheer know-it-all in that response. Okay, okay. Asgardia.

Older brother? Darcy's eyebrows rise high. She didn't know Thor had another brother. Other than the crazy one. There's no way that a twelve year old would send a giant robot to smash a small New Mexico town to smithereens was there?

That answer wasn't as clear as she'd like for it to be. Still, he looked awfully happy to hear Thor's name for someone who wanted to kill him.]

Uh, yeah, I do. [Better to keep it vague for now.] I don't think he's here. I didn't know he had a younger brother. What's your name?

video;

[notatroll]

I am Loki. [ The grin on his face is only partially amused. ] Surely you've heard of me? I'm pretty notorious, you know.

[ Beings in all nine realms know who Loki is. Even people in Midgardian London have heard the name Loki. And so, there is no doubt in his mind that, if this lady knows Thor, than she must have heard of Loki. ]

As for you? What is your name?

video;

[taserhappy]

You're Loki?

[There's no hiding the shock, surprise and complete dismay in her voice. He's got to be kidding, right?]

You almost killed me and my friends. You destroyed half of New York! You?

[Video]

[deemedworthy]

Asgardia.

[A few days previous, Loki would have been lucky to get any kind of visual on Thor at all. He hasn't quite mastered use of the phones, but he's faring better than he did upon arrival. There are no awkward close-ups this time, and his image is right-side up.

Progress.

He narrows his eyes at the video feed, suspicious. There is something unquestionably familiar about this boy, and Thor needs no help in figuring out exactly why.]

There is no going back to Asgard. Not yet, at least.

[Video]

[notatroll]

Thor!

[ The grin Loki gives his brother is bright and wide. How long has it been, since Loki has looked at Thor with some admiration? Because, truly, there is nothing but sincerity and enthusiasm in his face, and for no other reason than his older brother is present in this strange place with him.

Thor is here; Thor will get them home, no problem; Thor will defeat his evil self; Thor will save everything and everyone, because Thor is the good that Loki can not be.

Oh, Loki tries, that is true. But it is all for naught, because while he won -- he triumphed over his evil self, and he changed, against all odds -- he still lost as well. Or, rather, will lose, as soon as he can get back to give up his entire existence.

But Thor, Thor never loses. Thor is a hero. And he believes in this with all of his heart. ]

You have a plan, then, yes?

[Video]

[deemedworthy]

[Perhaps it's the enthusiasm that takes him by surprise, but Thor leans back a bit, away from the screen as he studies it, puzzled.]

You know me.

[He studies the boy for a moment, the name 'Loki' poised at the very tip of his tongue and wanting to come forth, but it cannot be, unless this is some new disguise meant to toy with him. Yet this boy reminds him so much of Loki in his younger days -- he can't help but think this must be some trick meant to play upon his sympathies.]

Tell me. [He pauses, making an effort to soften his voice just a little, make himself just a touch less aggressive.] Who are you?

[Video]

[notatroll]

[ Loki's face completely falls at those words.

Never has there been a time where Thor did not know Loki. After all, Thor knew Loki was Loki even before he knew he was Loki; back when he was living on the streets of Paris, pick-pocketing tourists to survive and having nightmares about his past. It has been Thor who had shown up, chased him down and shown him who he truly was and brought him back to, what had then been, Asgard.

The look of confusion, bewilderment -- and yes, even a bit of hurt -- is painfully honest on his young face. What had happened that could make Thor, the strongest warrior in all of Asgarida, forget his brother? ]

It is I, Loki. Your brother.

[Video]

[deemedworthy]

[The answer the boy gives him is the same as the one supplied by his instincts, and yet he is hesitant, curious but cautious all the same. For a moment, he says nothing, but then gives a faint smile, wistful and somehow hoping that this is more than just another ploy of his brother's.]

You are not quite as tall as I remember you.

[Though his own Loki has often referred to him as thick, he's not so obtuse that he cannot tell this boy is injured by his not knowing, by his not being bold enough to act on what he thought might be true.

Surely he will understand. Whatever is going on here, it cannot be so simple as that.]

I am afraid I don't understand, friend.