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[worldsaway]

"Poor timing. Leave your name so I can seek you out in future."

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[worldsaway]

Father has fooled us from the day we were born. Since the day he brought Loki home.

[He finds his bearings somewhat, his expression hardens.]

If it was all a joke, it was a costly one. [He shrugs, remembering his drink and helping himself to it.]

He turned to sparkly dust and flew into the sky. Perhaps he's living on as a cloud.

[ikols]

[ His snort is immediate without being wilfully insensitive, but still he checks himself and has grace enough to look apologetic. ]

Sorry.

[ Father seems infinitely unlikely to turn into sparkles, but whatever. That sounds like bullshit to be needled another day; Loki turns a concerned look on Thor, a frown sinking in. ]

You inherited the Odinforce, then? I suppose it's the Thorforce now. The strength of the All-Father.

[worldsaway]

It's fine.

[Thor dismisses the apology, this whole thing has been laughably absurd.]

All I've inherited is a mess. [He raises a brow.] Whatever force I have wasn't enough to stop Hela without letting Surtur do the dirty work.

[ikols]

I'm sure you did what you could.

[ So many times the Golden Realm has fallen, echoes of itself spanning forward across time. It's a morbidly depressing thought that his otherverse family has suffered so much when they were so untouched when first he came to know them, now blighted by a fate that ripples through every universe.

A shiver runs down his spine and he reaches over to lay a gentle hand on Thor's arm. ]

When you rebuild it will be different, yet home once more. Asgard is not a place, it is its people.

[worldsaway]

I've heard that one before. [He doesn't roll his eyes, but he gives Loki a wry look all the same.]

It can be better. [But it's a huge responsibility, and Thor doesn't even know where to begin.]

Thank you. [Thor turns his hand around so he can gently grasp Loki's wrist.]

[ikols]

Well, it's true. Asgardia became a nation of all the realms' lost souls under the All-Mother, perhaps you could attempt the same.

[ Sliding their hands off the bar so that he can properly take Thor's in his, swallowing hard as sympathy pains course through his heart (now that it is done being concerned with his own personal interests, oops) Loki sips off his stool to step closer, his gaze tracking from a blue eye to a lost one. He raises his free hand. ]

May I ... ?

[worldsaway]

[Thor tenses just slightly when Loki raises a hand toward him, but he relaxes himself. He's adjusting as well as he can to the change, but it's been a tough process.]

You may. [The permission is granted, but Thor's look is wary.]

[ikols]

I'm not going to stuff my fingers in your gross empty socket, stupid. [ Sympathy stains his tone, easing the jab of his words as Loki's soft fingertips brush lightly around the cavernous scar. ] Don't look so worried ...

[ The gentle touch traces where a brow used to be, thumb skimming where the formerly soft skin underneath Thor's eye has been weathered by his injury. Loki's expression is thoughtful, tinged with sorrow as he shakes his head. ]

When my brother lost his left arm I thought how cruel that was, his hammer-arm gone. He bears his Unworthiness worse, however. But this ...

I would never have wanted this to happen to you, of all Thors.

[worldsaway]

[Thor grunts at Loki's reassurances, because he really hadn't meant to make his discomfort so apparent. He doesn't like that it makes him feel so vulnerable, and it's not something he can just hide.

Loki's touch is gentle, as promised. Thor's other eye falls shut for a moment and he forces himself to be okay with the gesture. It's not Loki's fault he's crippled, it's not his fault he's having a hard time dealing with it, either.]

Could be worse. [He says, and it's to placate himself as much as Loki.]

I'd prefer this to losing an arm, I think. I need both hands to pull you and Loki around by the ears.

[ikols]

It could. [ He tries not to be too great of a downer, though the loss is awful. ] Never met anyone who wasn't terrified of Father and he was famous for your new look.

[ His hand slips down to rest on Thor's shoulder and he trails the other out of holding hands to skim up an arm, tracing through the middle of a bicep. ]

His arm ended here, the dwarves forged him a new one of black uru. It's very strong. [ Especially when it connects with your face. Hah. Looking up, he struggles to find his tongue for a moment then blurts out, ] You could call me Lokes, if you wanted. I like it. It helps differentiate between the two of us here.

[worldsaway]

That's the dream, to be terrifying. [It used to be, anyway, but now Thor says it dryly and with humor.

Thor casts his eye downward as Loki's hand travels over his skin. He doesn't pull away or even second guess it, he's a sucker for affection.]

It might have attributed to his mood. [Thor muses. He can appreciate the novelty of a strong, uru arm but he knows that it would eat at him. Knowing someone got the better of him, that he's not whole somehow.]

Lokes. [Thor repeats.] I like it, it suits you. Generally I differentiate by calling him the grumpy one.

[ikols]

You don't terrify anyone who counts. [ Like family, whichever the universe.

With a huff, he drapes his wrists around Thor's neck and tugs on the short hair at his nape, basking in the attention and being allowed, more than anything, simply to touch. It's a novelty he covets at every opportunity. ]

I saw him once, when I was being reborn in this body. I saw a lot of Lokis ... but he was carrying a staff, I remember that. And I first saw you in the year 2013 when I travelled to your Midgard and read their Wikipedia on superheroes. [ He chuckles, a tease crinkling in the corners of his eyes. ] You were baby-faced on the photographs, an Avenger.

[worldsaway]

[That earns Loki one very fond smile. He puts his hands on Loki's shoulders, happy to keep a physical connection between them while the younger one pulls at his hair.

He grumbles, but there's no intent to stop him, evidenced by the fact that he does nothing but grunt in protest.]

Baby-faced. [Thor winces.] That was a long time ago, for all us. And we've come along way, Loki and I. [He can't hide the fact that he's happy with how some of his future turned out.]

He did well. You would be proud.

[ikols]

I already was, now I'm sure moreso. He never seemed the sort to descend into insanity like the rest.

[ There's room for some tweaking of Thor's beard as Loki grins, giggling. ]

I suppose these face pubes are going nowhere and I'll have to be proud of them, too. Poor baby-face, he was so pure!

[worldsaway]

He seems to have pulled himself out of whatever spiral he was in.

[There's uncertainty in Thor's tone, but he's distracted by the tweak of his beard.

This time he growls in feigned frustration and darts his hands to Loki's midsection in attempt to tickle his tweaking away.]

I was going through some things then, alright? Did you see my hair? What was I thinking?

[ikols]

You, ahaha! Thor, no! Bad Thunderer! [ Jerking away from the tickles he slaps at the offending hand. How dare! ] You needed a comb, you caveman. Your beard could do with a trim right now, in point of fact.

[worldsaway]

[Thor withdraws his hand when smacked, but when Loki continues to sass him he flexes his fingers in threat.]

Have I not lost enough? [He plays the pity card.] If I trimmed it, I'd look like a far more handsome Stark. I prefer to be rugged.

[ikols]

Fear not, Thor, you could never pass for handsome even with two eyes.

[ No beats missed, woop. ]

[worldsaway]

You probably just have bad taste.

[Thor stares, picking up his drink for a long chug.]

[ikols]

I'm not easily impressed, that's all.

[ STARING BACK OVER HIS OWN DRINK, SIP SIP BUTTHEAD. ]

[worldsaway]

I don't think I need you to find me handsome anyway. I can find my validation elsewhere, I'm sure.

[ikols]

Elsewhere, is it? Aye, let's ask someone else.

[ Shapeshifting into a woman as mischief twinkles in green eyes, Loki casts a wrist over her forehead and sniffs dramatically by Thor at the bar. ]

It's true ... he's the ugliest of all the Aesir! So insists Trixie of Earth, whose eyes are the strongest of any mortal in history!!

[worldsaway]

[Thor rolls his eyes when Loki shapeshifts, he's far too used to this kind of mockery.]

Your opinion would be contested by a great many, then. I've been told my selfie game is untouchable.

[ikols]

[ Seriously doubting that when half her phone is beauty edit apps, Loki slips out her phone and backs up on Thor to include him in a new selfie. ]

Okay, okay, big man ... Bring your best! Throw down!

[ Forty-five degree angled chin is go!! ]

[worldsaway]

[Of course, Thor doesn't try at all. He throws up a peace sign and smiles that easy, charming smile, just like he would if he were approached by a fan.]