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[worldsaway]

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

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

Don't be daft, Thor. She's from another world, born of another Loki.

[worldsaway]

Does it surprise you that other Lokis have learned to procreate?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Yes and no. Loki was aware of that fact, but that's not what he's disturbed. ]

Honestly, they should know better than that.

[worldsaway]

Maybe knowing better is why they're settling down and starting families.

/2

[dothelokimotion]

She's afraid of me.

[dothelokimotion]

[ A pause. ]

She's afraid.

[worldsaway]

She doesn't know you. [Firmly.]

Do you know why she's afraid?

[dothelokimotion]

If I had to guess, I would say Loki was not a superlative parent.

[ And isn't that ironic. ]

She does not want to be killed or controlled. Both are skills I am known best for.

[worldsaway]

Mm. And you think that all Lokis are one and the same, despite the fact that the other one likes to sit in my lap. [Said so blandly.]

Some prophecies are self-fulfilling.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki deliberately leaves a long pause so that Thor can ruminate on a Loki sitting on his lap and everything that entails. ]

I never wanted this.

[worldsaway]

[Thor made a conscious decision long ago not to think too much about that.]

What, a child? Or the responsibility? [Or both, Thor supposes.] You know, I hate to say it, but you hold no real responsibility toward them. You aren't obligated to take them under your wing.

[But Thor is interested to see that Loki seems to have assumed that role already.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ He hasn't fully realized that he could easily avoid it. That there is no expectation on him to act. Loki may have differing opinions about family, but he had always cared about it. And this was intimate and terrifying and put a deep well of fear that he cannot fully exorcise; that there was more of Odin and the worst parts in him, even with children. ]

. . . I can't do that.

[worldsaway]

And that's what makes you different from other Lokis. [Thor gives him a sly look.]

Inferior Lokis, from the sounds of it. Don't make their mistakes your own, no matter what you may uncover about them.

[dothelokimotion]

Are we truly that different?

[ In his heart, he knows there are some differences. Enough, perhaps, to set him apart. But the doubts remain. There were more similarities after all and Loki's first clean break was still all too new to him. He has no idea what he's doing or even what he's doing is right. All he knows is that he no longer wishes to apologize for the person he is or cater to the people who saw him at his worst. ]

[worldsaway]

I wouldn't know. I only know you. [A beat.] And the little one.

And I know you, and I know all that you are capable of, but I've not known you to be cruel to children-- And you are fond of things that resemble you. [Statues, mostly.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ It's true that Loki's cruelty has not been known to touch those he deems too young. It doesn't absolve him of the ones he has hurt, even if he directly did not lay hands on them, but it is . . . something at least. ]

Somewhere out there, a Loki was exactly like that.

But I suppose I am done fending off shadows. Or accepting them.

[worldsaway]

And somewhere out there, a Thor is married to Sif with many little children and Odin walks among the mortals merrily. [Thor shrugs.]

Our names are attached to people who hardly resemble us, because they aren't us.

[He nods at Loki's final statement, feeling as if they're making some sort of progress.]

I wouldn't take his actions to heart. You're already thinking about doting on the child like it's your own, doesn't seem like something the other Loki would do.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki scrunches up his nose at that. Married to Sif? ]

I'm hardly someone who is well adept at doting. That's more you.

[worldsaway]

When have I ever doted on anything or anyone? If anyone dispenses the tough love around here, it's me. [Defensive?? No!!]

How small is she? She's old enough to talk and cast judgement, she's probably too old for everything I know about entertaining children.

[dothelokimotion]

[ He rolls his eyes at that. Tough love indeed. ]

She's a teenager. Around Ava's age, I would assume.

[worldsaway]

It would be nice for Ava to have a friend her age, rather than more sad, old men.

Are you going to take her under your wing or watch her protectively from the shadows like an old, mother beast.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki opens and closes his mouth abruptly. ]

I don't know. I don't even know if she really wants me around.

[worldsaway]

[Thor shrugs, he can't answer that one.]

Time will tell. Nothing lost, nothing gained, at least?

[dothelokimotion]

[ . . . Finally he nods, some of his fey mood leaving him. ]

Of all things though . . . children was not what I expected.

[worldsaway]

We've had an interesting influx of people wandering in who act like they know a lot more about us than we do, lately.