worldsaway | IC INBOX

[Oh. Hm. It would be a lie to say his first reaction isn't relief. Excitement even. After all, he's now the only Loki. Sylvie is Sylvie, which inspires a whole other set of feelings within him, but at least on a very surface level she's not Loki.

Of course, no way he's typing all that to Thor. Luckily, he has a lot of experience lying to his brother.]

You fear. If I may offer a correction.
I see two more likely possibilities. Either your brother's returned to your world to continue his story, one that no doubt involves him being reborn or never having been dead at all...
Or you were never of the same story to begin with. Consider your newfound sister and I. Our paths are more divergent, yes, but the Loki you met here could very well be the same as us.

[Those aren't the lies, no, but he also knows they're probably not that comforting either.]

Did you ever have a chance to give him a proper funeral back home? Perhaps we could arrange something here. I could help.

I know that ought to make me feel better.

[But it makes him feel.. lost? Perhaps.. He's not really sure how to articulate it and as he thinks on it, the next message comes through.]

Would that make you feel strange?

No, I don't think so.

At least three Lokis before me died. Sylvie's lost one too. Could be cathartic.

I think that would be good, then. For all of us.

[Totally not just him.]

I'll start making arrangements.

Would you like some company in the meanwhile? As modern as I am, I don't think sentimental conversations translate well over text.

I'd like that.

Very much.

Do you know where I live?

[And Loki promptly teleports to right in front of Thor, wherever he is. She's opted for her female form this time, hoping it differentiates her enough from Thor's Loki as well as Sylvie. She had recalled the way Thor first regarded her male form, realizing it must look similar enough to a younger version of that Loki.

She waves.]

Hello, brother. I hope this answers your question.

[Thor is on the couch, marinating in his misery when Loki appears before him. He jolts in surprise, nearly dropping his phone before the dots connect and he settles.

He looks.. decidedly tired although not significantly dishevelled. Not yet.]

Yes, quite plainly. [He says, mildly exasperated.

But he shifts, patting the space beside him on the couch.]

Thank you.

Of course. What sort of sister would I be were I not here for my brother in his time of need?

[She sits down next to him, her hands clasped neatly in her lap.]

So. What were you planning on? Drinking yourself into a stupor? Ice cream? [Loki sighs, realizing jokes and deflection might not be the best solution here.] I apologize. I don't know what you did when I died... other than search for my reborn self.

Something between the two of those, probably. When I was back home, I busied myself with vengeance and purpose and all those sorts of things. Here.. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself.

[He sinks back into the couch, casting a tired glance out the window and the ongoing downpour and then back to Loki.]

Do you like to be held or are you a feral cat like the others?

I've found myself in a similar situation here... though I've expressed myself in a far less dramatic manner.

[She gives him a small smile as she follows his gaze to the rain, thinking of how stuck she's felt in every possible way. There was no All-Mother here, no Asgard, and yet her destiny still pulled at her.]

I can be whatever it is you require of me. A feral cat, a younger brother, a sworn enemy, or simply something to hold onto.

[He stares, for a long moment and then the rain suddenly stops. It remains cloudy, but he doesn't feel like seeing the sun right now.

He's not sure that's quite the response he wanted, but he'll take it. He winds his arms around her and gently guides her down against his side so he can hug her shoulders against him.]

You'd think this would get easier.

[She curls into him, snuggling closer.]

You would. But I wouldn't. I've always relied on you reacting this way.

[It's a cold response, similar to the one before. Her mind is elsewhere for a moment, then she blinks and focuses on Thor once more.]

You know, you're actually shorter than him. My brother.

[Perhaps a little cold but there's something reassuring about it. Thor will always be Thor, Loki will always be Loki. There are universes upon universes where Thor continues to love Loki despite everything, mourn them despite everything.

And, with an arm around this Loki and the comfort of the closeness, he feels somewhat at peace with that. Not happy, but there's peace.

Peace and.. whatever that is. Rude.]

I doubt that. Probably an optical illusion.

Mmmm.

[She smiles. This is a distraction!]

I know because you're barely taller than I am. Barely taller than the runt of the Jotun!

Tall enough. You didn't tell me you were from an alternate universe where everyone is incredibly tall.

[He shoots Loki a perplexed look.]

Ridiculous.

Wouldn't I be taller if that were the case?

[Although, now that she thinks about it...]

I am shorter than my previous incarnation. And still growing.

[Loki laughs, then buries her head into Thor.]

I much prefer this than being towered over, for the record. You're a bit less of an oaf than he is too.

Maybe you're the short one, then.

[He still has a sulk to his voice, but it fades away as she buries her head and.. kind of compliments him?]

I'm not sure if I should feel offended. I'd rather not be an oaf at all, given the choice. [He ruminates on that, before speaking.]

Can you tell me more of your world? Of your Thor?

I'm literally the smallest Frost Giant to have ever been born. I'm well aware I'm the short one.

[At his question, she looks up, considering him.]

There's not much to say. Or there's too much. Maybe the current state of things is the best place to start. Asgard's Asgardia now. We had been rebuilding on Earth, but now we're back to that floating city holier-than-thou thing. Ruled by the All-Mother too. Odin's off keeping the Serpent at bay.

Thor's... Thor. God of Thunder, Prince of Asgard, Avenger, you know. I don't know what else you wish to hear.

That's.. good to hear. That you can rebuild.. Suppose it might be a little easier with our parents still in the realm of the living.

[It's a little dry, he's mostly musing on it.]

I liked the part where you strongly implied I was the better of the two.

They're not my parents.

[She mutters quickly, knowing it's not in any way the proper response to hearing of Thor's loss. Still, it's better than saying she wishes Freyja was dead.]

Don't let it get to your head. It's difficult to say which one of you is truly the better Thor without him here. I have less baggage with you, that's all.

Not long ago I'd have said we've got nothing but time to make more baggage, but it seems we might not be here long.

[He shrugs into the couch, looking over Loki for a moment.]

I'm not glad to be here, but I'm glad to have met you.

Mm.

[This is the part in the script where she says she feels the same way. It's so obvious that someone might as well be holding up cards with her lines for her.]

I... [she sighs then smiles mischievously] I'll admit it's nice to not worry about whether my brother wants to kill me or not every time we meet.

[Humor is one of the best ways to cover up the truth.]

You know? I feel much the same.

[He laughs, lightly. It feels too raw and vulnerable to admit to another Loki that his loyalty and his love for Loki is still fierce but his heart aches from all the times he's been burned.

Withholding it feels disingenuous somehow, like he's betrayed the moment they've shared, but he can't bring himself to.]

Will you stay? We can order in.

Always good to no longer be each other's sworn enemies!

[she laughs as well, her tone taking on a slight sing-song quality]

Of course. Especially if you're paying, brother.

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