two ❈ video

[allfatherissues]

[The video comes to life in a flourish of black feathers.

There's the caw of a raven, and when the device is adjusted better so that its audience can see the broadcaster, Loki can be seen standing with his arm extended. The aforementioned raven sits on his forearm, head cocked to the side and seeming to look into the feed with something akin to curiosity.

Another ruffle of feathers, and a second raven sits seated on Loki's left shoulder. The sight would be almost comical if not for the fact that there is something oddly imposing about the birds -- large in size, to be certain, but something about their demeanor exhibits a certain cleverness of thought that most ravens would not possess.

Loki smiles. Anyone who has met him before may notice that his hair is a bit longer, but other than that he appears the same. The backdrop is those of the oxygen gardens.]

I've returned to the ship, and yet I've not been gone that long at all, have I? Strange how time is twisted into something incomprehensible in an instance such as this -- but I hardly have a right to complain. Asgard was a reprieve, even in confinement. Svartalfheim was... [He trails off, choosing the right words.] Well. Lacking in a certain glory, but the dark elves were never ones for gilded appearances. I suppose it's a fitting enough battlefield for a glorious death.

I'd like to call it that, at least. Sacrificial. [A twist of his lips, irony escaping his mouth.] Mother would have been proud. Perhaps Odin, as well.

But I digress. [Both ravens then caw loudly, as if on cue.] It seems that despite everything, I've been granted a couple of friends from home. Meet Huginn and Muninn, the King's ravens. Huginn is the one with the annoyed look in his gaze, and Muninn is the one without it. Say hello, the both of you.

[And then (as if also on cue), both birds simply fly off to make their perch in a nearby tree. Loki only laughs, as if this was to be expected.]

Ah. Well. There is always room for improvement, as they say.

[private to mcu!Thor; not really encrypted at all because lol Asgardians encrypting things]

I take it you're still here. In which case I think we may have things we wish to discuss.

Comments

[Text]

[mjolnir_time]

[Thor stares at the screen after the message ends. This is a scenario he didn't expect. He had assumed that either Loki would not have left the ship at all, or he would be gone from the ship because he had left and died on Svartalfheim.

He hadn't even considered the ship bringing Loki back from the dead.

The fact that somehow Odin's ravens are also on board barely even registers with him as he fumbles with the device and sends a hasty message.]

Where are you?

[Text]

[allfatherissues]

[So his brother is still here, as he thought may be the case. Loki frowns to himself, unable to garner any further information about his particular situation over text, unlike what details he may be able to harvest from a video feed.

There's a slight delay, then a response.]

Oxygen Gardens. Second level.

[Action]

[mjolnir_time]

[There's no message in return. Thor was already on his way to the gardens as soon as he finished typing his message.

He makes it to the second floor in record time. He spares a moment to wish Loki had sent a more specific location, but then he hears the call of a raven. After that it doesn't take him long to find his brother.

When Thor finally sees him, he moves in close and pauses briefly, one hand on Loki's neck in his habitual gesture. He takes in the sight of him, alive and whole, then pulls him into a crushing hug.

He has no words. he's had to watch his brother die twice now, and each time it felt like his heart had been torn from his chest. This time there is no crisis, no Tesseract, no Iron Man or Captain America. There is nothing to prevent Thor from indulging in the relief of seeing his brother alive again.]

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[servant]

They both look somewhat annoyed to me. Do they really talk?

[Merlin once knew a bird with telepathy on board, so he doesn't sound too doubtful.]

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[allfatherissues]

They've been torn away from their home; I imagine they are allowed a small modicum of annoyance for that. And they do speak. [In a way, at least.] In fact, I do imagine they are quite the pair of gossips, but they only share what they know with one. And he is not present.

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[servant]

It's just as well. All gossip does is cause trouble. They're better off not wasting their talents.

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[disfavour]

They're fine creatures. [ Not only birds, because their intelligence is evident to anyone with an eye for it. More interestingly, though; ] Why on earth would you go poking around in the business of elves, dark or not?

[ It's intended as a jest, since Nuada has arguably been the one to offer Loki his services as of late. But, still. Do tell of your death. What better way to get to know one another when the information is freely offered? ]

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[allfatherissues]

[Freely offered information, indeed. But in this case, it is freely offered misinformation. Continuing to play the part of a dead warrior is a necessity until he can figure out the state of affairs he's been dragged back into. And even then, he may still have to continue it.

But it's no bother. Loki is very good at lies.

The following, however, is not one.] Because the dark elves were the first the poke into the business of ours. Asgard does not take kindly to attacks on the realm. [But that's all very impersonal. He hadn't held any regard for his home any more, not at that point in time.] But truthfully? I was fuelled by anger, brought on by the desire for revenge.

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[disfavour]

All the better that you returned to us and not the ether, I suppose. [ That would have sucked. ] What did they do to wrong you so?

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[tumbleweeds]

[ She's somewhere in the gardens herself, and if she didn't recognize the face (she's been here long enough, after all), the promise of new animals would maybe be enough to approach. Instead, she keeps to her spot in the brush, but replies nonetheless. ]

Hello Huginn, Muninn. If you need anything from the gardens, I'm happy to help.

[ ... oh. She should say hello to Loki too, she supposes. ]

In my world, gods only die if there's no one left to believe in them, and the Norse always thought they would be okay despite that until Ragnarok.

[ That's. Kind of a hello. ]

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[allfatherissues]

[Well, it's hello enough. Loki hardly looks offended.

Huginn and Muninn, however, do not move from their perch. Though they seem to be watching the video feed with some interest. Loki speaks up for them.]

They can manage quite well on their own, but I have no doubt the sentiment is appreciated.

[As for gods dying:] If Asgard's existence hung upon the beliefs of mortals, it would have faded from the universe like a dying star, long ago. We can grow old, grow frail, or die in battle if we are so unfortunate.

But of course, we are not the gods from your world. I suppose there lies the difference.

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[tumbleweeds]

Of course they can. Still, it's a weird place.

[ They're not quite gods in their own right, back home, but they're close enough. ]

Belief, not worship. Your names written down are enough to give some life. Of course, probably fortunate for you that you aren't from my world -- dying's bad, but some of the myths you guys have are messed up.

[ She is not going to say you had a horse baby, but only because she wants to make friends with the birds. ]

[conspiracytheory]

What're you talking about? Elves and ravens and crap? You're worse than Foreman.

[allfatherissues]

[He smiles, but it certainly isn't lacking in patronization.] If it's all too much for you to comprehend, do not feel obligated to do so.

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[mathematically]

[ What are Odin's ravens doing around you, Loki? Important questions asked by teenage girls. ]

Those are Odin's ravens.

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[allfatherissues]

[Important questions indeed! Loki isn't one to deny the statement.]

Indeed they are. Is it not a shame that he isn't here to keep them company?

[She can probably hear the slight sarcasm at the end of that creeping in.]

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[mathematically]

A shame indeed. Last I checked, they can't really cross dimensions. And the only reason they should be here is to take a peek in on us. But— again, cross dimensional travel.

You're not Odin, so why are they around you?

[majestyofthethrone]

What's the name for a pair of ravens?

[allfatherissues]

Busybodies?

[He jests, of course, but it's a reference to the ravens being the eyes and ears of Odin.]

[majestyofthethrone]

Why not?

Do they like you?

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[becauseihaveto]

[Abby's not concerned with the ravens. Animals tend to either consider her another animal and get on well with her or don't like her because she smells like death. Either way, the birds aren't her focus. She's looking squarely at Loki because they only met the one time but she's pretty sure there is way more to him than meets the eye and, frankly, she's curious to learn more.]

You died. [A pause.] You seem to be taking it very well.

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[allfatherissues]

[Well, here's a face he remembers from the very first time he stepped onto the ship. He grants her a faint smile in response to the comment.]

And I do not see why I should not. I harbour no regrets.

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[becauseihaveto]

[It's a fair point and Abby nods slightly, the light smile still playing upon her features.]

It probably doesn't hurt that you're alive again. [Not that Abby's completely convinced being on this ship actually constitutes being alive, but that's just semantics.]

anon text;

[endureandsurvive]

[Blah blah blah death, blah blah blah words she doesn't know.]

do they talk for real or are they just like parrots?

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[allfatherissues]

[generally speaking, Loki does have a propensity to blah blah blah a lot. It's okay.]

I have no doubt they take offense at being compared to parrots. They are the eyes and ears of Odin, and thus their only form of communication as you and I know it would be with him.