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[dothelokimotion]

[ the feed starts with loki looking somewhat wan and tired, but not easily spotted by those who don't know him. he speaks smoothly, without a hint of annoyance. ]

First off, for new arrivals and older ones who may be unaware, the Operium is always open for hire. If you're struggling for a job, then you're welcome to seek me out and find gainful employment.

Secondly, Thor has left this place. His belongings, however, are still here. I have in my possession:
- Some red cloaks
- A gaming console with a Fortnite subscription claimed
- A grill
- A charm bracelet
- A book on how to raise goats

You can come claim these at the Sunset Falls park. You have half an hour before I set them on fire. Good day.

Comments

[unkindled_madness]

...all right.

[He doesn't really care about the wine, but maybe Loki wants some. He glances around and decides the bedroom is best. The rest of the apartment was decorated by both of them.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ the little sephiroth plush is still by the bed. it is a little damp though. loki blusters in soon enough with two glasses of wine, rambling a little. ]

It's fruit wine, which might be a bit sweet. You might like it? If you don't, that's fine, you can put it aside.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth isn't interesting in holding a plushy of himself, so he doesn't notice it's damp. But it is sort of... nice, that it's still there.

He accepts the wine glass.]

I'm sure it's fine.

[dothelokimotion]

Mm.

[ loki knocks most of the wine back in one smooth motion. he's not sure how he feels right now. unsettled? he just needs to adapt. he can adapt. ]

I'm sorry. I just — [ he shakes his head. ] — I'm glad you're here. You're still here.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth shakes his head.]

No. I... would feel the same.

I want to be here for you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he wants to say more. I love you but it gets stuck in his throat. he's terrified of it now. loving something and losing all over again. instead loki sits down next to him. the wine sloshes around the glass with the movement. ]

I don't think I would have managed without you.

[unkindled_madness]

You've always been here for me to hold onto.

...I wish I had your talent for words.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki shakes his head slowly. ]

You have your own talents. I don't need you to be like me. I rather you were yourself. And it's . . . enough that you want to stay.

[ he looks back at his wine, his reflection peering back at him. ]

The reason I died was because I had stolen a powerful object known as an Infinity Stone. I knew Thanos wanted it and I kept it because I thought it would be useful. Selfishly, for my own survival. But I went back to the ship, to the rest of Asgard because he said — [ there is a lump in his throat. loki swallows it down. ] — Thor said I could be more. And I wanted to be. More.

I could finally build a better Asgard. Protect my people. Have them love me as me. Then Thanos came and he killed — so many. He was killing Thor. My selfishness was killing them.

So I gave it up. The stone, my life. One last gambit.

[ he rubs his throat idly. ]

He crushed my throat. When I arrived in the islands, I still had the bruises.

It's such a pathetic story.

[unkindled_madness]

It isn't pathetic. It's... sad.

[Sephiroth pauses and takes a sip of his wine, mainly because he hasn't yet.]

You had only just started down a new path, and it was taken from you. You can still be more, but not in the way that you wanted.

[dothelokimotion]

I suppose I just don't know what that looks like for me. I'm still selfish. I'm still the same.

[unkindled_madness]

You're always calling yourself selfish. I've never found it particularly true.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki blinks, surprised. ]

You haven't?

[unkindled_madness]

No. Truly selfish people don't know how to be kind.

[dothelokimotion]

[ oh. he's never thought of it that way. his breath hitches and he looks like he's ready to cry. ]

So I didn't deserve to die?

[unkindled_madness]

No.

[The answer comes immediately, with Sephiroth taken aback by the question. He takes a breath and continues:]

Of course you didn't.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki takes in a shuddering breath. then he leans against sephiroth quietly. ]

Thank you.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth shifts slightly to put an arm around him.]

If you don't know what to do, that's... fine. I don't either.

[dothelokimotion]

[ softly. ]

We'll find it. Full of . . . potential.

[unkindled_madness]

Exactly.

Potential, and time.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki smiles faintly. ]

And you.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth looks over at him. He was talking about both of them.]

Each other.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he seems to soften at that. ]

Each other.

[unkindled_madness]

We chose a path together. That hasn't changed.

[dothelokimotion]

No. No, it hasn't.

[ he briefly glances at the door. where stormbreaker was. now he had power. he'll ensure it. no matter what. ]

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth notices the glance, but he doesn't know what it means.]

...did you need something?