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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

[dothelokimotion]

[ his grip tightens. ]

Don't let go.

[unkindled_madness]

I won't.

[He's going to set his wine aside so he can reach for Loki's hand.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki clasps it tightly. ]

I'm afraid. Everyone is gone. I don't want to remain here like that.

[unkindled_madness]

You mean you want to leave, together?

[Of course that was the plan, eventually, but...]

[dothelokimotion]

[ once sephiroth says that, it solidifies in his head. a plan. maybe with stormbreaker, they can force an exit. leave it all behind. he nods. ]

Yes.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth nods. He doesn't know for certain that he's ready, but he figures it will take time.]

...then we'll look into making it happen.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he relaxes a little. they're on the same page. they could make this work. he doesn't want to stay here. and he doesn't want to share what little he has left. ]

Good.

[unkindled_madness]

[He leans into Loki a little.]

Things will never be perfect. But we will always have something that's ours.

[dothelokimotion]

[ quietly, uncertain. ]

What will that be?

[unkindled_madness]

[...well he wasn't expecting to have to put it into words.]

This. Our connection.

[dothelokimotion]

[ their connection. it is the one thing loki has protected. nurtured. sacrificed for.

instead he squeezes sephiroth's hand. ]

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth squeezes back. He... needs this. He's not letting go.]

[dothelokimotion]

You're all I need.

[unkindled_madness]

[Oh. Is that what he wants to be? Is it different from how he feels?]

...I would be more than just that.

[dothelokimotion]

Of course you are.

[ but loki can see, as the haze of hurt slowly dims, how regressive that would feel. after all, loki did once chafe to be the brother of thor.

right now, though, he can't handle the thought of more when everything seems to be closing in on him. ]

[unkindled_madness]

...as you are, to me.

[dothelokimotion]

[ oh. loki's expression crumples a little at that. ]

[unkindled_madness]

[What does that reaction mean?]

That's all right, isn't it?

[dothelokimotion]

Yes. Yes, it's more than all right.

[ he presses a kiss to sephiroth's knuckles. ]

I still — I want to be more to you.

[unkindled_madness]

[Okay. He's just... vulnerable now. Isn't he?]

You're wanted. And I think that's more.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he's wanted. he's more. and this is . . . safe. he can trust sephiroth's feelings. he doesn't doubt them. this is just a bump. he knew thor would leave. that his friends would too. loki wasn't enough to make them stay.

but sephiroth would. sephiroth would stay. loki knows. he knows. he didn't have to say it. loki manages a faint, tremulous smile. ]

It is.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth's expression eases, seeing that. He lifts his head to kiss Loki softly on the forehead.

Loki stays for him, and he stays for Loki. Not out of obligation, but because they want to.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ very quietly, as if daringly. ]

I love you.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth stills. He wants to be able to say it back. But would it be honest? He cares for Loki, deeply. He knows that there are other kinds of love than romantic love. But he's never felt them before either. He's never felt anything close to this.

Can he imagine feeling something stronger? Or has he long since crossed the threshold? Is this as much as he's capable of?]

I...

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki slowly shakes his head. he doesn't need sephiroth to say it back. he squeezes his hand instead, reassuringly. ]

I just want you to know that. No matter what happens.

[ he's still scared. maybe he's pushing it too far already. maybe his love doesn't matter because the confluence can just take sephiroth away the next day. but at least he'll have that. poor as it is, at least he had loki's love. ]