riverview | [ video | un: trickster ]

[ In Riverview, a new building has appeared! It is large, opulent with statues standing at the roofs, representing the royal family of Asgard (sans Thor, Thor doesn’t get a statue, sorry. Maybe he’ll get a child’s rendition of a painting inside the halls. Later). There is a choir of children standing on the steps, dressed in white robes. Who immediately burst into this song ]

Prince Loki, handsome is he, Loki Odinson
That physique! How can I speak, weak at the knees
Well get on out in that square
Adjust your helm and prepare
To gawk and grovel and stare at Prince Loki

[ When the song reaches its crescendo, the choir parts at the middle as Loki descends from the steps, dressed in black leathers and a golden horned helm, waving at the choir with a beatific smile. He stops at the end of the steps as the song finishes. ]

Thank you. This little ceremony is to show that Odin’s Odeon, named so after my dearly very much departed father. May he rest in . . . peace. This theatre is open to the public and people are more than welcome to submit any kind of works they wish to present. Plays, performances, you name it and most likely we will allow it. Our upcoming performance is The Tragedie of Loki of Asgard and the casting call is open to all. We will also be having an open house party hosted by Taako and myself. I hope to see you all there.

[ Loki pauses, pleased at the wrap up before glancing at the expectant children behind him. With a faint sigh, he snaps his fingers and there are sweets falling from the sky and children screeching in delight before the feed ends. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hiccup snorts out a laugh.] That entirely depends on if you would be expecting him to actually try to play a part, or just roll around on stage in a costume.

Well, that would be in character for Volstagg.

[Sorry he's still laughing.] I take it Volstagg isn't an in-demand part with a lot of lines. Toothless would probably go for it if you promised him some fish. He'd even wear a fake beard.

That will do.

It's not as though Volstagg ever did anything of import.

If you say so. [He snorts, shaking his head. Poor whoever that guy is, being reduced to being played by a dragon.] Why is this a tragedy, anyway? I would have thought it'd be some cool hero tale. [He... probably has a more elevated opinion of Loki than most people.]

[ Oh. Loki purses his lips. ]

It was written at my death. Exaggerated now, of course. I never saw fit to change the title.

Oh. Your... death? [He's very concerned now. It's common knowledge around the Quarantine that some people want to stay because they die or were dying back home.] Are you- I mean, did you really-?

[ Loki hesitates. ]

For a moment, yes. At least I thought I was.

I'm sorry. That- it sounds horrible. [Coming from someone who also has a near-death experience under his belt... he can sympathize.] It is horrible.

[ It's been a long time since Loki has really addressed those feelings. And faced with such bold compassion, he's not entirely sure saying was a good idea. It's not quite guilt, not a lie . . . but he squirms all the same.

Remembering a broken bridge. A dark blade through his chest. ]

I — Yes. Of course.

[Hiccup has enough tact to realize, at least, when someone does not want to discuss their near-death experience. It's not like he really likes talking about the inferno of the Red Death, or the way his stump still aches sometimes, even five years later.

He manages a little smile.] Things turn out... at least somewhat okay in the end, though, right?

[ Loki laughs softly, a silvery sound. ]

Who knows? It might be the end of the world as we know it.

[ Asgard is gone. Their people have been reduced to beggars in a matter of minutes. But Thor and Loki were Thor and Loki once more. And Loki would be lying if he said he didn't want that. That he'd give it all up just for that single moment of unity. ]

At the very least . . . I feel fine.

Or maybe just a new beginning. [A new chapter in the story. After all, Loki is still here, so it can't be over. And Hiccup finds himself glad that it's not. Despite all the stories about the God of Mischief, he's grown to like this version.]

I'm glad. I can't wait to see the play.

[ His smile is faint, tentative. ]

At the very least, I hear it's enjoyable.

I'm sure it will be great.

Perhaps not that. It was merely a way to pass the time on Asgard.

Really? I thought there would be all kinds of things to do in Asgard. I guess when you live that long, it must get boring, though.

Asgard was rather . . . stagnant. It changed very little.

[ In a weird way, it was a little more alive with the productions. The lack of war. Loki wasn't a good king but he was hardly bad either. ]

Really? But they'd have all that time to- to innovate. To try new things.

[ Loki shakes his head slowly. ]

When you reach a certain height, the desire to scale higher is all but forgotten. Glory belonged to the warriors, who could fight valiant battles. Little thought was given to anything else.

Oh. Wow. [That's nothing like how he imagined, and it's slightly disappointing.] I mean... I guess Berk was that way too, for a few hundred years. Sometimes you have to- to push for change, but if you have all the time in the world, I can see why it would seem pointless, maybe.

[ Loki had tried. Over and over. Until people stopped listening to him and Loki could no longer speak the way Asgardians do — straightfoward and blunt. Until everything he says is couched in layers. ]

I suppose it is purely academic now. Asgard has changed and will continue to do so. The idea of glory no longer holds water.

[ video | un: trickster ]

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