riverview | [video]; thunderer

[The video begins in the swampier edges of the jungle. Thanks to the flooding, the water is up to Thor's waist and he has mud up his arms and on his face. He holds the camera up at a selfie angle, smiling into it and waving with a muddy hand.]

If anybody happens to know where a big, fat crocodile went, let me know. He's got a scar over his eye and his legs are very stumpy. Embarrassingly stumpy.

[Thor looks about him, holding the camera out so the audience can really appreciate the view of the overflowing river and not the fact that he's wearing a wet singlet.]

And if you've lost anything in the floods, let me know and I'll keep my eye out for-

[He cuts himself off when he catches sight of something making ripples on the water. His arm whips out of camera, snatching the tail of a snake that he brings into view.]

Look at this! Did you know snakes could swim?

[The snake hisses, flicking its tongue at Thor even as it coils around Thor's arm in a lithe, slow crawl. When Thor's hold lessens though, the snake rears back slightly like a mirage before vanishing and revealing a grinning Loki who very casually slides a small dagger into Thor's side.]

Oh dear. Was that me?

[Thor grunts, mostly in surprise but there's pain in it. The little blades sting, and it's a miracle that he can hold onto his camera (lopsidedly) when he drops to his knees and grips his side.]

You've done it now, brother. [Thor growls, with a clenched jaw.] It's all going dark. Dark and cold. I see a light, it's calling me. I'll bleed out before they find me.

[And with his final breath, he musters the strength to try kick Loki into the mud along with him.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, I haven't heard of either, but that doesn't mean they don't exist in other worlds. It could just be coincidence.

Tell me about them. I'd like to hear about your world.

So far it's just been mine. That's alright, though, I've always known Berk is... unique. [To say the least.]

Snoggletog is basically- it's like your Christmas, or Yule. Basically. [A frown as he has flashbacks to Yule. He adds,] With less goat sacrifice and no hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Loki Day is to celebrate Loki's birthday - not that I know if this is really his birthday - by playing pranks on each other. When you get someone, you shout 'Loki'd'. It can be a lot of fun.

[The word unique gets a smile from Steve. He can't disagree with that based on what Hiccup has shared already, but it adds a certain charm to the whole experience. He enjoys hearing about other worlds.]

Goat sacrifice?

[That catches him by surprise. He remembers a conversation he had with Ivar, but-]

That's... not like Christmas or Yule that I'm used to. I thought it was a viking tradition.

This Loki Day... you pull pranks to honor him? [It sounds accurate.] And everyone in your world does that?

Yeah, they- they uh,... That was a thing. [He's slightly squeamish at just the memory. That is the part of last year's Yule that he ducked out of at the time.] I guess it's a viking tradition, but my tribe is pretty different from Ivar's. It makes sense if you think about it, we're an island tribe and more isolated, and his is from the mainland.

[Or that's his working theory, anyway, for why they look to the same gods but don't have the same traditions and holidays.]

Yeah! Just about everyone, anyway. Some people go more all-out than others, but it's a fun day to break up the usual work a little. And Loki apparently likes the idea, so we've got that right.

Well, different regions do have different customs. Personally, I prefer my holidays a little less bloody... The trees and sweaters are a little more my speed. But I guess I've seen enough fighting for a while.

[He doesn't mind if his sentiments make him look too soft.]

Loki would like something like that. He does like his pranks...

[Hmm.]

You said it was to honor him, right?

You and me both. Nothing wrong with a good old Yule tree, and I have grown to enjoy sweaters. [He's amassing a collection of hoodies and sweatshirts for day to day wear because they're comfy. That next comment has him looking a little curiously at the camera, though.] Yeah? Were you a soldier?

Of course it's to honor him. Or make him happy, or something along those lines. It's nice to see people celebrate something like it here.

I was. And I've worked on security since then, so I think I've had my fill of bloodshed.

[That was part of the appeal of the Avengers. the relatively positive way they approached solving conflicts. It wasn't about winning or destroying the enemy threat. At face value it might have seemed the same, but to Steve the difference mattered.]

I didn't know there was a celebration like that. Now I feel like I should participate somehow.

You must like it here, then. It's so peaceful, mostly. Other than- you know, creatures trying to get past the fence sometimes.

[He smiles a little wider.] I bet he'd love it if you did. He seemed pretty taken with the idea. And he deserves a little honoring sometimes, he's been- he's been really nice to me.

I... do like it.

[Even if he feels guilty about that. And sometimes something else. Unfulfilled? Disconnected? It's a feeling Steve doesn't know the name of, but he's always felt the drive to be involved and to be saving someone. In Quarantine, that need is diminished and he's still figuring out where his place is.]

It's quiet. [And that is the whole of his feelings.]

Then we should give him something to celebrate.

[What better way to celebrate Loki than to tease him a bit?]

I like it here too. [He likes the opportunities he has here, the vacation from his responsibilities back home. It's not a place he will stay forever, but for now, while he's still stuck here, he's enjoying it. He laughs a little.] It's not always so quiet! Remember the giant bugs?

[And then a grin.] We should! What did you have in mind?

[video]; thunderer

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