video; un: sg.rogers

[livingsymbol]

[Steve's being restless and actually exploring the more risque side of Carnivale this time around. Part of him is a little bit salty, but he's trying not to show it. Whether or not that is working, well, it probably depends on his conversation partner. There is a lot of noise in the background - talking, laughing, and the low thrum of bass beats.]

Does anyone want to show me how to do this?

[He turns his phone camera toward some nearby people, who are apparently customers outside of Trixie, lounging at tables and enjoying the party. Apparently the theme for the night is lingerie and everyone is dressed to fit. One of the women he turns to says something too muffled to hear in the din, but the message is clear from her grin and inviting gesture.]

Thanks, no. I don't have one. Maybe next time.

[He turns the camera back to himself, smiling a little bit dryly.]

They look like they're having fun. [Anyway.] I know we're all pretty used to holidays here, but I've been thinking a lot lately about my home. Right now, we'd be celebrating the birth of a nation. And a dream... Since some of you have been here for a while, I'd like to know more about the worlds you came from. We've got a unique city on this moon. People from all kinds of places. I'd like to celebrate that too, if you'll allow it.

[Filtered away from MCU!Loki]

And if anyone sees Loki, can you do me a favor? Wish him a happy birthday. The older one. He's probably going to avoid it, but he should enjoy the day too.

Comments

action;

[ikols]

[ Is that? Steve Rogers??? Loki heads to a window on the upper level of Trixie, hanging out of it as she peers for the recognisable location outside the club on his video, trying not to lose her drink ... There! ]

Hey! Merry America Day!

[ Waving him toward the doors. ]

action;

[livingsymbol]

[It turns out calling is actually more reliable than showing up on Loki's doorstep. That... he should have expected. But at least he got to the end goal eventually? He waves back at her from the ground, hoping that he can be heard over the noise of the club.]

I need to talk to you!

[ikols]

We are talking!

[ Well, shouting over the rabble with drinks below but everything is semantics when drunk. Loki points to Steve. ]

I'll come down, you're very small and quiet!

[ Unlike the feisty revellers, Rogers is a beacon of propriety in more than one layer of clothing. Waving as she disappears inside, Loki reappears a couple of minutes later with a drunken sway to her stride, happily buzzed in her lingerie of choice. It is something short of a miracle that she doesn't trip over her heels by the time she weaves her way to him. ]

America! You know that you can come in with your clothes on, right?

[livingsymbol]

[ He's pretty sure he hears her, but trying to ask a question across the distance and through the party noise is a pretty hopeless effort. Steve frowns running his hand through his hair until Loki reappears with an unsteady walk to greet him, something that prompts him to offer a steadying hand. ]

I didn't want to spoil the party.

[ Steve is fully aware of how he looks compared to the rest of her guests. ]

You haven't seen your twin around anywhere, have you? I thought maybe he'd come here.

[ikols]

[ That hand is shaken firmly, because it seems the polite thing and Loki isn't running on all cylinders. She laughs through a scoff. ]

Twin! He's me. But, no, I've seen him too little as of late. Is it really his birthday today?

[livingsymbol]

You're still individuals. I don't think you're the same person.

[He goes along with shaking her hand mostly out of confusion, because he can't just not do that. And if she's all right, he doesn't have to hold her up. The question takes priority.]

He's been gone, but I thought he came back.

[Maybe he'd been mistaken? Steve doesn't think so, but it's hard to tell with unpredictable gods.]

We're supposed to celebrate it today. I guess it's not officially the day, but he deserves to have one.

text; un: iron.man

[buildsomething]

You mean today isn't the day Captain America climbs down the fire escape to give copies of the Declaration to all the patriotic boys and girls? I feel cheated.

text;

[livingsymbol]

Come on, Tony, don't play things up like that. You know the day belongs to all of us.

[buildsomething]

Some of us more than others. Happy birthday, by the way.

[livingsymbol]

I like to think that we're celebrating people and freedom above all else. Not just for one country or a set of beliefs. All of us.

Thanks. I don't suppose you know where I can get a good cake?

[ action ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki makes a strangled noise when he sees the broadcast. And a little guilty, probably. He had an excuse but it didn't feel like a good one. Dressed in his black suit, Loki looks around before setting his eyes on his boyfriend. ]

Steve.

[ action ]

[livingsymbol]

[ Steve turns sharply when he hears Loki's voice. His response is immediate, and his expression is a mix of relief and concern as he sees the god's face. ]

You're back. I thought- I was worried that something had happened.

[ He moves quickly to meet him, reaching to take Loki's hand. ]

[dothelokimotion]

I . . . My apologies. I was injured and needed to recuperate.

[ Loki squeezes Steve's hand as he moves closer. ]

[livingsymbol]

You don't need to apologize. Are you all right now?

[ Steve is already checking Loki over as he asks the question, seeing for himself if his boyfriend is still hurt. ]

I'm glad you're back.

[dothelokimotion]

[ There's barely a trace of shadow around his neck and the wound on his side is healed. At Steve's words, his eyes flutter. ]

I . . . am glad to be back.

video | un: scarletwitch

[seeingscarlet]

[Oh hey, that's outside...and extremely unexpected. She wasn't expecting to see him here...]

Happy birthday, Steve.

video;

[livingsymbol]

[Aw, okay, Steve smiles. That isn't what he intended, but he's still touched by having Wanda say that.]

Thank you. I was trying not to bring too much attention to myself. Was it too much?

video; >> filtered from Loki

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda shakes her head. Oh Steve...worrying about someone else as always.]

I only know because I know you. But I didn't know it was-- [hang on, let her fix the filter] --Loki's birthday too.

video; >> filtered from Loki

[livingsymbol]

[He looks pleased by that. Having people acknowledge this attempt at including his boyfriend is going a long way to making things better.]

Mm, I told him we'd share. Last year when I asked him he said that no one had celebrated his birthday in a long time. Too long to remember a date.

So I think he deserves one.

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda can hardly argue with a Steve's judgment since her Steve was behind her own second chance. She's willing to give Loki the opportunity to prove himself either way for Steve's sake, and he did offer to teach her already...]

So you need a cake and a lot of people to embarrass him with singing. It's an Earth tradition.

Flitered away from Loki, audio: pnwsalex.

[11calls]

Oh it is? I'll have to grab him a present!

But for as for your question, my world is a little bit of a wreck right now. [Which may or may not be her fault but...] America's sort of in a state of disorder because of who they elected, and it's having repercussions around the world. Or at least it was when I was home last time! But I mean, I am from Canada, and Canada Day was over the weekend.

So it's weird, because America's kind of nebulous in my head with everything. So I imagine people will be celebrating it very differently on all sides of the political spectrum.

Flitered away from Loki, audio!

[livingsymbol]

Make sure you put a bow on it. He needs to experience the unwrapping process for himself.

[Okay, he does look solemn when she brings up the trouble that comes with America's influence on the world. He hates that. It makes him wonder yet again if he should be trying to go back home and set things right. The doubt flickers across his face with indecision.]

I'm sorry. [That much he does decide on.]

I can't speak for everyone, but I'd like to think we're celebrating people. Each other. It's belated, but happy Canada Day too.

Flitered away from Loki, audio!

[11calls]

[Alex just gives him an apologetic frown, because she wishes that she could be less pessimistic about the thing, but it's hard when the orange was elected three days after you realized you probably maybe started something that ends with the world destroyed.]

The whole tapestry of people thing, huh?

[The ideal of America, when you didn't need to deal with the reality of it. Okay, Alex could get behind that.

But then a few minutes later, she's back to ask:]

Is it your birthday too? Or is it just the other Steve's?

[Sometimes being here is confusing.]

[livingsymbol]

[Steve tilts his head, raising his chin slightly in a motion that isn't really disagreeing, but not quite agreeing either.]

I don't believe it's right or fair to give up on people when something breaks down. Especially when the ones that feel the consequences the most are the ones that are usually just trying to get by.

The point of a dream isn't necessarily to escape reality. It's a goal to strive for so that we don't give up.

[And since Steve has no real idea of what she's talking about, it's a general approach that applies to her description. But he's followed through with that before in several other cases. It's one of the things he stands by, refusing to give up on a more optimistic hope for the future.]

Mm, it is, but that's not what I was trying to convey.

[11calls]

[No, Steve, Alex is trying really hard to believe this isn't her fault. Don't make her think it's her fault.]

I think you're right. It's just hard to remember now when everything is so terrible.

[Because she's totally causing the end of the world without meaning to. And then she laughs.]

It's funny because I'm normally the optimistic one about these things.