video; un: youradhere

[buildingcastles]

[Since the last network post went so well, Christian has decided to go to the next step. He might as well see just how far he can push things, right? Sure.]

Hey, guys.

[He even waves awkwardly with the device set up so he can use his hands.]

So, just a few things. First, what's the best way to go about inviting people to a company picnic? I've never really done anything... remotely company related, so any advice is welcome. And on that note, I don't know how many of you are familiar with the Gramarye Magic Research, uh, people, but I thought it might be helpful for all of us to say hello. To each other and everyone else, since researchers tend to close themselves into rooms and never get any good action, right?

Maybe we should try to make friends. Branch out some.

[Or he can sound ridiculous. That's always been a staple of his life anyway.]

How about one last one for the whole class: Have you ever seen a demon?

Comments

[buildingcastles]

You think so?

[ There's a laugh in Christian's question, and under that, a nervous tremor of hope. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ He makes a note of that. ]

I see no reason why not. Unless you do?

[buildingcastles]

I dunno. I don't really... know anyone. People might not notice.

[dothelokimotion]

Not knowing anyone might be a blessing rather than a curse. Or so I've been told.

[ What had Thor said? It's a chance to start fresh? Loki cannot deny he's been taking advantage of that. ]

[buildingcastles]

Maybe... But at some point I have to meet some people. It's even more lonely if I'm here and I never meet anyone.

[ And that's the selfishness talking, but Christian wants to be involved. Even if it's only a little bit. ]

[dothelokimotion]

Why not? It's hardly difficult to meet the people here.

[ In fact, this place encourages it. ]

[buildingcastles]

I'm not really good at- [ People. ] That kind of thing.

[dothelokimotion]

[ What a strange thing for a human to utter. ]

And yet here you are.

[ Attempting, despite the setback. That could be considered admirable, not that Loki would say so. ]

Thankfully, the people here do not seem to care for arbitrary personal standards.

[buildingcastles]

Here I am. It's better than not asking at all. I'd be too lonely if I did that.

[ Which is just the truth in a nutshell. Maybe he could fade away, but that would be a sad existence. He doesn't want to give up being human.

The second part gets a laugh. ]

Yeah. I'm hoping I can use that to my advantage. Maybe I can trick people into hanging out with me.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's gaze flickers over him. He looks normal. ]

As far as tricks go, I doubt it'll be one people mind.

[buildingcastles]

[ Christian does seem to notice the quiet moment where Loki is judging him, but that's only because he's used to a lot of people just giving the weird guy a look. And that's if they notice he's even there. ]

You'd be surprised. Things don't always work out exactly the way you want them to.

[dothelokimotion]

[ What. Loki chuckles, dry as a desert. ]

I hardly think I'd be that surprised.

[buildingcastles]

Oh, yeah?

[ For once, his tone is dead serious. Still quiet, still calm, but not as light and innocent. ]

Sometimes it's the little things that destroy everything around them.

[dothelokimotion]

Like a lie?

[ His tone is velvet. ]

Or a secret?

[buildingcastles]

Like an invitation. A desire.

A promise made to a friend.

[dothelokimotion]

Oooh. Yes, those can be considered destructive.

[buildingcastles]

Humans are difficult. In a lot of ways.

[dothelokimotion]

That is their nature. To deny it would be counterproductive.

[buildingcastles]

Yeah, but I'm also not going to make friends if I get stuck on that.

[Deep, long-suffering sigh.]

This test needs a multiple choice option.

[dothelokimotion]

I was not testing you. It seems you were testing yourself and falling short.

[buildingcastles]

Oh, I wasn't saying it was you. It's more like life in general, really.

There's always something new to trip over.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Does this make sense? Loki doesn't know. Thankfully, he doesn't care either. ]

You do not seem to know what you want. You're afraid and yet you wish to proceed. You contradict yourself and expect more.

[buildingcastles]

People are full of contradictions. That's what being normal is. Didn't you ever get that talk? We're all kind of things that don't fit together and we want to be part of everything, but we can only manage to do so much.

You have it all figured out? I doubt it.

[dothelokimotion]

I am not people nor would I deign to be.

[ That's just gross. ]

Doubt all you like. It is not my insecurities on display here.

[buildingcastles]

You're not people? Everyone is people. That's a different thing entirely.

[ Everyone here talks like a spirit. It might be a whole city of spirits. ]

It's not insecurity. It's truth.