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un; thunderer | VIDEO

[When Thor switches the camera on, it's momentarily engulfed by his face before he sits himself back. Now that the frame isn't obscured, it's apparent that he's not the only one there. Both Lokis, Angela and Sif sit either side of him, all situated around a booth at some sort of diner.

Thor, naturally, is the first to start talking.]

It has come to light in one way or another that we could be considered Gods. [He's keeping it vague on purpose.] It is true, in a sense, that we are are not unlike higher beings. We are not mortals and we have powers and abilities beyond what many would be considered normal. The myths and the legends, however, are not precisely true.

[He just wanted to clear that up.] As such, we thought it would be prudent to offer our services in times of need. For missions or protections, we can be of use in many situations. You need only ask.

[He says we, but he largely means I.

Angela, for her part, doesn't look as opposed to the idea as she probably could.]

I will add that I will require payment for my services, but that can be negotiated at a later time.

[ She glances around the table at her siblings as if daring them to counter her.

The younger Loki leans into shot, finger raised. ]

Should you require an actual god, we come in that flavour too.

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Well, now you do. Never too late for a change.

[ He tilts his head. Loki's a curious guy, he finds. The other one too, granted, but he tends to be far more lighthearted, less... reticent. Pensive. Makes Jim wonder just how their experiences differ. What sort of worlds they come from. ]

I'd have thought immortal people would change, too. Doesn't it get boring, over time? Always staying the same?

[ It's far too late for Loki. Or maybe it isn't. Hope isn't a sentiment Loki entertains anymore. The quiet heat from his mug seeps into his fingers, making them ache. ]

Certainly. But the passage of time is different for us. Every move is measured in breath, in aching muscle. You can feel how thin the line is between life and death.

[ Taking a sip, Loki finds himself thinking of Jane. Thor's brief foray of love and loss. ]

We do not.

[ Jim hums, nodding. ]

I can't say I know what it feels like to you, obviously, but I understand what you mean. Different perspectives. Although to be fair, we don't count our every breath— nor do we generally feel that short distance between life and death. We wouldn't really live at all if we thought about it constantly.

Are you sure?

[ Loki leans forward, a glean in his eyes. ]

You may not count it or you may not be aware. That is what the threshold is for. When you dangle at the edge — that's when it hits you. But the body never forgets.

Trust me, I know it doesn't. Been there— multiple times.

[ He debates on sharing more, but honestly, it feels to him like it was such a long time ago. (Even if it was only three years ago; less than that, even. Again, a matter of perspective.) ]

I died once, actually.

[ Loki blinks. He will never quite understand the need to share personal information. Intimacy is a weapon and Loki remembers its sting. Still . . . this man hails from the same universe as the Doctor. Perhaps attitudes are simply different. More open.

It does not lessen the danger, but Loki restrains from balking and closing off. ]

What did you let go of?

[ Jim lets out a chuckle at the question, unexpected enough to catch him off-guard. He started on the topic, though, so he won't run from it, even if it takes him a moment to even consider how to answer, or how broad Loki means that question to be. ]

Everything, [ He says truthfully at first, then adds just as truthfully, even if it's contradictory. ] Not enough. But I guess that's a good thing, or I might not have made it back.

[ He nods, a hum on his lips. Would it have been a good thing if he came back? Loki will never know now. Pride before the fall. His dreams seemed to tell him that Loki considered it. Willed a perfect scenario where he came home and all was forgiven. Like Thor.

But Odin's face stops him every time. ]

Perhaps. Or you were loved strongly enough for people to pull you out.

[ Did you mourn? Loki asked Thor with a twisted smile on his face. What he meant to ask was Did you think me dead and give up on me?

But Loki knew better than to ask for the truth. ]

[ Jim is, of course, unaware of the background here. He doesn't think twice about what sort of effect his answers might have, but in any case, he's truthful about them. When Loki speaks again, he can't help a warm smile from taking over his features, his gaze dropping as he nods. ]

I was— I am. Of that I have no doubt, and I'll always be immensely grateful for it.

[ For his crew, his friends, his loved ones... his family. He knows all too well he would never be here today if not for each and every one of them. ]

Guess I'm also lucky to be surrounded by people who can be just as stubborn as I am, with a tendency to not believe in the impossible.

[ He purses his lips tightly, a white thin line. It does not matter how long it has been. The void remains ever present and Loki knew he still hung from it. Everything he does is on the tightrope. Someday he'll fall once more. Still he can't hold back the sharpness in his voice. ]

Charming. Like the end of a story.

[ He catches the slight shift in the tone, but he's not put off by it. There's a beat, a flicker of a second where Jim debates on what to do or say, then he purses his lips, lifting a single shoulder in a vague shrug. ]

Or the beginning of one.

Of yours.

[ His tone is flat. Loki's story ended. Right now, he's going through the motions. ]

This one specifically, yes.

[ He watches Loki quietly for a moment, then adds. ]

But all stories can have new beginnings.

[ Loki snorts quietly. ]

Forgive me if I'm not swayed by such optimistic words.

I'll try not to take it to heart.

[ He knows better than to think Loki would just accept them so promptly, anyway. Given time, though— everyone can change. Even immortal gods. ]

[ Loki studies him carefully. ]

You and the Doctor are different.

[ Jim purses his lips a moment, nodding vaguely as he tries to make sense of that. ]

Different bad or different good?

I do not know yet.

[ Different is the closest word he can find. ]

Mortals do not speak as freely as you do.

[ With me, but Loki doesn't say that. ]

Maybe you just haven't met a lot of mortals before.

[ There's a trace of amusement to his tone, but mostly curiosity. Makes him wonder what kinds of interactions Loki's had with people in the past. ]

[ He sips his coffee and acknowledges that with a murmur. ]

I've met plenty but centuries linger in between.

Well, I'm from 2263— on the Earth calendar, anyway. I'm afraid I can't translate that to whatever calendar you guide yourself by, if that's even a concept you have in Asgard.

[ For immortals, how much of a difference would it make which day it is? ]

You're quite far from home then.

[ The future . . . Loki rarely entertains thoughts of it. His green eyes spark with curiosity. ]

How is it different from here?

Oh... let me count the ways.

[ He chuckles a little, humming in thought before he answers. ]

Money. We don't have a form of currency anymore, at the point in time I come from. I also pretty much live on a starship, me and my crew. Bones is my Chief Medical Officer there. There's a lot of things here that we don't really use anymore— like paper, for instance. That's a rarity. Fossil fuels are no longer used as an energy source, either. Not sure if you're even familiar with those.

Then humanity has finally progressed. It took them long enough.

[ His tone is dry, but not particularly bitter or annoyed. ]

Agreed. But... well, it was either that, or extinction. And I guess we just weren't done yet.

[ Jim sure isn't. Although regardless of the time period, humanity will always be something he'll be proud to be a part of. Flaws and all. ]

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