video; @fromTV (with bonus Loki)

[spellslots]

[The scene: the central room of the ice maze, cleared of gifts and drinks, replaced by an oversized throne that looks as though it belongs in some nightmare castle. On the throne sits Loki, in full Asgardian regalia, while Taako has managed to find a perch on the side of the throne, legs dangling off the side lazily, with an arm draped around Loki’s shoulders. He has no regalia to fall back on, so he’s gone for something black and striking, to match the theme of this little spectacle and to not clash horribly with Loki; his hair is braided tightly and his long nails are tipped with silver jewellery that he likely stole from Rin. In the background, there are faint sounds of panic; no screams yet, but questioning, worried voices, the sounds of people who are just starting to realize they should be afraid.]

Citizens of Riverview, [ Loki speaks in a low, lazy drawl that does nothing to hide the menace and power in his voice. ] We have lost our patience with you. So we will be taking over your charming little city. Freedom, after all, is life’s great lie. We will bring order to your messy lives.

[In contrast to Loki’s almost lazy indifference, Taako’s grin is sharp, a slight manic edge to his tone.]

Let’s not be too generous, calling it charming is a stretch and we could do so much better for ourselves, like say, the Capital World. We’re fucking sick and tired of playing nice with a bunch of idiots who wouldn’t know magical power if it bit them in the ass, but maybe the rest of this universe will have some more sense. Which is where-- [In the background, someone screams something about being let out, and Taako sighs deeply.] I wasn’t fucking finished.

[He raises a hand and what looks like black lightning seems to crackle over his fingers, spreading out across the ice and off screen as the background sounds fall deathly silent.]

I know they say to never work with children or animals, but honestly, it’s people that really get to you. [He pauses, lifts a shoulder in a lazy what can you do? sort of shrug] As I was saying, what we need from you is a shuttle to get off this shithole once we're done here.

Comply with our demands . . . or else the rest of you will suffer the same fate that befall those who rebel against us. Succumb to your natural state, your desire for subjugation.

[ As if on cue, a few sparrows fly past them, frost already spreading on their wings. ]

Comments

[fiercestwarrior]

Oh, I know he is. But really it comes down to how much you feel like lying to me today, I think.

[spellslots]

I wouldn't dream of lying to you, that's Loki's title.

[But because he... doesn't want to push this too far with a new friend, he also sends a quick private text.]

We're just messing around, pumpkin, it was a joint decision to do something kinda stupid

[fiercestwarrior]

[ And he will get one back. ]

And you are aware of just how similar this is to Loki's past behaviour?

[spellslots]

Vaguely?

[They don't talk about the Joss Whedon times]

[fiercestwarrior]

He is only slightly more sparkly in your version.

[spellslots]

Should I have added even more sparkles? I did consider it

[fiercestwarrior]

Perhaps. It would, however, remain a bad joke.

[spellslots]

I got kinda sick of people assuming just cause I've got magic I'm evil, so, might as well go for it

[fiercestwarrior]

Our queen was an extraordinary sorceress, and I would personally evicerate anyone who ever dared to call her evil.

[spellslots]

I could write you a list

[There's like three people on it, he's being a baby]

[fiercestwarrior]

Perhaps when we have known each other for a few centuries.

[spellslots]

Elves do live that long, so hey, maybe

[fiercestwarrior]

My friendship once earned tends to be quite durable.

[spellslots]

Does that mean you're not super mad at the dumb joke?

[fiercestwarrior]

Sometimes, I get very angry with people I care for.

Just ask Thor and Loki.

[spellslots]

I think you're pretty cool, too

[because that's basically what she admitted, right?]

[fiercestwarrior]

[ More or less. Don't tell Loki she still cares tho. ]

I actually don't get cold very easily.

[spellslots]

Was that a joke or a slang thing?

[fiercestwarrior]

Not a joke. The other thing.

[spellslots]

Oh, it means like, great? Awesome?
Those kinda things

[fiercestwarrior]

In that case I am pretty cool yes.

As are you, when you are not making light of your friend's past as a vicious conqueror.

[spellslots]

In my defense, we don't really talk about any conquering Loki may or may not have done

[fiercestwarrior]

I do not know much, the Bifrost was inopperable at the time because of Loki's previous scheme.

That one involved destroying a realm rather than conquering it.

[spellslots]

He tried to destroy a realm?

[fiercestwarrior]

Jotunheim, the realm of frost giants. We had been at war with them in the past, and the peace was always an uneasy one.

Loki tried to use the bifrost, our bridge between worlds, to wipe the world out. Thor had to destroy the bridge in order to stop him.