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

[spellslots]

I would not recommend teleporting in, darling.

[That definitely sounds like a threat.

But really don't teleport in he has a lot of magic shit set up against that]

[wiccant]

( it does sound like a challenge so it's a good thing he's not the kind of person who rises to bait like that easy. )

I'll walk it. Ice maze, right?

[spellslots]

[Wait is Billy being serious.]

I'm not gonna fight a kid, fake villainy or not.

[wiccant]

( super serious. )

That sounds like admitting defeat to me.

[spellslots]

Or it sounds like I'm not enough of a dick to fight a teenager.

[Lup would kick his ass, for one.]

[wiccant]

Challenges and fighting aren't exactly the same, are they?

( unless it's always on with taako. )

You're the one who said to challenge you.

[spellslots]

I was joking.

[!!]

[wiccant]

That's no fun.

( come on, taako. )

So you're not going to share even if I come waay out there?

[spellslots]

What are you, like, thirteen?

[So close and yet so far. He's bad at ages.]

[wiccant]

Eighteen.

( listen dude he just. really likes magic. )

[spellslots]

Close enough.

[He waves a hand, the closes one eye as he regards Billy through the device, like he's inspecting something.]

And you're what? Not a wizard, I can pick my lot. Sorcerer? Or have you got another word for your shit like half this place does?

[Why can't everyone just stick to classes and make his life easier.]

[wiccant]

Depends on how technical you want to get with it.

( or: how in depth into how weird his heritage is. )

Mutant? But also a witch.

[spellslots]

[Mutant is a word he's been given a couple times, but the first person that comes to mind is Laura]

I thought mutant was a science thing.

[wiccant]

It's genetics, but it doesn't mean those genetic traits can't lead to something more. . magical? I'm a witch, yeah. But I'm a reality warping witch, so it's also a little different.

[spellslots]

[boy what the fuck]

So you're basically a sorcerer, got it.

[Nevermind that was easy, although:]

Is reality warping a big deal? Scratch that, what is reality warping?

[He understands what the two words mean seperately, but he feels like he's missing some context.]

[wiccant]

( as if being a teenager wasn't hard enough. really. )

I change reality with my words. I don't have a set of spells, I just kind of say what I want to happen or what I want to change and it does.

[spellslots]

You coulda just said you're stupid powerful, would've got the message across.

[His tone is light enough, despite the words. Taako has seen enough magic here to not be jealous of people who don't have to worry about spells and spell slots.]

[wiccant]

That's not exactly true.

( which is--still pretty hard to explain. he's got the raw power, it's skill and experience he lacks. and the whole self-restraint thing. )

I've got some power, I guess, but I'm not stupidly powerful. I'm still figuring it out.

[spellslots]

Potential is power, whether or not you're there yet.

[Like Cisco and his multidimensional powers.]

[wiccant]

Which's why I was asking about yours. Everyone's different, but learning about others' limitations and skill sets is still helpful.

[spellslots]

[He figures the supervillain act is long over by now, so.]

I'm a wizard, transmutation expert, probably the most powerful in Fearun.

[wiccant]

( fearun sounds mildly familiar, but: )

So you change things into other things.

[spellslots]

[Taako, who is nothing if not a showboat, mutters something quiet to Loki, and upon receiving an answer hops down from his perch and moves to the ice wall that's serving as the backdrop (the camera, of course, seems to follow him).

After a steadying breath, Taako lays a hand against the ice and it starts to transform, dark blue sapphire spreading from his hand until the entire wall, or at least what's in frame, has been transformed.

He turns back to the camera with a grin.]

That's about the crux of it, yup!