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

[somakemelaugh]

[He hasn't had a chance to use his currency of laughter in a good, long while, but he'll remember this. Credit doesn't expire in the bank of Undertaker.]

Ah, do tell me. What brought all that on? Are you really so tired of a less hectic life or is it just boredom?

[spellslots]

Pretty much just the boredom, maybe a little bit of feeling vindictive about people thinking we're evil just cause we've got magic, but you know.

[Clearly playing into a stereotype is the way to deal with that problem.]

[somakemelaugh]

[Really?]

Just because you use magic? People think you evil because of that? [Well, he's screwed.] What is this world coming to? You'd think we have problems enough as it is.

[spellslots]

I can agree that it's the stupidest thing ever. No one ever takes issue with like, dipshits running around with swords cause their mom got stabbed once, but a single magic user doing something fucked up ruins it for the rest of us.

[honestly. double standards.]

[somakemelaugh]

[That just doesn't sound right. What even.]

I don't mean to imply that I don't believe you, but where has this been happening? Who does it? Might be high time for a talking to.

[spellslots]

Oh, I'm not a snitch.

[Well, debatable, depending on the circumstances, but in this case he's not interested in starting shit.]

It's pretty obvious if you go looking for it.

[somakemelaugh]

No? Didn't realize they were acquaintances of yours. [Or at least, that's what he wondered.] I've no mind to harm them, if there's your concerns. I haven't seen anything like it myself in this world, but I could be looking in the wrong places.

[Then again, he didn't really know any magic users personally save himself, and what he did, while not human or natural, wasn't magic of any kind.] Maybe I just know the wrong people for it.

[spellslots]

[Regardless of whether they're acquantainces or not doesn't really matter.]

Do you often do flashy and probably unecessary magic, cause that'd be part of your problem?

[Taako often does flashy and unecessary magic, so - that gets attention.]

[somakemelaugh]

Mm, can't say that I do, but I don't run into many who do.

[And he hasn't seen these two much at all.]