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]

Oh, fuck no. I mean - listen, a little effort wouldn't fuck kill some of you, but anyone who tries to outdo me is gonna die, for sure.

[That's just the rules.]

[ragnarsson]

That definitely won't be me. If I ever wear an outfit remotely similar to that, you can be sure I've got a concussion.

[Someone needs to liven up this Viking's fashion sense. He's still dressing in the eighth-century fashion he was wearing when he first came here.]

[spellslots]

I'll keep an eye out for any dramatic dresses in your future, if I'm ever worried about your mental state.

[debatable.]

[ragnarsson]

Please. Everyone else here already assumes I'm some form of crazy.

[Well, he is, but not in the way most everyone thinks. Ivar may act like a crazy, bloodthirsty Viking, but there's more going on under the surface than people think.]

[spellslots]

[Taako, who has a self-preservation instinct, doesn't ask you aren't?]

Is it cause of all the threats of stabbing?

[ragnarsson]

Perhaps. But for all those threats, I've only fulfilled them a very select number of times.

[Mainly if the person's name happened to be Jamie Dodger.]

[spellslots]

Probably more times than they're generally fans of here.

[Taako, personally, doesn't care that much. He's used to a world where the occasional murder is easy enough to sweep under the rug, where it's expected that a fight means to the death.

But he's also aware that it isn't quite as acceptable here.]

[ragnarsson]

They’re too soft here. Every so often, you just need to take off someone's ear to keep them in line.

[But for all the attempts Ivar has made, he actually has yet to kill anyone.]