1st Strike [Video]

[godofpancakes]

[The video opens on a large blond man, shirtless, staring with open confusion at the PORTAL. He pokes at the screen, then looks over at the mirror, a frown starting to tug at the corners of his mouth.

He appears to think this is audio, not video.]I have been informed that this is a dream, yet I can not seem to wake up

Comments

[video]

[forbastards]

My brother, I am cleft in twain.

It makes my heart leap to see you here and know that I am not alone in this land, but I am also wounded to know you are trapped here as well.

[video]

[godofpancakes]

Loki--you are--

[And his face--oh he has never been good at hiding things from you, has he?

There is a mixture of shock, then worry, pain...but then it all fades away to some bright joy. To know you are alive. To know that you are happy to see him--wounded even.

He must truly be dreaming, because the Loki that fell...]

--you're here. Where--where did you come from?

[You fell....]

Re: [video]

[forbastards]

I was leaving my quarters, to go find you, and then I was here.

[He pauses, as if to reign in his emotions. Loki has never been fond of being too expressive.]

I would see you in person, to know that you are my brother and not some new phantom brought here to wound me.

[video]

[godofpancakes]

...really?

[He sounds astonished but--but this is good. Wonderful, even. A second chance to make things right. To fix the neglect and...inequality that he somehow made happen.

He knows nothing of the truth, Loki. Odin still hasn't told him.]

I am right here, brother. Or I could come to you. Whatever you prefer.

[A pause, thick emotion in a sincere voice.]

I have no desire to wound you.

[video]

[forbastards]

Come here, to the garden, and we will talk. I will break bread and share what I've learned with you.

[Loki writes out a quick and easy to follow map and sends that through to Thor.]

[video]

[godofpancakes]

I will be there soon, dear brother.

Wait for me.

[Thor gives him another nod, and a smile, and then heads out.]

[ACTION :o ]

[forbastards]

From the outside, Loki's place of solace should look quite familiar to Thor. It's a walled off corner of the gardens that he claimed as his own to use for practising his illusions. Over the years, it's been all manner of forests and meadows (and one memorable instance as a coral reef), growing in complexity and realism to the point that the 'trees' inside his garden are practically identical to real, old growth pines.

The gate is unlocked and there is a pathway that leads through the forest to a rough hewn stone table flanked by granite seats and topped with a bowl of apples, a jar of honey, and a loaf of black bread. Wearing a simple golden mask, Loki has taken one of the chairs and is reading a book, waiting for Thor's arrival.

[ACTION]

[godofpancakes]

Thor, for himself, is wearing his simple metal helmet, with a piece added to the bridge. It doesn't cover much (and is not much of a mask), but it was what he had been provided with. It is familiar, safe. In this world, where everything has already turned upside down, it is something to grasp a hold of

[ACTION forevs]

[forbastards]

"I have been here days, brother. Weeks, maybe? And I have not waited in idleness for a moment," he replies, his smile bright and sharp as he closes the book with a snap. "I have been learning of this world, her peoples, and of the other travellers here. Did you know, there's one who claims to be my daughter? What a horror."

Rationally, Loki knows that the best chance of survival he has in this strange land is to remain on good terms with his so-called brother. Were he to admit his fault in the breaking of Bifrost, it would put them at arms and force a distance upon them that they can ill afford.

[ACTION forevs]

[godofpancakes]

"Good--that's good." Thor doesn't mean that he has been here that long, of course, but that he has not been idle. He hopes that Loki understands. He knows now so much of the expanse that has pulled between them. One that seems to at least have some form of bridge, now.

"Hel. I have met her as well." He frowns slightly, moving closer, finally reaching out to place a heavy hand on a lean shoulder. Confirmation he is real, and very much alive.

"You will have to tell me of what you know. Your gift for planning was always better than my own." Perhaps Loki has insight on how to get them out.

[forbastards]

With the weight of Thor's hand on his shoulder, Loki closes his eyes and stills; lying to everyone is easy, but lying to himself is easier still but all the more dangerous.

"Two things first: there are more worlds than the nine we know of and time does not flow the same on all of them, some are ahead, some behind, others nothing like anything we could imagine and most are variations on the theme of Midgard, and second, all this land, is a dream and just as a dream, you can alter small things about it. If you wish to have something to go on the bread I have brought, picture the perfect smoked whitefish in your mind, remember its taste, the weight, and then will it into being."

A pause.

"But don't drop it on the ground when it appears."

[godofpancakes]

Thor notices Loki's reaction--it sends a shot through him, again of hope. Not a shrugging off, not a sneer. Something calm and stilling. Giving a squeeze, he lets his hand fall away, moving to face the table and the food on top of it

[forbastards]

"It's not sorcery, not in the way I know and use it. It's something else entirely." There's an undercurrent of repressed curiosity in his voice. As much as he loathes being pulled away from what he'd rather be doing, Loki can't deny that this place does give him something to do besides go mad while falling through space.

Madder, perhaps.

"It will taste the way you remember and is as real as anything else here. Troubling, isn't it?" It would be best not to ask what else Loki has already tried to make.

[godofpancakes]

"It is, especially if it is unknown to you." Thor looks over at Loki, his eyes saying more than he probably wishes to. "You are the best sorcerer Asgard has known."

He turns away, and moves to cut them both some bread, as well as the fish, placing a plate in front of Loki. Yes, he is serving himself, he has manners. Jane has taught him a great deal--all of his new friends have. He no longer takes things for granted, that he once might have.

"Have you heard of a way out, yet. I was told that I should speak to the King and Queen. That they might request me an audience."

[forbastards]

"Not yet, brother. I still have much to learn and will continue my studies once we are free of this place." Perhaps, he will be able to leave this realm for Midgard or any one of the other worlds he knows -- it might be wise to spend some time studying foreign magics before returning to Asgard.

"They might, but I fear they are not kings and queens as we know them. She forces the mask on us, he removes our power to speak at sunset. Capricious beings, aren't they?"

[godofpancakes]

Thor nods, trying to mask his surprise when he dug into the food, finding it to be indeed as good as Loki had suggest it would be. "I have faith in you--you possess some skills others might envy." He gives Loki a smile, trying to reassure. He is trying his best to give the other assurance, confidence, support--things perhaps he had neglected before. Thor had come to realize in the past months that yes, he had taken Loki for granted. And look what it got them.

"They are--but we have dealt with worst, brother, you and I." Thor gives him a bigger smile, nodding. "We will find a way out."