Comfortably but not overly full thanks to the lovely Midgard invention known as the waffle, Loki felt like he was acting ever so slightly less when he forced himself to be pleasant to the nurse. He even asked her how he might acquire some paper and a pen of some sort, since that would be necessary for explaining the ideas he had thought of to Soma. The nurse was good enough to briefly take him back to his room so he could pick up the a notebook and a few pens. The quality of the paper and writing instruments was questionable, but anything would do in a pinch
( ... )
That was interesting, that she'd known from the start. He wondered how his life might have been different, if Odin and Frigga hadn't hidden the truth from him. Could he have found some pride? Or would growing up surrounded by people who thought him a monster been ultimately more poisonous? Thinking about it was too distracting, something best left for another time when he didn't need to keep his mask so firmly in place
( ... )
"It's the same thing, isn't it?" The words left her mouth before she could stop herself. "No matter what they use you for."
There were too many of them here, people like her and Rapunzel and now Lingormr. And--and Allelujah, when it came to it. If she had to admit it. "Can I ask you something, Lingormr?" she asked after a moment. "What did you do, when you found out about it?"
The world he was from must be a strange one indeed, like something out of a fantasy or a fairy tale. Even after so many days here, the idea of magic being a significant force in anyone's world was still a little hard to grasp. An ancient Sweden with machines powered by magic...it wasn't something she could picture easily.
"I agree," she said promptly. It was true, wasn't it? Even if she didn't consider a scholar by a stretch of the imagination, most of her free time between missions had been spent analyzing the last battle or discussing politics with the lieutenant colonel. "What sort of technology did they use in Svealand?"
He made a small, surprised sound, eyes widening. He was used to the contest of 'whose pain is worse' and 'your problem isn't so bad compared to mine.' Not this. His lips made a thin, bitter line, which no amount of effort could turn into a smile. "I was angry. Angrier than I thought myself capable of feeling," he said with a hollow voice, after a long moment of his thoughts churning uselessly. "When I talk of leaving... that is what drove me
( ... )
Rapunzel, thought Soma wryly, would probably have hugged Lingormr at the look in his eyes right then and there. Soma, who was both considerably more cautious of new acquaintances and infinitely less likely to display her emotions so openly, only nodded quietly in understanding
( ... )
(Sorry for the super long reply!)complicatedliarDecember 5 2011, 17:23:27 UTC
Loki chuckled dryly. "The end of a war has little to do with the declaration of peace, I think." It was more likely to come from the eventual annihilation of one side. "When you found out?" he asked quietly, though he quickly added, "Though I do not mean to pry into something painful." One corner of his mouth twisted up into something smile-like. "It is my hope that true escape is possible, though only time will tell." But he was determined that it would not be easy for anyone who looked for him. He would not return to Asgard quietly. "And this place to me seems like an odd sort of reprieve, for all its dangers
( ... )
"It was a doctor here who told me that the people who created me had also built my personality. That I had been built to serve as an obedient soldier in every way possible." That was about as far as she was willing to tell him; Marie was a secret better kept with her close friends. "But escape has to be possible. If they found a way to bring us here, there must be a way to take us back."
She edged closer as Lingormr described the ciphers, listening intently. The ciphers were quite simple in nature, but they provided the option of discussing weightier matters on the board without having to come up with awkward turns of phrase, and that could prove valuable in time.
"It sounds to me as if the second option would work best. Arts and Crafts has never had a problem passing its messages around, but if security increases--as it might, considering Landel's recent return to power--something like this might be extremely helpful."
"A doctor here?" Loki's eyebrows went up. He supposed it would make sense, that the people here would know relevant details about them, considering they'd gone to the trouble of abducting them. Still... he frowned, not liking where that train of thought lead. "Built you personality," he murmured. "Though obviously, Soma, whatever the intent of those who created you, you are an independent actor. Still, that is a horrible thought." He nodded. "And I would agree. While it's possible to create... doorways that only go one way, I would be most surprised if that was the case." He smiled, a little slyness peeking through. "And new doorways can always be made
( ... )
Lingormr's comment about new doorways gave her pause. There were people here who were supposed to be dead--people who didn't exist in their own worlds. Would it be possible to give them new homes, too? It wasn't as if her own world was perfect, but with the new peace it was likely better than most. "It might be likely," she allowed, not really willing to let herself hope. "That would be interesting, in any case. I know I'd like to see some of the worlds my friends have told me about."
Soma glanced down at the rune on the page again. "I think that would be a good idea. I wouldn't mind testing it out with you on the board when you're done."
She nodded almost immediately. Lingormr wasn't a warrior by his own admission, but Arts and Crafts wasn't like History Club. "I think you'd do well with us, to be honest. We'll take all the help we can get, and we need people who can think just as much as people who can fight. Sometimes more. There's a lot going on at night that we don't really understand
Travel between realms was no simple feat, obviously. Asgard had to use the Bifrost for it, and he'd had to put a lot of effort forth to find his own way around. Still, it was an extremely interesting problem. Idly, Loki sketched out a diagram for a regular teleportation spell in the margin of the notebook, a few notations here and there for where it might be modified. He would likely have plenty of time to consider the problem. And it wasn't as if he could test any theories without access to his magic anyway
( ... )
"We've long since discovered that no matter how far we go at night, we're always returned to our beds come morning. The nearest town is hours away by foot, but even that's under Landel's influence."
Soma shook her head. "We talk about escape, but it's pretty obvious that any form of escape really starts here. Some of us discovered last night that our captors are holding our abilities in check with some sort of device, and it's breakable. It stands to reason that we're being brought back here night after night by something similar, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's right here in the Institute. Once we find that, finding the key to getting home shouldn't be far away."
As far as she could tell, it sounded as if he would do just fine in Arts and Crafts. He was quick-thinking and eager to help, and he was bearing up under the shock remarkably well. She nodded, offering a faint smile in return. "I look forward to trying it out. And it's good to have you, Lingormr."
Loki nodded. "It only stands to reason that if he has a device of such power that it can steal a person across time and space, there will be other devices that he uses to accomplish similar monumental tasks. So the key is gaining control of those devices, and then one will have the freedom to do... anything, really." He laughed. "Well, not quite anything. Out of curiousity, has anyone seen this Landel? Spoken with him in person? And I suppose it is unknown how the device came to be disrupted?"
It felt nice to hear those words coming from someone, though Loki was quick to remind himself that it was directed at the fiction that he'd woven. Still, unexpectedly pleasant, and he couldn't help but smile. "I hope that I will live up to expectations."
Soma nodded. "He made an appearance a few days ago in the Sun Room, from what I hear. I wasn't there, but there should be several people here who saw him. And he turned up once before...more than a month ago, if I remember correctly. That was before I arrived. I don't know how many people are still here who were there back then, but they say they were able to speak with him then. You could try the bulletin board."
She glanced down, frowning slightly in thought. "I was there last night, and yet...I'm not certain what happened. Only that the device was a small medal no bigger than my fist, and that it can be got at somehow."
The intercom sounded, and Soma's smile widened slightly as her nurse closed in. "I don't doubt you will. Take care, Lingormr, and maybe I'll see you tonight."
Loki made a couple of quick notes on a random page of his notebook. "I shall inquire around as time permits, then." The bulletin board had its uses, but this seemed more the sort of project best pursued in person, where more pointed questions could be asked. "Hm. Such a small object. Most interesting." That made it seem likely it was a key or remote control of some sort, more than anything. Unless the technology was very interesting here. "Though that does open up all sorts of fascinating possibilities."
He smiled at her in return, and gave her a very subtle bow. "If luck is with me. I shall hope."
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There were too many of them here, people like her and Rapunzel and now Lingormr. And--and Allelujah, when it came to it. If she had to admit it. "Can I ask you something, Lingormr?" she asked after a moment. "What did you do, when you found out about it?"
The world he was from must be a strange one indeed, like something out of a fantasy or a fairy tale. Even after so many days here, the idea of magic being a significant force in anyone's world was still a little hard to grasp. An ancient Sweden with machines powered by magic...it wasn't something she could picture easily.
"I agree," she said promptly. It was true, wasn't it? Even if she didn't consider a scholar by a stretch of the imagination, most of her free time between missions had been spent analyzing the last battle or discussing politics with the lieutenant colonel. "What sort of technology did they use in Svealand?"
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She edged closer as Lingormr described the ciphers, listening intently. The ciphers were quite simple in nature, but they provided the option of discussing weightier matters on the board without having to come up with awkward turns of phrase, and that could prove valuable in time.
"It sounds to me as if the second option would work best. Arts and Crafts has never had a problem passing its messages around, but if security increases--as it might, considering Landel's recent return to power--something like this might be extremely helpful."
Reply
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Lingormr's comment about new doorways gave her pause. There were people here who were supposed to be dead--people who didn't exist in their own worlds. Would it be possible to give them new homes, too? It wasn't as if her own world was perfect, but with the new peace it was likely better than most. "It might be likely," she allowed, not really willing to let herself hope. "That would be interesting, in any case. I know I'd like to see some of the worlds my friends have told me about."
Soma glanced down at the rune on the page again. "I think that would be a good idea. I wouldn't mind testing it out with you on the board when you're done."
She nodded almost immediately. Lingormr wasn't a warrior by his own admission, but Arts and Crafts wasn't like History Club. "I think you'd do well with us, to be honest. We'll take all the help we can get, and we need people who can think just as much as people who can fight. Sometimes more. There's a lot going on at night that we don't really understand
Reply
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Soma shook her head. "We talk about escape, but it's pretty obvious that any form of escape really starts here. Some of us discovered last night that our captors are holding our abilities in check with some sort of device, and it's breakable. It stands to reason that we're being brought back here night after night by something similar, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's right here in the Institute. Once we find that, finding the key to getting home shouldn't be far away."
As far as she could tell, it sounded as if he would do just fine in Arts and Crafts. He was quick-thinking and eager to help, and he was bearing up under the shock remarkably well. She nodded, offering a faint smile in return. "I look forward to trying it out. And it's good to have you, Lingormr."
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It felt nice to hear those words coming from someone, though Loki was quick to remind himself that it was directed at the fiction that he'd woven. Still, unexpectedly pleasant, and he couldn't help but smile. "I hope that I will live up to expectations."
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She glanced down, frowning slightly in thought. "I was there last night, and yet...I'm not certain what happened. Only that the device was a small medal no bigger than my fist, and that it can be got at somehow."
The intercom sounded, and Soma's smile widened slightly as her nurse closed in. "I don't doubt you will. Take care, Lingormr, and maybe I'll see you tonight."
Reply
He smiled at her in return, and gave her a very subtle bow. "If luck is with me. I shall hope."
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