Message in a Bottle

[complicatedliar]

Who: Loki and... you?
What: Getting the lay of the land
When: 5-6 days after people started arriving
Where: Proximal to the fountain, areas nearby
Warnings: None at this time; will update if necessary


It's a sad commentary on Loki's life that this is not the first, second, or even hundredth time he's awoken in a place with no idea where he is or notion how he got there. Until the last few decades, such awakenings had normally involved Thor, Sif, Iofast, and a lot of mead. In more recent times, it had gotten distressingly less about being tricked into drinking too much and more about being kidnapped, or having his mind overtaken by something, or worse.

His first reaction on opening his eyes is to feel frantically at the back of his neck as he sorts things through. No port. And here is his magic, still hot in his blood. And this is most definitely no ruined Proles, despite any outward similarities; the lack of dome makes that abundantly clear even before he gets a good look at the buildings.

And then there's that glowing sphere...

He finds himself up on his feet and touching the thing before he's processed that it might be a bad idea, and that takes his estimate of the situation from one of concern to near-emergency. Even as information floods his brain, unasked for and unwelcome, he's tearing himself away from the thing.

No matter how angry he is, this at least answers a few questions. He has to admit that in the privacy of his own head, even if he hates it. Loki retreats to the top of one of the nearby ruined buildings, hiding in an illusion, in order to brood.

He isn't the only one here. He hears the voices of others, even observes a few from afar. But he has no way of knowing how friendly they might be. Are there others from home about? Others from Proles? He can hardly dare hope. But standing in the square and shouting Hello is most certainly not his style. And this place appears to lack the convenient internet of Earth or network of Proles, which had made anonymously testing the waters much safer. His bread and butter is paranoia, and nothing that's happened to him in recent years has done anything but strengthen that feeling.

So, best to leave a calling card and see who might pick it up.


He waits until the square is deserted and returns to the fountain. It seems the best source of fresh water, so it will no doubt be visited often by whomever is around. After some consideration, he's decided that the assumption that most of the people he's observed are some format of human seems fair, so that's the best language to address his message in.

Using a bit of magic, he leave the following emblazoned on one edge of the fountain:
~ LINGORMR

Then he retreats back to his observational post to see what happens, again cloaked and hidden. The magical effect of it is obvious to anyone who has the skill; it would do well for him to see what compatriots--or enemies--he might have around.


[ooc note: the equation is the time-dependent, one-dimensional version of Schrödinger's equation.]

Comments

[complicatedliar]

That's an interesting reaction. The boy obviously understood the magic about his message. And he doesn't seem to be hostile--though that's no guarantee, of course. After a moment of consideration, Loki decides it's worth seeing how this might play out. He lets the spell that's kept him invisible drop away where he stands on the edge of the building's roof. It's entirely delibrate that he's positioned himself to have this world's sun at his back as well--though really, it's a defensive issue and not just him being a flashy bastard.

Well, a bit of a flashy bastard.

Loki spreads out his hands, as if to say, Well?

[wearingthestars]

The reveal makes Billy's lips curl despite himself. Whatever anger and resentment he still feels, part of his is still glad to see Loki. Even if this isn't his Loki. He's familiar though, one of many possibilities he saw when aging up Kid Loki.

"...Bit flashy," he notes, floating up to put them on something of a more level playing field, though he keeps some distance between them. "Have you been hiding out since we arrived?"

[complicatedliar]

"Only a bit? I ought to try harder." He shows his teeth in a brief grin. It's actually rather nice to see someone else using magic around, particularly someone who didn't immediately try to kill him. They might have something to talk about. "I only arrived a few hours ago. Have I been fashionably late?"

[wearingthestars]

"Almost a week?" he guesses, trying to think back, "I think you might have missed the fashionable part and just be late late."

He pauses then, looking him over. "...Billy," he supplies finally, gesturing to himself. It's rather obvious by now that he's familiar with Loki, but from what he can gather it's not mutual. "You planning to stay up here 'til someone figures out your equation, or you going to join the rest of us at some point?"

[complicatedliar]

Loki waves a hand airily. "Everything I do is fashionable."

That Billy offers his name and doesn't indicate he needs one in return answers another question. Billy obviously know some Loki, though it's interesting that they apparently haven't had a hostile relationship. Maybe there's hope in some other universes, after all. Loki introduces himself anyway, since there's a point to that as well. "Loki, son of Frigga."

He shrugs one shoulder. "I don't expect anyone to solve it." It's not really a solving sort of equation, more of an open invitation. "I prefer to take the temperature of a party before making a grand entrance."

It's kept him mostly in one piece.

[wearingthestars]

That at least is difference enough to get a curious tilt of Billy's head. He's familiar with the horrible relationship Loki has with Odin, it's not a surprise exactly, but still interesting.

"So, I have to ask, given your track record- Which kind of grand entrance are you planning on making? The fun kind or the destructive kind?" Or both. Could be both. There's a wary expression on his face then, and a sort of guilt too, like part of him feels bad for assuming. But given the plot his own Loki had pulled Billy can't help but question.

[complicatedliar]

Loki tilts his head to one side inquiringly and asks, his voice becoming dangerously sweet, "Oh, and what is my track record, Billy?"

He has long since grown tired of bearing the sins of a goat-killing idiot. Particularly now that he's not struggling along in a sad, weak, all-too-human body that compells him to make alliances, he doesn't feel the need to swallow his ire on it now.

[wearingthestars]

"Mm, well, in my world at least- countless attempts to take over Earth. And uh, more personally and...recently, you became my friend, while simultaneously plotting to set a magic eating parasite on me, arguably to better situate yourself as my protector, but that totally back fired, so...yeah," he gives a half shrug and an uncertain sort of smile. He still wants to trust him, but it's hard.

[complicatedliar]

Loki gives Billy A Look. It's one he learned at his mother's knee, observing her during court functions. It's a look that clearly states, 'I am far too polite to point out how rude you are being. For now.' But his tone is gentle as he says, "I believe we have already established that I am not of your world."

[wearingthestars]

Billy does at least have the grace to flush under that look, glancing away. Fresh wound. It's hard not to assume. But he nods with a faintly guilty look.

"...Sorry." He palms uncertainly at the back of his neck before offering a small smile, "You wanna come down and meet everyone, or you going to stay up here and see how the fountain thing plays out?"

[complicatedliar]

Mental note that Billy seems quite susceptible to that sort of Look.

He waves a hand lightly. Better to be magnanimous in moments like these. He's already working on building the most useful image of himself, a mostly subconscious act. "The multiverse tends to make everything overly complicated."

He considers. Billy isn't going to lead him into some sort of trap; he feels he has a decent read on the young man now. "If it is safe to do so. I'm not that dedicated to striking dramatic poses."

[wearingthestars]

Oh, so very susceptible.

Billy smiles, very recently aware of just how complicated the multiverse can make things, and he nods in agreement.

"Should be," he promises, "None of us asked to be here, no one should try anything." And if they do, Billy's prepared to jump to his defense until such time as this Loki proves to be unworthy of such.

[complicatedliar]

"I often get mistaken for someone I'm not," he says. "It's gotten a bit... spicy in the past." There's a limit to the solidarity of the abducted. But he also is not an easy opponent. He'd rather just not be forced into revealing how competent he might be.

"What is needful at the moment for the group?" he asks. It's another way to deliberately set himself apart.

[wearingthestars]

"I can imagine," Billy agrees with a small smirk, considering. "People have got food figured out or the short term, but we're still trying to figure out power, and running water and all that fun stuff. Cleaning up and moving debris from the hotel to try and make it more like home...if your magic isn't too stunted you could help a lot, I'm sure."

[complicatedliar]

"I haven't really tried to do anything difficult yet," he remarks. Better to save his energies and all that. "Have you found yourself in difficulties?"

Because if so, that's definitely worth knowing. This is still definitely better than having no magic at all, but he might have to be more careful...

"I can look at the power issues and see if it is such that I can make a fix," he allows after a moment of thought. Because cleaning? Ugh. Especially for other people. The problem is, he's not necessarily one for repair. He can create things decently, if he takes the time and energy, but he's always been so much better at breaking them.