exsilium | voice.

[Peter is ... angry. Angry is a good word for it, because he's mixed up, he's confused, and he's hating that he's hearing what's going on. Threats of torture? Maybe they were said in anger—and he's definitely done stupid things in anger himself—but that's not helping. But all he's seeing is a weird understanding that maybe SHIELD had the right idea by taking the reins back home, because this is what happens when people are left to their own devices.

Then again, SHIELD isn't really good at keeping the psychologically unstable types off the street. He knows that all too well, too. SHIELD also probably doesn't give a damn if people are infighting as long as they've got buttons to push and to control in the process.

He debates responding to Sofiya's commentary instead, but he has some sweeping questions that need to be answered.]

Have any of you ever read Lord of the Flies? Or ... I dunno, Battle Royale? The really terrifying thing about these books is the idea of humans going out and hunting one another. That we're a game. There was a guy on TV a year or so ago who decided he was gonna go after Spider-Man. It was stupid, but he thought that he'd make big ratings because he'd be able to take down this guy that everyone was calling a masked menace. Of course, as you should know right up front, Spider-Man's a good guy. Not a good guy as in let's-all-be-friends-with-Spider-Man, but he definitely isn't out there to hurt anyone, he's just wearing the mask for a reason ... he's a vigilante, but not the type that hurts people to prove something. Or kills. None of that. No bullets, no necks snapped, none of it.

[There's a pause where he breathes out, because that was a lot of quick babbling with very few pauses.]

If you can't make the connection from my well-placed pop culture references or my babbling about Spider-Man, what I'm seeing here is a lot of infighting. People are hurting each other and disagreeing over how we're meant to do this. People are talking about the law, but honestly, what law? We're locking people up because it's generally what is deemed the right thing, but none of us really know what we're doing. I mean, I've seem some crappy cops in my time, and believe me. You guys need some work.

Uh, but no offense, because I'm not here to criticize everyone. That's just gonna create even more infighting amongst us.

But I do think that all of us sitting down and agreeing we're in over our heads is a good place to start. Got it. You sitting yet? Actually, I bet you're turning this off, which fine, suit yourself.

What's happening is that we're going all Lord of the Flies on one another. We're going all rated-R Survivor to ensure that none of us get off this moonbase alive. And above all else, we're being idiots and making this about ourselves. Okay, I don't doubt that the release of those files might be some well-timed emotional manipulation, and I'm a bleeding heart who gives in to that crap. I can't deny it.

And maybe things will stop, but all I see is us redirecting our tensions elsewhere, and honestly, I ... I don't want people to die. I don't want any of that sort of thing to happen. That's my thing. I helped out with the guys who were trying to undo the mutiny's mess because I saw that as a danger to everyone's life. But I think moving forward, we need to try to be a little less Lord of the Flies and a little more boy band.

Don't get what I mean?

Come on, just look at the Backstreet Boys. I bet anything those guys didn't get together all that willingly. But they all stand together in uncomfortable leather pants and continue to sing terrible songs even though they're definitely nearing fifty. They're outliving The Beatles! Except one of the guys left, but that really says something about situations like that. It leaves room for imperfection.

So we can all band together and get really stupid haircuts and manicures and wear leather pants and ...

My point is, can we try to work together a little more? Just maybe? And instead of remarking on all of the above, let's hear some suggestions moving forward. You might think it's not the time, but I'd rather stop this from escalating.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

As well as Lokis. Let's start at the beginning, eh? The text called it The Siege of Asgard.

Okay, good! I've the abridged version right here in my mind!

[he straightens his voice for a moment.]

It was a bit before I happened, so the tome that contained the story I've only witnessed in story-form. Letters and letters and letters and such and such. After the destruction of the gods there was a period of rebirth! So Thor put Asgard there, on Midgard! We had a box that received Midgardian post and everything! Er ...

But there was a bit of a mix-up and there were those that felt that the gods should not be among those on Earth, sooo ... Mister Osborn felt it was best to wage an unwelcome explosion party to get us to go back. Partly Loki's fault, er ... Not me! Other-Loki!

... Um, thus this specific fellow was ... Ah, how do I put this? ... Someone who rivaled all the gods. The text called him the Void, though my brother called him something different. Mister Osborn beseeched this Void fellow to destroy Asgard. Thor was there, he was fighting. All the Midgardian heroes were! But the Void destroyed Asgard. Boom! To bits! ... Loki too.

A lot of things happened because of it, but Asgard became Asgardia and rose again.

Who would have known that you also had an evil Normal Osborn.

Okay, back up for a second.

You do have an evil Loki but that evil Loki is mysteriously not you?

Backingupbackingupback—oh.

That one blew himself up in the Siege of Asgard trying to halt it after-the-fact. The bit where he started it, I suppose.

I ... sorta kinda a little bit came after him. Kinda. I'm the Loki after the blown up Loki. Thor came and got me after my soul took form once again.

[Gods. Like seriously, gods.]

Right.

Okay.

So then that Loki tricked Norman Osborn into doing something he'd do anyway because his name is Norman Osborn and he's evil.

To my understanding, my Evil-Self was the catalyst in the situation. It was opportunity to him, he saw it and took it. It was simple for him to hide his tracks and pass the blame. That's sort of what he did while he was alive.

Our Lokis are different, then. Mine liked to be front and center dressed in designer clothes.

You also told me that he rather liked wars, or rather, being the start of them.

Yeah, such an instigator, that Loki.

Then not so different in some ways.

Yeah.

Too bad you've been stuck with his moniker.

That just means I have to try harder. Save everyone! Not be that guy.

Save everyone?

I've done it before, I dare say that I can do it again.

voice

unmasking - 2013-12-09 02:39 (UTC) - Expand

badnewsboy - 2013-12-09 14:20 (UTC) - Expand

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Yeah. I was there. I mean, not for the— new Asgard. [ what?? this is way above his pay grade ] But when Osborn decided to invade Oklahoma, the Void… all of that.

...

[there's a curious pause, and it's hard to tell what he's thinking.]

Were you?

I've only read of it in text format. Someone kindly cataloged the event in the library of Asgardia.

Sure.

I mean, a lotta people were.

It's not the only time Asgard has hosted so many Midgardian heroes.

What of the looming doom during the descent of the Serpent?

Oh, yeah. I was there for that too. [ Dryly. Like, super dry. ] Thanks for the reminder.

Yes, well, it wasn't a very pleasant time for anyone.

[his voice brightens tho]

You must be one of the Midgardian heroes! Which one? Describe your costume, I'll guess!

I was Captain America.

The costume's a big red-white-and-blue target on your back.

[..............

you can almost here the woosh as it hits his face]

Wait, for real? Really really? Like ... really really really?

[odinsbonesodinsbonesodinsbones.]

I was there too! I was, um, dressed as Loki! Not the nefarious one!

Would anyone wear that get-up if they didn't mean it?

[ ... ]

And… yeah. I'm kinda picking that up. [ Not that he understands any of it. ]

You know, mortals. They're always up for a good time, even cloaked in the threads of Midgardian heroes.

You know my brother, then.

Thor? Yeah.

I mean, a little.

How little is "a little"?

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