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[dothelokimotion]

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crumpled up like a letter i never wrote, wondering if hope floats

[massivesword]

[ What Dante was looking for was a weapon. He had heard rumors that there was something in the unfamiliar city that was spiriting people away, and it sounded a lot like a demon's work, so naturally he was going to investigate. A strong enough demon was going to have a weapon worth checking out (and getting the demon away from people wouldn't hurt either). What he found wasn't a demon. It was a door, a shimmer of light in an old wall that somehow let him step through to another place. And suddenly the stories of missing people made a lot of sense, but Dante didn't know where he was. It looked like a cave, dark and made of stone on all sides, but there were parts that seemed build rather than formed. Swinging Rebellion over one shoulder, he walked the paths, searching for light other than the luminescent plants that grew in patches on the walls and floor. It took him a while before he found another person -- a tall man who looked dressed for a show in his opinion -- and Dante walked up to the stranger, sizing him up as he approached. ]

I guess I'm not the only one that got lost. You looking for a way out or just enjoying the sights?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki gives the man a cursory glance, his eyes roving over every detail before he looks away, playing as an uninterested party. He had traveled here of his own volition, looking for a few choice artifacts that might tip the scales in the inevitable conflict that dogs his footsteps. ]

Can't a man do both?

[massivesword]

[ Yup, definitely a show. He's playing it cool, and Dante saunters up with no modesty whatsoever, giving Loki a good look over. ]

Yeah, I guess you could. So, find anything interesting yet? I heard there might be monsters around here. If you did find something good it might attract them.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's lips turn down slightly at the word monster but it barely lasts longer than a second. ]

Not yet. My magic is seeking it out.

[massivesword]

Uh-huh.

[ He catches the shift in expression with the one word, but that's mostly because he's used to looking for it. And it doesn't mean anything. Not yet, at least. Dante tilts his head instead at something more interesting. ]

You know magic?

i told u i was gonna do a thing

[spellslots]

[Sakaar is a deeply shitty planet, but it's one that presents lots of opportunities for people willing to take a few risks and get their hands dirty. Lup and Taako cover those two bases respectively, and while they didn't exactly intend to be here, they're doing their best to make it work before they find a way off the damn planet.

That mostly means a lot of scrapping, but while Lup focuses on that, Taako gets himself work as a chef for the more important people on the planet, and that gives him access to things like the arena. And the arena has places to gamble.

Taako doesn't fuck around with bets on the champion or the other fights, that's all based on how other people perform and he'd rather hold his fate in his own hands. Card games, dice, all that shit is a lot easier to mess around with, and that's exactly what he does. Most of the folks here don't seem to be very familiar with magic, meaning a few simple illusions rake him in plenty of money.

And then someone new turns up, which - fine, whatever, new people show up all the time and normally Taako doesn't give a shit, but a few days in, he realizes that the guy keeps casting the occasional glance his way, at the little illusions that Taako is casting, and he thinks:

fuck.

If new guy can see through his illusions, that's a potential problem; cheating is harshly punished and the last thing Taako needs is someone ratting him out.

So as soon as the game is over, he extracts himself from the table despite complaints (they want a chance to win their money back) and makes his way over to Loki, doing his best to look casual.]

Can I buy you a drink, darling?

[It's an offer of more than that, but he's not about to outright ask what it'll cost for Loki to keep silent about the cheating.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ No one leaves Sakaar. That's what everyone says, but everyone underestimates Loki. Still . . . where would he go? Thor was most likely dead. Asgard would be taken over by his terrifying older sister —

(and doesn't that make him shudder? How many things had Odin from them? How many lies, how many secrets had he buried? Loki never held any illusions about his adoptive father, but even he stood in shock at what was hidden)

— and he was here, the junkyard of the realms. A bit of flattery here and there, a few well-placed illusions to help cement his relationship among the others. Catching the Grandmaster's eye had been . . . well, flattering. A bit uneasy, considering he could melt people but Loki has played with higher stakes. And unlike his brother, the Grandmaster was receptive.

Loki could work with that.

But there was someone else here. Skilled in illusions as well, though Loki still believed he held that edge. He watches the man approach, his gaze roving over him. He glances at the Grandmaster to see his attention was caught elsewhere before replying smoothly. ]

You certainly can.

[spellslots]

[Thank god for a positive response; this could've gone south very quickly if tall, dark and handsome hadn't been receptive to working out some kind of deal, especially because Taako isn't stupid enough to start a fight with the Grandmaster in the room. He's done his best to not get that particular man's attention, he knows when things are over his head.

So - this is definitely a good start, and a little tension eases from Taako's shoulders.]

What's your poison, or do you wanna put the start of your evening in my hands?

[He's flirting for the sake of flirting. It's not that Loki isn't handsome, but right now his focus is on making sure nothing gets fucked up.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki uncurls, a ripple in his form, his eyes cat-light under the glare of Sakaar's rooms. He assesses Taako with a quirk to his lips. ]

Why not? They seem like reputable hands.

[ A jest. No one's hands here were reputable by any means, but Loki was always a fan of irony. ]

[stefanged]

[ The library isn't the most exciting place.

At least, it isn't supposed to be the most exciting place around. Stefan likes ducking in and browsing the shelves for something he hasn't read before - knowledge is power, and honestly, sometimes a good book takes his mind off his troubles. But there's a guy in the nonfiction aisle; someone he's never seen before, and Stefan's been here long enough to know he's new.

He pauses, weighing his options. He could wait, let this guy get his book, and move later. Or he could interrupt.

. . .

Well, time and tide wait for no man, especially no vampire, so Stefan decides on the latter. ]

Um, excuse me. [ He gestures towards the shelf behind the stranger. ] I was just gonna nab the book behind you?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Coming back to Earth was the worst. But they had resources Loki could use, at least. While he is more than proficient in using their computers and other primitive technology, Loki still prefers the library. At the very least, it provides a convenient excuse to get away from Thor's overwhelming need to micromanage everything.

Loki's cool green eyes rove over the stranger before stepping back. ]

You need a book about civil law?

[stefanged]

It's for a class. [ It isn't, but Stefan's grown used to lying like he breathes. He's just the kind of person to keep up with Stuff - and okay, maybe he's heard good things about "Unfair: the Science of Criminal Justice." ] Or, you know, maybe some of us just like reading this kind of stuff in our spare time.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki holds up the book with a wry expression. ]

I was under the impression your species prefers escapism.

[legendary_hands]

No one ever believed him. Space was nothin' but a damn cesspool of danger and irritation. And with the track record of the Enterprise and danger... well, he said goin' and investigating anomalies planet side was a bad idea. Not that Jim ever listened to a damn thing he said. "It'll be fun, he said." Snorting irritatedly, lines furrowed his brow as he tried to get a good look at the world around him.

"Guess we're not in Kansas anymore." Sighing with a bitter sound, he took a moment in the silence to get his bearings. The planet, though class M, seemed to be ravaged by technology. Unstable technology that seemed to have come apart at the seems cause hell, it was a ghost town. And this place? This place looked like the inside of a really big ship or space station. Whatever the case may be. The metal walls were a dead give away, if not for the stark view of space through a small window to one side of the hall. Definitely not the Enterprise either.

Making a soft clicking sound of annoyance, he turned on his communicator and figured it was worth a try. "McCoy to Enterprise." But the dooming silence left him very still, hazel eyes boring into the object in his hand. "That's just great..."

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki had taken a shuttle earlier. To scout other planets. Loki isn't going back to Earth unless he can help it. Thanos will be coming for those stones and he plans on being as far away from that as possible. And if he could do the same with Thor and the rest of Asgard — that would be one fatal problem solved.

( not if Thanos crushes them all into dust )

He kicks the dirt in a huff before noticing a stranger wandering the ruined landscape. As he squints, the visage of the man looks more and more familiar to him. ]

Skurge?

[legendary_hands]

[Slowly closing the communicator, he closes his eyes and lets out a slow exhale of a sigh. No point calling pointlessly into it when he can tell easily that there is no connection at all. Sliding it back into his belt, he reaches for his tricorder instead.

May as well learn a little about his surroundings...

Or, he might've if the sound of something skittering across the floor hadn't pulled his attention immediately to a rather tall figure walking toward him. Taking one step back, it made him turn to face the other and well, that one word just pulls a confused look across his lips and furrows his brow.]

Scourge? That's a bit hasty to be throwin' at people you don't know. [He doesn't like weapons. He doesn't like conflict to be honest. Which was why it's not exactly his first nature to pull his phaser as he looks at the stranger. Was that someone's name? The hell kinda name was that, anyhow? God help that person.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki eyes the man openly, scanning him from head to toe with sharp green eyes. Not Skurge, clearly, though the similarities were disorienting. Skurge, at least, was no threat to Loki, whatever form he may take. ]

Skurge. My . . . minion, so to speak. But it is clear you are not him.

[suckstobestrange]

For once? Stephen wasn't even looking for trouble. He'd repaired another of the Sanctum's doors, and knowing the realm beyond it? Had decided to invite Loki to come with him to check in and ensure that it was still intact after everything that had happened, that none of the Empirikul troops had snuck through to do this place harm. And even without that risk, it was still a place that Stephen enjoyed, a place of wild magic and impossibilities the sort that always served to remind him why he liked magic so much in the first place. And he hoped that Loki would enjoy it as well.

At least that was the plan, which of course went straight to hell when the pair were ambushed. Not by the Inquisitors fanatics thankfully, these things were too dark, too burly, teeth and claws and scales instead of stark whites and cold technology. Not from around here either, he could all but taste the displacement. But for now that was the least of their worries, not with the aggressive attack, or the rather hungry way the pair were being eyed as the creatures did their best to slice the pair open.

Luckily, while the creatures were powerful, they weren't the most intelligent, relying instead on strength, speed, and numbers to keep an advantage. But between Loki and Stephen, they had enough magic to fend the creatures off, which given the spines the beasts sported, made keeping them at arm's length a prudent choice.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki hisses as he barely dodges a slash aimed for his stomach. Eventually he is going to run out of knives. From the corner of his eye, he watches Stephen. Sentiment. His stomach rolls as Loki dodges another keen swipe to his face, blocking the claws with his knives and stumbling back. ]

[suckstobestrange]

[Loki isn't the only one watching. Stephen's keeping an eye on him as well as the pack was finally starting to thin, both from felled creatures as well as some of the more cowardly deciding to make a run for it. Small favors, they seemed to be-

Shit.]

Behind you!

[Even as he shouted he was moving, leaving his axe buried in one of the creatures as he bolted towards his companion. He was strong to be sure, but attacked on both sides there was no way Loki could disengage to avoid the heavy spined arm swinging his way. So Stephen skidded in, catching the blow himself, vision greying at the spines sinking into his side. With a snarl, he grabbed hold to keep it trapped, sending a jolt of magic through it that had the thing screeching in agony as it finally yanked itself free, staggering away.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki whirls, throwing a blade between the creature's eyes before he catches Stephen. The rest of the creatures, blinded and hurt finally leave, tail tucked between their legs. Not that Loki is payin attention anymore. ]

You fool! What possessed you to do that?

[dothelokimotion]

( from here )

I already said I have no such ability. Honestly, when did you get so . . . stupidly affectionate? It's starting to make me worry.

ok

[heynowyouguysarekaputt]

Worry not, Loki, I will just hide it better, next time, and, that's not what I was saying. Oh.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki snorts delicately at that. ]

I doubt you can hide much from me.

[heynowyouguysarekaputt]

I can! For example, I'm still not quite certain why frost giants came to Asgard on the day of my failed coronation, although I have slight suspicions, but unconfirmed, so I won't fling accusations right now, that would be unjust. See, I can hide things, too--

Or not.

[Sigh]