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[dothelokimotion]

( you can reach Loki here )

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[rebuildyourruins]

Yeah... [Thor grimaces, planting his elbows on the desk.] Though it was as difficult as trying to approach the Marsiva itself.

[He doesn't feel he needs to say why. There's only one thing he could be referring to; only one sensation.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki eyes him briefly.

Then he pokes him on the forehead. ]

[rebuildyourruins]

[He immediately smacks Loki's hand away, giving him a mulish look.]

Stop.

[dothelokimotion]

Just checking.

You don't seem to have a temperature.

[rebuildyourruins]

Because I didn't get one. [It's a grouchy response but no less true. With a sigh, he continues.] I was sick for a few hours after leaving. It was nowhere near as bad as our other encounter with the ship.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki hums, noncommittal. ]

Perhaps that was the test ship. The first one before they rolled out a complete model.

[rebuildyourruins]

If it was a test it was a miserable one. The whole thing was half destroyed.

[By time or circumstance, Thor couldn't rightly tell. It was hard keeping a straight head walking into that wreckage.]

I thought we might be able to work something out by seeing the inside, but it was too decrepit to see much of anything.

[dothelokimotion]

So . . . there was nothing?

[rebuildyourruins]

There was more of that black stuff in the middle of the wreck. In a cylinder.

[dothelokimotion]

[ He exhales softly. ]

I should go down there. I might be able to sense something.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor watches Loki for a long moment, weighing up what he knows of the ship and what happened last time.]

The approach isn't terrible until you get near the cylinder itself. [It's not so easy to remember exactly when it started - it seemed like earlier, but belatedly Thor realises he was misremembering it.] I don't know how much can be sensed around - that.

[dothelokimotion]

There's no one else who can.

Castiel is gone.

[rebuildyourruins]

[The surprise is evident on Thor's face.]

Oh.

[He hadn't realised. After this conversation he had intended to send Castiel a message to update him on what they had found. His expression settles into something more subdued, regretting the loss. Not least of all because his last conversation with Castiel had been rather aggravated on his side. Watching Loki now, there's another reason to regret it.]

I didn't know. How long ago?

[dothelokimotion]

A week ago. Clark is gone as well.

[ It still feels like a slap in the face. But honestly, it shouldn't. Sentiment just drags you down. Loki sees the way it affects the rest of the Fleet like poison. He won't get dragged down with it. ]

[rebuildyourruins]

[And another he had liked. Thor exhales slowly, adding those names to two others. Peggy and Steve. Steve is less of a concern to him, since he'll see the man again. The rest? It seems unlikely. He's been fortunate enough that until now, the only departure that really bothered him was Loki's.

Which brings him back to the fact that Loki is even mentioning it at all.]

It's a shame. They were good people. [He rests his chin on his fist, pensive.] But hopefully they've returned home.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki eyes Thor's reaction before he huffs quietly. ]

I'm sure they have.

[rebuildyourruins]

Peggy and Steve are gone as well.

[dothelokimotion]

Ah . . . You didn't say.

[rebuildyourruins]

It was more recent.

[And he assumes Loki doesn't much care if Steve's gone.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Steve who. ]

I wonder what it means.

[rebuildyourruins]

It means - [He gets to his feet, putting his hands on his hips] - that we keep going with what Castiel started.

[Thor's not going to drop that ball just because Castiel, the instigator, is now gone. It might not be the real purpose behind their disappearances, but he intends to think that way.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ His expression cracks briefly before Loki smooths it over. ]

All right. We might as well see it through.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor wasn't that close to Castiel. He respects the man enough though to not let go of the information they managed to gather, and keep rattling cages until he gets some more. It's the best way to move forward.

Coming around the desk and clapping a hand to Loki's shoulder, he only hopes Loki will find a way to do that too.]

We'll go tomorrow, lest we find the Fleet pulling away again. It's nearly time.

[dothelokimotion]

[ He nods absently. But as Thor pulls away, Loki grabs onto his wrist. ]

Thor.

[rebuildyourruins]

[He stops, blinking.]

What?