[ driftfleet inbox ]

[dothelokimotion]

( you can reach Loki here )

Comments

[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?

[dothelokimotion]

If — If you must go . . .

[ If the Atroma intervene. Still, he wets his lips. ]

Tell me. Don't leave me here.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor's brow pinches briefly, as his first thought is how Loki left without doing him the same courtesy. It's been months since then and it's easy to forget it every happened ... and yet.

The departures here are sudden. How they happen, Thor doesn't know. It might be that there's no chance to warn anyone that they're going. That isn't enough of a deterrent for Thor not to say this:]

I will. If I'm getting out of here, so are you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's shoulders slump in relief. ]

Good.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor clasps Loki's wrist briefly in turn.]

Besides, no doubt you will complain if I wreak vengeance on the Atroma and don't let you have any.

[There's clearly no other way Thor intends to leave except through their captors.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ He huffs. ]

It would be most egregious of you.

[rebuildyourruins]

Well, no promises once I actually lay eyes on them.

[One-track mind when it comes to that sort of thing.]

[dothelokimotion]

I won't hold you to them then.