Ninth Trick: Permavideo (earlier in the day~)

[doeswhathewants]

[The NV feed shows Loki in profile, backlit by a bonfire in the middle of a street in Sector 3. Focus shifts in as an impromptu altar set before the bonfire, carved with runes and decorated with a slaughtered ram comes into view.

Vikings loiter around the fire with piles of suspiciously modern goods, hoisting drinking horns and distributing wares, singing traditional songs of praise for battles won and companions lost in heroic sacrifice- no flyting, not with Loki around to best them all. Behind the whole scene are a few storefronts with suspiciously smashed windows.

Loki turns to the NV and his grin is all even white teeth, predatory]

To whom it may concern, I've contained the Vikings.

[He raises his own drinking horn at them and calls out] Mein Skol, Dein Skol, Alle Vakkera Flikka Skol! [They raise their own horns and call a hearty response before drinking.

Loki throws back his head laughing and drinks from his own horn, eyes glowing the green of bale fires.]

I'd forgotten how fun mortals were.

Comments

[doeswhathewants]

I don't mean it like that.

[allucinator]

Then what? Just that we're earnin' your affection?

[doeswhathewants]

No.

That I was wrong before, about a lot of things. And that we are not so great or above humanity.

[allucinator]

[That takes Jack by surprise, but it also makes him smile.]

Well, good for you. That'd make you the first god or angel or whatever to say that.

[doeswhathewants]

Here, perhaps.

And only some. Some mortals I still find negligible.

[allucinator]

Well, yeah, but so do I, that don't count.

[doeswhathewants]

Why doesn't it count?

Some of the rules are difficult to puzzle out.

[allucinator]

Cuz everybody's got people they ain't fond o'. Or hate. That ain't cuz we're human, I bet, I bet it's cuz they're annoyin' pricks.

[doeswhathewants]

I know a lot of annoying pricks back home.

And those are the people one is allowed to have a bit of fun with?

[allucinator]

Depends on the fun, don't it?

[doeswhathewants]

Bloody, humiliating revenge.

[allucinator]

Might be takin' it a bit far. Dependin'.

[doeswhathewants]

Depending on what? I do not consider the strength of the offense in giving a response. If someone slights me, I put the full force of revenge behind it so that in crushing them, they remember never to slight me again.

And a lot of pricks in my world deserved it.

[allucinator]

And what if they don't deserve it? What if they didn't mean to slight you, or they had a good reason behind it-- or it were just a little slight? You really gonna crush em just for somethin' small?

[doeswhathewants]

If they did not mean to.. I suppose that is different, but even a slight offense cannot be allowed. It would be seen as weakness.

Though... truthfully, I think I shall be swallowing many slights at home.

[allucinator]

What d'ya mean?

[doeswhathewants]

I hurt a lot of people. Well- killed, really. Tortured. Maimed. Deceived.

I expect they will be angry and suspicious and that shall manifest into insult and hurt. And I will not be able to retaliate in order to prove myself true to being well and truly good.

[allucinator]

[Jack sucks in a soft breath, and doesn't answer for a moment.]

You can defend yourself, you know.

[A pause.]

Why'd you hurt em?

[doeswhathewants]

If I raise or spell, I'm sure it will be frowned upon as my old ways resurfacing.

[Truly, he does not look forward to returning. Except to see his brother.]

The matter is ... complicated. I did not want to, not always, but it is the nature of a trickster to trick, it is the nature of a villain to do evil. A hero does not end a world, Jack, and I was meant to end ours again and again.

[allucinator]

What do you mean, meant to-- look, ain't no such thin' as fate. If you don't want to do evil thin's, then don't do them. Simple as that.

[doeswhathewants]

There is in my universe. I told you it was complicated.

[allucinator]

[He scowls irritably.]

Yeah, well, it's stupid. I hate shit like that, destinies and-- and fate, and not bein' able to be anythin' but what somethin' tells you you are.

[He pushes his fingers through his hair.]

Anyway. You aren't there. And you can be anythin' you want to be. Good or bad.

[doeswhathewants]

Tell me about it.

[Gives a half smile]

This is true! And I am quite glad for it. If my brother were here, I might not mind staying for quite a time.

[allucinator]

Maybe he will. Me best friend came here once. It ain't impossible.

[A beat. He's still obviously irritated, as he pushes his fingers through his hair and scowls at nothing.]

Tell me about him. Your brother.

[doeswhathewants]

But he did not stay? I should think that would be almost worse than not coming at all.

[He can see Jack's irritation in the scowl and the running of a hand through his hair. Tells. He'll remember them for later, it's habit and not malicious]

Well- he's the bravest, strongest, warrior in our realm. He isn't always the brightest, but he's good. He fears nothing and even calls our father on his foolishness and cruelty at times.