#brokeassgoing / o1

[mischiefmodig]

Loki had taken to the streets. He sought answers to this place and was desperate to find something that would send him down a path towards escape ( to where? anywhere but here ).

Those who appeared to be local were of no use to him. They were all fools who spoke of nothing but how 'wonderful' this city was and if he wanted to purchase their bread.

Ignoring the food in his arms ( he required sustenance anyway . ) he sought instead those who were in a similar position to him. Luckily for him, they stood against the plain backdrops of buildings.

His searches had taken him late into the evening when he finally managed to locate an individual. Red hair and... oh by the norns. ( how were there two individuals here missing their eyes? )

❝ I beg your pardon. ❞ He called cordially ( surprisingly . )

❝ I am Loki, of Asgard. I desire to ask you a few questions regarding this... place. I can assure you they shall be brief. ❞ He did not intend to speak longer to him than he needed to. Of the way he carried himself and his habits, Loki had doubts of his usefulness.

@brokeassgoing \ / Night Encounter

[magnusmodig]

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐊. though he supposed more than that: what he truly required was food , first and foremost. ( too long now had cosmic sovereign cared far too little over a matter so TRITE , and so it seemed in some ways such failing was ... catching up to him. )

after some small amount of time wandering the seaside province , thor finally decided to make do with what precious little he had while the sun still lit the sky.

❝  — good sir i do hail you, ❞ thor called , lifting a hand as he made for the nearest gentleman he could spot. a rather rugged looking fellow. though that oft met a learned one. ( it wasn't as though he had his jane to steer him astray . ) ❝  this form requires sustenance. yet i have very little idea of where to procure this planet's provisions. might you know? ❞

@brokeassgoing / starter call !

[hecrtled]

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ FAWN WAS CERTAINLY NO TINKERBELL. not that any fairy was a match for the resident tinker talent , but that didn't mean that fawn wasn't her own kind of creative! she needed new clothes. SPECIFICALLY winter clothes. while her new friends were helpful enough to keep her wings protected in the snow of this not-mainland , making her own was DEFINITELY on fawn's personal to-do list. hence , her newest recruits all huddled together by the side of one of the giant clumsy stores.

❛  alright fellas ! now , remember the plan. calipso and queenie? you two are with me,  ❜ she pointed at the downy grey mimicimp and the spotted portal-mouse respectively. ❛ bernard , once we're all inside , you're free to roam a little. but make sure you don't go too far ! we've gotta stick together on this one.  ❜ the hoarder's nose twitched , but he nodded dutifully. ( fawn , of course , knew he was probably just ITCHING to get his little paws on the biggest , nearest shiny thing he could spot. )

❛ — oh ! and don't forget , i'm looking for warm things. like flower petals or dandelion fluff. everything else is all yours , buck-o. but is everyone all ready? ❜ the three critters nodded. fawn grinned and hopped onto the queenie's back. ❛ great ! we'll all head in on the count of three , then. 'kay? one ... two ... ❜

@brokeassgoing / plotted !

[silentaura]

−−−  ꧁  zelda half stumbles in , his force startling her heart and seizing it in a minute sense of urgency that stalls her thought . what a grand entrance . she can hear the guards return , pounding on the door with a shout in their breath . . . but they do not open the door . an ominous truth to the danger the two have willingly put themselves in . from the inside , though , it is a little more unsettling . well , this is what she wanted .

" cover your mouth and nose . " she commands , " it is our only means of protection while inside . "

she pulls out her scarf , tying it around her mouth twice . in truth , its only going to be so effective , but it at least made her feel better .

" alright . now , to find a sample of live moss . . . "

As soon as there's a crack in the door Badou's shoving at it too, hoping it's quiet, but not trying to be overly so-- there's enough space after a moment for the redhead to slip inside, and drag Zelda along after him.

Once the doors are closed shut behind them, he breathes a sigh of relief.

"Whew. Step one, done."

[fellstcr]

⚔️ // "that's alright. i offered." and it was off to the coffee machine with byleth. being something of the quiet sort , byleth did not speak up for idle conversation until she had filled two mugs with coffee from the pot. one full , and the second with whatever remained. ( she didn't want it to go to waste. )

she set the full mug down where badou could fashion it more to his taste.

"...may i ask you something?" she asked , and waited for permission before she continued. "i'd like to confirm a suspicion that i have. so: did you also come from another world? somehow , you also seem different from the other travelers to the temple."

Or they could kick her out. Badou doesn't much give a crap, he's used to being busted trespassing, but Byleth likes this place. It'd be a shame if she were forced to leave because of him.

The people were sure....nice. Nicey-nice. Maybe they're giving him odd looks, but they're sure happy to see her. At least she has that. Again, he's used to any looks.

"Pretty nice digs," he comments once they arrive, poking idly around the room. His mouth curls bemusedly, his back to her.

"I do like coffee better, sure. But don't trouble yourself if ya can't, it's not a big deal."

[magnusmodig]

❝  𝐍𝐎 … 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐍𝐄𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐎 𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍. ❞ he swirled his drink around in a slow circle and was painstakingly reminded of the olympian's ichor. for even 'gods' bled. and even gods were paltry , foolish beings. or at least that was the thought that thor had long begun to believe for himself. he once likened his family to bilgesnipe. destructive and ghastly things. for what were they besides beings who pretended as though they were more advanced? what good was MIGHT if one's own mistakes made entire worlds bleed?

and for that thor found that he condemned his own line. . . . even . . . though he was now the last.

❝  i'd wager that what difference there is between you and i is that you have the privilege of courting time, ❞ he continued , looking up. ❝  such is your beauty. you are born , you live , you die. and in truth , so do we. but humanity's years are quick. but a blink of the eye to my people. so much so , i find the fire of your hearts greatly outshines the match you've left to burn. ❞ he smiled , something wistful , something contemplative. ❝  we have more time. perhaps to you that would be a privilege. yet our ills beget the suffering of all those who surround us. true that perhaps humanity is hasty ... and yet for it i can find within me no heart to cast blame. your triumphs shine more brightly than the blood you've bled. ❞

If Badou notes Thor's healthy (???) thirst (????????), he doesn't say anything aloud. Just steadily gazes at the would-be god, and listens.

Tenacious...his mouth quirks wryly. He tilts his head, humming a little.

"I don't know if we can be commended. Humanity never learns the right lessons from itself. They keep making the same mistakes, and hurting the same people."

Badou doesn't have enough drink for this.

[mischiefmodig]

Loki's posture shifted. Less from the intimating, to being pleased instead. He was glad to see that Badou was no fool... but time would tell how long this perception lasted. He nodded in agreement, with a smile following suit.

❝ Naturally, I'm many things in the world, and a man of my word is most certainly one of them. ❞ For being the god of mischief, there was little else important to him than the truth. Loki quickly turned on his heels, walking away to continue the evening.

❝ We shall meet again soon, Badou. Have a good evening. ❞ And with that, Loki continued into the shadows, bag in hand and a pleased expression on his face. His plans were just beginning.

\ / End.

He knows in that look that Loki believes in himself-- his powers, his mightiness above all of the lowly slobs here-- but Badou also wonders as far as he's risen, even here-- what it'll sound like when he falls-- SPLAT.

He'd get his neck broken if he likened that to watching a bug get squished, huh. Good thing he can't read minds.

"Fine. Yeah, whatever. I'll take the job. Just be good for the rest-- even your own shit."

At the very least he can wiggle out of anything dangerous while the-- God-alien, whatever, doesn't have his powers. Badou can run pretty fast.

[silentaura]

−−−  ꧁  oh , brilliant . he's done a marvelous job . however , the one thing she hadn't considered was just how quickly it all happened : " r-right . "

for a brief moment , the adrenaline reminds her of her feet sticking to mud , as if the land itself wanted to hold her down and claim her , but soon there is concrete beneath her feet and the sensation is unmistakably stable .

the heavy twin doors stood unwatched , as the two men moved to investigate the source of the sound . a perfect opening . with hand on the old , brass handle , it takes zelda all of her bodily strength to pry the door open . but it does -- it opens .

Oh--- ohhhh....Oh. Here he is, with a rock in his hand, volunteered for this very important job.

Badou doesn't have the most confidence in this, but he'll do his best. He squares his shoulders, tosses the rock into the air a couple of times to get a feel for the weight....or to stall probably.

"Get ready to hoof it when I say."

He does not have this. He figures she wants him to throw it at the downed transcan....He winds back his arm and gives it a toss--

It connects! Wow, that sound could wake the dead!

"RUN!"

[silentaura]

−−−  ꧁  " consider it water under the bridge . now then , let's see . . . " zelda scoured the area , the inkling of an idea in mind . there is not much around to begin with , with the campus grounds cleared out of students . there is a trashcan knocked to the floor , and a bench nailed down to the concrete . their options were limited .

" aha . " zelda swayed over to the tree a few several feet away and scooped down to pick up a rock . " this will do . "

thank you for volunteering badou , this is your job now . she hands him the rock without explanation , assuming he'd catch on .

Again, he knows she's being sincere in saying his name is 'fine'-- that's how rich people are polite. Badou does appreciate it.

He huffs a laugh, nods.

"Yeah, yeah, sorry I blocked you like that. That was shitty of me--" the info broker holds up his hands.

"Let's figure out a diversion that'll work long enough to get us past the doors."

[silentaura]

−−−  ꧁  oh . what an bizarre man . even his smile was odd . a little too strong , a little too . . . duplicitous . his character threw her off because she couldn't predict him . and while she knew it was unkind to cast judgement on a person from a first impression . . . zelda knew this sort of man could be frightening if he ever truly tried .

it was best to remain on his good side .

" oh , and a fine name it is . badou , it is a pleasure to make your acquaintances . you may call me zelda . now then , since we're now on good terms , will you . . . help me to get inside ?? "

she never quite gives up !! alike a mule , she is .

Badou holds her gaze steadily, searching those green eyes for-- honesty, something that isn't a spark looking for death or something-- He doesn't find it. Just stubbornness-- and she's honest, at least enough with herself.

His mouth quirks into a smile.

"The name's Badou. And I'm glad to hear it."

[silentaura]

−−−  ꧁  don't sacrifice your life so easily . it is asking something of her , and perhaps it is much in the face of a crisis . . . but wisdom guides her and tells her he is right . she is not being courageous , she is being careless . there is a difference . an perhaps at times like these , she needed a dose of her own medicine . she didn't need to be risk adverse ; however , she needed to remember :

what good is a discovery if it is not shared among the people ?? and to see her task out proper , she needed to live long enough to do just that . she needed to live to tell the world .

"my life . . . stranger , i respect your concern , and considering what you meant to say . . . perhaps at times i do get carried away . . . but my plan is not to die . "

it is simply . . . always a possibility she must contend with .

She's right-- that you never know. It could just be that much more elbow grease, that much more effort, that determination and they could finally be getting somewhere! But he also doesn't think it's worth her life. She's young, she's clearly smart as a whip-- they need minds like her.

"As long as you don't sacrifice your life so easily. Is that asking a lot of you? Though I'm a stranger, I know."

Badou knows he doesn't have the right to ask her that.

[silentaura]

−−−  ꧁  " well , i . . . i see . " so that's it . she's damned if she do , damned if she doesn't : zelda can't satisfy everyone . she's never been able to satisfy everyone . so to that point . . . is he right ?? should she give up ?? now , her conviction wavers under his judgement . she's been so wrong before .

and now this man -- this stranger -- has her doubting herself once more .

" i believe . . . that until you try something , you never quite know what it might bring . someone has to be the one to make any discovery . to face any challenge . and maybe , i am sacrificing something ; however , by doing nothing i'm still sacrificing an opportunity . "

she's made this mistake before . is she . . . making it again ?? she is .

" i truly don't mind . but . . . " she looks once more at the men standing guard , " i do need some help . "

He sighs a little-- not in a heated way, or-- he doesn't think she's dumb for asking for clarification. Or even for being here, mostly.

"You're going at this alone to help, yeah, but you look ready to get this at any means, at the sacrifice of your life or something. You look like you're putting all your eggs in the basket."

Badou isn't noble, he isn't saying he is. "I'm not noble like that," see, he admits it.

[silentaura]

−−−  ꧁  for a moment , she's too dumbfounded to speak . somehow . . . calling the pursuit of knowledge doesn't feel like a justification . it feels absurd , actually . he aims to profit . she aims to help . how does she even begin to address it ?? their priorities simply were not aligned , and yet . . .

" so , allow me to level with you : we both seek information . . . albeit for two entirely separate reasons . " zelda treads , " and we're both . . . ignorant for it ?? i am just not following . could you please explain further ?? "

Okay she has a point, he's also about to be dumb and go in there-- maybe not take the sample, but at least look at the info-- but Badou doesn't want to admit that!

"I'm being dumb as shit too." He's admitting it, okay. He points at her-- "But I'm just stealing other people's info-- you're going in there trynna save the world, alone might I add. That's totally different!"

[silentaura]

−−−  ꧁  hand pressed to her heart , zelda was taken aback by how forward his response to her thought had been . taking authority over her own ideas . it sparks like champaign alcohol on the tongue , drying her mouth out . reprimanded once more like a child , zelda stammers a start but the flame for action yet burns :

" then what exactly is it that you purpose i do ?? "

damned if you do , damned if you don't .

" what is it you plan to do ?? you said it yourself : you have a mind to enter as well and your own motivations too . what is the difference between you entering and myself ?? do we not both seek information ?? "

it seemed rather hypocritical .

Badou waves a hand dismissively-- spores, moss, toilet paper-- it's a threat is what it is. It'd be nice if it was a pretty thing to be observed and studied carefully, it'd be nice if they didn't have this time limit above their heads like an anvil, like a bomb.

Her declaration has Badou cutting his gaze to her sharply.

"You're going to lock yourself in with that stuff? Absolutely fuckin' not." Even if they're probably all already infected, and again, that time limit. He feels it crawling under his skin, he thinks, when he's alone.

"I'm an info broker," he eventually provides. "But I live here too-- so I got a vested interest in this shit."

[mischiefmodig]

Oh, wouldn't he just tear the universe apart? And he did, once. He once held so much power in his hand, and he used that power to achieve something far greater than himself. And look where it got him after all of that.

Even before his conquest of earth, he was always praised for his tenacity and scorned for his stubbornness. Loki was dealt with a rotten hand, and simply chose to burn his cards. He made his own rules. He played with chaos with every step he took.

The god of mischief hummed softly to himself. No black hole would stop him from his freedom. His eyes said it all.

❝ The answer is simple... Son of Nails. Don't get in my way. ❞ He paused, preparing himself to leave. ❝ Do you accept the job? ❞

Badou knows Loki is attempting to sound and look and act reasonable...but you can never tell until it's too late, with a person. Until they stab you in the back.

That smile is very dangerous, all teeth. Loki doesn't seem the type to file down his teeth to keep prey comfortable, safe. He'll dig in with his fangs if need be.

"And if someone gets in your way? In the way of the black hole...will you tear the universe apart? Fuck it up?"

[fellstcr]

⚔️ // a hint of a smile graced her face. she squeezed his hand before letting it go. "well , the way that i see it , badou , is that if there does happen to be a problem with it , we'll simply know better for next time."

not that it would exactly stop her from extending the kindness all the same. gesturing for badou to follow , she slipped from the rows of seats and out into the corridors. soon enough , they'd made it to the nearest break room - and with no shortage of well-mannered greetings and mild pleasantries on their way over.

"here we are." byleth leaned her weight against the door to keep it propped open. inside was a modest sight , but not at all uninviting. a table set with a white cloth and various small treats was placed neatly in the middle , and surrounding was cupboards and shelves with their own hidden stashes of refreshments. "i could put on a kettle , if you like tea. otherwise , i can see what i can do about preparing a cup of coffee instead. i've heard that most people only prefer one or the other."

Oh, she-- oh. The moment breaks, and he takes her hand in his, climbing to his feet with a sigh. Badou's grateful, if that little twinkle in his eye says anything.

"Yeah? It won't be sacrilege or anything? Don't want you in trouble." She wants his name, then, okay. "And that part's easy-- My name's Badou."