#just show me where she ever once cared about Loki

[justanancientfangirl]

A bit of a rant: on Sylvie

Okay, look, as a preface: I do not hate Sylvie. I feel like I see a lot of hate for the character from a lot of people not Sylkie shippers, and I definitely do not hate her, even if the ship is something I struggle to see.

I actually like Sylvie's character a lot. She has had to struggle and fight and flee for something like a thousand years. I honestly don't begrudge her desire to stay in a quiet universe and just live a life. I want that for her, even.

Is she being a huge dick to Loki every time they interact this season? Yes. She refuses to listen to him (though he isn't being entirely straight with her either, to be fair), and she continually belittles his own choices and refuses to take responsibility for her own. She blames him and the TVA for the destruction of timelines, even though Dox's crew was, at the time, acting as a rogue element, and the issues that the timelines and TVA are currently facing are entirely her fault.

Again, I totally understand why she didn't listen to Loki at the end of season 1. It makes sense that she wouldn't want trust anything that He Who Remains had to say, and it makes sense that she wouldn't trust Loki at all. She barely knows him, and she's been alone her entire life. She doesn't really remember her life before the TVA ruined it. She has no friends, no allies. So yes, it was foolish of her to not stop and think for like ten seconds, but killing He Who Remains had been her ultimate goal for centuries. Of course she was going to do it.

HOWEVER. Because she killed He Who Remains, the multiverse is in danger. And just because I understand her inability to accept responsibility for her actions, does not mean I condone it. The lady is incredibly emotionally stunted. Of course she doesn't know how to take responsibility. She's been blaming other people for her problems her entire life (and most of that was 100% justified). To stop doing so now, when she hasn't had a chance to learn, would be bad writing.

I am all for a good character arc and a redemption story. Loki's himself has been...a little rushed. And they haven't touched on the trauma that was his time Before New York at all since that like, thirty seconds in season 1. Sure, he mentions NY a little flippantly here in season 2, but we all know that was just a way to get Mobius to talk. Point is, they have set Sylvie up for a good character arc, and kind of fast tracked Loki's without actually talking about some of the things I'm most interested in, but...eh, whatever. I can rant about that another time.

What I don't understand though, is Sylkie shippers. Like...number one, are we watching the same show? Season 1 seemed to have some unrequited pining going on, on Loki's side, especially before Loki and Mobius made up, but Sylvie has never shown any interest in Loki beyond that of a tentative ally. And really, there's no reason she should. When would Sylvie have had time, ever in her life, to think of romance beyond, possibly, an errant daydream? And this season, it really seems like she can hardly stand him.

Every time they interact, she lashes out, she tries to hurt him. She has told him, unequivocally, to leave her alone, multiple times. She listened to him say that he feared being alone most of all, and then she left him (I assume she has a tab at that bar, otherwise who the hell paid for those shots, and also, I've never met a bartender who would hear 'two bourbons' and just pour shots immediately, if it isn't a common order for that patron, but that's yet another rant for another day).

Like, she just seems to be going out of her way to be cruel, to drag him down, to blame him for everything, and to paint him as the bad guy. Sure, he wants to have his friends back, and maybe that IS selfish, but he ALSO wants to save the TVA because he believes that will save the multiverse, and that isn't, but she knows that once she pokes any holes in the story he's concocted for himself, he's only going to dwell on the bad side. Which he does. Her goal, I assume, is to get him out of her hair and leave her alone. She doesn't want to be involved with all this TVA stuff anymore. And...yeah, fair enough, except that the multiverse is actively disintegrating. Which is at least...oh, 45% her fault. (I'll grant that most of the fault lies on the heads of the old TVA, He Who Remains and Ravonna. And maybe like 3% Loki's fault. Everyone can take somewhat a share of the blame, but she really was trying to do the most. And she is the only one of our 'heroes' who hasn't taken any responsibility for the problems now facing the multiverse).

Look, I have shipped Loki with almost every single character he has had screen time with, if the story is well written enough for it to make sense. I've even read a Sylkie story that I actually managed to really get behind. (It took place before season 2, the premise being that in their fight at the Citadel, there was an accident and they ended up in Westview during the events of Wandavision, and were paired as a husband/wife duo for the show. It made sense, and there was enough of a build of their relationship that I was like...yeah, sure).

The writers of this show have NOT done their due diligence to make Sylkie make sense. In season 1, I could see that he might have a thing for her. But I never saw that being reciprocated.

Sylvie needs friends, she needs to learn how to trust, she needs stability, and she needs to figure out who she is as a person when she isn't on the run. She does NOT need a romance. A romance at this stage would be incredibly bad for her, really, if we give a shit about a fictional character's mental health.

I like Sylvie as a character. I think her arc has been interesting, but she is definitely still in the middle of it, and it is nowhere near resolved. I can't see a single instance in the show where she showed a romantic interest in Loki. (And...what, she kissed him? That was only to get him distracted enough to kick him out a time door so she could kill He Who Remains).

If this season ends with Sylkie endgame, I will have honestly lost faith in Marvel's ability to write a good story entirely. If they want the two of them to be together, they have to write them together. They have to actually be a team, not just constantly bickering (or in this season, Loki begging for her help and her telling him to stuff it). She only comes to help because her own universe gets shredded, not because she wanted to help Loki or save the other universes. She would not be good for him, at least not right now. That relationship would be hella toxic. Has she ever done anything for him? Just for him, not because he was useful to her in some way?

Look, TL;DR, I like Sylvie as a character and I want to see her grow and thrive, but Sylkie makes no sense and if they go that route this season it is bad writing. MCU has always been bad at romance and character development, but this would take the cake.

[dorabledewdroop]

The White Healer Chapter 5

Summary: We get to find out what really happened.

Warnings: Description of injuries. Lots of injuries please be careful. extreme Angst. Attempted self-death. Character death.

Author note: This chapter is a heavy with details of injuries. Please keep this in mind before you read.

Series Masterlist

X--X--X--X--X

That stone killed my sister.

Those words echoed in everyone’s head.

“Lady Y/n” Thor hesitated. “That is the mind stone. One of the six infinity stones”

Your glare shifted from the robot to Thor. The god actually seemed to shrink a little.

“Besides” Steve cut in, “Hydra has had the sceptre (which housed the stone) for the past 3 years and it was in Loki’s possession long before that. Do you think it was Hydra that killed your sister?”

Annoyed you huffed. Wanda had managed to sit you down, so at least there was no danger of you hurting anyone. Not that you would, but the look you gave Vision was unlike anything she’d ever seen.

“What the fuck is a Hydra?” You asked, breathing through your nose.

“Detka, Hydra is the organisation that gave me and Pietro our powers.” Wanda said gently. 

Her heart hurt as you refused to make eye contact with her.

“They were a terrorist organisation that intended to shape the world in their own twisted way.” Steve continued.

“Lady Y/n” Thor said gently. “Are you sure it was that particular stone?”

You thought about it for a minute, your mind going back to that god awful day.

“It looked more orange, than yellow” you decided.

Thor let out a breath. “That’s sounds like the soul stone” He said.

He immediately walks up to you and grabs you by the shoulders. Within a split second, Thor was against the wall, red mist pressing his hands against the wall. It took a second for the other’s to realise what had happened. Wanda’s eyes were glowing red, hands covered in red mist. Natasha had grabbed a knife and was standing in front of you facing Thor. Pietro had made his way to stand behind you without anyone noticing.

“O-okay” Steve said, raising his hands placatingly. “How about everyone takes a deep breath and calm down. Wanda, could you please let go of Thor? Nat, put down the knife. Let’s go to the meeting room and talk this out?” 

At once, everyone walked to the meeting room. Thor the last to enter. His eyes moved around as they slowly landed on you. Your gaze softened when you realised he had no intention of hurting you. It had just scared you when he grabbed you so suddenly.

“I apologise, Lady Y/n. It was not my intention to frighten you. I was merely stunned as it is the third infinity stone to come into play the past few years. I should have been more mindful of my strength”

“It’s alright Thor” You said softly. “You just surprised me. I’m not entirely sure what these infinity stones are but I understand your fear of them. And please, just call me y/n.”

His face broke into a grin. “Indeed y/n. As recompense, I shall introduce you to my favourite treat, the popped tarts!”

Chuckling you nodded.

Nat held your hand “Malyshka, do you think you could tell us about how you came across the soul stone?”

You nodded. You tried to speak but no sound came out. Your body physically unable to recount the story. Feeling utterly helpless, you looked at Wanda.

“Are you sure, detka?” She asked, concerned. 

You merely nodded.

“I’m going to show her memory to all of you as y/n’s having.. a little trouble speaking at the moment” Wanda said out loud. She had held your hand without anyone watching as almost everyone was sitting on the other side of the table. Pietro, however, noticed both of the women holding your hand and his heart warmed at the display.

“Hold on a second witchy” Tony interrupted. “Not all of us want you in our head”

Natasha glared at him where as Wanda merely nodded.

“How about this, I’ll share the memory with Nat and Piet” she said. “We can tell you what we saw”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Once Wanda had linked their minds, she spoke to you.

“Just recall the memory, detka. We’ll see it too”

You closed your eyes as the memory washed over you.

You must have barely been 13, your sister 10. Your parents decided they couldn’t afford to take care one daughter, much less two. Shortly after your sister’s birth, the both of them had taken you to the middle of a city and drove off. You had cried the entire time until a social worker found you, huddling with your sister for warmth. 

The 5 years you spent in the orphanage were pretty good actually, they gave you freedom to leave and return whenever you liked. Food was warm and the company was good.

As was custom, you and your sister went to the fair near a park. It was the most fun she had as she was finally allowed on some of the rides. The faculty had a deal with you, they’d let you enter the fair and all its’ rides for free as long as you cleaned up everything after they closed for the day. Was it fair? No. But it made your sister happy, hence it was worth it.

“Y/n” a voice called you. 

Your head shot towards the forest, a glowing orange light beckoning you closer. You looked around to see why other’s weren’t bothering with it. You decided to ignore it until it called your name again. Telling your sister you’d be back in a second and that she should go watch the flame festival show in the large tent. 

You headed towards the forest, deeper and deeper but the light from earlier was gone. Looking around for a bit you only noticed some scorch marks on the bark of a few trees but nothing else. As you turned around you noticed bright orange-ish red light in the distance. Figuring you probably headed in the wrong direction you started walking towards the distant glow. 

You frowned as you got closer, the trees had started thinning and you could hear some noises. The blood drained from your face as you realised the noises were people screaming. Immediately, you took off. Sprinting towards the source of the noises. You were panting as you neared the source. You slowed down as you saw the large tent that was on fire. You screamed out your sister’s name. A staff ran towards you.

“Please have you seen my sister?” You asked.

He shoved you aside and ran away, completely ignoring your question.

“Y/N HELP ME PLEASE” A familiar scream made your blood run cold.

You ran into the tent, the whole place in flames. You saw your sister stuck between two pillars, too scared to move. You ran and ducked under pillar, grabbing your sisters leg and pulling her towards you. You noticed she was violently coughing.

CRACK

The pillar you were under fell. You used all your remaining strength to throw your sister as far away as possible. You let out an inhuman scream as the pillar fell onto your back. You felt the red hot metal sear your skin, your body seizing under the pain violently.

You absolutely cannot pass out.

Crawling out you felt the skin on your back tear and you sobbed and screamed as you clawed your way out. Fresh tears made their way down your face as you noticed your sister had passed out, multiple burns on her arms and legs. Your arms weren’t faring any better. 

You tried to pick her up but your body wasn’t strong enough. Screaming in frustration you looped your arms around her back. Grunting in pain as you felt your back split open. Feeling dizzy from the pain but the adrenaline allowed you to drag your sister by the arms.

“Come here” A voice told you.

You saw the glowing orange light again in the forest. 

You somehow made your way there, despite your brain telling you to go to the ambulances that had arrived.

“We can save her” you heard the voice again.

The moment you got close to the light, it grew brighter. Blinding you, forcing you to close your eyes. When you opened them you and your sister were on the top of a mountain.

“Welcome y/n, daughter of (your father’s name)” A voice came from behind you.

You screamed in fear and saw a man in a hood floating towards you. As he neared you noticed his face was completely red, and he seemed to be missing a nose. You briefly wondered whether he could smell stuff but flinched the moment he floated closer. You backed up, keeping a protective hand on your sister. You then remembered how she was unconscious.

“You have been chosen” The man said. “The stone calls for your soul”

“Please” you whispered. “Please save my sister.”

He looked at you, refusing to look at your sister.

“You have been chosen” He repeated. “The-“

“Please.” You begged. “Please save her”

He sighed.

“Very well.” He said. “But a sacrifice must be made. A soul for a soul”

You looked at him confused. He merely floated towards a cliff, you leaned forward and saw a design at the very bottom of the cliff. You stared at him in disbelief.

“You.. want me to walk down there?” You asked uncertainly.

He shook his head.

“One must make a sacrifice to obtain the power they so desire” He said solemnly. “The stone has chosen you. To obtain the power you seek, you must sacrifice that which you love the most”

You stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re saying if I throw my sister down I can heal her?”

He shook his head. “A soul sacrificed can not be brought back, however it is the price required for the power you seek”

You realised what you needed to do. Tears made their way down your face as you came to a decision. You walked towards your sister and put your hand on her chest. Her heart beat very faintly. You kissed her cheek softly.

“I’m sorry bunny. I hate to do this but it’s the only way” You whispered.

You glared at the red faced guy. You nodded. He floated back towards the edge, carrying your sisters body.

“Wait.” You called out, walking towards him.

He paused, right at the edge, looking at you questioningly. You merely smirked.

“Bye bunny” you said and jumped off. 

“NO” you heard him shout.

You kept your eyes on your sister as you fell. Closing them as you neared the ground. When you hit the ground you had expected pain or just.. nothing but you weren’t expecting warmth to take over your body. The warmth increased to an uncomfortable degree. Soon it started burning everywhere. You let out a scream as you felt everything.. burn. Wait. Scream? How could you scream? 

You opened your eyes to find yourself back on top of the cliff. You looked around and saw the floaty guy look at you. Panicking you looked around for your sister.

You stood up, the searing pain was gone.

“WHERE IS SHE?” You screamed at him.

You tried to throw a rock at him but it merely disappeared into his cloak.

“Oh Liebchen” He said sympathetically. “The stone chose you. It made the decision to take your sister instead of you”

“No.” You whispered, falling to your knees.

Tears made their way down your face. This isn’t fair. This isn’t what it was supposed to be like.

“Revel in the power you’ve gained. For you cannot die. Not now, not ever. Your soul is eternal.” He said, glowing until he disappeared.

None of that mattered. Your sister. Your bunny. She.. was gone. Unable to take it any longer you fell to the ground. The last thing you saw were the trees and the night sky. Then. Everything went black.

X--X--X--X--X

Taglist: @marvelwomen-simp @nothanksbye07 @jono723 @luadyjcmd @alexawynters

Note: Hope y'all enjoyed. Happy reading?

[hansoeii]

Not a Sylki shipper, but do you genuinely believe they won't be endgame? Like I get it, it seems like Sylvie is not in love with him and they're kinda pushing Lokius (might be just mocking us), but don't you think they could do a 180 in the last episode? It would make no sense, but the writer is a cishet man, who ships Sylki. Marvel is not good at writing romance. I feel sad, because I'm seeing all these people say that Sylki is over, celebrating and I feel like they'll be crushed on Thursday. They could absolutely do a 180, rush the romance with "she was always in love, she was just pushing him away" and make them endgame. Again, it would be bad writing and it'd make zero sense, but the majority of the people don't care about the romance, including my irls, they only want to see the multiverse stuff. So they won't care. And I feel like Disney/Marvel don't care either.

Yes, I totally believe that Sylkie is over and that nothing will happen between them again.

What makes me say that? It's simple. All Sylvie wants is a simple life on the timeline, they've made that clear several times. She only ever follows Loki once that life and her timeline are in danger. And I can't blame her for that. She has no interest in Loki and his friends and what's even more important: she has even less than zero interest in the TVA. She's selfish, she admitted that herself.

The TVA is what's important here. The TVA has become Loki's home, it's the place where he found his family. He (and Mobius) is the heart of the TVA. And he won't part with it, and Sylvie would never willingly stay there for longer than necessary.

She has made it clear by telling Loki to write his own story that their stories are separate ones.

This season so far has been incredibly well written, and I don't believe they're gonna do a big 180 in the finale. I could totally be wrong, but I don't think it's likely.

I believe that Sylvie will be the one to restore everyone's memories in the last episode as her final heroic act and then once the timelines are restored, she will go back to her simple life.

And when it comes to Eric Martin: just ignore him. He's a troll, and I don't believe a single thing he says about any ships. He constantly likes Sylkie tweets and then suddenly switches to liking Lokius tweets. It's best to just watch the show and ignore what any of the creators have to say (besides Tom Hiddleston, I adore his commentary) about it, just draw your own conclusions! And so far, we have gotten 5 episodes that made it clear that there's nothing even close to romantic going on between Sylvie and Loki anymore.

[loki-us]

Welcome to my Mega Problematic Sylvie post

I wanted to make a list of everything problematic about Sylvie in s1 and s2 because she gets away with whatever she wants and it bugs me to no end that she never takes accountability for any of the pain she causes.

You have been warned. So let's get into it.

1. Sylvie’s way is the only way and she expects everyone else to just bend to her will without complaint

2. She is physically mentally and emotionally incapable of trusting anyone besides herself

3. She uses other people's emotions to manipulate them into getting what she wants

4. She refuses to even entertain the possibility that anything besides her own opinion is correct

5. She criticizes others' attempts to clean up the mess she caused while she herself does absolutely nothing about it

6. Always looking to ruin and run, taking the easy way out and avoiding any accountability

7. Puts her own need for revenge above the well-being of everyone else in the multiverse

8. Blames everyone else for the problems she herself caused

9. Insults everyone at the TVA for their lack of empathy despite it being the exact reason she didn't want to return in the first place. Every critique she delivers just illustrates how much of a hypocrite she is

10. Berates Mobius and all the people who are actually trying to fix her problem even though they never once blamed her for the mess they're in

11. Acts like she's doing everyone a favor just for being there and insulting everyone when in reality, Loki had to ask multiple times before finally getting her to return

12. Never willing to put in more effort than just destroying everything and walking away

13. Even when directly asked for her help, Sylvie straight up refuses. She couldn't care less about anything besides her McDonald's employee-of-the-month badge

14. Sylvie gaslights Loki into thinking they're the same, that she's not in the wrong because they're both only thinking of themselves. In reality, Sylvie is thinking only of going back to her own timeline, alone, while Loki is thinking only of making his friends happy, because that's what makes him happy too.

15. While being completely unsympathetic to Loki struggling with his greatest fear, Sylvie makes the decision that Loki's friend's are all better off where they are now. But is it really better for them, or just better for Sylvie?

16. And now, after 11 episodes and countless requests for Sylvie's help, she actually cares about the rest of the multiverse. And yet it's still solely because her own timeline is finally in danger

17. When Loki ends up sacrificing himself to solve the problem Sylvie created, her only response is a joyful shrug that she's now happy, alone, and responsibility-free.

Overall, I know Sylvie's only purpose as a character is to be a darker mirror of Loki and everything she does is understandably informed by her trauma. This is likely a result of having a limited-episode-series and having all male/not diverse writers creating female characters. Sylvie is used only as a comparison to Loki before he met Mobius, and unfortunately is never given any thoughtful character moments like Loki had showing how he was aware that his actions hurt others. In 1x1, Loki talks about how he doesn’t enjoy hurting people and only does it to maintain control. The only time we ever see Sylvie reconsider her actions is when she didn’t kill Timely, which I think is more because she saw herself in Timely as someone who didn’t want to be controlled by their ‘destiny,’ not because she developed any kindness or compassion toward him.

I understand the fact that Sylvie was never given someone like Mobius to allow her the opportunity to change like Loki did, but I don't think that should excuse her causing so much pain and being so self-centered. Sylvie never trusted or cared about anyone and that's also my biggest argument against Sylki; her loving or being driven by anyone besides herself is just so inconsistent with her entire character.

Anyway, my purpose here was not to be hateful or to search for any reason to criticize Sylvie, but instead to look critically at her character since I've seen a lot of people praise her as the strong, independent female Loki whose behavior can always be forgiven. Unfortunately, the way she was written is that Sylvie turned her own trauma into everybody else's problem and they all spent 2 seasons trying to clean up her mess. That's my take thank you and goodnight

[stalkedbytrains]

“Cheryl? Where is the file for the next appointment? I can’t find it anywhere.”

“It’s the folder with the green tab,” Cheryl called from her desk at the front of the tiny office.

There was the sound of many papers shuffling around and finally an ��aha!”

“The Rainbow Snake?” Came the voice from the office. Cheryl’s boss often read out loud when they were studying a client. Just a weird quirk of theirs. “Australian Aboriginal Deity. Oh I do remember them. We were at a party together… 2,000 years ago give or take. I don’t think they’ll remember me, ah well thems the breaks. Let’s see… hmm… I can see that this is going to be a problem Cheryl. Damn colonialists. I wish we could make the British gods fade away. Fucking King Arthur deserves to be relegated to the dust bin. I can tell that we’re going to need some deep cuts on this one. Start making a list of Australians we can contact, I have a feeling.”

Cheryl did as she was told. Her boss was almost always right about these things. She knew what the gods wanted before they even got here.

Several minutes later there was a knock at the office door. Cheryl got up to open it and invited in the dark skinned person and the beautiful snake they wore like jewelry but that might have only been because the snake itself was a living work of art. Like living breathing stained glass.

As Cheryl escorted the Rainbow Snake in, her boss came out and bowed deeply to their guest.

The chipper woman had tied back her full brown hair and smiled widely at the Snake and their human escort.

“A pleasure to meet you again,” the boss said, “it’s been many centuries but I am glad to see you once more. Please come in to my office. Would you care for any refreshments?”

After settling and getting water for the Rainbow Snake, Cheryl sat back down outside the office and listened to the pitch. She never got tired of listening to it.

“How can I help you?” Her boss asked.

“We heard that you can help us gods. Stop us from fading. We need faith. We need followers. The people are dying, the language is dying,” said a dual voice. The voice from the snake, and the voice from the human.

“We can do that. Sort of. I am sorry to say that it’s not a direct thing. I don’t just snap my fingers and make you some new believers. Human beings a wonderful little creatures. They crave us. They need us even if they don’t believe in us anymore. They want our stories and our myths. And that is what I provide. Stories.”

“How does that help us?”

“Do you know how down bad the Norse were? The Christian’s basically destroyed their religion, all we know of it is this bastard version of what was left after the Jesus freaks invaded. But then the comics happened. The Mighty Thor! And don’t get me started on Neil Gaiman and his Sandman and American Gods stories. I send that man a fruit basket every year. I love him. Have you seen how well the Norse pantheon is doing? Loki has seventeen penthouses, and more belief than he knows what to do with.”

“Bah. Western religion. White religion.”

“You are right. I am sorry that was a poor example. Perhaps I should have started with Māui and how well he’s doing with that Disney film Moana. I set that up.”

“You did all of that?”

“Well. Not directly. You know how us gods work. I gave some inspiration here and there. Got a writer to have an idea. Got a director and a bunch of executives to see the bigger picture and how it could be a hit. They did the rest themselves. Like I said, whether or not they know it, humans want us.”

“You can make me a hit movie?”

“Or a TV show or a video game. Those are hard though. Movies are kind of easy now a days, TV is having a resurgence now but you run the risk of cancelation and things like that, video games can be hit or miss honestly. Only the Greeks and Norse really pulled that one off and hoo let me tell you they paid for that one. Great games but still. I don’t want to look at those God of War games ever again. Books are easy. Worked really well for the Greeks and some of the Egyptians. Rick Riordan does great stuff. It all depends on what you want.”

“I can have anything?”

“Sure. Internet stories are easy. Quick and cheap but you are really gambling with the payoff. Could be either a total wash or go viral. Not something I can really recommend but if you need something now it can be done. Movies or tv can be great but there are also risks. It might be two or three years before you see anything.”

“Do I get to choose who does the work?”

“A little. I can influence certain people but sometimes the best person for the job is some down on his luck writer in a hovel in LA. Sometimes it’s Neil. But Neil is expensive.”

“I want a movie, I want it to be written by one of my people.”

“I can do that. But the problem is that reach might be very tiny. There are plenty of Aboriginal writers, I’m sure some can even be extremely talented, but something big and grand and bringing in all the faith and worship and stories you may way may be limited. If you want the Disney treatment you have to give up a whole lot of control.”

“No. I want it to be of the people.”

“Very well. Now, I can influence and give inspiration all over. I can even get this in the right people’s hands. But it is always a crap shoot. All I need to do is channel some of your power into the right person when I find it. Then creativity takes over, they do their work, I nudge some agents and companies their way and if we’re lucky you see some return on investment in a couple of years.”

“What do you get out of this process?”

“My dear, I’m the Muse. I feed off the creativity. These artists come to me most of the time. I just set them up with gods who need a little faith. And six points on the back end. I have a lot of alimony to pay.”

[battleangel]

The End of Weird Anime

What happens to 80s & 90s anime that arent streaming right now when VHS & DVD completely go away?

The obsession with micro everything, everythings a sound bite, everything is 5 to 7 seconds, even songs, the chorus IS the song now, noone else ever hears anything else.

Only sports, reality TV and competition games can be watched week to week in real time.

All TV series now have to be immediately binged and consumed.

Its essentially bulimia.

Binge Loki in a weekend. Binge Ahsoka in a weekend. Its already done.

Whats next.

What else can I feed the machine with.

No waiting week to week. No such thing as a cliffhanger. No anticipation. No guessing whats next. No watching together as an audience.

Everything segmented, everything bifurcated, nothing in real time, nothing communal.

No season finale, no season premiere.

Same with anime.

Its not VHS or DVD anymore.

Youre not waiting for a release.

Its crunchyroll and Netflix and Funimation and Hulu and streaming.

Its the entire season of Psycho Pass all at once whenever I want to binge and gorge myself.

No asking to be taken to the mall.

No driving to Suncoast Video.

No deciding which $30 VHS or DVD to ask to be bought.

Martian Successor Nadesico or Ayashi no Ceres?

Everything is accessible.

Its less for 3 months of streaming anime than 1 anime used to cost on VHS or DVD.

No downside, if it sucks, move on.

Its not even the old school illegal Crunchyroll which was essentially Limewire for anime where you could illegally download different series.

I didnt waste time downloading for hours on my brothers computer for a shitty anime.

I didnt risk getting a virus on my brothers computer.

I dont have to clear up space.

I dont have to waste time.

I dont have to spend money.

I dont have to risk anything.

I dont have to exert any effort.

Its just, on to the next.

What does the algorithm say a Demon Slayer fan should watch next?

What should I watch now that Attack on Titan is over per the almighty algorithm?

No Viz anime catalogue to pore through.

No RightStuf catalog to highlight and fold the corners of the pages of.

No Animerica to read through every month once it arrives in the mail.

No going through AOL message boards and anime ezboards and geocities and angelfire websites to try to determine what to watch next.

No asking to be taken to your local Blockbuster to check the newest anime rentals in the "Independent/Foreign" section.

Just scroll, select, click and move on.

No need to even download and delete.

Its all streamable, instantly consumed, immediately binged then thats it.

On to the next algorithmic recommendation.

The algorithm never ends.

It always has another suggestion for you.

No meticulously going through myanimelist.com, putting up the hundreds of anime youve watched so far then scouring everyone elses lists to get ideas for new anime to watch.

Whats next after Vision of Escaflowne?

What should I watch after Yuu Yuu Hakusho?

If I can get a ride to the flea market on 18, I wonder what else they'll have similar to Dangaioh & Orguss 02?

To Macross Plus?

I wonder if Sci-Fi Channels Anime Week Festival will show something similr to Iria Zeiram or Armitage III this year.

Ninja Scroll was amazing, I wish I could see Wicked City since its by the same director, Yoshiaki Kawajiri. But I know I wont be allowed to. I had to sneak watch Ninja Scroll at my friends house and her older brother had bought it and thats the only way I even got to see Ninja Scroll at 13.

Everyone talks about Sailor Moon but noone talks about Bubblegum Crisis 2032.

Why not? The Knight Sabers are cooler than the Sailor Scouts and Ill take a cool motorcyle riding ass kicking punk rock singer like Priscilla Asagiri over a whiny, annoying, immature Serena any day. I dont care that shes 14 like me. Shes freaking annoying and a crybaby.

I wonder what other anime are like 8 Man After. It was so hard-boiled and dystopian and futuristic.

What happens to 80s & 90s anime that arent streaming right now when VHS & DVD completely go away?

When laptops and videogame systems are discless?

Then what?

What happens when Crunchyroll, Netflix and Hulu dont want to pay to license some amazing anime that are hidden gems?

In 25 years, when very few VCRS and DVD players and video game systems and laptops that can play VHS tapes and discs are still in circulation and functioning, then what happens?

What their plan has been this whole time: we will only have access to watch what the streaming companies CHOOSE to pay the license for to stream.

We will lose everything else.

We'll lose Cybernetics Guardian, Genocyber, Twilight of the Dark Master, Robot Carnival, Vision of Escaflowne, Iria Zeiram, Armitage III, Saber Marionette J, Martian Successor Nadesico, 8 Man After, Lensman, Demon City Shinjuku, Fancy Lala, Tekknoman, Full Metal Panic...

Only the biggest hits, the most iconic series, the most controversial OVAs and movies will survive in the brand new streaming world devoid of any physical VHSs and DVDs.

Only the Akiras, Neon Genesis Evangelions, Urotsuki Dojis, Berserks, Gantzs, Sailor Moons, Dragon Ball Zs, Pokemons, Gundams, Bleaches, Narutos and Spirited Aways will survive to be streamed.

What about the Serial Experiments Lain?

What about the Nausicaa of the Valley Winds?

What about the Angel Sanctuarys?

What about the Please Save My Earths?

What about the Here is Greenwoods?

Will they be lost forever?

[bugwolfsstuff]

@parrotxx You asked earlier and I already had it in my drafts for a bit so heres all ive written for it so far.

I wonder if this still technically counts as canon compliant cus its the same scene and dialogue and doesnt go against anything in the book because we dont get Loki's thoughts.

Anyways im having a fucking blast with Loki's narration.

------

I do love my kids, despite popular belief and some of my actions. Yes, I'm aware that forcing one of my daughters to marry a giant doesn't exactly scream 'Parent of the Year'. But it'll only be for a day at the latest. Then I'll be free and kill everyone—except my children and my wife.

That snake's gonna get it, though.

"Welcome, Magnus Chase!" I grinned at the boy, "I hope you'll excuse me if I don't get up.".

"Gods." The boy muttered, looking at me with...

Was that pity in his eyes? I haven't seen that kind of feeling towards me in years. More pure hate and disdain is what I'm used to.

I chuckled, forgetting for a moment. "Oh no; no gods here! They never visit. They sealed us in and left us. It's just me and my lovely wife, Sigyn. Say hello, Sigyn."

Sigyn stayed silent, as usual. She looked up at the entourage but didn't show any emotion.

"Oh, that's right," I said bitterly. "Sigyn hasn't spoken in a thousand years—ever since the Aesir, in their infinite wisdom, butchered our sons and abandoned us here to suffer for eternity."

It was actually two thousand and sixteen years, ten months, and four days. But hey, who's counting?

"But where are my manners? This is a happy occasion! How are you, Thyrm, son of Thyrm, son of Thyrm, son of Thyrm?"

Happy for me, more like. I can't say the same for anyone else in this cave; most of them will be dead. Sigyn hasn't been truly happy for two thousand and sixteen years, ten months, and four days, and my daughters have already made their feelings well known about this.

The giant groom—nope, nope! I can't even say it, and if I have to ever again, I'm throwing myself on Heimdall's sword—the giant looked uncomfortable.

The discomfort might have been because it was his wedding day, which was understandable. I remember my wedding day with my first wife, Angrboda. Gods, I was so nervous I shapeshifted into a goat at the altar. It was so embarrassing!

Or the discomfort could have been because he was in my presence. Which is also understandable, considering my —mostly true— terrible reputation.

Either way, I was enjoying his discomfort. I'm really not liking the way he is looking at my daughter.

"H-hello, Loki. It—it's actually just three Thryms..."

I do not care, I thought.

"And I am ready to seal our alliance with a marriage".

And I have been ready to be done with it since you walked in. I also thought but decided to, for once, keep my mouth shut voluntarily.

Instead I said, "Yes, of course! You brought the Skofnung sword!"

[muddyorbsblr]

Have you ever watched X Files?? Or has anyone from SAS watched the show?? Because I have now a very specific fic idea where Loki and the reader are like, partners who solve magical issues on Earth. And the whole dynamic is kinda like Mulder and Scully’s dynamic. They care about each other deeply but Loki can’t help to flirt with every other woman (and sometimes man) they encounter. And it makes the reader jealous and sad. For obvious reasons.

Like, the whole “fine whatever” bit Scully has in one episode would be hilarious to write. And then they can have a teary eyed confession once Loki picks up on the fact that his partner might love them (after all the ways the reader has been acting when he flirts around) and it ends happily :D

As a note, this isn’t really a request, but it’s been something on my mind and I wanted to talk about it with you and the community. 🥰🥰

Have a lovely day <3

Oooooo hello anon friend!

Personally I don't watch X Files…probably because my dad used to watch it ad nauseam when I was younger and now I haven't found enough reason to be put on to it just for that 😅 But because of the exposure I've had to it, the relationship between Scully & Mulder has been something I've been super aware of and I know the exact vibe you're talking about 🥺💖 (and also I've been made aware of the Mulder Speedo picture that broke the internet when I was literally not even 3 months old haha! 🤣)

It's kind of like the dynamic between Brennan & Booth in the show Bones before they got together…or like Beckett & Castle 👀

Without giving too much away, I can say that the series 'rules of conduct' will have a vibe that loosely resembles this but super briefly because even if Reader won't be able to communicate for shit, our precious greasy haired boi knows his precious mortal better than she thinks and he sees right through her "it's fine, whatever" act 💖🫡

calling on the SAS besties & fellow whores to see if anyone's watched X Files @holdmytesseract @smolvenger @lokisgoodgirl @lokischambermaid @fictive-sl0th @mochie85 @xorpsbane @gigglingtiggerv2 @joyful-enchantress @ladyofthestayingpower @loopsisloops @maple-seed @give-me-a-moose @mischief2sarawr @november-rayne @acidcasualties @alexakeyloveloki @dangertoozmanykids101 @liminalpebble @glitchquake @peachyjinx @sidepartskinnyjeans +++

[assbutt-writes]

A Heart Of Iron Chapter 31

Chapter below cut

Loki

In the 3 months without Tony, Loki had left his room 5 times. Once to go to Valhalla to try and get him back, once to try and interact with the others (that one went so badly that he just slept through the next few days), and 3 times to get more beer. The floor was littered with all of the empty beer cans and he was pretty sure that he looked like shit, but he didn't care. After all, Tony was gone, so why should he?

Steve kept knocking at his door, but Loki ignored him. During the first few days, the others kept blowing up his phone with texts and calls, but when it died, he "forgot" to charge it. After 1 month, Steve had thought he had died and barged in to check on him, finding Loki drunk-talking to an illusion of Tony, either not noticing or not caring that Steve had just entered the room. Steve had quietly backed out, and no one had entered the room since then.

Loki spent most of those months drunk, and, during some of his more sober moments, Loki had JARVIS give him updates on the other Avengers so that he could write letters to Tony. In doing this, he learned that Bucky had woken up, not remembering anything after he fell off of the train, his brain still stuck in 1945. Steve had to tell him that his sister Becca had died of old age 4 years ago. Bucky's reaction had sent Loki into another spiral, the reminder of the fact that Tony was gone too much to bear. The next thing he remembered, he was waking up in another hospital bed, Natasha standing over him, a worried look on her face.

"Loki, what the fuck? I know you know that drinking yourself to death isn't helping you at all, so why the fuck are you doing it? I mean, you do know that-" Natasha lectured, and Loki cut her off.

"That Tony wouldn't have wanted this? Yeah, well, Tony's gone, so he doesn't really get a say," Loki said bitterly. "And who are you to tell me what to do with my life? Last I checked we weren't friends, and the only reason that we even kept talking to each other was Tony, and he's not here anymore, so I don't really get why you care."

"I care about you because I know what you're going through. I've been brainwashed into doing horrible things against my will, I've lost everyone I've ever cared about, and I've-" Natasha said softly, and Loki got even more upset.

"Have you watched the only two people you've ever loved go in front of you in the exact same way and not been able to do anything about it? Have you had some mystical force try to warn you about it but you ignored it and made the one you loved leave? Have you had someone trust you with their life and fail them? Because I have," Loki said forcefully, and Natasha backed away.

"I didn't know. I'm sorr-'' Natasha started before realizing something. "Wait. You knew what was going to happen to Tony? Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I thought it was just a vision of an alternate universe. I didn't know that it could come true here too," Loki explained defensively. "I was going into Tony's mind to heal him after the vision that almost killed him, and the stone showed me an alternate universe where we were soulmates and Thanos stabbed him and threw him off of the bridge. I didn't think it was important because it was pretty damn obvious that it wasn't this universe, because me and Tony aren't soulmates here."

Natasha stepped back slightly, and Loki realized belatedly that that came out a little more forceful than he meant it to. Oh, well. She was already going to be pissed at him for letting Tony leave, so what's one more reason to hate him?

"Oh," she said quietly, and then her face melted into a look of concern. "You do know that it's not your fault, right? Maybe you should've told someone about the vision, but, as you said, it didn't seem important. It's not your fault that you didn't know."

"No. Every other fucking vision had a purpose, and this one was an entire life story! I should've known, and I should've fucking told someone!" Loki said, volume building until he was practically yelling. He couldn't see how someone could honestly think that Tony being gone wasn't his fault, because, honestly, he always manages to either hurt the ones he loves or get them to leave forever. "You don't understand. There is no fucking way you could ever understand. If all you're going to do here is tell me lies to try to make me feel better, it's not working, so you can go."

Natasha looked at him with a look that he knew meant that she felt bad for him, and honestly, that just made him feel worse. He didn't need pity, or false reassurances, or to "move on". He just needed Tony.

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers West Coast #55: THE BREAKING STRAIN

February, 1990

"Let there be an ENDING!"

Yes, please, let there!

Actually, by skipping everything not Avengers, Acts of Vengeance has been fairly bearable.

But still. Let's get this over with.

Last times in Wanda's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Month: Vision was kidnapped by every world government, disassembled, rebuilt wrong, and has decided to join the East Coast Avengers, while leaving Wanda in the West. Wanda was also kidnapped by a Texas college and pumped full of racism goo. And had her children kidnapped and eaten by a Satanist who then exploded because they were actually not babies but chunks of Mephisto. Then, her mentor Agatha Harkness erased Wanda's memories of ever having children. On top of all that, a Deviant kidnapped Wanda to try to force her to marry a snake god.

I'm not surprised she's gone catatonic from all that. I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.

In Acts of Vengeance: Doctor Doom's robots sank Avengers Island. The U-Foes burned down the Avengers West Coast Mansion. Freedom Force smashed up Avengers Park and then the Mandarin and Wizard show up to smash it up some more. And Magneto sends Wanda's house into orbit, with Wanda inside.

I swear. The Avengers just aren't allowed any nice things.

Also, they caught the Wizard when the Mandarin ditched him.

And now, house in orbit.

Magneto muses on how Wanda is so catatonic that even getting thrown into orbit didn't get a reaction from her.

Magneto: "Clearly the time has come for a more direct approach."

Call me suspicious but I don't think Magneto's idea of mental health care is going to be very good.

But this is Acts of Vengeance. Which Magneto has ditched in order to go see Wanda.

There's an ending to let there be happening.

Thor announces to the assembled Avengers that all the trouble they've been doing through is definitely the act of Loki.

He doesn't know how Loki organized this but he's definitely sure of that.

Wasp is confused because Cloak and Dagger told her that Doctor Doom was behind things, based on their own Acts of Vengeance tie-ins.

And the Avengers have the Wizard locked up in a holding cell, loudly insisting to anyone that will listen that he's the mastermind of everything.

Speaking of the Wizard, he decides he doesn't want to be in Avengers jail anymore.

And he just leaves.

He has a miniature teleportation device built under a false fingernail and he uses it to make a portal directly to Acts of Vengeance headquarters.

Where, to his annoyance, he finds that his fellow Prime Movers don't really give a shit he was in Avengers jail. Because they're too busy debating whether Doctor Doom was ever hanging out with them or whether he was always a Doombot.

The Wizard immediately starts shit by yelling at the Mandarin for abandoning him.

The Mandarin: "Do not blame me for your own shortcomings, Wizard. When the tide of battle turned against us, I withdrew. you should have done the same."

Owned.

The Wizard shoots back that he did withdraw, once he felt like it! So there! But he had to put up with an Avengers interrogation before he could teleport from his cell.

Which Definitely Loki is very annoyed to hear about.

Definitely Loki: "Ignorant mortal! Say thou hast not done this thing!!" Wizard: "?!? Unhand me, lackey! How dare you raise hand or voice to your better?!"

And Loki takes exception to that. And reveals that he's Loki. Duh.

Kingpin just peacing out while everyone is gawking kills me.

He's the third smartest villain involved. After Doom, who may not have ever been involved, and Magneto, who only got involved to handle some personal business.

Meanwhile, another weird timeline thingy.

President Lincoln is attending the theater, as Presidents Lincoln are wont to do, but when John Wilkes Booth tries to shoot him, as Johns Wilkes Booths are wont to do, it aggros the full force of Kentucky woodsman in Lincoln and he jumps up and slaps Booth's aim astray.

Amazing.

So amazing that Immortus (sitting in on the divergence as a general) wishes he could just leave this timeline alone.

But in order to accomplish his vague goal of becoming master of time again, he has to snuff out all alternate timelines. For some reason.

He returns to Limbo (the time one) and discovers to his annoyance that his Wanda-stalking scanner has lost Wanda due to a "massive disruption of the Earth's electromagnetic field."

My dude.

You can't spy on her in hell. You can't spy on her if there are magnets.

You're being made to look like a chump by people who don't even know you're involved.

Wonder Man returns to the Avengers West Coast Compound from the Mole Man thing last time to find one entire missing cottage which should have a Wanda.

He asks Agatha Harkness, what the shit, you had one job!

Agatha says that the house was thrown into orbit faster than she could cast a spell to do anything about it.

US Agent shows up and says that the cottage is about thirty miles up and ten miles off from where it launched.

Wonder Man yells at US Agent for not doing anything to stop a cottage from launching into space.

... C'mon, dude. He has the powers of Captain America plus the power of being a jerk nobody likes. How is he supposed to stop a house launch?

Anyway, he wasn't even at the compound when the cottage launched. He was at the Mole Man thing too.

He got back just in time to see the house blast-off and then checked the tracking system to find where it had gone.

Wonder Man just wants to fly off after Wanda. Even though his belt jets don't work in space.

US Agent suggests using one of the space-capable Quinjets instead.

Wonder Man: "Well, this is a first! You being the calming influence in a situation, Agent!" US Agent: "Belay the jabber, Wonder Man.

The two find the house just floating in space.

Houses don't just launch themselves, usually, so US Agent suspects some supervillain plot. And since Wonder Man is near indestructible, he gets to go poke around while US Agent watches the ship.

And for some reason, Wonder Man puts on a space helmet. Guy doesn't need to breath but constantly wears space helmets or lets people grow gills on him.

Maybe he just wants to feel like one of the cool people. Maybe that's where Vision got it from.

Anyway, when Wonder Man approaches the orbiting house, it explodes in his face.

Geez. The Avengers just can't keep a headquarters unexploded, unsunk, or unburned down in this event.

But not time to follow up on exploding space houses. There's Acts of Vengeancing to wrap up.

Loki has the villains too stupid to have peaced out (Wizard, Red Skull, the Mandarin) magically levitated so he has a captive audience to rant at.

Loki: "FOOLS! Stupid, mortal imbeciles! And all the greater fool is Loki, that ever I did trust the petty egos of mortals with the consummation of my plan! I didst think that by directing so-called super-villains into attacking champions unaccustomed with their powers I could rid this world of super heroes... And in the process once and for all destroy those who have so long vexed me by their very existence!"

Loki singles out Wizard to yell at. Because teleporting directly from the Avengers' holding cell to Acts of Vengeance HQ means that if Thor uses Mjolnir, he could track the energy trace and just show up!

Thor: "Say thee not 'if', beloved sibling... Say thee rather WHEN!"

You have such a good sense of timing, Thor.

Also, he brought Dr Pym, Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Captain America, Wasp, Iron Man, Vision, and Falcon with him to kick Loki's ass.

Loki responds to imminent booty thrashing by dismantling the Acts of Vengeance HQ to reveal it was located on the Isle of Silence this whole time!

The very place Loki was exiled when he tried to get Hulk and Thor to fight, which caused the Avengers to form.

So now Thor understands the why.

And despite being a place of exile, Loki has spent so much time here (a lot of it voluntary) that he has mastered the dimension.

He brings forth Silent Ones from below the ground to fight Captain America. He tangles Hawkeye and Mockingbird in roots. He buffets Falcon and Wasp with winds. He creates a plume of fire that engulfs Iron Man.

Cap tells Thor to go beat up Loki since he's the best one to do that. Not bogged down in some mischief currently and also very experienced at punching Loki in his Loki face.

Thor chases after Loki and Loki scampers away saying he'll only fight in a time and place of his choosing when he thinks he'll win! He creates a wall of ice between him and Thor.

Focused on the Avengers, Loki loses his hold on the Wizard, the Mandarin, and the Red Skull.

Red Skull argues this is their best chance to strike at the heroes, while they're distracted.

The Mandarin calls him a stupid dumbass. This whole thing has been Loki's scheme and Mandarin isn't going down for it. He's leaving Loki to his own failure (like he did the Wizard. Consistent.)

When Loki dismantled the meeting place, he left the walls lying on the ground. And the dimensional portals built into each door is still active so the three villains not smart enough to fuck off until now now fuck off.

Wasp and Cap notice the villains getting away but, eh, they're busy right now. They'll get them next time.

Thor just smashes through the wall of ice because it's ice.

Thor: "Show thyself to have at least some fragment of our father in thee! Some small spirit of the godhood! Of the nobility which is our birthright!" Loki: "Speak to me not of nobility, Thor! Thou dost speak of music to one born deaf! There is but one Lord Loki serves, and that is power!"

Funny to think that in recent years, Thor gets along much better with Loki than he does with Odin.

Loki creates a giant rock hand to crush Thor but Thor crushes the hand instead. And hits the ground so hard that it makes a fissure that Loki falls down.

Which Thor then seals up so he can't escape.

Pretty perfunctory conclusion to this ENORMOUS company wide event.

Cap is like geez did you just kill him but no, "gods do not perish thus" not even Loki.

Loki is just trapped under millions of tons of Earth. But alive.

Thor explains that Loki was Big Mad that his actions created the Avengers so he wanted to destroy them with this big villain team-up. But he only strengthened the resolve of the heroes.

Thor: "Let the evil minds of the world beware! Ever and always shall the Avengers prevail!"

Yeah, Old Man Logan's backstory set-up IS dumb, Thor.

Anyway. Everything is solved forever.

The West Coast situated Avengers return there.

Iron Man flies off in one direction, Hank and Jan in another direction in a Quinjet.

Janet and Hank re-explain the plot and how Loki was Big Mad at creating the Avengers.

... This is really a lot more explaining than is needed.

I do like how Jan puts it.

Wasp: "So... that's that! Another threat ended, and this time it all started because Loki got tired of the other villains poking fun at him at the annual bad guys' picnic!"

Hank lands the Quinjet in the hanger. He goes off to check on Tiny Tigra and Wasp goes to change.

Another day, another new Wasp outfit.

But after changing into the blue and white number, Jan goes to check on Wanda.

The cottage seems to be back in place but Wasp finds US Agent sprawled on the floor and warning her to get away while she can.

Wasp: "Get away? From what... ? Who... ? What's going on here? Where's Wanda? Where's Wonder Man?" US Agent: "Dead! Blown to bits out in space! Get away... Get away..." Wasp: "Wonder Man... killed?? But... by who??"

Scarlet Witch: "By me, Janet! I dealt with him as I shall deal with all the Avengers, now that my power has been finally unleashed!" Wasp: "W-Wanda...??" US Agent: "Tried to warn you... Now... Too late... too late for everyone!"

Ahh, knew we'd get here eventually.

If there's three things everyone knows about John Byrne's Avengers run, it's Vision being disassembled, Wanda's children turning out to be devil chunks, and Wanda having a heel turn.

So whatever happened in space between Catatonic Wanda and Magneto, Wanda is Evil now and also had an Evil Costume Change and Haircut.

Honestly, this isn't a bad look for her. Shame about the whole evil thing, she looks stylish af.

But next week I'm alternating over to Avengers. I'd consider doing the Evil Wanda plot before switching back over except there's a weird interruption in the middle of the arc where Byrne quits the book in a huff.

So best to stick to alternating. Besides, the Avengers got stuff going on too. Remember all that stuff with Real Nebula and that one old man who blew up his own house? Yeah, that stuff is popping off!

Follow at @essential-avengers for all the best vowels. You like A's? I got tons. Buy them in bulk because this is an Avengers blog. Like, reblog, comment, whatever.

[mischiefmaker615]

Tears of a Mermaid (Loki Love Story Ch.6)

''what are you talking about?'' Loki asked, tensing as he moved a little closer to Mara protect fully.

''a guard reported to have seen a maiden dressed in ..a little it more than nothing.. and thought it was from perhaps one of your tricks, or a maid in search of you after you had-''

''is that all?'' Loki cut him off, not realizing how he had taken Mara's hand out of instinct and lightened his grip ever so slightly as Thor eyed her.

''we're just making sure we don't have anyone from the village wandering the palace at random.''

''i assure you she's fine and in my personal care, i have brought her from the village after i had been riding through and come across her. everything else is none of your business.'' 'honestly whats the big deal? Thor used to bring different women back with him all the time, primarily to his chambers..'

''i'm Mara'' Mara pipped up with a smile, getting to see another land dweller up close as she looked him over, Thor noticing as he returned the look.

''Thor, son of Odin and God of thunder'' he introduced, swooping her other hand and kissing her knuckled, making Loki quickly side step to break them apart and pulled her past him out the door

''if that is all then i shall be giving her a tour, alone.'' Loki told him, hoping he'd get the hint and already started walking down the halls with her before she looked back and waved goodbye. upon this, Loki quickly switched sides and took her hand in his, the one Thor had touched. let alone kissed..

''so he's the one you were telling me about?'' she asked curiously, not really seeing the idiot in him as Loki seemed to teach her about often.

''yes, and best avoid him while your here so my father won't find out, he's better at noticing differences and gods knows what would happen if he figured out who you really are.'' Loki warned her and slowed his pace once Thor was out of his site so she could better look at things ''but for today until dusk, take in as many sites as you wish''

the next few hours seemed to go by fast, having shown her the palace mostly on the outside to avoid any confrontation from those who might be able to tell what Mara was, or was not. her favorite seemed to be the courtyard that led up to the gardens, noticing she still had the strong interest in flowers. he showed her the training area, having to pull her hands back to avoid her touching any sharp objects before moving on and found themselves at the stables, having a horse already saddled and he led her over.

''it be much faster to see the village if we had better transportation other than walking'' he half joked and she gently ran a hand over the horses mane, earning an affectionate nuzzle.

''they're amazing..and they let you ride them too'' she grinned, petting its nose before watching Loki get on and offer her a hand ''thank you,'' she told the horse, as if given permission to ride before taking Loki's hand. he swiftly pulled her up and she quickly wrapped her arms around his waist out of instinct, thinking she was going to fall before she relaxed. after she adjusted, her arms stayed around his waist, only tightening once he got the horse to move in a decent paced walk. he hid a smile, feeling her around him and felt the strength she had compared to most women of Asgard.

''hold on tight'' he warned, feeling her press herself closer before he got the horse into a trot, letting her adjust and get used to the pace before quickening the journey to a mild gallop, heading to the Asgard village.

she seemed to be enjoying herself, feeling the wind on her face and her hair flowed behind her as she took in Asgard, from his golden walls to its tall structures, each designed to be protective and comfortable as people roamed around the areas, quickly moving to the side upon them running by. as they got to more of the home life where children could be seen playing, women laughing and roaming and men carrying various things and enjoying the company of their families, Loki came to a trot so she could take in things a bit better.

''this is..everything i thought it would be as you described'' she breathed, returning some smiles and laughing as children played on the outskirts, guards here and there roaming around to assure people's safety and women sending waves at either her or Loki.

''i am glad you are enjoying it, i come here from time to time but we royals are normally strict to the palace where we have to deal with those outside our realms and prevent any risk of them coming here with negative intent.''

''in all my centuries i have never seen any trouble happen anywhere, you must be doing a good job'' she half teased, knowing she was right as she got closer, biting her lip as the feeling returned in her chest as her eyes softened as she looked at him from what she could see.. she meant what she said from earlier..she did have feelings for him..

Loki had allowed her to see a good majority of Asgard, but the time had come where it was mid afternoon and he had taken them back to the palace where he dismounted and caught her waist when she did the same.

''that was amazing..'' she marveled as he helped her down and he couldn't help but chuckle, see how excited she was over something he had seen almost on a daily. ''could we see the garden again?''

''right this way m'lady'' he chuckled and led her by the hand once more the the gardens, seeing how she wandered about, delicately stroking petals and giggled whenever he magically changed their color, though his smile went to alarm when his mother came out of no where and he quickly turned around.

''and who might this maiden be?'' she asked with a friendly smile and Mara returned it

''Mara''

''pleasure to meet you, i was wondering who was changing the colors of the flowers'' she lightly scolded and Loki hid a small smile as looked at his mother.

''your the one who taught me how''

''and it was one of the very first tricks he learned,'' Frigga said proudly, mainly talking to Mara before looking back at her son ''what might bring her here?''

''..we crossed paths while i was out riding and thought i'd bring her here'' Loki told her quickly, doing his best to use not a lot of words to prevent himself from lying to her, knowing he could, but she was the last person he wanted to lie too.

''well it has been quite awhile since i've seen you smile like that, if you best excuse me i'd like a word with my son'' Frigga informed her and Mara gave a small bow and a smile ''of course, i'll be waiting here them'' she said and Loki relaxed, knowing she'll be fine and wouldn't wonder off.

as Loki and Frigga walked a little ways, she wrapped an arm around him and sighed ''you have feelings for her,''

''i never said that..''

''you didn't need too.''

Loki sighed, knowing his mother knew him well and let his smile show he had been hiding ''she's..different, quite different, she's special..''

''and she doesn't stay because..?''

his mother could almost read him like a book, and he sighed, glancing ahead as he did his best to choose his words carefully ''it's..not the right time, i suppose its because of what might be going on in her life, and mine, but i have offered, decisions don't come fast''

''but they're usually made when you least expect them..i haven't seen you this happy in a long time my son, if she's the one, then hold her close'' she told him, her voice almost getting lower as if Mara was there with them now.

Loki couldn't help but smile as he looked down, knowing his mother was right, even if the situation was complicated. his eyes glanced up, seeing they had walked in basically a circle around the courtyard and was back to where Mara was..and Thor was with her. his body tensed and he kept himself composed as he looked at his mother gently ''i best be getting her home, i shall return after'' he told her and Frigga gave his arm a gently squeeze before leaving, his eyes telling him goodbye before his own sharply seemed to pierce in Thor's direction.

Mara looked over at Loki when he got closer and her excitement showed as she returned to his side, almost as if she were a puppy ''Thor was telling me more of your adventures beyond the realm''

''primarily the successful ones, i am glad you seem to be doing better'' Thor smiled, hiding the guilt in his eyes as he glanced at where Loki had been stabbed the other day.

''best try to learn not to make the same mistake again, as you still need to learn repeatedly apparently'' Loki said sarcastically and Mara raised a brow a little, knowing from what he had told her what Thor was like, but still didn't know why he kept firing at him when things seemed to be fine in the present moment.

''well every adventure is different, at least its a surprise every time'' Thor chuckled, giving a small slap on his back before turning to Mara with a royal bow ''best be off my lady,''

''where are you off too?''

''Midgard, it's where my primary time consists off where i get to be apart of the Avengers'' he said proudly.

''the Avengers?'' she asked a cocked her head to the side.

''they're-''

''getting close to dusk, its best to tell tales at a lady time brother, i must return her home.'' Loki interrupted and Mara sighed, giving a little bow and smile before she was pulled off by Loki.

''as of next time God of Thunder'' she called with a small giggle, the tight feeling of jealousy returning to Loki and making him walk all the most faster as he gripped her hand, her quickening her pace to keep up with him ''Loki slow down- i'm still new to these things'' she half joked and picked up her dress with the other hand where he slowed a little, leading her down the halls and relaxed once Thor was out of sight; jealousy still there to have known she was even talking to the idiot. he glanced at her a little when she was examining her other hand a raised a brow

''whats wrong?''

Mara shrugged a little with her innocent wonder ''his hands are a bit rougher, yours is smoother''

something inside him almost seemed to snap as his eyes flashed, side stepping ironically to the correct door they just had been passing and slammed the door shut before her back pressed up against the wall with him closing the distance between them.

[celestialmantdonna]

Mantis knew how lost Wanda felt in that moment, and while Wanda did know the Guardians, she barely did so. Thor, on the other hand, was a familiar face, even though he had been deeply affected by Thanos' actions and the difficult aftermath.

Thor knew he looked very different to Wanda, but he was making progress. He was slowly learning to take care of himself again. Ever since he joined the Guardians, he had lost a little weight and regained a little hope, but... he still wasn't where he had been five years ago, neither physically nor emotionally. He truly felt like a failed King. Like he had failed everyone he cared about. Thor believed he wasn't good enough for his people, which was why he gave up the throne, offering it to Valkyrie before leaving New Asgard and Earth.

Quill seemed to sober up a little when Wanda recognized who the Benatar was named after. "Yeah! Yeah, the ship's named after Pat Benatar. She's incredible," he said with a boyish smile. Few things brought the Star-Lord more joy than music.

The Guardians listened to Wanda's explanation, and Rocket's crossed arms loosened, ears folding back as his eyes narrowed. So she managed to just... teleport into the ship, once her magic brought her to where Thor was? Well... Stranger things had happened.

When Wanda started to cry as she explained that Mantis had made her soup, Mantis reached to draw her into a gentle embrace. She rubbed Wanda's back, feeling how ashamed she was.

"It is okay... There is no reason to be ashamed," Mantis told her. "You were brave enough to ask for help, even though it is hard. That is something you should be proud of. You are not alone anymore."

"Her soup is excellent, is it not?" Thor asked with a soft chuckle, before deciding he should tell Wanda about how he met the Guardians and why he trusted them. "Over five years ago, the Guardians found me floating unconscious in space after Thanos destroyed my ship," he explained, choosing not to go into detail. Thinking about Loki, Heimdall and half of his people simply hurt too much. "The Guardians brought me into their ship. They gave me a blanket and Mantis made me soup. Rocket showed concern for my safety. He is a very sweet rabbit."

Rocket exhaled and rolled his eyes. He wasn't sweet, nor a rabbit, but right now he wouldn't argue. Mantis turned to the Guardians.

"She told me there is a book... And it tells her to do things. It wants her to go to a mountain where her aunt disappeared many years ago."

"A book?" Quill repeated.

"I don't think you know what a book is, Quill," Nebula retorted with a glare.

"Uh, 'course I know what a book is. I just... didn't know books could talk."

"They cannot," Mantis replied. "Well, at least... most of them do not."

"Where'd she get the book from?" Rocket asked.

"Another witch. Wanda told me her name is Agatha," Mantis explained as she wrung her hands. "She tried to take Wanda's power and... I suspect the book has a negative effect on people."

"Why do you say that?" Drax inquired.

"Patterns." Mantis shrugged. "The other witch didn't care who she had to hurt, and her fingers turned black. Wanda's fingers darkened as well, and the book tells her she has to hurt people."

"It does sound like a pattern indeed," Thor said.

"Yup." Groot nodded.

"What else does the book tell you?" Quill asked Wanda, trying to understand the situation better.

What Have I Become? || closed reply

@thiscrimsonsoul continued from here

Mantis knew things would never be the same, not after everything Thanos had done to the galaxy. To the family Mantis had found when she wasn't even looking for one. She had always known the galaxy was cruel, so much so that Mantis only sought to make it softer with her gentle disposition. But, as she witnessed the aftermath of Thanos' plan, Mantis realized she would hardly be able to make a difference. She pushed the thought aside; after all, a small difference was still a difference.

Even though the galaxy had been permanently changed, Mantis enjoyed little moments like these, letting her mind wander while she would tend to her plants. She hummed a melody, her hands arranging the leaves calmly. Focused as she was, she didn't notice there was someone new aboard the Benatar. She was startled by a loud knock on her bedroom door, and she frowned slightly before reaching out to open it.

"Wanda?" Mantis asked. What was Wanda Maximoff doing in space? And how did she get into their ship?

Mantis wasn't too familiar with Wanda, but as the young woman threw her arms around her, begging for help, Mantis hugged her back almost instinctively. A victim of the Snap holding another in a moment of need, now that they were something other than mere dust.

"Wanda," she repeated, keeping her voice soft. "What...?"

Wanda's energy revealed she was unwell, so Mantis knew her healthy, youthful appearance was an illusion. Wanda was in so much pain... She was grieving, and she felt tremendous loss, guilt and overwhelming loneliness. Mantis rubbed Wanda's back in an attempt to soothe her, though she refused to use her powers for now. Sometimes people just needed a hug and a sympathetic ear.

"It's okay, you are safe. Thor is here, if you are looking for him, and... I am here, too. You are not alone," she said, hoping Wanda would understand that whatever had happened, she didn't have to go through it alone.

[rukia-writes]

Plot: Loki likes to pick on his cousin about a certain someone, and the two take a trip to the dentist. Loki’s pranks are never ending.

Child! Deity

Dental appointment event

It was early in the evening when Hunnin and Muninn reported to Odin that (Name) was no where to be seen. Sighing in frustration, Odin simply wanted to check how (Name)’s teeth were as he knew his daughter’s hadn’t been brushing her teeth as she should have.

It didn’t help that (Name) had the power to hide herself and could be anywhere.

Thor was in his room sleeping on his chair and wasn’t phased by his sister hiding herself until he heard a sigh under his bed. Lifting the bed with ease Thor felt a gust of wind brush past him taking it as a sign his sister had left and so Thor chased after his sister, causing the palace to rumble as he would sometimes miss his sister by a hair and left holes in the wall or floor. Hunnin and Muninn did their best to help Thor but came up empty handed.

It was always like this in Asgard when Odin wanted to check his daughters teeth.

Odin was just about to take matters into his own hand until he noticed a familiar god show up. Odin didn’t want to resort to trickery but whatever for his health for his daughter. Thor tried to locate his younger sister but came up empty handed only to hear a familiar god in (Name)’s room.

“What a drag, my favorite goddess isn’t here. Here I came such a long way to see my sweet (Name).”

Thor squinted his eyes in disbelief at hearing Buddha words, before Thor could think anything else (Name) had quickly lifted the bedsheets with a smile as she jumped into Buddha’s arms excited that the god had visited her.

“Good evening, Buddha! Do you have more candy for me-“

Quickly cut off by a light and being held tighter the small and young (Name) saw Loki instead with a mischievous smile on his face. Heartbroken (Name) tried to get out the trickster god’s grasp but came up empty handed. Thor was a little surprised that worked, then again (Name) was still young.

“My, my. I can’t believe you fell for that (Name).”

“Let me go, Loki!”

While fighting Loki’s grasp Thor asked why Loki was here to which the trickster god responded with that he was just passing by. Loki didn’t feel anything as he handed over a pouting goddess to Odin who was sitting on his throne.

“Can’t believe that worked. Also, it looks like you’re not the cool one anymore, Thor.”

Thor had to admit that his sister liking Buddha a bit more than himself had him a bit irritated but he didn’t let it get it to him long as Odin muttered (Name) had a cavity on her back tooth.

“You’re going to the dentist first thing in the morning.”

“I don’t want to.”

(Name) immediately apologized when her father gave her a intimating glare although the young godess gave Loki a glare even though the trickster god was happily laughing while floating in the air.

While Odin was serious about his daughter going to the dentist he didn’t go with her instead he sent Loki to take her and (Name) was still upset with her cousin. Loki didn’t care though, he found it hilarious that (Name) could be so easily fooled. While waiting in Hygeia’s waiting area, Loki was became rather bored until the sound of a drill made (Name) jump in freight making Loki smile and once it was there turn Loki was the one that had to place (Name) in the chair.

Hygeia tried her best to get (Name) to open her mouth but to no avail, (Name) was quite stubborn.

“(Name), if you don’t open your mouth you’re going to make me very, very sad.”

Hygeia and (Name) looked to see a sad Buddha looking at her. Hygeia was surprised to see Buddha there and of course (Name) was happy to see Buddha.

“I don’t want to make you sad, Buddha. I’ll be good. I promise.”

“…You promise?“

“Of course, I never go back on my word.”

“I’m so happy to hear that.”

Buddha patted the top of (Name)’s head as Hygeia was successfully able to clean (Name)’s teeth and remove her cavity. No problems what so ever, until Hygeia heard “Curse you Loki!” As she was cleaning her utensils. Smiling Hygeia continued to clean her utensils thinking to herself that Loki was a loving cousin, knowing (Name) wouldn’t have opened her mouth otherwise.

A few months, later Buddha was walking outside the Valhalla arena into a garden like place. To his surprise he saw (Name) sitting on the fountain. As usual, Buddha greeted the young goddess with snacks. Only this time, Buddha was meant with skepticism as (Name) squinted her eyes and slowly scooted away from Buddha confusing the god.

“…No, thanks. I know that’s you Loki. You can’t fool me again.”

“…Who?”

“I know it’s you Loki. So just transform already because I won’t be fooled again.”

“…We need to get your eyes checked. (Name) it’s me.”

Still not convinced (Name) crossed her arms to her chest and ignored Buddha until she heard a familiar voice say “What’s going on?” Looking Buddha and (Name) saw Loki floating in the air with a smile. A “oh” left (Name)’s lips as she apologized to Buddha, still Buddha offered her candy and patted the top of her head. Pouting Loki stepped in front of the two with his usual smile of mischief, only making Buddha roll his eyes as he took out his lollipop.

“Well, well. What luck, I’ve been meaning to talk to you Buddha.”

Little did (Name) expect the two gods to fight, and (Name) didn’t expect to others to join in but as they did (Name) sat quietly on the fountain eating the snacks Buddha gave her until Buddha had to save her from Ebisu’s shots, Holding the young and small (Name) in his arms. To which, Buddha teased Ebisu about his aim saying “You could’ve shot the princess of Asgard you know.” All of which was really cool to the young goddess as Loki could practically see the stars in her eyes.

Loki didn’t like Buddha before and he really didn’t like him now, sure he liked teasing (Name) about her innocent crush on Buddha but now Loki was determined to show his cousin how much of a loser Buddha was.

Loki tried, but failed.

Loki: 10 vs (Name): 1

🎀Rukia-Writes🎀

[lokisprettygirl]

Hear me now (Jotun Loki x Female Reader AU) (18+)

Read chapter 19 here // Series Masterlist

Chapter 20

Summary : Loki sits on the truth about Priscilla to find out more about her, Debra aids him. You find a new job but pickups a bad habit.

Trigger Warning : implied smut, mentions of adultery, emotional abuse, drinking, self destructive behaviour

Note : Listen to Romeo & Juliet by Dire straits if you haven't.

As your alarm rang, you woke up and dragged yourself out of the bed. You didn't want to, you were having a beautiful dream where you found yourself at bluey's house, at Loki's house in Alaska. He was showing you around and telling you about everything he built with his own hands. Just a dream that you will never get to live, just a house that will never be yours. A man who will never belong to you. 

As much as you wanted to stay in bed and sulk, you got up because you promised Natasha that you'd go with her for this job inquiry. You were thankful for the friends you had because without them you wouldn't be able to get out of your bed ever again. Your eyes fell upon the frame so you caressed your finger over it, you remembered how bashful he was when he confessed his love for you in such an endearing way. You missed him with every moving cell in your body. 

You put the frame down as the more you looked at it, the more it made you want to curl up in the bed and cry. But you knew you couldn't afford that privilege any longer, poor people don't get have vacations to nurse their broken hearts. You were lucky that Phil has been taking care of you financially, he brought you food and paid the electricity bills, he didn't allow you to run out of your savings.

You got showered, put on a pair of shirt and jeans then an overcoat on top. You picked up Cat so you could drop her at Phil's. Christmas was around the corner and you didn't want to celebrate but you wanted to do something for your friends, buy them a gift for everything they have done for you. 

Loki's eyes teared up as he looked at his wife kissing a random man. He didn't recognise this bloke so he knew he didn't belong to the village. Is this what she has been doing behind his back? All this time? She'd tell him that she just wanted to buy meat and eggs for him, and complained that the back and forth journey was troublesome for her but she wanted to do it for him.

You drove thousands of miles to get him here, your body ached with constant driving and he'd often heal you at night when you stayed at a motel, however he couldn't heal the toll that it took on you, but you never complained to him, not even once. You never made him feel as if you were doing him a favor. 

As soon as he entered the village, he morphed back into his jotun self and walked straight towards his house. 

What did he just see? He didn't want to confront her, not just yet, he wanted to follow her next week and see if she would see him, see the same man again or it was a one time thing. Was she sleeping with him, she must, that's why it took her whole day to come back. While on the way he decided to see Alvis so he visited Debra's house instead of going home. He knocked on her door and she instantly opened up, as soon as she saw him she bowed down to him 

"Dear you don't have to do that, I have told you so before" he smiled and she invited him in.

"It's my pleasure dear God, I was coming to see you, it's like you heard me. Dorian is feeling sick, I was wondering if you were having the patients visit you?" Loki furrowed his brows, he never considered these people as inferior to him or as someone he was obligated to care for. He just wanted to give them something for accepting him here and giving him a place in their village and their hearts. A gift for the kindness they bestowed upon him.

"Do not address yourselves in such a manner my dear, you all are my family and where is he? I must meet him soon if he is ill" He asked her so she took him to their room. 

"Ohhh Loki my god" Dorian got up to greet him but Loki stopped him by grabbing his shoulders

"No need to fret little one, are you feeling unwell?" He asked him politely as he touched his forehead, he sure was burning up with a fever so he placed his hand down on his head and soon the temperature lowered as Loki worked his charm. In a few seconds Dorian was nursed back to his optimum health. 

"Better?" Loki smiled and the grateful man nodded in response. He watched Dorian and Debra grow up in this village and fall in love with each other, some of these people were mere children when he came here. Some left the village too but most people stayed around for him, he kept them healthy, they never had to worry about any sickness. Reason why they remained silent about him being here and shielded him from the world.

"My lord, would you like a warm cup of tea?" Debra asked him and he nodded. 

"Thank you, I would love that"

He stepped out of the room along with her and looked at Alvis, he was playing with toys, he was the only reason why Loki even married Priscilla.

"Debra, may I ask you a question if you don't mind?" He spoke softly and she smiled.

"Absolutely" 

"In my absence, Did Priscilla try to look for me?" She instantly started fidgeting as he asked her that, she quickly placed the cup of tea down on the table in front of him and stepped away from him.

"I..uhh.. I don't want to say anything that would trouble you" He sighed as she said that. He just saw her kissing a stranger, he didn't think she could tell him something more horrendous than that.

"Do not concern yourself with that dear, come sit and talk to me" she sat down in front of him and looked down as she took a deep breath, she was nervous, he could tell.

"You can tell me the truth Debra" she nodded before she spoke.

"When you left ..we were all panicking and worrying about you, but Mrs Priscilla assured us that you were on a vacation of sorts and will come back soon" 

Loki raised his brow. How did she know he would come back and why did she lie to them about the vacation?

"Did you people ask her about my whereabouts?" He questioned her and she nodded.

"She said that you told her that you'd return in a few days but when a week passed and you didn't come we got more worried, we went to your shrine and found her crying her eyes out. Yelling and screaming that you were done with the village and having to take care of all of us and that's why you left, she told us that you abandoned her and your child" 

His eyes teared up as he heard that, Debra's eyes were moist too and he could feel that she wasn't making this all up. Maybe he didn't know the woman he has been living with at all.

"Rest assured my dear, I will never take such a step unless something tragic had to occur to me, this town accepted me when I fe...appeared here and I have vowed to take care of you all, for life" 

She bowed down to him again, deep down she always knew that their god wouldn't abandon them like that. She believed in him.

"Is everything ok?" She questioned him and he smiled

"It is, I just wanted to know what happened after I was taken" She hummed and looked at Alvis 

"Are you here to take him home?" She asked him and he shook his head

"No I just wanted to see him, Priscilla would be here to take him back, thank you for such a warm welcome, just don't tell her that I visited" he smiled as he got up and she nodded. 

Why did Priscilla lie to them? It didn't make any sense to him, he has started to see her in a totally different light now than he used to before.

He went home and took a shower, Everything was so messed up here since he came back, especially his relationship with his wife. And he truly abhorred it. He loved his life with you, it was easy, he only had to worry about his girl and her happiness, nothing else mattered. He felt consumed by you, you filled him with so much of love and you took it from him in equal amounts. No betrayal, no cheating, no heartbreak. His relationship with you was pious, full of serenity. And he just wanted to get back to his home, get back to his life, to you. 

You got the job with Natasha, there wasn't much skill required to become a janitor for a superstore. You only had to work 6 hours and you liked that, for those six hours you will get to take your mind off the reality and the cruel situation that you had gotten yourself into but then you also craved to return back to the apartment. It didn't have him but it had his memories lingering in every corner of that space. 

You bought a bouquet of Roses and Lavender on the way back home, you just wanted your place to smell like that. An odd combination but you got it made. As soon as you got back home you put the song Romeo and Juliet by Dire straits and just pictured him with you as you danced around. You picked up Cat and she curled up to you, purring as you scratched her head. It made you bawl your eyes out, you dressed her up in the Christmas themed clothes with a little hat and a scarf to go along, you placed her on the freezer, then you borrowed Phil's camera and clicked several pictures. Hoping that one of them would turn out nice.

"All I do is miss you and the way we used to be..All I do is keep the beat and the bad company..And all I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme ..Romeo I'd do the stars with you anytime" You sang along to the lyrics as you poured yourself a drink. And then another one after that, then again. You got a job, you convinced yourself that you were celebrating for getting out of your bed. That's what you were doing. 

Feeling the buzz from the drink and the music blasting in the background, You laid down in the freezer cuddling his pillow on your arms, picturing him instead, it smelled like him still and that's when you cried again. You couldn't help but wonder what you two would be doing if he was here right now, right next to you. You didn't stop weeping until you felt your eyes closing, you were going to see him in your dreams and that finally brought a smile to your face. 

When Priscilla got home, Loki didn't say a word, he asked her where she was so she showed him the grocery bags and rolled her eyes. 

"Can you heal my feet, it aches from walking" He smiled when she said that and grabbed her feet in his hands so he could fix her. His eyes teared up as he thought about the betrayal, but he didn't allow her to see him. There were several things that she was hiding from him and he had to find out the truth so he didn't say anything for now. At night she wanted to fuck him again. Did the man not satisfy her? He wondered.

"What do you hate about the marks?" He asked her as he smiled and she scrunched her face as if it disgusted her. He was losing whatever feelings of care and concern, he had for her more and more. He doesn't remember her being like this before, if she was, she was hiding it really well.

"I hate how they feel when I touch it, they look weird and gross, I know you hate them too but you were born with it, poor baby" she yelped as she touched the one on his forehead so he got rid of them. She didn't deserve to touch them anyways.

"New dress I see, where did you get the money from?" He asked her and she fidgeted nervously

"When you left, village people raised money for me because I don't work and you weren't here to take care of me anymore. I mean me and Alvis both, we needed money. Something wrong with that? They pay you with food and other things too for healing them in return" 

He nodded as she said that. They do it out of gratitude and not because he asked them for it. 

"Mmm keep going oh yeah, you feel so big Loki" she mumbled amidst the roar of pleasure, he felt like a machine on top of her, It felt like a chore but he was committed to the act as if it was a job he had to do. When she slept, he got downstairs, played the same song as you did thousands miles apart and at the same time. They were one of your favorite bands and he remembered that.

"Juliet, when we made love you used to cry.. I said I love you like the stars above..I'll love you till I die" he sang softly as he laid down on the couch. Now that he knew that his wife was indulging herself with an extra-marital affair he felt less awful, he didn't curse himself or felt horrible for thinking about you anymore.

He closed his eyes, placed a pillow on top of his chest and imagined you laying on him instead. A smile crept on his lips as tears dripped from the corner of his eyes simultaneously. He pictured himself in your apartment, holding you in his arms as you both moved to the beat slowly, he watched you twirling and heard you giggling. You looked happy and that made him happy.

The memories he made with you played over in his head like a film, filling him with the most heart wrenching bittersweet emotions. On one hand, he was happy because these memories were helping him to keep going, on the other hand though, being so far away from you was chipping his heart in pieces slowly, more and more everyday. He couldn't even talk to you because he knew that would only make things harder for both of you, especially you and he can't put you through more pain than he had already done. 

A week later Christmas arrived, you didn't ever do trees of your own so you helped Phil decorate his just like you have done in the past ten years. You almost lost him too this year, he got HIV and you knew it was a death sentence, you didn't know if you'd see this Christmas and New year with him but then an angel came into your lives and healed him. He gave Phil his life back. 

Natasha, Bruce, Nick, all came for the Christmas dinner at his apartment, both the couples seemed so happy and so in love with each other. It made your eyes tear up because you missed him, you missed your Bluey. You poured yourself a drink to numb some of that feeling, then you danced with your friends, hoping that Loki was being loved by his wife, that she was dousing him in affection because if there was something that hurt you more than being apart from him was imagining him hurt or sad. You'd never want that for your precious Bluey. 

On Christmas morning Loki woke up early and decorated the house a little bit, he didn't do much, he didn't understand the festival really well since he wasn't from here but he knew it brought people together and that it was an auspicious day for the people of his village. The postman dropped a letter on his name so he quickly picked it up before Priscilla would see it. It was from New York. It had your name on it. His precious girl.

His eyes teared up as soon as he read your name, he sat down on the porch outside and carefully opened the envelope to not tear it apart like an animal, he wanted to keep the envelope that had your name, address and your contact number on it, just in case he needed it. It had a Christmas card inside and he couldn't stop himself from crying as he read the words and looked at the picture of Cat, his furbaby.

And he knew that it wasn't just Cat that missed him. He knew that very well. He wiped his tears as he whispered a soft response, hoping that it would reach you.

"And I love you both my darlings, I'll love you forever"

❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚

Taglist : @el-zef   @pinestwinssimp     @froggiecky @snigdha-14     @howdidurhammergrowchris     @annoyingsweetsstranger     @michelleleewise @123forgottherest     @nada-duskwood   @mcufan72     @xorpsbane @colifower     @daddylokisqueen @juulle987     @asgardianprincess1050   @perhaps-just-june @lokisgoodgirl   @athwna @eyesbluelikethetitanic @sweatyroadcowboyjudge @lokisninerealms @huntress-artemiss @justasecretwriter @emma-laufeyson @catalina712 @nixymarvelkins @disneyismyworldforever

[muddyorbsblr]

relinquish the crown outtake: too precious to sacrifice

Series Masterlist See my full list of works here!

Placement: before the main story, a few days after 'a trinket'

Summary: At the banquet to celebrate the Summer Solstice, you're made aware of a painful betrayal, and your hand is forced to end a long-term friendship

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Word Count: 5.9k (y'all better buckle up. get a drink…maybe some snacks)

Warnings (trust me you need these): themes of incest (he's adopted but still); talks of execution & torture; a lot of angst

Things to be aware of: Reader is still oblivious

"You look enchanting in your gown, Daughter," your mother, Lady Sif, remarked as she looked over your wardrobe for the banquet tonight. She lightly touched the necklace you chose to accompany the cream-colored silk strapless gown, the pearls matching the shade of your dress so perfectly it was as if you were styled by the gods themselves. "Your necklace…it's beautiful, dear Y/N. Where ever did you get it?" 

"Midgard," you answered plainly. "They have some exquisite jewelers in that realm, Mother. We should pay a visit there one day, see their creations."

"I did not know you had a suitor who went all the way to Midgard to procure you jewelry," she said in awe. "Tell me about him."

"Suitor?" You snorted at your mother's line of thinking. "Mother this was not from a suitor, this was from Loki," you laughed. "He went to Midgard after his latest trip to Niflheim."

There was an uneasy feeling in Sif's heart as she weighed your words. Loki had never been the kind to bring home souvenirs, let alone gifts. She had never even seen him bestow anything resembling a token of appreciation to the lovers he had taken on in their youth. This behavior of his was foreign to your mother, and it didn't sit right with her.

"It's funny," you continued. "When he first showed me this I thought he'd gotten it for Astrid. She expressed such interest in courting him and I thought--well, never mind what I thought, it turned out not to be the case." You chuckled, and it sounded so innocent as you'd finished your sentence. 

Truly Sif wished to not color Loki's actions in her head with any trace of malice, for surely the intentions were not as lewd as the implications that her mind was conjuring. Perhaps he only wished to make up for the centuries worth of time lost with you. And besides, he'd mentioned that he was still searching for the person that his heart would yearn for, the one he would find ways to move the very realms for, when he'd first returned to Asgard a few years ago.

Unless…he'd already found her. And she was about to enter the banquet celebrating the Summer Soltice wearing his color around her neck.

No. Impossible. There were lines he would not cross. The rumors that had spread throughout the centuries, the millennia, were untrue. They all knew it in their bones; people just needed a figure to turn into a lech, and he was too absent to defend himself. Hence the rumors of fathering Hela. The rumors of fathering a horse. When in truth he was careful, and meticulous, in choosing his lovers.

Was it possible that that level of care and scrupulousness led him to you? 

She shook her head in disgust at herself for even thinking that way. He was her brother now, too. Family. And family did not dare to think so horrifically of one another the way her thoughts just led her to. 

"Well," she spoke once she found her voice again, placing her hands on your shoulders. "Your uncle has impeccable taste. It becomes you." 

You gave her a smile and told her you'd see her at the banquet. When she exited your room, she ran into the very person putting a portion of her mind at a state of unrest. 

"Loki, just the prince I was looking for," she called to him.

"Good afternoon to you, too, Sif." His face stayed stoic as ever, but his eyes flickered just by a fraction of a second to your chamber doors. Just long enough to warrant your mother narrowing her eyes at him.

"Brother," she started through nearly gritted teeth. "I'm positive that I am imagining things, but on the off chance that I am not…" She placed her hands firmly on his upper arms, grabbing harshly. "If you do anything to hurt Y/N, there will be nothing left of you for my husband to grieve. Are we clear?" 

"I've no intentions of hurting her, Sif. You have my word," he choked out, everything in him tensing under Sif's grip. 

"Good. Then we're clear. I suppose I'll see you at the banquet." With that, your mother walked away, her concerns dissipating. But her suspicions of Loki's intentions remained. 

When you walked into the grand ballroom within the palace, the place was bustling with citizens of Asgard and guests alike. People were dancing, mingling, nibbling on tiny sandwiches and various forms of fruits and cheeses. You spotted your parents with ease, giving them a little wave, as well as the Warriors Three not far off. 

Fandral gave you a little salute, Hogun a small raise of his hand, and Volstagg giving you a close-lipped smile as he chewed through a significantly larger sandwich. 

As you looked through the ballroom, you caught sight of your friends, Halley and Narda, by the table holding beverages, and they were waving you over. While you made your way to them, your eyes were drawn to a small gathering of women not far from your friends, giggling and--Norns, were some of them twirling their hair? Like the Midgardian adolescents? 

The recipient of their attentions, you discovered, was Loki. When your eyes met his he greeted you with a bright smile, which you returned with a playful smirk and a raise of your eyebrow as you subtly nodded toward his group of admirers. When you reached your friends, they enveloped you in a warm embrace. "You're absolutely stunning, Your Highness!" Narda exclaimed, her fingers daintily tracing along the necklace. "And your jewelry is otherworldly! Truly befitting of royalty," she giggled. "Where did you get it?" 

"Midgard," you answered, both their eyes widening at the answer. "It was a gift." 

"An admirer with exquisite taste?" Halley squealed. "Perhaps he can make his intentions known? And perhaps he has some friends?" 

"Halley, behave yourself," you chuckled. "It wasn't an admirer, it was Loki." 

"Oh," Narda sighed. "Well, at least Astrid wasn't around to hear that. She's still sullen over his declining." 

You noted your friend's absence. "Where is our dear Astrid anyway?" They motioned toward the admirers surrounding Loki. "Ah. I see. Well we must credit her persistence. She has it in abundance, it seems." You and your friends chuckled at your words. 

"It's just such a shame that you're no longer a named heir for the throne. You would make such an excellent King," you heard Astrid's voice echo in your head, followed by agreements from ladies that were too far away for you to hear. 

What in the Nine Realms?

"Y/N, darling. Don't be alarmed. It's just me. I believe you've the right to hear this," Loki's voice now floated in your mind. How was he doing this? 

"I mean, Your Highness," you heard Astrid continue. "In order for you to become a named heir once more, it would mean that the current heir would have to surrender her place on the line of succession. Or…something unfortunate were to befall her." Your heart dropped at your friends words. Was she honestly suggesting that she wished for Loki to take your place in the line of succession through something so…tragic?

"The Princess is a very intelligent woman, and I have no doubt she will be an excellent Queen when the time comes," you heard Loki answer them. A small smile appeared on your face as you heard his confidence in you delivered in his tone.

"But you would be much better. Especially if you were to have an…equally excellent Queen by your side." She truly was persistent, wasn't she? "If only there were a way to restore your position. Perhaps you could persuade Y/N to relinquish her position. Or perhaps…" 

And then you heard Loki once more. "Y/N, this woman is no friend of yours." 

You'd decided you've heard enough, and walked toward the admirers, toward the two-faced lady in waiting. 

There were no words to properly articulate how abhorrent the suggestion being given to Loki was, but there was a word he could use to describe how he felt at this moment: nauseated. For anyone to ever think he had it in himself to harm you, over something so trivial as a title and power? Over anything, truly. 

To betray you? He would rather suffer for the rest of his life than betray you. 

He knew that it was a perverse invasion of privacy to breach into your mind the way that he did, but he needed to find a way to inform you of the offensive suggestions being given to him. A way to make you aware of the alliances of the people who dared call themselves a friend to your face. He would apologize for it later; it was more imperative that this information would not escape you. 

He suppressed a smile as he watched you from your place at the drinks table, straightening your posture and squaring your shoulders, as you made your way over to them.  

Loki had known from how you handled the would-be assassin from the morning you'd been introduced that you had a rage inside of you that burned almost as intensely as his. He had no doubt that despite your history with his mother's lady in waiting, you were going to set her straight. By force, if you must.

What he wasn't prepared for, however, was your voice. 

"Perhaps what, Astrid?" Your words echoed throughout the ballroom, demanding — no, taking — the attention of everyone in attendance. 

Astrid looked unfazed by your tone, a forced smile finding itself on her face as she turned to face you. "Princess! What ever do you mean?"

An all-knowing smirk graced your features as you imitated her voice with an astounding accuracy. "Perhaps you could persuade Y/N to relinquish her position." He noted how her body stilled, as if she had frozen over. "Or perhaps…so continue, Astrid. Perhaps, what? Because surely you did not mean to imply that perhaps I could meet an unfortunate end so that Loki would take my place in the line of succession, did you?"

"Y/N, how absolutely naughty of you," she teased. "Listening in on conversations that do not concern you. How ever did you hear us anyway?"

A derisive look entered your eyes. "Let's say I have my ways. You'll find that those loyal to me are quite…creative, in their ways to keep me informed." His heart swelled at your faith in him, at how confidently you spoke of his loyalty to you. 

And then he heard your voice in his mind. "I am to do something you might think reckless. Scold me about it later, but for now, all you need to do is act truthfully." Fear settled in his stomach. What were you up to?

"Well I can assure you, Your Highness, it was all a spot of fun," she cooed at you. "I meant no malice, my friend." Her lies were so blatant, the god could nearly taste them, and it nauseated him. 

"Well perhaps it's wise for you to leave the 'spots of fun' to those knowledgeable in the difference between mischief and treason. Such as Prince Loki. Such as myself."

"Treason?" Her voice had raised an octave, grating on his ears. "Your Highness, I assure you—" You held your hand up to stop her from talking. 

Then you turned to face him, tilting your head. "Do you want it?" Did he want what? He wanted many things involving you, most of them involving closed doors and a silencing enchantment, the remainder being his desire to roam the streets of Asgard hand in hand with you. To explore the Nine Realms with you by his side. 

"Sorry, darling, you'll have to be more specific," he bantered with you. "It's quite the open-ended question you've presented me."

Your smirk once again had him wishing he could simply pull you in and kiss you, that it could be that simple, and you would simply be his already. "Do you want my place in the line of succession?"

So that was what you meant by something reckless. "My dear," he started with a tone of caution. "Who wouldn't want the chance to rule?" 

You tilted your head once more. "So then take it." You walked up to him, hands behind your back and looking up at him with big doe-like eyes. Norns, he wanted to kiss you. Desperately. "I'm right here, Loki. I'm the only thing standing in the way of you claiming a secure spot in the line of succession for the throne of Asgard and the Nine Realms. If you want it…" A borderline sadistic smile colored your face. "…then you'll have to kill me. Because I refuse to surrender."

What are you up to, little Princess? he thought to himself. His breath caught in his throat as you stepped even closer to him. So close he was sure you could see his pulse erratically beating against the skin of his throat. "Y/N, darling…"

"Shall I make it easier for you?" you whispered. He held on to the memory of how your voice sounded in this precise moment, storing it for nights ahead when he wished you would whisper more tawdry thoughts. In bed. 

You eyed the dagger that he displayed in a holster by his hip, and fear sunk in to him. Please don't do what I think you're about to do. But you did. 

In a flurry of movements, you grabbed hold of and unsheathed his dagger, he grabbed hold of your hand, and you twisted yourself into a position in his arms, dagger held to your throat, his hand firmly over yours, trying desperately to hold your hand away from your body. "Y/N, stop this," he hissed into your ear. 

"Do it," you said loudly, for everyone around you to hear. "If you truly wish to rule you have to make some sacrifices, my Prince." You started to squirm your body in a way that would bring the dagger closer to your neck, so he wrapped his free arm around your waist and pulled you against him, keeping you steady. 

"I will not harm you, Y/N. I could never," he whispered. He spoke the truth. The thought of you harmed by his own hand was enough to turn him inside out. The throne was not worth losing you over. He loved you too much. 

Fuck. There it was. Those words. The very ones he tried so hard to squash every time his mind wandered to the life he wanted you both to have so desperately. He loved you, and not in the way that he should. Not in the way of family. 

Loki was in love with you. You and your reckless little self with a death wish, pointing his dagger at your own throat to make a show in front of the backstabbing lady in waiting you'd once called your friend. 

"Your life is too steep of a price to pay for a crown, darling Y/N. You're too precious," he said loud enough for them all to hear. "If you doubt my loyalty, Princess, then I have clearly not done enough to prove myself." 

"No I know you wouldn't harm me," you announced to the crowd as you released yourself from his admittedly dangerous embrace. And then he watched as you looked directly into Astrid's now wide-set eyes. "But she needed to see. Because now you see, Lady Astrid, that your way to the crown would not be through seducing your way into Loki's bed and convincing him to turn on me. You sorely underestimated his fealty to me. And hilariously overestimated mine to you." 

"Your Highness, please." Her tone was different now, approaching her next words with caution rather than flippantly letting them loose as she did earlier. "I swear to you I meant no malice." 

"Daughter, explain to me now what is the meaning of all this ruckus??" your father's voice boomed from behind the two of you as he grabbed hold of your shoulders. "Is it true the whispers that I heard? Did Loki have an attempt on your life??" 

"I told you if you did anything to hurt my daughter--"

"MOTHER. FATHER." You shrugged off Thor's grip on you and held your hands up, standing in between your parents and Loki. "Please, I implore you to desist. Now." They took a step back. "Any whispers that you might have heard is entirely my doing. I was safe the whole time." 

"Technically you weren't, Princess, since that was still a sharpened dagger you chose to--"

"Not now, Loki," you commanded, holding a finger up in his direction. 

"Y/N, if you are lying to protect him, I will hang him myself," your mother threatened. 

"And if either of you make a move against him before I am even given the chance to fully explain, then you will have to go through me to do so," you bit back in an equally threatening tone. "Believe me when I say that the only witting party in this entire charade was me. He had no clue what my plans were." 

"She didn't even give me a moment to prepare, all she said was she was going to do something reckless," he offered, earning glares from your parents. 

"No," you protested him. "I said  I was going to do something you might think reckless. And before you say anything in comment about said reckless thing, I also said you can scold me about it later. Later hasn't come yet."  You faced your parents once more. "I took his dagger. I pointed the dagger to my throat. All he was doing was trying to stop me from hurting myself. It painted the exact image that I needed people to see." 

"But, Granddaughter, why would you do such a thing?" his mother spoke up, walking to the middle of you and your parents, taking position of mediator. "What could have compelled you to act so dangerously?" 

You took a  breath. "Lady Astrid tried to convince Loki to kill me so that he could take my place as Father's named heir. I simply pulled this entire charade to demonstrate to her that that was an exercise in futility." 

"My Queen, please, that is simply untrue. She's clearly conspiring with the God of Lies to concoct this heinous story against me," Astrid lied through her teeth, sounding as if she was on the verge of tears. Your parents hateful glares moved to your former friend. 

You placed your hand on Loki's arm to call his attention to you. As if you even had to; it never left. "You can cast illusions, correct?" He nodded at you. "Can you project a memory? Into someone's mind?" 

"In theory. I've never had to do it but I believe it can be done." 

"Then project what transpired tonight. To Grandmother. She's all you need to convince." He stepped toward his mother, who gave him a knowing look, and then closed her eyes, signaling her consent to let him project the memories.

"Y/N--"

You took one of his hands into yours, giving him a reaffirming squeeze. "You can do this. I believe in you." His heart swelled at the faith you had in him once more, and he took a deep breath and touched the tips of his fingers to his mother's temples. 

A few moments passed, and she let out a gasp, opening her eyes and turning to your parents. "She speaks the truth. Loki was unwitting in her plans. This one was implying that he could become your named heir if something were to happen to Y/N." She faced Astrid. "You will explain your actions, but first…" Then she turned to face Loki. "My son, the way you chose to convey your message was a breach into Y/N's mind, an invasion of her privacy--"

"He had my consent, Grandmother, it's alright." The god tried to keep his expression unchanged as he heard  you lie so smoothly. "We've conversed this way before. This is no matter of concern, I assure you." 

"If you insist, Granddaughter." She turned to face her lady in waiting again. "Lady Astrid, explain yourself."

"The remarks were simply made in jest, My Queen."

"And yet earlier you opted to perjure yourself? Were you dependent on my inability to uncover the truth, child?" The Queen gave you a look and nodded in your direction, and you took that as your cue to step forward and overtake the impromptu trial.

"No! No, Your Majesty, I swear upon my life--"

"Ooh, don't go swearing on anything so flippantly, Astrid," you cooed, mimicking  her tone from earlier. From when she underestimated your retaliations. "After all, your life might actually be on the line tonight." 

Stop thinking about her using that voice in the bedroom, Loki scolded himself. Now was not the time for his imagination to indulge in conjuring up what fantasies will keep him company for tonight. Not in the presence of your family, the one you shared with him, but not truly. Not by blood. But by bond? By bond, absolutely. 

"Princess, truly, it was meant in jest, all of it!"

"Even the part where we're supposedly conspiring to concoct this heinous story against you?" you bit back, making her go pale. She wasn't getting out of this unscathed, clearly. "Astrid, I'm not sure if you're aware of my roles and responsibilities, but I assure you that it is not simply sparkling gowns and floating around the streets of Asgard contributing to the aesthetics." 

He smiled to himself at your flourish upon saying 'floating around'. You may be more than just a contributor to aesthetics but he had to admit your presence always did make any place you were in exponentially more stunning than before you entered.

"You see, Astrid…as future Queen of Asgard and the Nine Realms, I have certain royal duties I must fulfill. One of which is deciding the punishments befitting certain acts of crime. The area I chose to specialize in? Acts of treason. And…" you turned in a circle to address your parents, your grandmother, your grandfather who just arrived to the mayhem, and Loki. "You're all free to correct me should I speak in inaccuracy, but if I recall, conspiracy to murder a member of the royal family is, in fact, an act of treason." 

You paused to look at your grandfather, his eyes  widening as he began to absorb the context of what was happening, fury dancing in them now as he nodded his agreement. A single nod his way and you continued. "And conspiring to kill a named heir…should entail an even graver punishment, I believe. And now I'm left to decide…what ever am I going to do with you." Astrid's eyes widened at your words. "I will take into consideration your testimony that you made your initial comments in jest, do not worry." You gave her a tight-lipped smile, the kind that made Loki's blood chill. The kind that displayed a cruelty in you he wished he would never receive.

"Thank you, Princess," she squeaked. "It will never happen again."

As she started to step aside and away from you, you motioned for the guards to block her way. "I'm not finished, Astrid. I said I would take it into consideration. I never said that your testimony would absolve you of your crime. You are yet to receive your sentence." You took a deep breath and began to walk around the space that had been freed up for you. "An act of treason this severe is deserving of the most extreme punishment available, of this you can be assured. Now, when someone is found guilty of such crimes, I have a few options to choose from when it comes to their sentence." 

You stepped close enough to Astrid that the god watching you was certain that you could now see the sweat beads breaking through her skin. "I could choose to strip you of your position. I could choose to strip you of your title, your property, and all your possessions. And in turn I could choose to extend that sentence to your entire lineage." The whimpers coming from the girl were audible, but everyone listening could tell that she was too afraid to dare interrupt you, for fear of you worsening her sentence.

"Now if I were a malevolent ruler, which I don't wish to be, I could disregard your sworn statement, and sentence you to the full extent of my powers, and perhaps even request for special authority to extend those powers, given that while I am a named heir, I am not Queen. Not yet. I could banish you, and with that I can carefully and scrupulously choose upon which realm you are banished to. Or I could have you executed, even opt to become executioner if I were feeling particularly vengeful. I could choose how quick and merciless it would be, given we do have history and I can factor in sentimentality when doling out your punishment." 

You let out a dark chuckle as you saw the tears begin to form in your former friend's eyes. "Or I could take that history, and that sentimentality in the other direction. Throw my compassion out the window, and prolong your suffering. Torture you within an inch of your life, bring you to the healers to restore you into your former unharmed and unscathed state, and repeat the process again. And again. And again." You leaned in even closer to her, your breath surely fanning across her face as she shuddered, although Loki couldn't tell if it was from fear or from rage. "Until you're begging me to kill you." 

"Princess, please--" she choked out. "I swear to never betray you--"

"You truly favor such extreme statements, don't you, Astrid?" you laughed. "You swear on your life. It will never happen again. You swear to never betray me. But I know you will. I know not when you will. It could be tomorrow, it could be next week, it could be decades from now, but I see it in your eyes. I know you will. But…tonight I choose to take into consideration your statement, our history, and my sentimentality and compassion. You won't be banished and you most definitely will not be executed. Not for words you made in jest." 

Your emphasis on the last words made it evident enough to Loki that you didn't believe her statement, and you were doing this out of mercy, not gullibility. You knew just as well as he did that she meant those suggestions genuinely. From his position, he could see the slightest tremble in your hands as you continued, and he knew in his heart that despite your tone, despite the authority you displayed, you were not relishing in this moment. You had just been betrayed, and you were cutting ties with someone you'd known, someone whose company you once treasured, for centuries. 

It was all he could do not to walk to you, wrap you in his arms, and whisk you away from the heartache you were expertly hiding. 

"I will, however, take something of great value to you," you continued. "You are stripped of your title as lady in waiting to the Queen and Allmother. Furthermore, barring any kingdom-wide celebration, you are forbidden from entering the premises of the palace." 

"Princess!" she yelled. "Please, be reasonable!"

"Reasonable?" you spat out. "Astrid, had you gone for someone distant from me in my family's lineage, or someone estranged from me, your betrayal would not have hurt as severely as it does." Loki could hear the sobs threatening to break through in your words. "Instead you chose to attempt to conspire with one of the people closest to me. Someone I love." His heart stopped at your words once more. He refused to ever take for granted the fact that he had that standing with you. 

"You will never fully comprehend the pain you caused me today, and truly I hope you never will. But I wish for you to be able to go the rest of your days knowing that had I decided on your sentence in accordance to the pain you dealt me, I would have banished you to Muspelheim to become Surtur's plaything with nothing more than the clothes on your back." Your hand was shaking more erratically now, as was your voice, and Loki couldn't bear it any longer; he walked over to you and took your shaking hand in his. It was as if you'd visibly calmed as you squeezed his hand and took a deep, steadying breath. "Instead I am sending you home. So do believe me, Astrid, when I tell you that this? This punishment that I am sentencing upon you for your betrayal tonight? This is me being reasonable." 

Astrid choked as she sobbed, her new reality beginning to sink in, her hatred burning in her eyes. "Very well then. I will retrieve my belongings and--" 

"Oh. No, Astrid." You nodded toward the palace guards and they approached her. "You will be escorted off the palace grounds and back to your family home. There the guards will explain to your family, with a sworn statement signed by myself, what transpired here tonight, and why you've been stripped of your position. I will send you your possessions in the morning." With another nod at the guards surrounding her, she was escorted away from you and out of the ballroom. 

Loki felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to see his brother. "Brother I owe you an apology." He motioned towards Sif. "We both do. To both of you." 

You merely nodded at your father before walking away and making your way back to your remaining friends. He watched as they enveloped you in an embrace, the disappointment rife on their faces. He saw them mouth sentiments that they'd not known Astrid would be such a traitor. For some reason, he found himself believing them, that they'd not known how deeply the woman's jealousy of you truly ran. 

"She trusts you," he heard Sif comment once her husband had gone. "Possibly more than she trusts anyone. And she's protective of you." She gripped his arm tightly once more. "My promise still stands. If you hurt her, there will be nothing left of you for Thor to grieve." 

"If I hurt her, there may be nothing left for you after she's done with me," he answered, earning a proud smile from your mother. "There's a rage in her. She exerts an extraordinary effort to hide it, but it's there." 

"It's much like yours when we were younger. I can barely imagine the chaos if you two were to burn in that rage together." Her hold loosened. "Your presence calms her. I saw it. You are not her blood. She knows that." His blood began to run cold. Did Sif know of his affections? How could she possibly? "And yet she treats you as family all the same. All I ask is that you take care of her. Protect her when you can."

He let out a sigh, though if it were one of relief or underlying disappointment at the reality that the words you meant earlier was that he was someone you loved as you loved Thor and Sif, he couldn't determine quite yet. 

"With my life, Sif," he promised, and she walked away from him, making her way back to her husband and the Warriors Three, who were currently singing the praises of how fiercely you'd handled such a shock to your system today.

Of course he, too, was filled with pride on how you'd handled this adversity, and he would gladly sing your praises alongside them. After he made sure that you were alright. Your emotional state at this moment was more important than cementing your legacy through songs about the story of tonight. 

Your friends were off dancing with a couple of noblemen when he made his way to you, leaning against a pillar, daintily sipping on a cup of wine. 

"Are you alright?" He gently placed his hand on your back, and he was nearly moved to tears as he felt you relax and choose to lean against him instead. 

"Truthfully? No. She was my friend, Loki. I thought that I was hers, too." He wrapped his arm around you, holding you closer to him as he felt you shaking. Almost violently. "When she betrays me again, and I know she will, it will be worse. I saw such hatred in her eyes, and now that I know what it looks like I feel like a fool. Why didn't I ever see it before? She always had it, hiding in plain sight." 

"You chose to see the good in her. That does not make you a fool, darling." 

"I fear that she would attempt to use you to--"

"Y/N, stop." He took the cup from your hands and handed it to a member of the palace staff before taking your hand in his. "There is not a soul in the Nine Realms that could ever make me betray you. You need to know that." 

"I know you couldn't," you answered him. "I know it in my bones. Which is strange because I have this belief that anyone can betray anyone. With the right incentive. The right motivation. But you…I look at you and I know you could never. That you're the exception. I just--I know not why. And I care not why." 

Because I love you, he wanted to tell you. I love you and I would rather suffer the most torturous execution you can conjure in your brilliant mind, for the rest of my days, than even think of doing anything to hurt you. Instead of uttering those words that could damn him for the rest of his existence, he placed a tender kiss at the top of your head. A gesture of comfort, yes. But also a gesture of love. Of protection.

"I need to be away," you whispered.

"Y/N, no. You shouldn't be alone--"

"I said I need to be away, not that I need to be alone." You looked up at him, and he saw the tears swimming in your eyes, threatening to escape them. "I need to cry and I'd rather not do it in the presence of the entirety of Asgard." 

"Come with me." You nodded and followed him through the halls of the palace until you reached a place that held no guards, no staff, and no prying eyes and ears to see or hear you in your vulnerable state.

Unfortunately, for Loki, he thought the fates cruel creatures with a borderline offensive sense of humor. For when he said that he desired to be with you behind closed doors with a silencing enchantment in place, he did not ever wish for it to be because you were both on the ground, him cradling you in his arms, while you screamed and cried your heart out. 

A/N: Really? That was the moment he realized he's in love with her? God these two are so messy and for what--

Also, I wish I could say that it was, but this isn't the last time we're gonna see Astrid…She'll be back…eventually…

Also fun fact: This entire outtake is longer than the entirety of the main story. The main story has 5.8k words.

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Everything: @lokisgoodgirl @lokischambermaid @imalovernotahater @mygfloki @lucylaufeyson3 @thomase1 @springdandelixn @fictive-sl0th @mochie85 @laliceee @xorpsbane @gigglingtigger @silverfire475 @cabingrlandrandomcrap @vickie5446 @salempoe @lokixryss @sinsandguilt @lokidbadguy @alexakeyloveloki @glitterylokislut @arch-venus25 @freefrommars @littlemortals @cakesandtom @girl-of-multi-fandoms @mischief2sarawr @thedistractedagglomeration @five-miles-over @goblingirlsarah @peaches1958 @huntress-artemiss @lilibet261 @iobsessoverfictionalmen @holymultiplefandomsbatman @lovingchoices14 @avoliax @devilsadvocactus @purplegrrl27 @lokiprompts @sititran @imherefortomhiddleston

relinquish the crown: @kalinaselennespeaks @severuslovebot @kats72 @baffledbymybrilliance

[lokigodofaces]

Personally, I think if the writer is able to do the worldbuilding well, I'm okay with whether Jotuns can't be touched or if the frostbite is a voluntary form of attack. I've also read a fic where Loki thought that the frostbite was automatic because every time he's seen a non-Jotun touch one there was frostbite. Y/N didn't know this, touched him, Loki was panicked because he thought she'd get hurt but then she didn't. I don't remember the fic, but I found that a fun way to do it. Little combination of both headcanons.

My biggest issue is that, typically, I don't think the worldbuilding with this particular issue is set up very well in fics where one could touch Loki. And it is almost always the same. Loki turns Jotun because of angst and proving that he is a monster and Y/N kisses him to prove he isn't a monster. There's never a time set up beforehand that Jotuns are safe to touch, it just happens out of nowhere. Also, yeah, I don't think most writers put enough weight on that. Loki has so much self loathing because of this, I don't think he'd willingly turn Jotun unless there was a really good reason for it (ie they need to freeze something or everyone will die or whatever).

And I agree that Loki can't control it. We literally watched Odin turn him Asgardian in the flashback. Odin has powerful magic, even Loki wouldn't be able to break it easily. And maybe he wouldn't even want to break it! If he hates being Jotun so much, why would he want to appear as anything but Asgardian? My fic I'm writing will have Loki searching for a way to get rid of Odin's magic, but only because he doesn't want any bit of Odin lingering in his life. Once he figures it out, he's gonna switch right back to be Asgardian by his own accord and won't plan on showing himself as Jotun ever. He just wants that to be his choice and not Odin's. So, yeah, that's my personal headcanon of how it would work.

Personally, I like it when generally, you can't touch a Jotun. But there are certain people/circumstances where it's possible. I write tesseroki, so obviously Tess can touch Jotuns. But I think there are certain times it would make sense. Like I think Iceman or someone else with similar powers would be able to touch Jotuns. I wrote a fic (unpublished oneshot, it will be published as part of whumptober) where Loki was stranded in Death Valley in his Jotun body for hours and suffered various heat related problems. Eventually, he was found by two men that live in Death Valley and they pick him up off the road and into their truck to take care of him. It's not explicitly stated in the oneshot, but due to Loki being overheated by a lot, the humans were able to touch him because he was too hot to give anyone frostbite. I also have an idea I'm debating on for a fic. Y'all should give me your thoughts because I'm interested and haven't made any decisions yet. I have a fic (same one where Loki only wants to get rid of Odin's spell so that he can have agency in this matter) where Y/N has fire powers. I've thought about her being able to touch Loki when he's in his Jotun form (spoilers: he's gonna have to go Jotun at some point possibly he'll need to idk why yet i'm working on it) because she can heat her body enough that she can't possibly get frostbite. But she's got to be careful. Heats up too much and she'll burn Loki. I dunno, I've been messing around with the idea, I'm not so sure, I'm open to your thoughts. But, yeah, other than really specific situations like these, I don't think just anyone should be able to touch Loki. As the screenshot shows, Loki already is cold as heck. Imagine him as Jotun! There's gotta be a good reason for why someone doesn't get frostbite from him.

But, yeah, obviously we're in the minority here. Maybe I'm just ace and out of the loop, but I do think the Loki fandom is pretty horny. And I imagine that lots of people find Loki incredibly attractive as Jotun. I mean, I think the design we see from the first film is so aesthetically pleasing. He looks pretty as Jotun! I'm certain many allos find him very sexy as a Jotun! And I can understand wanting a self insert character to tell him that because Loki sure as heck doesn't see himself as good looking as Jotun. It's got angst and comfort and horniness tied up in a bow together. But it would be real nice to see more fics take the intense cold temperatures into consideration.

Wait I don’t know if anyone’s talked about this before, but in Jotun Loki fics, people always have the reader touch him while he’s in that form which sort of… never made sense to me.

Considering the fact that he’d be reverted to his Jotun form, wouldn’t anyone who touched him began to freeze? Hence why (perhaps one of the reasons) Loki in Thor 1 was so apprehensive about grabbing Odin’s hand, with the hand the Jotun grabbed him by and reverted him with in Jotunheim?

I… don’t think you’d be able to touch him. And he wouldn’t just be cold to the touch. Loki is ALREADY quite cold to the touch canonically (right bottom corner shown in the picture above), so in his Jotun form… he’d be freezing.

Anyone please correct me if I’m wrong, though. Was just wondering because I always had the sort of idea that if you touched Loki while he was reverted to his Jotun form, that it would be dangerous. Just like touching any other Jotun.

Which is one of the reasons he was probably afraid to grab Odin’s hand. Not only at the thought of himself being a “monster” and untouchable in that sense, but also literally being untouchable because it wasn’t necessarily safe and he was hyper conscious of it, even if he had already been reverted back.

I get people excuse things for the sake of Fanfic, but I actually don’t think I’ve seen people talk about this before. So I don’t know if it’s just them excusing it, or a fandom-wide misconception.

May reword this later. Probably sounds a bit stupid and might be straight up incorrect in some areas because I just woke up.