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wheredafandomat · 11 months

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In my Solitude

Thor x Reader x Loki - Asgard AU

18+ | contains smutty themes + adult themes etc. angst

Chapter 2 | prev | next

“And you’re sure?” You questioned cautiously, looking up at the nurse.

“Positive my lady” she nodded.

“No one can know, you mustn’t tell a soul” you threatened.

“Of course my lady” she nodded again as you began to stand, feeling a little lightheaded.

“Tell me about Midgard” you requested, your head against Loki’s arm as you looked up at the stars from your perch on one of the balconies. Taking the almost empty bottle of mead from your hand, Loki took a swig before he spoke.

“Well, I suppose it’s like here but with fewer stars” he answered.

“Really?” You asked, awestruck.

“Well there’s a few differences like they don’t have any magic there they have something else called technology and the music y/n, the music is dulcet. The harmonious melodies they have there are the real magic.”

“Really?” You gasped.

“Really” he smiled, glancing down at you before looking at the sky again “and they’ve got different countries with different rules and different rulers” he continued.

“I bet you would be the best ruler, you could rule them all” you giggled.

“I agree,” he nodded, “although I don’t think they’ll take kindly to that.”

“You’re wasted here” you murmured, looking up at him.

“How so?” Loki questioned, looking down at you.

“Here you’re cast to the shadows, always following in his footsteps but elsewhere you’d be able to shine, you’d be a king Loki” you grinned.

Loki let the words linger for a moment before he spoke.

“A king needs a queen,” he stated.

“We get along, I could be your queen” you suggested playfully.

“Yeah?” Loki smiled.

“Yes” you nodded, your gaze dipping to Loki’s lips as his lowered to yours. The tense seconds that passed between you both felt like hours as you ripped your stares apart, Loki clearing his throat.

“But alas, you’re promised to someone else” he continued the conversation.

“Well I’ll run away if you will,” you laughed.

“Yeah, we’ll meet at the palace gates and run off into the sunset together” Loki chuckled.

“Stranger things have happened my friend, stranger things” you smiled before a comfortable silence settled between you both.

“Will you take me one day, Loki, to Midgard?” You requested.

“I’d do anything you ask” he answered quickly, too quickly.

Eventually, the two of you decided to head back to your chambers, Loki helping you to yours as you stumbled over your own feet, giggling with each step. Allowing you to lean on him, Loki guided you towards your bed before you inelegantly threw yourself into it, rushing underneath the duvet. You looked up at him as he looked down at you, knowing you wanted to say something.

“Yes?” He prompted.

“I want to hear more about Midgard,” you asked.

“Of course you do,” he smiled, noticing your shiver before he clicked his fingers, igniting the fireplace as you moved across the bed to the other side, gesturing for him to lay down. Without pulling the duvet back, Loki laid down and began to speak as your eyes fell closed.

“And that’s not even the half of it” he finished, placing a kiss against your cheek as he heard your breathing even out. Standing to his feet, he looked at you for a moment, the rise and fall of your chest before he silently bid you goodnight and left your chambers.

Waking up the following morning, you cursed Thor’s mead as your head throbbed. Like most mornings, your chambermaids bathed you, clothed you and fed you before reading your daily schedule. Today you had meetings with your ladies in waiting, meetings that mostly consisted of you sitting bored as you sipped tea. As you left your chambesr to attend the first meeting of the day, you spotted Loki heading towards one of the training rooms. Dismissing your escort, you followed Loki, slipping in behind him before the door closed. You watched him, intrigued as he began laying out various weapons from the weapons vault, his back to you as you slowly stepped towards him.

“You know it isn’t polite to stare”

You gasped, your breath escaping you as Loki spoke in your ear. Spinning around, you were met by Loki who was smiling coyly at you. Glancing over your shoulder, you saw the other Loki practically disappear.

“A clone” you figured.

“You shouldn’t be in here” he smirked “this is my domain”

“Is that a threat?” You stood your ground as Loki began to circle you.

“Merely a statement, a fact if you will,” he shrugged.

“There isn’t anywhere in the palace I don’t have access to, this room, your domain included” you smiled smugly.

“I don’t doubt that,” he agreed. “However there are certain places that have certain rules, rules that must be abided by, even by you” he spoke.

“Such as?” You ventured.

“No one enters this room and leaves without a fight” he informed you.

“Am I supposed to be scared?” You smiled.

“Very” he answered in a tone that could have been mistaken for sultrily, a tone that made you falter for a moment before composing yourself again. “I promise, I’ll go easy on you” he assured.

“Oh Loki, the last thing I want is for you to go easy on me” you dared.

“So you want it hard then?” He smirked.

“I was trained as a Valkyrie Loki, do you want it hard?” You rebutted.

“Very well” he began, taking a dagger from his ankle holster and handing it to you “are you sure you’re dressed appropriately?” He asked, eyeing the dress draped over your body, touching the floor. Using the dagger, you tore the bottom of the dress off to allow your feet to move more freely before nodding.

“Give me your best shot” you spoke before you and Loki began to fight. Your blades clashed against one another as you dodged eachothers attacks. You couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across your face at the feeling of a sharp dagger in your hand again, the feeling of fighting again; you couldn’t remember the last time you felt this alive. You could tell Loki was holding back. He was one of the most skilled fighters in the nine realms and yet you had managed to nick at his skin a couple of times.

“Stop holding back” you shouted over the clanging of metal and your heavy breathing paired with his.

“I’m not, maybe you’re just that good,” Loki answered.

“Nonsense” you huffed, holding the dagger against his throat.

“Fine” he caved in, wrapping his arm around your back as he pulled you against him “if you step backward, this dagger plunges into your back.”

“And if you step forward, this dagger slices your throat” you shot back, your eyes boring into one another’s.

“So, we find ourselves in quite the predicament” he voiced.

“Although I’m at an advantage” you spoke, causing Loki’s smile to fall as you stepped back a little, freeing yourself from his grip as his dagger pierced through your dress, penetrating your skin a little.

“Y/n!” Loki gasped, dropping his dagger as he spun you around.

“It’s fine, just a little scratch, these dresses have such thick corsets attached” you dismissed.

“I could have seriously hurt you” Loki reprimanded you, untying the strings of your corset “let me heal you” he offered, removing your corset and placing his hand over the graze. The area felt cool for a moment before Loki let go. Unlike the last time in your chambers, you were wearing undergarments so your body wasn’t completely unclad, not that you would have minded with the way Loki was looking at you, forcing himself to focus on your eyes, hungry as you turned to face him.

“So, I win?”

“Get out y/n” Loki spoke, causing you to furrow your eyebrows in confusion.

“Sorry I—” you began.

“Go, now!” He raised his voice a little, catching you off guard as you quickly spun around and headed for the door.

Bit of an abrupt ending 🤣

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percheduphere · 10 months

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LET’S TALK ABOUT EXPLORING LOKI & MOBIUS THROUGH THE LENS OF QUEER EXPERIENCE

Thank you for this request, @nabananab

Before I dig into this juicy ask, I think it’s important to note (however obvious the fact maybe) that an individual’s unique engagement with art is an inherent and integral part of art. The intention of the artist and the sociopolitical influence of culture, while important in our interpretation of a work, are not the sole source of drawing the work’s meaning. We are all artists in one form or another. I consider myself one of the pen, and nothing is more important to me than art giving someone a sense of emotional connection. I should hope other artists would agree, and for this reason I am an ardent believer in art taking on a life of its own once it has been created. The creator’s word, while it matters to some degree, does not supersede an individual’s relationship with the creation. Our histories, our desires, our fears, our likes, our dislikes, indeed our infiniteness as fragile human beings, allow us to create an elevated, spiritual interpretation beyond the confines of original intent. With art, there is no such thing as “reaching” or “reading too deeply”.

I leave this message with all of you as we look at these beloved characters through the lens of queer experience.

LOKI

Culture influences what we see and hear, which in turn influences artistic portrayal. Setting aside Norse myth, Marvel’s Loki is a classic example of a queer-coded villain (later canonized as a queer antihero). Deception, daggers, sexual temptation, transformation, and magic are all culturally tied to the “immoral” facets of femininity. Just as a strong, independent woman untethered to the control of man is deemed a “wicked woman”, a man demonstrating gender ambiguity and like qualities is similarly judged. Only masculinity is viewed as pure and good, and this no doubt was—and continues to be—a key force in white, western colonization’s destructiveness. It all but crushed our rich global history of divine femininity, gender diversity, and romantic and sexual expression.

Asgard, as Marvel portrays it, is without a doubt a masculine-dominant warrior society. Only two women feature prominently: Queen Frigga and Lady Sif. Whereas Sif embraces her masculine qualities and fits in easily with Thor and the Warriors Three, Queen Frigga embraces her feminine powers, though her authority is submissive to the All-Father, Odin. Her influence is most heavily seen in her adopted son, Loki, with whom she shared and taught magic in hopes that Loki might “feel some sun on himself” despite the “long shadows [Thor] and [Odin]” cast. The magic that Frigga gifts Loki, however, attracts scorn. The subtext here is that Loki’s specialness, his individuality, comes from feminine powers despite presenting as a man, and a gender ambiguous one at that. Unlike Thor and Odin, he is not masculine. While strong, he does not exhibit Thor’s brute strength. He is cautious, thoughtful, another feminine quality, whereas Thor’s courageousness often veers toward foolhardy and brash.

Thus, if Loki cannot be loved and accepted as he is (a queer person of another race), he will force love and acceptance through the power of the throne. Kings oft inspire fear, coercing subjects to love them whether they wish to or not. But we know Loki never truly wanted the throne. The throne is a mere distraction from, perhaps even a poor replacement for, what he truly wants: genuine love and acceptance that cannot be bought. Unfortunately, Loki believes he will never get these things, which is why, when Mobius questions him, Loki’s desire for control (Loki, King of the Midgard; Loki, King of the Nine Realms; Loki, King of Space) can never be satiated. Mobius challenges Loki for the exact purpose of revealing this to him. What do you really want? At this point, Loki does not have the words to form an answer. In S2E5, Syvlie raises the question Mobius originally asked in S1E1. It is then, after experiencing Mobius’s friendship and the other relationships that come to being as a result (including Sylvie’s), that Loki can articulate his answer.

Loki’s othering, even before the discovery of his true identity as a Jotun (an allegory for a villainized foreign race), creates a lonely environment in which Loki’s potential for goodness is quashed by centuries of resentment, bitterness, and jealousy. His attempts at masculinity take the form of violence, all of which are, as Loki admits in S1E1, “part of the illusion; the cruel elaborate trick conjured by the weak to inspire fear.”

Loneliness and the desire for love and acceptance are a universal human experience, but they are felt far more acutely within our intersectional queer communities.

MOBIUS

His fascination with Loki is compelling because there are many things we can infer about its reasons. The first, most obvious explanation is Mobius’s “soft spot for broken things”, which is in some ways tied to his qualities as a compassionate, forgiving, and supportive father. A secondary explanation is a wish for partnership. We know from S1 that Mobius’s friendship with Ravonna spanned eons. We later learn in S2E6 that he and Ravonna started out as peers, hunters. They were partners on the field, but where Mobius “failed” because of his humanity, Ravonna “advanced” because of her ruthlessness. This change in relational dynamics left him partner-less. Finally, a third, less obvious reason is Mobius’s desire to express himself in ways Loki does so effortlessly. That desire may come from the suppression and repression of his own softspoken queerness in order to survive the fascist culture of the TVA.

Mobius is captivating for many reasons. Whereas Loki is a textbook example of culture viewing “queerness as evil”, “queerness as flamboyance”, “queerness as stylishness”, “queerness as loudness”, “queerness as sexual promiscuity and deviance”, “queerness as chaos”, Mobius very much aligns with the image of a straight-passing, repressed queer individual. This is an identity that does not get as much attention or presence in artistic media as it deserves, for there are many who need this representation to reflect them. He is not stereotypically queer by any means: he is not colorful. He is not stylish, flamboyant, or loud. His sex appeal primarily derives from the viewers’ attraction to his personality, though it certainly helps that Owen Wilson is quite handsome.

Combine these three reasons, and it becomes easy to see how a character (or person!) like Mobius might fall in love with a character (or person!) like Loki.

There is a certain amount of beautiful irony in how Loki and Mobius affect one another and consequently their identities. Mobius, feeling compassion toward an individual who has been brutally othered and oppressed, seeks to free Loki from the confines of his narrative, as determined by the “Time Keepers”. The only feasible way to do this is to bring a variant of Loki out of the timeline and into the TVA. Mobius then provides Loki with the opportunity to change by: acknowledging Loki’s strengths, giving Loki the chance to use his strengths in productive ways, praising Loki when he does well, listening to Loki, believing in Loki, calling out Loki, and accepting Loki as he is, with all his history, without judgement. Mobius does not try to force change like Thor or Odin. Rather, he creates an environment in which change could happen naturally. This kindness and, indeed, what becomes unconditional love by the end of S1E4, allows Loki to embrace his authentic queerness with self-love and use his feminine powers for altruism rather than masking them with self-hatred and masculine rage.

FREEING LOKI

In S1E1, Mobius is enthralled with Loki’s hijinks as the handsome, charming, devil-may-care, D.B. Cooper. This minor escapade in Loki’s life, which was likely only intended for laughs by the writer, reveals something interesting about Mobius: Loki’s mischievousness, his magic, his cunning, are all quite endearing to him when no real harm is being inflicted. That is, Loki, when not under duress, is someone to be admired when he’s being himself. We admire in people what we wish we had in ourselves, and this, at times, may lead to powerful attraction.

Loki, for his part, does much the same for Mobius. The environment (the TVA) which allowed Loki to thrive is also the same environment that has abused and constrained Mobius.

The heat that Ravonna presses upon Mobius, however, changes his tone with Loki himself. When Loki asks Mobius why he “[sticks] his neck out for [him]”, Mobius provides Loki with two options to choose from: “A. He sees a scared little boy shivering in the cold, or B. He will say whatever he needs to say to get the job done”. Option A, while insulting, has compassion layered beneath the barb. Loki, an expert at cloaking truth with meanness, sees through this and indirectly chooses what he believes to be true in the cafeteria scene: that Mobius feels sympathy for Loki’s painful childhood. The subtext of this acknowledgement is that the true means to the end is reversed: Mobius doesn’t need Loki to catch the Variant on the timelines. Mobius needs the Variant to free Loki from the timelines. The Variant is an excuse and another agent of poetic irony: when Sylvie unleashes the multiverse, she literally frees Loki of his predetermined narrative.

The conceit of S1E1 is that Mobius intends to use Loki for the “good” of the Sacred Timeline. It is important to remember that characters, while not real, are meant to mirror human complexity. Multiple, seemingly conflicting things may be true concurrently. In S1E2, we see in Mobius’s conversations with Ravonna that he deeply believes in Loki’a capacity to be a wonderful person and wants him to have the opportunity to change. His enthusiasm for these things outshines his desire to catch Sylvie.

And, because the Variant is Loki, because Sylvie is Loki, because, as she says, “[they] are the same”, Mobius’s own freeing of Loki, his unconditional love for him, cascades from Loki to Sylvie. Sylvie would not be free to live as she pleases if not for Mobius’s compassion for Loki in the first place.

In S1E4, Loki reveals the TVA’s sham. Mobius’s sense of self becomes fragile alongside his sense of partnership with Loki. But because of our sociopolitical culture’s influence on capitalism, the creative voices of the Loki series self-censures what could be (what is) a queer romance. This self-censureship makes itself known in Mobius’s own self-censureship. His jealousy and heartbreak cannot be spoken directly. It must be spoken through the words of a woman, someone who presents as the opposite sex. Through a looping memory of a scornful Sif telling Loki, “You are alone and always will be”, Mobius makes known the nature of his feelings for him.

BUT WHO WILL FREE MOBIUS?

In the same cafeteria scene in S1E2, Loki asks Mobius if he’s ever ridden a jet ski. Mobius’s response is demure, saying him riding one would “cause a branch for sure”. The jet ski gives the audience another clue as to what Mobius seeks in life: something fun, thrilling, and reckless. Yet Mobius sets aside his desires for what he believes is for the good of the TVA, and thus humanity. This suppression and repression of authentic selfhood mirrors the queer experience of living within a heteronormative culture, especially one with religious doctrines that equate pleasure with sinfulness.

Because Mobius extended his heart, his partnership, his love (symbolized by twin daggers hidden in his locker [a closet]; notably a male phallic symbol of which there are a pair [partners]) and was soundly rejected, Mobius retaliates with the loneliness he himself feels. This loneliness may be interpreted as an allegory for the loneliness of being closeted as opposed to the loneliness of being out but othered.

Ultimately, Mobius’s love for Loki shifts from selfish desire to unconditional love when he chooses to help Loki save Sylvie. In S1E5, it is conspicuous that after delivering Sylvie safely to Loki’s side, Mobius’s partings words are, “Guess you got away again”, to which Loki replies, “I always do”, which echos the lover’s trope of “the one that got away”.

[It drives me absolutely bananas that I can't find the specific gif I need when I literally saw it multiple times earlier this week but didn't need it THEN]

Owen’s acting choice is interesting here. He laughs, smiles, then looks down before looking up again, his eyes shifting from fondness to what feels like longing. Mobius extends his hand, a sensible choice for someone who believes his love is unrequited and is unsure of how Loki defines their relationship. Loki, appreciating what Mobius has done for him, closes the distance with an embrace and thanks Mobius for his friendship.

In S2E1, upon Loki’s time-slipping into the war room, whatever apprehensions Mobius had about physical contact was wiped away by the collapse of the TVA and the memory of Loki’s hug. In this scene, it becomes clear to Mobius that Loki is panicking. He makes the executive decision to use his physical contact as a grounding force, relocates Loki to a quiet environment, asks after Sylvie with no bitterness in his voice, then prioritizes Loki’s physical well-being. Perhaps, in Mobius’s view, his love is unrequited, but there is nothing in place to stop him from expressing that love more freely while honoring Loki’s feelings for Sylvie. This regard, which may be construed as platonic, may also be viewed romantic, courtly love.

The fight between Loki and Sylvie in S1E6 sets the stage for Mobius to receive Loki and become a refuge for heartbreak.

S2E2 and S2E3 has Loki’s and Mobius’s temperaments when it comes to investigating flipped. In S1, Mobius was focused on the mission and often had to reign in Loki. In S2, Mobius is more casual, more willing to take his time and enjoy the sleuthing as it unfolds, while Loki administers pressure to stay focused. The question is why?

In S2E2, Brad attacks Mobius’s sense of self. He points out how weird it is that Mobius is not at all curious about looking at his timeline and stresses that the TVA, and everything in it, isn’t real. Brad calls into question Mobius’s reason for staying. Knowing that the answer is Loki, we can surmise through the queer lens that Brad also corners Mobius into potentially outing himself in front of the object of his affections, someone he believes does not return his feelings, and whose knowledge of those feelings may threaten their friendship. This is a traumatic experience for queer people in the real world, and this extra layer of emotional conflict adds depth to Mobius’s violent response.

Mobius influenced Loki in a myriad of ways. One that has not been discussed yet is an appreciation for focus and order. Loki, in turn, has cracked the door open for Mobius to explore pleasure. We can speculate that, in his own way, Mobius is testing what happiness could look like living a life between the TVA and the timelines. For him, this means cocktails at the theater, cracker jacks, and exploring the World’s Fair, all of which are pleasurable on their own but are even more so with Loki’s company. His queerness, once again, is quiet, mundane, but playful in its own right, and finally brave enough to explore. These scenes suggest that Mobius is indeed happy at the TVA and, as we see in the finale, this happiness is solely rooted in his relationship with Loki and the emotional intimacy they share together.

Loki expresses concern for Mobius, noting that he has “never seen him like that before.” Mobius, interestingly, deflects every concern by absurdly blaming Loki: “He got under your skin”, “I was following you!” The psychological undercurrent here is that Loki is the reason why Brad got under Mobius skin. Loki is the person that Mobius will follow.

Loki takes Mobius’s distress in stride, responding in a way the Mobius normally would. However, Brad’s question piques his interest, and his own care for Mobius prompts him to gently challenge Mobius’s lack of interest in his own timeline. Mobius’s reason for avoidance is, “What if it’s something good?”

In S2E5, it’s interesting that “good” in this narrative is defined as a heteronormative fantasy of a house, two kids, and (possibly) a puppy and a snake. The “good” in Mobius’s original timeline, however, is imperfect. There is a partner that is missing (partners being a recurring theme in the series, particularly in S2E3), pronounced gone not once but twice. The entire scene between Don and Loki has been discussed at length by many, so there’s no need to reiterate it here. However, let’s bring our attention to Mobius’s avoidance of this “good” because this avoidance resonates with another queer experience.

The TVA, for Mobius, is the place where he studied, saved, and developed a close relationship with Loki. The fear of the “something good” is the fear of being confronted with something Mobius “should” want more than the TVA, and therefore “should” want more Loki. The fear is wanting something (or feeling pressured to want something) other than a queer relationship with no children. The question of “choice” is impacted by what is considered the “norm”.

S2E5 very pointedly focuses on the concern of choice, especially Mobius’s choice, in the bar scene between Loki and Sylvie. “Mobius should get a choice now, no?” At this point, Loki’s regard for Mobius has finally caught up with the romantic nature of Mobius’s feelings for him. And Loki, living his own queer experience, is also afraid of his true desires like Mobius. In being part of the intersectional queer community, the psychological need to guard against disappointment is high and commonplace. Desires are easily disappointed by the expectations of oppressive social mores. This survival tactic manifests itself with our hope and heartbreak with mainstream media, Loki the series being among them.

But Sylvie, the harbinger of true and absolute freedom, takes on the role of supportive ex and challenges Loki to answer Mobius’s question in S1E1: “What do you want?”

In this, Mobius and Loki’s individual relationships with the TVA are identical. It was never about where (the TVA), when (time works differently at the TVA), or why (the timelines). It was about who. It was about each other. The TVA represents a liminal space which became home by virtue of the people who brought love into it. The TVA is code for Loki and Mobius when each speaks of it.

Again, the artists behind the media must self-censure. In this, Loki also self-censures while giving the truth. “I don’t want to be alone. I want my friends back.” It cannot be denied that Mobius is Loki’s first truest and closest friend. “I don’t want to be alone. I want Mobius back.” Sylvie appreciates and validates this desire, but also points out that showing the TVA is something that cannot be unseen. The implication of this response suggests that Sylvie believes that Loki’s friends will feel compelled to join the TVA out of moral pressure. She reiterates the true lives that are being lived, and Loki, loving his friends, loving Mobius, elects to not take that away from them. “You are just fine without the TVA.”

Yet, Loki must choose an act of profound selfless love to save everyone. In doing so, he saves and frees Mobius in the way Mobius saved and freed him. The tragedy and, once again, poetic irony is that they both would have chosen each other. In giving everyone freedom, the true freedom of Loki and Mobius is sacrificed. This double-standard reflects in our reality between those who identify as cis and heterosexual and those who do not.

When Mobius looks at his timeline in S2E6, he does so for one reason: that timeline survived because of Loki’s sacrifice. He must honor that sacrifice and see what Loki protected. Mobius appreciates what he finds, but he doesn’t belong there. It is not what he ultimately longs for. And there must be worry, shame, in recognizing he would prefer to give up the house and two children if a life with Loki were a viable choice.

We all experience loss in our lives. Loss without a goodbye is also commonplace but is another pain that is more acute within the intersectional queer community. I speak of missed opportunities for happiness due to external forces. I speak of loss of self. I speak of loss of friends and family and home. I speak of death, losing a loved one without a goodbye, because same-sex lovers are not considered next of kin, an impossibility without marriage. Marriage echoes back to Don, who has no spouse, and Mobius, who has no partner.

#asks #loki #mobius #lokius #loki season 2 #loki series #loki meta #my meta #loki analysis #my analysis #queer community #queer #queer representation #queer relationships #lgbt representation #lgbtq community #lgbtqia

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emilystheories · 10 months

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Breaking SJM news: a completely new series is (likely) on the way !!

Last night, I came across a veryyyy interesting YouTube video posted by Bloomsbury 4 weeks ago. Although the video was mostly super boring (talking numbers and finances), towards the end, we get this little nugget of information...

[Bloomsbury staff member]: "Regarding the timeline and future Sarah J Maas book releases, which are obviously very important to us... so her next title, which is the third in her Crescent City series, comes out on the 30th of January, 2024. So, that will fall into this financial year."

[Bloomsbury staff member]: "And thereafter, we have SIX further contracted titles -- so continuing this series, and STARTING A NEW SERIES AS WELL."

A new series! This likely goes hand-in-hand with the announcement made by Bloomsbury a couple of months prior, in which they stated that 4 additional SJM books were on the way (but curiously, no further details about these books were given...)

Although we don't know for sure, this is my guess as to what these 6 future SJM books are:

2 x ACOTAR books.

Then the 4 remaining, newly contracted books; the first being the final Crescent City book, House of Many Waters.

Leaving 3 x books for the new series (which makes perfect sense, as when starting a new series, SJM is always contracted for 3 books initially).

The question remains as to what exactly this new series may be. Which leads me to... Twilight of the Gods.

[SJM universe spoilers ahead!]

Back in 2015, SJM started a Pinterest board for 2 new book series that were connected in some way; one was Crescent City, and the other was called Twilight of the Gods.

On her Twitter, SJM also mentioned that she had been working on both for quite a while, and that it was soon time to release them into the world.

Around the same time, a series called 'Twilight of the Gods' was mysteriously added to SJM's official Goodreads catalogue.

'Twilight of the Gods' is another term for Ragnarok; a famed tale of Norse mythology where the Gods and giants/demons across all worlds joined together to fight a giant battle that signified the end of the world.

Thus, I believe that 'Twilight of the Gods' is SJM's next series; it will be a Ragnarok retelling, and all of the characters from TOG, ACOTAR and CC will join together for a cataclysmic battle against the Asteri, the Daglan, and the Valg (because lets not forget that Orcus and Mantyx are still unaccounted for...).

With this in mind, consider the numerous references to Norse mythology that SJM has already scattered throughout her books:

Feyre as Freya: Freya was perhaps one of the most renowned Norse goddesses, and was Queen.

Nesta, Emerie and Gwyn as the Valkyries: An obvious one, but the Valkyries originated from, and had a huge part to play in Norse Mythology (Ragnarok especially).

Lucien as Loki: According to Norse mythology, Loki is often depicted with long, red hair. He is also seen as a God of fire, and is commonly associated with foxes.

Danika (Fendyr) and Fenrys as Fenrir: Fenrir was a renowned monstrous wolf of Norse mythology. Fenrir being 'unleashed' is one of the key events of Ragnarok.

Hunt as Thor ('Thurr'): During Ragnarok, Thor has a famous battle against the 'Midgard Serpent.' Consider the snake that Hunt is holding on the cover of HOSAB.

Midgard: is the 'Earth' world in Norse mythology.

Hel (spelt the same way): Is the 'underworld' of Norse mythology.

Further, if you looked at SJM's "Twilight of the Gods" Pinterest board - before it was deleted - you'd see countless images of (Lady?) Thor, the Valkyries, Sailor Moon, and even the coffin that Maeve locked Aelin in... (that can't be a coincidence, right..?!) Some examples below:

'Twilight' is also another word for 'Dusk'; considering the lost Dusk Court, and 'Dusk's Truth' (both of which are the centre of the upcoming crossover and broader multiversal narrative...) it matches up perfectly.

Thus, I believe that the remaining ACOTAR and CC books will continue to add to the multiverse, bit by bit. And whilst they can still be read in a standalone fashion, my guess is that they will build up to a grand finale (perhaps the very last ACOTAR book will end with Aelin walking through a portal...?) and then Twilight of the Gods will begin.

If you thought Kingdom of Ash was epic... then Twilight of the Gods -- if correct -- is bound to blow us away (and, it might even put SJM's name in the history books).

#sjm multiverse #acotar #crescent city #sjm theory #sjm crossover #bryce quinlan #aelin galythinius #rhysand #feyre #gwyneth berdara #nesta archeron #elain archeron #azriel acotar #cassian acotar

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simplyholl · 1 year

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Out of My System Pt 7

Summary: Loki doesn't understand Thor's attraction to Midgardians. Until he meets you.

Pairing: Avenger Loki x F. Reader

Warnings: Angst. Pregnancy.

W/C: 846

A/N: Sorry this is so short! I’ve been crazy busy with the Whore-O-Ween stuff.

Out of My System Masterlist

You were shaking with excitement. Odin had agreed to let you visit Asgard on Loki and Thor’s next trip. You didn’t know what you were most excited about, meeting his mother or seeing the place where he grew up.

There was also another reason you were excited. You were hiding a pretty big secret. You had found out earlier in the week that you’re pregnant. You weren’t exactly keeping the news from Loki, you just wanted to find the right time to tell him. You thought that the opportunity would present itself on your trip.

Frigga was everything you imagined and so much more. She welcomed you with open arms. You loved her already. As soon as she saw you, she gave you a knowing smile. A mother always knows. Loki left the two of you alone to talk, and she asked if he knew the second he walked out.

She was almost more excited than you. The next day, she gifted you with Asgardian baby gowns in Loki’s colors. You hid them in your bag so Loki wouldn’t find them. You walked around the palace after you ate looking for Loki.

You stumble upon Sif and another lady. “Have you seen Loki?” “He was seen in the garden with Rose earlier.” She smirked and you thanked her, making your way to the garden. “Poor dear, Loki brought her all the way from Midgard and he’s already seeing someone behind her back. He and Rose used to be an item centuries ago. You know what they say, old flames die hard.”

You couldn’t believe what she was saying. You were only a few steps away, surely they meant for you to hear it. But you knew Loki, and he wouldn’t cheat on you. You hurried outside, spotting Loki sitting on a bench with Rose. You could hear her obnoxious giggle as she climbed into his lap.

Shocked, you got on your hands and knees crawling to a nearby bush. You hid behind it so you could spy on them. There had to be a logical explanation for why she was in his lap. Maybe she got hurt and he was helping her.

“A Midgardian, Loki? I thought even you had standards. She’s not even that pretty. You could have your choice of any Asgardian woman. Why don’t we go back to my cottage? It will be just like old times. I’ll do that thing you like.” She purred.

You shake with anger. How dare she? You peak through the bush waiting for Loki’s response. This should be good. He wouldn’t let anyone say anything bad about you. Loki takes her loose curl between his fingers placing it behind her ear. “That’s quite a tempting offer-“

Rage consumes you. You stand, giving away your hiding spot. You stomp over to them, not caring how crazy you looked. If looks could kill, they would both be dead. “Darling, what are you -“ You don’t give Loki the chance to finish. “Get your ass up!” You shout at her. She looks from you to Loki. This must be how Bruce feels when he turns into the Hulk. Damn these pregnancy hormones. You grab Rose’s arm and sling her to the ground.

“Oh!” She shouts as her body lands hard with a thud. “Loki, please help me, she’s assaulted me!” She whines. Loki takes one step toward her, but stops when he sees how angry you are. “You’re lucky that’s all I did!” She gets up with a huff, running in the opposite direction.

“Darling, I can explain. It’s not what it looked like.” Your hand meets his cheek before you can think. He brings his hand to it, shocked. “What’s the matter with you?” He questions. “Me? What about you? I heard her trashing me and you didn’t defend me once! She propositioned you, Loki. An offer I heard you accept.” He places his hand on yours, and you jerk away from his touch.

“I was so foolish to think this could work, that I’d ever be enough for you. You didn’t even like Earth women, Loki. I don’t know why I thought I was any different.” You fight back tears, refusing to let him see you cry. “You better go after her.”

You sob the entire way back to Loki’s chamber. Hand on your non-existent baby bump, you think of all that could’ve been, all that he had ruined. “It’s just you and me from now on. I’m sorry your dad’s such an asshole. I’ve always had horrible taste in men. I just thought he was different.” You cried harder remembering that you slapped him. “I’m going to give birth in Asgardian jail because I assaulted Prince Jackass!” You wailed.

Loki gave you some time to calm down. He knew he couldn’t talk to you when you were so angry. He was about to refuse Rose’s advances and defend you when you popped out of the bushes like a mad woman.

“Mother, have you seen her? I’ve been looking everywhere.” Frigga frowned at him. “She went back to Midgard, Loki. Thor accompanied her per my request.” Loki runs a hand through his hair looking frustrated. “Why would you send Thor? Why wouldn’t you send for me?” He shouted. Frigga placed a dainty hand on her son’s shoulder. “You’ve done enough today. What were you thinking? You should have known what it would look like.”

When he reached his chambers, he noticed you left your bag. He missed you and he wasn’t sure if he could fix this. You were so angry with him, and you had every right to be. He decided to go through your bag, hoping to find something that smelled like you.

He picked out a hoodie, bringing it to his nose for comfort. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his colors. He knew you didn’t have anything like that, so his curiosity got the best of him. He lifted the small items out of your bag. Realizing what they were, he was shocked.

He thought back, remembering how you had gotten sick smelling your favorite food. You were sick quite often lately, but you told him it was a stomach flu. Why hadn’t you told him? Perhaps you didn’t want a child with him. You hadn’t been dating for very long. A child would change your relationship. One thing was for certain, he had to get back to you.

Tags (cont. in comments)

@lokisgoodgirl @fictive-sl0th @lokidbadguy @ozymdias @cindylynn @cakesandtom @eleniblue @muddyorbsblr @marygoddessofmischief @mochie85 @goblingirlsarah @lokisninerealms @wheredafandomat @peaches1958 @freegardenbanananeck @chantsdemarins @lokidokieokie @anukulee @sheris532 @lokixryss @multifandom-worlds @javagirl328 @assemblingavenger @lilibet261 @lemonadygirl @joyofbebbanburg @bellajg21 @ladymischief11 @kats72 @evelyn-rathmore @innebulae @alexakeyloveloki @princess-ofthe-pages @xorpsbane @itssomeonereading @mrs-bucky-barnes-73 @navs-bhat @fire-in-her-veinz @crimson25 @darkserenity24 @mischief2sarawr @nikkig496-blog @buttercupcookies-blog

#loki x reader #loki laufeyson #loki #loki x yn #loki fanfic #loki x y/n #loki x you #loki tom hiddleston #loki marvel #mcu loki #out of my system

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five-miles-over · 11 months

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The Phantom of Asgard (Thor: The Dark World!Loki x Reader)

Summary: Rumors say that a phantom haunts the darkest hall in the royal palace of Asgard, but is he truly as dangerous as the people of Asgard claim he is? You and your friends decide to investigate one night for yourselves.

Warnings: Mentions of character death

"We shouldn't be here."

"Then keep your voice down!"

You silently tiptoed, following your friend Revna, a damsel with long black hair whose fingers were wrapped around the end of a burning candle. Ingrid, whose skin almost glowed as much as her honey blonde curls did in sunlight, trembled with every step.

You met Revna and Ingrid through serving together as ladies-in-waiting to the late Queen Frigga. You were all of Asgardian noble blood, sent to the palace in hopes of rubbing shoulders with some of the most elite of the Aesir. But after her untimely passing and the war with the Dark Elves came to an end, the All-Father King Odin made the simple decision to keep you in service of the royal family. Only instead of having you serve Prince Thor or the king himself, Odin decreed that the three of you were to be educated in political science and history like the noble boys of Asgard. With a twinkle in his eye, the All-Father proposed that if you three were properly educated, then you could join the council as a division of ladies to advise the future king of Asgard.

And as a result, your new schedules left you with a newly found period of free time every night, since you wouldn't be on watch for anyone trying to harm a member of the royal family. "We're getting closer,…" Revna muttered before Ingrid reminded her to keep the candle at the level of her eye.

"I think there's a library somewhere here…" You glanced over your shoulder to find a tapestry of the late queen hanging, her likeness captured with vivid shades of turquoise and gold. "I don't understand, why shouldn't we be here?"

"This is where they say the Phantom of Asgard resides." Ingrid explained in a hushed whisper as the three of you made your way past gray stone figures depicting warriors from lore. Placed along either side of the hall, it was as if they were standing vigil while in their immortalized, lifeless state. "He resides past the throne room, in the darkest of chambers."

"That explains why no one's lit any torches or lamps." Revna grumbles before Ingrid says for the second time to keep the candle at eye-level. "My arm is getting tired!"

Ingrid continued to narrate, "I've heard rumors that the phantom is the ghost of a soldier who gave his life defending Asgard. But others say he's a monster in the palace, he'll hurt us."

"Come now," you chastised Ingrid, walking past another tapestry hanging on the walls of the palace. "There can't be a Phantom. It's probably just some trick made up by the Prince of Lies."

"Also known as the God of Mischief?" Revna interjected. "He's dead."

"I don't believe it."

Revna quickly turned around. "What?"

Ingrid shushed you and repeated, "Candle! Level of your eye."

This time, Revna rolled her eyes and simply switched hands. "If he weren't dead, then why is the All-father commissioning for a statue of the trickster god to be built outside the palace?"

"How would I know?" You carefully stepped over a small abandoned dagger laying on the floor. "All I know is that the first time it was announced that Prince Loki was no more, he was found on Midgard attempting to lay siege."

As if on cue, a powerful guest of wind blew past the three of you, sending a chill down your spine. The flame of Revna's candle flickered. "See!" Ingrid pointed behind you. "The Phantom heard us!"

"Really?" Revna sighed loudly. "Ingrid come on…"

"I'm telling you," you huffed. "There. Is. No. Phantom!"

No sooner had you said those words, a more powerful gust of wind blew past you and extinguished the candle, sending the three of you into near-darkness, save for the faint moonlight from the glass window at the end of the hall.

"Oh my god!" Ingrid whimpered. She clutched your arm with a vice-like grip. "See what you've done?!"

Revna assured her, swallowing. "It's okay…it's okay. Nothing's going to happen." She remained with her feet planted to the floor.

A shatter. You were almost certain that there was no crack in the window…until now. A jagged crack as if someone had thrown a pebble at it.

Then, one of the stone figures standing in the hall - a warrior with a horned helmet holding a weapon at his hip, fell face-first, just barely missing Revna. As soon as the statue landed against the floor, its head split into pieces before your very eyes, horns and all.

"That's…not okay." Revna gulped, taking a step back with baited breath. Her foot caught in the hem of her gown, causing her to lose balance. You caught her just in time, letting go of Ingrid while Revna held the candlestick for dear life.

You steadied her. "We have to get out of here…Go back the way we came."

Ingrid's eyes filled with tears, and she choked on a sob. "Please, please tell me now you believe there's a Phan-" She was drowned by the sound of her own hysterical screams. A second crack….and then a third appeared in the window. "I don't want to die…Please, no!"

Now was Revna's turn to shush her. "If anyone finds us, we could either be dead, or worse, banished. Now let's go."

The three of you murmured in agreement, reluctantly promising to staunchly deny if anyone asked if you were roaming the palace at night. You hitched your skirts and scurried down the hall as quickly as possible, even though you could barely see anything in your way. Guided only by the sound of each others' footsteps and heavy panting, you only had a single thought in mind: go back the way you came here, and find your shared bedroom as possible. Before you could be caught by any guards or servants with a propensity to gossip. Your heartbeat quickened as you continued to run for your life. Suddenly, in the midst of your attempted escape, you tripped over something - perhaps it was the fabric of the carpet or perhaps your own clumsiness worsened by fear - and landed on your knees. "Revna! Ingrid!" In the midst of you shouting for your friends, a gloved hand covered your mouth.

A strange whisper tickled your ear. "No need to be afraid…There is no Phantom," the mysterious voice echoed your words from earlier with a touch of theatrical sarcasm. "Just a trick made up by the Prince of Lies."

The gloved hand remained over your mouth. "If you scream," the mysterious voice warned you while another hand rested on your waist. "I promise to show you no mercy. Understood?"

You nodded, trembling while you rose to your feet.

"Good girl."

With a wave of the gloved hand, golden candelabras spontaneously appeared along the hall, burning brightly. And emerging out of thin air was a large, rectangular mirror with a bronze-like intricate border that shined with such a luster that the untrained eye could mistake it for gold. You treaded lightly towards your own reflection.

Once again, the mysterious voice filled your ear. "Now you see me…"

Behind you stood a tall man with ebony curls reaching his shoulders. He wore a tailored black waistcoat with long sleeves, and silk black gloves. An emerald green mask decorated with gold glitter obscured the left half of his face, yet…why did he seem so familiar?

Your fingers inched towards the side of his face, beneath his cheekbone. The masked one sighed, leaning in closer so that his nose nestled against your hair while he delighted in your delicate touch. You trembled as your fingertips brushed against the smooth, unblemished skin. His hand encircled your waist once again, and you decided to be bold. Reaching for the edge of the mask, you carefully began to lift it…

"No." He said it with such a dark desperation in his voice, and his other hand caught your wrist.

"I want to know who you are."

"You already do."

Lowering your hand, you silently contemplated for a moment, allowing the masked one to simply cradle you in his arms from behind. "You're the God of Mischief," you uttered to his reflection. "You're Prince Loki."

A smile appeared on the face of the masked god, the smile of a mastermind at the end of a successful plan. Joyful yet reserved, like he already knew the outcome and had envisioned it in his mind several times before executing his plans.

"But you're…dead," you murmured, exercising extreme caution with the last word. "How could you be here? In these halls? I don't understand."

"And yet from the beginning, you knew it was me behind this mask…How, sweet one?"

Your eyes followed Loki's fingers as they glided along your arms before resting on your shoulders. "I cannot say, my Prince….I just knew."

A quiet laugh escaped him. "Or is it because you knew only one could cause such havoc in these halls"?" A wider smile on his face, the god of mischief pressed his lips against the top of your head.

"How did you survive?" A flush of heat spread across your cheeks.

"Because it's what I always do."

You blinked, unable to look away from the mirror for even a second, as if someone had cast a spell of hypnosis upon you. "And what will you do now?"

"Nothing yet." He simply said. "You are the only one who knows."

"Even the All-Father?"

Loki nuzzled against the base of your neck, leaving you weak in the knees. "I do not wish to speak of him tonight." He reached for your hand and brought it to his lips. "I promise to you, all will be revealed in time." The god of mischief then combed his fingers through sections of your hair, taking his time with every touch as if he wanted to memorize exactly how you felt. "Rest now, my sweet, for I will call upon you again. From this night, you belong to me, and I to you."

And with a simple wave of his hand, your surroundings disappeared to darkness. "My prince?" You called, looking around only to be met with silence.

Then, a single candle appeared seemingly out of thin air, with a small, flickering flame. You found yourself alone, inside that same hall, instantly recognizing the tapestry of the late queen that decorated the wall. Only this time, the window at the end of the hall bore no cracks, and the fallen statue stood upright in its original place, perfectly standing vigil.

And on the floor, next to your feet, lay a single white lily with a dark green ribbon tied around its stem. A lasting promise from the Phantom of Asgard.

Tagging: @icytrickster17 @mischievoushiddleston,@lokischambermaid , @lady-rose-moon , @lokisgoodgirl , @lokisninerealms @jennyggggrrr ,, @tom-hiddleston-imagines , @lokiismineforever @smolvenger @winterfrostlovetriangle , @the-haven-of-fiction , @turniptitaness @cakesandtom ,@sallymagnoliaposts @leahs-reading-nook @holdmytesseract @muddyorbsblr @anukulee @acidcasualties @lotsoflokilove23 @caffiend-queen @aesonmae @asgards-princess-of-mischief @eleniblue

#loki #loki laufeyson #loki x reader #loki odinson #loki god of mischief #loki fanfic #mcu loki #loki of asgard #loki au #loki imagines #loki imagine #loki x you #dark loki

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mrs-elsie-barnes · 9 months

Text

The Old Gods and The New - Chapter 11

Ambrosia | Loki x Reader

You and Loki take time to reconnect after your kidnapping, and Loki is sure to show you that there is no version of himself that doesn't care for you.

Warnings: 18+ language & sexual content. Oral (f receiving), public(ish) sex, Loki duplicates!

Divider by @firefly-graphics

Series Masterlist | Loki Masterlist | Masterlist

The jet was eerily quiet, even when the sound of the sea had faded into nothing. As soon as you’d emerged from the castle, Thor had wrapped both arms around you and squeezed until Loki had called him a brute and pushed him away so that he could hold you himself. Despite the insult, Thor continued to grin, placing a large hand on top of your head and rubbing it.

“I can see you will keep my brother on his toes, what trouble you are!” But his words held no malice and he carried on smiling as Loki led you back into the waiting jet.

Tony, though, had merely nodded at you, stepping out of his suit and straight into the cockpit, a shout of, “you’d better be able to keep them in line,” aimed at Thor and then you were heading back to the compound, the sky a blur outside of the small windows and your prison merely a spec below.

Now you were curled over a small table, the tactical plans of Tønsberg pushed aside while you slept and Loki watched on, wary, one hand on the small of your back and the other curled around the hilt of his dagger, ready to defend you at a moment’s notice.

Thor seemed oblivious to Loki’s worries, focussed instead on his excitement that Loki would finally be joining him as an Avenger, “and with the Lady too, Loki we shall have an excellent time, just as we did when we were boys.” His hand clapped Loki on the shoulder, despite Loki’s best efforts to shrug him off.

“Stark has quite the array of weapons and armour, you would enjoy looking through it, I’m sure and -”

Loki took Thor’s paw between his long fingers and moved it away, “it is for a single of your missions only, then my Ásynja and I will be leaving.”

“The Lady may enjoy being a mighty hero yet, she is surely trouble enough for you, humm?” Thor teased and Loki’s heart sank. It had become a clear and vivid image in his mind, ever since you were taken, that you would no longer trust him and would instead differ your attention back to the Avengers. He could see you now, one of Stark’s ridiculously over engineered outfits slick to your beautiful body, a choice selection of gadgets and unnecessary technology bandaged around your wrists. He couldn’t stand even the thought of it, you were a powerful goddess and he’d never allow you to be disrespected as by these Midgardians.

“My darling, is a Goddess, far superior to the boorish and ridiculous concerns of Midgard.” Loki indulged himself, he moved his hand in a comforting circle on your back while you mumbled in your sleep, turning your body towards his with a soft smile. His worries eased, even at rest you turned to him, as he looked for you.

“If you believe so brother, well, then it must be true.” Thor grinned, “I shall help Stark while you stand guard for your Ásynja”

Loki, for once, bit his tongue, his only concern was your safety and comfort, and now that you were alone he could allow his shields to drop, his battle armour to fade into black, though he kept his daggers close about his person.

“Loki?” You whispered, lifting yourself enough to really look at him. He looked as tired as you felt, a swipe of purple below his blue green eyes. Concern faded into affection and his arms opened, inviting you fully into his welcoming embrace.

“Yes, my darling?” Loki smoothed a hand down your cheek, cradling you gently and turning your gaze to meet his.

“I’m glad you’re here, that we’re here together.” You whispered, nuzzling into him and inhaling the deep scent of amber and spice, sweet and deep and mysterious. Loki’s heart swelled, the worry that had been growing like a fire was banked for now, but still simmering in his thoughts. For now, he could enjoy your trust and he would deal with his promise to Stark later.

You missed Tønsberg, despite only spending a short time in the fishing village it had already gained a place in your heart, intrinsically entangled with your feelings for Loki, stronger now that you had been apart and seen the extent of his promise to you. He would keep you safe, and you believed him, the memory of his eyes, wild with fury as he killed your guard, the blood spilling across the floor, the metallic scent of it stinging your senses. Every time your traitorous heart doubted him you took yourself back to that moment, whenever your nightmares rattled you, you thought of his strong hands, clutching you so desperately.

The bedroom assigned to you in the compound was more luxurious and comfortable than it had been before, but it was thankfully still near enough to Loki’s room that you could easily see him whenever you wanted.

Despite your best attempts at making do, it wasn’t the same as your fantasies of a home in Tønsberg. Loki enjoyed fine things but, regardless of the images you’d seen on the television and the way the Avengers discussed him, he was not greedy. You had seen his home from across the bay, a modest stone built house that you hoped one day you would be able to explore. Not the glass and metal office block that the Avengers called home.

As you lay back on your bed, your belly full for the first time in weeks, your body clean and warm from your bath, wrapped in a soft cotton dressing gown, you were at least thankful for these small mercies . But you still didn’t feel comfortable.

Your mind called to him, uncontrollable and urgent, a request, a prayer and then, as if he had truly heard you, a knock on your door.

Scrambling to your feet you pulled your robe tighter around yourself and cracked open the door.

“Good evening,” Loki stood a step back from the door, hands held politely behind his back in a way that accentuated his broad shoulders, the lean muscles that crossed his chest pulled his t-shirt tight, showing off the extent of his godly strength, contained so casual beneath what you were sure was soft cotton.

“Hi, Loki,” you stepped back, allowing him to follow you into his room, though he waited near the door. Since your return, an awkward pall had fallen over you both, confusing the state of your relationship despite the way he’d kissed you during your rescue.

Loki, feeling guilty and culpable for your capture, had stayed mostly away, though he shot the most pining of looks in your direction whenever you were around. And you had inexpertly dodged any conversation that sought to solidify or label the way that you behaved around each other. There had been no official conversation and, to your own knowledge, you were either betrothed to or, worse, already married to a Lord of Vannaheim.

“I was passing by and wondered if you’d accompany me to dinner tonight?” Loki asked, formally, his face schooled to hide his worry.

You looked down at yourself, you’d been reluctant to get dressed properly since you returned. Even clothes feeling like a restriction, but you did want to go with Loki, you yearned to spend time in his presence again just to stop that roiling feeling that had been building inside of you.

“I’ve not got anything to wear,” you knew the excuse was lame and you cringed as you said it, but you wanted to see what he’d say, what he’d do, if this was how you had to be for a while.

“That’s no real concern, you and I can both create whichever luxury your heart desires.” Loki’s smile was indulgent, hiding his thoughts about all of the beautiful, alluring outfits he had planned when you came to him again, because he knew you would, even if he had to tease you back out of your shell.

“I know I should be able to but-” you sighed, sitting down on the edge of your bed. “I’m having trouble with it again. I know I should just be able to remember, but it’s hard and, well, I was dressed up like a doll when I was locked up. I don’t want to be a doll.”

Loki crossed the room in long strides and then lowered himself to one knee before you. The ever confident God took your hands and held them close, tipping your chin up again. “You are not a doll. You are a Goddess, Ásynja, a Goddess and you will be and wear and look like whatever you choose. If you wish to accompany me to dinner in your robe, then so be it.”

Loki’s hand fluttered, revealing his own robe, although the green silk was very different to the pink terry cloth that you favoured. Unbidden your eyes drifted down the revealed v at his chest, and the long lines of his bare legs.

“I want to come with you, I just don’t feel like a Goddess.” You admitted, eyes fixed to his bare calves to hide your face from him.

“What would make you feel like a Goddess?”

“I like your cape, your cloak? It looks so regal, and I’ve been doing some reading about my mother, Brigid.” Tears welled in your eyes, when Brunnhilde had shown you your childhood on Asgard and you’d been drawn to the vision of your mother, but you hadn’t remembered her, not really. It had been such a long time since you’d seen her, and whatever spell they had cast or potion you’d been taking to suppress your memories had pushed her deep into the recesses of your mind. But she had worn a cape of green and blue, like rich sage and the rolling winter sea, and you wanted one too.

“If my Ásynja desires a cape, then a cape you shall have.”

Unlike the rune magic of your prison, Loki’s magic felt warm when it poured over you, as if you were submerging yourself in a warm bath of his attentions. Your robe was replaced with a thick velvet cape of deepest forest green velvet.

As it settled around you, Loki’s magic caressing you through every fibre, your own magic sang back. Quiet and shy, but determined, and you allowed it to swell over you body encasing you in a matching, silk, wrap dress, your magic flickered silver, tying a bow at your hip with a flourish.

Loki beamed at you, pride and pleasure at one in his handsome features. “Now you simply have to accompany me to dinner, a lady so beautiful shouldn’t have to be alone.” He held his arm out and you tucked your hand into his elbow, allowing him to lead you from the room.

Even if your fellow compound residents had wanted to comment on your dress, or on you leaving your room for the first time all week, one look from Loki would have silenced them as you walked through the common room. He commanded the space as if he ruled it and in an effort to keep pace with his long strides you could feel your posture lengthening, your shoulders back and head held him.

Walking through the bare, cold, halls of the compound normally felt so empty and uncanny, but wrapped in Loki’s colours you felt not just warm, but cared for. Protected. Loki himself had foregone his usual green and gold for the evening, choosing instead a sapphire blue suit.

Beside him you truly felt like you could be the Goddess he believed you were.

It seemed he was determined to treat you like a Goddess as well.

Where you had expected an Avengers town car, Loki had led you to his own Jaguar, so dark green it was almost black and with leather seats stitched with his insignia.

When you had anticipated a meal in the common room, Loki had booked a private room at an exclusive restaurant, it’s dining room dark and moody with only the flicker of candle light to illuminate the other diners.

And if you thought you were getting anything but the best, you were mistaken. Loki was the perfect gentleman, pulling out your chair and ensuring your glass was never empty. Before you could even worry about your past ordeal or what would come next, Loki was stroking your hand and kissing your palm.

“This is all, it’s a lot, Loki. It’s very nice, but I've never been somewhere like this before.” You whispered, worried about drawing the attention of the waitress hovering by the curtained doorway.

“I can assure you, my darling, you have lived a life of greater luxury than this.”

“I thought you couldn’t remember me either?”

“Our noble King deigned to share the memory of your afternoon together after you went missing and it sparked many memories for myself, and for Thor. I am quite sure you spent many years in the epitome of luxury, this is merely a detour on your way back to your throne.” He kissed the back of your hand again before sipping slowly on the rich red wine he’d ordered for you both.

“Don’t mention thrones for goodness sake, I wasn’t happy about it back then and I’m not entirely sure I want it now.” You scoffed.

Loki looked back at his menu nonchalantly, “and would you wish to stay with the Avengers instead?” He asked. He had yet to mention the deal he’d made when he secured their support in your rescue and, while he didn’t want to ruin your evening together, the truth would come out sooner or later.

“God no,” you scoffed and Loki watched as you chewed your thumb, scanning over the menu items and humming as you thought.

The heavy feeling that had been constricting his chest lightened, you’d been happy to see him, yes. But he’d felt hollow at the thought of you staying with the Avengers instead.

“So what do you want to do then?”

You shrugged, unsure, “gosh, Loki, who knows.”

“Did you like Tønsberg ?”

“Yes,”

“How would you like to stay with me then?” He smiled, extending his hand and his heart, waiting for you to say no and make the killing strike.

But no such blow arrived.

“I’d love that,” your smile was broad but soft, lighting your eyes, “let’s toast to it.” You held your glass out and rang it against Loki’s, falling into his stormy gaze, “when can we go?”

During your captivity you’d spent hours lying in bed dreaming of Tønsberg, of Loki and the life that you could have together and now it was really coming true.

“Well,” Loki pulled his glass back, setting it carefully to one side and folding his long fingers together. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Yes?” The way you looked at him made his chest tighten again, the excitement and trust in your eyes was unbearable.

“I required a certain amount of…support, when I came to find you.” He started and you continued to smile gently, cupping your chin in your palm, he watched your eyelashes brush against your cheek and wished he could kiss you there instead. “And the Avengers gave their support - however,” he kept talking, cutting you off so he could keep his momentum now that he was finally going to admit the truth, “however, I did have to make certain bargains with Stark that include…working for them, both of us working for them.”

“Working for them?” You sat back in your chair, the candle light picking out the creases in your frown. “I hadn’t made any decision about that really - not until you asked me just now. Why even mention it if I don’t have a choice?”

Norns, he was losing you, you were angry and rightly so, the thought of working with those self righteous show oafs was awful

“I wanted you to know that you have other options, there’s no call for you to rely on them if you have other plans or ambitions. There will always be a place for you in Tønsberg - there will always be a place for you with me.” He ended, eyes pleading for you to understand.

“Then I suppose I’d better honour whatever deal you made with Stark and - and I think you will have to honour your deal with me, because I want to go with you when this is all over, I don’t trust them anymore.”

You took his hand, squeezing it hard enough that his ring dug into his finger, a reminder of your devotion and his stupidity for ever doubting you. Despite oceans of time, the width of the galaxy and the work of his father you were still together, and still strong.

“I’m glad you came to my room tonight.” You whispered, leaning closer over the small table to press a kiss to his cheek, the smell of your perfume filling his senses. Beneath your lips, Loki’s skin was soft and warm, your nose brushing against his sharp cheekbone before pulling back to press your lips against his ear. “I can’t wait for you to take me back there.”

“I see you’re feeling bold tonight, Ásynja.” He growled back, his hand behind your head when you tried to pull back, instead he cupped your cheeks and kissed you, his lips slotting against your own as if you were always meant to fit together.

“Why wait?”

“What?”

Before you could think, familiar hands tugged you back, gliding down your shoulders to your arms and keeping you pinned in your chair.

“Be good for us, my darling.” Loki purred, picking up his glass again and swirling the wine around inside, idly watching it dribble back into the glass while your heart hammered in your chest.

“Us?”

You had known, instinctively, but turning your head to see the vision of another Loki still made you start. The last time such a vision had appeared to you they had been cruel and something deep inside twisted with fear. The vision loosened their grip in response, trailing their fingers up and down the delicate skin on the inside of your wrist until they felt your heartbeat slow again.

“I know what they did to you in that tower, I know the sorts of powers and tortures men like that find amusing.” There was a furious edge to Loki’s voice that you’d heard many times, usually aimed at your fellow housemates. “I know what they did and I want to show you that I am always yours, my darling, my Ásynja, and that any image of me belongs to you wholly.”

The vision began placing the softest of kisses up the column of your neck. Mere brushes of their lips that tingled with magic.

“I belong to you, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that every facet of me brings only pleasure and never pain.” The vision kissed you again, teeth gently nipping your pulse point, “well, only pleasurable pain.” He winked.

“Oh - OH - I believe you.”

Heat was pooling between your legs, liquid and languid, it flowed through your veins to the ethereal Loki that was teasing you so thoroughly, barely touching you but lighting sparks of electricity that flowed through your veins.

Before you the tablecloth rustled and your chair moved, squeaking on the parquet floor, until your legs were hidden under the neatly pressed fabric. “Loki - oh my - fuck!”

Across the table, Loki smirked, below it, his duplicate had parted your legs and pushed his face between your thighs. Where the first was delicate and teasing, the second was rough and needy, lapping stripes along the already damp gusset of your panties before holding them aside with one long finger and burying his tongue inside of you.

“Fuck? Yes, that is the general idea, my darling.” He relaxed back into his chair, enjoying the view of your writhing body, his own hands itching to touch you. Through his illusions he could feel the trembling of your legs, the heat of your skin and the delicious ambrosia hidden between your thighs. But it was merely a hint, a scent, rather than the taste and he wished to feel his sense with you.

With a wave of his hands the sensations vanished and your eyes shot open to see him before you, a God, resplendent in his tight Asgardian leather, the shine of rich forest green seemed endless in the candlelight, as if you could fall into him and be lost forever.

“I must have you again, Ásynja, my darling, my Estrid, my goddess.” He held his right hand out, the left tucked formally behind his back.

“You have all of me too, Loki, my Prince, my God.” You placed your hand in his and in a flash you were in his arms, his hands splayed across your back holding you close and you allowed your hands to slide up his firm biceps to his shoulders. “Take me home so we can worship each other.”

<<Chapter 10

Chapter 12 >>

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