took a wrong turn at albuquerque

[ofstories]

Loki can always appreciate the little nooks and crannies of existence, the in-between appealing to certain facets of his nature. How he found himself there wasn't so important as what he did there, and now he's sprawled in a comfortable lounge chair in the Forum. The shabby, shoeless god doesn't take long before he decides to put his own contribution out there.

"Let's set the stage, shall we?" he calls just before he leaps abruptly to his feet on the chair.

"Congratulations, you've won! You return from a great quest with the glory and the girl or boy or whatever you sought as yours. Hear the cheers of the crowd. Yay, you!" People near him might even hear that hypothetical jubilation briefly, an echoing illusion that fades as he waves it away. "Or maybe none of that, and you came out of it with a bit of personal satisfaction and a friend." (If one misplaced momentarily. Problematic, that.) "Things were going so well, and yet, right now, right now, you're waiting around for what comes after."

"You're as free as a bird, so..." He's made a switch to a more conversational tone as he drops back down into his seat. "What d'you reckon you'd do next? What story would you spin?"

Comments

AAAAAAAAAHHHH I can't even. :D :D :D

[brave_heart_verity]

No.

No no no no no.

She just.

No.

She has coffee and it's really nice coffee and she's not drinking it because she's just staring.

my evens are also gone. odd. :)

[ofstories]

It's when he finally surveys his audience to see who paid any mind that he sees Verity, frozen and staring peculiarly. Despite that, it is a happy coincidence that his temporary friend misplacement was very much so.

He gives his bauble-free wrist an accusatory look, but then he snatches up his staff and jumps up out of his seat to head towards his now definitely corporeal companion.

"I didn't think you'd wander off like that," he complains before grinning, openly pleased to see her. Whatever might have gone sideways wasn't nearly so important in the grand scheme of things. "You didn't get any coffee for me?"

We're all odd here!

[brave_heart_verity]

The first real thought that registers is, 'He's too tall'.

Then she catches up with the 'reckon'.

There's really only one way to respond to a stranger acting all familiar like this: "Who the hell are you?" He could just take that coffee if he wants to, she wouldn't have the attention to spare to defend it. This is serious.

[ofstories]

Loki almost looks taken aback for all that he's a veteran of alternate universes, but the urge passes quickly. He doesn't have the impending end of everything and the worst of his hazy memory to give him sufficient forward momentum this time. Yet, he doesn't need outside inspiration to want to fix this. Maybe it's time-related. Maybe even proper multiverse shenanigans.

She is still Verity, and he is Loki.

"Loki, anew and always, presently the God of Stories," he explains, wishing that he could catch a short break. "And you're my friend, in case you lost that, too."

[rogueinladysclothing]

There's a rogue walking through the Forum, dressed in her usual armor and decked with her usual arsenal of weapons (is that a slingshot hanging from her belt? Yes. Of course it is). She thought she'd be able to go out and back on her errands for the day without stopping for anything else. She was so close.

But that question... it demands an answer.

She stops in front of him, not looking at him at first. Then, slowly, her hazel eyes shift to the lounging man, causing the dark silver hair pin holding up her long, dark brown hair to jingle musically as she does.

"At first? I waited. I hoped the elements of the story that had disappeared right before the end would return and the next chapter would begin. But now? ...I'm here, trapped far from where my story began. I've tried starting a new story several times, and only failed everyone - including myself - in the process."

There's a short, thoughtful pause before she adds, "I'm still searching for the right place to begin."

[ofstories]

Oh, he knows that plot. He knows that one intimately, and not just for the fact that he was the God of Stories. He can't possibly look like much, not beside a properly armored hero. Though he finds himself curious of the slingshot. (Not a common archetypal hero weapon, that.) For a moment, he looks thoughtful.

"Sounds more like you're in the middle of it." It really does, too. He's not unkind when he expands on the point, explaining to her, "You can't just stop, y'know, even if you kill time telling yourself that. That's not how it works."

[rogueinladysclothing]

Everyone's curious about the slingshot - until they find themselves at the wrong end of it. The anti-violence field has lessened the effect in the Nexus, but that hasn't stopped someone from wearing it everywhere. Hey, it's still her only ranged weapon (the rapier and daggers are much preferred for close combat) and works great for getting someone's attention across a crowd.

"In the middle...?" It's not an answer she expected - or one she even understands, for that matter. Had he given her that answer shortly after she arrived, she would have fought back. Now, however, she's simply curious. "Are you saying that, rather than starting a new story, this place is just a continuation of the first? That rather than one story ending and another beginning, they're all the same?" It's a strange thought, and she frowns thoughtfully as she tries to work it out.

[declan_m]

Interesting. Who was this guy? In the back of Declan's mind, he looked somewhat familiar. He just couldn't figure out why for the moment.

At his colorful and theatrical question, he couldn't help but feel slightly intrigued. He answered with a casual and curious question of his own. "Would you believe my own story would be interesting enough?"

He knew he been part of a weird chain of events that occurred, since his best friend back home had opened up to him. Although, for good reasons, there were some details he wouldn't willingly share.

[ofstories]

"It's as like as not, but I dunno until you share it," he points out, glancing over. His eyes are bright, curious and sharp despite the neutral answer. He wouldn't have asked if he hadn't wondered what people would say.

"If you don't like the one you had, make a new one."

[declan_m]

"I still like the current one I'm in, even though it's far from perfect." This man sounded like an intelligent person all right. "At least I'm still sort of on good terms with the girl I like, and her step-brother is still an important person in my life."

He took a seat in a nearby chair. This was likely going to take a while. "I'm Declan, by the way. From Seattle, Washington." Now was a good time as any for introductions.

[damn_yourself_early]

"I'd probably do a little dance," suggests a young voice. "Keep the viewers entertained. Don't want to lose them while you've got momentum."

As an afterthought, he adds, "we probably shouldn't think about how many of my plans amount to vamping until I think of something."

[ofstories]

Oh, Loki. Now that was something different.

Of course, it made sense. The very part of his nature that was drawn here was the one that wasn't his incarnation's alone. For all his memory isn't what it once was, it's still a fair enough assessment.

"D'you know, maybe that's a good way of things," Loki approves. "You can't afford to lose the audience when you're extemporizing, short Loki."

So short, this Loki. Had he really ever been that short?

[damn_yourself_early]

"Don't I know it!" Loki sighs. Looking up at his other self, he narrows one eye measuringly, concluding after a moment, "you're not me, are you?"

[smartass_captain]

"I set course for parts unknown, and start a new tale."

Quips a blonde in an odd gold and black uniform. Said blonde is in the process of grabbing a chair and spinning it around so he can take a seat near the standing newcomer. He's also eating an apple, and there's even an extra to offer to the other in way of greeting.

[ofstories]

Loki is always for a friendly offering, and the man catches his attention more than average. He settles cross-legged in his lounge chair, distinctly curious.

"That's one way," he allows with a grin, revealing even white teeth save for the gap where he'd lost a canine tooth. He likes the strategy. "If you have to wait around, get somewhere while you're waiting, huh? That smacks of cheating."

Despite that, he sounds like he approves.

[smartass_captain]

"The only thing I can't stand is being stationary." He shrugs and sinks into his pulled up chair. "And if I'm free as a bird, as you say, then this bird's going to fly."

The cheating remark only gets a smug sort of smirk as Jim takes another bite out of his apple.

"I write my own story."

[ixis]

"One that tops the one prior, of course! Launching me to greater and grander! What else?"

The mage of indeterminate species approaches while twirling his staff casually, clacking it smartly down onto the floor once he comes to a stop.

"What other answer could there possibly be?"

[ofstories]

"A pleasant vacation to Disney World, and wearing many comical hats, I think."

Well, it was an answer. Loki remains apparently relaxed, as if he sees strange beings all the time.

(In truth, he does.)

"You skipped a requirement of the tale. If you're waiting, I dunno how you're supposed to go on to grander things. A+ for effort, though."

[ixis]

"I'm not familiar with the zone, but if hats are required, I may have to decline. The ears and horn get in the way of such things, you see."

Naugus scoffs and waves a hand dismissively at the additional input. "Then I suppose this question hardly suits me! I'm not the sort to wait, unless I'm waiting out one plan to come to fruition while mobilizing another. And may I add that such an addendum to this question defeats any proper answer? If you're required to wait for the next tale, then all you're doing is waiting. Unless you're looking for someone to give a right answer to your riddle rather than an opinion."

[h_hollister]

"I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!"

The blonde with the big boobs has absolutely zero time for this sort of smeg. Sorry, Mario, but your princess is in another castle.

[ofstories]

"Finally, someone said it!" Loki is entirely too pleased with this.

"Alas, I have no prize to award for your answer, so maybe my limited and likely useless gratitude will be a fair exchange."

[h_hollister]

"Well hell, son. That's no big deal. I live in a castle, after all. But."

She holds up one finger, a big grin on her face.

"What if. You came to Disneyland with me."

[kitty_of_light]

This is relevant to C'taqa right now.

"I'm still trying to figure that out," he says from where he's inspecting the knife he's holding. It's very sharp, very shiny, and he is cradling it in his hands as if it is terribly precious. "But for now I suppose...I'll just enjoy it. The relative peace, I mean."

[ofstories]

Loki quirks an eyebrow briefly, but otherwise remains composed. "Does the quiet give what happened some meaning?"

[kitty_of_light]

"...In its way," C'taqa agrees, looking up from the knife. "It gives me the time to think about what's happened more closely."