VIDEO. UN: LOKI.

[selfimage]

Hello there.

[ Loki's standing on the porch of the ashen saloon, black bones against a dusky horizon. ]

Another day saved, another mission over ... [ he says it in an "all in a day's work" sort of tone. a finger twists and he gestures outward. ]

As the story continues! [ the drawl comes from his lips slowly, as if for dramatic effect. ]

We've met our arch-foes, saved a part of the fractured multiverse from apparent destruction and preserved the integrity of the timeline—erm, hopefully on the last two, anyway. In light of current events, and while we all cool down, I thought we'd play with a little fun hypothetical to stimulate conversation. Call it something that's been on my mind. So, riddle me this, Audentes ...

If saving a world meant destroying it—you know, kind of like a hard reset—what would you do? Would you do it, let it die and get coffee instead, or would you fight with tooth and axe for its survival, despite all odds? All methods in between, of course, feel free to be creative.

[ sometimes, some things remind him all too much of Ragnarok. ]

Comments

audio; un:hound

[ofobedience]

Destroy it. Unless, of course, we were given more thorough instructions than the ones we've been handed out so far. In which case, I'd follow those.

[because he's a Good Dog and he follows commands.]

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

[ there's a little hum that fills the air with pause before he replies. ]

Any particular reason other than that's what fate dictates?

video;

[predomination]

It seems like that's going to cause quite the debate, Loki-san! [so cheerfully, before he adds, in a more casual tone.]

I think it would depend on the circumstances. Many can claim that destroying a world will save it, but most of the time, they mean it in selfish terms.

[selfimage]

We all need a snake down the pants at some point.

[ there's a smug little smile and a long shrug of his shoulders. ]

Mm—claim, perhaps. But if it was calculated? It happened once before, it was the first mission where everyone was brought together, before we were Audentes. It wasn't direct of course, more like a piece pushed into place.

audio | username: xXx_trueblue_xXx

[competing]

[ the last time they had a conversation like this, things had been different. simpler.

(god, had it really only been a couple of days ago? it feels like ages now.)

had this cropped up before, lance might have had a ready answer on his tongue, all confidence and bravado and every other thing that's carried him this far, none of which are actual experience or wisdom or insight. all guts, all show. back then, saving the universe had been easier. back when he thought he knew what saving meant. the longer he stays here, with alastair, the more he's beginning to think it's all just a matter of perspective and semantics and a bunch of other things that are, admittedly, not lance's forte.

so what does that leave him with? how far can his gut take him now?

they're all thoughts he can't quite articulate yet, which is a feat for someone who normally doesn't have much of a problem speaking whatever comes to mind, but a lack of filter doesn't necessarily mean a great command with words (isn't the opposite more the case?) so in the end he's left voicing the only other thing his mind can latch onto in this moment... which may or may not be what loki had intended for at all. ]

...That dragon stuff's still bothering you, huh?

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

[ damnit Lance, why do you have to be like this? the dragon stuff always bothered him, not because of the world dying, but because they had been stripped of autonomy, and Loki never liked making decisions that weren't informed to the catalytic sort of outcome that he so enjoyed.

there's a long, suffering sigh. ]

Not in the way you think, if you must know. It's all in the past.

audio; un: beloved

[dailydouble]

Shall I assume we would be properly informed?

[ There's something in his tone to indicate that he's not entirely thrilled about where this line of questioning will lead. ]

[selfimage]

We'll say yes this time, for lack of choice the last time. We don't want to do that again.

[ there's less bitterness in his tone and more curiosity. it still stings a bit, not as badly as the knife his mother drove between his shoulder blades, but enough that he's still sore enough not to allow it to happen again.

he was no one's pawn. ]

audio; un: diclonius

[scarredhorns]

If the better option was to destroy it, then yes, I would do it.

[Lucy says it like it's nothing and to her it might as well be.]

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

Not even a breath of hesitation, hm? Harsh.

[ Loki considers that, but despite his words, doesn't seem all that judgmental. after the last Ragnarok sequence, Thor had thrown them all in the Void, and that had been a kindness. ]

audio; un: cardmaster

[fateality]

I'm a personal fan of the coffee idea. Maybe a latte instead?

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

You'll have to hope that you get to it before the imminent doom, but yes—lattes are always better.

[ so says Thor, anyway. but no one needs to know that. ]

video; un: MANDROID

[friendlykillingmachine]

[Have a very thoughtful (and cheerful!) looking robot.]

Hmm, well that really depends. Obviously, the logical answer is 'absolutely'!

However. If it was up to me personally, I'd have to take certain factors into account. Such as: would destroying that world—assuming it's my world—also destroy my friends and allies? In that instance I'd have to pass!

[selfimage]

[ he's seen a few of those; he's also seen a few not-so-friendly and not-so-cheerful looking ones (fingerpistols at Ultron). ]

You'd forgo if the sacrifice was personal? It seems that's the only time it matters.

video;

[daimeinashi]

I would follow my orders.

[Because what the fuck is morality]

[selfimage]

Why, again?

[ but Loki was never good at following orders, and even when he did he generally found loopholes of the space between mission complete and downright no-good trickery. ]

un: sieglindesullivan / video

[grunehexe]

There are far too many variables there to begin considering. Far too many, Loki, must you be so vexing?

[Never you mind the slurring.]

[selfimage]

Some of us are born to be vexing, and I happen to be one of those that are.

[ he's going to mind that slurring, ok. ]

[dailydouble]

He would not know what to do with himself, if he were not so vexing.

[ If Ahad's worried about Loki overhearing this, he doesn't show it at all. ]

video;

[steler]

In this scenario, does destroying it imply that you wouldn't save whoever is living on that world?

[he doesn't say it like he particularly cares, only that he's curious.]

[selfimage]

[ Loki quirks his head back, eying him like he's looking for something. then, he replies: ]

A world is hardly a world without anyone or anything living on it. It's not really a tough decision, that being the case.

video; un: redlion

[secondnature]

A world or many worlds? You need to be a little more specific. Are their people on the world? Can we evacuate them? Are you gonna say that these people need to die to save something else? What's being saved? Be clearer.

[Keith isn't always the sharpest of thinkers, but it's easy to ask all the questions somehow when it involves being a jerk to Loki.]

[selfimage]

You don't have to answer if you don't want to.

[ he says smoothly. ]

But I will say that a world isn't a world without life, however you'd like to define sentience.

( audio | un: skywalker )

[apoptotic]

Are you sure you had enough to drink?

[ in normal people speech: how are you doing? ]

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

[ who the fucks a normal person. ]

Well, it does seem like I'm doing it for the two of us. Mind taking over?