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

[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.

[friendlykillingmachine]

I was programmed to serve and protect my human friends, which means I'm incapable of doing direct harm to them.

[selfimage]

Harm in what way? That seems rather broad for an algorithm.

[friendlykillingmachine]

Killing them, to be more specific! Or doing bodily harm. I'm supposed to protect the good guys, not hurt them.

[selfimage]

So anything that hurts them in the most basic sense of the word.

[friendlykillingmachine]

Pretty much. Would you destroy a planet if it meant destroying someone you loved along with it?

[There's no change in his smile to indicate this is anything other than a curious question.]

[selfimage]

That's a little literal.

[ he says to himself, the gears in his head turning. ]

Yes, I would, depending on circumstance. [ he has, actually, but that was a different life. ] There are worse things than death, after all.

But I've always been good at the another way jazz.

[friendlykillingmachine]

Oh, I believe it — the 'worse things than death' stuff, I mean. A friend of mine once said that life is a sort of hell but you've got to live it and you should think of your death as a reward when you're through.

Anyway, everyone loves a loophole! [Big, cheerful smile!] And if I had one in this hypothetical situation, you can bet I'd use it! But if there wasn't another way, I'd have to let someone else push the big red button. Preferably not while I'm around because I would probably try to stop them.

[More like definitely try to stop them.]

[selfimage]

[ surprisingly or unsurprisingly, he doesn't seem so terribly fazed. ]

Do you have agency of your own that doesn't conform to that of your given orders?

[ he's actually curious. ]

[friendlykillingmachine]

It depends on the situation and who I'm taking orders from! My programming dictates that I'm to follow all orders given to me by those I consider allies or 'friends', except if I'm ordered to kill another ally.

[selfimage]

That's a no, then.

[ but he keeps a pair of green eyes fixed on him. ]