Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

[notzubats]

Who: Everybody! It's a planet mingle!
Broadcast: If You want!
Action: On the Holding Hands plant!
When: From June 23 until whenever we need a new mingle.

[At long last, the fleet has arrived to a new planet. This means it's time for a mingle guys! Get in! ]

Comments

[complicatedliar]

[He shakes his head.] Not an affliction Asgardians are subject to.

[And he's not one of them, but he's not getting in to what he actually is. Ahsoka's already seen far too much.]

[resnipstance]

Huh. That's weird.

Is that what your people are, then? Asgardians?

[complicatedliar]

It sounds a good sort of strangeness for one to have.

[Hah. Now that is a question.] Asgardians are the species native to Asgard. [Totally an answer.]

[resnipstance]

[She picks up on the evasiveness, if only because you become a master at such things when you live and grow up in a Temple full of Jedi who can all tell if you tell a direct lie. She and just about everyone she knows is a master of the "answer the question by telling the truth but also not directly answering the question" maneuver.

But at the end of the day, Ahsoka's policy on calling people out only applies if it's important. Otherwise, she figures they have their reasons, and they'll get around to it when they get around to it. Loki's no exception. So instead, she directs the flow of conversation somewhere else.]

I see! Well, it doesn't always figure. I mean, I'm a togruta, but my species' home planet is called Shili. And I grew up on Coruscant!

[complicatedliar]

A more interesting naming scheme, at least. Though the residents of Asgard are collectively called Aesir. More of a cultural label than species, perhaps. The Aesir were gods to the humans for a time.

[resnipstance]

Really? How'd that come about?

[For all that Ahsoka isn't into books, she's far from unintelligent or uncurious. She just doesn't learn well through written media. Stories, she's perfectly happy to listen to.]

[complicatedliar]

At one time, Asgard acted as the protector of MIdgard, the human realm. Until the most recent king, Odin, decided that he no longer felt like it and left the humans to their devices.

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka's nose wrinkles upwards again, and her eyes narrow in confusion.]

What? What do you mean he just "no longer felt like it"?

[There's no small amount of judgment in her voice. Protecting those that need it is something Ahsoka feels very strongly about.]

[complicatedliar]

I was an infant at the time and he did not see fit to consult me. [Shrug.] But I have yet to find a satisfactory explanation for his sudden reversal of the old pacts. A sudden burst of isolationism, perhaps, for Asgard ceased to protect the other realms as well, but for Vanaheim--and my mother was of the Vanir, so I think Odin could hardly have gotten away with letting her people twist in the wind.

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka folds her arms over her chest, unimpressed.]

Well, it sounds kinda rude if you ask me.

No offense, or anything.

[complicatedliar]

Odin is an old fool grasping at remembered glory but too frightened to act. I do wish I'd lived long enough to piss on his grave, but sadly no.

[He snorts, lip curling.]

My only satisfaction is that I chose my death and stole from him the pleasure of separating my head from my neck.

[resnipstance]

[Well, there aren't many things that surprise Ahsoka, being Force-sensitive as she is, but that would be one of them. She looks a little taken aback.]

Wait-- what...?

[complicatedliar]

[Eyebrows up.]

Hmm?

[resnipstance]

You're... dead?

[complicatedliar]

Oh yes. Run through with a spear on the barren plain of Svartalfheim whilst saving my fool brother and his lady.

[He considers for a moment.]

Rather embarrassing, when you come down to it.

[resnipstance]

What? How is that embarrassing?

... I think it's really brave.

[complicatedliar]

[...it actually feels rather nice to hear someone say that, rather than immediately accuse him of lying or questioning his feelings about his brother. A little bit of that pleasant surprise does show on his face, though he still laughs. He always laughs.]

Being cunning in battle was really the nicest thing anyone had to say about me, in my home universe. Falling upon a spear for someone else's sake is really the opposite of that.

But... I thank you.

[resnipstance]

... You must really care about him. Your brother, I mean.

[complicatedliar]

[Does he? In his own way, yes. Oh, some day he will still see Thor thoroughly humbled, but that is for him to do and no one else. Some day, but it doesn't have to be soon.

And...]

He is all I had left.

[resnipstance]

... Oh.

[Somehow, that makes it even more distressing. Gamely, she barrels on.]

But-- that's not true here, right? I mean-- everyone here is really nice.

[complicatedliar]

[...nice? Did Ahsoka really try to tell him people are nice? Well, he imagines they are, to her. Well, and many start out nice toward him, until he grows bored and chews on them a bit.

So. Give her a comforting lie, or the less comforting answer that is closer to the truth. What does he feel like doing at the moment?

He shrugs.]

I am not an easy person to befriend. [Understatement of the century. Because he's a dick.]

[resnipstance]

["Until he grows bored and chews on them a bit" might have something to do with it, Loki.

Ahsoka, on the other hand, seems surprised.]

Really...? [Her expression is skeptical.]

I mean, I guess you are a little more stoic now than you were before, but... I don't see it.

[complicatedliar]

I do not suffer fools gladly. [He snorts.] Though I thank you for that. I have not lost my ability to be pleasant when the mood suits.

[And he can be exceptionally pleasant. He's very good at it. But making friends? That would require some level of trust, some willingness for even minor emotional intimacy. Yuck. It says something that he's willing to talk with Ahsoka in such a fashion at all.]

[resnipstance]

Well, I'm pretty foolish at times. Everyone says so. [She says it with a reckless grin, though.]

Will you put up with me anyway?

[complicatedliar]

[He laughs softly.] You do seem to be... friends with me. [He knows quite a few who would consider that foolish on her part, him among them. He does tend to destroy what is closest.

And yet. It is... oddly nice.]

At great risk to my reputation, I think I might.