[ audio ]

[signifies]

Who: Clark Kent and you.
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: Aboard the Marsiva.
When: The week of his arrival.

I don't suppose I could click my heels three times. . . [ Only Clark gets his little joke. ]

I'll keep this brief. My name is Clark - I'm from Kansas.

[ He's been the new guy at work often enough to sound chill about this, but he is feeling a little shaky having woken up here in the middle of his workday. To top it off, not being able to hear his mother's heartbeat is jarring.

There's some stress baking in Clark's future. ]

What do you make of this place? I'm curious to know how it compares to where you come from.

Comments

[ audio ]

[signifies]

[ Hmm, someone has a strong opinion. ]

I'll take a guess and say you feel this is a huge step down.

[dothelokimotion]

[ A beat as Loki answers, oddly honest. ]

No. My . . . current home is a ship, much like this one.

But I lived in a better world, not long ago.

[signifies]

[ Clark empathises immediately. There's only so much that can happen to compel someone to leave a wonderful home.

He pauses out of respect. It wouldn't feel right to plough on with questions about what his world was like if this gentleman isn't living there now. ]

If I can ask. . . what was your world called?

[dothelokimotion]

Asgard.

That might mean something or it might not.

[signifies]

I've heard of it. . . but you might get that a lot.

[ It's supposed to be a mythological place. Even for Clark, who usually doesn't have much trouble believing something out of the ordinary.

But he realises that myths had to have come from somewhere. ]

What's your name?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Hmm. Surprising that there wasn't more of a reaction, especially since it was recognized, but Loki doesn't dwell on it. ]

Loki will do.

[ Despite Odin's words, Loki isn't ready to reclaim his patronymic. ]

[signifies]

Loki? Really?

[ Really, of all people to meet! He's a little excited. ]

Nice to meet you.

[ Definitely not from your Earth. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ A very long pause and it almost seems like the line has gone dead before Loki responds. ]

Likewise.

This question. Why?

[signifies]

It's all part of my devious plan.

[ Honestly, it's because he doesn't see a reason not to be polite.

But Clark can't help immediately teasing him. That question was begging for it. ]

You'll never guess my next move.

[dothelokimotion]

[ There's a breathless chuckle. Loki has always been fond of this form of humour. ]

Oh? I think you'll find I have a cornerstone in deviousness.

[signifies]

That might be so, but don't count me out.

[ He chuckles. ]

Consider this your warning. [ STEP TWO: find Loki's favourite flavour of pie. ]

[dothelokimotion]

Oooh.

I expect nothing but quality from this devious plan then.

[signifies]

I promise. [ He's very earnest about it. ]

So, have you been here a while?

[dothelokimotion]

Two months. Not long by anyone's standards.

[ Especially not Loki's. The passage of time means very little. ]

[signifies]

[ He agrees. It's not long enough to settle in somewhere. ]

Anything you'd want to tell the new guy?

[dothelokimotion]

I'm not one to disseminate information. No doubt, the usual helpful people of the Fleet will fill in what they can for you. It usually boils down to "you can't do anything".

[ Which is why Loki hates it. Passionately. He's never been one to accept a status quo. ]

[signifies]

[ He's not used to that. Clark has struggled, but he's never been totally powerless.

This is the first time someone's been able to put an implant in him. ]

I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ So . . . baffling. ]

It is unnecessary to thank me over every little piece of information.

[signifies]

[ He chuckles. ]

It's all part of my cunning plan.

[dothelokimotion]

To disarm me with manners?

I'll give it this. It's . . . unique.

[signifies]

Aha, it's working.

[ Clark, no. ]

[dothelokimotion]

I did not admit that.

[signifies]

[ Just laughter. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki huffs. ]

That's not enough, you realize.

[signifies]

I didn't say there was nothing else up my sleeve.