[ 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

[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.

[dothelokimotion]

That seems like a strange place to put ideas.

[signifies]

Well, having one in my shoes doesn't have the same ring to it.

[dothelokimotion]

I'm not so sure.

I think you could pull it off.

[signifies]

[ He is extremely serious about this joke: ]

That's a lot of faith to put in me. I'll try not to disappoint.

[dothelokimotion]

Mmm. I am a little used to a little disappointment.

[ But it was nice to have a little banter. Not many people can do that with Loki. ]

[signifies]

We'll see how it goes, then.

Thank you. [ He adds quickly: ] This could have gone a lot worse for me.

[dothelokimotion]

[ A pause. ]

What makes you say that?

[signifies]

It's a long story. [ The last time he'd been on an alien ship, they'd taken his blood and invaded his mind. ]

I don't really like this implant.