[ first breath mingle ]

[dothelokimotion]

Who: First Breath Crew + Visitors
Broadcast: N/A
Action: The First Breath
When: The month of June

[ Before they left the system, Loki, oddly true to his word, gave the First Breath an upgrade. The walls of the First Breath are layered with a clear polished sheen seem magical. During certain times of the day or certain moods people are exhibiting nearby, the walls shift through various light tones of reds, blues and greens. When a person touches the walls, the walls fill with colours and shifting patterns, displaying a location that the person is familiar with. ]

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

At least two weeks. I needed an artist to fill the walls with colour before I could enchant it.

[ He straightens, wiping his brow. ]

[rebuildyourruins]

Right...

[No, this is too odd. And familiar in a way.]

You look out of sorts.

[dothelokimotion]

Do I?

[ Loki waves a flippant hand. ]

Perhaps being stuck in a steel trap disagrees with me.

[rebuildyourruins]

If that were true you would have looked worse before now.

[dothelokimotion]

Perhaps I hid it well.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor narrows his eye, not buying it.]

I doubt it, considering how much you complain about these ships already.

[Normally he might give Loki the benefit of the doubt. But the more Thor looks at him, the more he's tallying his appearance with a few weeks ago. Over-tired, over-pale, slightly laboured breathing.

That's what leads Thor to abruptly slap his palm against Loki's forehead. Not hard but certainly out of the blue.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ His forehead feels clammy and warm, too warm for Loki. The damage has been done and Loki slaps it away immediately. ]

I do not need to be coddled.

[rebuildyourruins]

[The slap doesn't bother Thor, but the discovery does. He refuses to back down, incredulous.]

You're sick again. What did you do?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki inaudibly curses. ]

It wasn't . . . much.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Not good enough. With a little more heat under the words:]

What did you do.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki stumbles back with a hiss before he straightens his back, proud. ]

Castiel asked for a favor. A return to the Marsiva.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor knew what Loki was going to say even before he said it. And yet - and yet some part of him was still holding out hope for another explanation. So it still manages to surprise him.]

You went back.

[That spark of disbelief on his face quickly fans into anger. How long ago was it? What happened? What could have happened? First and foremost:]

Why didn't you tell me?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's eyes flash. ]

Because you would have said no. Never mind that if someone had asked that of you, you would have gone running.

[rebuildyourruins]

I would have gone with you! And no one did ask me, so you don't get to guess at what I would have done.

[Thor realises with dim defeat that had he not come around and noticed Loki's discomfort, he would never have found out about this at all. That, more than anything, pushes his worry over into offence.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ He falters a little at that, but stays galvanized. ]

So only you can play at heroics?

[rebuildyourruins]

This isn't a game, this is--

[Deadly serious. Thor knows it, knew it when they were out there alongside the Marsiva and real fear had sunk its claws into him. Loki, staring into the depths of space behind him, yesteryear's words spilling from his lips.

Thor shakes his head sharply.]

You weren't going to say a damn thing about this, were you.

[dothelokimotion]

Why would I? It was nothing. I was fine.

[ He could do it. He could show them all. Even those faceless lords. He will not be cowed, forced back into the box of his own making. ]

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor snaps at him.]

You call this 'fine'?

[The fact that Loki even has to ask 'why would I?' just aggravates Thor further. So much for going back and trying it again together. He draws himself upright, still fuming but putting a lock on his temper.]

It's not nothing, not to me. But suit yourself.

[Loki always does, after all. Thor turns on his heel and stalks back down the corridor.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki stares at him, panic faintly trickling in before he purses his lips in a censorious line. Of course Thor never believed he could do it. Everything he said about Loki being more was a farce.

He never should have come here. What did he think would happen? With that, he also leaves, frustrated and bitter. ]