[ one year anniversary ]

[dothelokimotion]

Who: Loki + You
Broadcast: Video
Action: SS First Breath
When: Today! It's a special day!

( video broadcast )

[ the feed splutters before turning on. loki is surrounded by a whole bunch of boxes. boxes as far as the eye can see. loki has started opening them while the speakers blast this song loud and clear. loki, for his part merely huffs. ]

It seems I have spent a total of a year in this place and the, ah, viewers wish to celebrate. However most of this is useless to me, so I welcome anyone else taking them into their hands.

[ which, ngl, he's into. but the gifts loki has are just . . . baffling. he holds each one up to the camera. we have the mighty thor scooter, captain chickmerica, loki on hotwheels, a masterpiece, plastic horns, disturbing panties and something for "sophisticated men" ]

Please feel free to come by to the First Breath to pick them up.

Also, this has reminded me. Since we are essentially living by this . . . awkward mortal calendar, I have decided I want a birthday. You lot should help me pick one.

[ and get him presents. this is essentially a ploy for presents. ]

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

And saving the universe rests on you?

[ikenai]

Not solely, no.

[She shrugs effortlessly.]

I'm a member of a group that helps save the universe.

[dothelokimotion]

[ of course. it's always a group. loki is sure they have special outfits too. ]

That seems to be a trend.

[ikenai]

[Of course they do! Holographic rocket skirts are all the rage, Loki.]

Oh? Has something like that happened in your world too?

[dothelokimotion]

My world is long gone. I'm simply familiar with all strains of . . . heroism.

[ikenai]

Gone, you say? What happened to it? And as far as I go, it's not about heroism. It's about being able to sing and dance in front of audiences.

[dothelokimotion]

It was destroyed.

[ by me, but he doesn't say that. ]

And this will . . . save the universe.

[ikenai]

I'm sorry for you then.

[She doesn't really have a planet she's from, but if Ragna were to be destroyed, she's sure that she would be upset.]

Yes, it has many times over.

[She's waiting for the usual questions because this isn't the first time she's had this conversation.]

[dothelokimotion]

How many times?

[ like it's hard to believe this is a regular thing but loki has heard of weird stuff before. ]

[ikenai]

Hm, that's a good question.

[She takes a moment to think it over.]

It's really been an ongoing thing for well over a hundred years, but there have been seven distinct times, if you include the latest time that I was involved in. However, that really had a lot of little fights over time.

[dothelokimotion]

[ so basically no one wins and it's just a cycle. ]

So what makes you think it will end?

[ikenai]

[It's a fight against space fungus, Loki. Who the hell wins against that?]

I'm not certain it will. A group of scientists has discovered how to trigger the problem, so perhaps that can be reversed engineered. Despite my current augment, I'm no scientist. I will leave that to them, while they leave the handling of the infected to me and the rest of Walküre.

[dothelokimotion]

[ hmmm. ]

How very convenient.

[ikenai]

I'm sure that no one else finds in convenient. Var sufferers will be vulnerable all their lives. It's only with some preventative measures that we hope to hold it back.

[dothelokimotion]

Vulnerable how?

[ it still seems like a narrative. and who knows who has control? ]

[ikenai]

They only go into remission when we assist them.

[It's close enough.]

There is no full-blown cure.

[dothelokimotion]

Even after hundreds of years?

[ikenai]

Yes, even after over a hundred years. It originates from space and... well, it's spread too wide to stop now, I think.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki hums. ]

It is quite the tale.

[ikenai]

And yet there are plenty others that are equally odd and seemingly improbably. It's one of the charms of being dragged here against our wills.

[dothelokimotion]

[ personally, hundred year old wars seem like a lot, even for loki who has heard many war stories, but he isn't here to pass judgement. ]

Perhaps. War does seem to be a common pattern.

[ikenai]

[How can you fight against space rabies? You just sort of try to stem the tide. The Windermerean Wind Knights were far easier to fight because they were readily tangible.]

Sadly, history's shown us that humans, no matter where they're from, can't help from fighting each other.

[dothelokimotion]

[ a light scoff. ]

Human nature. It never changes.

[ikenai]

You sound as if you have a lot of experience with it.

[She tilts her head to the side.]

Just how many birthdays have you missed?

[dothelokimotion]

To some degree.

[ loki rubs his chin. ]

I had coming of age ceremonies as a child, but my people are far more long lived than mankind. In your calendar, it would be . . . a thousand birthdays?