the other kind of endgame.

[rebuildyourruins]

Who: Thor + others
Broadcast: no
Action: the First Breath + some other places
When: June 7th onwards

[A number of closed starters for Thor's canon update to Avengers Endgame. Hit me up on dudemeister if you want one!]

Comments

[rebuildyourruins]

Yeah. He used the Stones to do it.

[dothelokimotion]

[ used the stones? comprehension fills his expression, turning it neutral. he would not mourn tony stark, though he is grateful it wasn't thor. it's obvious what would happen though. stark was only mortal after all. ]

What will you do now?

[rebuildyourruins]

[It's for the best, really. Months might have passed since Tony died, but it's still another loss Thor's had to bear. He tries - honestly tries - not to dwell on it all as much anymore. He'd done that enough.]

That's a question I've been asking myself ever since it ended.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki's not sure if he likes the sound of that. ]

And do you have an answer?

[rebuildyourruins]

Not yet. Though I'm looking for one. I have time enough for that.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he smiles though there doesn't seem to be much feeling behind it. ]

Yes. You have time enough now to pursue whatever you need.

[rebuildyourruins]

[There's an emptiness to that which is almost palpable. Thor smiles slightly, though he doesn't say anything. More and more he suspects that what he's looking for is already here. It's just taken him some very circuitous routes to find it again.]

That's true. I turned the kingship over to Valkyrie, you know. I think... she'll do much better than I did.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki blinks, caught off guard before his eyes narrows sharply. ]

You — You handed the kingdom to a drunken slaver?

[rebuildyourruins]

[He was expecting something like that from Loki, so he just nods.]

It's been five years, Loki. She was already doing most of the work.

[dothelokimotion]

[ five years? his gaze flickers over thor, gauging him. but loki is still unhappy about this little bombshell though, so his tone remains sharp and caustic. ]

Five years is nothing to us. That was — [ our ] — your birthright. What did you even do, those past five years?

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor's eyes harden a bit.]

It wasn't nothing to me. Not after what happened.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki crosses his arms. ]

What was it to you then?

[rebuildyourruins]

The worst years of my life.

[It's an easy question to answer, no matter how heavy that answer actually is. Thor sighs, dropping back into the seat at the table.]

And perhaps I made it worse for myself. That doesn't change the nature of it though.

[dothelokimotion]

[ that isn't much of an answer, but loki sighs, relenting. ]

I ought to gut your friends for leaving you in this state. What is the point of them?

[rebuildyourruins]

Loki, I didn't see them for most of those five years. None of us really saw each other. It was -- things change when half the universe dies.

[It's a half-hearted explanation, because it's something Loki will never understand. None of those who died before the snap or vanished during it can possibly know what it felt like. The ones who did go through it barely understand how it felt. And for Thor, who held himself responsible for it - he hadn't felt the need to be understood. Indeed he'd pushed away from that as hard as he could.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki purses his lips. that may be so, but he still finds it unforgivable. if he had known how impotent the avengers were . . . what a time for them to prove him right. at least they stuck the landing. ]

I suppose I would not know.

[ a beat. ]

Thor, even with Thanos gone, there is no guarantee I can come back.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor holds his brother's gaze for a long moment. Stares at him out of that face framed by an unkempt beard, ragged hair. He drums his fingers on the table before picking up his coffee mug.]

Do you really think - [He says casually, but with a thread of steel underneath] - that after watching the universe implode, diving back in time to get a bunch of Stones that didn't exist anymore, and turning Thanos to ash, that I give a shit about guarantees?

You're not dying here. End of story.

[dothelokimotion]

[ that is startling and it shows on his expression before he snaps his mouth shut. quietly, looking at his hands and back to thor. ]

Let me rephrase that. Do you really think it is a good idea for me to come back?

[rebuildyourruins]

Of course I do. Whatever it is you do - I just want you to live.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki breathes out, a tremor. ]

I don't know what I should do. I don't know what will happen.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Thor reaches over and clasps Loki's shoulder, resolute.]

We'll figure it out. Together.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki smiles faintly at that. thor has a way of making him believe. ]

Is that a promise?

[rebuildyourruins]

It is. Whatever happens here, it will not be our ending.

[That much Thor will make sure of. The end of one thing does not require the end of another. In fact, it ought to lead to new beginnings. That's what he's been telling himself these last few months; he's not going to stop now.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ he relaxes at that. at least, whatever thor decides, loki is a part of it. he hadn't been sure. which isn't thor's fault, but loki didn't want to instill false hope. he leans again, clasping thor's hand and pressing his cheek against it. ]

Thank you.