RP log - for asgardian_heir

[the_other_son]

Who: Loki and Thor (mainly)
What: Directly follows this. In a burst of desperation, Loki discovers a new ability - that serves him only long enough to drag Thor into something after him for once.
Rating: Uh... PG13, for injury, possible violence, etc. Isn't likely to exceed the ratings of the MCU films.

Note: This is in progress and will be continued in the comments.


Malekith released his own magics a moment before Loki -- or a moment after. It was hard to tell, even for the elf. All he knew was that, one moment, Loki was there, and the next, a circle of smoke was rising in a ring around where he'd been standing, and that was good enough for him. Satisfied, he nodded once and turned, heading for the doors Loki had come in through, intent on making sure he hadn't permanantly harmed the guards he'd blown past when he'd made his entrance.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, Thor stood in the kitchen of Stark Tower, practically half in the refrigerator. Whatever he was looking for, however, was forgotten as something out of the corners of his eyes grabbed his attention, and he ducked out of the thing abruptly, straightening, a look of confusion passing his face. It was the last thing he'd manage, the last thing anyone else who happened to be in the room with him would see before he disappeared in a blur of black-silver-blue-green and the world went dark around him.

Time passed. How much, he couldn't have said, but he was aware of losing moments all the same, after waking, and he sat there, for some time after, trying to get his bearings beyond that. When he'd managed, he got to his feet slowly, using the tree that had been at his back as leverage, and held out a hand, reaching for Mjolnir. He had no idea where he was, the rise of trees around him unhelpful, unfamiliar, but he suspected he had been the victim of some sort of attack, and if they could get to him, safe in Stark's Tower, who knew what the others were facing now, without him. He needed to go back.

Unfortunately, however, for all that he reached for her, his hammer would not come. He could feel her, somewhere distant, but -- but then, abruptly, the memory of the color of the magic struck him and suddenly, he felt he knew why Mjolnir couldn't reach him and what, exactly had happened.

Suddenly furious, he took a deep breath and let it out a bellow, a name on his lips. "Loki!"

For a moment, it seemed as though Thor might not get a response to his challenge. Finally, though, from nearby, there was a soft exhalation followed by a familiar voice. "For once, could you keep your voice down?"

Thor wheeled on the sound of his voice, one finger raising in challenge. "Where have you taken us? What manner of sorcery is this?"

Loki sat, apparently calmly, at the base of a nearby tree. If Thor looked closer, though, he was holding himself carefully, the arm on the side not facing Thor held tightly against himself. He also didn't look at Thor, dropping his head as he let out a wry breath. "The usual sort," he returned, tone so dry it seemed to draw moisture out of the air. "And I had been hoping for somewhere a little cozier, but it is better than the alternative of being ash on a Svartalfheimian floor." Heat came to his voice for a moment, and he huffed out another breath, tilting his head back this time to rest against the bark of the tree.

Thor noticed, and between that and Loki's explanation, it was enough to cool some of his anger. Not all of it, but enough, at least, that he wasn't shouting anymore, as his brother had hoped. "I do not understand. You and the Accursed ... "

"Had a bit of a disagreement," he finished Thor's sentence, shortly - and then, finally, turned his head to look at the other. While one side of his face appeared normal, the other was a deep blue, lined with runes. It was receding slowly, the eye on the affected side gradually fading back to his usual green, but he looked away from Thor before it did, bothered, as always, by the display of his true nature.

Thor frowned at him for a long moment, though the expression had less to do with any distaste he might have felt as far as how Loki looked went, and more to do with the fact that the illusion had slipped in the first place. It spoke of injury, despite the fact that wasn't, as he had put it, ash on a Svartalfheimian floor, and Thor wasn't sure he liked it much. Regardless of everything that had happened between them, Loki was still his brother, still important to him.

"Can you stand, at least? Walk?" he asked, when the sour look had faded.

By the time Loki looked back, the rest of his face had returned to its usual appearance, though it was still working its way down his neck. "I am not an invalid," he returned, stubbornly, putting one hand down to start to push himself up, using the tree behind him as support. It was slow and, based on his expression, painful going, and even once he was finally upright, he didn't seem entirely steady on his feet. Walking might be something of an issue after all.

"Are you entirely certain of that, brother?" Thor shot back, the frown returning. A moment of pause followed, and then he moved to Loki's side and held out a hand. For all that it looked as though he was planning on simply offering Loki an arm to lean on, however, if he took the offered hand, he planned on manhandling him into his arms or onto his shoulder. Either way -- and, actually, regardless of whether or not Loki actually accepted his help.

Loki sneered at him, pushing away the offered arm as he took an unsteady step away from the tree - and then was immediately grabbing for both it and Thor as his knees buckled under him.

Thor darted forward to catch him, to keep him from falling and to steady him. When he'd managed and as planned, he pulled Loki to him, arm around his waist, and lifted him, carefully, over his shoulder. "I would not struggle, if I were you, Loki," he started, once he'd had him settled. "I do not think either of us would like for me to drop you."

For the first time in some time, Loki did as told, huffing out a sigh tinged with aggravation - though whether it was at his own injuries or Thor's manhandling was difficult to say. "It would not be the first time," he shot back.

That earned Loki a brief, wounded look; it was replaced quickly by a scowl. Rather than say anything in response, however, silence followed instead as Thor lead them aimlessly into the trees.

For once, Loki, too, remained silent. He wouldn't regret the barb, not when words were his last defense when at a disadvantage, but he didn't doubt Thor might actually drop him if he carried on.

After some time, though, the silence was something he simply couldn't stand. "If you're planning on carrying me all the way back to Stark's Tower, there may be some flaws in your plan."

"So I gathered." And for more than just the fact that he doubted Stark would be thrilled if he showed up, however long later, Loki in tow. "I know we are not on Midgard," he continued, that in mind and by way of explanation, "for when I tried to call Mjolnir to me, she would not come. But while I do not know where we are beyond that, this place not of Vanaheim or Alfheim or any of the realms I know, I did not think sitting still was wise. Particularly if Malekith knows you are not dead."

"The spell clearly worked as intended, though I doubt he meant for it to affect both of us. That may at least buy me some time." To figure out how to get back and actually do something about the elf, because that was something he needed to finish, now. "Neither are we anywhere I have been. The sky is unlike any I know." Trying to recover - and waiting on Thor to come around - had given him time to watch it. During that time, and no matter that he was sure a fair amount of time had passed, the twilight that surrounded them had remained the same.

Thor glanced up, his steps slowing as he considered the sky, and then nodded. "If not one of the Nine Realms, though, then where?"

He wasn't entirely sure he expected Loki to answer that. On one hand, if he knew what Malekith was trying for -- or what he'd been trying for, in latching onto him on the heels of the Accursed's spell -- then maybe he had some idea. On the other, though, if Loki didn't recognize anything anymore than he did, maybe not.

Loki paused again, and it was clear he hated to admit what he said next, that he expected Thor to mock him for it. "I... don't know. His skill was greater than mine; I do not know what his spell was meant to do." That was something of a lie: Loki obviously knew Malekith had meant to kill him. Why it had led to them waking up in this forest was what still puzzled him.

Rather than mock him, Thor made a small, accepting noise instead. There was no real shame in Loki not knowing -- or in all but losing to Malekith, who was much older and, as Loki had said, much more experienced in magic than either of them.

Loki frowned, honestly surprised by the response, but didn't say anything himself - at least for a moment. "Do you still have a sense of the hammer?" The fact that she hadn't responded to his call was different than Thor losing his skill at telling her general location, after all.

"I do," Thor replied, shooting him a sideways glance -- or, well, trying anyway. It was a little difficult, given how he had Loki slung over his shoulder. "And we head in that direction."

"Well, we didn't lose that advantage, anyway." And speaking of the awkwardness of that glance. "You could probably put me down, now." He truly wasn't being difficult, there; he felt far steadier now than he had.

"You're certain?" Because as far as whether or not Loki could actually walk on his own now went, he wasn't.

Loki rolled his eyes at that, whether or not it actually did any good. "The worst that happens is I resume my current position as a sack of potatoes."

"You should not compare youself to a sack of potatoes, Loki," Thor started as he paused to unshoulder his brother as carefully as he had picked him up in the first place. "They complain far less, after all, and you do them a grave disservice."

"And they may surpass you in intelligence," Loki added once he was back on his feet. Despite the words, there was little actual heat to the insult this time, and there might even have been a flicker of amusement in his eyes, however brief.

He also did seem to be doing well enough on his own, now. The illusion was back at its full strength, all signs of his true heritage again hidden away, and Loki tugged at his mussed clothing, straightening it out again.

"I was not the one who likened himself to a bag of vegetables," Thor replied, making a face at him. It passed before too long, however, the frown from earlier, full of concern albeit guardedly so, returning to his face as he studied Loki. When it seemed he really was feeling better, if only enough to walk, Thor nodded absently and looked away, his attentions drifting into the dark, in the direction they'd been heading.

He squinted into the distance, briefly, then looked back to Loki, one hand raising to point at a shadow in the distance. "Mountains?"

Anything involving his magic was likely still beyond him, but for now, he did seem better. "A position I was in unwillingly, if you'll remember," Loki returned, almost as absently, and followed Thor's gesture. "It would seem so. Are we still going the right way?" Clearly, whatever his opinion on Thor, he still had confidence in his brother's connection to the hammer.

Chosing to drop their argument in favor of finding out where they were and how to get home, Thor nodded and dropped his hand. "We are. Which means we will either have to find a way through or around the mountain ahead."

"Well," Loki returned. "Shall we press on?"

"What choice do we have otherwise?" That was, for the most part, a rhetorical question, and that in mind, setting his jaw, Thor started forward again.

Loki seemed to recognize that, and he fell into step a pace behind Thor.

The silence continued for a time while the mountains grew closer, and Loki finally spoke again. "I like the outfit, by the way. You seem to be doing a marvelous job blending in with your new friends."

Thor glanced back, trying to decide whether or not his brother was being genuine or just needling him again. After a moment, he seemed to lean towards the latter (knowing Loki, he was probably right, too), and made another face at him. "My armor is impractical on Midgard, more likely to draw unwanted attention from the -- the paparazzi than to serve its intended purpose. If I had known I was to be kidnapped today, I might have thought to wear it."

He was right, yes, even if Loki just looked back impassively. "It might have been useful."

"Perhaps you could warn me, beforehand, next time?" He raised his eyebrows, the look on his face almost hopeful, though mockingly so.

Loki's tone was just as mockingly earnest. "Yes, of course. The next time I am nearly decimated in a magical confrontation, I will certainly warn you beforehand."

Comments

[asgardian_heir]

Thor made a face at him, expression torn between hurt, again, and irritated and returned his attentions to the mountains. Really, he should have known better than to rise to Loki's bating -- he should have known he would have made this as terrible as possible for the both of them. It was, unfortunately, his brother's way.

[the_other_son]

Thor should have learned long ago not to rise to Loki's baiting, it's true - but then Loki might have learned to stop baiting Thor to begin with, and then where would they be?

Loki just looked back impassively for the instant before Thor looked away again, and he followed the other's lead, expression turning more neutral as he kept an eye on their surroundings. He didn't know where they were or what might be waiting on them between here and their eventual destination. He doubted it would be anything pleasant, if there was something, considering Malekith's greater goal with the spell.

[asgardian_heir]

At least, to his credit, Thor seemed determined not to make the same mistake twice, and so they continued in silence until they'd reached the foot of the mountains. Then, as he stopped, and only then, did he bother trying to make conversation with his brother. "I would advise you to keep your eyes open for a path or passageway, brother."

He wasn't sure it would be that easy, but if they could find something it would certainly be better than trying to walk around an entire mountain range.

[the_other_son]

"Some of us can do more than simply looking," Loki reminded him, looking over the cliff face in front of them for a moment before he raised a hand, passing it in front of him in a wide arc. Green light followed the gesture, illuminating the rock in front of them, eventually tracing the rough outline of a door not far from where they had arrived.

Satisfied, Loki dropped his hand, hiding how much it was shaking from the exertion, and turned to face Thor. "Your turn, brother."

[asgardian_heir]

"Of course. My mistake."

Whether Thor was being serious or sarcastic, it was hard to tell, perhaps if only because he wasn't sure, himself, but either way, he took a step backwards, giving Loki room to work his magic. When he finished and where the door was became obvious, Thor glanced between it, his brother and back again before heading in that direction. Unfortunately, where ever they were, Malekith had clearly gotten their first, the door wrapped in heavy chains and locks to bar their passage; fortunately, well, like Loki had said, his turn.

Planting his feet, he reached for the chains, wrapping them around his arms as well as he could with as little give as they had. A breath out followed, once he was satisfied, and then with a deep breath in and a yell borne on it, he pulled as hard as he could, every inch of him straining under the effort. Before too long, though, and thankfully, the chains creaked, protesting, and then snapped, locks falling free as Thor tugged the chain down so they wouldn't snake out and strike either him or his brother, accidentally.

He took a moment following, to catch his breath and let the metal fall from his wrists, and then looked back to Loki again with a faint smile. "It seems we have our passage." A beat. "After you, brother."

[the_other_son]

Loki took a few steps of his own back as Thor went to work, watching impassively as he broke through the chains. If he was impressed with his brother's work, it didn't show - but it also didn't escape him that the chains would have presented him with a much greater challenge - especially when his magic was still weaker than usual.

"With pleasure," he offered simply as he moved past Thor to take the lead down the passageway into the mountain, right hand held half-cupped at his side, ready to pull on his magic if a need presented itself.

And, after a few feet, it did. As they lost the light from the doorway, the passage grew nearly pitch black, and he raised his hand in front of him, calling up a dim orb of green light to light their way.

[asgardian_heir]

Loki stood ready to provide magic, if needed; despite the absence of Mjolnir, Thor did likewise with might, his fingers curled into fists at his side, just in case, one eye figuratively on their backs as they moved deeper into the passage. He doubted anything would come after them, since nothing had come from the scene they'd made when they'd first awoken or when he'd torn the chains off the door, but it was better to be safe than sorry, he figured.

It was also probably a good idea to be careful, going forward, too, given the nature of who had sent them here, and that in mind, after a moment, he said, "I would take care, Loki. I fear Malekith may have more in store for us than a handful of chains on a door to bar our path."

[the_other_son]

"I believe that is putting it rather simply," Loki returned, distracted by the fact that he was already paying attention to anything that might come at them out of the darkness ahead. "His intention was likely to keep me occupied." And likely with things that would mean Loki would never get back to ruin the elf's plans, but he wasn't mentioning that for now.

[asgardian_heir]

"Or hope that you find your end here, if he could not do it himself." Since, as far as Thor understood it, Malekith had been trying to kill him, it stood to reason he wouldn't just give up in favor of putting Loki somewhere he could escape from. Malekith, after all, wasn't that stupid, as much as it begrudged Thor to admit.

[the_other_son]

"That is more likely," he agreed just as begrudgingly - and then paused for a moment both in speech and physically, glancing briefly over his shoulder at Thor. "Our disagreement," he began. "He is planning to launch an attack against Asgard."

[asgardian_heir]

"Considering his involvement in our father's affairs as of late -- " Namely Loki's escape from Asgard, though he was trying to be tactful for perhaps the first time in his life. " -- this does not surprise me." A pause followed and then, much less politely, he added, "What does surprise me is that you and the Accursed would have a falling out over it. I would think you should love to see father brought low."

Assuming, of course, that Malekith even made it past the gates..

[the_other_son]

"There were arrangements and agreements made," Loki returns, offhand and dismissively, as though he didn't notice Thor's tone. Whether or not he actually did - and whether he cares - is an entirely different question. "He went back on his word."

[asgardian_heir]

"Arrangements for you to claim Asgard in the wake of its ruin?" Thor guessed, frowning at him. It wouldn't surprise him, really. Loki had always wanted to be king, even before he realized his true parentage if the stunt he pulled on the day of his coronation was any indication.

[the_other_son]

If Loki were a dog, his hackles would be up, now, and there's definite tension in his shoulders. "Of course," he returns, still casually, though there's even more tension in his voice. "It is my right."

[asgardian_heir]

Thor let out a heavy breath and resisted the urge to shake his head. "A kingdom in shambles does not make for much of a kingdom at all, brother, and had you realized that before, perhaps you would be on Asgard's throne. I find that I have little taste for our father's position, now."

[the_other_son]

"Oh, yes, we all know where your heart lies, now," Loki shot over his shoulder. "On Midgard with your mortal and your friends."

[asgardian_heir]

"Do not think it so simple, Loki," Thor snapped, all but sneering. "The people I have allied myself weigh heavily on my decisions, yes, but that is not all there is to them."

[the_other_son]

"Is it not?" he counters. "Do enlighten me, then."

[asgardian_heir]

Thor is silent for a long moment, not because he's been caught in a lie but because he's trying to decide how to word the truth. It's difficult, not without sounding as though he's either a coward or outright disrespecting their father, two things he has no great desire to be accused of, but finally, slowly, he starts, "Our father has made many a difficult decision in his time on the throne. To pursue war with Jotunheim when we were both but children -- to remand you for punishment, most recently. I know his reasoning behind most of it and I respect it, but the more years time puts upon me, the less I think myself capable of making the same.

"I would fight and die for Asgard, but I could not ask my friends, of Asgard or otherwise, to do the same." He pauses, looking hard at Loki now. "And I could not sentence my brother to just punishment, death or otherwise, because he is my brother. And that, to lead with my heart rather than my head, would do all Asgard a great disservice, but it would be a disservice to myself to do otherwise. So you see, perhaps, my issue."

[the_other_son]

Loki turns to watch Thor through his answer. There's doubt in his expression - though not because he thinks Thor's lying. He knows too well how poor a liar Thor is, especially when he wears his heart so much on his sleeve, but because Loki has always known that Thor was the one meant for the throne. The people love him, and he is a good leader when it comes to their battles.

Not that Loki will ever say that outloud.

"I am surprised you do," he returns, largely to fill the silence that comes after Thor finishes, but to buy himself time to figure out how to answer that, too. "A shame I was given all the wit, then."

There's a ghost of a smirk on Loki's face to go with that - he's poking at Thor, yes, but it's an honest tease, too.

[asgardian_heir]

"I have had time to consider it." He pauses as Loki continues and rolls his eyes. There might be a ghost of a smile in one corner of his mouth, however. Might be. "And I still have the arm to give you a good beating for that."

[the_other_son]

"It's fortunate for me that you may need me by the end of all this, then," he returns, glancing back the way they're going. He can feel something in the darkness ahead, though he's not sure he wants to know what it is, given what they've already run into.

[asgardian_heir]

"And you may need me, brother," he counters, following his gaze into the dark. He may not be as attuned to things as Loki, but he doesn't feel like this is going to be easy, either. He wishes, for not the first time, that he had Mjolnir here -- or, at very least, his armor. He suppose he'll have to settle for steeling his jaw and tensing.

[the_other_son]

"To my dismay," he returns - though anything else he might have been considering as a retort is lost as he moves forward again - and he holds up a hand when his light illuminates the end of the hallway - or, rather, its widening. He glances back at Thor, briefly, as he moves closer to the wall, taking a silent step forward.

And then he's flailing, his light flickering wildly as his foot nearly slips off the sudden drop just ahead of them.

[asgardian_heir]

Without thinking, Thor darts forward, wrapping an arm around Loki's waist to pull him back from the edge. When it seems the danger has passed, if only for now, the chasm still yawning before them, Thor lets him go and makes an effort to pretend that never happened and mostly for Loki's benefit. Mostly.