[log] OTA prompts

[variantl1130]

Who: Loki Laufeyson and anyone
When: August, generally
Where: around Gloucester
Summary: Just an open post for some Loki introductions!
Warnings: none yet

[Never one to sit idle, Loki will be spending his first few days in Gloucester anywhere he can get to, soaking in all the information and culture he can. Here are just a few of the locations he'll be causing a ruckus...]

A. ADI HQ

[Loki's first order of business is to find out what information he has access to in his new obligatory workplace. He'll be asking anyone who looks official enough, or walks with enough purpose, or holds a hefty enough keyring, if they might be willing to let him poke his head into some of the more locked-off areas. Sure, he could probably break in, but he'd like to maintain a good rapport with the company for now. This shouldn't cause so much mischief as it might... annoy. Maybe you're one of the people he's elected looks smart enough to bother?]

B. THE FLOPHOUSE

[Working with the ADI is something Loki can manage. Living under their egregious rules and curfew is absolutely not. Unfortunately, the alternative to this is to bunk up in the smallest, most cramped building he's ever been in, and he is not happy. Most of his time in Bonnie's Flophouse is spent in his room, or in a hurry to his room, or eating food that someone has been kind enough to share. (Whether or not he asks for food is up in the air.)

On top of his standoffishness, he is not very fond of... helping. He's never been anything like a flatmate before, and he very obviously doesn't spend a lot of time on chores. Nor does he realize he should contribute some supplies or groceries. The only thing he does spend a lot of time on is taking up space that should be shared. Do you have issues with his behavior? Do you, for whatever deranged reason, want to befriend him? Why not march up to the third floor and tell him so?

Don't worry, he'll surely earn his keep soon. There's just... a learning curve.]

C. COFFIN BEACH

[Loki's research has brought him to exploring the beaches in Gloucester, namely Coffin Beach. Rumor has it that shortly before his arrival, things had gone awry over here... something to do with shapeshifters, maybe? Or sea creatures? In any case, if these creatures had meant to cause harm, then they're exactly the people Loki wants to meet. For reasons.

If he sees anyone else out on the beach, they'll receive a quizzical look from him.] I thought no one came out to this beach. Isn't it dangerous?

D. WILDCARD

[Loki will be lots of places, so if you have any other ideas, feel free to hit me up on discord or my plurk! I can definitely write a more specific starter if anyone wants one.]

Comments

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[So much for keeping his identity under the radar...

Oh, who is he kidding? He loves the recognition. Even though he can feel the insincerity in Akechi's smile, a proud smile widens on his own face. It's refreshing to be recognized with wonder rather than distaste. Perhaps it's likely they're from a timeline untouched by Odin's family drama—if so, he's thankful for the chance at a fresh introduction.]

The very same. Though, you know, the word "myth" isn't entirely accurate. It's just been a little while since my last visit Earthside. Though I don't blame anyone for questioning my existence after so long.

[simulatio]

[Real people, distant enough and famous enough to leave an enduring legacy, can pass into myth. Several of Ren's Personas are evidence enough of that, if Akechi's own Hereward wasn't enough proof. It's not the idea that a man of myth is standing before them that makes his eyes narrow. It's just who, exactly, this man is claiming to be.]

Then I suppose you can't blame us for expecting proof. [He draws his hand back and rests his chin on it, both Ren and the curry all but forgotten as he studies the man before them both. He certainly doesn't look anything like the Loki Akechi's intimately familiar with. Is it because his own soul is so twisted and distorted to have warped even that? How funny.]

If you are Loki, I'm sure that won't be a problem for you.

[forethinking]

(Myth turned reality is part of their day-to-day life, considering part of their souls reach out for myth. Ren himself has Satanael running through his veins, except he never expected them to live outside their heart... And he looks absolutely bewildered by it.

He doesn't want proof, though, what does Akechi want, to see his ID? With a nagging thought that using their powers comes with dire consequences, Ren shakes his head without a beat.)

Nevermind that.

(The tone comes off strongly, unexpectedly strict for a boy who looks as soft and unassuming as Ren does.)

Adi said supernatural skills are out of question, right?

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[Akechi's demand for proof is entertaining. It's not surprising in the least for a simple Midgardian to ask for proof of miracles. (Loki, of course, being the miracle.)]

Of course not. Let me just—

[When the quiet one speaks, it throws him off. He hadn't expected him to be so strong-willed... Well, surprises are everywhere. But he rolls his eyes at the mention of the ADI.]

What, because of the omniscient terror monsters? Please. [After a scoff, Loki's eyes drift to the side, focusing just behind Ren.] You might want to turn around.

[Behind Ren, Loki has conjured himself, but this Loki dressed in his Asgardian finery with a dagger to Ren's back. As soon as he gets the fright his patron demands, the illusion will disappear. Sorry, Ren. It's nothing personal.]

[simulatio]

[Abruptly reminded of Ren's presence, Akechi's gaze slides over to him with a sharp glare, a genuine irritation at odds with the insincere smile still curving his lips. There's a part of him, a large, possessive part, that bristles at the idea of Ren daring to give orders to the entity that had forged a contract with him. A contract that, in spite of Ren's multitude of Personas, of talents, of teammates and skills and friends, that still belonged to Akechi alone.

Before he can remark on how a demonstration need not attract any potential attention from omniscient terror monsters, the illusion appears behind Ren. The illusion, and the knife it's holding. In a heartbeat, his full attention snaps back to Loki as his hand drops from his chin to reach inside his jacket, gloved fingers curling around the pistol he keeps concealed inside. Nothing personal, but he simply doesn't trust like that. Familiar with him as arguably the truest part of himself, he trusts Loki perhaps less than most. If he truly is a god, stabbing Ren in the back might be his idea of a demonstration. If he's simply someone with too much information fucking with them both, a literal stab in the back would be a fitting metaphor for the relationship Akechi and Ren share.]

Impressive, [he says aloud, the veneer of insincerity stripped from his voice to be replaced instead with a note of genuine admiration. While he can't be certain just which one is the true Loki other than the assumption of outfit alone, he trusts Ren to handle whatever might happen with the one in front of him while he keeps his eye on the first one that had spoken.] Using an illusion to illustrate a point directly. Quite efficient.

[forethinking]

(It's not about ADI's rules themselves, it's more on the prospective of injuring an unassuming victim due to the use of abilities. He's okay with playing nice with the institution, but the implications are much more worrying.

When the illusion breaks and Ren feels a dagger coming to him, the one he'd been using to dice meat goes straight into his grip as a reflex. It's not Baselard, that one is sitting peacefully under his pillow, but it is rather sharp and it would do quite a ton of damage when Ren stomps against the foot behind him and uses the shock to turn around, knife on the throat until the illusion disappears.

So much for keeping himself invisible, fuck.

Of course, due to the nature of an ambush, his heart is beating fast, the sheer fear of not being able to summon his own Persona due to the aforementioned reasons making him a little on edge.)

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[His intent had been to frighten solely for the purpose of fulfilling his patron’s hunger, just enough to do this little demonstration. He hadn’t done it for personal entertainment.

Nonetheless, it makes him laugh. He mercifully drops the illusion.]

Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten. Well—I did, but, you know, for the terror monsters. I’m not going to hurt you.

[This little jest proved to be even more useful than just a demonstration. Not only has he impressed the picky one, but he got a feel for both of the boys’ abilities. The quiet one had an impressive reaction time and stance with that kitchen knife, and Loki definitely noticed the picky one reach inside his blazer. It’s not enough to feel threatened by either of them, but they could make useful allies in the future.]

I’m glad to have entertained.

[simulatio]

[Akechi draws his hand out of his jacket as the illusion dissipates and returns it to his chin; normally, someone daring to pull a knife on either himself or Ren wouldn't be something he would easily forgive, but he did ask for proof. He certainly can't fault a god of mischief and chaos for doing exactly what he'd asked of it.

His eyes flash slightly at the mention of the "terror monsters," a slight narrowing at the corners as his expression settles into one of pleasant neutrality. If he's so willing to flaunt his powers, he clearly has no respect for ADI, which, truthfully, doesn't bother Akechi one bit. No, he's more irritated in a weird, possessive way that Loki would serve anyone other than him. That is the way of things, though, isn't it? Of course a being like Loki would look out for his own self-interest.

It's what Akechi would do.]

Have you formed a contract with one of them, then? [he asks, though he has no idea if this particular facet of Loki even operates in the realm of the collective unconscious he and Ren are familiar with. Loki certainly doesn't seem to recognize him for who he is -- again, if he is Loki.] The "terror monsters," that is.

[forethinking]

(Ren finds there's no need to hide the proficiency now that Loki fished it out of him, so he'll throw the knife up to grab it at the handle and gently set it against the counter, simply because this motherfucker is a show-off, and now that the mask has slipped a little bit... Might as well.

But that's an interesting subject, the one Akechi's brought up. He too would like to hear it, both boys are no strangers about setting contracts with entities, and he'd like to know what that entails. Having someone who has some experience might be of their interest.

Ren misses Third Eye, is all.)

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[What a pleasant surprise: the quiet one has showmanship! With an open-mouthed smile, he tilts his head and points at Ren.]

Oh, I like that! I just adore little knife tricks. [Sarcastic though it may seem, he's completely genuine.

The question about the entity has him furrowing his brow.] Contract, sure, I suppose it's something like that. But I don't really like the implication that I'm working for it. If anything, it's more of a... you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours, situation. A symbiotic relationship.

[Because Loki would be absolutely loathe to admit that he doesn't quite know what he's signed up for.]

[simulatio]

[Akechi rolls his eyes at the display of showmanship. Ren pretends to be unassuming on the outside, but he's always been possessed of that quiet intensity and showy flair. It's what had initially drawn Akechi to him when they'd first met, but it doesn't mean he has to pretend to be impressed. Showing off in front of Loki, even less so.]

I've always preferred the sword myself, [he points out, a hint of disapproval in his voice. It's so very strange for him to see someone calling himself Loki impressed by the same things that Akechi himself finds impressive, and he can't say he cares for the feeling.]

In any case, [returning to what's actually important, and not this weird tug-of-war between pride and possessiveness,] That's a very interesting way of putting it. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. If you truly are Loki, I would expect that you'd have lent your power to whatever force would cause the most chaos, no? [His eyes stay locked on Loki's, smile fading away into something more serious and thoughtful.] So which force is that, I wonder?