apocalypsehowcomm | [log] OTA prompts

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[log] OTA prompts

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.]

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[When he was still just a neurosurgeon with broken hands and a closed heart, his days at Kamar-Taj were defined only by a constant regimen on training, study, and perpetual learning. But for all the mysticism inherent in those teachings, all the old tomes and training grounds where magic flickered amid the usual routines, it was still a building very much rooted in the physical. The floors still needed to be mopped, the windows cleaned. The laundry hung up to dry, or the courtyards swept up of blown-in leaves. Stephen had done his rounds in all of those tasks at least once, given no particular leeway just because his hands had shook, or his grip was weak. The chores were daily, and he did them just like all the rest.

Comparatively, then, the obligation to do the same in the flophouse was easy accepted, and even more easily carried out. This space was not nearly as big as Kamar-Taj, and thus the halls could be mopped and swept in a quarter of the time. He’s been here for all of a handful of days, but it’s simple enough to carry his own weight when it’s often barely a blip on his radar.

And so, this evening, Stephen walks down the corridor of his assigned floor with a broom in hand; the floors gleam a little from having been mopped prior, his shoes—now dressed in “normal” attire, plain jeans and a maroon shirt—squeak vaguely when he walks. He hasn’t given his neighbors too much attention just yet, and is happy to make room for anyone who waltzes by with maybe a word of acknowledgment, and little more.

Until a certain someone passes right by him, a certain trickster god that he would recognize with ease regardless of circumstances. It’s difficult to tell what sweeps over Stephen’s features—surprise, a dash of confusion, perhaps a tick of alarm—but the sorcerer is quick to turn on his heel, broom still in-hand, and calls out to the passing figure.]

Loki of Asgard.

[Surely that’ll garner some attention.]

Watch your step. Floor’s still wet.

[It does, in fact, garner Loki's attention. He'd just gotten used to the idea that nobody around here would recognize him, and learned to be content with that... So he isn't prepared for an audience.

Loki spins on his heel (in a much similar fashion to this stranger—Loki appreciates a dramatic gesture and likes to return them in kind), offering a look that expressed confusion, as well as undivided attention.]

...Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Just now, when you said my name—did you say it with admiration or with disdain?

[Stephen makes a noise of misleading amusement, because the twitch of a lopsided grin doesn’t quite reach his eyes. His free hand motions at the empty space between them, at Loki.]

Oh, I don’t know. Both are over-exaggerations — I think I’m more surprised than anything else.

[(There was definitely a lack of admiration, if anything else.)]

For a number of reasons. The last I recall, you tried to knife me. And the last I knew of, you shouldn’t exactly be standing here at all.

[Death makes that a little difficult.]

[The bit about the knife makes him smile. He can tell what the second half alludes to, but he's not going to let that ruin his day! He just. Pretends not to notice. He focuses instead on the hints of dislike, opting to tease.]

Ah, so we know each other! Either sorry about that or you deserved it, depending on the circumstances... But I regretfully must inform you that the last thing I remember from our timeline is being arrested by the Avengers in 2012. I assume we met some time after.

[In the interest of being forthright, in an action he's sure will seem somewhat out of character, he delivers a very genuine reassurance:] I promise I'm not out for world domination this time.

[William has slowly been getting accustomed to the Flophouse and his new neighbors. In contrast to Loki, he could care less about the grime and the cramped quarters, though sharing such close space with so many people was new. Still, he didn't have any roommates yet, so

He'd seen Loki pass by a couple of times but never spoken to him. At least until he's in the kitchen, spotting the other man grabbing something from the fridge that William is pretty sure is his.]

Help yourself.

[He sounds bemused but not angry, as if it's not a huge deal.]

Oh, thank you.

[The other man's bemusement is completely lost on Loki. It's just some other person he doesn't recognize, and frankly, wasn't interested in talking to, so... he goes about inspecting the item he's just pulled from the fridge. After a once-over, he grimaces, and asks his supposed flatmate a rather presumptuous question.]

Are you in charge of stocking the refrigerator? Because I really think we could stand to up the quality of the food in here.

[There's a beat where he's surprised by the question, though -- well, that does explain the food theft, he guesses. Probably?]

I don't stock the fridge. Uh, I don't think anyone does? We all just buy our own stuff and stash it in there. Most of that stuff's not mine.

[It doesn’t sound like much in the way of information, but Stephen is already trying to parse what he’s hearing. This is Loki pulled from 2012, back when New York had come under alien attack and when he was, at the time, trying to perform brain surgery in the midst of very stressful circumstances.

What does this mean for them now? Being brought to a world not their own, plucked from their timeline and into another, might as well have knotted up how things should have been — instead of one single timeline, the potential of one that will fray and spiderweb into something unrecognizable. Troublesome, worrisome, though perhaps not entirely Loki’s fault this time.

Stephen walks closer.]

Good to know, but you can’t blame me for being a little dubious. Actions speak louder than words, and that first impression? Maybe not the best.

[He stops, broom bristles planted against the floor.]

So if what you’re saying is true… that means no memory of me sending you and your brother to Norway. No idea of anything that might’ve transpired even after that, the whole… [Well, there’s hardly even a proper word for it.] …ordeal with Thanos?

[Akechi doesn't exactly live in the Flophouse, but he tends to take his meals there more often than not. Often enough to note the influx of new faces that have moved in over the last several days and be a semi-regular fixture in the first floor kitchen. If Ren is going to insist on cooking enough food for any hapless soul who wanders past, Akechi sees no reason not to take advantage of his generosity.

The fact that he genuinely enjoys spending time with Ren has nothing to do with it, of course. He's simply here for the coffee, curry, and a quiet space to converse and perhaps read a book. The latter today is a collection of philosophical essays in Japanese, which he glances up from as the dark-haired stranger enters the kitchen. Undoubtedly someone else attracted by the smell of Ren's curry, which is why Akechi normally tries to persuade Ren to do his cooking in Akechi's apartment.]

Here for Ren's curry? [he asks mildly with a smile, as if he isn't at all annoyed to have unexpected company.] I'm afraid there's a line. Haha, only joking, of course.

(Every now and then, they get sucked into a subject that seems endless - it's rare that they agree on something moral wise, often a back and forth of arguments that leave Ren feeling refreshed and enthusiastic. They'd just closed an argument when a newcomer opens the door, catching Ren on his tip toes as he grabs more spices from the cabinet.

On the stove, one can see a myriad of pans containing the best of Japanese curry, rice, and hot pot for those who might be sick of eating his signature dish. Ren himself never does, but who knows!

There's a smile on his lips as he sees the man, offering him a plate as he starts to serve one for Akechi.)

Take as much as you'd like.

[Loki... stalls.
Stares.

And refuses to admit any wrongdoing.]

...You said 'help yourself,' right? [Without breaking eye contact, he wiggles the stolen yogurt cup in his hand.]

[Strange's approach is met with apprehension. And then general confusion, up until he mentions Thanos. Loki's face falls at the mention. It seems he won't be glossing over that subject today, so, may as well rip the bandage off.]

I've seen bits of my potential future secondhand. Very sparse bits, didn't see you in there; so I don't know what Norway could've possibly been about. But, as for Thanos...

[He purses his lips. How can he phrase this without admitting any regret or weakness... With a smile, obviously. One of his fakest.]

I know how I was supposed to go out, I'll put it that way. As for what happens after, not a clue.

When given the choice between cushy, all-inclusive room and board with the ADI, or scraping by with the other misfits at Bonnie's, Jeff went with Bonnie's for, well, pretty much the same reasons as Loki. Fuck the rules. Fuck the curfew. Fuck the no-magic-allowed bullshit.

He may not be much use at DIY home repairs, and he's not a particularly thorough cleaner, and boy, nobody should ever be subjected to his version of cooking, but Jeff tries to contribute in one way he knows how: groceries.

He drifts into the kitchen just in time to bump into Loki, greeting the god with a dreamy smile and a drawled out, "Heeey, dude..."

It may be morning for most people, but Jeff's just coming in from the night. But hey, at least he comes cradling an armful of gifts: a plastic bag full of croissants, a bag of assorted muffins, and a bag of fruit danishes that have seen better days (seriously, it looks like a jammy crime scene in there).

"Want one?"

They 100% came from a coffee shop's dumpster.

Edited 2021-08-22 15:49 (UTC)

[That fake smile is met with a strained one, a little patronizing, but not entirely directed to the god of mischief before him. It’s merely at the circumstances being what they are — completely and utterly the worst case scenario in terms of keeping their timeline straight and uncompromised. (It only he really knew what Loki had been getting up to.)]

Well. That’s just great. Being here complicates matters in ways I don’t think anyone could have imagined; let’s hope it doesn’t create any major complications when we return home, hm?

[Boy, just thinking about it makes him tired.]

I have a few more questions for you, but why don’t we work and talk?

[how about doing some CHORES like the rest of them, Loki!!!]

[It's pretty unusual to see anyone else on the beach; most of the time when he comes down here, Galliard has it to himself. He vaguely recognises the guy prowling around, having seen him around the flophouse, but he doesn't know his name.]

It's okay if you stay out of the water.

[Thank the gods that the food in the kitchen is being offered so enthusiastically. Although he isn't too fond of the company of strangers, Loki has finally caught on to the fact that the food in the kitchen isn't fair game, and the idea of cooking drives him to boredom before he can even begin to. (Read: he doesn't know how, so he won't try.) He's willing to put up with strangers for free, cooked food. And it smells pretty good from the hallway.

The one with the glasses seems nice enough. The other one is obviously in a similar position to Loki, who detects his lack of enthusiasm immediately. You'd think Loki would empathize, being one to dislike strangers... but, no. This is a fight and he's here to win it.

He offers a somewhat genuine smile to the chef, and a smarmy grin to the smarmy gentleman.]

Thank you for the offer. I am famished.

[He takes a plate of curry with gratitude, and leans against a wall a noticeable distance away from the pair to enjoy his food.]

[He doesn't roll his eyes, as much as he'd like to. The stranger is just close enough that the minor satisfaction isn't worth the risk of being spotted, not when he's trying to be nice. Or at least look it. There's something profoundly irritating in how the other man seems to mirror the genuine emotion behind Ren's smile, and then just as easily the lack of sincerity in Akechi's own. A lack of sincerity he doesn't bother to rectify now that it's been caught as he turns his attention to the older man.]

I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure, [he remarks, slipping a bookmark into his book and taking the plate Ren's put together for him with just a nod of acknowledgement before looking back to the stranger.] Have you moved in recently?

(When Ren and Akechi are together, it feels much more natural to just let Akechi talk - after all, he is much more adept to it than Ren is. The question he had has already been asked, so he'll look at the newcomer with curious eyes as if he, too, would like the answer.

He doesn't remember seeing the man, and it's really not like Ren's recluse. To the contrary, he quite enjoys helping around the Flophouse, cleaning, fixing, cooking... Maybe he was too focused?

He'd like to ask for a name, but it's a little too much with Akechi doing an interrogation of his own, so he'll simply have to settle for serving the coffee to each person involved, delivering before he gets to sit down himself and eat.)

["Return home?" Funny concept. If Strange means to bring them back to their default timelines, wouldn't that mean Loki is doomed?

He doesn't have the time to process this before a chore is thrust upon him. He's even more taken aback by this concept.]

I wasn't planning to do any work tonight, actually. The questions are fine, though. Surely I'll be willing to answer a few of them. I'm going to need your name, though, you're still a stranger to me.

[Stephen’s brow lifts even higher.]

You live here now, don’t you? Work is expected; never mind if you planned on it or not. As a fellow building-mate I would be very appreciative of your help.

[As for an introduction—]

Doctor Stephen Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts. Nice to meet you. Again.

[Does this mean anything at all to you, Loki?]

Loki has been bumped. Congratulations on the first impression, Jeff.

Loki has no way of knowing how the baked goods were acquired, but the presentation alone is enough for him to be disinterested. He gives Jeff, then the pastries, then Jeff again, a once-over.

“…No, thank you.”

Anyway, Loki already doesn’t want to be in this kitchen. It’s only necessity that keeps him in the Flophouse long enough to eat something before he leaves for the day. So he quickly turns away from his flatmate to end the conversation.

Wait, was he coming inside? At this time?

Loki decides he’s curious, actually, and the conservation is back on. “Were you out all night?”

[Question answered, more or less… but Loki’s expression remains quizzical all the same.]

I don’t know, the sand sounds a mite suspicious. [To highlight his point, he comically rocks his shoe through the squeaky sand. Squeak, squeak.]

[William nods, shrugging casually as he does.]

Yup, go for it. I bought a six-pack of those things, so there should still be a couple more left.

[Unless those had been stolen, too. He'd have to check later.]

[Oh, good, the rude one (read: the one that reminds Loki of himself) has caught on to the game. It’s easy to read him… curiously easy. Maybe he can stand to hold a real conversation with him after all. He answers Akechi with a little more respect than he had earlier.]

Recently, yes, [he says, accepting the coffee from the bespectacled one with a reverent nod. Not as interesting as the loud one, but Loki appreciates someone who doesn’t talk too much.

To both of them, he introduces himself.] Loki, by the way. [No “of Asgard” for now; it’s hard to know who would be willing to trust him if they knew who he was.]

[Akechi used to pride himself on being a good actor. If there's one emotion he never truly managed to figure out how to disguise, though, it's genuine surprise. His jaw drops slightly as his eyebrows raise in bewildered confusion, chased swiftly by suspicion. "Loki," if that's really his real name, looks like enough of a smarmy know-it-all to be an ADI spy trying to ferret out the truth behind who Akechi's true identity as the Black Mask.

Too late to hide the surprise and recognition now, so he covers it and his mouth with a gloved hand and a politely disbelieving laugh. He never looked up the popularity of "Loki" as a real name in modern times, but he'd wager it to be extremely unlikely, and it feels too pointed to be a coincidence.]

My apologies, [he says finally as he lowers his hand, letting his lips curve once again into an insincere smile.] It's not often we find ourselves in the presence of a god. My name is Akechi. Of Midgard, of course. Amamiya, of the same.

[He flicks one hand, palm up, toward Ren as if presenting an offering.]

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[log] OTA prompts

flophouse

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flophouse! akechi -> ren -> loki

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b!

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C.

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