maskormenace | 🐍🗡🗡🗡⚡️

[ the video opens on the handsome face and stupidly broad shoulders of a rather cheery-looking man, which is a little at odds with the fact that he's in a holding cell in a Heropan police station. it looks like he's wearing some sort of leather-like tunic, like a lightweight armor; there's a bright blue pauldron covering one shoulder, the other bare, and there's clearly a cape attached on one side, but not the other. his hair and beard are both short, neatly trimmed, and his smile is a friendly, genuine sort — again, a little at odds with the scene behind him, where the sliding crossed-bar metal door separates the man from the wider view of the police station, several uniformed officials in the background going about their jobs. ]

[ also, he's got an eye patch. metal. ... literally, it's made of metal. there's a wicked-looking scar running beneath it, from his brow and across his cheek, so the covering is probably deserved. ]

Hello there, New Earth.

[ he waves at the camera. ]

It's quite a different planet than the last Earth I visited. A little less familiar, a little less besieged by aliens. Fewer wizards, maybe. Still mostly human, though, you've got that going for you.

[ although there's some din of other people in the ambient background noise, there's a suspicious-sounding cough caught suspiciously-close to the microphone; the man's single eye flicks away from the camera to instead stare at the suspiciously off-screen source. ]

What? Oh, come on, would you really have preferred an Earth full of Dark Elves?

[ he continues to stare at this suspicious someone off-screen; the camera shifts a little to the side, and starts to turn— ]

[ —there's a somewhat comedic-sounding yelp, and then... some sort of bird call? the camera jostles violently before being covered by something dark. ]

[ a heavy sigh follows. ]

Now you're just being absurd.

[ after a moment, the feed comes back to show a pretty brunette woman in a blue dress, looking like she tumbled in from a semi-casual renaissance faire. she stands stiffly, her arms crossed, sending an absolutely murderous glare towards the first speaker. her lips are pressed tightly together, and she seems to have no intention of actually saying anything. from elsewhere-further off-camera, a younger man's voice: dude! do Beyonce next! ]

You'll have to excuse my brother here. [ the one-eyed man indicates the brunette woman with an extended thumb; there are smears of blood on his fingers, a splash of red all across his palm. he smiles, but it's quite Tired. ] He's a bit of a coward when it comes to meeting new people. Always makes a bad first impression. I can't take him anywhere.

I told you I wouldn't include myself in this. [ the woman (apparently the man's "brother") finally speaks, but her words are hushed and angry, and directed at the one-eyed man. she reaches toward the camera—it swings away from her before she can grab it, and the picture is a blur of color. her voice continues from off-screen in an anxious hiss: ] I'm trying to keep a low profile. Stop talking before you completely ruin it.

If you wanted to keep a low profile, you shouldn't have gotten us arrested the day we got here.

[ the picture finally refocuses from a different angle; it's further away from our idiot leads, who are clearly distracted by their argument. ]

How was I supposed to know they'd overreact? You're the expert on this backwoods planet. [ he isn't given chance to interrupt; the woman barrels on, as if her few minutes of silence had only allowed her thoughts to build up pressure for a flood: ] We don't even have to be here, you know. I can just walk us out whenever we like. This cell isn't even enchanted. [ a beat. ] It's pitiful, really.

We're not becoming fugitives of human law because you don't want to pay bail after you stabbed a man in a diner.

[ the man rolls his single eye and shrugs his shoulders, but looks once more at the camera. he smiles, deflective. just a little spat between siblings! that's normal! ]

Sorry. Where are my manners? I am Thor, son of Odin of Asgard. Thank you for bringing me and my brother to your planet. Unfortunately, I've already had my share of being imprisoned this week, so if any of you would like to barter for my release, that'd be great, thanks.

[ he waves his hand toward the camera — yep, still covered in blood — and the feed ends there. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I wouldn't be so sure, angelface. I do have quite a bit of money to my name. And connections. And time in this world.

[ A beat. ]

This is a nice look for you.

[Loki pretends she's referring to the outfit, and the illusion twirls her hair around her finger in a feigned, airheaded sort of matter. Bats her eyelashes for good measure.]

Oh, do you really think so?

Mmmhmm. Could use more flowers, though.

[ All of Raina's wardrobe is floral print in some way. SO. Of course she would say that. ]

And there is an uncanny resemblance to Ambassador Amidala. Was that an intentional choice?

[Okay, it's quite obvious his little ruse isn't doing anything for Raina, but he hates conceding defeat until he's directly called out.

So.]

I have no idea who that is. [Which is true.] This is just what I always wear. [Not true.]

Really? You always struck me as more of a green and gold sort of gal.

[Sigh. All right. The jig is up.

Though he still doesn't drop the illusion.]

And how is it you would know such a thing?

I'm from the same world. And I've always been a bit of a fan.

[ God of Mischief and Chaos? Raina's all about that chaos! ]

[That was exactly the right thing to say.

The illusion taps her mouth thoughtfully.]

A fan of destruction and bedlam? I didn't think humans had it in them.

Oh I imagine most don't. Particularly the ones here. But I'm less a fan of the practices and more a fan of the one who implements them. You tend to have a certain finesse that most, I find, are lacking.

[Something flickers across the woman's face; Loki's not entirely sure what he's feeling at the moment, but the outright compliment catches him off guard.

Only for a brief moment. His poker face has always been very good. But he does concede something to her: he dispels the illusion, removing the appearance of Jane Foster and letting Raina see his true appearance.

Well. Mostly. He still looks perfectly Asgardian.

And then he leans back to observe her, steepling his fingers against his mouth to hide any accidental betrayal of his thoughts.]

Flattery will get you nowhere.

[He says it mildly. It's a question, rather than an accusation. Is there a game you're playing, Raina?]

[ She's not surprised by the transformation, but still delighted by it. Victory! ]

It usually gets me everywhere, actually. So the fact that it won't with you makes you all the more fascinating to me.

[ Raina's always playing a game -- whether toward some motivation or for her own entertainment. Which one Loki falls under, though, is yet to be decided. ]

So has someone come forward with that bail money as of yet?

[It almost got her there with him, not that he'll say so. Please go on, continue to tell him how cool he is, he's not starved for positive feedback or anything!!!

But he's already cottoning on to the fact that he shouldn't let his guard down around her. They're of a very similar type, it seems.]

Oh, no need to worry yourself about that. More importantly, you now have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am, but I don't know you.

If there's anything you wish to know, all you have to do is ask. Perhaps I would be all the more forthcoming if we met properly. Face to face.

[ She dangles the bait in hopes it would be enticing enough. These network posts are limiting -- people always watching, listening in on conversations that aren't privated. And even a private conversation now wouldn't be truly private with Thor sitting nearby. ]

[He pauses, considering. He's appreciative of the dangers of exchanging sensitive information on a forum like tHehis, of course. He can understand why she might want to move their conversation elsewhere.

The question is: why? What is there to discuss that needs such privacy? Is here a danger to complying?

Well. If nothing else, there's hardly a chance a human could overpower him.

He tilts his head in a gracious nod, a motion of acquiescence.]

Name your place.

There's a bar in De Chima called Solve. If you free yourself by tonight, head there. Look for the girl in the flower dress.

If I have time, then perhaps I will.

[And so he does.]

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Do you want to action this or log it? I'm cool with either!!

years later rip