capencowl2020 | log; you won't find faith or hope down a telescope

Entry tags:

!ic,
!log

log; you won't find faith or hope down a telescope

GOVERNMENT WORK SUCKS // OTA

Jane groaned and laid her head down on her desk.

She knew the answers, but she had to put on a good show. Any delay that she could give this government, the better, because it would give the resistance a better chance to catch up or surpass them in solving this portal technology. It was the most she could do, as outright sabotage was proving to be harder to do with theoretical work and she did not want to risk something exploding on them—or worse, accidentally working.

If you’re a fellow government worker, feel free to sympathize. If you’re a government overseer, feel free to prod her. Or explain why you’re looking over her shoulder, because if you’re not either one of those, then why are you in her lab?

SNEAKING AROUND // OTA

The Mission Impossible theme song was not playing inside her head as she snuck down hallways and into various rooms, using a fabricated badge to unlock doors and computers along the way. She was a serious mole that took her double agent role very seriously. She was collecting information for the resistance and she was not secretly getting a thrill from it.

The building was supposed to be empty, but of course, anything can happen. If you should happen to stumble upon her, are you friend, foe, or uninterested janitor?

WHAT IN THE WORLD? // CLOSED TO LOKI

Jane could not believe this. She stared at the address in her hand. She looked up at the building in front of her. If the person who won her bid at the auction was Loki, she was going to scream. The possibility of that happening were astronomically low—she ran the numbers—but since when did statistics and probably ever work in her favor?

God, what she wouldn’t give for Darcy and one of her tasers.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Loki just nods, then takes a slow step forward.

"Not what you expected?" he asks, but not in a teasing manner, but with actual curiosity carrying his words.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. Her heart is still hammering, a hundred questions coming up in her mind. “I assume you know a lot of people are from other worlds? Other universes and timelines?”

"Of course." he says simply "I have been in this realm for several years by now. You however, seem..." he trails off, gesturing mildly with one hand.

"I do not recall coming across your name until recently."

And that little auction they held sure has offered him a nice chance to check this out.

"Which side are you on?"

"Recently arrived," she filled in. "Compared to years, yeah."

But it was a good cover, wasn't it?

"I'm not at liberty to say."

She really wasn't, even if she did trust him.

Loki tips his head to the left.

"Not at liberty to say..." he repeats her words "That already tells me a lot."

And for a short while, the Asgardian contemplates his options. Would it be safer to kill her? Maybe wipe this meeting from her mind? He will keep both options available for now, depending on his this meeting goes.

"But I shall take us somewhere more appropriate for us to talk." Loki says and steps closer to offer out a hand for her to take.

Jane shrugs. "Take it as you will, but I'm not going to betray the people or ideals I hold dear." Less intelligent people would assume the government. People who did not know Jane well would assume the same.

Would Loki?

When he offers his hand to her, she hesitates.

"I want your word that we're only going to talk and I'll be returned here when we're done."

He refrains from commenting on the first part, but raises a brow at the second.

"I can give you my word, but will you believe it?"

The question is surprisingly honest and the Asgardian's face doesn't give anything away. He may not harbor a dire need to kill, but he is always for it should he have to.

“Yes, but not blindly. This world has taught me you can’t be too careful sometimes.”

Even people she knew and trusted … couldn’t any more. If they were here at all.

“And I won’t give you a reason to harm me.”

The Asgardian just looks at her quietly for a few moments before tipping his head a little to the side.

"Then what is holding you here. I wonder."

There still is a chance of them being discovered even here, and Loki isn't very fond of the idea of risking it.

Jane steps forward and takes his hand.

“Probably would be smarter to have a discussion at a more secure location.”

Not needing any further confirmation, Loki closes his hand around Jane's and but vanish with a low glimmer of green light.

Where they reappear, it is even darker than in that abandoned building. But it only takes a moment, maybe two before light and shapes and noise manifests around them and Jane will find that Loki has had them reappear in the far corner of a dimly lit, yet not necessarily scarcely occupied bar. There are people, there is music and there is no attention paid to their ominous arrival. Obviously enough this is a place frequented by beings loyal to no one but themselves.

"Take a seat." Loki says, gesturing to an oddly unoccupied table nearby.

Oh, man. She was really in the lion’s den, wasn’t she? As the details of the bar manifest, she really regrets waking up that morning … and attending the auction at all now. She hopes that her trust in Loki isn’t misplaced, even if she is still holding some reservations about him. There is a lot she doesn’t know, a lot she can’t account for or predict.

And she never gave any stipulations about the place they would go to. She really can’t complain about the aesthetics of the bar.

“Thanks,” she said, still looking around, but trying not to be obvious about it. “How long have you been in this world?”

"I do not count the years, Jane. I am letting them pass." Loki answers simply just before a set of drinks is placed on the table between them. Loki hardly acknowledges the server, but given that neither of them has ordered anything it may or may not be clear that the Asgardian is controlling the man's actions.

Resting his arms on the table, Loki leans forward, the hint of a shrug in his bearing.

"This realm currently is a mess. I assume we can agree on that."

“Soda, thank you,” Jane said absently, focused on Loki. She isn’t sure if he was controlling the man either, but figures this is not the place to ask. Not when there are more pertinent questions. Though that he isn’t counting the time is quite telling.

“Yeah, it really is. I don’t see a lot of hope for it and I usually try to give things the benefit of the doubt. How have you been dealing with this world? I assume it doesn’t like that you have powers either?”

Loki gives a humorless snort in response.

"What, precisely, does this realm like." he says dryly, tapping the glass with his drink lightly with a single finger "Though I harbor no interest in getting involved with it. As for how I am dealing with it?" Just a small shrug "Out of sight."

Which has been working well enough for him. As long as no one sees him or remembers encountering him, he can go about his days in relative peace. Time will do the rest.

It was a pretty silly question. This place ... Jane hated it and Jane was pretty sure most other people did too. But didn't that say a lot about the kind of world they were making?

"I suppose that is the best way to go about it. I'm glad someone who knows me was that lucky."

"I doubt luck has anything to do with it." The Asgardian says and looks around the bar in a very obvious way. Aside from the man that had brought them their drinks, no one appears to take notice of them. Staying invisible even in public, that has become Loki's true ability in this realm.

But his attention is drawn back to Jane and he actually raises a brow.

"Though, please. You are glad for me?" Now that's... Peculiar.

“True,” she admitted. “Luck belittles all of your efforts.”

At his question, she sighs. It’s a deep, exhausted one. She doesn’t even take a sip of her drink.

“I’ve been here for a few months, forced to work for the government. I’ve met people I knew back in the previous world, but they don’t remember me. Their entire lives have been altered. If they are the same people from that world in the first place. So, yes. I am glad that you’re not in the government’s clutches or are constantly running for your life. Some of the things they’ve done to people, what they do to those who don’t comply—”

She visibly shudders.

While Loki listens, he takes a small sip from his drink. There is something surreal, however, to be talking to someone who appears to care about his wellbeing. And this someone... Being Jane Foster?

This unfortunate realm has just gotten weirder.

A slight frown on his face, he considers her words.

"They certainly keep trying to get their hands on me." And this meeting with Jane could have very well just been another plot.

"But I know how to disappear." A pause, and again he seems to think for a moment. But in the end, he makes the offer anyway.

"If you need to disappear, Jane Foster... I can make that happen."

It is strange, isn't it? After all of their past confrontations and antagonism, she should be frothing at the mouth, shouldn't she? Perhaps it is part relief that someone recognizes her, perhaps it is this world wearing down and she wants everyone to be in a better position than they are.

His offer makes her look up in surprise.

She wasn't expecting that.

"I appreciate that, I really do. But I can't at the moment."

Can't. That's a curious choice of words. Loki can guess, however, what she is talking about, so he simply nods.

"Very well."

The Asgardian picks up a coaster from a small stack on the table and traces a symbol on it with a single finger, which remains on the piece of cardboard, drawn in a green, glowing line. The magic remains visible for a few moments before fading away, any trace of the symbol gone. He then holds out the coaster for Jane to take.

"Visit the building we have met in and burn this should you change your mind."

Jane is glad he's so quick to read between the lines. The less she has to state plainly, the better.

Taking the coaster, she examines it curiously.

"Thank you. Is there anything I can help you with? I have some connections in my work place."

"I am good." Loki says simply, but offers a little smile with his words "Though the offer is appreciated."

He waves a single hand through the air lightly and from one moment to the next, they are back in the abandoned building. Just as promised.

"Just do me a favor: Do not let them harm you."

That said, Loki is about ready to vanish again and remain out of everyone's sight unless he feels like showing himself once more.

She nods and when she arrives back in the abandoned house, it takes her a moment to compose herself. That was quick.

“You too, Loki.”

Maybe they will get out of this place, someday.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

log; you won't find faith or hope down a telescope

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject