sixwordstories | (no subject)

Didn't we sent out a message that's pretty clear after we kicked your ass?

Midgard appears to be the crown jewel of the Nine Realms; so desirable, that each race wants possession of it.

[Loki only grins his broad, toothy grin across the humming magical walls of his cage.]

The war is far from over, Ms. Stark. Tell me, is there anything in this world that you hold dear to that mechanical heart?

A good cheeseburger?

-she doesn't like this. Not one bit-

[Loki nods slowly; he seems to be very deep in thought.]

And yet it is already populated by the humans. It can barely hold all of them as it is; the Aesir number in the thousands, the Jotnar in the millions - but the humans count themselves in billions. Where is there room for us?

[He laughs, and it isn't a nice sound.]

I suggest that you make the most of your remarkable wit, Stark, before there is no place left to use it. The leader of the Chitauri is coming. He wants what is his.

Aw, and here I thought Asgardians didn't know how to compliment a lady.

-she tuts-

Let's review. God, I hate reviewing. Who promised the Chitauri and easy handover? That would be you, Reindeer Games. And who was it that failed to deliver? That would be you again.

-she makes a shocked face-

Wow. Kind of 0 for 2 there.

And a portion of all these peoples, even the Aesir, arrive in Niflhel; generation after generation.

I am glad of my share in the shades of mortals but I would not hoard them all for myself. The afterlife I know is but one of many, all of which never cease to expand.

What will you do?

[Toni is lucky that there is a barrier between them, for when Loki strikes the wall with his fist there is an audible screech of strained magic. Loki's grimace is one of frustration, though, not all-out anger.]

You fail to see my point. He does not want me. He has no reason to kill me. He wants you. He wants all of Midgard, all of its treasures. And your team will not be enough to stop him.

[That's not entirely true. Thanos does want Loki, he knows that. Thanos will kill him for his failure. But of course, Loki is very good at running, and at hiding. Thanos will have to rip apart all of Midgard to find him.]

I doubt that even the vast reaches of Niflhel could house all of the humans. It is a lucky thing indeed that only a small number of them still come to you. The other races within the realms need space under Yggdrasil, as well.

[He gives a grin and a short bark of laughter.]

What is there to do? I will wait, and I will watch as the humans' arrogance comes back to haunt them.

-she doesn't flinch-

Trying to convince me or you?.Because I can only imagine what he's got for you.

Mercifully the roots of Yggdrasil do not occupy a finite space. For all I know they could reach depths that exceed the dimensions of the tree itself.

Why don't you trick them, and lead them somewhere else? You are quite good at that.

[Loki doesn't have to imagine; he knows very well what Thanos means to do to him, and it will not be gentle. But that will only happen if he catches him. Thanos will have to raze all of Midgard if he wants to catch Loki. Loki gives a predatory smile to the woman who beat him.]

Are you planning to defend me?

Is that so? But surely you have traveled far and wide in your realm and know its dimensions well. I've never yet been to a place that you did not know.

I already have, Idunn. He would have come to Asgard, had I not directed his attention elsewhere. It is better that Midgard burn under his wrath than Asgard, is it not?

Did you direct his attention to Asgard? What prizze was offered?

He wished to reclaim certain artifacts that Asgard has within its keeping. I convinced him to search for them on Midgard, instead, though he will not find all of what he desires there.

-a returning smile-

I plan on watching, popcorn in hand. Because it'll definitely be fun to see, bag of cats.

[He steps closer to the barrier now, so close that his forehead almost touches it as he looks down at her.]

Oh, but that is where you so badly misjudge. What is coming to you now is like no power you have ever imagined. He will ruin your realm and everything on it. He will kill you before he notices you exist. You will never live to see anything he does to me.

-She hardly bats an eyelash-

That's what you think and really, I'd love to see what goes on up there someday. I'm sure it's fascinating. We stopped you. We'll stop anyone else who comes by.

[Loki gives his soft, cruel chuckle. It's not a laugh Toni is likely to forget for a while.]

Such arrogance. You will soon learn better. You will find your place in the universe. Under the heel of someone greater.

[Not that he thinks Thanos is so great. Thanos's plans, as far as he knows them, are blunt and simple without a hint of artistry. He could do so much better.]

You're not gonna start on that whole ant boot thing, are you? Really, that's just verbal foreplay between you and Nick-Nick. Just tell me, does it really drive you nuts being in a box like that?

I hardly need to tell you, Ms. Stark. I imagine that it is not so dissimilar to how you must feel in your own box. Or have you not noticed your clever little cage yet?

Who's in the actual cage?

-she circles it. Oh yes, it's impressive. She and Bruce designed it themselves.-

I take over and do it the usual good, honest way of schmoozing. Lot less Chitauri to clean up after.

[He watches Stark circle the cage closely, turning his head so that she is never out of his vision. His voice is flat when he speaks, as if stating facts rather than making threats.]

You still understand so little. I am caged, yes - but I am no slave.

And you keep repeating yourself like a broken record. Running out of interesting things to say?

[His eyes are still on Toni. He crosses to the other side of the enclosure to stand in front of her again.]

If you are bored, you may leave.

[He lowers his head so that he is close to Toni's level.]

Or is there another reason you have come?

Mostly boredom. Part curiosity.

-She was told to get out of the lab and stare at other things than her holographic screens. She leans against the railing-

What's the matter? Not enjoying quality time with me? Should I go get Bruce instead?

I should hope that you have not visited parts of Niflhel that I myself do not already know. Do you truly believe that a realm of the dead is a static place that can be plotted on a map?

[Loki's eyes narrow. Toni will know very well how Bruce's presence bothers Loki; when last Bruce was in this room to make sure that the cage was secure, Loki watched him like a frightened prey animal and flinched at small movements. His beating by the Hulk is not something that he wants ever to repeat.]

In fact I was happiest alone. You should understand; you have spent enough time surrounded by fools to know that the companionship is not worth it.

No, I do not. There are few eternal realms that can be mapped, except perhaps Asgard. But I did not realize that it may be infinite. The realm with which you are burdened is heavy indeed.

Actually, I find it more than entertaining sort of like right now. It drives you crazier doesn't it? Being watched under glass like this.

[It does, actually. Loki likes his privacy and his personal space. He doesn't get much of that here. But Toni doesn't need to know that.]

You are the first person to be standing outside of my cage like this in a long time. They watch me with cameras, Ms. Stark, not human guards. The humans are afraid to come too close.

Told you. I got bored. Might be bored here too. Though I could just transcribe your monologue.

[He gives her a deadpan look.]

I fear that you would be bored by that, as well. I understand that there are speakers built into this cage, though, so that you may mute me if you need to. I notice that you are not doing that.

Ironic that you should call an insubstantial place 'heavy'. [She gives an amused smile.]

[He shrugs.]

Insubstantial things can be heavy. The rule of a kingdom cannot be held in one's hand or tossed like a ball, but it's heavy enough to break most people. The fact that you can hold such a burden with apparent ease is a testament to your great strength.

[He gives a quick smile.]

You must get such strength from your mother, not me.

That is very self deprecating of you, Father. It is not like you to speak so openly of your failings. [She gives a bird-like tilt of the head.] Not that I am implying you cease this admirable behaviour.

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Excuse the Norse myth context.

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Nooo it is the best!!

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Ohai Idunn. No hard feelings about the whole Thjazi debacle...

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No, well... just a few

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>_> Right, uh. Sorry about the whole kidnapping thing.

I'm not falling for your tricks again

Ah, but there are SO MANY of them!

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Please excuse these delays