Loki: Worst Matchmaker Ever?

[coldsong]

Loki has a peculiar way of preparing to speak: he does not clear his throat or straighten his clothes or loosen his collar, but merely takes long, slow strides into an open spot. There are no stages in the area of the Nexus in which he finds himself, but the way he stands and opens his arms--all grace and hubris--seems to make the flat plain ground around him into his personal catwalk, the diffuse light around him his own personal spotlight.

You may not take him seriously, but you'd be hard-pressed not to notice his presence.

"Nexus, if I may bend your collective ears for a moment? I have a simple, if heartfelt, request."

I would like to see if my big brother is capable of feeling embarrassment.

"I am the younger sibling of Thor Odinson, a man--nay, a god--of great power, courage, and nobility. There are few who equal him in battle, and until now I would say few who equal him in the realm of the heart. Alas, it seems that at this time in his life, events in our world have wounded his confidence greatly. I wish to build him back up, so to speak, but my best efforts thus far have fallen flat."

"Frankly, I feel that his alteration in hairstyle, clumsy and poorly-planned though it may be, suits the peculiar shape of his head far better than his previous, doll-like golden tresses. There is a certain simplicity to his change of outfit that matches with the simplicity characteristic of his thought patterns. A change for the better, certainly, and moreover it shows his true mettle, the way he has no fear of appearing as the leader and representative of our people with his cape tattered at the hem and unmended, as if he has of late escaped from the engine of our borrowed space vessel."

"Nexus, friends, what more can I tell him to restore his pride? You will find him nearby, I think, if you wish to get a look at him, or if he finds himself too shy to observe this conversation I am certainly capable of producing images to show what he looks like. All compliments directed at him will be accepted with gratitude, and perhaps one of you will even find it in your heart to court him, however temporarily. I cannot guarantee he will be amenable, as he is so very timid of late, but I think it would do his heart well to experience a flirtation once more."

Comments

[coldsong]

Loki is almost certainly the only twoleg of his kind present in the Nexus at the moment. He's unique that way, a crunchy Jotun center under a soft and chewy Asgardian coating. He hates it; would rather be almost anything other than what he is, but at least he can say he's something most people haven't seen before.

He cannot hope to read Indoraptor's facial expressions yet, but there's something about his tone that makes Loki feel almost sympathetic. I will continue to call you 'friend', then, unless you want me to make a suggestion. It is your right to choose your own name, if you weren't properly given one at birth.

[hybriddino]

The Indoraptor is a hybrid of a hybrid. A slew of creatures went into his creation - he's part-Velociraptor (and those Velociraptors had frog and lizard in them) and part Indominus rex, itself a chimera that contained parts of at least ten species' DNA. He doesn't know what he is, but if he did he'd understand Loki's situation.

He bobs his head in agreement to the suggestion. Thank you, Loki. I'll be happy to accept "friend" as a name, until I decide on a real one. He has some ideas, but he hasn't decided on one just yet, and he wants to choose just the right one that fits him personally.

[coldsong]

Both unique beings out of place and out of time, and both full of rage directed at their progenitors? They ought to get along like a house on fire, and with approximately the same level of destruction left in their wake.

Friend it is, then. Will you walk with me? He makes an inviting gesture, then folds his arms behind his back casually. He has no destination in mind, but a stroll with a dragon is just the thing he needs to make his day more interesting. Have you been here long?

[hybriddino]

The Indoraptor is pleased to have someone call him "friend", and gives a warm trill of delight. For a creature as angry as he is, it means a great deal that someone can connect with him through his anger and fearsome appearance.

Yes, Loki. The didosaur throws his head back and gives a loud roar of excitement and delight. Yes, I will walk with you! Where would you like to go? You can make the decision, friend, and I will follow.

[coldsong]

In this case, the anger and fearsomeness is a good part of the appeal, for Loki. There's something touching about being called 'friend' in return, though, and he finds himself giving the dinosaur a rare, sincere smile.

He needs friends, after all. And a creature like this probably has limited context with which to judge his past actions, when the stories of them inevitably come to light. Somewhere with more space to run, I think. I'd like to try shapeshifting into something that might be able to match your stride better.

The animal forms he can take are somewhat limited. Horse, wolf, snake. A horse would probably have the best chance of keeping up with the Indoraptor, but a wolf might fit the carnivorous instincts better. Although I will not be able to speak your language in an animal's shape. Might be fun to try, though.

[hybriddino]

The Indoraptor would be in little position to judge Loki for his past actions. After all, he was a predatory dinosaur that for a large part of his life had hunted humans - not for food, but for revenge and for fun. He used his intelligence to spread suffering and fear.

But the Nexus and interaction with his human friends had taught the fearsome predator the beginnings of morality - and now he's starting to wonder things. He has decided that he will no longer kill unless he has to, and he will not kill humans or other intelligent creatures.

You can turn into differenti animals? The Indoraptor has never actually seen any of the three creatures Loki named, not yet at least, and is curious about what they look like. Can I see?

[coldsong]

Appetite and survival are indeed different from vengeance and ambition. Loki began with the latter two, but survival became paramount once he left home. His is a convoluted tale, and while he's done terrible things, while he is most certainly a villain, he flatters himself that however wicked he has been, he could have been far worse.

It is healthy to reflect upon oneself sometime, and make changes for the better. It's not a task Loki enjoys, though. He dislikes himself far too much to enjoy gazing inward. It leaves him feeling sick more often than not.

Shifting forms, though, is something he can do with relish. He smiles, pleased as ever to perform. I can. I can also make duplicates of myself. Illusions.

He pauses in his tracks, glances around to make sure their audience is limited, and then rolls his shoulders and neck as if stretching for a race. He hasn't taken an animal form in a while, and he doesn't have to be so dramatic, but a little limbering up never hurt anyone. The shimmer of his magic is halfway between green and gold, dancing across his skin, but the change is quick.

A moment later, instead of two-legs Loki, there is a horse standing there. A mare, but one that's unusually tall and heavily-built, almost the shape and heft of a draft horse, complete with shaggy fetlocks. She is almost black, half a shade lighter than a storm-cloud, but the mane and tail shade from dark at the root to a pale platinum at the ends.

The horse that is Loki tosses her head, sidling and rearing a few times as if adjusting to this body, and then boldly extends her nose toward the Indoraptor, as if to snuffle at his face.