thecapitol | [Brotherly Reunion

Entry tags:

[Brotherly Reunion - Closed]

Who| Thor and Loki
What| First face to face meeting here
Where| District 2 suite
When| Shortly after Loki's arrival
Warnings/Notes| Will update if necessary

After his brief conversation with Thor, Loki made his way down to the District 2 suite. Seeing that Thor was here brought out mixed emotions in the younger brother, as it always did with Thor. Annoyance but also some concern. It was strange as well, since as far as he was aware he'd only just left Thor on Svartalfheim to deal with the Dark Elves and now it seemed that Thor was here instead and there were many questions left unanswered. Maybe he could get some of those answers today.

He found his way to where Thor said he would be waiting and looked around for him, cautious but maintaining the appearance of confident arrogance that he was cultivating here. He did not want the other people here to see his vulnerabilities and he suspected that there were hidden eyes everywhere, as if the Capitol had their own personal Heimdall.

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As expected, Loki's arrival brings about some conflicting feelings in Thor. He dreads what the Capitol could do to him, what influence they could have and what he'll do to himself playing these games. He's already making enemies, which is also to be expected, and Thor's protection can only extend so far. He's deeply worried for him, but there's the faintest bit of relief mixed in with those concerned feelings. He'd thought he may never see Loki again, and though he's misbehaving, Thor can't help but be glad to meet once more.

He'd needed to make sure the other Loki wasn't up to anything before moving to wait outside the suites for his Loki. He already knows this is going to become confusing and bothersome for him between the two of them. He will probably never sleep again, such is the task of an older brother.

"Loki." He calls out in his best subtle voice, drawing attention to himself as he steps out toward him. He had considered being reserved about it, but he can hardly help the way he steps out and wraps his arms around the other man in a hug. He doesn't give him much time to accept or reject it before he pulls back with a stern look. "What is the last thing you remember from home?"

The hug was both an annoyance and a comfort. Never as physical and tactile as Thor tended to be, Loki accepted it only because it was thankfully brief. But it was somehow good to feel that his elder brother was real and solid here. He was unaware of what had happened after his seeming death but part of him - most of him - was glad to find Thor alive here.

Even if in the future that was likely to change in this environment.

"I seem to remember saving your life," he looked across at Thor, somewhat amused although something in his eyes was more serious and worried than his expression otherwise would suggest.

On some level he knows that Loki won't want the affection, but frankly my dear he doesn't give a damn. Last he saw Loki he was dead, left to the dust of Svartalfheim. The guilt her feels for that his immense, but it pales in comparison to his relief at seeing Loki finally.

"I'm sure you could claim to have done so many times." He retorts quickly, quirking a brow at him. "You may have to be more specific." Because not knowing is going to drive him mad and Loki probably knows that.

"Well, let's see... You were having your face pummelled and I rammed a rather large blade in your attacker's back to distract him... then a rather unfortunate thing happened." He rubbed his chest distractedly and winced. "But! I rather sneakily had something up my sleeve and he was sucked into his own rather nasty black hole while... well, I seem to remember you screaming."

His tone was kept light, but the strain was clearly there too and he watched Thor as if expecting another reprimand.

"But not before you called me a fool. Then everything went rather black and I woke up here."

Thor's eyes fall downward for a moment, any reprimand he had dying in his throat. He can't look at Loki, knowing that he knows he died for a foolish quest that Thor dragged him along for. It seems fitting for them, given all the similar scrapes they had as boys, but it's hard to face the reality of it. He swallows hard, fighting back the devastation that wells in him knowing that Loki is no longer alive at home. Does he truly want to return there knowing that? Knowing his brother and mother are gone, his father is less and less rational and everything with Jane is falling without her even being here? It's maddening, but he does his best to conceal it.

"Malekith was put to an end." He says curtly. "The Aether is safe, the realms are safe and I.." He begins, trailing off before speaking up again. "I left Asgard. For Midgard." Might as well get that one out of the way. "I'd not been there long before my arrival, but I've been here for almost half a year."

Loki listened to his elder brother, his own words devoid of quips or taunts for now. They had worked together and did what they had to do to avenge Frigga and Loki did not regret that. It seemed more fitting than centuries of boredom, rotting and forgotten in an Asgardian dungeon.

But now he was here, facing his brother and his friends and many strangers in some future fight to the death. Even though it may not be a permanent death, he knew the times ahead were going to be difficult. But he would try not show how much that would get to him. He had to put on a different face. If he was hated for it, then so be it. He wasn't about to show emotional weakness, if he could help it.

"So you accomplished all that you could...," his tone was measured. "And now we both are here."

It wouldn't be Loki if he didn't manage to say something that rubbed salt on the wound, even if he hadn't really meant to. Thor had left a lot behind when he was brought here, there's a lot still in the air and he's starting to lose hope of a hasty return. He can only hope that when he does, he arrives without time having passed at all.

Loki's comment earns him a dry look, but he keeps his own reactions measured as well.

"That we are." He says finally, not meeting the other man's eyes for a long moment. When he finally does, his expression is stern. "You must take care, brother. Idle threats will haunt you here, there's no telling what may happen once we enter the Arenas. You need not court more trouble than we are already in."

"So tell me about them. The Arenas. I did hear that you lost at least one...," Loki appears to be slyly smug at that. "I do doubt that our captors have told me everything there is to know and while I do stand a good chance of victory, you could give me the final pieces of the puzzle to win."

The cockiness was perhaps a bit too much and Thor may notice he isn't as confident as he's attempting to convey. For one thing they were without their full powers and there wasn't a guarantee that they would be returned during the fights. Loki did have confidence in his other abilities - he wasn't relying on the physical as it had never been his true strength - but there was always the unknown factor of all the other combatants.

Loki was well aware that there were others who could best him.

"Twice." Thor says plainly, devoid of the shame it would have brought him long ago. His loses have been more calculated than he's willing to admit, because he can't stand to rest on his laurels while his friends suffer. Of course, neither Loki seems terribly concerned with that, but it doesn't surprise him to hear it.

"Nothing I tell you will ensure you anything. Arenas change every time, they are capricious. I have seen men twice your size leave within mere hours." s he trying to rattle him? A little. He doesn't mean it to be intentional, but he won't be complicit in Loki playing a game that opposes his interests. "You stand as much chance for victory as anyone, children and mortals alike. There's no telling what will happen." Now he's just rubbing him the wrong way on purpose.

"So you think that mortal children will best me now?" There is a lot of skepticism in his voice. "Are you saying it is more about luck? Who did win those times that you failed?"

Loki did deliberately use that word, as if it would sting more somehow than just saying 'lost'. They were both getting in a bit of taunting here, but it's not like that was unusual, at least over the more recent times.

"Quite possibly." He says dryly. "It is luck, and chance. Most recently a woman won, she is no warrior even with her strength as a mother." He felt very fondly about Clara, but she is not hardened for battle in any typical sense. "Before that it was a loathsome man, a cannibal. He murdered many children, through no real skill of his own." It's not hard to see it disgusts him to mention that. "And before I arrived it was a girl, eleven mortal years old."

He gives pause for that, hardening his expression so that Loki knows his loss is of no consequence to him.

There is something of a thoughtful frown from his younger brother.

"Hm. What is the point, really? If no real skill is involved, what is the point of celebrating somebody who happened to just get very lucky?"

It didn't make a lot of sense to him.

"Entertainment." Thor's answer comes quickly and curtly. "We are here for a show and nothing more, our objective is simply to keep people interested. If we fail in that, we run the risk of dying here never to return."

That did draw a smirk back out of him.

"Exactly. At least you understand that."

It is what he had gathered most from his arrival and Thor may put two and two together that that was what Loki had been doing from the start here. In his mind he had to keep up that show as much as he could, even more so than he usually would. This was a larger show and they were likely watching even in more private circumstances. He had to be careful if he was to balance the truth and the lies - what he wanted the public and their captors to see.

"I've no choice but to understand it." He defends, even if he's positive that Loki is looking to use everything to his advantage. It doesn't surprise him that his brother would play along for his own game, but that doesn't mean he can't be concerned.

"It is a dangerous game you play." Thor says lowly. "I know that you would not have me protect you, but you cannot deny me my concern for you."

"Are you honestly concerned for me again, brother? I thought you had given up on me...," there was something mocking in his surprised tone. "Are you returning to the role of the elder brother here? I am sure that will be of interest to some."

It hurt a bit to say. He was aware that the powers that be may use any closeness as a weapon against them, if he admitted to caring too much about anybody. Luckily, there were very few he truly did care about and although he had hurt Thor in the past he couldn't deny some brotherly affection that crept into his heart sometimes, making it ache that things were not different between them.

"I know better than to leave you to your own devices. Not here of all places." It doesn't really answer Loki's question, but it isn't a lie. He loves his brother, he would walk through fire and on coals for him, but he is in no state of denial where his mean streak is concerned. He's certain his weakness for Loki will be exploited, particularly now that there are two of them to consider, but he finds it hard to imagine being able to pretend he isn't protective of them on some level.

"Does it embarrass you?" He forces a wry smile. "I wager they'll make something of it regardless of what we do. They've spun finer tales from fewer details before." He gives his shoulders the slightest shrug. "And I care little for how some think."

"Embarrass me? No.... But I do not need you to watch over me. I can well take care of myself." While his words are firm, his eyes search Thor's with questions that he isn't voicing. Loki wishes the circumstances were not such that emotional lies were far safer than any possible truth right now. Even after all they'd been through, they were not free to talk. The situation wouldn't allow it.

"Are you saying any denial of our brotherly bond would be pointless, even with us being at constant odds? They would just say... what? Sibling rivalry? As if any of this is that simple between us."

"All evidence points to the contrary, brother." Thor scoffs, deflecting the severe look Loki is giving him. He knows he's hiding something, but for once he knows better than to pry. Not here, at least. He doesn't at all approve of Loki playing the game, but he wants him to survive. His schemes may prove useful, provided he stops threatening his friends.

"Indeed." He confirms with a curt nod. "They are privy to that much by now, I'm sure. Anything we do may encourage their ire or their affections, and they will make them known to us." Ah, fandoms. "One can only hope they avoid the obvious trap of pitting you against yourself." And he's saying that as a partial warning to Loki.

"And by myself I assume that you mean that youthful version using my name," Loki says wryly. "I met him when I introduced myself to the realm at large." And he doesn't sound overly impressed. They'd sort of bristled at each other. It wasn't the sort of competition he'd welcome in such a place, although in other circumstances it may have been an interesting challenge.

"Do you feel that you now have two brothers - that I am replaceable?" The line sounds as if were a throwaway comment but he seems to tense, awaiting the answer.

It shouldn't surprise him that Loki is jealous even of himself, but Thor's expression falls into one of resounding disbelief at his brother's childishness. He levels a flat look on him and shakes his head.

"He is from an alternate world, with his own Thor. I am as much removed from him as he is from me." He clarifies, before his voice becomes more stern. "It holds true that there is no world in which Thor and Loki are not brothers. But you are from my world, we are each others own." Whether it be each others own brother or each others worst enemy. He raises a hand to Loki's shoulder, giving it a companionable squeeze.

He appears to not be sure what to make of that touch, tensing briefly more before relaxing.

"That does not mean that you do not prefer him, if he is... so very different." He feels they did not always get along - perhaps Thor would want a different brother. His insecurity was showing but he masked it with a grin now.

"But I suppose either way you are also stuck with me."

"He is no more or less a pain than you are, I can assure you." He gives him a dull look. He can sense that Loki is prodding at him for a reason, but he can't help but feel like it's just because he wants to annoy him.

"Perhaps more so, because of his youth. Or perhaps his youth makes him more endearing." Now he's just teasing, but he smiles at that comment. "I am glad to have you back. Even if the circumstances could be better."

"Ah, a compliment. I am flattered," he teased back. It felt odd to be congenial but it also`felt more like old times.

That was at once sad and reassuring.

"I would say that I am glad to be here but..., yes..., circumstances," he added wryly.

"You would do well to be. You know that I am a careful man with my compliments." This is, generally speaking, a lie. It's hard to say whether Loki will see it as one, given that he's had misconceptions about Thor before.

"I could not even promise that it is better than death." His tone is grim and his expression matches it. "Promise me you will be careful, Loki. Promise me that you will not die here. Not again." He reaches out to grip him by the shoulder, meeting his eyes for a stare off.

Loki looked back unflinchingly. There was an odd mix of uncertainty and merriment in his eyes, reflected in his soft chuckle now.

"Did I not say I was going to win this upcoming arena? Of course I will live and not die," he sounded confident anyway.

"Your confidence will do you no favours, though I'm certain it will aid your sleep." Thor can only shake his head at this rate, perhaps he would have been brashly confident if he hadn't listened to the accounts of others before making his claim to victory.

"My confidence will lead to my victory," he continued, trying to sound firm but there were all these doubts in his mind. It didn't pay to show any vulnerability or fear either in front of Thor or before anyone else who may be watching them.

"I look forward to your congratulations after my win."

"Or your ruin." He protests, but his tone is wry. Like brotherly jibing more than sincere arguing. There are bigger fish to fry, but this doesn't mean he won't try to look out for Loki.

"Should you win your first Arena, I would kiss your boot on bended knee." He says that with the laugh of a man who is confident he'll never have to do that.

"Ah, you should not be so doubtful, brother," Loki teased him back with a laugh of his own. "You may end up on your knees more than once and apologising profusely for thinking that cannot triumph."

Talk. Words. It was easy enough to say. Not, perhaps, so easy to do in practice.

"As I have said, I will be more than willing if you manage such a feat. Stranger things have happened, I am sure." He's not sure if it would be better for Loki to become a Victor and leave the suffering of Arenas or remain in them and avoid the evils of the Capitol.

It's best not to think of it, for now. He'll hold little sway over it when it comes down to it.

"Come," He nods his head toward the corridors as if to invite Loki to walk with him. "We will drink. There is much to discuss."

[ooc: Sounds like a good spot to FTB, yes. ♥]

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[Brotherly Reunion - Closed]

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we can probs wind this up

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