permutates | 6th Transformation . Video

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6th Transformation . Video

[ filtered FROM loki ]

[ Blue-skinned and serious: ] I know a lot of you might have problems with Loki, now that he's back. But I'm his warden now, and I'd like you to come to me first. I can't make you, but - it would be nice.

Thanks.

[ filtered TO loki ]

Do you want me to get the helmet back for you?

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Oh, I know! Thank you, really.

The rest of the wardens here are giving me a lot of suggestions, and I'll remember them. I'm just not sure which ones I want to use yet.

[Iris nods, approving; this is very much the tack she'd take as well.]

Quite right. You're the girl on the spot, not them. While we're about it - I know you 'aven't met Victor before, yourself, but 'e's got a lot of future 'istory with ...an iteration of you. A possibility of you. I rather think that might make 'im a bit less guarded, with you. I'd be very grateful for any thoughts and ideas you feel like passing on, ever.

[ There's a hint of softening around her eyes, though her mouth thins. A complicated emotional reaction, to Victor. ]

I don't think he's as bad as... he'd like to be, maybe. He said some good things when I first got here. But he's said some pretty awful things since.

Can you tell me more about them? They were together, right?

Between you and me? I'm not sure 'e is either, but 'e's trying very, very 'ard to be and 'e's very good at it. Right now 'e thinks if 'e's vile enough to me I'll back off. I know Loki tried the same thing with Cass, the last time round - didn't quite get to handing 'er 'er friends' severed 'eads, mind, but Victor's a direct sort of thinker by comparison.

...Tell you what, I'll clip out the relevant bits from the file and send you them. You lot come from a spread of universes that tends to make me brain glaze over when I'm faced with paragraphs about it, I 'ad the same trouble with Wade. I do know they 'ad a son, though she was masquerading as someone else when that 'appened.

[ She's about to thank Iris for the latter, when she stops, processing the former. ]

That was his grand plan?

[ He'd said he knew what he was doing.

It just sounds ridiculous to her. ]

Edited 2013-08-31 22:27 (UTC)

Don't knock it; it's daft as arseholes but 'e's been making it work for two centuries. Makes it tricky to break.

[It's not that she's not still angry. But it's already starting to be coloured over by joy in the challenge.]

[ Two centuries is a surprise, but the phrasing that Iris uses is what Raven responds to instead, with a giggle she can't quite muffle. Daft as arseholes. ]

Well, he told me he knew what he was doing. Before he started all of it, on the port.

'E does. That's the tricky part. It's a stupid idea 'cause I know 'ow this boat works and I know I can't be scared off or discouraged - any more than my people can. Everyone close to me knew 'e'd try it sooner or later. We talked it over when I got assigned 'im.

But I've seen 'is file. Everyone else that's tried to work with 'im before, 'e's managed to put them off. The difference being, they all wanted 'im to use. For me, he is the job and that makes a difference. But stupid or not, it's been a winning strategy for 'im so far and 'e's very good at it.

Just I 'appen to be better. Or at least more stubborn. And the deck's stacked in my favour.

Then you were probably a good choice for his warden.

I don't know what I am to Loki, besides that we both change how we look.

If we can get 'em to accept that we're on their side - that we can be trusted - that's the battle more'n 'alf won right there.

[She pinches the bridge of her nose tiredly.]

Wade spoiled me. 'E needed a lot of attention and energy, but... we were never not on each other's side. Not for a second. I forgot it's not always like that.

I think Loki is sure that no one will ever be on his side.

How are you going to try to convince Victor?

Victor's terrified no one will be. So 'e makes sure they're not; that way 'e can say it were 'is choice.

At the moment? Stick with 'im through everything 'e can throw at me. I'm also working on getting 'im educated a bit. Life experience is one thing, but when you're like 'e is you get to pick and choose the experiences that suit you, to some extent. I think 'e needs a broader perspective.

How would you... with Loki?

[ She's asking advice, in a roundabout way. ]

He's nine hundred years older than I am.

That doesn't mean 'is perspective's more valuable than yours, 'e's just 'ad more time to reinforce it.

I ...Raven, I don't do a lot of deciding in advance. I might put contingency plans in place for the practical side. Like I've got a bunch of superpowered volunteers to make sure Victor won't ever gain anything from killing me. The nuts and bolts I tend to make up as I go.

...I remember one thing, with Loki, when 'e were 'ere before. 'E were never anything but angry or smug, except just once, when Cass 'ad 'im in Zero. I talked to 'im and 'e said summat about being trapped. That were a piece of real, unforced emotion from 'im. I 'ad a moment of sympathy with 'im then I've tried not to forget.

They're both men driven by fear and pride, these two. The barge'll eventually break down their pride and bring 'em face to nose with their fear. At the very least, we've got to be able to 'elp 'em rebuild it. The fine detail of 'ow that appens tends to be a bit circumstantial.

Edited 2013-09-02 09:15 (UTC)

[ She nods, taking this in. ]

And if I have to punish him, I think - I'm not sure it would be good to hurt him. Maybe just hit his pride instead.

Aye. I do think that'll hit 'im 'arder. At the very least it's attacking their weak flank, where Zero or people hurting 'em's a head-on attack on a strong one.

That's what I thought.

Also... I don't want to hurt anyone.

There are times we need to; but aye. With either of 'em, giving in to hurting's what they're trying to make us want. Bring us down to their level, make us fight on their battlefield.

Victor's got to me, I can't deny that. I'm still very angry. But letting myself get too vengeous is letting 'im win, and I won't let that 'appen.

So... pick a different battlefield. Whatever he expects, don't do that.

[ She's thinking of Loki when she says this. Of how she's going to punish him for killing someone. ]

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6th Transformation . Video

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