Maybe later. [ Although now that Loki has mentioned WiFi, he might just have to confiscate that cellphone. Clint doesn't give a shit about Instagram, but it'd be nice if Loki didn't manage to start an anti-Avengers riot through it.
They get to the holding area and he opens one of the cells, actually a really comfy looking, if sterile, room. Stark really went all out on the decor in here. Before Loki goes inside, though, Clint holds out his hand. ]
I'm gonna need your phone, and any weapons you might've brought with you. And don't think about keeping any, because this thing'll pick it up when you walk through it.
[ He can only imagine what this looks like without context, like he's mugging a kid at knifepoint for his valuables. Yeah, better he gets Loki's phone away from him now. ]
[Pouting, Loki hands over his phone, and then for dramatic effect, pulls his pockets all the way out to show that they're empty. No weapons. Maybe some lint.
He walks through and no alarms go off. Since after all, he is literally defenseless.]
Let's suppose that I am the Loki you knew. I'm very, very evil and made it onto one of those Top Ten Villain lists. Why have I not attacked you? Or enchanted you? Why am I still in this form?
Look, I don't know why you do half of what you do. [ Clint sighs, hating every minute of this, because he is still in that form and it's honestly bumming him out. At least Loki went into the cell voluntarily, but then he's done that before too, and it didn't end too well. ]
All I know is what you have done, and it wasn't good. [ Which is putting it mildly. Clint still has nightmares. ]
So, why don't you tell me why you're really here and maybe I'll believe you?
[Just so they're clear! At least all they're doing now is talking. Loki can handle talking. He's very good at talking.]
I've already told you. Unless you're going senile and have quickly forgotten. You are rather old.
[See? Very good at talking.]
Thor wanted me to meet with all of you. You are his friends for some reason and I am his brother, albeit reborn. The reborn part's important. I don't remember anything about my previous life as the guy with the weird hairline. I know your name and your face from Wikipedia, for example.
[ Clint folds his arms, unimpressed. That crack about Thor being friends with the Avengers for some reason is so vintage Loki. All it's missing is some death threats and maybe an attempted stabbing. ]
You did say you were going to reclaim what was yours. I'm really supposed to believe you're not the same guy, just shorter?
I am Loki. So by that logic anything that once belonged to Loki belongs to me. However, I am also not the same Loki that was. He died, after all. Need I remind you that I am, and was, a god? My life is more akin to a story told time and times again than anything fully linear. You may consider me the reboot, if that helps you comprehend it more easily.
So you want all of the perks and none of the responsibility? Life doesn't work like that.
I think I'm comprehending it just fine. You're some reincarnation of Loki, who wants all his old stuff but swears he isn't bad anymore. Even though the first thing out of your mouth was a lie, and you still pretend you're a god. Not off to a great start.
Am I getting that right? Or did dumb human Clint miss a step?
Dumb human Clint Barton is failing to have any nuance in his concept of morality and responsibility.
[:P]
The lie was Thor's fault anyways. I would've come up with something better if I had to, or more preferably I would have never come here. I don't pretend I'm a god either. I am one. The God of Mischief, not Evil.
That's the thing. I'm really not. You can't just wipe your slate clean like that. You inherit everything, not just the good stuff. And you end up paying for it all, even if you weren't... you when you did it.
[ He knows that very well. So does Nat. And now, so will Loki. He'll make sure of it. And he can feel his hands start to shake so maybe it's time to change the subject. ]
You're not a god. You're an alien who tricked people on Earth into thinking you were a god. Also, you know you're not doing yourself any favors here by telling me you'd just have 'lied better', right?
[he says more quietly. It is not the voice of a god, but the voice of a young boy who is reminded constantly the world would be better off without him.]
My brother was worried this would happen if we told you the truth. I feared worse, if I’m to be fully honest. He thought we might ease you into my rebirth, show you that I was different and then I suppose, go surprise! It’s Loki!
But I don’t want to be afraid anymore. Not of you, not of myself. That is why I chose to stop lying.
[ Yeah, he's not surprised Thor would pick the worst possible way to re-introduce his brother. Guy's great, but not the best at plans. Now that Loki's quit it with the bravado, sounds less sure and more vulnerable, he feels himself softening just a little. This wasn't just his fault, and he was a hundred percent right to be worried, even if going along with the lie was a terrible idea. ]
Are you different?
[ Clint seems skeptical, but in some ways he really wants to know. That's why he's even talking to this pint-sized version of Loki, giving him any chance at all. ]
Fair enough. [ And he guesses it is, despite everything. Second chances are kind of the Avengers' bread and butter. A group of people constantly trying to atone for their own sins, their own mistakes and missteps. ]
The way to do that? Make amends. Not threats, not demands. Put in the work, and eventually you earn that trust.
I've been working hard to make amends in New Asgard. But what would you have me do? Are you looking for an apology? I don't remember what he did to you, so I don't think it'd be all that heartfelt.
[If he were to be Luke, that would mean that Loki hadn't changed. He'd just be running away, hiding behind another illusion.]
I remember my childhood too. Growing up as a son of Odin alongside Thor. Thor's changed a lot, you know. Unfortunately, he still shouldn't be left in charge of plans. But, that is why I am Loki and he is Thor.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
They get to the holding area and he opens one of the cells, actually a really comfy looking, if sterile, room. Stark really went all out on the decor in here. Before Loki goes inside, though, Clint holds out his hand. ]
I'm gonna need your phone, and any weapons you might've brought with you. And don't think about keeping any, because this thing'll pick it up when you walk through it.
[ He can only imagine what this looks like without context, like he's mugging a kid at knifepoint for his valuables. Yeah, better he gets Loki's phone away from him now. ]
no subject
He walks through and no alarms go off. Since after all, he is literally defenseless.]
Let's suppose that I am the Loki you knew. I'm very, very evil and made it onto one of those Top Ten Villain lists. Why have I not attacked you? Or enchanted you? Why am I still in this form?
no subject
All I know is what you have done, and it wasn't good. [ Which is putting it mildly. Clint still has nightmares. ]
So, why don't you tell me why you're really here and maybe I'll believe you?
no subject
[Just so they're clear! At least all they're doing now is talking. Loki can handle talking. He's very good at talking.]
I've already told you. Unless you're going senile and have quickly forgotten. You are rather old.
[See? Very good at talking.]
Thor wanted me to meet with all of you. You are his friends for some reason and I am his brother, albeit reborn. The reborn part's important. I don't remember anything about my previous life as the guy with the weird hairline. I know your name and your face from Wikipedia, for example.
no subject
You did say you were going to reclaim what was yours. I'm really supposed to believe you're not the same guy, just shorter?
no subject
[And less evil, but he'll get to that.]
I am Loki. So by that logic anything that once belonged to Loki belongs to me. However, I am also not the same Loki that was. He died, after all. Need I remind you that I am, and was, a god? My life is more akin to a story told time and times again than anything fully linear. You may consider me the reboot, if that helps you comprehend it more easily.
no subject
[ He is just so done with all this 'god' stuff. ]
So you want all of the perks and none of the responsibility? Life doesn't work like that.
I think I'm comprehending it just fine. You're some reincarnation of Loki, who wants all his old stuff but swears he isn't bad anymore. Even though the first thing out of your mouth was a lie, and you still pretend you're a god. Not off to a great start.
Am I getting that right? Or did dumb human Clint miss a step?
no subject
[:P]
The lie was Thor's fault anyways. I would've come up with something better if I had to, or more preferably I would have never come here. I don't pretend I'm a god either. I am one. The God of Mischief, not Evil.
no subject
[ He knows that very well. So does Nat. And now, so will Loki. He'll make sure of it. And he can feel his hands start to shake so maybe it's time to change the subject. ]
You're not a god. You're an alien who tricked people on Earth into thinking you were a god. Also, you know you're not doing yourself any favors here by telling me you'd just have 'lied better', right?
no subject
[he says more quietly. It is not the voice of a god, but the voice of a young boy who is reminded constantly the world would be better off without him.]
My brother was worried this would happen if we told you the truth. I feared worse, if I’m to be fully honest. He thought we might ease you into my rebirth, show you that I was different and then I suppose, go surprise! It’s Loki!
But I don’t want to be afraid anymore. Not of you, not of myself. That is why I chose to stop lying.
no subject
Are you different?
[ Clint seems skeptical, but in some ways he really wants to know. That's why he's even talking to this pint-sized version of Loki, giving him any chance at all. ]
no subject
[His voice is firm, not defensive. If he is sure of one thing, it is this. Or at least... he wants it to be this.]
I want to be good. I want others to trust me, as much as they are able to. Not for the sake of schemes, but because I am no longer the God of Evil.
I want to be seen as myself. Not as the Loki that you see in me.
no subject
The way to do that? Make amends. Not threats, not demands. Put in the work, and eventually you earn that trust.
Eventually.
no subject
[He mutters, mostly to himself.]
I've been working hard to make amends in New Asgard. But what would you have me do? Are you looking for an apology? I don't remember what he did to you, so I don't think it'd be all that heartfelt.
no subject
You don't remember any of it? Why be Loki at all, then? You could've just been Luke. Fresh start.
no subject
[If he were to be Luke, that would mean that Loki hadn't changed. He'd just be running away, hiding behind another illusion.]
I remember my childhood too. Growing up as a son of Odin alongside Thor. Thor's changed a lot, you know. Unfortunately, he still shouldn't be left in charge of plans. But, that is why I am Loki and he is Thor.