asgardeventide | NPC POST - LOKI

[This time, Loki addresses the network from perched on a bit of the wall around the castle plaza. He's as relaxed as always, though he looks just a tad irritated as well this time. People near the gate between the castle plaza and Loki district should be able to interact in person, but first he has something to say.]

You know guys, I like you. I really do. But sometimes I think you're all a little dumb.

See, we set this network up. We know what's said. For that matter, we can easily find out anything you're up to if we decide to take the time to check on you. But we don't even have to do much ferreting. You're really obvious with your displeasure, and I'm sure if I looked a little deeper I might find out some of you are making plans to do something about it.

Now the boss man, he's not too interested in whatever you're doing. I, on the other hand, thought I'd run through a few things to get you up to speed. If you're going to rebel, you're going to want to do it smart. So here we go.

[He holds up a finger, clearly intending to count visually all the way through.]

One. We're gods. You don't know how to kill gods, do you? So before you start any plans, you might want to be sure you'll actually be able to do anything other than irritate us.

Two. Say you did take us out. You've all been really hostile against the idea of governments. If you're all determined to never have anyone tell you what to do, you're going to have anarchy. What do you expect will happen then? No regulations, no network, no bracelets to keep you from getting sick, no barriers to keep the monsters out, no one to keep up alliances and trade agreements. You'll have a bunch of armies on your doorstep in weeks and no organization to help you deal with them.

Three. Say you beat us and find a way to get sent home. You're all happy - 'cept the ones who're going home to being dead -- and you can forget all about our crap. And then every world in existence gets wiped out and remade and everyone you love dies along with you. You can take a bet that we're lying about this whole thing, but do you really want that kind of risk?

Four. If you can't beat us, no one's stopping you from running off and joining someone else. But out there in the world you're either going to our allies, who'll send you back, or our enemies, who'll either kill you or take you in and let you fight for them. And they're going to let everyone you love die too. That or you end up with my brother, and he doesn't care what you do as long as you entertain him. He'll make you a lord one day and a slave the next, just to see you get angry.

So here's the conclusion. You'd better be thinking of how to deal with all of those things before you start. After that, who knows. Maybe you'll get to take over a whole city and all its naive, loyal subjects...

In the meantime, how about you guys tell me what you'd want us to do if we decided to follow your orders. I'm pretty sure number one is quit messing with you, but if that's it how about you propose some plans for how you'll generate your own emotional energy? What will you guys do yourselves to make sure things get fixed as soon as possible? I'm sure you could get that bleeding heart Freyr to argue for you... but who says the big guy's going to favor the opinion of Hostage #1?

Oh well. Might as well try, hey?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Nina halts abruptly when she hears Loki's voice and eventually sees him perched. This is the first instance where she has encountered one of the gods in person. Of course, it had to be Loki, the trickster deity.

Due to the camping trip and a disturbing discovery in the Library, Nina has grown even more indignant of the Asgardian gods.

She should simply ignore him and leave. That would be the most prudent move. Most likely, a confrontation would yield nothing productive.

However, when would she have this opportunity again? Is there a chance (no matter how slim) that she could gather helpful information?

She waits until Loki finishes his network post before speaking. Her expression isn't amiable, but it also lacks hostility. ]

There are other ways to generate emotional energy. The curses aren't necessary.

[He was wondering when one of them would show up. For the moment he wipes his hand across the space where a screen much like the bracelet's was. It disappears, and he looks down at her with a self-satisfied smile.]

You think? What would you do instead?

[ Her eyes widen slightly, almost imperceptibly at the vanishing screen. (Yet, for a god, would any movement be too small to discern?)

At his question, Nina stifles an aggressive response. I wouldn't bring people here against their wills, she's tempted to state. But... she understands that instigating Loki's anger would only worsen the situation.

Her countenance remains neutral. ]

The fact that we're here creates substantial energy. Our daily interactions with each other should suffice.

At the very least, why do you need to cause chaos with the curses? It doesn't matter what type of emotions are generated, right? Happiness restores life to this world just as well as sorrow does.

You're right. We've tried happy things too, y'know. People complained about them as well.

But think about this. How much emotion do you express in a normal day? How much compared to the emotion you express when someone dies, or when you're watching people burst into song?

But not everyone has. If you're interested in cooperation, it would be best to take the path of least resistance, which would mean more pleasant events.

[ His nonchalance about death is not surprising, but it still stings, all the same. Her stomach twists from disgust, and she battles the impulse to tighten her hands into clenched fists. Ultimately, she succeeds, and she displays no visible sign of anxiety.

He seems bereft of any concern for Travelers. She can't reason with him, can she? ]

That may be true, but the greatest joy is much more intense than the greatest sadness. When we're at our happiest, we're able to give more emotional energy.

Great sorrow is easier to create than great joy, you know. Everyone is made happy by something different. Something personal. Nearly everyone is made unhappy when their friends are in trouble.

[ A pause. ]

Then, there's no way to persuade you otherwise. You'll just continue bringing us misery...

You're not willing to change that, are you?

NPC POST - LOKI - VIDEO/ACTION

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