( video. ) ( night 129. )

[gameplaying]

[ there's a few seconds of breathing at first, slightly laboured but distinctly amused, as if the owner is torn between laughing and not, and whilst the feed is set to video, there's little discernible — a slight glint of gold and silver reflecting the light from the bracelet, but for the present, that's it. ]

Is this how the gods of Asgard protect their loyal subjects — by sitting idly by and watching as they kill and are killed? [ momentary silence interrupted only by the sound of movement and deliberate sliding of metal — daggers, perhaps — against the surface of a table. ] Ravens—. [ the remark is muttered half to himself, somewhat bitter and in the tone of one who is enjoying a private joke, although it's followed by a more audible, explanatory and sardonic: ] Odin watches.

[ the sound of movement again, and a quiet huff (not quite a laugh) before loki comes into view. he's pale, as ever, but he doesn't look to be overly bothered by the situation as a whole, nor does he seem to be injured. his lips quirk briefly, and he leans slightly closer to the bracelet, the barest hint of a smile playing across his features. ] If there are still a foolish few who would place their faith in those who would not lift a hand in protection of their realm, I do wish you luck for if this is any indicator, the realm will fall and all who stand not against them but with them, will also fall where they stand. What hope have you against giants if you cannot hold these pitiful creatures?

[ he leans back away from the bracelet, fingers hovering over the feed for several moments. after something resembling consideration, he adds: ] —At least morning is only a few hours away.

Comments

[Video]

[ofthursday]

[Castiel is pale, his hair is damp, and he's wearing a jacket that despite his efforts is still splattered with blood. But he doesn't seem hurt, and is commenting from a quiet, unremarkable room inside somewhere.]

This is not the first time they have watched rather than aiding, and it will doubtlessly not be the last.

( audio. )

[gameplaying]

Oh, but they have proven themselves remarkably adept at watching.

[ agreement, then — loki hadn't been seeking confirmation of his point or otherwise, he'd only wanted to make his point known. ]

( audio. )

[ofthursday]

[Castiel, of course, has his own reasons for being interested in opinions on the gods, and this one falls into line with his own, so it catches his attention.]

This particular event proves it rather well, yes.

[He wonders if it might be enough to convince a lot of the people here, particularly those who weren't around for the Ides of March, that the gods really don't seem to care.]

[Audio]

[occulthymns]

[Euri sounds pretty tired - and confused.]

... There are giants out there?

( audio. )

[gameplaying]

In Thrymheim and Utgard. [ a beat. ] The so-called monsters against whom we are to battle and protect the realm from when war comes.

[ what hole have you been living in euri. ]

Video

[seventeenpills]

I gather your own Asgard never faced anything quite like this? Or if it did, you and your own host of Gods squashed it quickly.

[His voice is bitter, his expression bleak. He's definitely looking worse for wear. He hasn't raised a hand against anyone, but he's been killed and seen people he cares for very much die, and been helpless to stop it.]

I don't stand a chance against Giants. I don't stand a chance against children with knives. This is all so... stupid. Pointless. Are the Gods here only able to play with our emotions and free will, but powerless otherwise? Or do they really want this? I'm not even being rhetorical - you'd have a better idea than me.

( audio. )

[gameplaying]

My Asgard. [ a beat. it's a touch too lengthy for the next remark to be completely fluid, completely in line with the first, but it is a continuation. ] Bears little resemblance to this one; the Æsir would stand and fight and that alone marks the largest different between those that claim godhood here and those that have godhood there. What, then, the gods here want, I cannot say — but I'm tempted to say that their vested interest in the fate of Asgard, the realm, of Yggdrasil and more is not as great as they claim.

video;

[gwenhwyfar]

[blood dripping from her mouth, not a big deal.]

Having fun, dear one?

( audio. )

[gameplaying]

[ an exhale that almost certainly is a laugh. ]

Well, I'm not bored.

voice;

[deputychief]

[Taking some time out to actually use the bracelet that's otherwise just providing light. But no video here; no revealing how struggling he looks.]

To make a counterpoint, we're hardly the most loyal of subjects; and those who have been favored by them in power are undoubtedly faring rather better than those who haven't.

( audio. )

[gameplaying]

Oh, I'm not speaking of just us. You do recall that Asgard is made up of more than Travellers alone, don't you?

video;

[digophelia]

[Oh, she understands. Partially. But after not sleeping and being on constant nervous, Alice's mind is somewhat... not here. At the moment. The thousand mile stare, the shell shock. Half ready to drift off into her world, her creation, but oh, no, she can't. But by now, her thoughts may not be too coherent.

Lack of sleep and paranoia does that to someone.]

Hugin and Muninn scoping the world to whisper information into Odin's ears. But they're not a pair.

( audio. )

[gameplaying]

So you think he remains oblivious, do you?

audio;

[extradite]

With them. Against them. With them. Against them. With... aga...

...can't you resign both sides?

audio;

[gameplaying]

You'll still be caught in the middle, I'm afraid.

[workstheshaft]

Still up to your tricks, huh.

[It's a rhetorical question at this point. Clint knows better.]

[gameplaying]

[ one of a few, clint :') ]

How do you see it, Agent Barton?

(video) private

[counterbalanced]

Now's not the time for scorn, Loki. The people are suffering enough without adding salt to their wounds.

[Edmund straightens, though he's looking worse for wear.] You have a point about the gods, however. I can understand the fire creatures escaping their notice outside the city walls, but an attack of this scale could not have been missed.

(video) private

[gameplaying]

[ w o w piss all over his fun, edmund.

he doesn't respond verbally for a moment; instead, he focusses his attention on edmund, amusement briefly gracing his features. ] If they cannot take the truth now, when they need to hear and understand it the most, there will be no hope for them. [ a pause. ] And the lack of action means that the Æsir either do not care, can do nothing, or that they have done all they wish in bringing this upon Asgard, upon us, and upon their subjects.

audio;

[onceknighted]

Useless things go hand in hand, do they not? That aside, poor generals deserve to lose their armies and poor armies deserve to lose, period. [it's not like he's still furious at the gods and feeling bitter in general or anything, of course.]

audio;

[gameplaying]

In which case, I can only assume that the role of soldier appeals to you little.

[histories]

[Ah, yes. The fact that the gods here hasn't visibly attempted to do anything to help them doesn't escape her, whatsoever -- as Baldr had said before, what happens to the Travelers didn't matter to the gods; in fact, it helped that their emotions went into overdrive during these periods of time. Still, she wants to believe in them: it's always possible that they had tried to do what they could on their end, to no avail. It's always possible that this was the most they could do, lest it could have been far worse than this.

It's no doubt that she would try to have a moment to speak to one of them, once this is over.]

[Now then... Stating her previously-stated stance on the gods once again would evidently be a waste of time, thus she'll just go on to address the more immediate concern she had:]

I take it that you are fine? There are shelters set up throughout the city - Where are you presently located?

[gameplaying]

I'm unharmed. [ for as much as it matters, at any rate. beyond that, he has little interest in elaborating on his precise whereabouts to just anyone, traveller or no. ] And please don't get me wrong — the concern is [ beat. it's not. ] touching, truly — but for what does my location matter?

video

[needlebearer]

[Arya looks pale, frightened, almost defeated. If the last few days are any indication of the Gods' strength, she's now certain that there's no way to fight them, or to get away. She looks relieved to see Loki, especially as he doesn't seem hurt or fazed by what's going on.] There's nothing we can do, is there? I hate them, they're playing with our lives, but they're too strong.

video

[gameplaying]

[ loki studies her for a moment — her entire state of being, from the condition of her clothes to the way she holds herself and presents herself to the feed. ]

Are you giving up, Arya?