angelpiratebaby | (no subject)

[ loki has to smile at that. ]

Why would I doubt anything?

[ Thor softens, patting Loki on the shoulder. ]

She was wrong to lie to you, but she loved you deeply. I know she only wished for our happiness.

[ ah. but thor didn't know what he had done. what his actions led to. thor didn't know those last words, those regrets.

and thor never will. ]

Of course she did.

Brother, whatever you're holding onto, remember who Mother was. Wise and forgiving.

[ Thor does know that Loki said something to her he deeply regrets, having brought it up in a past conversation. He doesn't know anything else about what happened. But he doesn't really care what was said when it comes to this since he knows with certainty Frigga likely already forgave Loki the moment he said it. ]

A kind man sounds exactly like who she would want for you.

Edited 2021-04-15 01:31 (UTC)

[ loki huffs. ]

I suppose I should be relieved. I do not need to be a good man for a good man to care for me.

I think good is a complicated concept these days.

[ Thor smiles wistfully. ]

All you can do is your best, like everyone else who cares about this sort of thing.

[ loki gives him a mocking squint. ]

Who are you and what have you done with Thor?

I never claimed to be perfect, brother. Or that I surrounded myself with perfect people.

[ Loki knows how much of a mess the Avengers are, and the Warriors Three were, but Thor loves them without question, without qualms. He loves Loki the same way. It's a complicated thing, recognizing the world wasn't as simple as he used to think. ]

No hammer, no Father. No one to deem me worthy. So from now on all I can do is try.

[ loki purses his lips. thor may not have claimed it, but he sure got away with it. ]

Or perhaps worthiness in itself is a terrible concept to force upon others.

I think there's a middle ground to be found. Not worthy the way he meant it, but striving to be worthy of other people's love and respect. That's still what I want.

[ Thor used to think Odin was the only person who could define such a role. Obviously his feelings on their father has changed significantly in retrospect. But just because he was wrong and flawed, didn't make everything he did wrong and flawed. ]

I think you're a good man, Loki. Whether you care or not.

[ loki still thinks that's dangerous. giving people that much power over you . . . nothing comes out of it. that may be why the future came to pass. valkyrie's words settle on him like a heavy weight. ]

It doesn't matter. Good or bad, all my endings are the same.

Of course it matters. Everything we do matters.

[ That's part of the weight of responsibility. Thor's choices are weighted no matter what they are. There's no changing that. He is not going to recognize any implication of Loki's fate unless forced to. If Loki hadn't forced him out here for this funeral, he would have avoided that too. ]

You're living for today, that's why you are getting married.

[ loki glances at thor curiously before giving a little sigh, a smile shifting on his lips. ]

You're not wrong.

Interesting.

[ Thor smirks at him. ]

So if I'm not wrong, that would make me ....

[ He gestures for Loki to fill in the [right] blank. He's the worst.]

[ dryly. ]

Lucky to live another day if your ego doesn't kill you first.

[ Thor snaps his fingers, grinning because sometimes annoying Loki is his favorite activity. ]

Ah yes, it is dangerous to be this right all of the time. Don't be worried for me, brother, I've survived this long in my rightness.

[ loki mutters. ]

Somehow.

It must be frustrating to love me even when I'm intentionally annoying you. That is a skill we both possess.

[ It's a brother thing. The centuries of bickering and fighting and adoration sometimes does boil down to being petty. And Thor wouldn't want it any other way. This is them. Thor looks at him and there's amusement in his one eye but also plenty of love shining there too. ]

I look forward to talking to your betrothed. A man who could win you over is special indeed.

[ loki huffs. sentiment. but there is a glow to him he can't fully disguise. ]

He is special to me.

Love looks very good on you.

[ It's not something he's ever seen from Loki toward someone else. He's uncertain if his brother's loved anyone like this, if he has, he hasn't been obvious about it. Thor glances toward the empty boat that is still burning although lesser now, the wood giving way. ]

Is it that new tenderness that led you to do me this kindness?

[ that was the wrong thing to say. loki's smile drops instantly. ]

I don't need to be touched by a human to know what needs to be done.

[ Thor raises his eyebrows, not understanding the sudden change. ]

Why are you upset?

[ the first impulse is to lie, he's not upset. but loki carefully lets it pass, even though he's still nettled. ]

You did just imply I'm not capable of tenderness unless I involve myself with humanity. Which, I might add, is your circumstance, not mine.

I never said it was a human that made a difference, I said love did.

[ Thor folds his arms. ]

Love changes people. Being open to love makes people open to other things as well.

[ loki hisses. ]

I have loved you before anyone else and it got me nothing! So spare me your empty platitudes.