metalogs | ( open ) surrender all your dreams to me tonight

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( open ) surrender all your dreams to me tonight

Who: Loki Odinson

dothelokimotion + You
What: Fancy Opening Night
When: May 11th
Where: The Opherium, Central City
Content Warnings: n/a

( i. grand opening — mingle and drinks )

[ welcome to the opherium. open to all metas, provided you’re up to the dress code. so make sure you’re dressed to the gills with your fanciest clothes or you might just be asked to leave. you’re ushered into a grand hall. there are appetizers like shrimp cocktails and little quiches placed on large tables for you to nibble on and champagne glasses being passed around by waiters. located in the middle is a large chocolate fountain for all you dessert lovers (loki. it’s for loki). grab yourself a drink and go hit up a familiar face. ]

( ii. dance dance )

[ and of course, once the mingling and networking is done, the staff come to clear the chairs away and leave plenty of room on the dance floor. the lights go dim, casting soft shadows against the wall. slow waltzes begin to filter through the hall as gently encouragement to go find a partner, maybe hold them close, enjoy a little . . . company and more.

or maybe you just want an excuse to step on someone’s foot. equally valid. in fact, there might be a little magic in the air that tugs you towards someone you want to be with . . . ]

( iii. star gazing )

[ the party is winding down. maybe you’re ready to go back. curl up on bed after a late night with drinks and dancing. or perhaps you’re feeling a touch of wistfulness, a need to seclude yourself after all that jazz. consider then, finding yourself a nice quiet corner on the upper levels of the theatre, where there are some nice balconies for you to collect yourself.

and there are always the stars to keep you company. ]

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I see I'm not the only one who needs to clear their head tonight. That's comforting, at least.

[Not really, of course, but even Nox wasn't so boorish that he'd ignore someone and refuse to at least acknowledge their presence. Even if being social wasn't his first choice. For that matter, neither was dressing up ~~like a normal person~~, something that clearly had a significant impact on his preparations for the evening. On account of how he'd elected to wear nothing but black to what was undoubtedly supposed to be a less somber occasion.]

I don't suppose there's any point in asking if you recognize any of them. The stars, that is.

[It might be a little unusual for someone to try keeping their distance while having even a conversation for the sake of courtesy, but he was certainly trying. He had yet to learn whether anyone else here was sensitive enough to the Force's influence that his presence alone would be distinctly uncomfortable, so the yellow-eyed Sith was apparently intent on giving the woman enough personal space to comfortably drive a speeder through.]

Edited (image link broke (again)) 2022-05-15 09:23 (UTC)

[Diana is so lost in her thoughts that the sudden sound of his voice catches her off guard, and her head snaps around towards the voice's owner. She thinks she'd seen him earlier at the party--he's hard to miss, wearing all black as he is. She scans him quickly from head-to-toe, habit more than anything else, and then turns to lean back against the railing behind her, the white dress she'd chosen for the night a stark contrast against his own clothing.]

A few of them I do. [She sounds satisfied. Then falters:] From charts I've seen.

[Amazons don't get out much.]

[The sudden uncertainty was certainly noticed, but it was largely dismissed for now. He had no reason to believe it was at all suspicious after all, far more likely it was done for accuracy's sake than malice.

Whatever the reason, her answer was still more than enough for it to be his turn to scrutinize her for any particular details that jumped out at him. Because no matter her answer, it would still bring him a step closer to understanding just why the confluences happened at all.]

Interesting. Then are you from this Earth, another version of it, or from a nearby system?

[Amazons might not have gotten out much, but evidently Sith got out too much, given just how run-of-the-mill he'd made interstellar travel out to be.]

[Diana has learned a lot about the advances of mankind over the past few months, and the invention of space travel is one of the more astounding ones. She'd often looked up at the stars as a child, wondering what or who else laid among them, but it simply hadn't seem like a possibility to ever truly know. But coming here, meeting so many people from so many other worlds, has made her realize that just about anything is possible.

Thoughts and composure collected, she smiles a little.]

A version of this earth. [She thinks. Certainly a different time.

Now her gaze turns curious, and she tilts her head just so.]

I take it you are not from Earth?

No, I'm not. I'd never even heard of it before, and I doubt it shares a galaxy. The Force feels different, somehow.

[Still present, and still accessible, just...different. Just one more mystery on the list of questions he wanted answers to, really.]

Are there any significant differences between this Earth and the one you're accustomed to? Aside from the stars, of course.

What force? [Her brows draw together, and she tilts her head to one side, hands resting lightly on the railing behind her. It's easier to feel relaxed out here, away from the crowd and the dancing.]

The technology. [Her answer is immediate. She's never seen most of the technology in this world, or sometimes only older version of it.] This Earth is about... a hundred years ahead of my own.

I can't say I know what that feels like. Personally, that is. But for whatever it might be worth, the opposite problem isn't any more comforting.

[From where he was standing, the level of this world's technology was absolutely ancient, teleporters included. And yet having to explain those differences still managed to feel like less of a daunting task than explaining the workings of the Force to someone who'd never so much as heard of it before.]

The Force is...difficult to explain, to anyone who isn't sensitive to it. And the sort of subject even a lifetime of study is insufficient to fully understand. Several lifetimes, even.

In the simplest terms, the Force flows through all life in the galaxy--or, I suppose now it might be more accurate to say 'universe.'

[Not remotely the point, but thankfully he was able to bring himself back on track.]

However you'd describe it, those sensitive to the Force have a far deeper connection to our surroundings than those who are not. Those most attuned to the Force can read the thoughts of others--regardless of species--as if they were their own, feel what they feel, reveal a person's true nature or hidden intent, even sense the presence of nearby life and identify it as accurately as if it were right in front of you. With proper focus, it's even possible to do so across vast distances.

It's how I know the many individuals sharing a name with our host really are all different versions of the same person, and where they are in the building, and how you're considerably less human than you appear.

[She looked human of course, and he saw no evidence she was only making herself appear that way, but he also knew there was something different enough about her that she'd initially been noticed as a potential threat. And ordinarily, he'd only ever expect a Jedi to radiate such a presence. Something every bit as concerning as it was intriguing, but it would have to be a conversation for another time.]

I didn't plan to say anything, but it seems like a particularly relevant example.

[Once his explanation of the Force begins, Diana's interest is piqued--and obvious. She sits up from leaning against the railing, brows drawn slightly together as she sorts through the information he's giving her. The idea of a sort of energy that connects all living things doesn't sound far-fetched, but to be able to feel such a thing, to use its power to read thoughts and sense other people? That is what her mind catches on. It sounds like too much for one person to bear, perhaps even too much for a god.

She's about to say so when he points out that she isn't human, and her brows raise just so in surprise. That isn't something Diana has endeavored to hide here, but there are still very few people who know she isn't human--or mortal, for that matter.

So Diana smiles, nodding in affirmation.]

I'm an Amazon. [Which is not the same as a human or a mortal, thank you very much. She doesn't add that she's also a god.] And you can sense that with this Force. [It isn't really a question; he's proved it already.] Are you also not human? Is that why you can sense it? [She can't tell; Diana doesn't have any great magical ability like the Lokis, which is how she assumes they sense such things. At least, none that she's trained.]

I'm still just a human, at least for most purposes. The only differences have nothing to do with the Force.

[Well, barring eye color, anyway. But she was asking questions that had such incredibly complicated answers that the last thing either of them needed was something else thrown into the mix. Even as it was, he still couldn't quite find the right words to describe just how he's capable of sensing the difference between her and a human. But that didn't necessarily mean he couldn't help her understand.

He'd already discovered he could read someone's thoughts with far more detail since arriving here--mostly courtesy of the more obscure, wouldn't-be-missed members of this world's criminal underground juuuust in case anything went wrong--so it wasn't out of the question that he could now share his own thoughts just as vividly. It was at least an experiment worth pursuing, if she'd allow it.]

And you're mostly correct, the Force is the only reason I could tell. With you being my only frame of reference, I also don't know what differences are significant or what most of them mean.

I might know a way to share what it feels like, if you're willing to help. But I can't say I've ever tried it before.

[Most purposes? What does that mean? It's possibly he's a demihuman, such as she's a demigod? She knows that the gods sometimes intermingled with mortals, but she doesn't think that's what he means. Perhaps in his world, there are other beings that visited humans--possibly even from other worlds. She can hardly consider the possible results of that right now, and he offers a perfect distraction.

Diana visibly perks up, and doesn't seem to think twice before giving a short nod.]

I'd like to try.

[There are very few things she won't try, even if they're untested on others, as he's said. Over the past months, she's learned that not only is she more resilient than the average mortal or Amazon; she's also more resilient than most other beings on this world. So why not? Knowing will be worth it, if it works.]

What do you need me to do?

[Well, she was certainly willing at least. But he couldn't help but wonder if that'd last, given what he had in mind--especially given they'd only just met. That much he was certain of. With the way her presence felt, he was certain he couldn't have missed her if he'd tried.]

There's really only one thing If it works, you should be able to figure things out on your own. The most important thing is that you would have to allow me to access your mind.

[It wasn't something he was treating lightly, no one would need any powers to see that. On its face, it sounded like the sort of offer someone would have to be stupid to take without solid proof that access couldn't be abused and he knew it. Even he would be reluctant to grant anyone that kind of hold over his mind. The possibility someone here could have psychic powers wasn't zero, but he really had no way of proving it wasn't just a trick of some sort. She had to know that, right?]

I know how dubious of a proposition that is, but you'd just have to trust me. And as much as I'd like to prove I wouldn't take advantage of that connection, I can't think of any way to prove it. So if you'd like to reconsider, now is the time.

[Well, he hasn't given her a reason not to trust him, and he's been honest with her so far. While the thought of someone accessing her mind does give her a moment of pause, she decides that it won't be like what Ares did; he had invaded her mind to show her his truth, aided by the Lasso. This will be a connection forged willingly.

She's determined, and it's apparent on her face.]

I trust you.

[She says it so simply, as if it's bygone fact. One of Diana's greatest strengths is her belief in the inherent goodness in people (it just so happens to occasionally also be her greatest weakness). Right now though, she feels confident in this choice. And if anything does go awry, well, she was able to resist Ares' influence; she can't imagine anyone being more powerful than that.]

How do I give you access to my mind?

You'll know when the time comes. It's difficult to put into words. Still, the best attempt I've heard so far is that it's almost like giving a tour to an intrusive thought.

[He hadn't exactly heard many descriptions to begin with--none useful at least, most feedback had been "that was weird" or something close enough to it--but that didn't mean he liked it any less. Besides, it wasn't that far off when it came to describing the extent of his ability to force his way into someone's thoughts...and that gave him an idea. Something that should make it easier for Diana to assist, while hopefully providing some means of reassurance in the process.]

Fortunately, I'm better at guarding my own mind than dominating someone else's, so it shouldn't take you long.

I'm going to try to force you to share trivial information. Once you feel your thoughts guided in any particular direction, try to sense anything unfamiliar behind the pressure. Once you've found it, try to...negotiate with it, for lack of a better word.

[The goal wasn't to see what he could pry out of her, but to force Diana to recall things so uselessly specific that she'd have the best possible chance of successfully completing the connection. Something that would also be a boon to Diana, since the worst-case scenario meant Nox would only learn such damning secrets as what her third favorite mug looked like. Or the most common car color she'd seen last week.

Once Diana did complete the connection was when he would change from trying to dominate her mind to trying to guide it instead. To better teach her how to start taking the first steps with senses that weren't her own and in just what directions those steps could take her. He wouldn't tell Diana what she should look for, but introduce examples of what she could look for.

It could be as simple as connecting to the living Force and becoming intimately aware of every last form of life all around her until she could literally feel the growth of new leaves. Or knowing just how many people were in the building, as well as where each and every last one of them was. She could even try to sense how her presence felt to Nox and compare how her presence felt compared to the man loitering by the door on the floor below them. Or just what Nox had meant when he said he could tell she wasn't human, and how she possessed a greatly outsized presence for her size--not unlike finding the power and ferocity of a bull rancor in the body of a child. Nox couldn't sense why she felt that way, or even what an Amazon was, but there would be no question that Diana's presence was something large enough--and, potentially, dangerous enough--that no sane person would ignore it.

It was up to Diana just what she'd focus on, Nox was just serving as a relay of sorts. But the one thing he would always make certain of was that his own presence remained hidden. Suddenly exposing someone to the Dark Side when they couldn't possibly guard against it was already a terrible idea, but something told him it was an even worse idea now. Whatever an Amazon was, he was in no hurry to learn what they were like when driven mad.]

[Despite the lack of guidance, Diana readies herself as best she can. While Amazon warriors do focus on training their bodies, for the most part, there is still a spiritual and mental element to their training. So she focuses her mind inward, centering herself as much as she can as she waits for him to do whatever it is he's going to do.

It isn't long before she feels... something at the edges of her mind. It pushes, and her instinct is to push back--but she remembers his words, and does her best to "negotiate." She finds it incredibly difficult not to just try and force the feeling from her mind, but eventually figures out how to let it in, just a little, by focusing on something outside of herself, as a distraction. She pictures her horses, rescued and now living peacefully on her ranch in Kansas. She thinks of how she spent the morning riding one of them--Ariadne--and how it had made her feel closer to home. To Themyscira.

It seems to do the trick. The feeling eases, becomes more of a tug than a push. So she follows it, trying to suppress her urge to go against it. It's in her nature to fight, but she delves deep within her mind, grabs hold of five thousand years' worth of discipline, and harnesses it in this moment. Finally, she is able to follow where the feeling leads.

For the smallest sliver of time, she thinks she can feel everything. All around her is life, pulsing in the party behind them and in the world outside. She can only hold on to it for a few brief moments, but it feels as if a millennia goes by; it's the only way she can conceptualize what she's feeling. Is this what it is to feel as a god does? To be aware of all that surrounds you? She doesn't think he's a god; she's spent enough time around others now to recognize a certain tang of magic, of power that clings to them. No, he's something else. But his power is no less extraordinary.

When it feels as if she can no longer take in any more information about the life around them, she pushes back against the current of their connection, trying to break it. Not out of fear or mistrust, but simply because she doesn't think she can absorb anything more right now.]

[Nox's mind had been so occupied trying to sense her intent and relay the sensations accordingly that he'd tried doing the same with her attempt to push back against the connection.

Something that wasn't the brightest of ideas, though fortunately it didn't prove to be a particularly dangerous one. For her part, Diana's mind was separated from his without any issue. For Nox's part, however, he was left momentarily disoriented as he tried to relay the need to break the connection to someone who had already done so.

Something that had very quickly resulted in a new kind of headache, one he'd never known existed until now.]

For the record, in the event I ever need to do that again, you can still speak if it becomes too much. My other senses still work, and it's not an insult.

[He'd left the "So please never do that again" unsaid, but, well. He wasn't going for subtlety, here.

What he was doing was trying to was get his own thoughts in order after what felt like the telepathic equivalent of audio feedback. Fortunately, he could probably afford to leave Diana alone for a moment to process while he took a seat on the nearest bench to try quieting the ghosts inside his head who had been more than a little eager to exploit the opportunity he'd unwittingly given them. Thankfully, it would take a great deal more than this to actually set any of them loose.]

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( open ) surrender all your dreams to me tonight

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