( OPEN ) it's like i'm looking down

[ikols]

Who: loki ikols
What: those who contacted loki about wanting to figure out their universal designation via his new spell are undergoing it
When: [sliding timeline]
Where: central city park & other locations
Content Warnings: tba

[ Away from others in a pleasant little aesthetically cultivated grove, Loki has draped his coat over a boulder and has his sleeves rolled up as he awaits those with appointments to undergo his new spell. He warned them of the unpleasant side-effects (re-living the best and worst moments of their life) and he has a little bag stuffed with pain-killers, bottles of water, tissues, chocolate biscuits for sugar crashers??? He doesn't know how some may react but assumes that anyone who knows what they might experience feels it is a price worth paying to learn their universal designation.

When you arrive, he hitches up a smile and beckons you over under the dappled sunlight. ]

There you are!

Comments

[portolan]

[ The word home only conjures up images of his apartment here, and long afternoons with David or even Peter and Eddie. Well, that's something he'll need to dig through after this is over.

For now, he corrects his mind to Ivalice. He thinks of the markets in Rabanastre, the thick humid air of the Golmore Jungle, and even turns himself to the great libraries and parties of Archades. Ah, he does miss the parties, though that had been true even before he left.

And very briefly, he turns his mind to a hard-eyed princess he'd been very deeply in love with, and the bittersweet memory of never telling her in as many words even as he shared his past and his convictions that she could change their world. He'd gone into battle for her -- beside her. He should have told her. Shouldn't have been such a coward. And he keeps himself from softening that thought, lest he lose focus on Ivalice again. ]

[ikols]

Better.

[ His spell strengthens as it feeds on the echoes of a foreign universe, billowing in stronger green lights as Balthier gives it what it needs. Whatever is going through the man's mind is working and the final symbols attributing a universe's soul coalesce above his head. ]

FF-XII. That's where you're from. [ Loki's glowing hands lower to let Balthier out of the spell but hold the designation in place for him to see. Smugly pleased with himself, Loki cocks his chin toward it. ] Take a look.

[portolan]

[ Something feels like it separates magically, but perhaps it's just the temperature returning to normal. He opens his eyes at Loki's beckoning, curious at the letters floating before him. ]

Are they usually a collection of letters? Also that was significantly less unpleasant than I feared. Were you being nice to me or am I just impervious to misery?

[ikols]

I was absolutely not trying to be nice, fear not. That's what the spell peeled out of your, ah, soul. Bit of a dramatic way to put it but, essentially.

[ He dusts off his hands, magic winking out of existence, and the numbers follow Balthier around for a few seconds before they too vanish. Loki records the designation on his phone. ]

You all good? Not going to hurl?

[portolan]

[ Interesting. Maybe having already relived the worst of these two days ago had taken some sting out of them. ]

Strange mentioned the magical training on my world seemed to make me less prone to ill effects of it here. Not complaining.

[ He feels tired -- and will continue to feel wrung out as the day goes on -- but otherwise fine. ]

A little hungry.

You are going to show me this map when you've got it compiled, yes? I am going to ask incessantly.

[ikols]

[ After rooting the packet of biscuits out of his bag, he tosses them over. ]

That's good to know, what Strange said. And of course, it's a map for everyone ... Stark stole it but he won't have my upgrades, so don't mention them to him.

[portolan]

[ He catches the biscuits, nodding his thanks. ]

I don't know Stark and I don't spill secrets for friends. I'll see you this weekend.

[ He pauses. They're not close, but-- ]

There's something different to you today. More...sparkle in your eyes.

[ikols]

I had a shower.

[ Don't be so nosy, wow!! ]

[portolan]

[ He laughs. Okay, sir. ]

Showers agree with you. You should have them more often.

[ Bye, Loki. ]