( 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

(closed to stephen)

[ikols]

[ After seeking out Stephen about the spell, Loki appears on the street of the sorcerer's home and walks up to knock on the front door, a bag of Chinese food slung over a shoulder. Rap-rap-rap!

He lets himself in, peering around the atrium with a whistle. ]

Helloooo?

[portolan]

[ Balthier considered bringing his bike, but given the "reliving the worst days of your life" possible side effects, he figured transport that relied on his energy wasn't the best call.

Honestly that part makes him almost change his mind, but he's extremely curious about this sort of map, and he's been a little if not homesick, then extremely aware how different his world is lately. He's curious what that looks like in some spatial-temporal way.

And maybe he's a little afraid if something were to happen, no one would even know where to look for him. So he's here. ]

I'd almost think you were excited to see me.

[ikols]

Almost.

[ He finishes rolling up his sleeves and gestures in front where the sunshine is falling. ]

I hope you ate something.

[portolan]

Little late for that advice.

[ He absolutely ate something, and positions himself where Loki gestures. ]

Should I be concerned I'm going to fall on my ass and you're going to get a good laugh from it?

[ikols]

I would have my phone out, were that the objective.

[ Tony Stark is so lucky he can record things with his eyeballs. ]

Close your eyes and ignore me, the sounds of the park. [ Loki paces around Balthier. ] Think of your favourite memories, the very best, then the very worst if you can. I want you to focus on these events as if they happened yesterday. If you feel anything warm or cold, ignore that too.

[portolan]

[ He supposes that's a fair point, but he has no real grasp on what the limits of magic or technology are here, person to person. Besides, he accepted that risk in coming here.

The instructions are easy enough, similar to his magical studies in his youth -- clearing one's mind, focusing, ignoring side sensations. The worst memory comes easier; it's been on his mind the last few days, bidden or not. At least it has some use today.

He lets it come. Ending his father with his own hand. That face. Not offended, not disappointed. Accepting, like this was all that would ever be. His words -- that Balthier only runs.

The god's influence, gone, and his father's cruelty still there. That was the wound, wasn't it? The one he hadn't dared touch since he'd arrived. That he'd never been enough, never could have been. That it was always going to end that way. That he'd had no choice. That for all his cowardice, he was pulled back in.

If Loki's looking, he'll see the weight of it cross Balthier's face, but he's otherwise stoic. ]

Have you done this before?

[ Not that it changes anything. It's just a deflecting habit. ]

[ikols]

[ Green magic spins from his fingertips like spider-threads and circles Balthier, hair-thin tendrils connecting with him all over his body. The swirling spell rushes and swells, slowing now and then like a relaxing lung filled with emotions, its touch cold whenever a bad memory takes precedence. ]

Absolutely, just keep remembering.

[portolan]

[ He's cold enough to have gooseflesh, but it's of course concealed under long sleeves and pants. He is going to enjoy every last cool day.

He isn't sure if it's the magic or that he's just finally letting the memories out. His mother dying. His relationships falling apart. Being betrayed. The day he was made a Judge. So, so cold.

But there's also Fran's face. The first time she told him he was an idiot -- correct of course -- and stuck with him anyway. There's some warmth in that, a smile even. He absolutely does not fight the flood of memories at just...five years with her. The only person who ever really knew him. Scions, he misses her. ]

[ikols]

[ As the thin threads start to weave together, some float upwards to hover over Balthier's head. At first Loki thinks he's looking at figures, but then they coalesce and he sees two letters forming. That isn't all, but the cold maelstrom around Balthier is too weak to offer up any more tendrils for Loki to weave any sense out of.

The copse of trees rustles with a magical breeze, stirred by the spell and sprinkling sunshine on them like golden spots through the boughs overhead. ]

... Good times, think more of those. That's it.

magicccccc

[portolan]

[ There is no reluctance in listening to that instruction. If anything there's relief that it's easy to do so; he's been so worried that dipping into bad memories will tip him into a hole from which there's no escape. But that didn't happen last week, and it's not happening today.

He thinks to making art with his mother on lazy weekend mornings. Of classes with his boyhood friends. The fist time he went flying. Stealing the Strahl. He and Fran browsing markets in a hundred different towns.

A memory catches, pulling him in. He was still an early pirate, no good at it, embarrassed by that, actually. But he'd had his first real successful job. It was the first time he'd been Balthier, really. And he'd been asked to stay, encouraged even. Nothing to influence their opinion -- no family ties or wealth or politics, just his damn mouth and tenacity.

Warmth spreads in his chest, and a smile takes over his face. In pushing down the bad, he's forgotten that part; he seems to always find his favorite people when he's at his lowest. Which of course brings David to mind. He tries not to focus too much on that, since he's supposedto be thinking of home, but his smile widens.

[ikols]

[ The spell snags on Balthier, in him, but it's warm and comforting instead of the icy breath that it replaced, and the markings start to tangle together into coherent shapes above his head with greater speed as Loki captures glowing threads. The last one keeps losing its shape and he frowns, eyeing Balthier's expression. ]

Your mind is drifting, think of your world, your home.

[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?

[rehandle]

[ It takes a minute for him to appear at the top of the stairs, summoned more by the unmissable surfeit of magic approaching then entering the building than the voice that the house carries to him in spite of the floors that separate them.

In lieu of a greeting, a quick come on tilt of his head. ]

Come up. We can eat in the study.

[ The study that remains fortified against external magical detection from the time he needed to keep a handful of guests a secret from the kid they were about to exorcise. It's a handy nook for when he wants a little privacy. ]

[ikols]

[ Loki's boots clack on the hardwood as he follows up the stairs. ]

I would try something droll like "so how many skeletons do you have in your closet now" but I feel like I would get an actual number. [ Trot, trot, trot! He catches up soon enough with long strides, attention roaming onto Stephen. ] Do you want to eat before or after?

[ ... He has to waggle his brows, it's too easy. ]

[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. ]

[kid_flash_found]

Bart doesn't really know what to expect from something like a multiverse location detection spell or whatever the guy is calling it, but if it helps the people who want to go home find a way, or at least find a place to settle, he can't see a reason not to try. Even if he does have a bad track record with magic.

So he blurs to a halt with only a slight gust announcing his appearance, but in t-shirt and jeans instead of his uniform.

"So, when you say this will have unpleasant side-effects, what exactly did you mean?"

[kindofamazing]

[It would be a lie if Peter said he had zero apprehensions about all this because he has a lot. He's gone through a fair few trials in life, both before and after becoming Spider-Man, and there are some things he knows will be hard to face again as part of this process.

The thing that makes this all feel like something he very much wants and needs to undergo is Loki and the prospect of future-proofing them against the whims of a fickle and cruel multiverse.

And when he sees Loki there, all dotted and glittering in gold from the sun through the leaves, any nerves just melt away as he smiles back and hunches his shoulders up toward his ears.]

Here I am. And here you are.

[ikols]

Sheeeeesh, speedsters. Who needs them?

"Hello to you too, Bart."

Totally not startled, at all, nope. Loki waves him into the middle of the grove and starts asking questions.

"You might barf if the memories stress your body out, so have you eaten or do you need to?"