( open to all ) all the world's a stage

[dothelokimotion]

Who: Open to All
What: Party @ The Opherium
When: August
Where: Central City
Content Warnings: N/A



( i. here for your entertainment )

[ most people would see the strange arrivals as an imposition. and loki does to some degree. that being said, he’s more than willing to turn that problem into a business opportunity. show that he’s open and welcoming. throw in a little extra money to establish the theater as a prominent spot in this world. the doors are open, fees are reduced. and if you’re not interested in catching a play, you might want to stop by the steps where there are a few vendors selling cotton candy, ice-cream sandwiches and beer to passersby and there are a few street performers there to catch your attention, whether they’re juggling fire balls, doing magic tricks or simply playing a pianoforte on the steps of the opherium. ]

( ii. the curtain rises )

[ for this month, loki is running a bunch of shakespearean plays. hamlet, macbeth, the twelfth night . . . you name it, it’s probably running. during the intermissions, there’s an open bar for you to rub elbows with the other patrons, maybe discuss your favourite part of the play. enjoy the arts so to speak. if you catch the really late night shows, you might find that your favourite plays might . . . turn out a little differently. like the trees are real in macbeth. that the ghosts move through the audience, sending chills down your spine. but the experience is still worth it. or is it?

or perhaps, you might need some alone time after a show, wanting to catch the infamous view of the city from the opherium's balcony. the choice is yours. ]

( iii. something wicked this way comes )

[ the theater keeps up odd hours. its productions run late into the night. and sometimes, you might feel the urge to linger and explore. after all, it’s strange to hear that a god of mischief is running a theater these days. almost suspicious even! so you might be wandering the halls, ears and eyes peeled to hear anything that might be unusual.

and you might just get your wish. a ghostly murmur, the flicker of a shadow against the pane of glass, statues that seem to be unnerving with their gaze upon you . . . is there something really there or are you just imagining things? ]

Comments

[qualityfriend]

That's not surprising. It's a pretty human thing. Maybe also just American. But definitely not what I'd expect to be part of a god's childhood. It's not actual magic, after all.

[dothelokimotion]

Well, I gathered that much.

Still, it seems it takes a fine hand to make this spun sugar.

[qualityfriend]

That's why they use a machine, it's too finicky for hands. I think.

[She frowns in thought and fishes her phone out of her purse.]

[dothelokimotion]

No less creative, though.

[ or loki just likes the idea. he has a bit of a sweet tooth. ]

[qualityfriend]

Oh, yeah. We love creating candies.

[She's tapping at her phone and eventually finds what she's looking for. After a minute reading, she looks up.]

Seems like it's always been made by machine.

[dothelokimotion]

Shame. But I suppose it's still enjoyable.

[qualityfriend]

Definitely. And we've gotten really creative with it. There are multiple flavors now, and you don't have to buy it fresh. It's usually best fresh, when it's still warm.

[dothelokimotion]

Then you should indulge. While you can.

[qualityfriend]

I intend to. [She fishes some money out of her purse.] At least it's something I can afford.

[dothelokimotion]

Street food often is.

[qualityfriend]

Right up until it becomes popular with the tourists and the price goes up. [She makes a face.] Of course, the locals know where to get the cheap but good stuff from word of mouth, but I'm not a local. And not going to be included in any word of mouth circles any time soon.

[She chokes up a little as she says that and turns her face away, in case she's starting to tear up.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ . . . he feels like he's missing some context. ]

Having troubles?

[qualityfriend]

The same ones we're all having. Being blamed for people disappearing and all the weirdness.

[dothelokimotion]

[ ah, that. loki had been avoiding most of it, caught up in maintaining the theatre and whatnot. he has no doubt that sort of trouble will darken his doorstep, but he can ignore it for now. ]

Narrow-minded people like to rouse themselves over nothing.

[qualityfriend]

I know. I've seen it at home. But now I'm one of the targets, and far from home, and almost everyone is a stranger.

[Definitely got some tears going now.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ er. he's definitely not the best person to be involved here. ]

Surely you have friends of your own here. People who would support you.

[qualityfriend]

[Wiping her eyes.]

I do. I'm really lucky, really; my boyfriend was already here. And there are a lot of heroes from my world, even from my own city.

I'm sorry. I came here to relax and forget about everything for a while, and I end up thinking all about it...

[dothelokimotion]

It seems as though it's been weighing on you for some time.

[ not a spur of the moment feeling, at least. ]

[qualityfriend]

Since- since the sky cracked and everyone started blaming us. Before then I was more worried about not being a hero. Well, and trying to get settled in a strange city with no support network.

[dothelokimotion]

Are you afraid of getting hurt?

[qualityfriend]

Getting hurt, getting in the way, failing... or of becoming a villain. That seems to happen to most civilians who get powers, at least where I'm from.

[dothelokimotion]

Perhaps the best way to combat those fears is to decide who you want to be in a place like this. And stick to it.

[qualityfriend]

I had a plan. I got a job that used my powers, and used it to get money and training. I thought, once I was more confident in them, I'd join a guild, or freelance. And I was improving; I can make it several blocks at once now, it's not as tiring, and I can take more with me.

But- then people started disappearing, and outsiders with powers weren't just curiosities anymore.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki shakes his head slowly. ]

While plans are beneficial, you need to start from the very beginning.

Who is it you wish to be here?

[qualityfriend]

I don't know. Myself? I wasn't even thinking that much about who I wanted to be when I grew up; I still didn't have my college list finalized.