( 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

[hevenly]

I will not accept their offerings of protection or aid without better understanding what they ask of me in return.

[ That's a no. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ fair enough. loki didn't really care. and he thought it was funny. ]

They are rather vague about it.

[hevenly]

Have they asked for anything of you so far?

[dothelokimotion]

[ he shakes his head. ]

They ask for some payments from the theatre, but that's all.

[hevenly]

[ She nods, tearing off a piece of cotton candy and eating it. Its sweetness it almost sickening, but it's light enough that Angela doesn't care. ]

Is the theater doing well, then? I have enjoyed your performances so far.

[dothelokimotion]

It's not the most popular place, but we've carved a niche with the locals.

[ he smiles faintly. ]

It's strange to be known as an owner and not the God of Mischief.

[hevenly]

[ She returns the smile. ]

I imagine it must be. But I think the others have that covered.

[dothelokimotion]

True. It's probably best for me to remain in the background.

[hevenly]

[ A chuckle. ]

As "in the background" as one can be, when owning a large theater production company.

[dothelokimotion]

Please, it's nothing compared to my usual antics.

[hevenly]

You'll have to be more specific.

[ She can probably guess from just her knowledge of her own brother, what sort of antics this Loki may have gotten up to, but she is uncertain how closely their worlds are in parallel. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ ah. he pauses. ]

Causing tricks, mayhem, disorder?

[hevenly]

[ Loki. If anything, that is less specific. ]

Mhmm.

[dothelokimotion]

Robbing a bank, taking over worlds . . . starting a prison riot?

[hevenly]

[ There it is.

Angela nods, eating another piece of cotton candy. ]

That sounds about like what I would expect.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki mutters under his breath. ]

My point was I don't do that anymore. . . . Recently, at least.

[hevenly]

No. You've moved on to more honest work. And you've done well for yourself at that.

[ She isn't going to outright say that she's proud of him, that would be too on the nose. But the sentiment is there. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki hesitates for a moment. ]

You don't think it makes me less of a Loki?

[hevenly]

[ She regards him, then says, ]

I think whatever you do, it will be Loki doing it. So how could it make you less of yourself?

[dothelokimotion]

[ wow don't call him out like that. his gaze skitters for a moment. ]

I never thought about it until I came here. It's not the easiest thing to confront other versions of yourself.

[hevenly]

[ She'll allow him to look away as much as he needs, simply eating her cotton candy until he's ready. ]

Mm. It is something I have yet to encounter. [ There don't seem to be any other Aldrifs out there in the multiverse. But perhaps that is because there are no human stories about her. ] But I have confronted enough remnants of the different aspects of my past to get a sense of what it must be like.

[dothelokimotion]

Mmm.

I've . . . made the acquaintance of someone. Who knew me from another reality. And seems very convinced I'm the same. He . . . sees me and it was very confusing at first. I wanted to be that. So he could want me.

[ loki pulls a strand of the cotton candy and eats it slowly. best way to pretend he didn't spew his feelings. ]

[hevenly]

[ The sudden admission surprises Angela. She did not think of Loki as being so candid with his feelings, unless he is somehow forced to be.

But... This is a positive turn, so she won't question it. ]

What sort of reality does he come from, to know you as you are, yet you do not know him?

[dothelokimotion]

Some islands that were ruled by a God, apparently.

[hevenly]

[ Hang on, that does sound familiar. ]

The Endless Isles?