not_a_troll | IC Appointments [Luceti]

[Loki feels particulary mischievous today so...]

You have reached the answering machine of Loki Laufeyson, god of great mischief, leave a message after the beep.

BEEEEEP

[Luke can probably hear him snort.]

[Luke is in no mood for nonsense. He reaches out with the Force and directly contacts the boy. He can reject the call if he likes, but that would just prompt Luke to seek him out.]

That's not funny.

It is funny. Hence I am laughing.

[He is not rejecting the call, not yet.]

What urgent business do you need to discuss with me? And if we meet in person, am I allowed to hold your lightsaber?

It concerns a potential conflict in the village. And I suppose.

[A conflict in the village? Loki raises his eyebrows. Has he done something? Or did someone else do something?

Loki moves from his bed to the cupboard on the other side of his bedroom and starts to pick out some clothes.]

You wish me to solve this conflict?

[Its pretty cool Luke Skywalker asks him to solve a conflict...]

Where shall we meet?

I think your involvement would help, yes.

And why don't we meet at the Battle Dome?

[Loki is quite curious, actually.]

Of course. I shall appear clothed in my civvies.

[That means he'll put on the pair of jeans he has gotten from the shop. And a big sweater and a warm coat.]

Please disappear out of my head now, yes?

[So Loki heads out for the Battle Dome, deciding to leave Thori home this time since this is going to be a very serious conversation about a very serious subject...]

[Luke was waiting for the boy, leaning casually against the door of the dome. He'd set up a simulation for a private room, mimicking a hall in the Jedi Praxeum for the boy to play with a lightsaber before they began in earnest.

He saluted, expression calm and impassive.]

Good afternoon, Loki.

[The only thing about the Battle Dome that interests Loki is the ability to create certain simulations. After all, he knows he is not cut out for battle.

Loki waves, grinning broadly before greets Luke exactly the same way.]

Good afternoon, Luke Skywalker.

[He stops right in front of him, hands tucked away in his pockets.]

This is an odd place for a private, difficult conversation of great importance. Yet, I shall respect your decision.

[Luke nods, waving a hand for the boy to follow.]

You wanted to hold a lightsaber, I've set up a simulation so you can practice with one safely. You can use it anytime you'd like, I can show you the program.

[He taps out a command and heads into the simulation room, a large stone room with a wooden table covered in lightsabers resting at the center.]

Aye!

[Loki's smile broadens at that.]

Ah, how you spoil me rotten, Luke Skywalker.

[He follows him eagerly and nods.]

Is this a Yule present of the very early kind?

Yea, it is.

[He reaches out to the table and tosses the boy a lightsaber.]

Merry Life Day, Loki.

[Loki catches the lightsaber and well, god of mischief or not, he is also still a child and it shows.]

Merry Yule, Luke!

[He activates it and stares at it, eyes wide.]

Such a formidable weapon! May I keep it?

[Yes, Loki is fully aware that he is pushing it now.]

It will only work inside the simulation. But you can come here as often as you'd like. I don't have a spare.

Alas, alas.

[Loki shakes his head shortly and proceeds to take on 'epic battle poses' before swinging the lightsaber around.]

Then I shall make use of that.

[It is obvious that Loki really likes the buzzing sound the lightsaber makes. But eventually he stops, looking the other in the eye.]

But I am certain that playing around with lightsabers is not the true purpose of this gathering, right?

Or might it be an attempt to win my trust for the upcoming conversation?

No, it isn't the purpose of the meeting, no. You asked to hold a lightsaber, though, and I agreed. So, I'm honoring my agreement.

[He actually puts a tiny bit more emphasis on the last word as he speaks, and then he takes a seat.]

And no, it isn't. I know how difficult it is to trust a relative stranger. But I'd prefer it if you'd hear me out before making judgments about my intentions.

[Luke's tone remains even and calm, gesturing to another chair.]

Have a seat, and let's talk.

[Loki lowers the lightsaber he is holding. He notices the emphasis on the word 'agreement' and makes a mental note of that. For a possible conflict an agreement would be necessary, of course.

He places the lightsaber back on the table and slides into the offered chair.]

Trust is a difficult matter alltogether.

[He gestures at Luke.]

Do tell.

Very well, I'll be straightforward.

[Luke breathes out a long sigh]

Why is it that you have been telling others that your older self is evil? Surely you realize that this is going to be a source of conflict between the two of you, and that it will accomplish nothing good.

[Oh...Oh...]

Why is it that my older self sends others to reprimand me about this?

[The playful look on Loki's face has completely disappeared and he frowns now.]

It was a small slip of the tongue when talking to a fellow called Spock. I am fairly sure my dear older self refers to me as a deluded fool when talking to others.

[Frankly, Loki finds himself flabbergasted. For his older self to give himself away like that.]

Edited 2013-01-01 17:10 (UTC)

Actually, it was my idea. Your older self thought it was strange that I felt it necessary to say something.

[Luke rests his arms on the table, giving the boy a look.]

I was playing around with illusions, and I made one of you, and he reacted poorly. I felt that it would be wise to speak to both of you, in order to resolve a conflict before it escalated beyond bad feelings.

And no, he doesn't refer to you as a deluded fool.

[The look on Loki's face is rather blank but he is wary. Very wary.]

Why did you conjure an illusion of me?

[A shrug.]

And he does. But it does not matter.

[Luke felt that wariness through the Force, reading the boys emotions as easily as he'd read the older Loki's. The Force was a potent ally when it came to such talks after all.]

To gauge his reaction. He'd never spoken of you to me, though you spoke of him to me. I thought there might be tension. And there is. Clearly.

[Luke fixes the boy with a stare]

It does. Spreading rumors and staring tension is going to lead down a bad road. When anyone gets frustrated with something, very often it gets taken out on those around them. That is something we can ill-afford here.

I have not done such a thing.

[But he obviously did. The only thing is that he did not expect that his older self would take so much offense.

And something about this is quite...frustrating]

I will take Saori's words to heart and refrain from any contact with him. Send him my most sincere apologies. And of course it won't happen again, yes?

[He isn't sincere at all. More frustrated and wary.]

My older self is most definitely not evil. I hope that has been enough to undo my terrible, terrible mistake.

[Luke's eyes narrowed, he was not appreciating the lies, and he makes it plain that he can tell the boy is lying.]

Loki, you must realize that your older self is not entirely stable. And takes offense to things fairly easily. And that he is dangerous. And not only to you. He's got a lot of power, and he's got a lot of anger. You're obviously familiar with Star Wars enough to know that anger leads nowhere good. But I do not think that apologizing insincerely to him via proxy would be enough to quell that frustration. Frustration that could get our friends hurt. Loki sends time with Adele, who is like family to me. Not to mention Obi-Wan, Sabriel, and my girlfriend Ami.

[Luke pointedly emphasizes his own interest in the situation to drive home his words and vested interest in keeping peace]

What happens if some minor incident balloons into him taking it out his compounded frustration with you on them? I'd be forced to intervene then, as I am now.

No, I'd like for the two of you to sit down and speak, come to an arrangement. With a mediator. Perhaps more than one. Your older self has agreed to such a meeting.

[The look on Loki's face remains blank, eyes focused on Luke's face. On the inside he feels his anger growing.

Such a small slip of the tongue, such consequences. And of course blackmail is nothing more than one of those consequences. This village has more things in common with Asgardia than Loki would have thought.]

Blackmail does not befit a Jedi.

[And turning his back on all these people...some he knows, some he doesn't know. That is wrong. Yet, it is most unfair. It is unfair that he gets the blame.

Yet, life has been rather unfair to Loki Laufeyson in particular.]

What my older self does to others is beyond my control. How can you hold me responsible for the acts he might commit?

What if this negotiation ends up in another disagreement? What if it does not take away his frustration?

He is not me.

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