#we live in a sacred timeline

[oswildin]

He Needs You (Loki x GN!Reader) - SHORT

Summary: Loki knows what he must do. But before he does… He has to make sure you aren’t alone. The person who changed everything.

A/N: Set during ‘Loki’ S2 EP6, inspired by ‘Journey’s End’ from Doctor Who.

Loki took a breath, stepping through the time door with you beside him. He’d lied. Of course, he did. But at least this time, it was for a good reason. Something other than self-preservation. No, this was for you. For the person who had changed… Well…

Everything.

Your brows furrowed as you stepped out onto the other side of the time door, no longer in the TVA, and not where you expected to be either. Loki had told you that you both needed to go somewhere, somewhere that could help you all prevent the meltdown of the Loom. But where you stood… Didn’t seem likely for such help. It was a gilded hallway, somewhere that looked rich, royal even.

“Where are we?” You asked, turning to glance up at him, noticing his almost solemn expression. His own blue eyes were taking everything in, a place he knew he would never see again. With a slight wave his of hand, both of you became invisible to the naked eye, shrouded in shadow, hidden away from any passers by. Loki didn’t say anything, gaze drifting to you for a moment before he finally spoke.

“This way.” He said lowly, taking a few steps forwards, leading the way through the grandiose hallway. You blink, glancing around before following after him, your footsteps echoing off the walls quietly as you did so. What was going on? Where were you?

“Loki, where are we?” You repeated your question, the sound of his name almost intimate on your tongue. Loki let out a quiet breath, hands clasped at his sides as the fabric of his peacoat faintly made sound as he walked. Still, he was silent. That worried you. Loki was never quiet. “You’re starting to worry me.” You murmured, seeing the look of resolution, regret and sadness on his face.

“Don’t be.” Loki murmured in return, sparing you a glance, his voice soft as he tried to reassure you. Or himself, he wasn’t entirely sure. You reserved the urge to quip something sarcastic in response, the God slowing his steps as you reached a slightly ajar large golden door. It was then that you began to put the pieces together of where you were.

“Asgard.” You breathed out, brows creasing in confusion. Loki stilled, his eyes flicking to the floor. “We’re on Asgard, aren’t we?” Silence. “Why?” Loki didn’t say anything, simply lifting a hand, gesturing towards the ajar door, silently telling you to take a look. Raising a brow, you stepped forwards, peaking through the crack. What you saw, made your heart race, confusion wash over you…

There stood Loki.

His profile facing you as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, an almost… troubled look on his face. His hair was longer, brushing just past his shoulders, features sharper than the Loki beside you. He looked… weary.

“I don’t- I don’t understand.” You whispered, shaking your head, turning to look up at your Loki. He met your gaze, lips slightly downturned, eyes glassy. Your lips parted as you tried to search for an answer in the silence. “What is this?”

“That’s me.” Loki confirmed with a small nod, his voice low. “What would’ve been me…” He began to explain softly. “The life I would’ve lived on what was the Sacred Timeline.” He paused, eyes searching yours. He took a slow breath, hands moving in front of him slowly. “He… is lost.” His words were barely above a whisper. “Realising that… Power, control… a throne…” He sighed. “Are not enough to fill the hollowness in his heart.” He looked towards the gap in the door, seeing his would’ve been future-self pacing.

“But… why… why are we here? I don’t understand.” You stuttered out, feeling your heartbeat quicken as if you knew. You didn’t, but your heart reacted as if you did. Loki closed his eyes, hands falling back to his sides lamely, jaw tensing briefly as he tried to keep his composure.

“I know… what I have to do.” Loki said lowly, determined. “And that means…” He met your gaze again, his brows furrowing in sorrow. “That I won’t be around anymore.” His words hit you like a blow to the chest, panic setting in. He could see it in your face, the fear, his hands moving to your shoulders to ground you. “I have to… make something better.” His voice stayed soft, even as his eyes glistened.

“Please.” You whispered, emotion clear as day. It broke Loki’s heart, something that had happened only a handful of times in his long life. One of Loki’s hands moved from your shoulder to the side of your face, cupping your cheek as you leaned into his touch, closing your eyes, savouring the sensation.

“I’m giving you a chance.” Loki spoke, fighting to stop his voice from failing him. He took a sharp breath, or a sniffle, he wasn’t quite sure. Your eyes opened, brows furrowing. “A chance of a life… that we… We aren’t so lucky to have.” He gave a tearful, solemn smile, it was tiny, not quite reaching his eyes. “With him.”

Your mind raced at his words, lips parting, the furrow in your brow increasing. Your gaze flickered around, a physical show of your mind as Loki’s thumb brushed your cheekbone lightly.

“He’s… known war, loss, betrayal…” Loki continued, ducking his head slightly to meet your eyes. “He’s further along in his timeline, he’s still searching for his ‘glorious’ purpose-“

“He doesn’t know me.” You interrupted, blinking, the words hurting to say. Loki gave an understanding look, nodding faintly.

“Not yet.” He told you softly. “But he should.”

“But he’s not you.” A tear finally escaped your eye, you hadn’t even realised they had been forming, too wrapped up in what was happening. Loki let out a shaky breath, his own heart aching alongside yours. He took a step closer, holding your gaze. He leaned closer, his lips pressing against your forehead tenderly, his own eyes closing, savouring the feeling. He lingered, feeling a trickle of wet escape his own eye, slowly descending his cheek.

“He needs you.” Loki whispered against your skin, before pulling back slightly to meet your eyes again. “And that’s very me.” He gave the faintest of smiles, melancholy… bittersweet.

#loki x reader #loki laufeyson x reader #loki #loki laufeyson #loki imagine #loki fanfic #loki marvel #marvel x reader #mcu x reader #loki x you

[loki-is-my-kink-awakening]

Okay, I wanna talk about this scene and what it might mean for Loki and Mobius in S2.

Sure, they stood here so Loki could point at the panel showing all the Kangs fighting, and the full mural is meant to be the story of how the Time Keepers created order out of chaos, but what if it also means something else.

Let's look at Mobius first, then Loki.

Mobius POV

Mobius is standing with his back to a panel representing chaos and looking at one that represents order, showing the Time Keepers appearing as gods to shocked people below. Seems very religious and mythological, right?

"If you think too hard about where any of us came from, who we truly are, it sounds kinda ridiculous."

Mobius had always believed in order and that what the TVA were doing, ripping people from their lives, was necessary.

He also has previously likened Loki's origins, which is literal mythology in mcu form, as similar to his own experiences in the TVA.

What he isn't aware of is who exactly was behind the curtain or that all-out war is coming. That's something Loki reveals to Mobius, showing him the truth in his blindspot (the panel behind him).

Now, he knows the Time Keepers are fake, that he wasn't created by them. By this point in the episode, he's already acknowledged to B-15 that their gods are dead.

This revelation for Mobius feels pretty similar to how the truth was revealed to Loki in S1E1.

Mobius is also looking at a panicked Loki. He's seen him teary-eyed before, but not this distressed.

What Mobius sees before him is his fear, that Loki won't be able to escape the bonds of the sacred timeline, that he's doomed to die, and that pains him.

And one last thing. Loki is a god of mischief, and I can't help thinking about the comparison of a real god Mobius can see in front of him and the fake Time Keepers in the panel behind Loki.

Loki POV

Meanwhile, Loki is looking at chaos that scares him. The panel has several Kangs all fighting for supremacy in a pose that was similar to that shown by Kang in S1E6.

Loki is the god of mischief, who thrives on chaos, and yet the prospect of all these Kangs frightens him.

War is the only thing preoccuping his mind. It's the only thing he can see.

But behind him are the Time Keepers, and we know they are fake, but what if the truth Loki has to face is that while he no longer wants a throne, he might need to take it to save the people he cares for, his found family.

Loki is looking at Mobius, who's concerned about him and a little rattled, but ultimately keeping his calm. I think this calm is likely to fracture the more season 2 progresses.

What Loki sees before him is his fear, that Mobius will be caught up in the war and lost to him. It's a reminder of what's at stake if he doesn't restore order. And he's already experienced a Mobius who didn't know him, and that was heartbreaking.

What this scene also does is continue both Loki and Mobius being mirrors for each other, revealing truth and reflecting one another.

They are similar to each other in many ways. We saw glimpses of Mobius embracing chaos in S1, which I always love to see. And I can't wait to see more of these soulmates. They are important to one another.

Thanks to @lgwilt and @insert-witty-user-name-here for discussing this theory with me. I added in your glorious insights because what you said really resonated with me.

And I haven't even spoken about all the touching, that Mobius doesn't want to lose Loki and Loki is just so desperate to get to Mobius, but I think other people have covered that.

And just a wee note to everyone that this is just me theorising, and usually my theories do not happen, but I couldn't help pondering if this mural had an even deeper meaning. I just like theorising for fun.

Hopefully, the above made some sort of sense.

#loki series #loki #mobius #lokius #loki tv #loki show #loki s2 #loki season 2 #loki x mobius #wowki #loki theory #loki spoilers #not that this necessarily happens but for those who don't want to see any theories too

[loki-cees-all]

Ch. 3 - Against Better Judgement {Against All Odds - TVA!Loki x Female Reader Longfic}

Previous Chapter / AO3 Link / Against All Odds Masterlist / Next Chapter

Pairing : TVA!Loki x Female Reader

Summary : You take Loki home, hoping that spending time together will make it harder for him to disappear again. Unbeknownst to you, Loki is also trying to get to know you better - but for different reasons entirely.

W/c : 3.7k words

Content / Warnings : A smidgeon of angst, a whole lot of smut (oral - fem. receiving).

Wait, that's backwards - it's a smidgeon of smut (oral - fem. receiving), and a whole lot of angst 😇

18+ Only - Minors DNI

⊱ ── ༓ ── ⋅•⋅⊰ ──  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ∙ ⋅  ── ⊱⋅•⋅ ── ༓ ── ⊰

Date : June 25th, 1977 [Sacred Timeline]

“So…would you like a tour?”

You weren’t sure why you said that; Loki’s lips hadn’t left your neck since stepping out of the taxi downstairs, and it was obvious Loki hadn’t agreed to come home with you because he was curious about the decorations in your flat.

But you were concerned that he was only here for another shag, and that little voice in the back of your mind wouldn’t stop nagging you about it. That you were nothing special, that he didn’t want anything serious. That it really was a coincidence that he’d shown up at the club earlier. That he’d forgotten all about you until he saw you again.

Loki’s hands gripped your ass, pulling you tightly against him as you kicked off your heels. “There’s only one thing I want to see here…and to feel…” he murmured as he picked you up and pressed you against the living room wall.

Your legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, the same way they had the night you met, and you curled your fingers in his hair to pull his face to yours. Loki groaned as your lips met, devouring your mouth like it was going to be the last time he ever kissed you.

Every single kiss with him was like that, burning and desperate and bittersweet in both taste and sensation. As hot as it was, you didn’t understand why it had to be like that - and you were determined to learn more about him tonight.

Maybe that might make it harder for him to go, or maybe so it would be easier to find him later on. That probably wasn’t the best path forward in a healthy relationship, but what else did you have to go on? After all, you didn’t even know what he did for a living…

He pressed his hips against yours, his excitement digging into your inner thigh, and you knew you had him desperate for it - and right where you wanted him. “Against the wall again? Funny, wouldn’t have pegged you as a one trick pony…” you murmured playfully against his lips.

Loki pulled his lips away from yours with a cockeyed grin on his face and amusement blazing in his eyes. “Ohhh. You’re quite cheeky, aren’t you?”

“Depends. Do you like me being cheeky?”

His grip loosened, and so did your legs as he lowered you back down to standing. “I do, yes. So maybe you ought to give me that tour after all?”

Loki brought a hand up to caress your jaw, tilting your gaze up as he pressed another, more gentle, kiss to your lips. “And then perhaps we can find someplace more…suitable…and to your liking, hmm?”

You laughed, and he chuckled along with you. His smile was so loving and intoxicating, and you desperately wanted to be able to see it again the next morning; saving your bedroom for the last stop of the tour would hopefully make that dream a reality.

Sliding your arm along the wall behind you, your fingers finally made contact with the square, brass box housing the light switch. The silver sconces overhead flicked on, illuminating the living area and kitchen in pale, amber light.

Even though he probably didn’t care, you did have a tremendous amount of pride in the way you’d decorated the flat, meticulously picking everything from the shade of paint on the walls to the knickknacks placed carefully on the glass shelves. You’d spent weeks searching for the rug for the dining room, until you found the perfect shade of forest green to pop just right against the golden legs of the dining table and chairs.

But as the lights came on, Loki’s expression changed, shifting from a lustful intention to one that was much more inquisitive and fascinated. His face lit up as he looked around the room, over the colorful paintings that hung upon the cool gray walls, the unassuming carpeted steps that led to the lowered sitting area and its stark white couches.

The dark green tile floor in the kitchen sparkled perfectly, and the city lights of London blazed brilliantly through the glass doors that led to the balcony. Everything was perfect, and exactly where it needed to be - even Loki, who devastatingly re-buttoned his jacket as he started to wander around the space.

“Do you like it? I did most of this myself,” you smiled proudly as he pulled away from your embrace, moving closer to admire the painting above the table. Pleased that he’d noticed that one, you trailed along behind him, arms folded behind your back as you waited for him to speak.

His emerald eyes sparkled as they took in every splash of color in the abstract painting, its shades of blacks and greens crescendoing into blues and purples like a protective canopy of the heavens. You watched his eyes carefully as they widened and narrowed across the canvas, and you wondered if perhaps he owned an art gallery or worked in a museum.

“Did you paint this?” he murmured softly as he traced a finger along the thin, woven branches that served as the painting’s frame.

“I did, yes,” you nodded, smiling wistfully. “It’s silly, but there was this crepe myrtle tree in the backyard where I grew up, and I used to spend hours under that thing. Just reading ,drawing, dreaming…it was my favorite place to be. And this painting is based on that tree.”

“It’s gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous,” he sighed thoughtfully. “You’ve perfectly encapsulated that tree’s essence. I can feel its love - its protection - from here…”

Your eyes filled with tears as you watched him, studying his serene expression just as he studied your art so thoroughly. “My dad actually took thin cuttings off of its branches, and wove them together to construct the frame for me, so I’d always have a part of it wherever I lived.”

“Your father made the frame for you?” Loki glanced over at you, his smile beaming, before turning back to the painting. “That’s incredible. He clearly adores you…”

You tugged on Loki’s arm, eager to show him the rest of the flat - and to tease him a little. “Mhmm. So try not to break my heart, or he’ll come after you…”

“Oh, I’ll be on my best behavior, I promise.” Loki chuckled as he followed you down the hallway to your bedroom, his thumb brushing softly along your palm. “So I take it you and your father are close?”

You tilted your head curiously, laughing a little at the odd question. “Yeah, I guess? I mean, I’m his only daughter, so…”

It wasn’t often that the men you brought home were interested in your family, of all things. But it had to be a good sign, and your heart skipped a beat as you thought about where the evening would end up. It had started off so sullen, and now Loki was here, fresh from your dreams and right inside your home - exactly where you needed him to be.

And while you had no idea what tomorrow morning was going to bring, your confidence that he wouldn’t be able to just disappear again grew with every moment. He’d come back to you once already - now all you needed was to make sure that he’d always come back.

Just as you were about to step into your bedroom, Loki abruptly stopped in the hallway, and you almost pulled your arm out of its socket when you tried to keep going. You let out a noise of surprise - he was heavy, so much heavier than a man given his lithe frame had any right to be. Shocked, you turned to see him looking at the collage of photographs you’d hung on the wall when you first moved in.

No, not just looking - Loki was studying each photograph of your past like they were the evidence of some unspeakable crime that hadn’t happened yet. It was unsettling, and a chill rushed down your spine as you remembered that Brad Wolfe was still missing. That he had disappeared the same night you’d first met Loki…

“Are these your family and friends?” Loki asked, interrupting your thoughts. You cleared your throat and tried to focus on the fact that he was here, and that he was clearly interested in you.

“Uh, yeah - look, I know it’s not hip for a girl in her twenties to have photos of her family on her wall…” You laughed nervously, letting go of Loki’s hand to wrap your arms around yourself. He didn’t seem to notice, too busy focusing on something he either couldn’t, or didn’t want, to say out loud.

“But, yeah, that’s my mum and dad, my siblings…” you answered, pointing to a black and white photo, old and frayed and worn from time. It was from a vacation you’d taken to Osborne when you were nine; the last vacation you’d taken together as a family.

Loki smiled thoughtfully. “Beautiful. Are you…close with them? Your mother and siblings, I mean?”

Your brow furrowed as he stared at you expectantly. That was a question you didn’t really know how to answer without ruining the whole evening. You were standing there, in a sheer catsuit and clearly eager to get him in your bed…was that not why he was here?

“I mean, I’m as close as I can be. I travel a lot for work, and some of them are…really far away, so I don’t always get to see them as much as I’d like…”

You noticed his attention drifting down towards the narrow bookshelf beneath the collection of photographs, his eyes narrowed as he stared at the candelabrum placed on top. Two thin candlesticks were held aloft via asymmetrical and curved pieces of polished brass, and between them stood a slice of exotic green and gold onyx.

Deciphering whether he hated the piece or loved it was almost impossible, but the look in his eyes told you that he recognized it from someplace very far away. You didn’t know what to say or do, baffled by how little sense all this made.

Loki stayed quiet for a moment longer, processing and contemplating some unknown information that only he held. When he spoke again, his voice was so solemn and serious that it took your breath away. “You should hold on to them, as hard as you can…in case something happens…”

The air in your flat instantly changed, freezing into shards of painful memories - not all of them yours. “In case something happens? Why would something be happening to me?”

When Loki caught the dismay on your face, he shook his head and raked a hand through his hair. “I apologize, I didn’t mean for that to sound weird, it’s just - ”

He sighed heavily, as if eons of anguish were weighing him down again, and you suspected that there was no end to the depth of his pain.

“I never had a close relationship with my family…” he continued, despondent and mournful. “And there were times when I needed them. Times when I would have been so much better off if I did have them…”

Your heart shattered as he spoke, but you realized he was finally sharing a part of his life with you. It wasn’t much, but it was enough - and so you stepped closer to him, slipping your fingers between his and murmuring softly. “I’m so sorry about your family, Loki. I don’t know if it helps…but I’m here now…”

A storm erupted in his eyes, and you weren’t sure if it was relief, desire, anguish, or a combination of everything, all at once. But as he curled his free hand around the back of your neck and pulled you closer, you knew that storm was just for you.

Your lips met in a slow, languid kiss that quickly turned feverish, arms snaking around each other and moans that threatened to set the entire flat ablaze. His hands were desperate as they moved to cradle your head, and you pulled on his hips to finally lead him into the bedroom.

Once across the threshold, you eagerly pulled his suit jacket down his shoulders as you walked backwards towards your bed. Loki let go of you just long enough to free his arms from the sleeves, and the jacket fell limp to the floor. But before he could wrap himself around you again, you were already working to undo the buttons on his crisp white shirt.

“Darling, darling…” Loki breathed as he stopped you, guiding your hands around his neck and pressing his forehead against yours. “We’ve got all night…so let’s take it slow, hmm?”

His jaw clenched as he spoke, as if he were struggling to restrain himself from taking you the way he had that night in the alleyway. Instead, this time it seemed as though he wanted to cherish, savior, worship every single moment with you. It made your heart somersault in your chest and an ache of desire shimmer down to your core.

You nodded, and Loki grinned as he gently lowered you down onto the bed. “Do you remember slow…and comfortable?” he whispered as his weight settled on top of you. The pressure and warmth of his body was divine, and the scent of leather and cedar wood entwined with the lust hanging in the air.

“Slow…and comfortable…and against the wall…” you inhaled sharply, endorphins and hormones pouring into your bloodstream and creating a deep sense of longing and solace, a fierce need mixed with an intense glimmer of want.

You’d only met him twice, including tonight, and yet you didn’t think you’d be able to breathe if he ever left again. How did he manage that so fast?

As you shifted your legs to bring him between them, he nuzzled his face against your neck and his hips began to roll teasingly against yours. “I think a bed is far more comfortable than the wall, don’t you?”

“Mhmm, they should invent a new drink. Slow and comfortable…with Loki in my bed…” you murmured breathlessly, arching your back and rolling your hips with his.

Loki groaned, and you could tell it was getting harder for him to continue practicing restraint. You let out a shuddering moan as he started to nip at your jaw, and you brought your hands up to his hair, fingers tangling within his soft and dark curls, to hold on as your bodies moved sensually together.

It was exhilarating, really, being with him like this: bodies still fully clothed, hips rolling and grinding together like teenagers left alone for the very first time. Heavy breath passed back and forth, hands desperately roaming over the other. One of your legs curled around his hip to allow you to roll harder against his thigh.

Dizzying heat shot down your spine. You could feel his desperate want with every shift and twitch against your aching need. Every second felt like a lifetime of bliss as the pressure mounted, and the anticipation was beginning to drive you mad.

You pulled on his shirt, desperate to untuck it from his trousers and be able to feel his hot skin directly against yours. Loki let out a moan, grinding harder as his lips latched onto your throat, sucking and nibbling on your delicate flesh. His reaction encouraged you further, but then he suddenly grabbed your wrists and pinned them above your head.

“I thought we were going to do this slow, hmm?” he murmured coyly, slowing the roll of his hips but not stopping completely. Slivers of gold blazed within his eyes as he gazed down at you, looking up at him with a mixture of bewilderment and idolization.

How he could be so tender and dominating at the same time was beyond you, but you’d happily spend the rest of your life trying to figure it out.

“Loki…Loki, please…I need it…” you whimpered without shame, lifting the other leg to wrap around his waist. Your thighs squeezed tight against his hips as you rolled harder, desperate to feel any friction you could find.

He grinned wickedly before kissing you again, his tongue lapping at your lower lip to gain entry. You happily let it in, moaning into his mouth as you tasted him, fists clenching as his thumbs rubbed gently along your inner wrists. Everything was overwhelming, you felt like you were drowning in his presence, and in just a few more seconds, you’d certainly be coming.

But Loki tore his lips away from yours again, apparently not willing to let you have it just yet, and you whined pathetically in protest.

“Hush, little one. I just want to take things slowly…” he whispered delicately, slowing his hips again. “…to make sure you’re thoroughly taken care of…”

Your breath hitched, and if you hadn’t already been lying down, you might have fainted. “But - why?”

“Because I just…” Loki sighed, nudging his nose against yours as his hands trailed down your arms, exploring every curve and dip of your muscles. His fingertips shifted upwards along your neck to gently venture into your hairline, and his voice was so quiet, so full of turmoil. “I just want to make sure…”

You bit your lower lip as you watched him struggle to finish the thought. His forehead pressed against yours, his exhales heavy against your skin, his pupils dilating more and more with every flutter of eyelashes. You wanted to say something, to either encourage him to keep going if it was going to be beautiful, or to stop him if it was going to kill you.

At first, all you could manage was to reach for him, to delicately cradle his jaw and brush your thumbs along the angles of his cheekbones. The frown on his face was inexplicable, and he seemed so lost with his eyebrows arched towards Heaven and his eyes, hungry and wistful, roaming up and down your form.

But as it became clearer that he couldn’t get the words out, regardless of what they were, you realized how badly he needed the encouragement. “Loki, it’s okay…” you whispered softly against his lips. “You can tell me anything…”

Loki’s breath faltered, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to argue with you. Why did it always seem as though he knew something you didn’t, and why was it so intriguing to you? How was he composed of so many riddles and complications, and why did you feel the urge to find his answers?

If any other man had behaved like this, swinging like a devastating pendulum from immeasurable generosity to cruel obscurity, you would have walked away already. You would have told him off ages ago. You would have forgotten about him.

But something kept pulling you back in, something deep and unnerving kept asking to be felt, to be known, to be observed and held and needed. Something about him desperately wanted love and he didn’t know how to get it - or maybe he just didn’t know how to recognize it, because he’d never had it before. It broke your heart and stitched it back together, and you couldn’t let him continue going through that alone.

So before he could argue, with whatever his point was going to be, you captured his mouth in a fiercely passionate kiss that took both of your breaths away. He groaned deeply, his face smashed against yours as his lips moved faster against yours.

Loki caressed your tongue with his, and his hands slid around to the back of your neck, fingertips gently grasping the zipper of your catsuit. The sound of the zipper unlatching echoed loudly against your eardrums, and your lungs heaved as he began to free your arms from the fabric.

You shifted as best you could, while feeling giddy and delirious with need, to assist his endeavor, your hips still grinding against his thigh. Loki followed the catsuit as it peeled away from your skin, his hands and lips roaming over your neck and down to your exposed breasts and raised nipples.

As he moved lower, your back arched to press against him, and your fingers tangled in his hair. Every touch ignited something primal that had always lingered beneath your skin. And in that moment, everything else in the world seemed to melt away, until it was just Loki that remained.

“Oh, my God…” you gasped, eyelids fluttering wildly and your cunt throbbed in anticipation. “Please, please, please don’t stop, Loki…”

He glanced up with a wicked grin, humming against your belly as his hands slipped the fabric past your hips and down to your thighs. “Nothing can stop me now, my dear…”

Loki’s hands pressed into your skin as he pulled, finally reaching your knees and curling around your ankles. His breath was heavy as worked, his eyes blown wide with lust and burning hot with need.

You wriggled and squirmed underneath him, trying to free your legs. Your heart pounded in your chest as he finally tossed the catsuit to the floor and gripped your thighs, spreading them to settle back in-between. And as if he couldn’t help himself, like he desperately needed to taste you in order to be sure that this was real, Loki eagerly buried his face between your legs.

Suddenly, everything made sense. His flattened tongue lapped at your clit, and the soft bedding underneath you turned into fluffy clouds that had been warmed by sunlight. He pulled your legs around his neck, and the fear of ever being hurt again disintegrated like a love letter set on fire.

Loki kissed and sucked on your soaked cunt, moaning and groaning just as loud as you were. Your fingers curled in his hair, and your thighs tensed against his broad shoulders as you writhed against his tongue. His name spilled from your lips in whimpers and whines and heavy gasps and heady shudders.

There was no way he could disappear after this. There was no way he could bring you to mind-shattering orgasm if he didn’t intend to stay with you forever. There was no way that this didn’t end with you growing old and so happy together.

And whatever he was going to say earlier, whatever was so important that he couldn’t even get out, drifted further and further away as stars exploded behind your eyelids.

⊱ ── ༓ ── ⋅•⋅⊰ ──  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ∙ ⋅  ── ⊱⋅•⋅ ── ༓ ── ⊰

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#loki #loki x female reader #loki smut #loki x yn #loki x reader #loki x y/n #loki laufeyson x reader #loki x reader smut #loki laufeyson #loki x you #marvel x reader #loki imagine #loki fanfic #loki fanfiction #loki odinson #loki series #loki fic #loki mcu #marvel #loki angst #against all odds #cee writes

[sleepsunawareof]

Well like many, the Loki S2 finale has me still reeling and I have had this little drabble on my brain and had to get it out. I am not really a writer, I've not written a fic since I was a teenager probably lol so be easy on me but alas, I hope this is enjoyed by those who also just couldn't bear the thought of Loki being alone at the end of time forever.

Description: Loki uses his time slipping abilities to talk to you one last time before making the decision he knows he has to in order to save those he loves. But, you aren't so willing to let him condemn himself to an eternity alone, or yourself to a lifetime without him.

Word Count: 1367

Warnings: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVENT SEEN LOKI S2 EP6!! Angst, sadness, happy ending mostly

••••••••••••••

"How are you doing this?", you asked as you watched strands of space and time float around you and Loki throughout A.D Doug's workshop.

"We're outside of time. Darling, I had to see you. I had to speak to you." Loki said, a sorrowful look on his face that you had never seen before. "The Loom, it was a failsafe all along. And no amount of scaling can account for infinite timelines. I thought we had it, I really did", he explained.

"Damnit, we should have known it would be...", you lamented.

"I spent centuries trying to figure it out, and it was all for nothing."

"Centuries?" you questioned.

"It's hard to explain" he responded. "Darling, there are only two options. Go back and kill Sylvie before she kills He Who Remains and allow the Sacred Timeline to continue--"

You cut him off. "You can't Loki! The Sacred Timeline is full of misery, injustice, and sadness - what the TVA stood for under He Who Remains was all wrong! We can't go back to that. And you know you could never kill Sylvie...not after everything we have all been through together."

"I know...", he said, a sad knowing in his voice and his eyes. "But there is one other way."

"And what's that?"

"Me".

"What? You? I don't understand Loki..." you said cautiously.

"The finite power of a machine can never handle the infinite timelines of a multiverse, but the infinite power of a God can", he said as he watched your face intently for any hint of reaction.

It took a moment as you stared at him, blinking. "Do you mean..." you questioned, as the realization of what he was saying started to set in.

"Yes, my love. Believe me, if there was any other way, I swear I would take it. But there isn't. I know what kind of God I need to be, for you, for all of us. It's the only way."

"Loki, if this is what you have to do, then please, take me with you at least!" you implored.

"My darling y/n, you know I can not do that. I must bear this burden alone, and you must go live your life on the timeline, the one you deserve to have. I could never condemn you to an eternity of solitude at the End of Time", he said sorrowfully.

"But you'll condemn me to a life of solitude on Earth? Loki, I can't live without you. There's no life for me down there if it's not with you! Please, as long as our friends are happy, and I'm with you, that's all I'll need. Please let me go with you!". The last part came out as a sob as your emotions got the best of you. You couldn't believe what he was talking about doing, the sacrifice he planned to make for the ones he loved.

"When I go back there, to that moment in time, you won't remember any of this. You won't know you said you wanted to go with me," he reminded you.

"Loki, every version of me across space and time would go with you. Even into the abyss, if that's where you have to go. I will follow you, I know I will!" you fully sobbed out as you threw your arms around him. The thought of him leaving you was killing you.

"They'll stop you if you try to follow me, you know that" he said, speaking of your friends back at the TVA.

"Then tell them not to Loki! Please, I'm begging. My place is beside you, always and forever, no matter where that place is."

And then Loki was gone and everything turned to spaghetti.

••••••••••••••

Loki slipped effortlessly back to just the right moment in the Loom control room, having been here in this moment over and over for centuries. This time though, it was different. This time, it was the last time. Loki looked over at you and his friends with a sad and knowing smile on his face. And then with one last look, he turned and ran down the stairs towards the blast doors. He knew he could keep you from following, lock the doors behind him with impenetrable magic. But he also knew that in your heart, you would never want to be without him. You would resent him forever if he left you on Earth alone.

You, Sylvie, and Mobius ran down the stairs after him immediately, but he was already through the airlock doors. The three of you watched Loki open the blast doors with his magic and start to step outside, absent of any protective suit. As you reached out to open the airlock door and go after him, Mobius pulled you back.

"Mobius, I have to go! I have to get to him!!!" you screamed.

"You can't! The temporal radiation will kill you if you open that door and go out there, you know that!"

"But it's going to kill HIM!" you cried out as you watched Loki walk out onto the walkway.

But something amazing started to happen. As the temporal energy shredded his TVA clothes away with every passing second, something else began to take it's place. Flowing dark green linen draped his form, traditional and humble shoes appeared on his feet, and a horned crown adorned his head. He looked absolutely Godlike and regal. As Loki walked closer to the Loom - this imperfect piece of machinery that took so much from so many - he lifted his hands, called upon his magic, and destroyed it in a flash of bright green and white light.

Then, there was darkness. Loki wasn't done, though. He reached out to grab a strand of time and suddenly it glowed back to life, his beautiful green magic allowing it to thrive. He grabbed another, and another. You, Mobius, and Sylvie stood silently in the airlock, watching as Loki brought the timelines back to life, one by one, gathering them in his hands. Above him, a chasm opened in the sky, revealing the End of Time. Loki looked back one last time at the 3 of you back in the airlock. He had no idea if you would really come after him like you said - but he wanted to see your face one last time if it was truly to be the last. Your eyes locked, and you knew now that the temporal energy was gone, there was no threat if you left the airlock.

"I have to go with him." you said to Mobius and Sylvie. "His worst fear is to be alone, and he is going to condemn himself to a lifetime of loneliness to save us all!" you said as you opened the door.

"Y/n, please! Stop! You don't know what you're giving yourself to." This time, it was Sylvie who pulled you back, holding your arm so you couldn't run down the walkway.

"Yes, I do. I'm giving myself to love. I'm giving myself to free will, to choice, to hope." you said.

"Sylvie, let her go," Loki called out. "It's going to be okay." he assured.

Sylvie let go of you hesitantly, and you started your walk out to Loki. When you reached him, he could not take your hand, but you took his arm. Together, you began to ascend the invisible stairs to the End of Time as he held the reanimated timelines in his hands. As you both crossed the threshold of the chasm to the End of Time, He Who Remains' throne and the ruins of his citadel came into view. Loki walked forward to the throne, the one he never wanted but was always destined to have. The timelines took on the beautiful form of a tree - Yggdrasil, the tree of life - the tree of the multiverse that Loki would tend to for eternity.

"This is where I'll have to stay forever, darling. I can never leave, never move. Tending to the timelines is my glorious purpose, my eternal burden. Are you truly willing to stay here with me?" he inquired.

"Yes, my love", you answered without hesitation.

"For all time?" He asked.

"Always".

#loki x reader #tva!loki x reader #loki x you #loki #marvel #mcu #god!loki x reader #drabble #loki drabble #loki imagine #loki season 2 #loki s2 rewrite #not canon #loki series #mcu loki

[harpyface]

My thoughts on the volta do mar

In-game, the Volta do Mar method was created to travel through the pale, being first used in the first successful voyage into the pale. Apparently it took years to develop the method, a "strict psychological regimen imitating the creation process of poetry."

In real life, the volta do mar is a Portuguese (volta do mar is Portuguese for 'Return from the Sea') sailing practice of, in simple words, sailing further out into the sea to avoid sailing directly against the wind and then catching winds that then move in the correct direction (useful since portugal is slightly north of the equator, blah blah wind directions)

While watching a playthrough, Joyce's description of Lely's tattoos reminded me of this 'return from the sea' business. Lely's tattoos are a history of his service, but originally the tattoo was a custom of sailors "mark[ing] their bodies to map their travels." "The sailor's soul would use it to fly back home if they should die abroad. This is a sort of… contraption. To be reeled back in by." If a sailor died, their soul would 'return from the sea'(😮).

The pale is likened to the ocean many times in Disco Elysium, so these tattoos and the volta mantras are very similar. They are linked even more when we see that the tattoo custom was begun "right after the discovery of Insulinde," so the creation of voltas and the creation of this tradition kind of bookend the eighth expedition. Likening the irl volta do mar practice and this in game example got me thinking about how exactly in-game voltas are used and created.

(Interesting note, Joyce describes these tattoos as "the silver cord" linking the soul and home, whereas irl, the concept of the silver cord is supposed to link the soul and the body.)

Personally, the concept that is pale was hard enough for me to grasp (even with it being an established fictional concept with, like, words to describe it.) It's "the opposite of reality," it's a property that suspends other properties, and it can damage human minds. According to Joyce, dialectical materialists argue that "pale somehow *consists* of past information, that's degrading. That it's rarefied past, not rarefied matter."

"They call it the *blend-over of the self*. The pale does not only suspend the laws of physics, but also the laws of psychology, maybe History, even… The human mind becomes over-radiated by past."

We can assume that this 'blend-over of the self' is true because of the Paledriver, who is observably pale-radiated and lost in worlds in lives that her body hasn't lived.

Operating on this theory, the pale is made of information, and I would also like to argue that pale is made of not only past information, but also future information, and information about alternate timelines.

In the moralist vision quest, we hear entroponetic crosstalk of Kim from the future *and* arguably an alternate timeline if he ends up in the hospital and doesn't end up at the islet. So pale is basically all information and possibilities.

The only explicit example of a Volta do Mar is from the Insulindian Miracle thought, and it's song lyrics from What If by Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld. This thought establishes that voltas are 1) Taught in schools and 2) Repeated like mantras while travelling. The voltas aren't mentioned in Sacred and Terrible Air, by name at least. Zigi does sing Helvetti, by Kauko Röyhkä & Riku Mattila, in pale, but that's explicitly a song and not a poem, and obviously he doesn't need to resist the effects of the pale (and if fact doesn't want to drive away the pale, based on his reaction to Nilsen's 'Communism is white' speech when it started to ward off the surrounding pale.)

When Joyce says that the method is a "strict psychological regimen imitating the creation process of poetry," my thinking was that it can't be as simple as reciting poetry while travelling through the pale. It might be, but wouldn't the process *be* the process of creating poetry and not 'imitating' it? Of course, it could just be referencing the research it took for the explorers to be able to safely traverse the pale, but I wasn't satisfied with that.

(I'll admit, when I first began building this theory, I didn't know that we had an explicit example of a volta, and it stumped me for a bit, but I think it works still.)

I've seen interpretations in which the poetic nonsense of voltas force the person to focus on reality/on their own mind, to focus on the next word in the sequence. But using the real world volta do mar technique as a base, I started building my own theory by considering that the voltas mirror the technique of the irl volta do mar. Voltas would be  performed by a person going deeper into the pale (whether mentally or physically) in order to somehow escape the effects more easily.

Having already established that the pale is information, it makes sense that the way to manoeuvre it would be via words and concepts. Prior to remembering The Insulindian Miracle thought, my theory was that, instead of pilots being *taught* previously written mantras, they were taught to create poetry while immersed in the pale. The pilot's mind would then grasp the floating information that is pale to string the words together into a distinct phrase/poem, intentionally going deeper into the pale to get enough material to work with. With the resulting phrase, it would be grounding enough to bring the pilot back to reality.

However, all of that is irrelevant when you consider the volta that Harry was taught.

Or is it?

The Insulindian Miracle solution says that "you were taught it at school. It is one of the Volta do Mar mantras repeated on the voyage that lead to the discovery of the Insulindian isola." I could interpret it as saying that voltas are written in advance, or that *historical* voltas are taught in grade school, just like we're taught historical documents or literature. Maybe children of Revachol are taught about the voltas that the discoverers of their isola used simply for academic knowledge. 

And as Joyce says, the Volta do Mar is also used by "other troubled souls even to this day." Ordinary people may not have access to the bank of information that is the pale, but they do have their own troubling thoughts that they can pick words and concepts from to still go through the same process that I've described in order to calm themselves or relieve stress.

I do want to analyse Kim's Volta do Mar skill at a later time using all of this, but right now this is what I have to offer :)

(An excellent post that I was inspired by is about the connection between water and memories by @/57sfinest, which I would like to briefly reference at the end of all this analysis. Imagine it as a triangle, one point is the ocean that the sailor's souls would have to return from (or the irl ocean that the volta do mar was used for, if you like), the second point is the past and memories, and the third point is the pale, the "rarefied past." It's all connected.)

#is this anything maybe #tell me if theres any glaringly incorrect things or anything ive missed here pls #i have gone through so many interpretations of kims skill i have no idea #of course this whole theory only works if you believe that only historical voltas are taught in schools #and not pre written ones for general use #i think the 'troubled souls' could also possibly recite well known voltas for the sake of having a mantra #contains inconsistent capitalization #disco elysium #disco elysium meta #disco elysium spoilers #corvid creates

[sheliesshattered]

I've seen some posts going around expressing frustration with Loki not telling Sylvie how he feels, at least as of the third episode of season two. And I'm not saying you're wrong, but like, can we just take a minute to think about this from Loki's point of view?

When they fought in the citadel at the end of time, the last thing Loki said to Sylvie was that he just wants her to be okay. Nothing else -- not power, not a crown, not the ability to rewrite time to his desires. He just wants Sylvie to be okay.

And in response, she kissed him. For those of us who ship them, obviously that was The Moment, and it probably felt like it to Loki, too. But then Sylvie immediately pushes him through a time door and kills He Who Remains, exactly what Loki was trying to keep her from doing.

We don't really know how Sylvie feels about Loki, but from Loki's point of view? That wasn't a kiss because she has feelings for him too, or even to acknowledge his feelings for her. That kiss was a trick, just as much as Loki creating a double or Sylvie enchanting someone. She used it to get him out of the way, because she realized she couldn't kill him and she couldn't convince him. So she kissed him to distract him long enough to get rid of him.

Loki has to have realized that pretty immediately. His face after she pushes him through the time door certainly looks like he knows exactly what Sylvie just did, and why. He tells her he just wants her to be okay, and she betrays him with a kiss. He looks appropriately heartbroken.

He then spends the first two episodes of season two trying to find Sylvie. Not just because the TVA is falling apart, but because he still wants to make sure that she's okay. She killed He Who Remains, she completed the one goal she'd had for so long, and Loki knows she would have been alone at the end of time after killing He Who Remains. Even before the TVA crises start piling up, he wants to find Sylvie, just because he needs to know that she's okay.

We as the audience get to see how desperate Loki is to find Sylvie, and it's obvious to everyone at the TVA, even Brad who has been off on his own on the sacred timeline for however long.

But when they finally find Sylvie, she really doesn't seem happy to see Loki. Her face falls, her posture is distinctly cold and defensive. When they talk, she tells him that she just wants to be left alone. She tells him that she's happy living there in that branched timeline, that she just wants to stay there, alone.

And once Sylvie makes that clear to Loki, he backs off. His feelings for her haven't changed -- but from his point of view, she's just reinforced that the kiss didn't mean anything to her. Because he loves her, Loki just wants Sylvie to be okay. And she makes it clear that she is okay, living a quiet life of her choosing.

Personally, I read Loki's behavior in the most recent two episodes as him intentionally respecting Sylvie and her wishes. All he wants is for her to be okay. All she wants is to be left alone to live the life of her choosing. He loves her, so how could he do anything other than give her what she wants?

#Loki #Sylvie #Loki show #Loki series #Loki season 2 #Loki spoilers #Loki and Sylvie #Sylki #pro Sylki #meta #character analysis #Sylki antis do not interact #ship and let ship

[atomicradiogirl]

welcome to my TED talk about the beauty of the loki soundtrack and how natalie holt is proving the theory that it’s all about mobius and loki (lokius):

obviously let’s start with the piece ‘lokius’ which we know my thoughts on but this sets up the overall theme of this discussion. in a general summary of my previous TED talk, i claimed that lokius is all about mobius since the piece is mainly composed of his musical theme and the fact that he was literally jealous and discrediting sylvie and loki in that scene. it was all about him in that moment. but they could have easily left this theme as is.

however, natalie holt goes on to repurpose and interpolate the ‘lokius’ musical theme throughout the season 2 soundtrack especially in the show’s finale which is the culmination of loki’s arc. loki and mobius’ relationship grew over season 2 to the point where the last person who ever saw and truly saw loki was mobius.

in the score ‘complex and many’ in loki and mobius’ final goodbye scene, it’s a variation of ‘lokius’ that plays, not anything else. no other score of this magnitude plays when he says goodbye to anyone else, not even sylvie. this is the pivotal emotional climax because loki and mobius’ relationship is the core and heart of the show and to his character. loki would not have been able to sacrifice himself nor have the compassion to do it without mobius. loki gave mobius the choice to live and find his glorious purpose but the show ends with mobius waiting, letting time pass, because he’s alone now just like loki. so he’ll wait for loki to return.

this brings me to the score ‘purpose is glorious’ the final montage sequence in the loki finale. it’s such a beautiful score and it plays over everyone finding their purpose except for mobius who the score cuts out right as we see him stand in front of his sacred timeline home watching his true self play with his children. everyone finds purpose except for mobius. but the piece takes from ‘lokius.’ everyone found purpose because of mobius and his love and care for loki, except for mobius. which is the tragic irony.

finally we talk about the final score in the show, ‘history is now’ which takes elements from ‘loki’s green theme’ and ‘lokius.’ don’t believe me? the underlying violins in the ‘history is now’ is like ripped right from the violins in ‘lokius.’ and ‘history is now’ is the final time we see loki and mobius. mobius letting time pass, loki accepting his glorious purpose.

so in conclusion, it’s always been about mobius and for mobius. it’s always been lokius’ story. even since season one. and the loki soundtrack ITSELF proves this. don’t believe me? just listen.

#loki #welcome back to my loki ted talks #lokius #loki season 2 #lokius endgame idc #team natalie holt #natalie holt is the true lokius truther #loki season 2 finale #loki spoilers #sylvie #marvel #tfw i’m a genius #Spotify #loki soundtrack #loki series #loki season one #my thoughts #nat posting #marvel i’m on the phone

[erikatsu]

A SUMMER AFTERNOON. — YINGXING

SERIES MASTERLIST.

ᥫ᭡ SUMMARY: Everyone talked about whirlwind romances, but you had never experienced it for yourself. Not until you met an outworlder who caught you by surprise. Unfortunately, nobody had told you that whirlwind romances tended to blow by quicker when one of you was destined to out live the other.

ᥫ᭡ PAIRING: Blade/Yingxing x Fem!Reader

ᥫ᭡ WARNINGS: Blade story spoilers + HSR leaks/spoilers. Star crossed lovers. Fast paced (Blade is a short-life species). Non-canon compliance. Blade will be referred to as "Yingxing" until current timeline. Hinduism based Vidyadhara world building (its fairly heavy this chapter). Reader is neurodivergent coded. "Manasa" is reader's title.

ᥫ᭡ NOTE: I accidentally deleted the original post so we're trying again 🥲

Patience is a virtue. It was something the Elders had tried to drill into you from a young age, but to no avail. You lacked both. When it came to training the young man, especially since he was preparing to undergo the Rites of Vishnu, you grew apathetic and impatient. You had undergone the same trials, training every day after being chosen by the Elders to uphold the Aeon of Permanence’s creations. All in hopes of reaching the esteemed title of Imbititor Lunae. 

The title was one all Elders had a chance of reaching. The next in line for it was Dan Feng, the young man you were currently trying to coach on how to use his dual power. It was important that he learn control and balance, as loss of his power could be fatal to many. But, this situation was new to you seeing that you’d never actually taught anyone how to balance their elemental power alongside water manipulation. At least, not in this life.  

There were, of course, records and training materials in the Office of Deep Sources for you to read, but that would take way too much time for you to completely go through. You were starting to curse yourself for only skimming the important bits, watching the young man struggle with the water. 

“Stop,” you sighed, folding your arms over your chest. “We can try again tomorrow.”

He shook his head, “I’ve almost got it.”

You pursed your lips, knowing you were about to sound like the biggest hypocrite of the Vidyadhara race, “Patience is a virtue, Dan Feng. At least take a break. Let's go over the Old Laws again.”

He gave you a bored look, “I can recite them in my sleep.”

“Integrity,” you raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to do exactly what he said he could do. 

You had no doubt he could recite them in his sleep. You could as well. After all, being an Elder meant learning everything about the Rites so it could be continuously passed down with each rebirth of the destined Imbibitor Lunae. One of the first things your kind learned were the Seven Old Laws. They were no longer used as actual laws that were punishable, but now were used as stepping stones for achieving Permanence. 

“The Electus must preserve integrity as a hallowed tool,” Dan Feng sounded bored, yet listened to your unspoken instruction. “Impeccable honesty with oneself and others lies at the core of leadership, and the integrity of one’s mind is at last sacred.”

You nodded, as if to tell him to continue. Integrity was the first law. The refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way set the path of the moral high ground. People would not follow a leader they couldn't put their complete faith into. The second was pacifism. One must not torment, insult, or wish ill intent onto another being. To harm others is to harm oneself. A law that had definitely been outgrown thanks to the decline in the loss over Long’s power and life in the Rolling Deep had become too dangerous. But, it was still imperative to not actively and intentionally harm others if you were not defending yourself or anyone else. 

The third law you struggled with, patience. One must control their impulsive desires by regulating life with daily meditation. Impatience is a sign of desirousness to fulfill unfulfilled desires. Many trials and tribulations would be brought to the Imbibitor Lunae, even if they were all minuscule. The ability to maintain one’s composure was something you hadn't been blessed with. 

Forebearance and Dama, the fourth and fifth laws went hand in hand with the second and third. One must practice the acceptance of their sufferings and refrain from unjust retaliation. One must return kindness for injuries received and forget both, and those who harm shall be punished by their own shame– the Law of Forbearance preached tolerance. One must withdraw their external senses and turn their mind away from evil deeds and propensities. Become master of the senses and a servant– the Law of Dama preached restraint. Applied together they could achieve pacifism.

The law you thought you could never follow was the sixth law, virtue. One must cultivate and refine their belief of what the good of the Vidyadhara are. One must have the disposition to follow the path of taking actions that lead to high moral standards. You struggled to cultivate your own beliefs. Your Pearlkeeper had been convinced that the reason for this was due to lack of energy during your hatching and rebirth period. However, you never fell victim to the Everdream Syndrome– a comatose state some Vidyadharas suffer from when there is an insufficient energy conversion while inside their pearl.

What afflicted you was much different, which also made it hard to achieve the last law. Compassion. One must place one’s mind in another's favor. One must find understanding of another's sufferings to help alleviate and prevent it with the three facets: noticing, feeling, and responding. You lacked empathy, therefore you could not find it within yourself to shoulder other people's burdens. Of course, this didn't apply to everyone, just those you did not know personally. You knew your lifeline would never end up inheriting the High Elder title for that reason, and you were fine with that. But, it also isolated you in a way. People often found you difficult to deal with and hard to understand. 

Sometimes you wondered if that's why the Elders had decided to make you the Pearlkeeper of the current Electus– the chosen one who was not yet ready for the title of his birthright. Perhaps they thought taking on the responsibility of raising a hatchling would give you a better sense of forming connections with others. While it did help with watching your tone and not being so abrasive, not everyone had the pleasure of seeing you able to hold a decent conversation. 

Dan Feng, who had indeed recited the Laws verbatim, was really the only one who got to see you for your true self. Everyone else got to deal with an ill-tempered, bad mouthed, eye-contact avoiding scion. Then again, he was more of a ward to you than anything, and his lifelong connection to you was different than building relationships with people you've only had small conversations with. 

You looked at him, seeing he was patiently waiting for further instruction. You sighed, “Let this be our last lesson for today. Be honest with yourself, relax and clear your mind of outside hindrances. Focus and remind yourself of who you are and what your purpose is. Then try the move again.”

He nodded, determined to get it right this time. He took his stance and squared his shoulders, raising his arms. You stepped forward, mirroring his pose. “Think of your element as Yin and the water as Yang. Two separate energies coexisting within you. If you keep the Old Laws in mind, you will be able to separate them and guide the imbalance. You cannot command the power, and trying will only backfire and make you lose control. You can only shepherd it in the right direction as the energies come back together.”

You moved your arm, watching closely as he mimicked your actions and talked him through the correct process. You swept your raised hand down, glancing at him before jutting it upwards. His form was perfect, ready to apply both powers behind it. You stepped back, giving him the room he needed to execute what he’d been practicing. 

He took his stance once again, drawing in a deep breath. Just as he was about to start, a man came running down the steps to the platform you two stood on. It was the most spacious area of the Scalegorge Waterscape, perfect for practicing the technique you had been trying to teach.

You gritted your teeth as the man approached, irritated that you’d been interrupted when you were almost finished with your lesson. Dan Feng turned to see what had soured your mood, slightly frowning when he saw a familiar face. 

“Apologies, Master Manasa. I know you value your time but there is an urgent matter that requires your assistance,” Haoyu, a Master Craftsman from the Artisanship Commission, told you while desperately trying to catch his breath. 

You narrowed your eyes, preparing for him to tell you someone had gotten burned by the Creation Furnace again, “It better be life or death. There are other healers within the Alchemy Commission who are more than capable of handling–”

“It's Master Yingxing. He’s collapsed and is unresponsive,” He cut you off, which was enough for you to understand. “Doctor Mei Ling is the one who told us to find you.”

Healers could only heal, but none besides you had yet mastered the art of retrieving a soul from the place between life and death. If this was truly why you were needed, time was of the essence. You looked to Dan Feng, giving a simple nod that told him he was free to do as he saw fit. Practice could wait until later, you had another job to do now.

Life forms on the Xianzhou were complicated. Several species were aboard all fleets, ranging from outworlder humans to the near immortal Vidyadhara. Being a healer meant you had to have an understanding of the species you were treating, what medicines they could and could not have, and which treatment plans were the best options. Being the Manasa, the Master Healer of the Vidyadhara, meant you were best equipped to handle the toughest of cases, especially ones that centered around death. 

Healing was something you could do in your sleep. Ever since hatching, medicine and better understanding the people of your world have always called to you. You had a natural gift, excelling in school and unparalleled in practice. When you had nothing new to learn, the Elders allowed you into the Deep Sources to learn more. There you’d discovered a lost art used in the Rolling Deep before the Vidyadharas had joined the Alliance. They called it Kundalini, the art of guiding souls. 

The Elders were not keen on allowing you to practice it, as the consequences of error were too great of a risk to take. That was until a rare case presented itself. A Pearlkeeper had come from Scalegorge Waterscape to seek help with an embryo that seemed to be lifeless– an egg much too small for the part of the cycle it was in. You had seen your chance and begged to take it. If you could guide the soul back to the host, it could live on. If you couldn't... Well, the egg was already on its way to dying. 

It was a one time spectacle. All of the Elders had gathered to watch, including High Elder Yuchen– the Imbibitor Lunae before Dan Feng. You had sat in front of it, recalling everything you had learned to prove that you could do it. Even though you’d read countless books and journals of cases on what to do and how to do it, nothing could prepare you for what spiritual enlightenment felt like. You weren't sure you could describe it either. But at the end of the day, you had successfully guided the stuck soul back to its incubator, and High Elder Yuchen taught you how to refine the art. Upon his satisfaction with your progress, he gave you a title only few had reached since leaving the Rolling Deep. 

Although in the eyes of the Vidyadhara, you required no more instruction, the same could not be said for the Alchemy Commission. You still had to work your way from the bottom up, earning you a much lighter workload, but having to handle the worst cases. It was also the only thing that allowed you to teach the current candidate for the Imbibitor Lunae. 

For a time, with your capabilities becoming clear early on in your current life, the Elders thought you would be the next Electus upon your next rebirth. However, time proved them wrong. Your refusal to learn anything other than medicine on top of behavioral issues your Pearlkeeper reported as you grew up told them that your rebirth had not gone as smoothly as it had previously. It was rare, but not unheard of. Just as the Foxians and the humans had their own unique afflictions, the Vidyadhara did too. 

While Everdream Syndrome and Vritra Disorder became a thing for your kind, Mara struck the other long-lives, and a common cold could bring down a short-life species. 

The Vidyadhara had always believed that all creatures were connected to each other, and that no life cycle was inferior to another– that regardless of how short or long, each one was everlasting. But you did not think so. Maybe you had taken the teaching too literal– as you tended to do with many things from time to time– but you didn't see the other long-life species being reborn, and you didn't see most humans who came to the Xianzhou live past two hundred. 

While you did understand no species was superior to another, you had always thought mortals who came here seeking immortality were foolish. It showed they knew nothing of the Xianzhou, as immortality was forbidden. Afterall, their biggest enemy were the Denizens of the Abundance– the seekers of eternal life who followed The Plague’s Author. Those who sought it ended up being your problem, and you feared that was the case this time as Haoyu flew his starskiff back to the Alchemy Commission.

“I need all of the patient’s information so I can get started immediately,” you told him as the vehicle grew closer to the destination. 

He glanced at you before focusing in front of him once more, “He’s one of our Master Craftsmen, Yingxing. Short-life species, moved here as a child. He collapsed in the square, and so far has been unresponsive.”

Your eyes narrowed, “Is it Mara?”

Haoyu shrugged, “Doubtful. He was one of the youngest Master Craftsmen the Artisanship Commission has ever seen, taken on the most apprentices too. He’s dedicated to his life’s work.”

That kind of dedication could very well lead one down the path of seeking immortality, you thought bitterly. But, having more than a couple of apprentices didn't seem in character for an elixir seeker. 

Craftsmen were proud, wanting to show off to many but share with few. The more apprentices one had, the less unique they would be. For a craftsman who had very little time, many apprentices made sense. He had a lot of work on his plate, and he needed all hands on deck. However, he may have been working himself to death.

You sighed, countless possibilities running through your mind. A psychological break caused by the stress he was putting himself through? Or had organs begun to shut down, causing toxic-metabolic encephalopathy– a coma? A heart attack?

You didn't know, and you could only hope you had the time to find out. 

#blade x reader #hsr x reader #honkai star rail x reader #yingxing x reader #blade x you #hsr x you #honkai star rail x you

[agendabymooner]

fashion week ! alex a. x ofc (k-pop idol!ofc)

“everything she do is for the media.”

summary: alex albon and polly berkshire are just extremely active on social media — they really aren’t just a couple made for the sake of their public image. OR moments in which the two were the power couple of formula one.

content warning: established relationship, use of explicit language, alex and ofc shitting on each other’s lives (affectionately), haters gonna hate shake off, full view the photos to enlarge the text messages!

note: vibes based on steel banglez’s song fashion week (with aj tracey and mostack) enjoy xx

masterlist

tagged thepolsci

liked landonorris, georgerussell63, lewishamilton

roses_are_rosie 🔥🤧 liked by alex_albon

landonorris peak editorial page era

alex_albon stay mad ☺️

charles_leclerc you’ve always been my favourite model 😍 liked by alex_albon

arthur_leclerc what do you know about fashion shal 🤣🤣 liked by alex_albon

user1 ABSOLUTE VIOLATION 😮‍💨😮‍💨

user2 LMFAO ALEX LIKING ARTHUR’S COMMENT BAHAHAHA

georgerussell63 thepolsci blink twice if you were forced to go blonde too

thepolsci tbh we don’t know why we both got our hair bleached but it was lit tho (my scalp, i mean)

thepolsci unnecessarily hot, babe 😮‍💨😮‍💨 liked by alex_albon

alex_albon no u 😍

landonorris alright, just kiss and move on. some of us just want to go through the day

boamckinnon what lando said^

thepolsci lance_stroll get your shit together and take her away from my timeline i might pull a worldstar on her 🙄🙄

boamckinnon 🤬🤬

user3 JENNIE ROSÉ COME GET YOUR GIRLS 😭😭

user4 everything hits different when you’re british— just look at bora and polly.

user5 i’m surprised neither of them called the other the c word yet tbh

user6 soon enough, i’m certain

user7 alex being invited to these shows as her plus one is the best thing that could’ve happened this season 😭

user8 real 😮‍💨 it’s been boring lately

user9 albono cleans up real good tho 🥵

user10 sliding through this instagram carousel really is just a game of smash or pass. surprisingly i keep saying smash

tagged alex_albon

liked by lance_stroll, boamckinnon, logansargeant

user1 i just know his skincare routine is expensive 😭

user2 he does look like he invests money in the ordinary or something 🤭

user3 guys… he has a brand deal with cerave

user4 okay yeah maybe his skincare routine is sacred indeed

logansargeant drop your skincare routine 🤨

thepolsci men’s tears mostly

logansargeant that should be easy. i just need to show alex a photo of you two together then i’ll get a handful liked by thepolsci

williamsracing sarge this isn’t very team player of you 😭😭 we cry too

user5 bro just exposed his own teammate 🤣

alex_albon i got the hydroflask with those silly stickers we got from amazon filled with cold water. i’ve been consuming water. is that good? liked by thepolsci

thepolsci absolutely 🫡 proud of you my love

alex_albon hydrated for you, my girl 🫡

user6 mama y papa 😁😁

user7 i love my favourite wag, alex albon. he’s so babygirl 🤧

bonus !!

#alex albon social media au #alex albon instagram au #alex albon ig au #alex albon smau #alex albon au #alex albon imagine #alex albon fluff #alex albon x reader #formula one imagine #formula one fic #formula one x oc #formula one fanfiction #f1 fic #f1 imagine #formula one smau #f1 smau #f1 fanfic #formula one ig au #formula one instagram au #formula one social media au #formula one au #f1 au #f1 ig au #f1 instagram au #formula one fluff #f1 fluff #formula one x ofc

[lettingtimepass]

Loki s2e5 Thoughts & Feelings (Spoilers)

THE INTRO LOSING THE LETTERS!! I'm a sucker for when an intro is slightly changed. And in the end credits when the lines and type get all wonky! I love it.

Ok I have a question. When Loki finds everyone, they are all on branched timelines, not the Sacred Timeline. So doesn't that mean the lives on these branches could be slightly different or totally different than their original lives on the Sacred Timeline? Sylvie says they're back in their "real lives", but is that even true? 🤔 Also, I know people are theorizing that Don's wife was dusted during the snap, but technically in this branched timeline, the snap might not have happened.

B-15 being a doctor was so good 🥺 "I looked happy." Yes, you did... I just noticed her name on the captions was "Dr. Willis!"

Don!Mobius said he'd seen Loki in the shop before, did Loki timeslip there and not remember it? Or... has that not happened yet?

OB's workshop looking super similar to the one at the TVA - So cool!

"So I am gonna write a bestseller!" Stop he's so pure!!

Did anyone clock that OB's book cover looks similar to Loki and Slyvie on Lamentis? 👀

"It's impossible. But don't let that stop you."

This is probably obvious but Loki couldn't control the timeslipping until he truly accepted his "why." Not to protect the timelines from HWR, but to protect his friends.

Don!Mobius literally dropping everything to talk to Loki and offer him a drink. Fellas.....

"You saw something in me that I hadn't seen in myself." NO THIS IS STRAIGHT OUTTA FIC THO 😭

I can't believe Loki assembled his own Avengers 😭😭😭

Gawd, the show starting with Loki's speech about how humans don't need choices, and now he's fighting to give his friends choices..... that's the good shit.

"I want my friends back." DO YOU REALIZE THE CHARACTER GROWTH?!?! Loki never had a friend other than Thor. He was so closed off, he didn't think he ever needed anyone else. He told the lie that he was fine, better off, by himself. For him to admit that he has friends, and he wants them, and doesn't want to be alone...? 🤌🤌🤌

"But without them... Where do I belong?" WHERE IS TOM'S EMMY?!?! The tear, the voice shake... this man 😭😭😭

Remember, this Loki is a "cosmetic mistake." He isn't supposed to exist. Mobius saved him from being reset. Without the TVA, without Mobius... he has no reason to exist... no glorious purpose. But he was still willing to let them all go to do the right thing 🥲🥲🥲

Mobius trying to sell a Jet Ski to B-15 is too funny.

THE MONKEY FROM THE INTRO!! I've been wondering what that was all about... we also see OB's sticky note wall!

"The pens... we have all the pens!"

When they all start spagettifying being parallel to the dusting scenes in Infinity War.... RUDE, MARVEL. MR STARK I DON'T FEEL SO GOOD.

"I can rewrite the story." YES YOU CAN KING!! And my immediate reaction was "Loki, God of Stories"! At first I thought Loki and Sylvie were going to run the TVA together, but now I feel like it might be Loki alone (with Mobius' help of course), managing all the timelines... writing the story.

THAT ENDING!!!! I'M SO READY BUT NOT READY FOR NEXT WEEK!!! I can't believe we're at the end.... I'M SO SCARED! 😭

#Loki #Loki Show #Loki Series #Loki Season 2 #Loki Spoilers #Loki s2e5 #Loki Science/Fiction #Lokius

[comicaurora]

Hi Red! I was curious if you've watched the new Yu Yu Hakusho live action, and if so, what your thoughts were on its pacing and handling of various plots. Personally I thought it did some very clever things and it genuinely pleasantly surprised me at a couple points, but at the same time the fact that it's only 5 episodes hurt its ability to do the story justice a bit.

Also I was rewatching the Dark Tournament arc of the anime today and wondering what it must've been like to watch when it originally aired, considering all the multi episode fights. Do you remember any of your thoughts at the time?

On an unrelated note, I'm really excited for arc 2 of Aurora!!!! Also sorry this is so ramble-y

I have watched it! For the most part, I really enjoyed it, although in pursuit of compressing everything down to five episodes it did a couple things I think definitely harmed the overall impact and characterization.

Spoilers below!

The first episode is I think nearly pitch-perfect. The visual design on the Spirit World is top-tier, and the choice to make everything that was a sacred artifact move like ferrofluid was a very clever bit of visual design. It's absolutely weird and original and I think it was a very fun way to spice up Fluffy Cloud Heaven.

Of all the things they sped through, I'm very glad they did not speed through the crucial characterization of Yusuke initially choosing to stay dead on the assumption that everyone is better off without him, and the show subsequently taking its time to show the wake, let Yusuke's mom and Keiko really feel their feelings, etcetera. The adaptation of the wake was, to my memory, almost 100% true to the anime version, including the gut-wrenching moments like Kuwabara starting off angry and then breaking down, and the toddler Yusuke saved not really understanding that he's dead. And I had no complaints about the parts of this arc that they did speed up - a lot of the timeline of the original show is training arcs and Yusuke having to prove himself, and I had almost no problem with them skipping over that. Yusuke not having to do any tasks before coming back to life is A-OK with me.

I also entirely lost my shit at The Dropkick.

And then the last bit of episode 1, where they have to deal with the possessed kid, was absolutely top tier. The way they make demonic possession look and feel in this show is truly horrific, and I loved the way they played it like a one-man zombie apocalypse. The fight choreography was also very impressive and I liked how much they used the environment. Also, letting Kuwabara fight this guy first was a very good way of making the power-scaling clear and establishing that Kuwabara is a fundamentally very decent person willing to punch above his weight class to try and help.

However, this episode did get me excited for something they ended up not doing, which was a bummer. The first thing we see in the show is a Makai insect, which in the anime are the tools of the villains in the Four Saint Beasts arc - at the climax of that storyline, Makai-insect-possessed students and faculty corner Keiko and Botan in the human world while Yusuke fights an increasingly desperate battle against Suzaku to try and stop him. If the full-on body horror zombie thing was what makai insect possession looked like, that scenario immediately seemed like it was going to be butt-clenchingly terrifying.

Of course, they ended up entirely sidestepping the Saint Beasts arc, which is understandable - narratively speaking its only real function is to let the four protagonists team-build after their contentious first meetings. It became clear pretty quickly that with the time they had, it wouldn't be worth it to go there. That said, I think they really could've used a little more team-building time - more on that later.

The first episode also pretty solidly established the tone they'd be taking for the rest of the show - much more dark, almost no comedy. Normally I find those sorts of adaptations pretty dour and joyless, but in this case I thought it helped make the stakes feel solid, and if anything it lined up better with the original premise of "the demon world is a truly horrifying place and its incursion into reality would be an absolute nightmarish apocalypse." I didn't mind that it felt like the stakes were real and the heroes fighting demons was really necessary.

The second episode made it pretty clear where they were going with the series adaptation. While it speeds through the intro of Goki, Kurama and Hiei, it also lets Yusuke's fight with Goki feel - again - extremely well-choreographed and tense. The choreography in this show is consistently very impressive, especially considering how often our heroes have to fight fully CGI bad guys - and this fight doesn't even have any dialogue in it, but it still makes it entirely clear what Yusuke is thinking at every point, which is very impressive, especially since he goes through an entire arc from "I don't need to figure out how to use the Spirit Gun" to "I desperately need the spirit gun to start working right the fuck now". They also handle Kurama's intro very well, making it very clear that he's cunning and kind of inscrutable but not necessarily malicious, and in the scene where Yusuke's tailing him it's pretty clear from the choreography that Kurama knows he's there and is very carefully waiting long enough for him to follow him without feeling like he's being lured, which is entirely in-character, and again a very impressive way to show characterization without any dialogue required. And of course the reveal that Kurama is in fact a Nice Boy who is trying to sacrifice himself to save his mom is real good, and letting Yusuke's past experience with seeing how his mom reacted to his death make him immediately ride or die for Kurama was a very solid bit of characterization - and adding Kuwabara to this subplot where he wasn't originally there helped balance out the characterization a little bit with an entirely justified naysayer pointing out "dude he's a demon maybe don't trust him immediately." It also helps get Kuwabara involved in the main story nice and quick, where he originally is a bit of a late arrival.

The part I was getting a little worried about at this point, and an element of the adaptation that I legitimately think is a detriment, was how they were handling Hiei. A huge part of what makes Hiei fun in the original series is that he is legitimately a huge bastard, and in his introduction is a full-blown bad guy who Yusuke very nearly dies fighting. Classic Hiei kidnapped Keiko and nearly turned her into a demon just to fuck with Yusuke. And what makes their relationship great is the team-building that happens in the Four Saint Beasts arc the adaptation is evidently skipping over, where Hiei is so baffled - and so touched - by Yusuke's completely unearned trust in him that he immediately becomes 100% ride or die for Yusuke and only Yusuke.

He's a vicious little asshole who takes himself very seriously and legitimately has the power to back up his grandstanding 90% of the time, and that's what makes him so fun to watch - those little slivers of characterization where he's goofy or baffled or vulnerable or lets himself be visibly impressed with one of his teammates, mixed with the moments where he's like "okay this has been fun but it's time to die now" and just one-shots the bad guy with another dangerous forbidden technique he picked up for shits and giggles.

So I was getting a little worried that the adaptation wasn't gonna let Hiei be, like. An actual asshole. Because what makes him fun as a character is that he is an asshole, he just also has a handful of sympathetic motivations and nice qualities that he usually doesn't own up to. And I ended up being right about that, which was a bummer, but again, the way they did it was a bit of extremely efficient streamlining. In the anime, Hiei's introduction is just him being a dick for no reason - then everyone has a team-building bonding arc with the Four Saint Beasts, and then Hiei is revealed to have a real heroic motivation hiding somewhere in there: rescuing his secret twin sister Yukina from a nasty human holding her prisoner.

So the adaptation basically just streamlined the entire rest of the show into that arc. Hiei's intro stealing the fancy knife? He's using it to get the Jagan Eye to look for Yukina. Hiei storming this compound full of humans? They're the ones holding Yukina prisoner. It's 100% sympathetic, he's just not willing to own up to that to anybody. Everything he does that's dubiously moral or kind of a dick move? It's actually fine, or he's being framed (like in the shot they perfectly remake from the anime where he kidnaps Keiko, except just kidding it's a shapeshifting bad guy framing him), or Yusuke's the one who attacks him in the first place.

And that's extremely efficient storytelling! It just makes Hiei kind of an antisocial dick and not even slightly a villain, which I think dramatically reduces how fun his character is - it just flattens him into a very standard-issue lancer archetype who refuses to express any sort of emotional or physical vulnerability to anyone, which is a fine character trope, it's just kind of more boring than the dickhead outdoor cat I was hoping for.

The same thing also happens to Genkai, who in the original series has dozens of episodes of screentime to show off how she is the best kind of mentor ever written - a dickhead mentor.

She's rude and snarky and a full-blown asshole, and she and Yusuke have a truly hilarious mentor-stydent dynamic because they're both assholes. And it's not until a good way into the Dark Tournament that we see them in a dynamic that's not just being assholes to each other - when Genkai consolidates all her power into a sporb for Yusuke to absorb, and he spends several episodes nearly dying about it. The fact that Genkai truly cares about him as her student - and the fact that he truly cares about her as his master - only comes out in this subplot, when she honestly believes she's fucked up and killed him and he goes beyond his limits to absorb the power she's given him. It's a beautiful moment of payoff after dozens of episodes of planting, and right after that happens, Genkai is killed.

So when the live-action show introduced Genkai, and after a good solid montage of training and anime-accurate fight scenes and some really good Kuwabara moments, she told Yusuke she had one final technique to give him, I said out loud "oh my god please don't speedrun this." And then they did. She gave Yusuke the sporb and he absorbed it immediately and painlessly, and then they left, and then she immediately gets killed.

My notes on that part were just

So I didn't like that part. Like Hiei, Genkai is such an effective character because her moments of vulnerability and non-assholeness are so rare, and the rest of the time she's an absolute goblin nightmare. Getting rid of that reduces her to another, much flatter trope, and killing her in the same episode she's introduced almost entirely removes the impact of the moment and just makes her another dead mentor. But again, this is episode 3 of 5. This isn't the writer's fault, this is the writers making a very hard decision on what they need to get into the plot if they're planning on speedrunning the entire Dark Tournament arc - which they are. The primary rule they seemed to use when adapting Yu Yu Hakusho is "if the heroes fought this bad guy more than once, no they didn't." So the first fight with the Toguro brothers is going to become the only fight with the Toguro brothers, and they need to speedrun the entire core plot of the Dark Tournament arc within the confines of Toguro's introduction in the Rescue Yukina arc.

And the thing is, hot take? I'm not mad about that. The Dark Tournament is an iconic moment in Shonen anime history, but like. it's a tournament arc. Like all tournament arcs, it goes on a very long time, a lot of it is extremely repetitive, and it eventually arrives at the foregone conclusion end state of "team protagonist vs team final boss". In a five-episode adaptation, you pick the smallest number of good fights with real stakes and you just use those. And that's what they do here. Kurama and Hiei both get little bottle-episode fights with their respective most plot-relevant opponents from the Dark Tournament, and they both get to show off their dangerous forbidden techniques.

And it slaps. It could've used more buildup for maximum punch, but again, five episodes. And frankly in the original they didn't get much buildup either, just "this is a thing I've been working on, hopefully I don't die about it."

And consistently, the fight choreography continues to be really good. The physicality of the actors is very solid and the way CGI attacks and opponents get worked into the choreography is so fluid it's sometimes hard to tell where the CGI ends. And considering the final boss is two full-CGI photorealistic bad guys, I think they do an incredibly good job making the fights feel real and solid.

Characterization-wise, since so much of the final episode is just a lot of fighting against a big damage sponge, there's not a ton of time for talking, but the choreography is, again, a standout. Even outside combat, the secondary characters get a lot of little moments to shine - even Damsel In Distress Du Jour Keiko gets to pull the "oh no, I, your valuable prisoner, am sick, please come into my cell within easy throttling range" trick and breaks herself and Yukina out, which slaps and makes the whole breakout feel like much more of a team effort, and it also lets Keiko and Yukina share some brief but extremely tender moments of characterization that does a lot to make them feel like well-rounded characters. And back in the main fight zone, the characters don't have much dialogue but show where they're at through how they move. Everyone is exhausted and beaten down and has already used their finishing moves, but Yusuke's in trouble, so it's time to scramble back up and tackle the bad guy. It's just such good choreo and such good acting that it makes me forgive a lot of the pacing struggles they're dealing with from boiling everything down to 5 episodes, and without dialogue - just through fight choreography - they manage to make me buy the teamwork dynamic they've thus far failed to establish due to speedrunning past all the stuff that's supposed to help them bond. This is the first part of the show that makes me believe that Hiei has any affection for the gang and any reason to fight alongside them beyond coincidence.

And they continued the trend of hitting all the major plot beats from the stuff they were speedrunning, which led to me counting down the minutes to the Kuwabara Fake-Dies To Motivate Yusuke moment.

The rest of the fight is pretty much just a shot-for-shot adaptation of the final stage of the Toguro bossfight, plus the added fun that it's the first time in the show Yusuke has actually yelled "spirit gun" out loud, which is neat. And it took every second of those five episodes, but in the closing scene they finally reached the group dynamic I was hoping for.

All things considered, given the parameters they had to work in, I think this is the best we could've possibly gotten in only five episodes. I would've probably preferred one where instead of cramming the entire dark tournament into three episodes they just left it alone and just did Rescue Yukina plus maybe the Saint Beasts, but if this is what we were getting, this was a very solid way to do it. I, at least, had an overall very good time, and have been thinking about rewatching it, which is wild since it's only been like three weeks since I watched it the first time. But yea, overall the pacing is wild but I think there was a lot of love and thought put into it, and it really shows.

#asks #not aurora #media recs

[janehaster]

The TVA is located inside a black hole or in its orbit

Ourobouros' comment on black holes and Loki being spaghettified if he wasn't rescued in time made me suspect that the TVA is located inside a black hole or in its vicinity.

There's a book on black holes and the end of the universe in the credits. That's what got me thinking about the possibility. Also, spaghettification is a phenomenon specific to the nature of black holes.

The effect of time and space dilation caused by a black hole would explain why no one ages at the TVA. It's related to Einstein's Theory of Relativity. One year in the orbit of a black hole corresponds to roughly 700 to a thousand years in normal space. This means that, if anything survives inside or near a black hole, that life form wouldn't age as fast as we do. 

Mobius would take 50,000 years to reach his 50s if he lived inside a black hole since he was born, for example

And if some technology created by Kang managed to isolate the effects of high gravity, then it would shield the agency and protect everyone from spaghettification, making it viable for the TVA to work from within or near the black hole, but making it impossible to escape its gravity and travel to other places.

Hence why the TemPads open portals to other points in time and space, and no one at the TVA goes anywhere using space crafts. Maybe not even Kang was able to create a vehicle capable of escaping the titanic gravity of a black hole. Not without risking spaghettification, at least. Hence the use of portals that instantly materialize you where you need to be.

With that said, Kang studied the relation between time, space and gravity and mastered it to the point where he created a device that could gather “raw time” and spin it into manufactured strands of time, bringing order - an artificial order, mind you - to what we presume is a chaotic universe, doomed to branch into a Multiverse and its own total annihilation.

One question remains, though. Loki and Sylvie traveled to the Citadel at the End of Time, but the TVA was nowhere to be seen. Shouldn’t it be located somewhere in the vicinity and be visible from Kang’s castle, since it’s also not located anywhere within the Sacred Timeline, rather existing outside of it? And where is the Temporal Loom located, exactly? In the very center of a black hole or in orbit around it, along with the TVA?

So many questions 

#mcu loki #loki series #loki season 2 #loki #loki show #tva loki #loki 2023 #loki s2 #disney tva #mcu tva #temporal loom #ourobouros #kang #mcu kang #loki theory #loki theories #black hole #spaghettification

[ineffabletimehusbands]

As much as I absolutely adore Loki and Mobius and could go on about them for ages-

I want to analyze Sylvie for a moment and Loki's dynamic with her, particularly in the second season.

Something shifted, obviously, from season 1 to season 2, and I really don't think it can be explained away as the writers seeing people be vocal about disliking Loki and Sylvie together so they switched gears. I don't think they ever switched gears, I think what we saw was exactly the story they wanted to tell.

A lot of the cast and crew had different interpretations of their dynamic, that's also intentional, because in the end I don't think it ever mattered. Something nearly all of them came back to was that any romance seen between them was supposed to be a representation of self-love. Even if I think that could be executed better, I think that interpretation is necessary to think about in the second season.

Almost every interaction between Loki and Sylvie in season 2 sounds like Loki is talking to a past version of himself, one that hasn't underwent the changes he has and is carrying a lot of pain and lashes out because of it.

Sylvie is reckless, and angry, and selfish, Loki sees in her everything that he was, he even says as much in the Citadel before she kills HWR. She's hurting, and has built up defenses the same way he has. She resents everyone that gets in the way of her living the life she wants for herself.

Sylvie, I think, represents every other Loki of every other timeline. In doing what he does, Loki allows every other version of himself to make their own decisions and have a life that he was never allowed to have. He's showing compassion to every version of himself in the multiverse when he doesn't kill her.

That isn't narcissism. That is self-love.

He remains, holding the tree of time together, so that other Lokis can write their own story instead of being destined to die like his sacred timeline self. He remains, so that other Lokis don't have to be destined to lose. Which I think is why the show allows us to see that Sylvie is happy. If she's happy, that means that somewhere in the vast amount of branches, other Lokis can be happy too.

#loki #loki laufeyson #sylvie #sylvie laufeydottir #loki season 2 #loki season 2 spoilers

[murdrdocs]

all i ask is a mobius fic with a fellow tva worker who find out they have a life together on the timeline 🙏🙏🙏

- 🚑

it’s silent in the shared space. mobius was eating his key lime pie, but he’d only gotten three bites in (you counted) when he suddenly expressed disinterest in consuming the dessert and more interest in picking at it as if he’s trying to dissect it.

you sit in front of him, feeling newly close despite the distance created by the small table. there’s no pie in front of you, instead a cup of hot chocolate that you’d once left alone to cool but not it sat completely uninterested.

the two of you have been sitting like this for nearly half an hour, no doubt thinking about the same thing.

still, mobius asks.

he takes a breath and the sound of metal against porcelain forces you to look up from the table. “so …” mobius adjusts his blazer. “what’re you thinking about?” he says it casually, a smile on his lips as he awaits your response.

you try to replicate his tone, but charm and charisma doesn’t come to you that easily. your voice barely wavers when you say, “us.”

mobius’ face falls as if he hadn’t been expecting your response. but when he glances down at the table, you see that he was expecting it.

“yeah. me too.”

silence once more befalls the space of the pie room, but it’s not awkward. it’s full of longing, each of you creating scenarios of what life is like now that you know your lives are intertwined in more ways than how it is now.

“d’you think we get along well?”

your question causes mobius to scoff as if it’s the most absurd question he’d ever heard.

“of course we get along. look at us now. you have your hot chocolate i have my pie. we’re like two peas.”

you can’t help but smile at his words despite the conjoining of the two foods making absolutely no sense. mobius, seemingly uplifted by his own doing, picks up his spoon and takes a hearty bite of his pie. it encourages you to take a gulp of your hot chocolate, now more so lukewarm than anything else.

and somewhere out there on the sacred timeline, the two of you live a beautiful life together.

a small home, decorated with pictures of yourself and your nieces and nephews. it’s quaint enough for the two of you but there’s an extra bedroom that provides inspiration. sometimes you find yourself standing in it, hands on your hips as you look around at the four walls. your wedding ring and the band is easily swirled around your finger as you think, and the anniversary necklace is toyed with along your neck. eventually, mobius will come up next to you to rest his hand along your back and rub against your skin through the layers.

“there’s still time,” he always reminds you. and that’s just the thing. the two of you, living life on the sacred timeline, have time.

#i miss him :( #mobius m mobius #mobius x reader #mobius x you #mobius fluff #mobius #loki series #–𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍 🚑

[oswildin]

Hope {Loki x GN!Reader}

Summary: Hoping for the better, for change, was hard… But sometimes, hoping for another… Was what was more important.

A/N: Reader is in place of Sylvie (love you bestie, sorry we took your plot), and it’s a reinterpretation of the ‘pie room’ scene in S2 EP4. Please refrain from any comments regarding Sylvie’s character here.

Loki was never one for sentiments.

At least that’s what he told himself, displayed to the world. The meticulously crafted illusion he had spent years building, wielding, using as a shield of sorts.

And when you came along…

Well, his shield began to crack. His walls began to crumble.

See within the TVA, having watched his whole life pan out before his eyes - his failures, his mistakes - it put things into perspective. Loki knew he was a man with a heart that was much bigger than he lead others to believe. No, he wasn’t as cold or indifferent to sentiment as he made out - quite the opposite in fact. Every mistake, every failure he had seen play out in his life on the Sacred Timeline was fuelled by sentiment - whether for those he cared for or his own for himself.

And when you came along…

Well, his walls were practically rubble, piles of dust and debris.

Even if he didn’t quite know how to articulate the way you made him feel, or even dare give it a name. ‘Sentiment’ was the closest he could come to. And now, there you were. In the TVA, the place you had sworn to burn to the ground. The place where your life was stolen from you, that made you run and run and run - hide and plan… Years of your life, gone, because of the TVA.

You were strong. There was no doubt about that. You had to be. You were resilient because you had to be. You were brave, unafraid to make a stand… because you had no one else to do it for you. You were independent, fiercely so. And Loki couldn’t blame you. He wished he could, he wished he could cast the blame your way, to curse the fact you had put them in this mess…

But he couldn’t. Not when you looked at him like that.

All you had wanted was a home. A place you could feel safe in, protected… Not constantly surviving. But living.

“Say it.”

Your voice cut through the silence of the automat, surrounded by the sweet aroma of key-lime pies. It was sickening. A reminder of a life that was always just out of reach. Loki stayed silent, hands in his trouser pockets as he leaned against a nearby table, head tilted faintly, brows furrowed ever so slightly. The way he looked at you made you feel… Uneasy. But a good kind of uneasy. If that was even possible.

“Come on.” You pressed, folding your arms, standing in the middle of the room, holding his gaze unwaveringly. “You heard O.B. I can see it when they look at me.” You purse your lips. Why did it bother you what they thought? You did them all a favour. At least, you thought you did.

“See what?” Loki finally asked, voice low, subdued. You let out a small frustrated breath.

“The blame.” You raise a brow, unfolding your arms as you turned slightly, eyes drifting over the numerous pies littered in the displays around the room. Loki stayed silent, answering your silent question - ‘am I right?’ A small, bitter laugh escaped your lips as you nodded to yourself, hands moving to your hips. “Yeah.” You murmured quietly, barely above a whisper.

Silence fell between you both, Loki’s gaze flickering down to his shoes as his jaw twitched, trying to figure out what was the right thing to say. “Blame is a… broad term.” He spoke lowly, voice measured. “Especially in an impossible situation we faced. Still face.” He looked up again, blue eyes trying to meet yours, but you kept your gaze away, his eyes trailing your profile.

Hurt. Betrayed. Lost.

That was how he felt. And he imagined you felt something similar. You had pushed him away, sent him back to the TVA, took it upon yourself to face He Who Remains alone, to make the decision for everyone. You fought for what you thought was right. Although, you couldn’t deny, emotion had fuelled your resolve. Loki understood that better than anyone. Perhaps that’s why he couldn’t be angry, why he couldn’t bring himself to blame you. Not entirely. He should’ve known. Tried harder. You’d been on your own for so long, unable to trust, unable to see there was other ways… He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head lightly.

“We all just want what’s best-“ He tried, but you quickly cut him off, finally turning your gaze to meet his.

“Best?” You almost scoff. “There is no ‘best’, there is no version of this where any of us get what we want. There is no peace.” You say, voice holding an edge of anger. Anger at yourself, He Who Remains, the TVA… The universe… All of it. “Do you think I wanted this?” You furrow your brows, shifting on your feet to face him directly. “Losing the TVA? Sure, fine-“ You nod, as Loki pursed his lips, eyes narrowing faintly. He had to admit, he had begun to felt a sense of belonging at the TVA, with his friends, and to hear you say you still didn’t care if it lived or died caused a flicker of anger to go through him. But he understood.

And he hated that he did. It was much easier when he pretended that sentiment didn’t affect him.

“But all of this…” Your voice quietened slightly. “No. This isn’t what I wanted.” Your anger quickly shifted into remorse, guilt even, shoulders slumping. You had never meant to hurt Loki. No. The look on his face as you pushed him through the time door was imprinted into your brain, it had been the only thing you could focus on for the last six months on Earth. “I am… trying.” You clench your hand into a brief fist, an outward display of your inner turmoil. “I’m trying to… do what is right. I’m here. I’m trying to help.” You take a deep breath. “But it’s hard.” You admit. “This place…” You gestured around you both languidly. “It’s hard to imagine it could be something better.”

Loki’s expression shifted, the sharp lines of his face softening at your admission. After a moment, he pushed himself to his full height, removing his hands from his pockets, taking a few slow, almost cautious steps towards you. You were both complex people, with such different experiences… Yet both the same at your core. Wanting to have a place to belong, to feel loved, to have something… real.

“I know.” Loki replied softly, raising his brows momentarily. “I know.” He repeated, quietly, more to himself. He stopped a few feet away from you, and in his closer proximity, he could see the faint sheen of tears that stung your eyes. It tugged at something within him. “But change is hard.” He continued. “Imagining something better is hard.” He paused, letting you absorb his words. “Hope is hard.” Loki’s eyes dropped again, drifting to the tiled floor. “The notion of right and wrong… It isn’t as simple as what we are lead to believe.” He sighed. “It’s complex, nuanced… It isn’t black and white, but shades of grey that bleed into one other.” His eyes rose again to meet your own. “Much like us.”

You lick your lower lip anxiously, hands at your sides itching for something to fiddle with. The way he looked at you, as if you were the most perplexing yet beautiful thing in the universe… It was a sight that never failed to leave you scrambling for your words. Even despite everything… He still looked at you like you had all the answers to his questions.

“Very Shakespeare of you.” You commented wryly, finding it easy to use humour as a way to deflect from letting your emotions surface. Loki’s lips quirked upwards briefly at the quip, letting you take your time. “I-“ You cut yourself short, sighing as you closed your eyes for a moment. “I… don’t know… what to do.” Your lip quivered faintly as your breath hitched. “I just… wanted to live.” Your heart ached at the word. A selfish desire? Yes. But one that was born from a lifetime of experiencing the horrors of apocalypses, whole worlds dying, having to go through it all alone. And then… when you had the chance to not be alone… You panicked.

Loki blinked quickly seeing your lip tremble, as he took a step closer, a hand rising faintly as if to reach out, to offer comfort. But hesitated. As if he was scared to, incase he caused you more distress. But when you looked at him with those big, sad eyes… He couldn’t resist. Tentatively, his hand grasped your bicep gently, offering a grounding sensation, a silent acknowledgment that you weren’t as alone as you may have believed. You watched his face closely, lips downturned, brows furrowed.

“And you deserve that.” Loki affirmed quietly. “You deserve to feel… happy. Safe… protected.” The word ‘loved’ lingered silently in the air between them. “I meant what I said in the void… Nothing has changed.” He shook his head, voice resolute. “We can figure it out. Together.” He repeated his words he had spoken to you in the desolate Void, conviction in his eyes. His hand shifted from your bicep, sliding up your arm soothingly as he stepped even closer, his hand moving to ever so gently, carefully, rest against your neck, his thumb brushing your jaw tenderly.

You let out a quiet breath at the touch, feeling your heart beating in your chest. Sentiment was never something you were able to let yourself feel. You never had the chance…

And when he came along…

Well, it was something that quickly began to take root within your heart, something that you knew was dangerous.

“I don’t blame you.” Loki’s words broke the silence once again. “It was an impossible decision… I just wanted more time.” He spoke quietly, not wanting to disturb the momentary stillness that had settled around you. “Time to think. Time to… discuss.” He let out a quiet breath of his own, searching your eyes for any sign of understanding. “I was not trying to betray you.”

You bit your lower lip at his words, a tear escaping your eye as you could see the honesty, the sincerity of his words. You had reacted rashly at the citadel, panicking, using your instincts of survival to guide you, your emotions… Rather than logic. You couldn’t say you regretted your choice. You would be lying. Freeing the timeline… It was the right thing to do. But how you went about it… Maybe… Maybe there could’ve been another way. One that didn’t evolve into the mess, the predicament, you all found yourselves in the midst of now. But it was too late. What was done, was done.

“Emotions get the better of us all sometimes.” Loki continued, seeing the vast array of emotions going through your features. “Trust me, I would know.” He added wryly, tilting his head faintly, lips quirking into a small self-deprecating smirk - an acknowledgment of his own past. “But sometimes, letting our emotions rule over us… Finding a balance of mind and heart… Can lead to good things.”

“And you think this is it?” You asked, voice barely above a whisper. “Bringing Timely here… Fixing the loom… Changing the TVA? You think that’s a good thing?” The skepticism was evident in your tone, and Loki gave a look of understanding. You were right to have reservations… Especially after Dox and her escapade.

“I think it’s the best option we’ve got. Whether you believe that to be the case or not.” His thumb brushed against your skin once again, soothing, calming - but most of all, reassuring. “We ensure nothing like what Dox pulled happens again. The branches will remain safe, guarded by those here at the TVA.” He spoke with quiet conviction. “Mobius, O.B, B-15, Casey… These are people we can trust.”

Trust. You squirmed inwardly at the fragile word. Loki noticed.

“We’ll never know, if we don’t try.” He told you, nodding lightly, silent encouragement for you to believe him, to remain skeptical, but to at least try… You closed your eyes, another tear falling as you ever so faintly nodded. Loki felt a wave of relief go through him, his features relaxing as he let himself release a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding. His hand pressed more firmly against your neck, more certain of your acceptance now, before it slid up to properly cup your jaw, fingers brushing your skin. “Thank you.” He whispered, as you opened your eyes, feeling him wipe away a tear with the pad of his thumb.

He knew you were doing this for him.

“Don’t make me regret it.” You said, an undercurrent of pleading to your voice as he shook his head.

“I won’t.” He promised, a rare thing for Loki. But he meant it, wholeheartedly. He would do everything in his power to make it right.

For you. For all of them.

Sentiment… such a vast word for an array of meanings… of feelings. Yet he understood exactly what the word really was for how he felt. What he felt. Did it need saying? These feelings were as new for him as they were for you. They were terrifying yet comforting. Such a contradiction. It seemed fitting for you both.

“The smell in here is overwhelming.” You voice broke the silence, such a blunt observation, one that elicited a breathy, low chuckle from Loki as he nodded.

“It really is.” He agreed.

“So… sweet.”

“Completely too sweet.”

“Hm.”

“Mobius likes it.”

“Of course he does.”

Your lips quirked upwards faintly, and the sight made Loki’s heart flutter in his chest. There was a look on his face, it was almost giddy, completely soft as his eyes crinkled lightly, lips holding back a grin. He’d missed this. Missed you. And you had missed him. Life on the branch… it didn’t fill the void you’d felt since the citadel.

“We should probably…” You cleared your throat, as Loki let out a breath, nodding, although his hand made no move to pull away from your face.

“Yeah…” He breathed out, his eyes flickering to your lips. The kiss at the citadel, initiated by you, had been seared into his mind, the way it had made him feel… It was unlike anything he’d ever known. It was like the world had stopped - or in this case the universe. It made him feel seen, cared for… You could see the longing in his eyes, and it made your own heart quicken in your chest, holding your breath. You could see the silent question on his face, as you gave the barest of nods. That was all Loki needed.

His face ducked to meet yours, lips capturing your own in a soft, tender kiss. Both of your eyes closed as you both savoured the feeling. Even if time flowed differently in the TVA, for you both it seemed to stop. His kiss was reverent, deeply caring, as if this was what he was made for - what you were made for.

Hope was a dangerous thing.

#loki #loki x reader #loki laufeyson x reader #loki x y/n #loki x you #loki imagine #loki laufeyson #loki fanfic #loki marvel #marvel x reader #mcu x reader

[gravewaax]

canada is burning

hey friends. wanted to draw attention to the unprecedented wildfire season us canucks are currently having (and especially how these have been impacting indigenous communities).

3.3 million hectares of wildland have currently burned across the country. this is 10 times the average amount of fires that we experience per year. there’s air pollution advisories all over, with conditions ranging from persistent smokey hazes to orange skies and a red sun and general hellish atmosphere. communities are burning and people are being evacuated. i’m going to go over which provinces are the most affected along with some links to resources.

*updated 11/07/2023. please link me to any updated resources or personal fundraisers and i’ll edit them in.

QUEBEC:

currently headlining because they have 160 (mostly out of control) fires and the smoke is hanging over southern ontario, where most of canada’s population lives.

the Algonquins of barriere lake have been displaced. the community has a population of 800, with a number of people living in cabins along traditional traplines. the Maniwaki Native Friendship Centre has been taking in evacuees, as well as providing meals and support. i believe they’ve closed donations for now, but keep an eye on their socials in case anything changes.

edit: mutual aid request for the Algonquins of barrier lake can be found here. physical donations can be dropped off at ramada plaza, gatineau, quebec.

edit: Odawa Native Friendship Centre is taking donations to assist evacuees.

MARITIMES- NOVA SCOTIA & NEW BRUNSWICK:

following heavy rainfall, people are beginning to return to their homes in NS. due to the location of the fires, ruptured fuel and chemical tanks may have contaminated the groundwater. if you live in NS, free well-water testing kits are beginning to be circulated. samples can be dropped off at the following locations.

the canadian red cross is taking donations to provide humanitarian aid to those displaced in NB and NS, including shelter.

edit: fundraiser for a lost home in nova scotia, having raised almost 2000 of the $8000 goal.

ALBERTA:

set a record in may for the most hectares burned in a year, sitting pretty at over 1.3 million. the previous fire season was less than 500.

the east prairie Métis have been especially affected, losing 29 homes in a community of only 300 people. while this was in early may, and they’re starting to recover, their official gofundme is here. they’re about halfway to raising $50,000, with the aim to prioritize the 14 families who lost actively lived-in homes. the high prairie friendship centre is also taking physical donations if you live in the area. edit: been made aware that there is a fantastic linktree to individual fundraisers regarding the loss of homes.

edit: fox lake was also forced to evacuate back in early may. Little Red River Cree Nation had to escape across peace river on a barge. they have a fundraiser with 30 of $50,000 raised to purchase baby supplies and household items for the affected.

the canadian red cross is taking donations for alberta as well.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES:

K’atl’odeeche First Nation and their neighbouring community hay river were displaced. as of late may, the K’atl’odeeche chief, Martel, is still trying to set up a 100 person encampment for those who were impacted by the fires. while hay river has been allowed to return, there is no timeline yet for KFN. chief Martel says that people from hay river have been ignoring the barricades set up at the reserve and she is concerned for the safety of her community. please be aware that chief Martel has asked photos of the damage not to be shared on social media, as members of her community have not yet been allowed back on the reserve to see it firsthand. sacred sites and traditional traplines have been destroyed. please be respectful.

i couldn’t find many fundraisers for the NWT, unfortunately. it appears that united way is taking monetary donations, yellowknife evacuation centre is taking giftcards, and the yellowknife salvation army is accepting physical donations.

SASKATCHEWAN:

in early may there were wildfires in northern sask that displaced the Clearwater Dene Nation. i wasn’t able to find any updates or fundraisers on the situation, but their live map indicates there are still 4 uncontained fires. you can imagine this is not good on a huge swath of flat, hot, dry land full of flammable grass.

*NEW* ONTARIO

i’ve been made aware of a fundraiser for the Anishinaabe of Grassy Narrows. last year, their one and only fire escape route was washed out by flooding. as canada experiences its worst fire season in years, it’s absolutely crucial that this road be repaired as soon as possible. they’ve currently raised about 16k of their 40k goal.

since the community banned industrial extraction (logging/mining) the ontario government has stopped maintaining the roads in the area. Grassy Narrows deserves justice and support during these hard times.

#canada moment #please reblog if you can i don't think tumblr likes donation links