Myth like the kind of history that passes through a millennia, a story told of the ages and those that plays host to the tale of the shards and their shardbearers. There is a game of battles that the shardbearers play amongst themselves, but much of the art is lost. There are few that know of it, and even fewer that would share the details.
But there are still people who know the origins of the myth. The ones who could, maybe, be convinced to share the details if the pitch was compelling enough. Those are the people I want to talk to. Those are the ones I need to talk to because learning the keys of shard magic is going to be what helps us in the next phase.
[But he's sure Loki knows that and that he's talking in circles, as usual.]
...I know you said you wouldn't teach me how to activate my shard until I learned how to conceal it, but what can I do to prepare for that in the meantime?
What makes you believe that they won't play the role of the dissembler? Offer hospitality in the morn and then flay you when the sun sets for your shard? Perhaps leave you to the carrion eaters once their prize has been secured.
The ones who've held these secrets have done so for thousand of years. What, pray tell, do you believe you have to offer them that they have not already been offered?
Prepare as you have been. Read between the lines, find the answer you know is there. Prepare your emotions, and think of something in your memory. Think of something that reminds you of home. Hold onto it, remember it vividly. Keep it. You'll need it.
I don't. [Normally he'd argue. Normally he'd find a way to justify that he's the exception to everything and would talk in circles around Loki to bullshit his way out and try to weasel information out that way...but no. Instead he's just focusing on the conversation at hand and what he has in front of him instead of any imaginary scenario he can create. It's a disturbing image to conjure in his head, but at the same time he knows very well it can happen.] I don't know that, and I don't think I have anything to offer them yet that they haven't been offered already. That's why I'm doing my own research first. I want to see what I can find on my own for comparison and I want to be able to activate and study my own shard before I try anything else.
It could be months. [And the way he says so is so matter-of-fact. Almost patient. Almost.] We might not have months, but we also don't have the resources to set ourselves up for a guaranteed failure. [A pause.] A good something, or a bad something...?
[ those that Morla had mentioned to him where long-term shardbearers and lords that knew the world better than them. they had guarded these secrets for a millennia, and he knew that they would not yield without a particular brand of cleverness. ]
Something strong. A bed, a place, a toilet, something that resonates in you. Something that you can remember details up and conjure at a moment's notice.
As far as the promise of activation goes, our deal stands, but that doesn't mean that you can't find quicker means of finding how to hide your shard signature.
...I think I understand. And I think I have the perfect place. [And he does. Even while just speaking with Loki he knows exactly what to pinpoint, already drafting up the support beams and the low lights in his head.] I'll keep that in mind for when I'm ready then.
[That causes another pause though.] Oh yeah? I thought that was just something you had to earn from the monarchs. [Granted he's been idly searching since Loki told him that part of their deal. The answer's just been escaping him over and over again.]
You're clever—I'm sure if you want something badly enough you can find means to do it.
[ if Hiro wants to point his passions in directions that may get him killed rather that ones that may not, Loki finds that he can offer a little bit of help in that respect. ]
[He doesn't say anything for a long time after that, and when he does speak it's very slow and deliberate.]
...I'll think of something. [He has ideas, certainly, everything ranging from "killing somebody" to "marching up to Morla and demanding shard concealment" to "figuring out how other people like Loki have done it" but he's not going to charge straight into anything just yet.] Thanks for the vote of confidence. [And also surprisingly not sarcastic. He's...actually thanking him for that.
There's way too much happening right now to even try to be his usual bratty self. More than anything he's busy trying not to push Loki's buttons, too. He's puzzled out that Loki had to had suffered the same way Ariadne did, but if Loki's not going to directly tell him, Hiro will just make sure to keep mind of it.] I'll see what I can come up with.
[ Loki says smoothly. there's a laundry list of places for him to go, and people for him to talk to. luckily this will shake off, and luckily he'll be back to throw himself into the game. ]
ASAP-ity, won't you? This shard magic won't do itself, you know.
ASAP will only work so much right now. [People to check in with, things to figure out.] But close enough, sure. I'll...let you know. [Strangely he's at a loss for words. He doesn't quite continue but he doesn't quite cut the call either.]
Needn't be, gonna be anyway. [Another shrug. SOME THINGS JUST DON'T GO AWAY DUDE, THAT INCLUDES CRUSHES ON CUTE BOYS AND CULTS. Don't ignore it Loki, jeeze.
And, perhaps, he's overstepping his boundaries, but he's going to try one more time.]
[...that just makes it worse, really. It sort of just confirms everything as far as he's concerned.]
I just... [Just what, Hiro? Think you can help?] Okay look. This is probably hilarious coming from me, but it's. [Nope, hold on. Think this through again.]
...am I wrong? [Maybe he doesn't want to know.] Even if you're not going to tell me, just don't pretend everything's okay. Okay? [It even sounds childish to his own ears but judging by how everybody else has been acting it's sort of worth being said.] I mean you're doing a good job, but is it worth it?
[ some things were easier to pretend to let go. he was an agent of chaos, a child of Asgard, not some cultists' plaything. the worst had been the mockery, the knowledge that he could've killed them, but held his hand to leave a message. there was no god more powerful than this. maybe he was never utilized in the same fashion that his memories say he utilized other people, and there's a sick feeling that comes with that when he allows his mind to wander, a boil in his belly that he covers with so many logical twists.
the worst thing about being someone who's good at convincing other people means that the same technique can be used on yourself. ]
[It's a losing fight. He knows that, recognizes that, but he can only hope that the slight pause means he got through even a tiny bit. With that, there's another small sigh.]
Good. [A pause.] ...I'm going to get back to checking things out but...you know. Network's always on.
[ there's a moment before he starts talking again. ]
There are times when the whole world seems dark. Perhaps it's a cursed test, or a push against fate, but whatever damnable cosmic force decides to act against me ...
I won't give up.
If we don't hold on in the direst of times, then those stories fall flat. Chin up, eh?
[That's...a little more reassuring. That sounds more like the Loki he knows and when he speaks there a tiny bit of relief in his tone. That slight amount of hope, actually.]
That's all you had to say. Chin up. [He's still going to worry a lot, but it's okay. They'll be fine.] Isn't that kind of the whole deal with our court anyway? We don't give up on things. We're going to be fine. [Eventually.]
You mean dig through all of the history of this world and pinpoint what, exactly, the divide is about and maybe how to fix it? I guess I could do that.
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[But he's sure Loki knows that and that he's talking in circles, as usual.]
...I know you said you wouldn't teach me how to activate my shard until I learned how to conceal it, but what can I do to prepare for that in the meantime?
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The ones who've held these secrets have done so for thousand of years. What, pray tell, do you believe you have to offer them that they have not already been offered?
Prepare as you have been. Read between the lines, find the answer you know is there. Prepare your emotions, and think of something in your memory. Think of something that reminds you of home. Hold onto it, remember it vividly. Keep it. You'll need it.
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It could be months. [And the way he says so is so matter-of-fact. Almost patient. Almost.] We might not have months, but we also don't have the resources to set ourselves up for a guaranteed failure. [A pause.] A good something, or a bad something...?
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Something strong. A bed, a place, a toilet, something that resonates in you. Something that you can remember details up and conjure at a moment's notice.
As far as the promise of activation goes, our deal stands, but that doesn't mean that you can't find quicker means of finding how to hide your shard signature.
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[That causes another pause though.] Oh yeah? I thought that was just something you had to earn from the monarchs. [Granted he's been idly searching since Loki told him that part of their deal. The answer's just been escaping him over and over again.]
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[ if Hiro wants to point his passions in directions that may get him killed rather that ones that may not, Loki finds that he can offer a little bit of help in that respect. ]
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...I'll think of something. [He has ideas, certainly, everything ranging from "killing somebody" to "marching up to Morla and demanding shard concealment" to "figuring out how other people like Loki have done it" but he's not going to charge straight into anything just yet.] Thanks for the vote of confidence. [And also surprisingly not sarcastic. He's...actually thanking him for that.
There's way too much happening right now to even try to be his usual bratty self. More than anything he's busy trying not to push Loki's buttons, too. He's puzzled out that Loki had to had suffered the same way Ariadne did, but if Loki's not going to directly tell him, Hiro will just make sure to keep mind of it.] I'll see what I can come up with.
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[ Loki says smoothly. there's a laundry list of places for him to go, and people for him to talk to. luckily this will shake off, and luckily he'll be back to throw himself into the game. ]
ASAP-ity, won't you? This shard magic won't do itself, you know.
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...what's your next step anyway?
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[ one of these more than the others, really. it could be the nap. ]
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["Just in case somebody decides they'd like to tap in and mess with your head again."] I'll see what I can do with some of the leads on my end.
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One pair of eyes will be fine. You needn't be concerned.
[ THIS WILL JUST GO AWAY. ]
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And, perhaps, he's overstepping his boundaries, but he's going to try one more time.]
Any other omissions you wanna share?
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Hiro ...
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I just... [Just what, Hiro? Think you can help?] Okay look. This is probably hilarious coming from me, but it's. [Nope, hold on. Think this through again.]
...am I wrong? [Maybe he doesn't want to know.] Even if you're not going to tell me, just don't pretend everything's okay. Okay? [It even sounds childish to his own ears but judging by how everybody else has been acting it's sort of worth being said.] I mean you're doing a good job, but is it worth it?
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the worst thing about being someone who's good at convincing other people means that the same technique can be used on yourself. ]
I won't give them the satisfaction.
[ he says after a moment. ]
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Good. [A pause.] ...I'm going to get back to checking things out but...you know. Network's always on.
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[ there's a moment before he starts talking again. ]
There are times when the whole world seems dark. Perhaps it's a cursed test, or a push against fate, but whatever damnable cosmic force decides to act against me ...
I won't give up.
If we don't hold on in the direst of times, then those stories fall flat. Chin up, eh?
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That's all you had to say. Chin up. [He's still going to worry a lot, but it's okay. They'll be fine.] Isn't that kind of the whole deal with our court anyway? We don't give up on things. We're going to be fine. [Eventually.]
And like we'd really let you give up anyway.
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[ little correction there. ]
Actually—I'm a bit curious. You said you're dedicating yourself to research, hm?
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