what if...I took a basic meme premise and made it fucky - for icasm

[favoriteanalyst]

[He keeps things from Loki, of course.

Not the important things, the pertinent things. Everyone has their secrets, and no one is ever truly an open book. (Regardless of how well he knows Loki. Extenuating circumstances.) And while Loki has slowly gotten to learn more about how the TVA works, he isn't privy to every detail. He's genuinely curious sometimes. And maliciously curious at other times. Mobius tries to strike a balance, let him know or learn on his own the things he can, steer clear of the things he shouldn't.

So while he's Mobius' partner, something of a junior agent in his own right with several, several caveats, he also doesn't need to know about every aspect of his job.

It's harder when it's another Loki variant that comes across his desk. Sylvie is a point of...contention? A special case, that's for certain. Dangerous, yes, and well worth his involvement, but...different. Not, as such, a case at all anymore, not really. But this one's fairly cut and dry. He frowns when he looks through the casefile. Because Loki shouldn't be anywhere near this one.

Variant L1952 took a different turn after being picked up by Thanos. A mix of biding his time too long, the effects of the mind stone, some powerful persuasion, and a budding army of zealots - this one turned from desperate survivalist wannabe conqueror into a fullblown child of the Mad Titan. It's not pretty, the way things devolve for the variant from there, at least as far into the branch as they've been able to track. The trickiest part is how this one seems to elude their immediate grasp. He's slippery and powerful and needs another set of eyes to make a plan of action to find him and take him in with as little injury to the hunters as possible. The scepter is a tremendous artifact with a stone of great ability if used right (and he can see it now, a trophy in Ravonna's office, and the thought hurts more than he thinks it should), and even when Gamora and Nebula aren't around, or Proxima Midnight and the rest, there's still a Chitauri army to contend with.

It's the kind of thing where he realizes he could use Loki's insight on this, too. Not just for it being a Loki variant - Mobius has seen many come and go without issue before. There's a combination of who it is, and the circumstances surrounding him, and not to mention Thanos in play, that makes him realize that a little help might be prudent for expediency's sake.

He doesn't want to let Loki know. It's...delicate. The kind of thing that his Loki is still relatively fresh from, that might still bleed as an open wound. But Loki's a nosy little shit, and he has noticed a new case that he has decidedly not been specifically on, so there are questions. And he hates this. But. But.

Stonyfaced, he hands Loki the file.] You're not gonna like it.

Comments

[icasm]

[ Loki is a nosy little shit, and to put a fine point on things he dislikes being kept from information. Especially by Mobius, particularly about work, definitely when it's clear that Mobius is not exactly thrilled with whatever is going on, and ultimately he is the biggest nosy little shit when he thinks that the variant in question might be a Loki. So he's asked questions, some of them incessant by nature but many of them just pointed ('how many hunters have been lost to this particular case' is one of the latter), and he can pinpoint the exact moment when Mobius, perhaps against his better judgment, decides to give him the intel he's been hounding after.

He doesn't crow in his success, but it's very clear he'd like nothing less.

The first readthrough is a skim for pertinent information, and the second is a deeper dive into the peculiarities and history of Variant L1952. He's not quite done with that when he curses under his breath, once, and then flips to field reports about the Variant's behavior when encountered by Hunters instead.

Knowing how easily the balance of sanity versus insanity shifts — for himself in particular — in light of a grand and overarching plan, Loki is under no presumptions that this version is anything but quite firmly without the former. His instinct is to tell Mobius to stay far and away from this man, but he recognizes the fallacy there, starting with the assumption that Mobius would even court such an idea.

For someone who doesn't really know how to fight, Mobius tends to dislike backing down from threats. ]

You're right, [ he says eventually, ] I don't like it. [ He scrunches up his face, pulling his lips to one side of his mouth. ] You'll need bait. Something to distract him.

[ So. Probably Loki himself, really. ]

[favoriteanalyst]

[Mobius is unusually nervous about however Loki will react. Tries to hide it in distracting himself with some other file, looking over places attacked, glancing over a/the history of Thanos just for background information Mobius frankly doesn't really need just so he doesn't start pacing around. He still bounces a leg with nerves while Loki's in the middle of it. Something to keep him from scrutinizing every brief flicker of expression across Loki's face as he reads.

When Loki eventually speaks, his head snaps up. It's a more measured response than he was anticipating, if he's honest, and it takes him a few moments longer than he would like to catch up with what Loki's suggesting.]

No. [The nerves melt into a fear that he tries to keep out of his voice.] Absolutely not. You think I wanna risk you to this guy? You're a consultant, not bait.

[On some level, they should be matched in skill. But out in the field, 1952 will still have the scepter, along with a single-minded madness that he does not want his Loki anywhere near.]

He's a child of the Titan, bent on wiping out half of every population and gathering up the rest of the stones for the big one. But he's also a Loki. It's entirely possible that if he's given a way out, he'll take it. It's just singling him out away from everyone else that's the real problem. We're not an army and not equipped to fight one. [Which, he supposes, will just lead Loki right back to the suggestion of bait.] What else can we use? Because you're not going.

[icasm]

[ Loki's feelings about Mobius' response are complicated, immediately. Firstly he feels... good? That Mobius is apparently unwilling to let Loki be used as bait, though he thinks it's a bit of a fallacy at best, dismissing the best idea out of hand at worst. ]

He's had options for ways out before; he won't take them. [ He points to one of the reports in the file in front of him. ] Definitely not from or for the TVA and he won't be easily isolated from the rest of them without someone as bait because that's half the point of being part of that 'family'. [ Loki makes air quotes with his fingers. ] They're rarely alone — he'd never have to feel alone with them, and that matters a lot to most of us Lokis, not sure if you noticed.

[ Sylvie may be the exception that proves the rule, there. ]

Also, I'm not sure you could actually stop me from going on this one. You're going, aren't you? [ He'll go above Mobius on the issue if he's forced to. ]

[favoriteanalyst]

[Just because Loki's right doesn't mean Mobius has to like it, nor give him the satisfaction of verbally admitting he's right.

It would be idiotic not to be afraid, but if fear ever stopped Mobius, he wouldn't be a top agent tracking down the most dangerous variants the timeline has to offer. This one...definitely counts.] So we use something else as bait. [The idea of using one of the many iterations of stones they have is tempting, but that would surely bring all of them, not just Loki. It has to be something that would attract the attention of just him. Something that isn't a person, a slab of meat thrown just outside the den of a starving lion.

Then there's the unbidden thought of bringing this variant in, talk to him. Convince him to leave. To dig and find the good remaining, and then he banishes it. He can't do that with every damn Loki that crosses his path, and this one...he can see it, that there's a line crossed, one from which there's no going back.

He's also not keen on the idea of Loki going along even if he isn't bait. Not that Loki would want to run off and join this Thanosson, but the last time Mobius brought him on a field mission with the intent to capture a variant, he launched himself through a time door and ended up in an apocalypse. Kinda stings.

He places his hands on the table, bent over and frustrated.] You know I'd do everything in my power to keep something from happening to you. But if something happens to you anyway, I-- [Wouldn't be able to live with himself, probably. He shakes his head.] I'd find out what happens to an agent when they resign, anyway.

[icasm]

[ Loki carefully looks up from the file into Mobius' face, his own expression going a bit intense and focused. The second thing he feels, he realizes, is slightly annoyed. Mostly because it is a good plan, whether Mobius likes it or not. ]

What else, though? There is no one else here he'd be interested in unless there's a variant of Frigga in the breakroom that I missed earlier. [ A shrug. ] Even then, I'd worry he'd just kill her and be done with it. [ Loki shakes his head, once. ] Infinity Stones, multiple, would bring the entire brood to your door, so that is out. He'd flat-out attack Thor the moment he spotted him, or Odin, and you wouldn't be able to convince any Hela worth her salt to go within a hundred yards of that bag of cats.

Everything in your power is not a lot, in the field, [ he points out because he feels that sometimes Mobius needs to remember that Loki is not a child, he's a demigod. Here they are on somewhat uneven ground, power-wise, but a lot of that has to do with the TVA neutralizing his magic. ] Especially when you plan on going up against a murderous, insane version of myself. Keeping me here away from all the dangerous things you plan on throwing yourself at is not actually protecting me from anything other than the ability to do something about it when it inevitably goes sideways.

[favoriteanalyst]

[He frowns at Loki as he ticks off everything that would be an option if it would actually work, and won't. And deeper still at his impotence on the field being laid out. He's not a hunter, not a minuteman, not built for doing the physical labor of the catching. He only goes because they're his ops, and sometimes a more thoughtful approach on the fly is necessary than a straight fight. His presence a lot of the time is more of a formality than anything, the vast majority of his job already done.]

Kinda sounds to me like you wanna argue for me not going.

[And he hates that that wouldn't necessarily even be a bad idea. He shrugs halfheartedly.] I'm still here. Figure that counts for something. [When he straightens, he sucks in a deep calming breath, lets it out in a huff of a sigh.]

Think you'd be able to keep your head in the game, if you went?

[icasm]

If I believed for even half a minute that I could convince you to stay behind on this, I'd be using my breath for that too. As it stands, I won't bother. [ He knows you now, Mobius, at least well enough to recognize that that particular fight he would not win.

Instead, he's arguing to be allowed to deal with this in conjunction with Mobius being there. Can he keep his head in the game? He's fairly certain he can keep his head on his shoulders in light of everything that is Variant L1952, and isn't that enough?

Still. Loki narrows his eyes a little before his entire expression relaxes. ] It counts. I'd like it to continue to keep counting.

[ Because Loki wouldn't 'retire' if something happened to Mobius; he'd burn the TVA to the ground trying to find a solution to return his friend to him instead. ]

Are you asking if I think I'll be pulled into the fold by this particular Variant? [ He shakes his head again. ] No. Sylvie was and remains a special exception. This one wouldn't want me there anyway, no matter what he might say.

[favoriteanalyst]

No. That's not what I'm asking. [For as frustrating as this conversation is, as much as he'd like to find another way, he appreciates Loki's counsel. And has accepted that, yeah, this is probably gonna happen; they just have to nail down specifics other than 'throw a Loki at another Loki and then slap the worse one with a collar'. He rests a hand on Loki's shoulder.]

You don't have to face this down. Wasn't too long ago you were more or less a stooge of Thanos given a lotta power and a lotta pain because you didn't have anywhere else to go. Sylvie's one thing, but staring at a dark mirror is different.

[icasm]

[ It's interesting to Loki how his first instinct in this moment is to lean into that touch, to press his face against Mobius' arm and smile; he reigns it in, because of the topic, because of the location, because they're surrounded by Mobius' coworkers and people who already titter at the amount of casual touching between the two, but it's there, and he notices it.

Instead, he sort of gathers himself and then relaxes his shoulders, his spine, within the span of a sigh. His lips quirk but the expression is far from a smile. ] Do you honestly think I'd be fine with myself if I didn't face this down? Do you think I'd be able to sleep if I didn't do something about this?

[favoriteanalyst]

I could probably make you sleep. [A low murmur, something for just between them. Could make Loki warm and safe and comfortable, or could distract him and exhaust him. Both.] But. If you're sure.

[The hand slides down to Loki's bicep, giving a squeeze, before finally dropping away entirely. He motions to the reports, details, files, information. The tools of his particular trade, and the first line of defense, every time.]

For the record, I still don't like it. [Unsurprising!] But let's find a place to nail this guy with the least possible chance of this turning around and screwing us all over. Before I start regretting letting you get in on this.

[icasm]

[ Now, he smiles. Not just because he's won (though that plays its own part, definitely) but mostly at the idea of Mobius soothing his insomnia away, either through sex or comfort or both.

Plus there's that contact he's always craving, even if it ends soon after.

Still: ] I'm sure.

Neither of us likes it, [ Loki reminds him and starts going back through the file to see if there were any isolated places that would both appeal to 1952 and would minimize the availability of innocent lives to get caught in the crossfire. ] If they existed still, I'd suggest the ruins of Asgard.

[favoriteanalyst]

You'd think there'd be nothing quite like an apocalypse to keep a population-halving madman at bay. [You would think! Some things are arguably better in an Asgard without Loki. Frigga lives, Odin isn't an addled fool who gets replaced for several years, and thus the realms are in less chaos. But there's a ripple effect. There always is. And Ragnarok comes all the same, if at a different time, under different circumstances.]

Sometimes the kids get put on assignments, but always at least in pairs. Could be we catch up to our guy while he's on a stroll not in the midst of a culling, split up their little team somehow. [Another frown, thoughtful.] Powerful artifacts are also a draw. The focus is the stones, but Loki wouldn't be him if he didn't also crave a leg up on his fellows. [No offense.] Could be you lure him out by being a much prettier version, give him a blast of something we might have in storage or pick up elsewhere. [It's a thought.]

And if you're looking for places that matter, there's a culling of Jotunheim that's a non-event, as far as population wipes go. Not a whole lot of frost giants left after your little Bifrost attack, but enough to warrant a halving, I guess. Still probably going to have more going on than we want to deal with.

[icasm]

[ Loki huffs out a laugh that is completely lacking in amusement. If only. If only he'd never met the Mad Titan, quite a few things could have gone very differently, he imagines.

It's difficult not to play the 'what-if' game, to avoid it spiraling out into a series of considerations that may never be true because they haven't been true, but Loki manages to set that train of thought aside in favor of listening to Mobius' ideas.

They're good, actually. Not that Loki's surprised, but he is pleased by it.

Though he's not sure how he feels about a culling of Joutenheim. On the one hand, fuck them. They abandoned him to die as an infant.

On the other, does anyone really deserve a visit from Thanos? ]

Do you have an artifact in mind?

[favoriteanalyst]

[Mobius rubs a hand along his mouth and chin and still hates this whole idea that he's flirting with, but he worries that merely the presence of another Loki alone won't be quite enough. And it'd be better to give his a leg up on any ensuing fight.

There are a hundred million items of some power or another through all of time and space, of which the TVA has only a few in some storage or another, but some are definitely just too powerful to let anyone use in the field. And some are of a different kind of power that wouldn't necessarily help them here. He's not getting a stone, that's for certain. Though speaking of Jotunheim, he can think of one item...]

The Casket is sure to get his attention. Being one of the only people left who can even use it. Y'know, that thing's so powerful, it can even do a number on frost giants. Might not stop him in his tracks per se, but it won't do nothing.

I fucking love that icon, what a good expression

[icasm]

So. A prettier Loki, as you so eloquently put it, with the Casket, in Jotunheim.

[ It sounds like a board game or something. Loki, in the snow, with a knife is how the character died, your honor. Does he win, now? ]

Get him alone, without any of the others.

Beat him, don't lose, and then erase him from time. Have I missed anything?

[ So much room for this to go wrong, even Loki can see it, but he's not about to say as much. ]

[favoriteanalyst]

[Mobius holds up a hand.] The first thing I want to point out is that at no point did I ever suggest any of this was a good plan. [Because it's not. It's a desperate plan.]

Second, doesn't have to be on Jotunheim. Might be easier to corner him elsewhere. Casket's power doesn't hinge on it being on that world, even if it would be fitting. Just happens to be somewhere our guy might have even half of a feeling about. [Even if it's negative. Even if he perhaps lords over it all with a sneer, or with a too-wide smile.]

Third, yeah, in broad strokes, that's pretty much the idea. You'll have hunters to back you up, try and get close enough to collar him at least. Pruning won't do much until we get his fancy stick away from him. [No point sending someone to the end of time with a stone at all, even if it isn't space or reality. So either he gets disarmed in battle, in defeat, or they take it from him when they haul him into the TVA.]

I'm gonna say it again, Loki. You don't have to put yourself out there like this.

[icasm]

I'm sorry, [ no he's not, ] but is there such a thing as a good plan where incarnations of chaos are involved?

[ Is he wrong? No. He's not wrong. And he knows it, which tends to make him a bit of a smug bastard about things. ]

Mostly I'm thinking somewhere that there aren't a lot of people to get caught in the crossfire. [ Because there will be crossfire; this other Loki would not go out without a fight. ] But places where he has even half a feeling, that's a good start. The more possibility for emotional turmoil the better for us, I think.

[ Loki looks up at Mobius and shakes his head. ] I hear you. I'm still going to do it. [ He'll deal with the personal emotional repercussions later, in Mobius' room, where only the other man can see. ]

[favoriteanalyst]

[His lips purse. Loki is not wrong. He's not wrong about a lot of things. That's why he's the consultant/junior agent/expert/let's not think too hard about what he is to the TVA.]

Only other places of strong emotion that spring to mind are Earth, which we're definitely not doing, and Asgard, which--probably a bad idea. Jotunheim sucks, but it's got a much lower population density with more space to play hide and seek in. He and his buddies don't even pay Asgard a visit until-- [He shrugs.] Well, until there isn't actually a physical Asgard anymore. [There are the survivors to halve, apparently, for some reason, but that would be a much more dangerous place to pop in.]

I'll see what inert items we've got locked away. Can't imagine we don't have a Casket or two, otherwise we'd have to raid Odin's vault, and I do not wanna add any more complications to this.

[icasm]

[ Loki, personally, would rather not go to Asgard just to see it in the ruins of Hela and Surtur's fight, much less encounter his brother and yet a third version of himself dealing with the Mad Titan afterward. That much is probably clear to Mobius based on how drawn his expression becomes at the mere suggestion, combined with the fact that he doesn't say anything about it as an option. ]

Then it's Jotunheim. [ Loki states it as simply as possible. ] You'll have to dress warmly.

[ As appealing the thought of raiding Odin's vault is, Loki sets that aside for now. ] Do you know which Hunters we're bringing along?

[favoriteanalyst]

[Dryly:] I'll dust off my parka and mittens.

[The question strikes him as a little odd, though perhaps it's just that Loki wants to know if they're going to be the kind that has any idea what they're in store for. Or the kind that might follow the lead of a Loki variant. Or the kind that might casually oh so accidentally mistake the two for one another.] Got a couple in mind, why?

[icasm]

Do they match? Are they the same color as your jacket or something interesting, like cerulean and shades of green?

[ Loki.

He gives a little shrug. ] If it's anyone who's laughed at me to my face, I'm going to consider the possibility that they won't be on my side at any given point, but that's all, really.

[favoriteanalyst]

Tell you what, when we get there, if you wanna magic me up to look all fashionable, I'll even let you.

[Not that they should spend time on any frivolities like that, but that's not the point.]

I'm not gonna put anyone on this who's gonna turn around and jab you. Anyone who has even a chance of compromising the mission. I'll make sure they're here for the job, know how dangerous it is, and that you're taking point on this. I'll keep you safe on my end. You just make sure you keep yourself safe on yours.

I'll leave the specifics to you on this one. Point of entry, where to lure him out to, when to strike. If things go sideways, we retreat and find somewhen else to go for him. I trust you with this.

timeskips us a bit forward

[icasm]

Wonderful.

[ Is he very excited about that prospect? Yes, clearly. Is it a distraction from how it can all go spectacularly sideways, not to mention the emotional repercussions of encountering such a version of himself in the first place?

Definitely. But he thrives on distractions so it's fine. ]

Alright. [ Loki nods decisively. He can come up with all of that, honestly, and will not only discuss them with Mobius first but explain parts of his reasoning to the rest of the Hunters as they're gathered in a circle, going over the various aspects of the plan. Where they'll strike and how they'll lure L1952 out. He's very clear about everything they're to expect, based not only on the reports but on knowing himself.

The unease builds in the pit of his stomach as the TimeDoor slides open in front of them; he focuses instead on the feel of the Casket in his hands and imagines up a coat that materializes around Mobius' shoulders as soon as they're through.

He flashes a grin at the other man before nodding at everyone assembled. ] You know what to do. Let's go.

[favoriteanalyst]

[It's people Mobius trusts to stick to the job and not be overly bothered by the idea of Loki. And they're all hunters, rather than a hunter and a squad of minutemen--more seasoned and skilled in what they do rather than potential cannon fodder. A small enough team to not attract undue attention, to not get in the way.

Even through the doorway, there's a bite of bitter cold that seeps through. And after, it almost immediately settles into his bones. Loki's little flourish doesn't help, but, at least it's still warm enough, and he did promise to let Loki have his bit of fun. He runs gloved fingers down the material covering up his vest for a moment, quirking an eyebrow at his partner. Not what he would have chosen, but then, that's rather the point.

The door closes, and boots crunch under fresh snow. Loki gives the order, and Mobius thinks it suits him. Maybe the man will never make a king, but a position of some kind of power, commander of an army, right hand counsel, something of the sort, might still fit him well.

They move out to take up positions. In the distance, the sound of chaos. Yelling, fighting, the beginnings of a population rounded up and split into halves. Frost giants are not so easily rounded up, of course, and won't be making it easy, but weapons discharge also indicates that a fight might be more short-lived than they're used to. It leaves a vague staticy ionization in the air that makes the hairs on his arms stand on end even under several layers. Still, it's a whole planet, and all of the children are still going to have to split up to scour the land for as many stragglers as they can find.

And eventually, Loki. Or rather, the variant. L1952 is bereft of any kind of flowing cloak, but still clad in leathers, hair still slicked down if more ragged with time and effort. An unnatural blueness to his eyes, the same gleaming shade as the stone set in the scepter, and all the brighter for the darkness circling them. He smiles when he sees Loki, a sharp thing, too wide, as though with too many teeth, as though some invisible force pulls at his cheeks, with a curious cock of his head. If he's noticed anyone else, meant to be hidden just out of sight for now, then he hasn't indicated so.]

To call this unusual would be an understatement. [He gives a flourishing bow, and it's difficult to tell if it's a mockery or genuine, though he never once lets his eyes leave his doppelganger. Or the Casket in his hands.] But not wholly unwelcome. Although, if you are what I have to look forward to, I'm a touch underwhelmed.

[icasm]

[ Everything about him sets Loki on edge, from the smile to the way he moves to the way he speaks. His hindbrain is screeching at him to fucking back away slowly before, possibly, breaking out into a run but Loki has not yet become the sort of creature to run when he doesn't absolutely have to.

Maybe not even then. Despite when his instincts may tell him otherwise. ]

Is that the case? [ Is what he says instead, giving the Variant a bow that is both too tight to be polite and definitely in possession of a bit of a mockery. ] What would you have preferred? An army?

[ The Variant sneers only in tone; his smile has not moved. ] I would have preferred a real challenge.

[ And then he vanishes a quick as blinking. Loki, recognizing the little flare in the pit of his stomach as a panicked sort of fear, does the same.

Already, this is going off-script. ]