whose_son_am_i | Labyrinthum IC Inbox

...I see. It's been a long, perilous road.

[ He wouldn't say any more than that for now, patiently listening. No judgment here. ]

There's more that I could go into, but the part that I think you'll find most relevant is when I was again knocked out of the bifrost while we were traveling in it. I fell through a wormhole again, and ended up on what was the Universe's planetary trash-heap. There was only a pocket of civilization, otherwise you were left to cannibalistic gangs of raiders. That pocket of civilization was also ruled over by a mad god-like being know as the Grandmaster. His tastes in entertainment ran towards parties and bloodsports, with his ego being massive and his moods volatile and capricious to an extreme. Trying to gain and stay in his favor was like constantly dancing on a knife's edge. I was there for months before Thor showed up again.

[Loki gave a snort.]

In any case, Father had talked with Thor and myself, before the trip to Sakaar. He was dying, so had little time. But he said he was proud of us both, using 'sons' plural. I...was not sure how to feel about that. I'm still not. During our escape from Sakaar, as well as by a bonfire here, Thor and I have talked--and he gave me even more to think about.

[That was the point he was getting at really. Face still down turned slightly, although he realized he was fidgeting. A small frown, and he moved to start combing through his hair instead.]

Who I thought I was, and who I had expected to be... It all changed, and is changing still. Here, my situation was better than either previous time I'd been dropped somewhere, despite my being brought down to human initially. At first, my helping others and playing the good neighbor and all that? My survival strategy--it's unwise to make enemies unless you have to, when you have no real way to protect yourself from them. That later goodwill of others can also be valuable as many people don't want to see someone whom they view fondly as capable of a great many things.

[Pausing, to be sure Kaiba was following along.]

Mm...I see. I don't think you need me to say it, but...my goodwill toward you hasn't lessened. It's grown, if anything.

[ Seto briefly smiles at Loki, then glances down at his phone to view the profiles again. He reads Loki's profile again in this light, then what the Oracle had chosen to expose in his own. ]

The power I had before isn't the kind that can be reclaimed in this world. My role has changed...I guess if there's one thing I have to hold onto, it's being stubborn enough to keep digging.

"I'm known for betrayal and a talented liar. I've killed many before, several whom weren't involved directly in the conflict." Loki pointed out, just in case Kaiba wanted to rethink things. "I am, ultimately, on my own side first at all times." But was that latter really true, considering he'd adopted Alice officially?

"You hold on to what you choose to hold on to. But think of this as a place to find out who you want to be."

[All while getting the worst snarls out of his hair as he half-watched the other. Starting from the bottom and moving upwards with the comb as the strands got less knotted.]

Seto would keep it in mind, but...no, he'd refuse to worry about it. He knew he wanted to stay by Loki's side, and he was a stubborn dude.

"...Mokuba begged me to let go of my bitterness about losing my title before. I'd staked everything on winning a rematch and reclaiming my glory, and failed again. It felt like a knife to the heart, but. My 'father' had been wrong. I'd lost, and was still alive."

He'd heard echoes of that in Loki's story, and it heartened him a little. He looked up, a little brighter.

"Mokuba asked me to remember how to smile, to work on our old dreams to make other kids like us smile. Maybe I can find something small and build on it. Share some dream, somwhere."

"Scars can be harmful, or helpful. They can stay with us, and remind us of our failures and our wounds. But they're meant to be healing, to remind us we survived, to help us grow." Loki was glad to see the other look a little more stable and happier.

"So yes, take being here as an opportunity. Learn what you can, and do what you can and what you want." Hair back in some semblance of order, Loki turned to the clean clothing on the bed and slipped into the undershirt.

"As for the dating aspect? No one says you have to use it that way. Use it to find enemies via the fight option, if you want. Or don't use it at all and pay it no mind."

Not just the physical scars he bore...but the mental ones two. They told his story, but he could be more than that?

He nodded, snorting as he tucked his phone away once more.

"I'm not just starting fights for no reason. It'd be a fool's errand. An intellectual competition, maybe...or I could throw caution to the wind and press the friend button?"

It wasn't usually his thing. He still had to suppress cringing at that word. But he could try.

"Presumably they want us to be more conversational than just pushing a button alone. Otherwise why have the option?" Loki pointed out reasonably. "It's a tool. Tools are only as effective as the person who knows how to use one."

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