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[...Loki understands all too well what it's like to be inside a head like that. He changed, once, stepped between his lines and became something that wanted mayhem and pain and couldn't even understand why he should want to go back. And that was his own head, not something alien.

So when he talks to Wanda, it's oddly gentle. A little flippant still, all the exaggerated gestures he usually uses there, but his voice is mostly free of mockery or sarcasm.]

Because it lives on pain and misery, and understands nothing else.

[He tilts his head, smile almost entirely too wry.]

You seem a little distressed, mistress Maximoff. Are you safe, or would you prefer a little company to wherever you need to get yourself to next?

[She looks back at the screen and at first Wanda doesn't quite see - someone's talking to her, it looks like Loki, not that Loki, the one who's still alive. The creature may not have physically marked her but psychically she can't quite shake the cold of that void and it's still doing a number on her.]

He was laughing with them. He was one of them. And still...

I can't -- there aren't words for what I saw, what it made me see. [It definitely had control at the end and it was all she could do to wrench herself away.] No one is 'safe.'

[Without Pietro here to ground her, she's spiraling again. Intent to kill was bad enough. Actual death was awful. But the reveling in every struggling heartbeat or breath, the thrill of the hunt, over and over before it sets its sights on you - it's pure nightmare fuel.]

Edited (I shouldn't tag when I'm falling asleep :() 2015-12-18 17:40 (UTC)

Monsters quite often don't look like one until far, far too late. As well you know, I should think. And the thing about being a monster is that we feel so little guilt about false faces and betrayals.

[He keeps his voice low and quiet, eyes fixed very carefully on Wanda. He isn't really very good at talking people out of their fears, but he's willing to see if just keeping talking helps at all.]

Oh, there are words. I most likely know most of them. But- stay where you are, yes? We'll be along shortly, and then we'll get you back to company. It seems to only attack people alone, if recent videos are anything to go by.

[The tone is helping more than the words are. It's something else to focus on that's not the lingering presence, even if certain word choices don't quite register properly. She's visibly coming back, just slowly.

And it's really starting to frustrate her that neither language she knows is equipped to describe telepathic insights.]

But was the monster always there? There were never two but...I saw things I can't explain. [Panic is giving way to a quiet numbness. Finally Wanda looks back at the MID.] I could show you.

[She knows this is getting into questionable waters again, but of everyone here Loki is most likely to both understand and emotionally handle sharing the full memory.]

Recent videos? Who else has been hurt? [Please don't be anyone she actually cares about this time.]

Whether born or made, a monster is what he is now- and not one likely to find himself suddenly feeling much remorse, by the sounds of it.

[Really, what it was once is really a puzzle for after it's taken care of. Loki can sympathise with fellow monsters, sometimes. But he's pragmatic about the fact that doesn't mean they don't sometimes need stopping, in whatever way possible.]

Can you share without reading anything? I'd hate for you to compound your current headache by adding my thoughts to the mix.

[There's a lot in his head he really wouldn't want her to see, both unpleasant and entirely personal. Loki doesn't do well with people knowing what's important to him- or who.]

Merely Captain Manasseh and now you. But we found Captain Tipota dead with much the same markings- and Manasseh talked about Crewman Farin. But as no-one was found with them, and no-one realised they were missing until they were found, alone seems the likeliest bet.

If you do not pull me in. [She wouldn't have tried to read Loki anyway. Wanda knows better than that.] But it will not be fun. I would not show Billy or Bruce or most of the people on this ship.

[Three dead/seriously hurt is significantly better than she was expecting. That thing might have been able to keep up with Pietro.] It disappeared when Elizabeth tried to hit it...but it was not afraid of me. [She sighs, more of the usual Wanda coming through.] Don't tell me the monster is shy.

I'm hard to read, I'm told. Too slippery, unless you force your way in. But- yes, I am probably the best equipped for it, at least in this particular crew. Master Wiccan has nightmares enough of his own- and I suspect the less than jolly green giant does too, at the moment.

[Not that he particularly wants to. The memories of someone so very close to how Loki was might well end up fuel for the fire, so to speak, or even the spark that sets him alight- but they need the information and perhaps Wanda needs to feel a little less isolated with the memories.

He's a little glad to hear a less strained tone coming through, though, and he pulls up a very crooked half-smile.]

It certainly would seem so. Perhaps a weakness, of sorts.

I know. [She's seen some Things and it's not just those two, although they're literally the last people on the ship she'd want to experience that. The captains might have earned it if they knew about the threat all along, though.] I will try to keep the worst part if I can, but I was not taught to be gentle in this.

[Anyone can be hurt, after all, and even if Loki has likely seen worse Wanda doubts it's been in quite the same way.

She shudders, settles further back into the pod.]

Shyness will not stop that hunger. Not for long.

There... was a Loki before me, you know. And he was entirely and utterly insane. I've seen- and felt- scattered fragments of his memories before. Trust me, don't struggle, if keeping that part back will be difficult.

[It's half-truth, something Loki's gotten very good at, but still close enough. He doesn't have the same emotional connection to his memories as the old Loki would have had, lacks the hatred that characterised the Loki that was. But he remembers how it felt to feel that way, at least.]

No, but it does make it harder for it to find victims if we know its hunting patterns. And perhaps easier to find a solution to it, too.

[Wanda can't help but wonder why he's telling her that. Does he mean it, or is he only saying it so she'll make an extra effort? It doesn't matter, really - someone on this ship has to try to be responsible.]

I know it is something you can handle, but that is not a reason for me to be careless. There is enough of that already. [Potshot at the captains? Yep.]

But together I think we can help the others understand.

Edited 2015-12-27 04:16 (UTC)

[Save him from stubborn Maximoff/Kaplans and their refusal to accept help offered and their knee-jerk reactions to be responsible for everything.]

You really are far too like Billy, in some ways. That's only half a compliment, by the way.

[But arguing with someone panicking doesn't seem like the best solution, really, and he spreads his hands, tacitly giving up for now.]

At least there'll be two of us to try, that way. Where are you now, Wanda?

[This is a weak smile due to the situation, but a smile nonetheless. Sorry Loki, apparently it runs in the cross-dimensional family.]

Mero 12. Sixth door on the right.

How far away are you?

One day, we'll have to sit down and have a chat about master Kaplan. I'm sure there's things he hasn't told you, that you haven't managed to skim from his head. Or possibly things you have learnt you'd like explained, perhaps.

[He smiles back, sharp and cool, although mostly he's relieved to see some kind of reaction that isn't panic.]

Oh, bare minutes now. We're almost through the mess-hall, then down a floor and find the right room. If the lights start to flicker, I'll expedite things, but it's tricky when I've never been somewhere before.

I try to stay out of his head now that I know. But your world is different, confusing, and there are other things I can't ask... [Wanda shudders. She only saw fragments of hell(?) since it wasn't what she was looking for at the time, but what she did catch was horrifying.

She looks like she might be slipping again but catches herself - this time, anyway. That's definitely a talk for another day.]

Expedite it how?

Ah, yes, the wonders of multiverses. Well, I can't promise all the answers, or that they'll be pleasant but... some of them, certainly, if you want them.

[He wiggles his fingers at the camera, glowing green.]

Teleporting is tricky when I'm not sure where I'm going, and- rather a heavy cost, magically speaking. If it's truly an emergency, though, I'll get us there now.

[He looks sideways slightly. It's not entirely a lie, teleporting is a bit of an energy user, but it's also one of his big red button spells when he's not prepared and teleporting blind. And he does like not burning.]

One day when we're not being hunted.

[These are good thoughts: a day when things are whatever passes for "normal" in space, pretty magic. But her expression barely reaches a smile before quickly reversing into fear and worry.]

Don't, not unless you have to - he will notice. He would feel it. I will be all right for a little longer if I do not do anything.

[still talking to Wanda on their own MID, looks around for anyone who might be up for a stroll. and lo, there's a fellow proven willing to leap in where angels fear to tread.

strides up and tries to catch his eye. is whatever you're doing there urgent, Loki? because you might want to put it on hold.]

[He finishes talking to Wanda before he turns to face them, slightly concerned and doing his very best to look just as smooth and unruffled as usual. He has a reputation to keep up, after all.]

Hmm? Something I can perhaps help you with?

Fancy a daring rescue? [a smirk, fading into seriouness] Wanda needs an escort, and I'm starting to get the feeling the escort shouldn't go alone.

The chance to buckle a few swashes should never really be passed up, I suppose.

[And Loki can never resist the opportunity to make an entrance, preferably a dashing one.]

But no, I do suspect you're right. Being alone seems less than optimal right now.

[a man after Bel's own heart, this one. ~~in this specific particular.~~ sets off a 'shall we then?' gesture; will be setting a stiff pace, but long-legged Loki will easily keep up.]

Wanda? Wanda? You're not alone, are you? Do you need help?

[In short: kind of, yes. It takes a minute for Bel's voice to cut through the panic.]

More than-- more than I want to be. [Wanda shifts, and if she were curled up any tighter she'd turn inside out. ] You have to stay away from it, it was terrible...

[what does that meeean] I will. Make sure someone's with you. Where are you?

I hear people. [But no one's sitting with her, no. No time to babysit, as Clint would have put it.] I made it back to Mero but...it will come here. It will have to. It could drain everyone on this ship and still want more.

I'll come get you. Stay on the line. Take deep, slow breaths.

[She looks at Bel in horror. No one seems to be getting it - if Bel could keep up with Pietro, maybe it would be fine, but unless they've been hiding superpowers...]

You can't go out there by yourself!

No, no, I'll find someone to go with me. Should've said we'll come get you. [touches the screen gently] Hey. Don't worry.

[no superpowers, alas. has been starting to feel a little left out. XD]

[It's a bit late for that whole 'not worrying' thing, Bel. Wanda doesn't say anything for a moment.]

Have you ever seen a black hole?

Wormholes, yes. Black holes, no. Thank God. We try to stay away from those. [has a strong feeling that's not what she's talking about, though. video bounces as Bel moves through the room looking for someone to walk with.]

Imagine what one would think like, how it would see all of us. It felt like that.

[She's simplifying and leaving out the deaths but it's a fair approximation of how insatiable that thing was.]

Please don't tell me there are universes where black holes can think.

[it's clear, though, that the metaphor has gone through. yikes. there's always that moment on a deep-space ship when the jump starts and you feel it in your belly, a sick warping endlessness, and it's either getting you there or killing you already--]

[a new and horrible idea] You don't still feel it, right? Can you -- shut it out?

[If only it was that simple.]

I can't feel what it's doing now...but it was there. It's cold and -- [It's like coming in from a snowy day; the bad feelings linger even if the connection's severed.] I can't push that out. Not without help.

[shudders] We're on our way. Loki's coming with me.

[she's not talking about the lingering physical cold, is she. not without help... would be happy to shoot the monster for her, but to pull it out of her mind.... glances briefly out of the frame, seeing whether Loki has anything to say.] I wish I had a blanket for that. We'll be there in a moment, okay?

Stay out of the dark. [Why yes, she did just said that when she was babbling. Wanda doesn't quite remember if she did, but it's Very Important.]

The lights went out before it...it... [Two emotional steps forward, one step back.]

Wanda? Where are you?

[He can't help the concern that's clear on his face, brows furrowed.]

Are you safe?

Mero deck. [Sitting in her pod bed if the blue lights behind her are anything to go by.] Bel and Loki are coming to get me.

But you need to be careful. That creature...it eats energy. Any energy. I can't stop it.

[He breaths out a relieved sigh at that. Okay, good. He's not familiar with Bel, but he knows Loki and he doesn't think he'd let anything happen to her.]

I'm fine, it's okay. Besides, I think right now, you should be more worried for yourself. We'll figure out the rest.

But you aren't alone, are you?

I think we are safe as long as the lights stay on.

I'm not with anyone at the moment. I'll get somewhere though.

So you did the memory thing?

I looked in his head and he turned it on me. That -- it's never happened. Not even with Thor. [She takes a shaky breath.] I do not think he needs to eat. He wants the hunt and the pain.

Please be careful. Promise me.

[Wanda's well aware of precisely how easily Ploiatus kills...and if it gets one more person she cares about, especially Billy, it won't be the only one out for murder.]

I'm sorry. That... sounds horrible.

[He gives a warmer look.] I promise. Nothing's going to get me.

But you keep safe too, okay? Sounds like you've been through neough.

[Not as much as you, Wanda thinks, but of course she'll never say that. She can only try to keep him from having to endure anything like it again.]

When I look in someone's head, there is always a risk. I wanted to scare it back to whatever hole it came from but...

[She shudders.] I will be all right. I just need time.

It was a little more terrifying?

[He doesn't really- know the details of what she saw in his head, besides the fact that she got a pretty sudden bomb dropped on her about having twin sons.

But maybe that's why the idea of dying doesn't really scare him that much. He's been there, done that, and Hell has a way of bringing you back repeatedly. Seeing people he cares about suffering though? Or the thought of them dying? That's... way more difficult to deal with.]

When it's safe again... do you want to meet up?

I have felt people die, but not like this. Not...under their skin. And not so many at once.

[Deep breaths, Wanda. The rescue crew will be here soon.]

I'd like that. You know I will always make time for you.

[He wishes he could help her with that. He can't imagine what that would be like and he'd rather-- she not know either.

But it's done now and hopefully she'll feel better when she's around others. Hopefully.]

Same. Always, Wanda.

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