(City of Ariel) Application

[coldchaos]

→ OOC
□ Name: Cake
□ Age: 26
□ Contact: AIM :: miss.hbic
□ Journal: noblesseoblige
□ Do you play anyone in Ariel?: No

→ IC
□ Name: Loki (Laufeyson/Odinsson)
□ Journal: coldchaos
□ Series: Marvel Cinematic Universe
□ Canon point: From the end of The Avengers, when Thor is taking Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard.
□ History: Loki’s MCU background can be found here. It is a very sparse history, but I will not be supplementing it with the Marvel 616 universe, as I believe the two canons (where Loki is concerned) are far too divergent. I intend to set the mood of his history solely from what we see in Thor (specifically of Odin speaking with a very young Thor and Loki and how the family dynamic is handled throughout the movie. In other words, he had a good childhood, growing up as the second prince of the realm, that Odin was caring but often blind to the faults of both his children and Loki made a bit of mischief though was not malicious in doing so), as well as what we see in The Avengers (the twisted view of how Loki is now interpreting his history which really isn’t his history but his now distorted perception of it).

This is the actual history that I will be going by. The history that Loki chooses to talk about in game is borne of his own bitter, twisted, and angry interpretation.

Also- since there is no explicit statement in the MCU that Loki has children or is married to Sigyn, I am going with the interpretation that he does not have children and is not married. I do not, in fact, intend to mention Sigyn at all since she is not mentioned in the MCU canon.

□ Personality: He is a complicated person, often with diametrically opposing emotions and a mercurial personality. Loki wears many masks and is a master manipulator. He is egotistical, narcissistic, paranoid, over-sensitive and cutting. But most important of all, he is angry, there is a deep, seething rage in him that is pushed down behind a mocking façade, but say the right words and it will come bursting out in a mess of biting words and physically striking out. It is when this rage is evoked that he makes most of his mistakes, but it is also when he is quite dangerous since logical thought and planning goes out the window and he seeks only to do harm.

He will firmly and vehemently declare himself no brother to Thor, no son of Odin, but he will introduce himself as Loki of Asgard. Loki acknowledges himself as ‘other’ from the family he thought was his, but he does not go so far as to acknowledge himself as Jotun. Loki of Asgard, not Loki Odinson, but also not Loki Laufeyson, in fact, he tried to destroy the Jotun entirely, to rewrite what they were based on what Loki himself was. If Loki is the only Jotun, then what a Jotun is, intelligence and culture wise, can only be defined by what Loki is.

Because Loki found out about his heritage at such a trying time, when he was responsible (in part) for his brother’s banishment, when Odin was weak and unable to reassure him, this is not only a glaring, unresolved trauma, but fuel for all the times Loki has felt less than Thor, from all the times others (including Thor) have made him feel less than. It was a mental fracture that compounded when Loki attempted suicide on the broken Bifrost. Everything that he was, a lie. All that over-sensitivity, all that feeling of being less than was justified in that moment, ate at him so badly that he would rather subject himself to the blackness between the realms than anything else. Not to mention being denied his near victory at annihilating the Jotun- something that he could have done cleanly, without any Aesir blood spilled. He wanted Odin to look at him, to see him, to be proud of him and failing that, facing the consequences of what he had done and the future of knowing (in his mind) that he was alone in this world, the last straw was Odin telling him no. So Loki fell. And when he didn’t die, he found the Other and Thanos.

Were they allies? Were they enemies? Something between the two, I think. They gave him the tools to prove himself Thor’s equal, a kingdom of his own if he could take it. Loki doesn’t wilt and wait to be acknowledged, Loki gets even.

In Avengers, he views himself as a king wrongfully dethroned (he says it himself). Hlidskjalf, the golden throne of Asgard, was rightfully put into Loki’s care by Frigga when Odin fell into the Odinsleep. And, in his purview, was stolen from him by Thor with the treacherous assistance of Heimdall and the Warriors 3 with Sif aiding. Even still, what he wants is not to actually rule, but to prove he can do so, to not only be Thor’s equal but to be his better, to take what Thor loved (Midgard) for his own and watch Thor attempt and fail to defend it.

And in the end, everything revolves around Thor. There can’t be hate without love, if Loki were truly indifferent to Thor, he would have killed him when he had the chance, at Stark Tower when he only wounded him rather than attempting a fatal blow.

Loki’s mind, at this point is twisted, dark but unsure of itself, contrasting feelings and thoughts vie for dominance. He is mercurial and clever, a wearer of masks and master manipulator. There are far less qualms with using people for his own ends (though admittedly, said qualms were likely few in the first place), he thinks a few steps ahead of most people, but he is not so clever that he cannot be outwitted and when he is, the anger and hissing threats come through. He hates others getting one over on him.

He is left handed with brilliant penmanship, fine motor control is strong with him after hundreds of years with his throwing daggers and the dexterous ability to manipulate them. Loki has a strong working knowledge of anatomy (which doesn’t seem to differ too much from Aesir to mortal), as evidenced by his well-placed blades that prick to hurt, but not kill. He is book smart but also intelligent in practical ways and while his ability to manipulate is strong, he has trouble making actual connections with other people, this is where his over-sensitivity is another hindrance, he doesn’t seem to understand the moods and expressions of others quite so well as to understand and accept friendly teasing versus vicious insult.

Loki doesn’t think of himself as evil, but complicated. Wronged. He knows he is not good, but he sees more layers, more colors than just the black and white judgment of Thor and the mortals of Midgard. In this way, he really is Odin’s son.

□ Age: Around 1,000 (From the Marvel timeline, approximately when Jotunheim invaded Midgard)
□ Gender: Male
□ Appearance: Tom Hiddleston. Approximately 6’2” and lithely muscled, Loki has black hair, very pale skin and green eyes. His hands and wrists are very striking, well formed and slender. He walks with a swagger and tends to push out his lower jaw when aggravated.
□ Abilities/Powers:
[Physical]
-He is stronger, faster and more durable than a human. Loki has an accelerated healing time and is able to take far more damage than the average human (as evidenced by the Hulk creating a Loki shaped indent in Tony’s floor at the end of Avengers, as well as Loki falling off the Bifrost and surviving).
-Weapons: Loki is shown to use daggers, spears and swords. He is more than capable with them.
-Reflexes: He can catch an arrow mid flight without seeing it shot. Enough said.
[Magic]
-Doppelganger: Loki can create shadow clones of himself- they are not solid, cannot fight and cannot speak, but they are capable of movement.
-Transmutation: He can turn wine into snakes, for instance.
-Conjuring: He can call forth (but not create) objects, such as his throwing daggers.
-Imbue: He can imbue said throwing daggers with magic for more damage.
-Shroud: It is mentioned that he can both call and banish fog and mist.
- Invisibility: Loki is capable of moving without being seen at all.
-Suggestion: He can influence a person’s thoughts.
-Travel: Loki can pierce the veil and move from place to place (within a limited area), unseen, by power alone.
-Runes: Knowledgeable and capable of spell work with them.
-All Tongue: He is able to understand all languages (spoken and written) and be understood by all those he speaks to.
[Basics]
There is some leeway I’m going to give him where magic is concerned, things that are mentioned in general and not specific in Thor and the Avengers. I don’t intend to make him all powerful and I will also say that his powers are dampened over all by being in the city in the first place, but basic things such as charms and wards and the like, I am going to include in his abilities as well as room to expand when Thor 2 comes out and more about his power is known. Obviously, he won’t have any power until he reaches appropriate levels, I’m only putting these contingencies in for once proper levels have been achieved for him to actually wield his magic once again.

□ Personal Items:
-Woven tunic
-Leather sparring outfit
-Battle of Jotunheim outfit
-Book of sorcery
-Leather bag
-Bone carved fountain pen
-Leatherbound blank book
-Horned helm
-Scepter (It will have absolutely NO power at all EVER. It’s just very sharp.)

□ First Person Sample:
Certainly not where I expected to arrive, and yet I can hardly hold grudge for any that would thwart the will of Odin and by extension, the wants of Thor. Hail and well met, I am Loki- [There’s an awkward pause, echoing empty to him where something else was meant to go. Once ‘Odinson’ might have filled that silence, or not even that long ago ‘of Asgard.’ But now.

What is there now.

There is nothing. He is of Nowhere and son of None. He is Loki and Loki is alone.]

Such a place to barter our own power for the physical, it does make one wonder what they receive in turn. Ah- aside the obvious. The only complaint I would lodge is the accommodations. Really. Is this how you treat visiting royalty? Treated no different than the mundane. [There’s a cool amusement to his voice, but a knife’s edge sharpness, Loki intends to give nothing away to anyone. At least not for free.]

Equality is by and large overrated as one of the masses. [The amusement here is genuine, and then over.]

□ Third Person Sample:
Loki and Luke
Loki and Coulson

Extra Personality Section:

I am not sure at all what you mean by “frosty aura.”

Loki is anything but frosty. He’s the bright blade of a knife, shining but sharp, helpful or hurtful, depending on the way he cuts. Frankly, he’s fascinating; like the eye of the hurricane, chaos swirling all around him in action and word, dangerous, but drawing people in. He’s capable of being very engaging, of holding and giving attention as well as withholding and shunning, depending on the situation and his mood. He wields levity like a shield and a sword, can be cutting in his jests or defend himself against a dire situation with small amusements, though whether or not the defense is solely for himself or to throw off others is a subject for debate (“If it’s all the same, I’ll have that drink now.”) Debate for others, that is, Loki’s intentions are whatever he feels they are in that moment and are subject to change in hindsight.

On the flip side, he is also angry, a seething mass of rage and bitterness like broken glass churning up his mind and soul. His entire life has been a lie. He has been told he is Odinson, been told that he had a chance at the throne, that he was Aesir- of Asgard. And he is none of those things. Loki has grown up hearing about the great battle between Asgard and Jotunheim, and as the victor writes the history, there is a clear bias against the Jotun. They are lesser. They are the other. Monsters under the bed, tales meant to frighten children and their deaths in battle are the bragging rights of old warriors.

Now, if all his life has been a lie, a lie perpetuated by Odin (by Asgard), then why would he ever believe Odin (and Asgard) that he is still loved, still a son, still worthy. Those things are not his by blood and thus can be taken away; he has only the word of a liar that these things shall remain. He also only has their word that he is not one of them, all of the Jotun are X but Loki is why (this is why he tried to destroy them, if he was all that remained, then he is the definition of a Jotun), but the ones who tell them this are liars.

It’s not difficult, then, to see why he let go on the bridge. It is also not difficult to see why he would lash out as he does. Thor vowed to kill the Jotun. Thor slew the Jotun with no hesitation and no remorse, over something as simple as an insult. Loki is a Jotun. He has only the word of liars that Thor will not despise him (“know your place!”)

Loki does not wait for others to take initiative; he will hurt them before they can hurt him. He strikes at the heart of what Thor has vowed to protect and either way he wins. Either Midgard is his (and he can prove himself the dark ruler to Thor’s golden light- still searching to be his equal, even if only subconsciously), or Midgard is not his and yet there has been war with much destruction and many lives lost, proving Thor an ineffectual protector. Tarnish on the golden shine.

These thoughts are not all conscious thoughts; these reactions are not all carefully chosen and purposefully meant reactions. That is not how the mind works, even one as clever as his own.

But he does hate Thor. And loves him. And wants to kill him. But does not seem able to commit. (“You lack conviction.”) Pressing a button and releasing a cage to free fall down to the earth is not the same as a knife well placed in a vital organ and when Loki has the chance to ensure the death of the Odinson, he can only draw blood and pain, not death. Sentiment, he says, but not Thor’s sentiment, his own. This is made obvious when a simple clasp of Thor’s large hand to Loki’s neck, a gesture he’s likely known all of his life, a grounding gesture that draws him in close (and thus leaves Thor vulnerable), sees Loki hesitating, almost a realization in his eyes before they cloud over with that anger again and he strikes.

This is also Thor’s fault, he presses too hard and often in the wrong ways. As much as he is purposeful, a honed edge in his plottings, Loki is also a tangle of emotion (“Bag of cats”), able to be manipulated by the clever hand of Natasha. Loki lashes out in anger, reveals what he ought not because he is not entirely control of himself. And those reactions are strongly provoked by Thor because what is Loki without Thor? This is how we know there is still love with the hate; because Thor is still the standard that Loki sets himself against. Not necessarily to beat that standard but to beat it down, grind that golden legacy beneath his heel. These things compound, twist and tangle in his mind. And the touch of madness does not help; the emotional strain of finding out your life is a lie, of falling through the space between the worlds (attempted genocide and warmongering also take a lot out of a guy).

He’s not ice; if anything, Loki is fire. He burns bright, is unpredictable in his course and consumes all, leaving naught but ash behind.

And he’s fun, those who burn bright always are. In another life, he’d delight with his tricks (“Just a bit of mischief.”), he’d charm, he’d flatter and it would never be genuine but it would be a good show. Now, though, it’s a darker kind of show, breath held, and finger on the trigger. Waiting to see if you get a bullet or a flame.

Third Person Sample:

He was not one for cold introspection. There were absolutes, of course. That he would not yield in the face of pain. That Loki would not crumble and let the will of his false family, his false brother, re-shape him into the puppet he was always meant to be. This is not a failure, he tells himself, embedded in the concrete floor of Stark Tower. That much is clear from the ruined city smoking below, the smell of burned metal and copper of blood thick in the air, even this high up.

He shifts, with a groan, trying to find a better spot for his spine to heal around the chunks of rock jutting up against his back. Perhaps he’ll just stay still for a moment and ruminate on his victory.

Even in his win, Thor loses. He could not protect Midgard, Loki has proven that, has tarnished the golden god in the eyes of- well, of the mortals he declared himself protector of. In Thor’s own eyes, to be sure, no matter how Asgard will toast to him, Thor will know, will remember the death and the rubble and find no victory in it. Thor will see his own defeat reflected in Loki’s own knowing eyes, will read Loki’s own victory in the sharp curve of his smile.

And Loki will to Asgard with Thor. He delights in the thought of a trial, of stripping down Odin’s lies, lies told to the whole of Asgard, no less. Perhaps they shall think him mad, bringing a monster in their midst. One can raise a monster to speak and look civilized, one can teach a monster to behave like their shining betters, but in the end, that monster’s nature will rise to the surface and damned be those who sought to sway it.

Asgard will surely see this. Even if none can publicly censure the Father of All, the tarnish on his golden throne will remain self-evident. And thus another victory for Loki.

This is mental balm to a physical pain.

He thinks, perhaps now, perhaps now Thor will cease to call him brother, will see the monstrous nature of Loki’s acts and finally understand. Thor looked at Loki and saw the weak shadow, the puppet Odinson and he craves Loki’s subjugation- no the civilizing of Loki. He wants things as they were, with Loki knowing his place. There is no happiness for Loki in looking back, it is all tainted; every slight magnified, every instance of choice, a glaring favoritism in his eyes.

There was never meant to be a Jotun on the throne of Asgard.

But there was. And he does not think of Frigga, his wise mother – not mother- who installed him onto that very throne. He thinks only of having it taken from him, of Thor spoiling everything once again, of Frigga turning to him. Embracing Thor when Loki had just slain Laufey. Had slain his flesh and blood for the sake of-

No. He will not think these thoughts. He will not. Loki holds to his anger, grinds his fingers in the shards of concrete around him, pain sharpening his focus, the copper smell of blood of his own blood clearing his head.

Closing his eyes, he empties his thoughts and only basks in his hollow victories.