@hafid.alghul

[batricide]

[ there are a number of smarter and more eloquent things one could ask as they awaken, months after they fell asleep, in bed with a pair of strangers. damian considers those things as he leaps out the window and makes a break for it.

instead, damian does this: ]

What the HELL did you all do this time?

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[selfimage]

You were never one to disappoint.

[ let him hope in vain its a cupcake. ]

[batricide]

Flattery will get you everywhere.

[ he'll get you some repackaged future twinkies with what little cash he still has in his bank account and you'll be happy about it. ]

[selfimage]

[ look, he'll take it. Damian gets a temporary key so he can come right in whenever he shows up with future twinkies. Loki's perched on the couch in a loose long-sleeved shirt and a pair of sweats. the apartment is a little bigger than the last, this time with both Thor and Roy's things tucked away in different corners (and more to come, most likely). ]

[batricide]

[ he tosses the bag at loki, crossing his arms and dropping onto the couch]

So?

[selfimage]

[ for a moment he looks at the bag before elegantly slinging an arm along and nabbing it. he digs in and finds a little frosting-filled baked item and shoves it in his mouth.

he speaks with his mouth full, it's kinda gross. ]

First things first—Riverstone offered free experimentation on Displaced that would take the deal. Some did take the deal. Nothing like offering a large corporation who probably has our identities ammunition.

[ then he pushes the rest of it in his mouth. yum! ]

[batricide]

[ god. disgusting. jason's husband is so much like him. ]

Why the hell....! [ OKAY. OKAY. DON'T GET MAD. ] Did everyone lose their common sense?!

[selfimage]

[ om nom nom. ]

Did they ever have it? [ there's a little sharp quip at the end of his words. he's already digging for another future faux twinkee. ]

The results came back, but nothing of much astonishment. Our abilities aren't biological—tah-dah! Surely, nothing of that sort will come back to nip at our butts.

[ yay, twinkee. ]

There was an all-out debate about it, of course.

[batricide]

That should have been obvious. They're clearly either magical or technological.

[ ugh. UGH! ]

Of course. Another giant squabble for all to see.

[selfimage]

Bing bing bing!

[ he's pulling apart the next twinkee. ]

Magical. Divine. I suppose that's a lead into the next thing that happened while you were away: the Aerie.

[batricide]

I'm sensing an irritating bird theme.

[selfimage]

[ there's a tilt of his head that seems to say irritating bird theme. he looks into the creamy center of the cake that he just tore in two. ]

We were whisked into another world again. Not just limited to us Displaced from the sound of it.

[ he tries to sound wistful, but he comes off as more resentful. ]

The Aerie was a globe constructed in a dying world by a group of divinely powered individuals known as the Cardinals. Which—well—all of the Displaced played a part. As well as Johann Grey, who was one of the Cardinals among us. The world was fully functioning with memories that went back at least a couple hundred years.

[ then he eats the cake. ]

There was a fully functioning governmental body known as the Parliament. To keep the population pacified, every new moon a battle to death known as the Quarry was broadcast. Those who committed any sort of crime were sentenced to kill one another in an arena. It went on and on, until a group of rebels known as the Kestrels decided to turn the entire process on its head.

[ he lets his butt sink into the couch cushions. ]

The Cardinals had taken control over six of seven gods that they exploited for their powers. They were held in the Volary, or their point of operations. You can make the connection in how it reflects in this world. [ alas ] It's only the tip of the metaphorical iceberg, of course.

[batricide]

[ hm.

he keeps his face impassive. some of that strikes an unfortunate chord - a totalitarian government, absolute laws, tactics to manipulate the populace and have them believe that their way was the only way. ]

Gods. Elaborate on that.

[selfimage]

As a god myself, you'll need to be a tad more specific on which direction you'd like me to go.

[ it's also a sensitive topic, considering. ]

[batricide]

The Gods here. You said there are seven of them. Any pantheon we'd know, or something unique or alien? Actual divinity or extraterrestrial? Controlling their power how?

[selfimage]

No. Unique to this world, though possible in others not accounted for, considering the gates and the ruins that we traversed not too long ago. The multiverse works in mysterious ways.

[ there's a little hum in his throat. ]

If you were to ask me, I'd lean legit. Divinity has an ... interesting relationship with reality. The Aerie constructed memories and identities on a mass scale—that included more than just the Displaced. That's no simple feat on it's own. And that's not mentioning all the other reality-bending situations that have been happening around the Displaced. [ he rolls his wrist. ] They're interwoven in myth, even if they may have no discernable one of their own. That could just be a matter of where we're looking, of course.

[ give him a moment, he's gonna eat some cake. ]

[batricide]

[ 'fuck the multiverse' says the grunt loki gets in turn. ]

Is the Aerie an existing alternate universe or was it a pocket dimension constructed for some unknown purpose?

[selfimage]

It could have been a mass illusion depending on exactly how our perceptions were fooled.

[ but there was nothing to prove it one way or another. ]

[batricide]

Caused by who?

[ not accusatory, but. its damian so it probably sounds that way. ]

Were the six subjugated Gods calling out for an escape?

[selfimage]

Most likely by the same that would construct a pocket dimension. It's a possibility, there are many ways to trick someone's perceptions to feel real—especially when they're limited and mine are dulled beyond recognition.

[ there's a huff and he leans back into the couch. ]

As far as the gods go, there was no calling or crying. They were ... [ thoughtful for a moment ] neither human-shaped, nor human-like. Distress is, once again, only measured by those who have it within their arsenal of understanding.

[batricide]

In my experience, Gods don't like being under mortal thumbs.

[ but loki would know best. if he's going to keep scarfing cakes down, damian will go ahead and take one for himself. ]

Does the subjugation carry over into this world? [ a thoughtful pause. ] What are the chances there's a God powering every major city?

[selfimage]

Not every god is anthropomorphized. [ when Damian takes one of the cakes that he brought, Loki frowns as if he's taking something out of his wardrobe. he doesn't say anything, though. ] There's also the attribution of divine plan. It's never so simple. Me? Well, I'd hate it.

[ there's a sharp edge to his voice for a small moment before he sinks further into the couch. ]

Though it's a gamble how much of the Aerie is reflected here. Besides the blue god that was blown up by Mr. Henries. Supposedly that's the one that's inside all of us.

[batricide]

[ the look is noted and ignored. in fact, damian will stare directly at him while he slowly unwraps it and takes a bite. ]

Henries was the one people were squabbling over, right?

[selfimage]

His mistake was what lead to our arrival here. Of course people were squabbling over him.

[ he waves a hand outward dismissively. ]

He's on the moon.