It wasn't. That doesn't mean you don't have questions about what you experienced. Or what it might mean.
[Loki clears his throat, shrugs one shoulder.]
Not exactly. But only because you're the first inmate I've had during a simulation. And only the second I've had at all, after my month with Miss Jack.
[He flicks his hair out of his face in an unconscious show of nerves. It's probably not great to give Theon an out from talking about his own experience so quickly, but...well, he thinks he would have appreciated it, if the situation were reversed.]
I did attack my warden while under the influence of some...force, once. And I killed another inmate. Quite horribly, I might add.
That also wasn't me. But I can't forget it. I doubt I'll forget what I did to you, either, even if it's fuzzy.
I have no questions. I doubt it means much more than any other dream I've experienced.
[ Because that is officially what it is to him: a dream to lock into the back of his mind and pretend as if it never happened without actually forgetting that it did. He’s had worse dreams, after all, and night terrors still plague him on a regular basis.
He has many questions, but he has no desire to try to wrap his mind around any of it right now. ]
Your warden?
[ He narrows his eyes, not certain if he heard correctly. ]
You were an inmate?
[ He never put much thought into it. He’s been told it’s an option, to graduate and become a warden, but he didn’t think it was actually possible. ]
Alright. My story is quite long overall, so I'll start with the first of my crimes.
[Well, of the large ones.]
As I've told you, I was raised as the son of King Odin. I was led to believe that both my brother and I had an equal chance at inheriting the throne. But I knew that wasn't true long before it was decided that Thor would be king. It was always going to be Thor. Even if he was clearly not ready.
So I sabotaged his coronation. Set him up to show his violent, thoughtless side. And I did it by working with our greatest enemy: Jotunheim. It worked better than I imagined, frankly. Thor nearly got himself and the rest of us killed, and as punishment, he was banished. Which meant that when the Allfather fell ill, I rose to take his place.
I had only intended to delay the coronation by proving Thor wasn't suited for the task yet. When I was handed an even greater opportunity, I took it. Treason upon treason, really.
[But that's as good a place to stop as any. He nods at Theon, eyebrow raised.]
Now you. Tell me what you think you've done to bring you here.
[ Now, that sounds eerily familiar. Theon had grown up believing that he was his father’s true heir. He was, after all, Balon’s last remaining son and in most situations that would be more than enough to secure his position. The Iron Islands are different, though. He never once considered that his older sister might be a real contender for the Seastone Chair.
That isn’t a bad idea, he thinks, considering Loki’s story in a way that Loki likely didn’t intend. A shame I won’t get a chance to sabotage anything. Asha would have deserved it.
He casts Loki a doubtful expression. Small potatoes, really. It sounds more like a joke gone slightly wrong. ]
And they made you an inmate for that? I would hate to turn this into a competition.
[ He laughs, but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes. There’s little humor in his voice when he continues. ]
I know why I’m here. I’ve never been unclear in that regard. It’s because I captured Winterfell and the things I did there.
[But he's going to get more out of Theon before he elaborates, if he can.]
And I imagine yours is too. You may be right that that one campaign contains the bulk of your crimes. But it was built up of individual choices. Things you chose to do when there were other, less cruel alternatives.
What comes to mind? Maybe not the worst, objectively. I'm just curious what comes to mind as a clear choice you made.
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no subject
[Loki clears his throat, shrugs one shoulder.]
Not exactly. But only because you're the first inmate I've had during a simulation. And only the second I've had at all, after my month with Miss Jack.
[He flicks his hair out of his face in an unconscious show of nerves. It's probably not great to give Theon an out from talking about his own experience so quickly, but...well, he thinks he would have appreciated it, if the situation were reversed.]
I did attack my warden while under the influence of some...force, once. And I killed another inmate. Quite horribly, I might add.
That also wasn't me. But I can't forget it. I doubt I'll forget what I did to you, either, even if it's fuzzy.
no subject
[ Because that is officially what it is to him: a dream to lock into the back of his mind and pretend as if it never happened without actually forgetting that it did. He’s had worse dreams, after all, and night terrors still plague him on a regular basis.
He has many questions, but he has no desire to try to wrap his mind around any of it right now. ]
Your warden?
[ He narrows his eyes, not certain if he heard correctly. ]
You were an inmate?
[ He never put much thought into it. He’s been told it’s an option, to graduate and become a warden, but he didn’t think it was actually possible. ]
no subject
Yes. On another ship. Which is why I know the simulations offer plenty for one to learn from, if one is looking.
For instance, one might wonder why, in that setting, you were so compelled to seek attention as to risk your life for the opportunity.
no subject
What did you do?
no subject
Well, that's awfully personal. I've done some truly terrible things.
...Unless you'd also like to share. A story for a story?
no subject
It's a deal.
no subject
[Well, of the large ones.]
As I've told you, I was raised as the son of King Odin. I was led to believe that both my brother and I had an equal chance at inheriting the throne. But I knew that wasn't true long before it was decided that Thor would be king. It was always going to be Thor. Even if he was clearly not ready.
So I sabotaged his coronation. Set him up to show his violent, thoughtless side. And I did it by working with our greatest enemy: Jotunheim. It worked better than I imagined, frankly. Thor nearly got himself and the rest of us killed, and as punishment, he was banished. Which meant that when the Allfather fell ill, I rose to take his place.
I had only intended to delay the coronation by proving Thor wasn't suited for the task yet. When I was handed an even greater opportunity, I took it. Treason upon treason, really.
[But that's as good a place to stop as any. He nods at Theon, eyebrow raised.]
Now you. Tell me what you think you've done to bring you here.
no subject
That isn’t a bad idea, he thinks, considering Loki’s story in a way that Loki likely didn’t intend. A shame I won’t get a chance to sabotage anything. Asha would have deserved it.
He casts Loki a doubtful expression. Small potatoes, really. It sounds more like a joke gone slightly wrong. ]
And they made you an inmate for that? I would hate to turn this into a competition.
[ He laughs, but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes. There’s little humor in his voice when he continues. ]
I know why I’m here. I’ve never been unclear in that regard. It’s because I captured Winterfell and the things I did there.
no subject
[But he's going to get more out of Theon before he elaborates, if he can.]
And I imagine yours is too. You may be right that that one campaign contains the bulk of your crimes. But it was built up of individual choices. Things you chose to do when there were other, less cruel alternatives.
What comes to mind? Maybe not the worst, objectively. I'm just curious what comes to mind as a clear choice you made.