I Got The Ways And Means To New Orleans [Closed]

[abit_ofboth]

WHO: Loki abit_ofboth and Kirk godsandbats
WHEN:Backdated to the Chirper event, right after this.
WHERE: Kirk’s lab
WHAT: Doing some blood tests.
NOTES\WARNINGS: Talk of vampirism and blood. Will update if necessary.




As Loki makes his way to Kirk's lab, he can’t help but wonder what it is he’s doing. He wonders if he should’ve consulted with Hob before agreeing. Not that he requires permission, but this is starting to seem like something big and he likes to get his partner’s opinion on things. Even if just for a second opinion he trusts.

But it’s too late for that now, and really this is going to be more of a discussion, he’s sure. And maybe a few tests. Nothing too strange. Based on what he finds, he’s sure to tell Hob about it all once he has more information.

The closer he gets, the more excited he is. Loki has never met a vampire before, wasn’t sure they actually existed, and perhaps they didn’t in the timeline he is most familiar with. He’s always enjoyed learning new things and this is a prime example of that. Once he reaches the address Kirk provided, he knocks and politely waits at the door, even if he is feeling rather jittery.

Comments

[abit_ofboth]

Loki keeps his eyes trained on what Kirk is doing. It seems easier than looking him in the face while they talk of his past. It's been a long time and Loki isn't that person anymore, but it all just reminds him of how much he misses his family.

"Yes, though much of my isolation was my own fault. I was not well behaved." That is an understatement to end all understatements, but it's the simplest explanation.

[godsandbats]

Kirk does not mind the lack of eye contact as he needs to monitor the blood flowing into the vials he has set up. He also understands they're talking about personal issues now.

"Was that how the trickster reputation happened?" he asks evenly and without judgement. If stories about gods have some level of truth in them, Kirk is curious how they came to be so fantastical.

[abit_ofboth]

Loki can't help the small huff of a laugh that escapes him. He supposes with his reputation, and how it seems to have spread across the multiverse, he shouldn't be so surprised that people might get why he was considered a trickster god.

"You could say that, yes. I think I came to it naturally, but it's hard to say when I don't know much about my blood family. Not all of my tricks were nefarious, at least not in the beginning, but as I got older, they certainly became more mean spirited."

The time he had turned into a snake to stab Thor had not actually been because he was angry with his brother, or anything like that. It had simply been how they were. If you thought about it, Thor's 'get help' trick could be seen as mean, just in a different way. Besides, stabbing Thor is not the same as stabbing a human. He thinks that part of the joke is lost on some who might hear it.

[godsandbats]

“But then things changed?” Kirk asks, still conversationally.

He suppose gods were more like humans than most people think, including the having emotionally growth well into adulthood.

[abit_ofboth]

"After a fashion, yes. Though I should say things got much worse before they got better." He's not sure why he's divulging so much to someone he's just met, but it does seem that Kirk has been through his own fair share of dark times considering the whole vampire thing. He's hesitant to give too many details though. Loki has enjoyed living in a place where not too many people know how terrible he once was. It's like having a new lease on life.

And so far he likes Kirk and hopes maybe they can talk more in the future.

"What about you? You do not need to tell me about what happened to you, of course, but I have to think you lived an interesting life before that, and after. It doesn't seem like these things happen to boring people." And the last thing Kirk seems to be is boring.

[godsandbats]

A corner of Kirk's lip quirks up as he looks away from his equipment and then at Loki. "Interesting" is certainly one way of describing his life. It's a fair question to ask considering how much Kirk has already asked of Loki. Plus, a common story about vampires is that they used to be human.

"No, I suppose not," Kirk replies. "Unlike most vampire stories though, I wasn't turned after being bitten. This was the result of a science experiment gone wrong."

Or right, if Will really did purposely turned Kirk into a monster.

"I was trying to cure myself of a terminal blood disease. Needless to say, this was not how I wanted to turn out."

[abit_ofboth]

Loki’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. He’s heard all sorts of tales about vampires, but one of being turned through a failed science experiment is a new one. He thinks of the few scientist friends Thor has in the Avengers and wonders what they might think of this. He imagines Stark’s head might explode, which nearly makes Loki laugh.

“Well, I’m sure this is not what you wish to hear, but I suppose it did at least partially work. I am guessing that despite this not being the desired outcome, it did fix the terminal part.”

That’s probably harsh, or something he shouldn’t say, but Loki has never really been good at social niceties unless there was something he wanted out of the situation. This time he’s really just trying to understand and just be honest.

“So, do you know if you still have the original disease? I mean, if you are to turn back into a human, will your affliction have been cured from before as well? Or is the vampirism a stop-gap?”

[godsandbats]

Kirk doesn’t seem offended at all by Loki’s reaction. Technically, he’s not wrong. As brutal as the vampirism has been for Kirk, there’s no doubt it’s stretched his life expectancy longer compared to being a human with terminal lymphoma.

“That’s part of the issue,” he says as he swaps one filled vial with another. “I don’t know if the original serum eliminated the cancer or if the cancer will reassert itself if I change back. It’s been one of the challenges when you’re both the patient and trying to be the healer. Whatever cure I may come up with, I need to be certain I won’t be back to square one.”

[abit_ofboth]

The fact that Kirk does not seem offended just makes Loki like him more. He's really more used to causing offence, even when he doesn't intend on it so having someone react normally to his words is always something he appreciates.

"No, I imagine that would not be optimal. May I ask then, if you find that your disease is still present and you are only still alive because of the vampirism, will you opt to stay as you are?" Loki supposes there are all sorts of options, whether he finds the cure to his disease and vampirism he might be able to only turn back once he is cancer free, but it is possible that he'll find the cure to one but not the other. The question is then, is it worth the issues he has now to continue living?

[godsandbats]

The funny thing is that it's not the first time Kirk has been asked that question. Perhaps there's something to that. Searching for a cure seemed only natural as he never intended to become a vampire. But he knows there's a chance there may never be a cure. He has to consider other possibilities.

"The focus would turn to having better control of my hunger," Kirk replies. "I'm instinctively attracted to human blood. Animal blood can be a substitute but it doesn't sate me as long."

[abit_ofboth]

It isn't that Loki expects Kirk wouldn't continue to look for a cure. In fact, no matter what he finds here, he expects he will continue to look, and as well he should. But if he does find a cure, and it isn't a cure for his initial disease, should he sit on the vampirism until he finds a second cure? Is being a vampire that terrible, is a more direct way of thinking of it. Is it worse than dying.

Loki really doesn't know. He's had his own brushes with death and likes to think that living no matte what is more his play, but he also has no idea how difficult Kirk's life is.

"I see, yes. So it is possible then that you might discover that a full cure is not possible and at that point, discovering an aid to your hunger is more useful? Or is it a possibility that you might simply look for a cure to your hunger in general over a full cure? I admit, there is a lot to consider here."

[godsandbats]

Kirk nods and appreciates that Loki is picking up all the nuances to his conundrum. It's not for a lack of effort that he still hasn't cured himself.

"There are a lot of questions and not enough answers for now," he admits. "It's why I've been at this for years now."

Sorry for the extended delay! I was away.

[abit_ofboth]

Lots of people might think that Loki isn't one to be good with nuance considering how chaotic he can be and has been in his past, but much of his trickery has worked in the past due to his attention to detail. Now he likes to think he uses those skills for good.

"I suppose that is not surprising. It doesn't seem like your kind are overly common. Or if they are, I would guess they haven't necessarily been trying to cure themselves. Unfortunately, these kinds of things do tend to take time. I do hope you can find something from my blood, even if it is just that it can help with your food supply. I trust you will keep me updated on anything you discover? At least when it comes to my donation today."

No worries. Thanks for tagging back!

[godsandbats]

Kirk nods. He's found Loki quite civil and amicable so far, despite being aware of his trickster past.

"Vampire in stories tend enjoy the so-called thrill of the hunt. It's not what I'm looking for," he says. Though the beast in him doesn't care about that.

"And yes, I'll keep you updated. Thank you again for your assistance already."

Can you tell I'm still trying to catch up? LOL

[abit_ofboth]

And that is exactly how Loki is striving to be. It's appreciated that Kirk has noticed.

"I suppose that isn't surprising. Both that the stories say that Vampires tend to enjoy the hunt and that it isn't true of all vampires. After all, there are plenty of other races, including humans, who have some who enjoy the hunt. It's just strange for humans to think of themselves as the ones being hunted."

Loki nods, smiling slightly. "You are most welcome. It has been no hardship."

Haha. It's fine. It's been busy in RL for me too lately

[godsandbats]

A corner of Kirk's lip twitches in wry amusement.

"Superstitions and myths are sometimes people to try to explain the unexplainable, especially when it's something that unnerves them and isn't something they can control," he says. "Some origins to vampires can be traced back to before people had a better understanding of plagues and other diseases. There was also a Romanian prince who inspired stories, partially because of some of the executions he ordered."

[abit_ofboth]

"That is something that seems to be common for many peoples. I find that many sentient beings have the need to understand things they do necessarily have the tools to truly understand. So they make up stories to help put their minds at ease, even if those stories are scary. It's almost as if people have more trouble with not being able to understand than they do with having something horrifying happen.

I suppose too, in some of these cases, it means they have something to try and fight. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for people without proper healers to deal with such illnesses.

I suppose in the case of vampirism there was some truth to the story though."

It's really all very fascinating. Loki wonders if there are any books on it in the local library. Beyond the clear myths of course. Etraya is a place of many worlds, there must be something there that is more history than fiction.

[godsandbats]

"What's myth in one world could be completely true in another," Kirk adds. "Vampirism seems to be one of those. Perhaps the same could be said about your people."

Kirk also finds the whole concept fascinating. There seems to be countless variations of Earth alone. Then there are other planets to consider as well.

[abit_ofboth]

"That is true yes. I know in some worlds I am but a myth. In others we just prefer people to think us a myth. Though I admit I prefer making myself known. I've never been one to shy away from attention. There are even worlds where neither of our kinds exist at all. The number of variations is truly staggering."

Kirk isn't wrong about that. Even as the person who had previously been holding the multiverse together, the number had been too large for Loki to count.

[godsandbats]

"It seems one could spend a lifetime studying the variations and it still wouldn't be enough," Kirk muses. "It must be enlightening for you."

Kirk would hope learning more about other worlds helps keep someone open minded.

[abit_ofboth]

"You are not wrong. I am lucky that I have had that opportunity, but I admit it was a very lonely existence." Loki doesn't really know how long he sat on his throne, watching over the multiverse since time as most know it isn't a thing there and even he doesn't think there was enough 'time' to really learn all there is to know. "It certainly was eye opening as to how I had lived my life before."

Loki likes to think it did. At least he's hopes he's far more open-minded than he had been.

[godsandbats]

"Eye opening in what sense?" Kirk asks. To him, it seems it could be either good or bad. Though for himself, he tends to look back at his life with many regrets.

[abit_ofboth]

"I suppose the easiest way to describe it is that I have experienced first hand how terrible I can be. It very much inspired a change in me for the better." Kirk wouldn't be the only person with regrets. Loki has more than he can count and he's not sure he'll ever be able to make up for all of them, even with a life as long as his own.

[godsandbats]

"Hopefully that redemption path has been fruitful for you," Kirk says. He sees now part of why Loki was so willing to help him already. "Trust is difficult to earn or regain but easy to lose."

[abit_ofboth]

"You know, I believe it has been. Though I haven't really been able to see the fruits of that until I arrived here." It's kind of hard to feel the full reality of such things when you are cut off from everything and everyone. "You are certainly correct about that. I don't expect I will regain trust of many I have wronged in my past, but I will continue to try."