Now, that isn't something he expected to hear, and he tilts his head, a flicker of interest in his eyes. He fully intends to do his best to make friends of the others, as well, but it's interesting to hear he might have something in common with Ravage, beyond similar haunting fears and mutual soft spots for children. "I...will mention it to him. That is a close parallel."
He shakes his head. "Not really. Had I made it a priority, I could have spoken to them, perhaps, but I suffered a sort of psychotic break. I killed my biological father--and I don't regret that. By all accounts, he left me to die as an infant. But I also attacked Jotunheim and that, in retrospect, was unconscionable. Bridges have been thoroughly burned, I fear."
"I have my own alternates to consult, but as they're from different worlds it's hard to say how much parallels my own. My twin is the best-versed in what Frost Giants are actually like, and he doesn't have much that's pleasant to say about them. But any people can suffer under poor conditions or poor leadership."
He smiles at the question. "What I should say, I suppose, is that I hope we will speak again. Your openness has been refreshing. Is there nothing you would ask of me?"
"Of course I have questions for you. But you had so many of your own to begin with. I'm sure that we will speak again. Here's a question for you: what, actually, is this place? Do you know?"
Megatron glances around. "I mean the Nexus, not this particular spot we are in. If my friends are doing what I think they might be doing, they're putting a lot of their trust into this place without knowing what sort of place it really is. Who made this place? Who set up the infrastructure? In our own universe, I've been placed in a position where there is absolutely nothing I can do to protect them now. They have become the leaders of a movement that I founded and left, and I cannot ever go back to it. I was not permitted to name a successor, but I could not have chosen better ones.
"But that doesn't mean that I don't care what happens to them. I have given a great deal of thought to how I interact with them in our own universe precisely because I do not want to attract any trouble or pain to them. In my heart of hearts, I wish they'd just give up the whole thing, stay here or somewhere else apart from all the old conflicts, and just be happy together. They've earned that. But they won't do that. I want to know they're safe here, and that nothing they're hiding from here while they work on their plans for the future can harm them here."
It's actually rather flattering to be asked that kind of question about the Nexus, as if he's some sort of authority regarding the place. It's fair, though; Loki isn't the god of the Nexus, but he's certainly observant, and the chaotic nature of the place meshes well with his own.
"The multiverse is, in theory, infinite," he says thoughtfully. "And the Nexus is purportedly a place where all or some of the quantum possibilities, the variant worlds within the scope of Existence Itself, can meet. If you think about it for too long, that's actually terrifying."
"As far as we can tell, this place was not made, at least not by any entity that is now present within it. It seems to be a kind of quantum bubble, a world unto itself that is not, precisely a world, and is beholden to no other universe. As far as the infrastructure, what exists here has been made by visitors and residents. It's overwhelmingly designed by and for humans and similar beings, but not entirely."
"There is some sort of automated translation matrix that assists with communications, as well as what the residents call the 'anti-violence field', which seems to dampen or subvert attempts to harm other sentient creatures, within a fairly large radius around the Plaza. There are occasional glitches in both of these, but the translation matrix in particular is very reliable. I've only heard of it going down once."
"I have never seen any machinery or magical source that can be claimed to actually generate these fields, though. They just seem to be here. And believe me, I've looked."
"It should also be noted that there are powerful entities that visit and dwell in the Nexus, and often they influence the infrastructure. I would say the most noteworthy at the moment are the seasonal Spirits. They don't always appear in a tangible form, but in this place the seasons go from fall to winter, to spring to summer, much as they would on Earth, and that is no coincidence. People complain about their power and high-handedness, but I personally doubt there would be plant and animal life here at all without their influence."
He smiles a little, touched by Megatron's clear regard for his friends. "In my experience, setting up a home here, even a large home for multiple individuals, is not a great risk. The population is largely tolerant and generous, and once you adapt to the weather patterns and occasional strange events, it's as safe as most planets, if much more bizarre. Now, if they mean to operate something more than a home or a safe-house, that could prove more complicated. It's not impossible that conflicts from one's home world can follow one here..."
He pauses and rubs the back of his neck stiffly, as if thinking of something personal. "...or call one home, whether one wants to go or not."
"There are no guarantees, but in this place, there are usually allies to be made, and friends."
Which dovetails neatly into Megatron's other question. Loki's smile widens a little. He's not sure whether this is a gentle build-up to a request that he keep an eye on Ravage and the other Decepticons on Megatron's behalf or not, but if it is, that's hardly a problem. He nods slowly, as if considering the ramifications before giving a verbal answer, but at length he says, "Yes. I believe I would enjoy your friendship."
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no subject
He shakes his head. "Not really. Had I made it a priority, I could have spoken to them, perhaps, but I suffered a sort of psychotic break. I killed my biological father--and I don't regret that. By all accounts, he left me to die as an infant. But I also attacked Jotunheim and that, in retrospect, was unconscionable. Bridges have been thoroughly burned, I fear."
"I have my own alternates to consult, but as they're from different worlds it's hard to say how much parallels my own. My twin is the best-versed in what Frost Giants are actually like, and he doesn't have much that's pleasant to say about them. But any people can suffer under poor conditions or poor leadership."
He smiles at the question. "What I should say, I suppose, is that I hope we will speak again. Your openness has been refreshing. Is there nothing you would ask of me?"
no subject
Megatron glances around. "I mean the Nexus, not this particular spot we are in. If my friends are doing what I think they might be doing, they're putting a lot of their trust into this place without knowing what sort of place it really is. Who made this place? Who set up the infrastructure? In our own universe, I've been placed in a position where there is absolutely nothing I can do to protect them now. They have become the leaders of a movement that I founded and left, and I cannot ever go back to it. I was not permitted to name a successor, but I could not have chosen better ones.
"But that doesn't mean that I don't care what happens to them. I have given a great deal of thought to how I interact with them in our own universe precisely because I do not want to attract any trouble or pain to them. In my heart of hearts, I wish they'd just give up the whole thing, stay here or somewhere else apart from all the old conflicts, and just be happy together. They've earned that. But they won't do that. I want to know they're safe here, and that nothing they're hiding from here while they work on their plans for the future can harm them here."
Megatron smiles. "And another--are we friends?"
no subject
"The multiverse is, in theory, infinite," he says thoughtfully. "And the Nexus is purportedly a place where all or some of the quantum possibilities, the variant worlds within the scope of Existence Itself, can meet. If you think about it for too long, that's actually terrifying."
"As far as we can tell, this place was not made, at least not by any entity that is now present within it. It seems to be a kind of quantum bubble, a world unto itself that is not, precisely a world, and is beholden to no other universe. As far as the infrastructure, what exists here has been made by visitors and residents. It's overwhelmingly designed by and for humans and similar beings, but not entirely."
"There is some sort of automated translation matrix that assists with communications, as well as what the residents call the 'anti-violence field', which seems to dampen or subvert attempts to harm other sentient creatures, within a fairly large radius around the Plaza. There are occasional glitches in both of these, but the translation matrix in particular is very reliable. I've only heard of it going down once."
"I have never seen any machinery or magical source that can be claimed to actually generate these fields, though. They just seem to be here. And believe me, I've looked."
"It should also be noted that there are powerful entities that visit and dwell in the Nexus, and often they influence the infrastructure. I would say the most noteworthy at the moment are the seasonal Spirits. They don't always appear in a tangible form, but in this place the seasons go from fall to winter, to spring to summer, much as they would on Earth, and that is no coincidence. People complain about their power and high-handedness, but I personally doubt there would be plant and animal life here at all without their influence."
He smiles a little, touched by Megatron's clear regard for his friends. "In my experience, setting up a home here, even a large home for multiple individuals, is not a great risk. The population is largely tolerant and generous, and once you adapt to the weather patterns and occasional strange events, it's as safe as most planets, if much more bizarre. Now, if they mean to operate something more than a home or a safe-house, that could prove more complicated. It's not impossible that conflicts from one's home world can follow one here..."
He pauses and rubs the back of his neck stiffly, as if thinking of something personal. "...or call one home, whether one wants to go or not."
"There are no guarantees, but in this place, there are usually allies to be made, and friends."
Which dovetails neatly into Megatron's other question. Loki's smile widens a little. He's not sure whether this is a gentle build-up to a request that he keep an eye on Ravage and the other Decepticons on Megatron's behalf or not, but if it is, that's hardly a problem. He nods slowly, as if considering the ramifications before giving a verbal answer, but at length he says, "Yes. I believe I would enjoy your friendship."