[ Opening Mingle ]

[randomly_modding]

[Everyone will wake up suddenly, as if having drifted off -- while sitting upright in an uncomfortable office chair. In one hand they're holding the communicator, and in their lap is propped a clipboard with a job application (standard, looking something like this; it requests up to ten years of job history, ) and a pen. The waiting room is also fairly standard, except for being empty.]

[The communicator's lock screen reads, Complete the job application. Time limit, twenty-four hours.]

[There are magazines, fake plants, and computers. There's a staff lounge with food -- tupperware that might have belonged to some of these nonexistent workers, popcorn and cocoa packets, vending machines -- and restrooms. There are exits, but characters will be unable to use them... or make their own, or escape in any way.]

[So the characters are stuck here, until tomorrow morning. Set up a comment telling everyone what your character is doing, and thinking, whether they're obeying the task or not, at any time during the day. Then tag other people! Be sure to check back later in the week, when people are encouraged make threads for the evening as well as the day! Characters that have been claimed are also welcome at this point to join the community, and will be able to make their own posts, which can be tagged by anyone taking part in the event.]

Comments

[actlikealady]

Why would I joke on a topic like this? At a time like this?

[reignbringer]

[ he shakes his head, slow, and then steps back from her ]

What have they done to you? How--

Were you captured? Why did no one contact-- [ but it wouldn't have been easy to contact him. his hands clench hard; tremble. ]

[actlikealady]

Thor, listen to me. [somewhat sharply now] I was in the throne room. We were discussing Loki's plans on Midgard, and the status of the Bifrost. Nothing was done to me. I was not captured.

And nothing has happened to me that has not clearly also happened to you.

[reignbringer]

[ these are not the words he wanted to hear, and he turns a hopeless look on her. no. no, that was not all some -- some spell! ]

I arrived on Midgard. I fought him. With the help of the humans, I was victorious. We were on our way home.

[actlikealady]

--But how can that be? [she frowns, her gaze slipping away. their memories are perhaps a day or two different. there is an explanation, but she cannot think what it might be]

Have you any proof that things went the way you believe? [and then, straightening] We do not know the power of Loki's allies! What if they brought us here, and your memories were altered to make you think he was no longer a threat?

[reignbringer]

[ these are the exact thoughts he did not want to have. ]

I do not know. [ soft and heavy and with his expression crumpling ] It is more possible than I wish it to be.

[actlikealady]

[after a beat, she shakes her head again] No. It would be too careless of them to leave one of us with true memories and the other with false. We would know something was amiss.

[...but then she's rather at a loss. time travel is not unheard of, but coincidence? random chance? she doubts that]

...We will figure it out soon enough. [forcing a smile for him]

[reignbringer]

[ he takes some comfort in that, and after a moment adds ] And if it were his masters, why would they bring these others here? Random innocent humans?

[actlikealady]

No, something else is at work here. And we will work to right it as soon as we can, so that you may see to it that Loki gets back to Asgard. [because that is important]

[reignbringer]

[ he straightens, and then after a beat confesses ]

This building is strange.

[actlikealady]

[agreeing] It does not yield in the slightest. It seems to be made of ordinary stuff, but it must be very well enchanted, or disguised.

[reignbringer]

It is more than only that. [ he pauses, then tells her slowly ] I feel nothing beyond the walls.