[ It is true that he would usually not resort to such stridencies without cause, but he has been dealing with the problem of the Direwraiths directly for more than the few weeks that she has. He is stressed and tired, and perhaps more affected by the squalor of their surroundings than he lets on. ]
They don't—
[ Loki looks like he's developing a headache, a silent count so as to keep his tone level. He can hardly expect her to take the threat seriously if she doesn't understand the scope of it. ]
Much in the same way that you can sense individual vibrations, every object and person that has ever been touched by a source of power has its own energy signature. That is what the Direwraiths consume, and once they do, they can replicate it and combine that energy with the energy of a thousand other stolen sources. Your stone monolith may not be reprogrammable, but it may be reproducible. I assume, since you are still here, that the stone itself did not come with you when you arrived?
[ Okay, so as usual, things are more complicated than they seem. Nothing can ever be easy when it involves aliens. Just once, she'd really like for something to be easy. ]
No, the transport stones stay where they are and open a portal to another location. In my universe, it was in a cave in the Polish countryside. The portal dropped me in the city.
[ She's not entirely sure what he's expecting. Is he wanting to find the stone and use it? Find it and destroy it? If it's the latter, she'll wish him luck with finding major explosives to get the job done. ]
[ So the monolith was not physically present, which meant that the Direwraiths shouldn't be able to absorb it. The urgency of that immediate problem mitigated, Loki resumes pace for the kitchens as well.
As expected, it has been ransacked quite extensively. Cupboards and cabinets in hospital-standard stainless steel lay pulled open and bare, old bottles and jars and plastic wrappers crunching quietly underfoot. But with some persistence, they're able to find some old, dry staples: soup packets, instant oatmeal, crackers and the like. ]
[ There's so much more to potentially be concerned about with the monoliths, but Daisy chooses not to bring any of it up right now. There's nothing they can do about it, so why waste time worrying when there's so much else to focus on? ]
We should split this up. [ Finding anything is a relief, even if they aren't the most substantial options. ] If we each carry half, it'll still be okay if something happens and we lose another bag.
[ Which, yes, bringing it up is basically giving him an invitation to complain about losing the first bag, but whatever. She can deal with a whiny alien so long as he's not trying to stab her in the back. ]
[ Loki considered for a moment, almost long enough that she might think he would refuse, before separating half of what he'd collected and leaving it on the table for her to collect. It was a sound assessment, after all.
He touches the wall again, concentrating, and eventually nods. ]
The ámáttugr is strong enough to mask us for a day or two, but we should try to leave the area as soon as is safe.
[ It feels like they've crossed a bridge with that, or something close to it, anyway. He didn't just immediately dismiss her idea but considered and even accepted it. That seems like a sizable step considering their situation.
She adds her half of the haul to her bag while he does his thing at the wall, not questioning how he can do what he can do. Magic is so far beyond her realm of expertise, she isn't interested in interfering with whatever he's doing. ]
Okay. That gives us a little time, at least. We can decide what to do. [ Hefting her bag again, she nods back the way they came. ] I still need to find the pharmacy.
[ She hesistates for just a moment, then explains. ] I need to see if they have sleeping pills. I sometimes use my powers when I have nightmares.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
They don't—
[ Loki looks like he's developing a headache, a silent count so as to keep his tone level. He can hardly expect her to take the threat seriously if she doesn't understand the scope of it. ]
Much in the same way that you can sense individual vibrations, every object and person that has ever been touched by a source of power has its own energy signature. That is what the Direwraiths consume, and once they do, they can replicate it and combine that energy with the energy of a thousand other stolen sources. Your stone monolith may not be reprogrammable, but it may be reproducible. I assume, since you are still here, that the stone itself did not come with you when you arrived?
no subject
No, the transport stones stay where they are and open a portal to another location. In my universe, it was in a cave in the Polish countryside. The portal dropped me in the city.
[ She's not entirely sure what he's expecting. Is he wanting to find the stone and use it? Find it and destroy it? If it's the latter, she'll wish him luck with finding major explosives to get the job done. ]
no subject
[ So the monolith was not physically present, which meant that the Direwraiths shouldn't be able to absorb it. The urgency of that immediate problem mitigated, Loki resumes pace for the kitchens as well.
As expected, it has been ransacked quite extensively. Cupboards and cabinets in hospital-standard stainless steel lay pulled open and bare, old bottles and jars and plastic wrappers crunching quietly underfoot. But with some persistence, they're able to find some old, dry staples: soup packets, instant oatmeal, crackers and the like. ]
no subject
We should split this up. [ Finding anything is a relief, even if they aren't the most substantial options. ] If we each carry half, it'll still be okay if something happens and we lose another bag.
[ Which, yes, bringing it up is basically giving him an invitation to complain about losing the first bag, but whatever. She can deal with a whiny alien so long as he's not trying to stab her in the back. ]
no subject
He touches the wall again, concentrating, and eventually nods. ]
The ámáttugr is strong enough to mask us for a day or two, but we should try to leave the area as soon as is safe.
no subject
She adds her half of the haul to her bag while he does his thing at the wall, not questioning how he can do what he can do. Magic is so far beyond her realm of expertise, she isn't interested in interfering with whatever he's doing. ]
Okay. That gives us a little time, at least. We can decide what to do. [ Hefting her bag again, she nods back the way they came. ] I still need to find the pharmacy.
[ She hesistates for just a moment, then explains. ] I need to see if they have sleeping pills. I sometimes use my powers when I have nightmares.