[Event Video] Be Prepared! For the Death of the Duchess!

[possiblymad]

[The video feed opens to Loki, once again, clad in his green and golden royal regalia. That ridiculously large horned helmet was polished impeccably! He was dressed to the nines and his ego was just spilling from his leather and metal robes.

He's grinning far too wide, showing all those pearly whites. Bright green eyes nearly glowing with vigour. Oh, this man had something important to say. Something very important. And somehow, his lips pull back to reveal even more teeth as he laughs at the camera. God of Madness? Why yes, he certainly fits that title today. Chaos. Insanity. Pandemonium...]

You are, all of you, beneath me! Is that not what you said? [No, wait, that's what HE said. But close enough. Why yes, he's addressing you, Duchess.] I know not who you are, but I am here to answer that challenge. Show yourself and we shall see who is beneath whom!



[If he looks a little crazy, well... he really is. Even the Avengers didn't see him this unhinged, because he's never been pushed this far. This man has an ego large enough as it is, but when the magic of Wonderland goads it--inflates it--agitates it further, he can easily fall to the madness of his own mind. Wonderland, this is a very, very dark mind to be unleashing on the residents. How fortunate, that he's suddenly trapped in a Disney movie.]

Be prepared, you snivelling sow! I shall find you! And when I do, you will answer to each and every one of us here! They may be mortals, but they... [He laughs lightly, humorously.] ...they can be quite useful. And they deserve their just dues, paid by none other than you, Duchess!

[And that's when the unhinged prince of Asgard begins to slip into song, completely with his own background music and shifting scenery as his magic swirls and seethes within him, giving physical representation of the state of his mind. His surrounds sink to inky blackness, painted with low-lying green mist, and poisonous fires erupting around him, casting him in more green lighting.]

I never thought mortals essential,
They're crude and unspeakably plain,
But maybe they've a glimmer of potential,
If allied to my vision and brain.

I know that your powers of retention,
Are as wet as a bilgesnipe's back side,
But thick as you are, pay attention!
My words are a matter of pride!

It's clear from your vacant expressions,
The lights are not all on upstairs,
But we're talking kings and successions,
Even you can't be caught unaware!

So prepare for the chance of a lifetime,
Be prepared for sensational news,
A shining new era,
Is tiptoeing nearer.

I know it sounds sordid,
But you'll be rewarded,
When at last I am given my dues,
And in justice deliciously squared,
Be prepared!

Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected,
To take certain duties on board,
The future is littered with prizes,
And though I'm the main addressee,
The point that I must emphasize is,
You won't get a THING without me!

So prepare for the coo of the century,
Be prepared for the murkiest scam,
Meticulous planning,
Tenacity spanning,
Decades of denial,
Is simply why I'll,
Be king undisputed,
Respected, saluted,
And seen for the wonder I am,
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared,
Be prepared!

Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared,
Be prepared!

[As he comes out of the song, the background of twisting smoke and fire settles into the inky blackness. Yes, to anyone actually watching this pretentious display... well. Likely, when he comes out of this temporary insanity due to overinflated ego (because, again, who thought it was a good idea to pump Loki's ego up on steroids?!) he will probably feel the strong desire to kill anyone who brings this up later. It's also quite possible he won't be showing his face around for a good long while.]

Comments

[video]

[assembles]

[While Steve has been keeping an eye on his phone, checking here and there, it could be said that he's not exactly in his right mind either this weekend.

The humblest of superheroes has actually been singing to his own praises, and he can't seem to be able to stop himself. Why should he, after all, when it's so clear that he's been made into not only the perfect soldier, but also the perfect man?

So when Loki shows himself in all his grandeur over the network, Steve doesn't hesitate to reply with a rebuttal. This possibility is something he'd been worried about ever since his conversation with Alfred, but now Steve has no qualms about putting the so-called king in his place.

All he knows about this Duchess is that note he received from her, but it doesn't seem to matter right now that the message and song aren't directed at him.]

Maybe you're the one who should be prepared. [He says it with a cocky smile, and then the singing starts. Steve hasn't even seen the movie this is from yet, but the words come tumbling out anyway.]

He's a hero who can please the crowd,
A star is born!
Come on everybody, shout out loud,
A star is born!

[At this point Steve points at Loki, as if expecting him to sing along.]

Just remember in the darkest hour,
Within your heart's the power,
For making you,
A hero too!

[Does he actually believe that? Not exactly. Loki sort of tried to take over mankind, but musical numbers are not bound by logic.]

So don't lose hope when you're forlorn,
Just keep your eyes upon the skies,
Every night a star is--
Right in sight a star is--
Burning bright a star is born!

[And that star is him, don't you forget it!

Steve may want to also bury his head in the sand for a few days after this, but for now he's totally into it. He's even got his spangly, starred uniform on to make a point.]

[video] (Invoking my artistic liberties license)

[possiblymad]

[There's that face and he might even cringe when he sees it out of grand exasperation. Really, of all people to reply, Captain America was up there, probably only second to Thor, on the list of 'for the love of the allfather, please don't see this'. Well, apparently whatever deity he expected to be listening wasn't listening.

He opened his mouth to quip. To mock him for the song. To deny the offer. All of the above. But only one of the above happened, and it wasn't in the manner in which he planned.]

If there's a prize for rotten judgement,
I guess I've already won that...

[He bites his tongue. These words keep spilling out in that godforsaken sing-song voice of his. Well, if he doesn't make it as a God, he could always get a job on Broadway. He refuses to sing! And moreover, he refuses to sing any kind of messed up duet with you! As he begins to state that, well...]

No chance, no way. I won't have it. No, no.
It's too cliché, I won't change sides for you.

[This is infuriating! Not a damn thing he intends to say comes out, and even if the sentiments are similar, the delivery is far from acceptable!]

I thought I might have learned my lesson,
It feels so grand when you start out,
My head is screaming, "Get a grip, now!"
"Unless you're planning to
Fall
Like
Be-
Fore!"

[Loki really will join you in that. They can be ostrich buddies! However, Loki isn't very into it at any given moment. He just can't seem to stop it.]

[video] (This may be the best thread I've ever done.)

[assembles]

[At least they can bond in mutual embarrassment and quietly agree to never speak of this again, just as soon as the event is over.

Steve would really prefer to be interrogating Loki about his plans here and it would be best if he could offer a few well-placed threats, but instead he's left to express himself through unknown songs which, while catchy, he would really rather not be singing.

This time his voice comes out in a more somber way, and while a lot of the lyrics are in fact appropriate, there has to be a better way to get them across.

Apparently not, because here he goes:]

You think I'm an ignorant savage,
And you've been so many places,
I guess it must be so...

But still I cannot see,
If the savage one is me,
How can there be so much that you don't know?
You don't know...

[Now his voice becomes more righteous as he moves into the next part of the song and asserts things that are in fact very true about Loki.]

You think you own whatever land you land on,
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim,
But I know every rock and tree and creature,
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name!

[And humans are not lower creatures who are meant to do nothing but kneel to you, Loki. This should be basic stuff, but Steve keeps going with this ill-advised attempt to make Loki see the light.]

You think the only people who are people,
Are the people who look and think like you,
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger,
You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew!

[So gives humans a chance, Loki. They're actually like ten times better than you, and Steve's the absolute best, didn't you know?]

[video] (OMG I know right? I didn't know I needed this)

[possiblymad]

[Yep, this disaster was something that he wished would just go away. He never wanted Thor to drop him into another wormhole in his entire life, but right now, he'd welcome it. No one would take a singing God seriously.]

I admit that in the past I've been a nasty,
They weren't kidding when they called me, well, the Devil,
But you'll find that now'a days, I've mended half my ways,
Repented, tried to right, and made things level,
True? Yes~

And I fortunately know a little magic,
It's a talent that I always have possessed,
And here, lately, please don't laugh,
I use it on behalf,
Of the good of all of Asgard and the rest,
Pathetic!

Poor, unfortunate soul!
Silly human, in delusion,

This one longing to be thinner, [Steve may not know him, but an illusion of Volstagg is created on screen.]
This one wants to get the girl, [Another illusion, this time of Fandral.]
Do I help them?
No, that's not me~

[The images both disappear in a swirl of light as he laughs.]

You poor, unfortunate soul!
So sad, so true~
You come flocking to my person, crying "Join us, Loki, please"
Do I listen? Don't be a fool!

[Loki grins a bit. Steve, really? You can't reason with this man on a good day. And this was far from a good day.]

You might think I can make nice,
But that delusion comes at a price,
And it may be one far too steep for you to pay~

Did you fail to hear me mention,
That I did not intend to harm,
You poor, unfortunate souls~?

[video]

[assembles]

[Steve may in fact have failed to hear any mention of Loki not meaning to harm them, but it's not as if he believes that. He crosses his arms over his chest and rolls his eyes.]

Yeah, and I'm a monkey's uncle. [Where did that come from? Who knows, none of this makes a bit of sense. But at least he's getting a few words out now.] Don't think I ever said please, for one thing. And there's something you're forgetting.

[Loki may have magic, but Steve's got something else, that something special that's caused people to admire him for years and years. Normally it's something he feels awkward about, but right now he's soaking up all that attention.

So here comes another song:]

Bless my soul,
Cap was on a roll,
Person of the week in every state opinion poll,
What a pro,
Cap could stop a show,
Point him at a trickster and you're talking SRO!

[Here's the first obvious threat, and Steve looks only too happy to offer it. His ego is through the roof right now.]

He was a no one,
A zero, zero,
Now he's a honcho,
He's a hero!
Here was a kid with his act down pat,
From zero to hero in no time flat,
Zero to hero, just like that!

[And let's be real, heroes are what put down upstarts like Loki.]