srta-minutes - Tumblr blog

[srta-minutes]

What if

Mobius met young Sylvie and stopped her from being reset/helped her escape from the TVA

He has a soft spot for broken things —The TVA reset him for being rebellious

That’s why he’s particularly interested in Loki.

When he meets Sylvie again she’ll reveal all of this???

[srta-minutes]

Does Loki have a plan?

Okay, I finally put my thoughts together on Loki, Episode 3 ("Lamentis") and here we are!!

First: Spoilers. Do not read if you have not watched Episode 3: Lamentis.

Now: I initially disliked Episode 3 because I didn't understand what was going on between Loki and Sylvie. For whatever reason, I had a hard time believing their vulnerability with each other and frankly, I missed Mobius. As I said previously, this felt like Good Omens without Aziraphale and Crowley interacting. So watching Loki and Sylvie interact took some getting used to because I just didn't find it as compelling as Loki and Mobius. (Maybe I'm a shipper in denial, sigh.)

Anyway, I rewatched the episode about two to three more times to better understand what its intent was. Here are some overarching ideas:

Establishing Loki and Sylvie as very distinct variants

Showcasing their constant oneupmanship as they navigate each other's intentions

Revealing how and when Loki and Sylvie individually reveal information to each other

Establishing Loki and Sylvie as opposites, not just in gender, but in how they approach and solve problems

The series has focused on the question: What makes Loki tick? How does a Loki get out of scraps and find solutions? The episode makes time (cough) to discuss planning, and how Loki and Sylvie diverge in their approaches:

Sylvie seems to be the type of person who, when formulating a plan, thinks it through from top to bottom. Meanwhile, Loki is a bit of a flying by the seat of your pants kind of person—er, literally:

So I want to talk about the scenes on the train, particularly after Sylvie falls asleep. Beforehand, Sylvie says:

There are no throwaway lines in this show. I think after Sylvie falls asleep, Loki comes up with a plan. Do I know what the plan is? I don't think so. But I think his plan involves getting kicked off the train on purpose.

First, Loki knows that he needs her for the TemPad:

But! Sylvie having possession of the TemPad would inevitably give her the upper hand (read: "tactical advantage") and Loki doesn't want her to be in control. This entire episode is a tug-of-war for control.

So what better (and more chaotic way) to keep control out of Sylvie's hands by getting themselves kicked off the train and possibly faking the TemPad's complete disrepair?

The reason I'm wondering this is because of the scenes after Sylvie wakes up from sleeping.

This is the first shot we see on the train after Loki tells Sylvie to relax her own way (23:35):

A young girl with a stringed musical instrument. She is dressed in formal wear, as if she's at a party. She appears after we see the closed caption "LOKI SINGING IN ASGARDIAN."

Now, this is what the booth looked like when Loki and Sylvie boarded the train (17:54):

This couple is the same couple that boards the train immediately before Loki and Sylvie after they bypass the guards.

Note the couple at this booth is still present on the train as Loki's singing takes place, but they're … still at the same booth where the girl is simultaneously playing her instrument???

Look at the background toward the left; the wood paneling is identical with the lighter-colored diamond in the middle. Isn't this the same freaking booth???

And this is what Sylvie sees (from our POV) when she wakes up—the shot points back at the booth at 23:52, showing the young girl:

It just so happens that the man at the booth is the one who gets up and leaves the room. Sylvie watches him with concern and is shocked at the scene unfolding before her as Loki leads the room in an Asgardian folk song.

AND THEN?

WE SEE THE GIRL A THIRD TIME AT 24:37!!!

So what the eff does this mean? I don't think this girl is real. I think Loki conjured her while doing his literal song and dance to make a scene and cause the chaos that gets them booted. She does not appear in the queue to board the train, she's unseen in any scene after Loki and Sylvie board the train, and she's gone after the fight breaks out when they're caught by the authorities.

What does this ridiculous plan accomplish?

Increasing Sylvie's vulnerability to Loki, which eventually leads to her telling Loki how her enchantment works:

Sylvie: I have to make physical contact and then grab hold of their mind. Loki: How? Sylvie: It depends on the mind. Most are easy and I can overtake them instantly. Others, the stronger ones, it gets tricky. I'm in control, but they're there, too. In order to preserve the connection, I have to create a fantasy from their memories.

OK, so here we go:

We know from Thor 2: The Dark World that Loki can see into people's memories—this is how he is able to determine Scrapper 142 to be a Valkyrie.

What if Loki was able to have the upper hand over Sylvie by:

getting into Sylvie's memories while she was asleep

finding memories of her being on Lamentis-1 (because after all, she knew immediately what planet she was on when she realized where they landed and it was already programmed into the TemPad—meaning Sylvie had likely hidden on Lamentis-1 already to escape the TVA in the past. This would also explain how she knew about the Ark being destroyed; Loki just didn't know about Lamentis-1, I gather, because its apocalypse occurs in 2077, which doesn't fall within the Kablooie candy overlap Mobius discovers to cross-check in proving Loki's theory following Pompeii)

using those memories to conjure the last three minutes of the episode (the one-shot scene as they're trying to escape), leading Sylvie to believe the Ark was destroyed

My last bullet point will be for another Tumblr post. This was all over the place, I am sorry, but HOLY COW I knew I needed to re-watch this for a reason!! If you made it this far, THANKS

[srta-minutes]

Loki: what was the last bacchanal you attended

Loki:

Mobius: loki I am in middle management

[srta-minutes]

Why is it called wowki??

let me give u some loki x mobius history while I’m at it

so it’s February 2020. I see owen wilson has been cast in the loki show (at this point he didn’t even have a character name). I jokingly post “people are going to be shipping owen wilson and loki in a year”. that statement was met with laughter horror and disbelief. it becomes a running joke on my blog. someone messages me “their ship name should be wowki bc owen wilson always says wow”. so. yknow. the wowki ogs are LITERALLY the ogs of the ship

[srta-minutes]

can we talk about this? please i really wanna talk about this.

look at how genuine and happy he looks. loki looks so excited and unbothered and it absolutely fills me with the most joy i’ve felt in forever. he’s finally found someone he’s comfortable with :( and then he stabbed him in the back but mobius is so soft with loki despite being harsh toward him at times and i feel like that’s exactly what he’s needed. he’s so genuine and kind to loki and it fills me with so much happiness i :((

i feel like what loki needed for the longest time was to be treated with kindness. to feel like maybe he’s not as bad as everyone makes him out to be and that he’s not all bad. that he’s capable of good. because that’s what he was raised to believe, and that’s how he has always felt — that he was born to cause chaos and tragedy. that’s why he was a villain at a point in time. he didn’t know any better. he was always trying to live up to someone’s standards or expectations, to just feel like he belonged. and mobius has changed that, even if only slightly. you know that one scene in ep 2, where he stood behind mobius?

that one. when he stood behind him when he was arguing with the other tva agents, because loki knew mobius was going to stand up for him. he knows mobius is on his side. someone, for once, is on loki’s side and is vouching for him, believing in him. mobius has already had an impact on loki. change my mind. he’s made him feel comfortable and happy for once in his life, he’s been so sweet towards him and i respect him wholly and entirely for that.

i love boyfriends. my favourite duo. that’s it.

[srta-minutes]

I'm so glad that someone pointed out that this is just the same ship over and over.... OTL

[srta-minutes]

[srta-minutes]

In episode one, Mobius knows Loki so well that he just responds to all of Loki’s antagonism with gentle dismissal. I’m 100% into Mobius kindly domming the shit out of Loki so, y’know, that’s quite nice. 👍

[srta-minutes]

Form ORC-75 (Romance, Office, Non-Spousal)

pairing: loki/mobius rating: pg13 words: 1441 (unbeta’d) summary: mobius formally acquires a boyfriend. ravonna, formally, is very tired.

An optimist and pragmatist. That, generally, was how Mobius self-reported on TVA employee evals. Most people did not actually want to unleash that much malice upon the universe, and those who did were usually too ill-equipped to do so. Looking on the bright side and then looking at the facts when the bright side suddenly evaporated: this was Mobius M. Mobius, top analyst at the Time Variance Authority, in a nutshell.

So while he knew that, yes, technically, he and Variant L1130 were manipulating the shit out of each other, he chose to look at the silver lining. So the flirting was inevitably for gain, sure. Loki was a black hole for all the praise and admiration that Mobius was willing to give, yes. But underneath all of that manipulation there was some semblance of real affection, wasn’t there? And at least no one was getting hurt, right?

Right.

“You’re becoming way too attached to that variant, Mobius.”

Mobius paused with the tumbler of extremely vintage bourbon midway to his mouth.

“Which variant?” Mobius asked innocently.

Ravonna’s stare was one of cosmic, timeless, omniscient exhaustion.

“Okay, okay,” said Mobius, taking a strengthening gulp of the bourbon and putting the drink down on the side table. (On the coaster.) “So we’re finally going to talk about it. I’m sure you’ve heard so much. The scuttlebutt around here is the stuff of legends.”

Ravonna sighed and reached for a stack of tan manila file folders on the coffee table and swept one open with her hand.  She was ready.

“Hunter L-12 filed a conduct complaint with regards  to ‘openly flirting’ in the mess.” She leafed to the next page. “Anderson in Dimensional Analytics filed a conduct complaint saying she was unable to use the West Dome elevator. I’ll not expound on why.” She shuffled through several more pages, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, and perhaps my favorite. Inappropriate use of standard-issue TVA batons. Filed by Hunter B-15.”

Mobius pinched the bridge of his extremely broken nose. “Come on, B-15. I thought we were buds.”

“Mobius!” said Ravonna, slapping the file shut. “What in time were you two using the batons for?”

“Listen, it was Loki’s idea—” Mobius shrugged, feeling himself reddening. He didn’t want to say that you can prolong a lot of wonderful sensations when you’re moving at 1/16th time. Ravonna didn’t need to know that. “And hey, just putting it out there? The West Dome elevator has been broken for time immemorial.”

"The only reason,” Ravonna said, closing the case file and ignoring him, “that we’re allowing that variant to walk around un-pruned is because he’s helping you with a case. And while nothing you’re doing is technically against the rules—”

“—Which I’ve read. You know I love rules—”

“—It seems like everything that you two do together has nothing to do with the case!” Ravonna leaned in. “ A case about a variant who is still killing our hunters. Every week we lose minutemen and every week I have to sign a mountain of paperwork for you with nothing to show for it. I need you to stop playing around.”

“You know, Ravonna,” said Mobius, also leaning forward, elbow on knees. “I feel like I don’t ask for much here. I don’t think I complain about much, do I? I always go by the book, I put in overtime, I don’t ask for more benefits. I haven’t cashed in on my vacation time in Lord knows how long. And not to brag, I’m one of your tap analysts, have been for years. Yes, we haven’t caught this particular variant but with this Loki—look at the results. My numbers are through the roof! We’re finding variants left and right; we’re stopping nexus events before they’re even happening. We are outperforming in every sector, ever since that Loki showed up. And if I’m being honest, he actually helps me think because he doesn’t think like the rest of us. We need more of that in the TVA.”

He thought he made some pretty good points. He reached for the bourbon on the table while Ravonna kept staring.

“Mobius, off the record,” she said slowly. “Have you ever been seduced before?”

Ravonna handed him a handkerchief to mop up the bourbon that had dribbled out during his spit-take. Mobius coughed.

“Has anyone in the Authority ever been seduced?” said Mobius, recovering. “Is anyone here even capable of that?”

“Variant L1130 manipulating you!” she shouted. “Making you feel good by getting in your pants, helping you slam dunk cases so we think he’s an asset, and then he’ll use whatever knowledge he’s been slowly acquiring to unleash hell on us and the entirety of time.”

“He won’t,” said Mobius, standing up. “I’ve given him plenty of chances. Variant  L1130—Loki—wants to catch this guy just as much as we do. And if I’m being real with you, Ravonna, I think he might actually like being at the TVA. Because he might actually like being around me. Since apparently, I’m the only person in the universe who doesn’t think he’s a lying scourge. He’s a beautiful singer, Ravonna, did you know that?”

Actually, Mobius did not stand up and he actually said none of that out loud. But he felt it in his mind very strongly. He might stupidly be falling in love with the god of mischief but he wasn’t stupid enough to yell at his boss. Also, no one else needed to know about Loki’s singing. That was a special thing for him.

“This one won’t run. I assure you.”

Ravonna stared back at him. Then she rolled her eyes and slapped a very thin folder onto her lap. It only had one sheet in it but she stared down at it like it was 300. It was a browning sheet of paper that looked as old as the TVA.

“I have to do so much paperwork for you. Paperwork to not prune this loki. Paperwork for you to go on your cute little apocalypse dates ("calling them dates is a little much—") And now. Paperwork to let you have a boyfriend.”

Mobius stared. “What?"

"I'm filling out a form so you and your Loki can make out and not be swarmed with conduct reports, Mobius." She was filling in lines on the document with a fury. "You're partners. I have about 20 hunters under similar dispensations. You should be under probation for being romantically engaged with anyone non-TVA. But since this Loki technically works for the TVA, this paperwork allows for a temporary partnership.”

He suddenly recognized the sheet from upside-down. He gawked. “Form ORB-75. Workplace Romance.”

“Form ORC-75,” Ravonna corrected. “Non-spousal. Though if you want to get hitched I can make it spousal. But the TVA only recognizes temporal marriages that have witness in three dimensions. I have no clue if Loki is on speaking terms with his family in any of them. Why am I even telling you any of this."

She slashed her signature into the form and handed it to Mobius. In faded twelve point courier new the paper read:

M. M. MOBIUS and VARIANT L1130 (LOKI). TEMPORARY PARTNERSHIP.

Well, gosh

, that was

sad

, he thought staring at the word temporary. He thought briefly of Loki during that avalanche on Ganymede in 3074. Loki had pulled him through the time portal just in time, and they landed on top of each other, panting, covered in snow and panting. 

“Spectacular,” said Loki, grinning. He pulled Mobius to his feet. “Outstanding. Mobius, I think, I could do this forever.”

Mobius brushed a dusting of snow off of Loki’s jacket. “You promise?”

Loki met his gaze and the grin simmered down to something less giddy. “Who would I be if I started throwing promises about?”

“It’s okay if you don’t mean it,” said Mobius. “You know I can tell when you’re lying.”

Loki smiled and let his fingers trail up Mobius’s chest to the knot of his tie. It didn’t need straightening but he fixed it anyway. “Then I promise you, Mobius M. Mobius. It’s you and me. Forever.”

Mobius stared down at the paper. He knew this setup couldn’t last for all eternity. Time must come for all things, he thought. He was a pragmatist, after all.

Nevertheless, he signed as an optimist. 

Ravonna got up and placed the form in the out-tray on her desk.  “You’re dismissed.”

“Thank you, Ravonna. Like, so much. This really means a lot.”

“Dismissed, Mobius,” she sighed, sitting down at her desk.

He picked up his stack of paperwork and walked to the exit, letting the silly grin creep on his face. Then he turned around at the door.

“So your options were pruning the Loki, taking me to HR, or me signing the Workplace papers?”

Ravonna put a pen down. “No HR, and of course I wasn’t going to prune that Loki. Mobius, your numbers have been through the roof.”

[srta-minutes]

Hm. Okay, in Episode 1, Hunter B-15 and Mobius talk a lot about resetting. Resetting variants? So do they know what happens when someone is reset? Mobius literally tells Hunter B-15 that she “always” wants to reset people. Do they have any clue how resetting is just recruiting for the TVA???

[srta-minutes]

i'm like fully aware this ship will crash and burn bc why would anyone look to a corporate entity for queerness, but shucks the fandom is fun

[srta-minutes]

Honestly, Loki would absolutely only partner up with someone who (a) understands he needs constant, endless validation and (b) frantically wants to give him that validation. Mobius would want a partner who is Loki because...he is obsessed with Loki. Mobius withholds praise as leverage; Loki withholds Loki Facts™. 

[srta-minutes]

I'd actually be happier if fandom can just do the proper shipping, while show gives us CANON FRIENDSHIP. 🙏 Everyone knows that friendship between too men is gayer than marriage.

my prediction for Loki (2021): We’re going to get pretty hardcore wowki friendship, but nothing romantic. and obviously when i say “my prediction” i mean “my sincerest hope”

[srta-minutes]

Head empty full of Wowki

[srta-minutes]

my prediction for Loki (2021): We’re going to get pretty hardcore wowki friendship, but nothing romantic. and obviously when i say “my prediction” i mean “my sincerest hope”

[srta-minutes]

it's if he gives him one of his daggers AND stabs him in the back with it

Hnggg what if in the middle of some kind of epic battle Loki gives Mobius one of his daggers to use I’m going insane

nah but if loki gives mobius one of his dangers (love is a dagger) than I’m considering them canon…..or at least as loki in unrequited love

[srta-minutes]

me: (two months ago) if people start shipping loki and goddamn owen wilson I’m going to riot. I’m leaving fandom forever. people are DESPERATE to ship any two white men who have screen time together! God. (sigh) it’s pathetic really. (doorbell rings) sorry I have to get that. Oh! it’s a package! when did i order a clown wig off of amazon