#listen DO NOT THINK ABOUT MOBIUS DURING THE BRIDGE

[ibenology]

Tolerate It (Taylor Swift) x Mobius being hopelessly in love with a God

[yourfinalbow]

Loki Finale Thoughts: (Heavy Spoilers; Slykie negative & Pro FrozenInTime; Mostly positive, in case you want to stay away from anything Loki critical.)

[ It was better than Supernatural, so, slight win? ]

-First of all, the quotes during the opening was AWESOME?! I genuinely enjoyed those few seconds of listening to a lot of the more memorable Marvel lines.

-The clock jumpscare was so funny. With Scott Cawthon's recent retirement, that scene is the new face of horror. (Though yesterday a friend of mine actually suggested the "crack" theory that Ms. Minutes was behind it all and for a second there I was like 👀)

-I know a lot of other people did too, but I called Kang and the VINDICATION that brought. I literally yelled (in my house full of sleeping people) when he popped up in his purple cloak with his fucking apple.

-Jonathan Majors was the perfect choice to play Kang. His little giggle was my favourite thing and this specific version of Kang was so much fun to watch. (Kang isn't typically known to be the most entertaining character, (compared to, say, someone like Doctor Doom), so this insane version of him is awesome and I really hope he comes back. Within minutes he started climbing the ranks of my favourite MCU characters.)

-I'm going to gloss over the Loki/Sylvie kiss. I blinked and then they were kissing and I just. They're the same person. It’s not my cup of tea, nor one I would ever brew.

-I've had thoughts since episode one that Sylvie is actually The Enchantress. The powers, characterization, and how she interacted with Loki seemed to fit better. PLUS LADY LOKI ISN'T BLONDE. I stopped thinking too much about the theory after a few episodes, because narratively I didn't think it would fit well with the current lineup of episodes and plot reveals, but her line about "I'm not you" makes me want to revisit that. (Unless I misheard?)

-HOWEVER. They didn't kill Mobius off which is obviously awesome. I had matches ready to burn Marvel Studios to the ground if it came to that.

-HOWEVER AGAIN. No jetski. No "wow". 0/10 nothing else matters. (/j)

-I was really cheering for Loki to run to his husband at the end. (Before I realized what was happening, I was 100% stage-whispering "Kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss" like a childish middle schooler while Loki and Mobius were face to face.)

-Not sure what to think about (plot wise) Mobius getting his memory wiped. I'll have to go back and watch when it's not 3am before I form any sort of proper thought around it/what it means. But in terms of what I actually think of it, MARVEL I'M STRIKING THE MATCH. YOU BRING HIM BACK HERE OR ELSE. Mobius deserves everything and more and he needs his memories for that.

-They're very clearly setting up for DSMoM/Loki Season 2 (Season 2!) and I think they did a good job of bridging the gap they needed to, without the cliffhanger seeming forced.

-I've seen a few complaints about it being rushed. I'll definitely have to do a rewatch where I'm not high on adrenaline and scream power. (Monster's Inc. style ofc ofc.) As your local research professor on Bucklemming, I can usually pick out things like bad pacing, but I actually didn't think it was too bad? (Considering there was a lot going on and considering a lot happened and considering this episode was only as long as the others.)

-Also! I didn't think the exposition heavy beginning was a drag. Learning about Kang/the multiverse/his hints at the other versions of himself were all easy to follow but still very compelling. And especially with the cuts to Mobius (my beloved) and then back to Kang (my other beloved) it went by rather quickly and wasn't boring.

-Then again you could show me Jonathan Majors!Kang buying oranges at the grocery store and I would be entertained.

-I'm curious what Ravonna's up to. Since she talked about finding free will, my prediction is that she'll find another (darker) Kang and meet up with him. In the comics she starts out as his enemy but eventually becomes an on again off again love interest. (Yes, you head me right. A slowburn enemies to lovers fic.)

-It'll be interesting to see where we go from here! I actually really enjoyed the show, and I'm one of the trashcan blogs who didn't think Loki was super ooc in the series. (Though I am Ragnarok critical.)

Just my thoughts! (Come tell me yours?)

---

#LokiLiveBlogging was my disaster tag for the night.

I was on a ft call with my best friend @p0is0n3d-r4ts and we woke up both of our houses together. (They're currently passed out and still on the phone as I'm writing this.)

There was a lot of screaming and a lot of confused shouts and a lot of snorting, and if you want to do any of those things, (or all three!) definitely feel free to hit me up! My askbox is always open, and anon is always on!

Now I'm going to read Loki AoA or continue writing my Loki/Mobius fic until I pass out.

[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.”