[He has his reasons, Loki, but he is the Collector and, as his moniker suggests, he will keep this to himself. As grabby as this odd little introduction has been (keep your mind out of the gutter), for this next demonstration, Taneleer holds up his own wrist, directly mirroring the arm of Loki's bearing that new piece of jewelry. His other hand wraps around this wrist, fingers poised and ready to gesture as they will.] There are some pressing matters that want my attention this night, Loki of Asgard. But, if you tap on that bracelet four times, in the same spot, [Taneleer proceeds to do so, with his own hands,] wherever you are in the Museum, a pre-programmed hologram of myself will be able to guide you and share such things with you.
You may try it here, if it would interest you to test such a thing out.
Two of you, in the same place? Could anyone stand the excitement? [So of course Loki immediately tests it out, tapping the bracelet as demonstrated. The hologram springs to life, glowing and translucent but otherwise identical, offers one of Taneleer's signature elaborate bows, and immediately begins speaking about the Asgardian living space in which it finds itself.]
Ingenious. And once again, you are so considerate to your guests when you cannot accompany them personally. [Loki eyes the bracelet, taps it once and twice, and looks quietly satisfied when the hologram pauses. It's possible he feels greatly satisfied to bring it to a halt, but he's careful to mask that as simply being pleased at knowing how it works.] I believe I have everything I need.
[Besides freedom and an army to reclaim Asgard, but it's been hours by now. Thor is almost certainly dead and Asgard either in ruins or bowing to its new queen. All that really remains is his own survival. Familiar territory.]
[There's a rather sizeable difference between Taneleer and this hologram, which, perhaps, wants some noting. His image, much like the rest of his likenesses in promotional pictures and the like, is all-smiles. This hologram lights up in more ways than one, positively effusing, moving his hands too actively and speaking in a tone reserved for kindergarten teachers.
It had taken quite a few drinks and many weeks for Taneleer Tivan to tolerate recording any of this and copying it all onto a machine that could, say, hypothetically, survive the collapse of a neighboring star.
Taneleer's expression fades a little, as he watches that ghost of his at work. The actual flesh and bone man just barely perceives Loki's honeyed words and almost takes no notice, until his own spectre echoes these same words.] Loki of Asgard has informed us that he has everything he needs. That's your cue to trot off to your other appointments, sir! [Taneleer blinks twice, contemplating, for a moment, about tweaking this AI to make it less obnoxious; and then, recalling his guest, he turns to Loki and, slowly, lowers his head into a simpler bow.] Yes, I'll be off. Do...watch yourself, former Prince and former King.
[Without lifting his head, the man known as the Collector pivots on the balls of his feet, turning himself about, and, then, steps out of the room. Loki is now alone, save for this ghastly, grinning djinn summoned from his new bauble.]
[And Loki rids himself of the homunculus as soon as he possibly can. Watch himself, hmm? Well, while his mind might still be spinning plans and potential avenues of escape, that's become habit by now. He knows he's well and truly kept.
Former Prince rankles, however. Former King, yes, that he must accept as truth, but if Taneleer wishes to consider him a former prince, then former "prince" he will be.
The change in shape comes smoothly, considering it is a shape Loki has not worn in centuries. The armor is altered only enough to accommodate the new shape of the body, the hair is somewhat longer, but it is still unmistakably Loki. Loki as a woman, a Princess of Asgard. That's for your "former prince," she thinks as she walks out of the Asgardian bedroom exhibit. She summons the faux-Collector again and holds up a finger in warning.]
Take me to the Kamar-Taj exhibit, and no unnecessary prattle.
[It doesn't work, of course, but Loki does her best to ignore the unnecessary prattle as she follows the directions to see these Midgardian artifacts. She will walk the museum's halls until rest seems as though it might be a possibility.]
[As this creature that the Museum's guests summon from these bracelets acts as such an inaccurate copy of the illustrious Mr. Taneleer Tivan, let's, instead, call this odd beast by another name. From this point onwards, let us refer to Loki's current companion as Mr. Hologrameleer Tivan. Or Holly, for short.
Holly's all smiles, doing his best to oblige the guest and avoid saying anything unnecessary. Oh, no, he's only sharing the most fascinating stories and most relevant histories that have been programmed into him.] ...the name 'Kamar-Taj' comes from the Arabic قمر تاج meaning "moon crown". Local legends say that it is the birthplace of a great sorcerer, the first of a long succession of great magic-users who carry the same title of "Ancient One". (Mr. Taneleer had a very good laugh, when he'd heard about that! He's run into so many revered 'ancients' and 'deities' in his absurdly long lifetime, but they never fail to bring something of a smile to his face.)
Anyway, so says the legends, this Ancient One and a friend discovered a source of magic; they had a spat over how to use it, and you probably already know where this one goes without me having to say it (oh, but I'm going to have to--it's the only way I've been programmed). One thing led to another, the Ancient One's dear friend mind-controlled everyone in a local village into his thrall, and, then, they say that the first Ancient One wound up poofing off their dear old friend into another dimension.
That's certainly one way to break up a friendship, [The other being laughs at his nonjoke, his sightless eyes nestling so comfortably between eyebags. In what feels like very little time to a hologram (admittedly without any perceptions of time programmed into his systems), they come across the first Kamar-Tajan artifact.
This has Holly terribly excited and clapping, like a sugar-high child coming across a purple pony.] Ooh! We've come across the first asset in the Kamar-Tajan exhibit--the fabulous Bands of Cyttorak! [They don't look especially fabulous; they look rusted, like dried, metallic centipede segments that have been separated and, then, glued together on a bit of metallic string.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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You may try it here, if it would interest you to test such a thing out.
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Ingenious. And once again, you are so considerate to your guests when you cannot accompany them personally. [Loki eyes the bracelet, taps it once and twice, and looks quietly satisfied when the hologram pauses. It's possible he feels greatly satisfied to bring it to a halt, but he's careful to mask that as simply being pleased at knowing how it works.] I believe I have everything I need.
[Besides freedom and an army to reclaim Asgard, but it's been hours by now. Thor is almost certainly dead and Asgard either in ruins or bowing to its new queen. All that really remains is his own survival. Familiar territory.]
no subject
It had taken quite a few drinks and many weeks for Taneleer Tivan to tolerate recording any of this and copying it all onto a machine that could, say, hypothetically, survive the collapse of a neighboring star.
Taneleer's expression fades a little, as he watches that ghost of his at work. The actual flesh and bone man just barely perceives Loki's honeyed words and almost takes no notice, until his own spectre echoes these same words.] Loki of Asgard has informed us that he has everything he needs. That's your cue to trot off to your other appointments, sir! [Taneleer blinks twice, contemplating, for a moment, about tweaking this AI to make it less obnoxious; and then, recalling his guest, he turns to Loki and, slowly, lowers his head into a simpler bow.] Yes, I'll be off. Do...watch yourself, former Prince and former King.
[Without lifting his head, the man known as the Collector pivots on the balls of his feet, turning himself about, and, then, steps out of the room. Loki is now alone, save for this ghastly, grinning djinn summoned from his new bauble.]
no subject
Former Prince rankles, however. Former King, yes, that he must accept as truth, but if Taneleer wishes to consider him a former prince, then former "prince" he will be.
The change in shape comes smoothly, considering it is a shape Loki has not worn in centuries. The armor is altered only enough to accommodate the new shape of the body, the hair is somewhat longer, but it is still unmistakably Loki. Loki as a woman, a Princess of Asgard. That's for your "former prince," she thinks as she walks out of the Asgardian bedroom exhibit. She summons the faux-Collector again and holds up a finger in warning.]
Take me to the Kamar-Taj exhibit, and no unnecessary prattle.
[It doesn't work, of course, but Loki does her best to ignore the unnecessary prattle as she follows the directions to see these Midgardian artifacts. She will walk the museum's halls until rest seems as though it might be a possibility.]
no subject
Holly's all smiles, doing his best to oblige the guest and avoid saying anything unnecessary. Oh, no, he's only sharing the most fascinating stories and most relevant histories that have been programmed into him.] ...the name 'Kamar-Taj' comes from the Arabic قمر تاج meaning "moon crown". Local legends say that it is the birthplace of a great sorcerer, the first of a long succession of great magic-users who carry the same title of "Ancient One". (Mr. Taneleer had a very good laugh, when he'd heard about that! He's run into so many revered 'ancients' and 'deities' in his absurdly long lifetime, but they never fail to bring something of a smile to his face.)
Anyway, so says the legends, this Ancient One and a friend discovered a source of magic; they had a spat over how to use it, and you probably already know where this one goes without me having to say it (oh, but I'm going to have to--it's the only way I've been programmed). One thing led to another, the Ancient One's dear friend mind-controlled everyone in a local village into his thrall, and, then, they say that the first Ancient One wound up poofing off their dear old friend into another dimension.
That's certainly one way to break up a friendship, [The other being laughs at his nonjoke, his sightless eyes nestling so comfortably between eyebags. In what feels like very little time to a hologram (admittedly without any perceptions of time programmed into his systems), they come across the first Kamar-Tajan artifact.
This has Holly terribly excited and clapping, like a sugar-high child coming across a purple pony.] Ooh! We've come across the first asset in the Kamar-Tajan exhibit--the fabulous Bands of Cyttorak! [They don't look especially fabulous; they look rusted, like dried, metallic centipede segments that have been separated and, then, glued together on a bit of metallic string.]