They made me create *yet another* side blog Welcome to my Glorious Purpose 𓄋 Ray - they/them 𓄋 I write Lokius on AO3 Header image credit to @rins-love-wins
*gripping you by the shoulders and speaking with off putting intensity* I don’t think there was something unique about the Loki that became the God of Stories and Time. I think the majority of Loki variants would have done the same thing in his situation. The message of the whole thing isn’t “this Loki is different” the message is “this is Loki”. It’s not “this Loki is special because he chooses to do all this” it’s “this is what Loki will choose to do here”. We see other Loki’s die with the same motivation. We see Classic Loki die distracting Alioth so there’s a chance to stop the TVA and give variants across the multiverse a chance to survive and we see sacred timeline Loki sacrifice himself to Thanos, to give Thor a chance to make it out alive. It’s not that this particular Loki would sacrifice everything for a place he cared about and people he loved, it’s that Loki will sacrifice everything for a place he cares about and people he loves. Do you understand. It’s very important to me that you understand. Where are you going come back.
Are you dense or something?? Why are you acting like Loki learnt affection from Mobius like????saving Jane and all? Loki had been overly and openly affectionate with Thor for all his life and it only became weird from Thor 1 all the creators and actors have been very vocal about it, he cared about thors friends and protected their lives. Y'all really weird and just want to make everything about your ship when it's not.
I completely agree that deep down Loki has always had empathy and affection for Thor and those he cares about! I made a post on that here where Loki risks his life to save Jane and I mentioned some of that in the tags. I think Mobius’ impact on Loki was to give him freedom—to allow Loki to express his feelings, to show his affection, to be vulnerable and open in ways that he had previously only been taught were weaknesses. In 2x4, Loki talks about how Thor had been changed by Jane and how, at the time, Loki mocked him for becoming ‘weak.’ Because that’s what Loki had learned from Odin. He learned that he would only be worthy, he would only be good enough if he could achieve the throne, if he was seen as powerful and strong by others. When Loki tried to please his father by getting rid of their sworn enemies, it still wasn’t enough for Odin and Loki was cast aside for it. I think Loki never really knew how to express his affection and care in a way that wouldn’t lead to him being abandoned or looked down upon. Loki was taught that the only way to become powerful and worthy was to show no vulnerability, as he says in 1x1, the “elaborate trick” to inspire fear and control. He had absolutely no examples of how to show affection and still be respected for it.
Then when Mobius came along, he truly showed Loki how to trust and be open with another person, to show vulnerability and affection in a healthy and supportive way. Mobius told Loki ‘I see who you pretend to be but I know what parts of yourself you’re hiding and therefore I know you can be good.’ Mobius showed Loki that he didn’t need a throne to be worthy, he doesn’t need to pretend not to care to get others to look up to him, he can be gentle and he can trust others and those people will trust him back. Besides Loki’s mother, I think Mobius was the first person that believed in Loki’s goodness and gave him that freedom to express who he really is. Thor said multiple times that Loki could be better, could be more, but I don’t think even Thor ever really expected Loki to change. I think Loki’s interactions with Mobius gave him that freedom he never had to become gentler and more open throughout the series than he had a chance to be in the movies.
It’s true that I don’t think Mobius taught Loki how to care about people, I think Mobius was ultimately the first person that allowed Loki to just be, to express his trust and friendship without any expectations or judgement. Mobius transformed Loki’s views on how much someone is allowed to show of themselves and still be respected. Mobius said ‘you can trust me, you can be yourself, you can show me gentleness, and I will never mock you for it.’ I just don’t think Loki ever had anyone like that before and he never learned how to express his care before he met Mobius. Even if you don’t think they have romantic feelings for each other, Mobius clearly had a transformative impact on Loki’s sense of self, which Loki displays in his affection toward Mobius and interactions with other characters going forward.
@mobius-m-mobius you have made my morning so so happy! Thank you so much for working incredibly hard on my request. Your gifsets are so gorgeous, and I love the little notes on Loki's tone that you added.
Also, friend, your TAGS! Putting a screencap here because yes, YES to everything.
Also screencapping @thisisreal-really because I didn't catch Loki using the word "belong" with Mobius within the same context as his "where do I belong?" scene with Sylvie. Goddamn, the writing. The subtext.
Oh this gifset is insane. The RANGE of emotions in just the way Loki says Mobius’ name. I can HEAR these images. Thanks for all the lovely work and time put into this I am on the FLOOR
Special thank you to @mmobiuses, @starrose17, and @stevenrogered whose gifs make-up the lion's share of this post. Thank you to all the other amazing gif artists as well, without you, my metas won't be possible.
This might come as a surprise to a lot of people, but I actually wasn't big on Lokius until Season 2. I thought Loki and Mobius made a cute ship in Season 1, but that was the extent of it. In truth, I lost interest in the Loki series by the S1 finale and had 0 interest in watching S2. I didn't give the series another try until I saw positive reviews on Tumblr. I therefore started watching S2 when S2E4 dropped.
LOKI SEASON 1
Enjoying the potential love story between two characters is a deeply personal and subjective experience. So take what I say as my personal experience observing Loki and Mobius's relationship.
I fully believed Mobius loved Loki in S1 in the platonic sense. Tom Hiddleston has given a few interviews on Loki's and Mobius's relationship and seems to believe in this sentiment as well [see 5:30-7:30 and 10:57-11:00]).
That is to say, in S1, I didn't feel, "Oh, my god ... he loves him." It was more, "Yes, he loves him", there is no question, his actions prove it.
There is wiggle-room for unrequited love in the S1E4 interrogation scene, but the jealousy Mobius exhibited could have just as easily been a combination of anger on behalf of his murdered colleagues and platonic jealousy.
However, I felt the first hint of unrequited love from Mobius occurred during his goodbye scene with Loki in S1E5. Specifically, this look:
I had no expectations for that look to pay off in any way. Season 2 surprised me.
LOKI SEASON 2
S2E1 is amazing episode because, through subtext, it reframes how Mobius's S1 emotions may be interpreted with stronger evidence for romantic motivation. In this episode, there appears to be a subtle, gradual build-up to the moment that Mobius's love for Loki may be viewed as fully romantic. Let's break down the episode and look at the progression:
First, learning that Loki is at the TVA: *sigh* I can't find the "Loki's here?" gif.
Second, and perhaps the most infamous, the reunion and whole-body support Mobius provides Loki in the TVA War Room (physical comfort):
Third, Mobius bringing Loki somewhere safe and quiet, assuring him that "it's okay" (emotional comfort):
Fourth, Mobius insisting that Loki's condition must be fixed, not once but twice, in two different scenes. A third (writer's magic 3s!) instance occurs in the Heart of the TVA, just before the gangway scene (prioritizing the other):
Fifth, Mobius's admission that Loki's timeslipping looks horrible, and he can't look at it anymore. He repeatedly stresses to Loki how serious this is (emotional and physical empathy):
Sixth, Mobius taking Loki to exact right person who can help. This is particularly significant, because Mobius is the only person in MCU canon who has verbally expressed concern for Loki's physical well-being and took immediate action to stop the pain (act of service):
Seventh, the third time Mobius prioritizes Loki's wellbeing. He scolds Loki and reminds him they have only one shot at getting his timeslipping corrected before the temporal radiation becomes too high (prioritizing the other):
Eighth, Mobius interrupting Loki, insisting that he will make it back. The subtext here is that no other outcome is acceptable or thinkable for Mobius (emotional comfort):
Finally, Ninth, the clincher: "He'll make it back." (self-comfort)
This scene is everything to me. Moments 1 through 8 build-up to this singular moment. Let's do a micro-analysis on it.
After Loki timeslips, the camera stays on Mobius. It tracks him as he kneels down to pick-up the time sick, the last thing Loki touched. The camera then pans up as Mobius rises.
@stevenrogered, THANK YOU for this gifset. It's literally the only one I could find that captures the camera tracking Mobius after Loki disappears, and this is my all-time favorite Mobius scene.
Mobius stands for a moment, motionless, and the camera holds on his facial expression. He's staring at where Loki WAS for extended period of time (keep this in mind for later). He's holding his breath. He's worried, scared, and hopeful, not for himself and the danger he faces on the gangway, but for Loki.
Finally, he exhales as he says to himself, "He'll make it back".
This entire sequence--particularly the moment when Mobius picks-up the time stick and holds it in silence--made me feel, "Oh ... Oh ... he loves him."
The camera stays with Mobius, capturing his reaction to this high-stakes situation for a significant amount of time (@loki-us, maybe you can get this timed starting from the moment Loki disappears and Mobius starts to kneel to pick-up the time stick?). Cinematographers don't do this type of hold unless they want to illicit a strong emotion from the audience regarding the character we are focusing on in the moment.
My insides swooped, which rarely ever happens when I view film or television.
And this camera hold, this pregnant pause, is mirrored by Loki's stare in S2E5:
I had to figure out how long Mobius’ pause in 2x1 was after @percheduphere made this wonderful analysis and asked about it. Apparently, tumblr doesn’t let you upload videos directly in reblogs (grrr) so I made a separate post on the exact timing of this scene. Mobius ends up processing in silence for almost 13 seconds—I never realized how long and meaningful this pause truly is so it was wonderful to see it all laid out here.
A review of the moment in 2x1 when Loki disappears right in front of Mobius, to add to @percheduphere’s lovely analysis of this scene. The pause is truly so significant and is way too long to not be meaningful (in a totally feelings-realization not-entirely-platonic way). I previously timed Loki's long stare at Don/Mobius in 2x5 when declaring who his time-slipping is about, which is almost 10 seconds of direct eye contact. This scene in 2x1 holds for almost 13 seconds of Mobius processing Loki's disappearance before finally announcing that Loki Making It Back is the Only Option. Season 2 really started off by immediately exploring how much Loki and Mobius mean to each other and I’m so grateful their dynamic was given such focus and intention in the final half of the show.
Yea I’m still here—funnily enough (not sure if that’s a real word but we rolling with it) this track never made it into the show, was supposed to be during the time slipping montage in 2x6 but was replaced by A Fifth Of Beethoven. Both bops tho and that’s what we have soundtrack albums for right?
Currently reading:
Just finished a beautiful short novel called Of The Wild by Elizabeth Wambheim, it’s a heartwarming story about a wild forest-creature that takes care of strange (in a magical sense) and abandoned children so they feel loved and wanted. The main character is asexual and has a m/m romance with the other main character (a trans man!)
The author is ace and writes such lovely ace m/m stories, not exaggerating when I say they’re the sweetest and most comforting books I’ve ever read. She has another book called More Than Enough that’s inspired by beauty and the beast, I’ve annoyed everyone I know about how much I love these books and now it’s yalls turn so.
Currently watching:
Sporadically rewatching Loki whenever the fancy strikes (which is often), also slowly been going through Stargate SG-1 (as recommended by a friend who knows I’m a huge Star Trek nerd lol)
Current obsession:
Uh yea. Still Lokius. So.
Tagged by @loki-is-my-kink-awakening (thanks for the tag <3)
Tagging just for fun/to say hi, no pressure! :) @mimisempai @rins-love-wins @percheduphere
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CHOICE LOKI WANTED TO GIVE MOBIUS
Thanks for the comment, @sunflowerdigs!
I am also in HUGE debt to @loki-us for the below gifs that I could not find anywhere in Tumblr's gif search system. Thank you, friend! So many of my metas would not be possible without your help and support!
The poetic irony is definitely the point and is the reason why the S2 finale is as painful as it is.
I've previously discussed how Mobius would 100% absolutely choose to be with Loki at the End of Time and his decision-making history that points to this as being in-character here.
I also reviewed Loki's decision-making here.
Now let's discuss the choice Loki desperately wanted to give Mobius:
gif credit: @loki-us
gif credit: @loki-us
gif credit: @loki-us
(Original gif set post here)
What I love about this scene with Sylvie is that it is a perfect example of narrative subtext at work. The emotional thrust behind Loki's words may be interpreted as either platonic or romantic. Ultimately, it doesn't matter (well, it does, but it's a minor detail) because the definitive meaning behind the subtext is what the TVA means to Loki and what he actually wants, which is getting Mobius back.
WHAT LOKI WANTS: TVA = FRIENDS = MOBIUS
Let's break down the scene:
Sylvie asks what Loki wants. Sylvie, we must remember, is a Loki. She knows how Loki thinks, how he hides his vulnerability, and how he lies to himself. This allows her to suss out what Loki has difficulty admitting. I absolutely adore Sylvie for this.
1.) To stop HWR. - wrong
2.) To save the TVA. - wrong but closer; why?
3.) To save "all this" - too broad
4.) To save his friends. - correct
Ergo, stopping HWR is a means to an end, as it was for Sylvie. Saving the TVA could feasibly "save all this" from HWR, but who or what does Loki mean when he says "all this"? He means the timelines, certainly, but why does he care about the timelines? Because if all timelinee are destroyed, Sylvie and the TVA are destroyed too. Who is at the TVA? Loki's friends. Who is Loki's first and best friend? Mobius.
Therefore:
TVA = Friends = Mobius
Now, this isn't to play down the importance of OB, Verity, and Casey, but the series has been very clear about which friendship is the most significant to Loki. S2E1 -S2E4 builds up Loki and Mobius's closeness for the explicit purpose of likewise building up the cost of Loki's sacrifice. Their separation in the finale would not have been given as much attention nor hurt as much if they didn't become close.
The editing here is very intentional. In screenwriting, we call this technique "off screen dialogue", which is denoted by the character's name followed by (o.s.), then their line of dialogue.
In example, the shooting script might say:
On Don's reaction.
LOKI
(o.s.)
It was more about what I wanted.
If this wasn't formatted as such in the original script, it was likely formatted as such in the shooting script, which is a highly detailed version of the script with notes on how each scene should be shot in production and edited in post. The same cinematic technique is used in S2E4, after the pie confrontation with Sylvie, in which Brad, off screen, says, "Aren't you gonna say anything?" The dialogue overlays Mobius's reaction shot before cutting to the scene with Brad and Dox.
THE CHOICE LOKI WANTED TO GIVE (BUT COULDN'T)
It is also no accident that Loki very pointedly talks about Mobius, what he thinks Mobius wants, and how Mobius should have a choice. In making his point, Loki shows that he is actually quite confident that Mobius would choose the TVA and therefore, HIM.
But perched! The TVA means Loki's friends! How can the TVA also mean Loki?
THE TVA ALSO = LOKI
Well ...
(Thank you so much for your marvelous gif set @riotinyellow)
After the Loom explodes, everyone is returned to their original timeline except Loki. What is significant but not often discussed is that Sylvie is returned to her 1982 Broxton, Oklahoma timeline. She did not remain at the TVA despite being a Loki herself. The subtext of this is that Sylvie associates the 1982 timeline as where she belongs, where she feels at home. If we parallel this subtext to Loki, this means the TVA is where Loki feels he belongs and thus, feels at home. He only begins to timeslip once he realizes the people he cares about aren't there. Notably, Loki unconsciously timeslips to Mobius the most. I have a meta on Loki's timeslipping here.
As people, we define ourselves not only by our past, our talents, our weaknesses, our interests, and our dislikes, we also define ourselves by our relationships (good and bad). The implication, therefore, is that TVA symbolically represents not only friendship and Mobius, it represents Loki, too.
The most painful part of Loki's argument, which is never communicated directly but is subtextually inferred, is that not only does Loki want Mobius to choose the TVA (him), he is confident that Mobius would choose the TVA (him). And why shouldn't Loki be confident? Mobius has been his most loyal friend. Mobius has never abandoned him even when he was angry with him.
This sets up the meaning behind the subtext of Mobius's departure from the TVA in the finale. Mobius insists the TVA provides him with meaning, that he likes it there, and that he is grateful for whoever took him and "gave [him] this pie" (interestingly, it is Loki who recruits Mobius first, gives him his name, and offers pie to help calm Mobius down).
EVERYONE'S CHOICE & MOBIUS LEAVING THE TVA
Once Loki is gone, however, Mobius only stays at the TVA long enough to ensure it's changed for good and has appropriate leadership. What's striking is that, with the exception of Mobius, all of Loki's friends, given the choice, chose to stay at the TVA. This answers the question Loki posed with Sylvie: How many of them would choose to stay?
Verity, OB, and Casey all have purpose. Mobius's purpose has always been Loki. That purpose evolved into friendship once he stopped Loki's "reset" and uncovered Ravonna's corruption. Just as TVA = Friends = Mobius for Loki, for Mobius, the TVA = Loki. When Loki is gone, so is Mobius's purpose, his place of belonging, his home. Mobius loses everything, including (platonically or romantically) someone he deeply loves.
This is SUCH a good analysis and I LOVE seeing @percheduphere explain all the little bits of Lokius subtext throughout the show !!! The bit about the off screen dialogue is driving me insane, it's so subtle and yet SO deliberate if you pay attention. Idk if there's a way to reference a specific part of a post so I'm just gonna italicize OP's words below:
"The editing here is very intentional. In screenwriting, we call this technique "off screen dialogue", which is denoted by the character's name followed by (o.s.), then their line of dialogue.
In example, the shooting script might say:
On Don's reaction.
LOKI
(o.s.)
It was more about what I wanted.
If this wasn't formatted as such in the original script, it was likely formatted as such in the shooting script, which is a highly detailed version of the script with notes on how each scene should be shot in production and edited in post. The same cinematic technique is used in S2E4, after the pie confrontation with Sylvie, in which Brad, off screen, says, "Aren't you gonna say anything?" The dialogue overlays Mobius's reaction shot before cutting to the scene with Brad and Dox."
Added the gifs for that moment above ^^ I just had to rewatch the scenes OP mentioned and it blows my mind how much is conveyed in the subtext alone. The deeper you look, the more you find evidence for Lokius which just goes to show how the subtext overwhelmingly supports it in ways I hadn't even realized.
Thanks always to @percheduphere for insights like this!
Loki introduces Thor to all of his friends, his eyes bright, his smile beaming, every bone in his body vibrating with excitement.
LOKI: Thor, this is Casey.
CASEY: Hi.
LOKI: I threatened to gut him like a fish when we first met, but he didn't know what a fish was.
CASEY: Loki got me a couple of beta fish for Yule! (He holds up the fish bowl).
LOKI: Quiet fellow but very tech savvy. (He winks and claps Casey's shoulder.) Now, over here, we have Ouroboros. We like to call him OB.
OB: That's my nickname!
LOKI: He's the mastermind behind this whole place and everything in it. Would out-engineer Stark's little toys any day!
OB:
LOKI: Verity!
LOKI: Thor, this the very first person I met. New leader of the TVA and best there is. Real trooper, this one. Although, we did have a rather rough start...
VERITY: I punched him in slow-motion.
THOR: Oo ... Pray, do you have a recording of it?
LOKI: ANYWAY! I'm surprised she's here today, but allow me to introduce you to the one and only: Sylvie!
SYLVIE: Loki.
THOR: (eyes narrowing, observing her strikingly familiar clothes) You look ... rather similar.
LOKI: That's because she's me and I'm her, except we're not exactly the same, in fact there are some key differences...
SYLVIE: I have common sense, for one.
LOKI: Long story short, it's all very complicated, we fought, we got close, we fought again--
SYLVIE: --He's like a stray. Can't get rid of him.
LOKI: Think my tongue is sharp? Watch out for this one's.
Loki looks across the way to where Mobius stands, hands in his pockets and an indulgent smile on his face. Loki clears his throat as he approaches, his feet slowing as they draw near. He opens his mouth, but Thor beats him to it.
another fun way of reading this is as loki very subtly hyping up mobius as another potential threat to brad, as in “don’t discount mobius, he acts like a folksy dope, but he knows every single terrible awful thing I’ve done and will ever do. and he invited me to your interrogation :)”
it made me laugh like “don’t even think of being mean to mobius he’s got just as much bite as me” and mobius’s expression like “why are you bringing me into this I’m not gonna bite anyone??” I don’t think that loki predicted mobius actually making good on that implied threat though, judging by the :0 face
Thanks for this ask anon, that’s a great idea! I think Loki definitely had an implied threatening/intimidating vibe and I love your interpretation of that. “He knows every single terrible awful thing I’ve done and will ever do, and he invited me to your interrogation.” And how do you think that’s going to work out for you, Brad?? 😈
It is such a fun twist to hype up Mobius as the one who knows Loki is dangerous and therefore brought him in to shake Brad down—and then Mobius end up being the one to snap and bite him. Yeah I definitely think Loki was not expecting that, he probably thought Mobius was just going to sit back and let him handle the Mischievous Threats and then Mobius comes in outta nowhere with that slap 😆
Thanks for sharing the laughs, I appreciate your thoughts on this! :)
I feel like we don’t talk about this scene enough. It’s the implication that Mobius knows every terrible thing Loki has ever done and has still never seen him as a villain because of it. It’s Loki intimidating Brad by saying that Mobius—the person who understands him best—would agree that Loki is capable of getting what he needs from Brad. It’s Loki admitting that Mobius is the one who knows him better than anyone else ever has. It’s the casual intimacy of the statement, just 3 ostensibly unimportant words thrown on at the end of a sentence that ultimately reveals how familiar and close they really are to each another.
