#2011 thor

[skjaerelokidottir]

Finally got some motivation to write just a little bit of the next chapter of Perihelion. Thor... is hard to write when he's not happy or angry 😅

[hjbender]

If you had to choose: Pre-movies Loki & Endgame Thor or Pre-movies Thor and IW Loki?

Oh. OH. Oh, this is a such great question!

Pre-2011 Loki and Endgame Thor (my pick): Thor would weep to have his brother back again, of this I’m certain. He’d probably see this as an opportunity to address the rivalry and other issues between them that would lead to their falling-out. Fix the cracks before they start, so to speak.

The biggest drawback to this pairing would be Loki not knowing his true parentage. (In hindsight, this was probably the thing most responsible for pushing Loki over the edge of chaotic neutrality into complete villainy.) But I think with great care and sensitivity, something which this Thor has in abundance, he could guide Loki to the truth without too much anguish and loathing. He would help nurture Loki’s self confidence, be less of a rival and more of a big brother to him at last. Away from Odin’s toxic influence, I think Loki would blossom under Thor’s care, and in turn this would help Thor rediscover his sense of purpose, ultimately pulling him out of his post-Snap depression and back into the light.

From Loki’s perspective, he would probably be stunned by Thor’s appearance–that must have been a hellacious seven years to change his brother so much–but his personality would be the biggest shock to him, I think. Instead of arrogance and pride and boastfulness, there’s this big, soft, tender, hurting man with scars and mismatched eyes who does not hesitate to tell Loki how much he loves and appreciates him. It might be strange at first, but I think Loki would grow accustomed to it and embrace this new side of his brother, both literally and figuratively.

Pre-2011 Thor and Infinity War Loki: I think there’s a very real chance that this Loki might murder this Thor. He’s come a long way on his redemption journey, but he is still Loki, and I imagine his patience for this swaggering, spoiled, entitled Thor would be depleted in a hurry. I see many heated arguments blowing up between them. Arguments where Loki, at his wit’s end, pours the tea (scalding hot, no sugar) onto Thor’s ego and doesn’t even offer him a napkin (or an apology). He might even delight in dropping these emotional bombs on Thor just to see how he reacts, to chip away at that pompous, prickish nature and humble him, bring him down a few notches.

Loki is incredibly perceptive, and he knows his brother better than anyone. If he were so inclined, he could utterly destroy Thor to the point where his Endgame counterpart looks like a cheerful optimist. Loki has that kind of power over him, and hopefully he doesn’t let it go to his head. Maybe Loki eventually learns to soften the blows a little bit and guide Thor into the man he should become, the man who is his complement, his confidant, his friend, his family.

Eventually I could see this young Thor sobering up and changing his ways (if he doesn’t become completely recalcitrant and go over to the Dark Side; that would be a tragic irony, wouldn’t it?), learning to defer to Loki’s experience and expertise, learning a little humility. Perhaps in seven years’ time he even emerges a better version of himself than what he might have become in the original timeline.

This pairing has a much greater risk of failing, I believe; for either Thor or Loki to give in to the anger in their hearts and kill each other or drive one another apart. It could go either way. Loki would have to be extremely careful and patient to ensure that he helps his brother walk the correct path… even if he himself has trouble finding it.

[marvel-dc-etc-blog]

Marvel's upcoming THOR movie poster... The God of Thunder.