"Rituals only work as much as the person doing the ritual thinks they do. That is the trick. If they decide that killing people left and right is a ritual, then it is, if they have the power to put behind it." Which was one of the things that made magic so hard to learn -- and so dangerous when someone got a hold of it.
"Fear is a very powerful thing. With fear, you can control people, things, rule countries, worlds. Why would someone aching for power not want to cause fear?"
"Then why aren't they?" Bruce gestures, then stops. His mind works quickly and what it comes up with makes him frown. "Is this isn't our world, who's to say they aren't? Maybe outside of this place, they're using the power of this ritual to control everything."
He sighs softly. "I need to talk to these people who were once technicians. They know more things that are actually true, or so I damn well hope."
"It is quite possible. We know that North America has been cut off from the rest of the world, so that might be the area they are using the power to keep under control." Loki needed to speak to the shipwrecked woman again and dig for more information.
Bruce lets out a very slow breath again and gestures. "And after all of this, we could be wrong. All of these theories could be wrong. Is there any way to test if any of this is true? If this is some sort of ritual?" Unfortunately, he has no experience in the magical.
It means he has to trust Loki a great deal in this one area, something he would have never have expected.
"I can look into it. It would take some studying, though. Everyone's magic is different; after all, all it is is a lie, if a very big one." Loki considers how he would test it, if he were to try. It would not be easy.
"If there's any way you can safely look into this, Loki, I think it will help to start us down the right path as to the reason why we're all here versus a great deal of theories we are struggling to get more answers for." Bruce's smile isn't one of happiness, but more out of spite for this whole situation.
Bruce hesitates, then laughs a little. "Don't get killed, promise?" He actually puts out his hand. "Promise me that, Loki. And if you know me that well from your universe, you'll know how big a deal this is. I don't want you killed because of your own ego."
"There is no need to fret like that, Bruce." It is still odd to call him Bruce and not 'Dr. Banner,' but he is slowly getting more use out of the name. "I am very hard to kill. And even if I did die, well, it would not be the first time nor likely the last."
But he stands as well, taking Bruce's hand. "I will, however, do my best."
"That's all I ask for." Bruce shakes Loki's hand firmly before he heads for the door. He does call over to Villie though. "Silly beast. How could your breathren be so fierce and you are afraid of thunder?"
He gives a tight smile to Loki before he heads back out to get to work.
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"Fear is a very powerful thing. With fear, you can control people, things, rule countries, worlds. Why would someone aching for power not want to cause fear?"
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He sighs softly. "I need to talk to these people who were once technicians. They know more things that are actually true, or so I damn well hope."
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It means he has to trust Loki a great deal in this one area, something he would have never have expected.
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He stands up, hand still out, a brow lifted.
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But he stands as well, taking Bruce's hand. "I will, however, do my best."
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He gives a tight smile to Loki before he heads back out to get to work.