Work Text:
FADE IN:
INT. LOKI AND MOBIUS’ HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON
LOKI is in the living room, cooing at the crib. He's holding two different toys in both of his hands, making funny faces at BABY TESS. On the couch, a duplicate of LOKI is happily reading the newspaper. He is wearing casual, bright clothes, very reminiscent of the 90s. MOBIUS enters. He is wearing his suit, and holding a briefcase.
The AUDIENCE cheers.
LOKI
Rough day today, my love?
MOBIUS
Same old, same old.
MOBIUS leans down for a kiss, and LOKI meets him halfway.
The AUDIENCE aww’s and ooh’s.
MOBIUS
How is the little lady?
MOBIUS goes to the crib, just as LOKI’s duplication casting disappears. He picks up BABY TESS, cradling her in his arms and making baby noises. LOKI smiles, standing up to rest his chin on his husband’s shoulder.
MOBIUS
I’m sorry for leaving you two all alone in here.
LOKI
Nonsense. Tess is a total angel and I love spending the whole day with her.
MOBIUS
So, you’re not mad that you changed the nappies all day?
LOKI
Perhaps, a little.
AUDIENCE laughter. MOBIUS just grins.
LOKI (cont’d)
You can make it up to me, darling.
MOBIUS looks at him, confused. He holds BABY TESS up, inspecting her front and back. Tentatively, he smells her.
MOBIUS
Why? Does she need changing— Oh!
CUT TO:
INT. DINER - EARLY EVENING
The diner is moderately busy with people, and happy chatter is scattered while LOKI and MOBIUS take their seats on a dining booth, with MOBIUS carrying BABY TESS. He puts her in a high chair.
MOBIUS
It’s nice here, huh?
LOKI
It’s certainly quaint. I’ve always wanted to eat at a diner.
MOBIUS
Laufey’s has the best pies ever.
LOKI (confused)
Laufey?
MOBIUS
The owner. But I’ve never seen him around.
LOKI
Right.
LOKI looks at the sign, which reads LAUFEY’S DINER and shakes his head in confusion. Their food arrives immediately, despite never ordering. Nevertheless, they enjoy their food. “THE END OF THE WORLD” plays softly in the background.
CUT TO:
INT. LOKI AND MOBIUS’ HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - EVENING
A click and light fill the living room. LOKI and MOBIUS enter their home. MOBIUS is carrying BABY TESS.
MOBIUS (in a hushed tone)
Time for the little lady to go to bed.
LOKI just smiles as he watches his husband go upstairs. It is eerily quiet. He slumps on the couch and reaches for the remote, but the TV has turned on on its own accord. Focusing on the TV screen, it shows LOKI and MOBIUS, looking rumpled but happy. The scene on the TV is off-colored, in contrast to LOKI’s world of vibrance. They had just reunited. RAVONNA appears, with a gaggle of MINUTEMEN. They are all holding pruning batons. Back to LOKI, who looks both horrified and confused. Back to the TV scene, where MOBIUS talks about his life outside of TVA, about wanting a jet ski.
BEGIN FLASHBACK
INT. TVA HEADQUARTERS/TIME THEATER - TIME UNDETERMINED
RAVONNA
Prune him.
MOBIUS cries out in pain as the baton hits his stomach, a burst of light exploding—
END FLASHBACK
INT. LOKI AND MOBIUS’ HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - EVENING
MOBIUS
You okay, sweetheart?
LOKI gasps, looking at MOBIUS then at the TV, which is actually turned off.
LOKI
Yes, I’m fine. Just tired.
MOBIUS walks over to him, caressing his face. He looks worried.
MOBIUS
You want to head in?
LOKI
I thought we’re going to catch the night premiere.
MOBIUS
We could always watch the reruns.
MOBIUS kisses the top of his head.
MOBIUS (cont’d)
Plus, I need to make it up to you.
LOKI grins, then kisses his husband. The shrill sound of the doorbell startles them both, and they look at each other, alarmed.
MOBIUS (cont’d)
It’s almost midnight!
LOKI just shrugs. MOBIUS sighs, then head for the door. He opens the door, and SYLVIE enters, also wearing clothes from the 90’s. She smiles mischievously at everyone.
SYLVIE
Well, this is a very boring party!
The AUDIENCE laughs and cheers at the same time. LOKI and MOBIUS look at each other, pleasantly surprised. LOKI moves to give his sister a hug, and MOBIUS does the same.
LOKI
What are you doing here?
SYLVIE
Oh, just strolling around the neighbourhood. Thought I’d pop by. Visit my niece. Where is little Tess?
MOBIUS
She’s asleep.
SYLVIE
Ah, darn it!
It’s awkward. LOKI and MOBIUS look at each other, looking uncomfortable.
MOBIUS
You want something to drink, Sylvie?
SYLVIE
No, thank you. Actually, Loki, do you have a minute?
LOKI
Um…
SYLVIE
Come on! I promise I’ve brought a fire extinguisher this time!
AUDIENCE laughter. MOBIUS looks at her, alarmed.
LOKI
Well, alright. As long as it won’t take long.
(to MOBIUS)
I’ll be back, love.
MOBIUS
Alright. Try not to burn down the neighbourhood, you two.
SYLVIE
No promises! Night-o, Moby-o!
MOBIUS kisses LOKI on the cheek then jogs upstairs. LOKI and SYLVIE exit the house.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. LOKI AND MOBIUS’ HOUSE/FRONT YARD - SAME EVENING
LOKI
What did you want to--
LOKI never finishes his sentence because SYLVIE’s hands suddenly press firmly on his head. A swirling green mist shoots out of her hands and in an instant, they get transported to real life. It is bleak and devoid of color, just like what LOKI has seen on the TV. He is disoriented for a while, looking around before his eyes land on SYLVIE, looking grim and serious and wearing her old outfit.
LOKI (cont’d)
Sylvie? What’s happening? Where are we?
SYLVIE
You need to stop this, Loki.
LOKI
What? What are you talking about? And what are you wearing?
SYLVIE
What you’re doing is wrong, Loki. These are innocent people.
LOKI
I don’t understand--
SYLVIE
Your baby is not real. You have gone mad.
LOKI
Tess… what?
SYLVIE
And he’s gone, alright? He’s not coming back.
LOKI
Who’s gone? Sylvie, I have no idea--
SYLVIE
Stop pretending! You can’t fool me, Loki. I’m you, remember?
LOKI goes silent. His confused expression suddenly turns blank. His eyes are empty when he looks at SYLVIE.
LOKI
I want you to leave.
SYLVIE
Oh, please, Loki--
A ball of viridescent energy swells under LOKI’s palms, and SYLVIE notices it.
SYLVIE (scoffing)
Really?
SYLVIE summons her magic, and identical blasts of energy expel from both of them, meeting in the middle.
CUT TO:
INT. LOKI AND MOBIUS’ HOUSE/BEDROOM - SAME EVENING
LOKI, looking tired and weary, enters the bedroom he and MOBIUS share. MOBIUS stirs awake, turning the lamp on.
MOBIUS (sleepily)
Loki? Iss’at you?
LOKI
Yes, darling.
MOBIUS
So, what did Sylvie want?
LOKI
She had to say goodbye.
MOBIUS
Oh.
LOKI
She won’t be visiting anytime soon.
LOKI looks at MOBIUS, his face full of emotion. Then, he smiles. He climbs up to their bed.
LOKI (cont’d)
I’m glad you’re here.
MOBIUS
I’m glad I’m here, too.
LOKI
I love you, Mobius.
MOBIUS
I love you, too.
They share a kiss, and the closing music plays. A heart shape closes them out and fades into black. The credits roll out. End of the episode.
The music stops abruptly, replaced by the same eerie silence.
The screen slowly fills out and we see SYLVIE, lying on the grass, unconscious. Zoom in on her hands, crackling with leftover magic.
CUT TO BLACK