#destructionanddrinks

The Soldier....no, James. He wasn’t the Soldier anymore, wouldn’t let them control his mind anymore. But that didn’t mean he knew who he was. He’d seen the exhibit, seen his own face staring back at him with the tag of Sergeant James Buchanan ‘Bucky’ Barnes. Bucky was what the man had called him. But he didn’t feel like Bucky either, couldn’t remember being Bucky, not really. So James seemed like the best name.

Blue eyes watched warily. He’d come to New York, in the hopes that it might spark more memories, and that was where the man...where Steve had found him. He’d asked James to come back with him, that there was somewhere safe for him to stay, to recover. A tower. And while he couldn’t remember why, James trusted him.

In this one and only case, Tony's reluctance to seek medical attention when he really needed it was a good thing. A couple days after their last scuffle will alien invaders, spots that looked like bruises and itched like crazy started appearing in his skin. The day after that, he'd gotten an unusual case of hiccups and a blinding headache. But, he wasn't coughing or sneezing, which meant he could still breathe, so he put off doing anything about it.

Thor had caught sight of him after lunch and called Bruce to take a look and then Loki had been consulted and in the hour it took for him to arrive, he'd gone from hiccuping and headache and itchy bruises to extreme dizzy spells and blinding full-body pain and fainting. When he woke up again, he wasn't anywhere he recognized.

Hi. Sorry to hear you’re having a rough time. It’s totally fair to ask Loki, or any other deity, for help with shadow work.

Not every deity is the best choice for every person, just like not every human therapist is the best choice for every patient. They all have different personalities and teaching styles. There’s also no guarantee they’ll say yes--sometimes they’ll send you to someone else they think is a better fit. But it never hurts to ask.

Since it sounds like you already have a good relationship with Loki, odds are pretty good he’ll agree. It’s definitely something he’s done for me, and a bunch of other devotees.

Best wishes on your path to recovery! If you’re open to it, consider posting about your journey in the Lokean spaces of your choice. There are a bunch of folks in the community who’d be willing to share experiences and offer support.

“For the record, I’m the bug.”