#project loki

warnings: for ave's bday. lorelei rios x loki mendez. fluff

The warm breeze settles sunlit lullabies amongst the greenery. He sighs, lost in the comfort of cloudless azure and dandelion stars, breathing slowly as he lets himself go towards vast dreamscapes for the second time.

Even with his eyes closed, the warmth peeks in.

"Loki," she says gently, pinching his cheek to wake him from slumber. Smooth fingertips poke a myriad of taps on his cool skin, and he tries to suppress a bubbling grin. He can't help it, for her touch has only ever brought searing comfort.

The corners of his lips rise up, and she lets out a giggle. Hearing her mellow laughter tempts him to flutter his eyelids open so that he can get a glimpse of the ever-glowing beam reaching up to her honeyed orbs.

A calloused palm places itself atop the woman's soft one and pulls her hand towards his lips. "Yes, dear?" he whispers, breath tickling the inside of her wrist.

She then ruffles his wild fringe to fully catch his attention. Her laugh now echoing through the meadows, swallowed by the vastness of summer’s sun smiling down at them.

He perks up from his lying-down position and really looks at her, sleep totally forgotten for the time being. She smiles cheekily at him, her expression hinting at something she’d want to tell him, but she’s stubborn enough to let him go first. After all, Lorelei Rios tends to always start a challenge in regard to him (and most of the time he loses).

He could get used to this.

All those years ago, only finding comfort from the darkness within had been his way to keep the pain in check. Keeping the walls up, fortifying them to be towering enough, would maybe scare away the world from hurting him, which in return would prevent him from inflicting that same harm on others. It was stable, precise even, in the way the rot would start and stop with him. But it was exactly like how glass can cut, cold and brutal, leaving no space for even a breath.

Until her.

Even with stones stacked so high, her ivy had managed to take root and grow, persistently wrapping around each corner and crevice. Leaving behind cracks in what was once a firm barricade to finally let the light shine in. Defenseless he was, but not at all heartless, as he thought he’d be. And she had capitalized on that, such a sly woman who’d crept in so seamlessly; she didn’t pry and would let him open up in his own time.

Well, who wouldn’t come after her? She’s something of the divine, and he, a mere mortal who only ever experienced death, needed to relish that ounce of vitality that she so mercifully bestows. Gone was the cold bite of winter for the other solstice has risen, melting away all the doubt and the nightmares of the past. He knew right then and there, when their eyes first met, she was sunlight personified, not only in its positive facets but also the danger that lies within it. She was intense in a way that once you came close, there was no turning back, and only the brave would dare, just like Icarus had flown too close to his chosen fatality.

And he chooses her.

Again and again.

If she would gladly take him.

For the rest of their days.

He grins down at her, Loki’s never been good at words but he tries. He had promised her, as he gazed at the gold band on his hand, that he would try.

He takes her left hand, circling the identical gold band seated on her fourth finger, and presses two taps. Followed by a tap, a long tap, and two more taps. Lorelei rolls her eyes at his antics but fixes her seating so she can fully face him and mirrors his actions as she holds onto his other arm.

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Episode 6: Knocks and Scratches

Overall Rating: 10/10

This episode earns a perfect score from me. I enjoy every moment of it —from the intense confrontation scene at the beginning to the chaotic “ghost hunting” at the end. None of the characters feels wasted; everyone gives it their all. I honestly have no complaints, but I’d still love to share my thoughts and feelings about each scene.

Melting Scene

Let me start with John Bautista’s actor. I apologize for not knowing his name. I tried searching through the internet, but couldn’t find any information about him. Still, I can confidently say he does an amazing job playing the villain. He fully embodies John Bautista as a deranged and unhinged character. I especially like the moment where he speaks to his mother over the phone, which quickly strips his evil persona.

Moreover, the way he speaks to Lorelei while explaining what he did to the other three girls is incredibly creepy. You can hear the evil in his voice and even in his laugh. I genuinely feel worried for Lorelei at that moment. If I didn’t know any better, I would actually think this is the end for her. That fear only intensifies when he starts screaming while banging the drum where Lorelei is trapped.

One thing that surprises me is how real his punches look. Compared to the other suspects in the previous crime scene reenactments, he actually makes it seem like his hits are landing. That alone says a lot about his acting.

Moving on to Lorelei—Jayda’s scream of terror is insane. She sounds genuinely frightened, like she’s actually about to die. My heart is racing the entire time she struggles against John’s attacks.

Then there’s our knight-in-shining armour, Loki. I’m honestly gagged seeing him fight—I thought he had no stamina? 😭 But he moves fast and even manages to make John bleed. And when he scoops up Lorelei, frees her, and they hug after??? I’m screaming! 

I KNOW I SAID I’LL NEVER REVIEW THIS SERIES IN ROMANTIC LENS, BUT LET ME MAKE THIS EPISODE AN EXCEPTION. The moment they hug is super nakakakilig! I know this is a detective story—a mystery, not a romance—but their chemistry is absolutely insane! My sixteen-year-old self is so happy right now.

Confrontation Scene

This scene really establishes how unhinged John is. He is under Loki’s mercy, yet he keeps provoking him by laughing at his face. As Loki continues to kick him and break his bones, he even dares Loki to hit him harder. What a masochist. He’s insane, for real!

As for Loki, I love the way he delivers his line here. I’ve been saying that they should speak more in English because they can absolutely do it, but I’m glad they mostly use Filipino/Tagalog here. Each line feels heavier, packed with anger and raw emotion, which makes the moment hit even harder.

As for Lorelei, I really appreciate how she acts as Loki’s voice of reason. Ever since she came into his life, they mirror each other in many ways, but she also keeps his decisions and actions in check —often challenging them for the better. ALSO! ALSO! Lorelei caressing Loki’s face to calm him down? Why don’t you just kiss him?! 🤭

Infirmary Scene

LoreKi checking on each other—aaahhhhh, gago kinilig ako nang sobra! Akala ko hug lang yung makukuha ko, but there’s more?! I’m going insane! It’s my headcanon, but what do you mean Loki brings Lorelei to the infirmary to get checked after the confrontation scene? Loki cares about my girl —is that what the show is trying to imply? Huh? HUH?! And then Lorelei checks Loki’s fist because it’s bleeding from the fight? Hands touching?! In my detective story?! HELL YEAH! 😝

In this scene, we also see Chief Estrada, who shares John’s confession in the interrogation room. Through this, we learn more about how Moriarty operates—he has underlings, who seem to be carrying out his orders. Unsurprisingly, John ends up dead as well, like Genesis, who stole the chemicals from the lab.

Lorelei’s PTSD

The flashback scene, where Lorelei sits beside the dead bodies while John pours the liquid on her, genuinely gives me goosebumps —the first scene in the whole series to do so. With John’s final words, “Moriya–Moriarty,” echoing like a chant in the background, the moment feels even more haunting.

Usually, Lorelei only has nightmares about her past experiences, but now they’re starting to merge with everything happening at Clark University. She needs the warmest hug. Give her a rest y'all 😠😠

New Missing Person Case

Professor Jim Morayta is here! Isn’t it odd that after knowing M’s full codename, being Moriarty, we get a new character with a similar name? Hmm. Something to think about, hihi. 

Anyway, Eric Ejercito, who plays the character, immediately establishes his presence the moment he enters the QED Club room. The way he carries himself, along with his tone when speaking, implies that he is a highly respectable professor. He speaks English fluently, too, which feels very fitting for someone who teaches higher-level math.

Speaking of having a similar name to Moriarty, I like that we can see Loki being cautious about him before shaking his hand. It’s a small detail, but it makes sense. At this point in the storyline and after all the murders and killings, you really can’t trust anyone.

With the new case presented by the professor, we are also introduced to Stein Alberts. For now, we only know him as the math prodigy who is missing. I think I’ll leave it at that. As for Monica Segundo, even with limited screen time, I love how her envy toward Stein comes through clearly. Her facial expression, voice acting, and body language during her confrontation with the duo really sell her character.

The Ghost Hunting

This is the funniest scene in the show so far. The boys are so funny, acting so terrified. I just know they are “the boys at the back” of the class XD

The acting is great, too. Even as side characters, they give it their all, especially when they’re screaming their hearts out. What really sends me, though, is when one of them goes, “Nagra-rap ka ba?” right after Loki deduces what the knocks and scratches mean. Such an asshole lmao

The Revelation

Nothing to say here but poor Stein. He just wants to compete in Math, yet he’s locked in an abandoned building. The world really is cruel 😖

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If you want to dive even deeper and get a head start on the future episodes of the series, you can read the book here:

TYPE OF REVIEW : FIRST IMPRESSION REVIEW Basic, minor first episode spoilers. After the high-energy spectacle of the Olympics, I sat down to watch a different kind of competition: a battle of wits. Viva/TV5’s Project Loki is a series I’ve been looking forward to, and if the first episode is any indication, I may be in for a dark, intellectual, and incredibly stylish ride. Continue reading First…

Lori: I don't know. Just compliment them?

Loki: Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?

Lori: Yeah, try that on them.

Loki: They're really dense though.

Lori: Maybe just tell them you like them, then.

Loki: I like you, Lorelei.

Lori: Yeah, exactly like that!

Loki: