#rootalks

little age fluctuates anywhere from 0-4

with loki being simultaneously prideful and also filled to the brim with insecurities, his regression isn't something that comes easy for him. it's rare for him to feel comfortable enough to regress around someone else... and even the thought of regressing alone isn't any easier. at first he struggles to let go of his adult stressors and pride both, believing it's not 'befitting' of someone like him to act in a way he'd describe as childish, which is made no better by him wishing deep down that he could be taken care of despite his aversion to it. it leads to a lot of frustration for him and, in loki fashion, irritability. he's like a skittish cat that needs to be coaxed first in order to do away with internal conflict

life gets easier for loki when he finds the person who does know how to coax him: mobius. mobius is loki's primary (sole?) caregiver and has just the right amount of love and patience to offer him. he sees through loki's prickliness and knows when he needs some sweet treatment, so he's always there to help ease loki into a littler mindset in a way that doesn't make loki bristle or feel patronized

at first, loki's regression mostly takes the form of cuddles and gentle downtime. it's more of a mental state than a physical one involving material items...

but with time, he opens up to the idea of using little gear too. he has a bottle and a pacifier that he likes, plus a few stuffies and toys of choice. mobius is better at recognizing when loki wants them than loki himself is. loki won't often ask for them outright, but his eyes always light up when mobius has got it covered

because loki is affection starved, that really bleeds through when he's regressed. he likes cuddles. likes to have his hand held. he becomes mobius's second shadow (even more than usual) and doesn't like when he's out of sight for too long. if mobius really has to go somewhere, loki's never far behind

is at his happiest when he's getting snuggles or doted on, because it heals his heart to be someone's focus for a change. mobius always looks at his baby like he's his world (he is) and loki is never left wanting for kisses or being cooed at

always bunching his hand(s) in mobius's shirt or jacket. sometimes, if they're laying on the couch together, he'll even just hold mobius's tie in his fist. if he's trailing mobius around then he might pinch the back of his jacket to be extra sure he won't get lost. it's a comfort to loki

loves bathtime. mobius is always sure to add some bubble bath so that loki feels pampered and youthful both, often picking out sweeter scents. loki likes to shape the bubbles with his hands and make 'potions' out of the different shampoos and soaps. it often leads non-regressed loki to wonder where all of his nice products went, before he remembers it was, well, technically his own fault

likes milk and honey... or hot chocolate, which he picked up as a comfort drink from mobius

his favorite foods while regressed are fruit, yoghurt, or scrambled egg on toast. he's a fiend for breakfast foods as both a little and an adult, so the eggs especially go down a treat

naptime is a must for loki. mobius is one of the few people he feels comfortable napping around, so you bet he dozes easily around him

cheeky as an adult and cheeky as a little. loki is always getting into things he shouldn't, like sneaking cookies from the jar or hiding mobius's things so he can pretend he doesn't know where they went. just because he's a baby doesn't mean he can't get up to some mischief! you bet walls have been drawn on before

likes to have his hair brushed and styled, but also likes to brush and style mobius's hair... as best he can, with how short it is. mobius will absolutely pretend he's taking a very legitimate trip to the hairdresser while loki puts as many hairclips on him as he can

a lover of theatre, so he's great at coming up with elaborate storylines for his plushies and his toys. he looks forward to storytime with mobius for this reason too

sits most often at the toddler end of the age range, where he can be a baby or a big kid depending on how he feels. he's a big talker at this range and likes to blab to mobius about everything and nothing in particular. mobius always listens keenly and has mastered the art of 'oh yeah?'s and 'tell me more, bud'

when smaller, loki becomes of fewer words. he's almost shier when he's particularly little - more reminiscent of how he was before the world made him jaded. he's more sensitive like this too and struggles with his emotions spilling over, so mobius speaks especially gently to him

adult loki has problems with emotional regulation, which means little loki is no exception. mobius is good at disarming him when he can sense loki's hitting his limit, but mobius also knows that sometimes it's good to get it out. is firm but patient with loki's tantrums and outbursts when they come

after a good long cry, mobius is always sure to hold him and rub his back until the sniffling and hiccupping stops. he'll rock him, stroke his hair, wipe his face - give him the kind of patience he deserves. loki is especially prone to embarrassment seeping back in after tantrums, which mobius does his best to soothe away too

optional padding hcs:

tends to wear diapers when on the younger end of the age spectrum. it's not so much that he needs them during the day and more so that they add a level of security. they're soft, they're comforting, and it makes him feel safe to be taped up after a nice bath or before a nap

having the back of his diaper patted while curled up in mobius's lap is a guaranteed way to get him to doze off quickly

used to be a bedwetter when he was younger, so if he's particularly stressed or going through a tough time with nightmares, that tends to rear its head again at night. the protection takes one less weight off of his shoulders

difficult to pinpoint his regression age, but i'd say baby to toddler ranges

retains his curiousness in his regressed state, if not even more than usual. it's easy to capture his attention and he likes to learn, even if he's both shy and cautious about engaging with what's in front of him at first. is more of a quiet observer initially, but once he knows something is alright to engage with more hands on without repercussion, he delights in it

because of his curiousness, he always loves to see what his carer is up to and especially loves when they involve him in what they're doing. if he's in a particularly clingy mood then his carer practically has a second shadow

his favorite toys are either some form of educational, sensory, and/or the kind that encourage imagination play. he has a particular fondness for wooden toys and stuffed animals, because they're soothing to the touch

would especially enjoy stuffies, play food, puzzles, or those make-believe veterinarian playsets. doctor playsets would give him subconscious cause for pause, but he'd be gentle with giving stuffed animals their check-ups. his sharing nature means that his carer is always getting something he's prepared with his pretend food

likes books. if he isn't picking one out for his carer to read for him, he's thumbing through one by himself in a cozy corner or windowsill somewhere. a bedtime story is a crucial part of his night time routine

because of his chronic pain, a nice hot bath is always a must for him especially when he's regressed. having someone wash his hair for him and help get rid of some of the tension in his muscles is a good way to have him practically purring. he likes to have his hair brushed and dried afterwards, with a particular love for the brushing especially. he'll doze off during if his carer isn't careful

similarly, for both pain and regression reasons, he likes using a pacifier. it helps to stop jaw clenching, but the mouthfeel is soothing too. if he doesn't have a pacifier available, his carer might notice him skirting his thumb or sleeve close to his mouth to use that instead

a bit of a floor baby in that he likes to sit and play on the ground. give him a nice rug or carpet to perch on and he's happy. tummy time? perfect. sitting cross legged? amazing. it helps to alleviate some of the clumsiness he experiences while regressed and also helps him see the world from a shorter point of view, which is comforting at his size when he's a big guy in a big, scary world

another benefit of perching on the rug is that when his carer is sat nearby, he can come and rest his head in their lap. he likes to get his hair stroked and likes being able to peer up at them and see the sweetness of them peering back

can be non-verbal when regressed, but not always. sometimes he might take to softly parroting his carer's words or their name. even when he trends on the more non-verbal side, he's still expressive in his body language and very earnest

can sometimes become frustrated or quick to burst into tears, but the trade off is that he's easy to settle. is clingy and easily soothed with love and a fuss

he's the baby that you can hand off anything to and he'll just keep sitting there holding it. keys? a wooden spoon? a leaflet? he'll keep it safe and examine it until you take it back

in a similar vein, he loves to be shown things. a rattle or some baby keys being waved gently in front of him would definitely enrapture him

optional padding hcs:

wears for equal parts chronic pain as he does for sometimes missing bodily signals. just like he had to learn how to recognize hunger and how to eat after escaping the lab, there were other things he had to grow accustomed to. protection offers a bit of peace of mind during the process