alphabet challenge - v

[felicitygs]

 Oh hey look. Something that would have happened during Fractals. How about that. Just being self-indulgent really. Tony x Loki, If and Only If verse.

 

In computer programming, the number one is used to indicate ‘true’ while the number zero is 'false.’ There actually is also a law/proof that shows that the limit of any growth over time will be outpaced by exponential growth.

 

V. Joy

 

“So what’s joy?” Tony asks.

 

“Exponential,” Loki says from the kitchen floor. Tony doesn’t say anything about him tearing apart his laptop to get inside after only a declaration that it sounded 'uneven.’

 

“No,” Tony says, thinking about it. Joy has an end; it starts and then it crests and it’s done. Loki spares him a disdainful glance, then goes back to whatever it is he’s doing. “It can’t. Exponential growth just keeps going. Joy doesn’t just get–”

 

“The limit,” Loki bites out, bending over more to get a better look and Tony is only half-paying attention as he watches the skin draw tight over Loki’s spine, “as t approaches infinity will be zero.”

 

“Yeah,” Tony says, “but that’s just talking about exponential growth over-taking any other kind of growth.”

 

“Exactly.” Loki goes quiet; Tony can see him adjust something, barely more than a slight wiggle, then he’s smiling and sitting back up, starting to reassemble everything again. He pauses, thinking. “What was the question?”

 

“What equation describes joy?” Tony repeats, as close to patient as he ever gets.

 

“Ah. Yes.” Loki stretches, then leaves the laptop only half-reassembled on the floor. Tony suspects one of them is going to step on it later, swearing, but he doesn’t point that out. He’s more interested in Loki slipping up to him, arms wrapping around him from behind and nose running along his neck.

 

“Joy is,” Loki says, then pauses another moment. “Joy is this.” He squeezes Tony slightly. “It is cubic growth, modified according to various external data in order to determine if it terminates with the exact moment it would cross exponential growth–the inevitable buildup of ill events–or will, instead, turn into a convex growth pattern and gradually taper off. I would need a pen to appropriately write it out for you.”

 

“It can wait,” Tony says, twisting around on the stool to look at Loki. “I love when you talk dirty first thing in the morning.”

 

Loki’s eyebrow quirks up, but then he smiles, sly.

 

“Do you now?” Loki asks, moving so he can stand between Tony’s legs, crowding him and hands settling on the breakfast counter now at Tony’s back.

 

“That would be a one,” Tony says, and Loki grins, sharp and vicious and pleased, and Tony thinks

 

this is joy