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[rehandle]

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OurPowers contact available at: Dr. Stephen Strange (public/business)
Instagram/Twitter contact available at: strangemagic (personal/stealth account)
Implant contact available at: stephen.strange (meadowlark craus only)

Comments

[rehandle]

Nice preamble. What is it?

[ikols]

There's another Loki here and he's ... younger than me. It's kind of complicated but the main take-away is, I can't have him living with me. Or around me on a daily basis.

[rehandle]

[ Oh. Oh, no. ]

Okay.

[ Go on, Loki. You're going to have to spell this one out, as if he doesn't already know what he's being asked. ]

[ikols]

[ Is that the sound of him sucking his lips. ]

The thing is, we have a complicated history and we might go mad if we hang out too much, but he's technically a child. He likes magic a great deal, being ... well, me, and his mind is excessively active for a godling.

Since I can't sign to be his legal guardian in this realm, I was wondering ...

[rehandle]

To clarify, you're asking me to take charge of a child.

[ikols]

A Loki, so it's way more glamourous and exciting than it sounds. But not too exciting because he knows how to mind his business and be a very good house-guest.

[rehandle]

I don't have a house for him to be a guest of. I have an apartment in a hotel I'm due to be kicked out of.

[ Is this really happening. A deep breath. ]

How much of a fan is he of this plan of yours?

[ikols]

He agreed because you are the Sorcerer Supreme and, though he will protest, he will respect you. You're magical as all get-out, Stephen, he's about as powerful as a toothpick soaked in ale in that he could do some damage with what he has and he would know where to aim it, but he isn't like me. The boy has asked me to make him magical boots, for Odin's sake. It's not healthy for him to be around me and you are the only other sorcerer with the ability to put him on lockdown if the situation calls for it.

[ A breath!! ]

I also can't think of anyone who won't hate him just for being a Loki.

[rehandle]

[ There's at least one part of that pitch he could pick immediate fault with, but he's not sure technically I'm not the Sorcerer Supreme is going to be the finishing blow he's looking for.

A long, long pause. ]

I'm not having him yet. You'll have to keep him occupied until I'm out of the Diadem, then we can talk.

[ To be clear - ]

This isn't a yes.

[ikols]

[ No one cares about technicalities, Stephen!! ]

I can do that. He's a teenager, he occupies himself, this is just a longer term solution so he isn't sleeping on rags and straw again as he did back home.

[ Enjoy that heart-rending insight. ]

[rehandle]

[ Drop in longer term solution at the same time as you tug at his heartstrings, why don't you. ]

You do know it's not normal to ask someone for a favor only for that favor to be 'please claim long term legal guardianship over a pre-pubescent god', yeah?

[ikols]

[ With every ounce of sincerity in his body, he insists, ]

You would be a great father.

1/2

[rehandle]

[ — ? ]

[rehandle]

... You've know me for two months, that's a reach. But a nice tactic.

[ikols]

[ Fuck. ]

The man I know back home is all about safety and ... that sort of shit, it's very inspiring! Definitely dad material. Legal guardian material, I mean.

[rehandle]

I have no experience with children and the majority of my life is spent walking directly into life-threatening situations. Maybe you should re-assess your criteria.

[ikols]

I've got a giant snake and a wolf and Hela as children, my grandsons ate me! What makes you think I'm qualified to raise a child?!

[rehandle]

I never said you were. [ Sorry Loki he's not got any buttering up to do. ] I'm just saying I'm not necessarily the most viable alternative.

[ikols]

Well, I'm not awful, you don't have to agree.

[ He is, he's awful. ]

[rehandle]

Great. Then maybe you should give it a shot. [ :') But since he knows the continuation of a conversational loop when he sees one - ] I'll get back to you when I'm not on the brink of eviction.

[ Loki's made his points. He'll at least consider them. ]

I should probably also meet the kid.

[ikols]

Tell him you hate me, he'll love that!

[ You got this, Stephen!! ]

[rehandle]

Does he hate you? That's a nice psychological can of worms.

[ He's already tired. ]

[ikols]

He does. Loki stuff, hard to explain.

[rehandle]

Self-hatred isn't a particularly impenetrable concept, I don't need the ins and outs.

Any other deep-rooted issues I should be aware of before I push any buttons and invite revenge?

[ikols]

Don't treat him like a child, he dislikes that. He's very drawn to the good in people, he sees it clearer than most. You really don't have to try very hard with him, he's glad that you try at all.

... I realise this all reflects pathetically back on me, don't believe it.