[ well he's going to have to deal with what Stephen brings back after a dubious look down at Loki on his way out (he knows that lie for what it is, thanks, you're the pinnacle of Fussy), which just so happens to be...
three fingers of whatever this space whiskey equivalent is, on the rocks. we're drinking old man drinks now, none of your cool kid bullshit.
the glass goes dumped in front of him along with Stephen's own in the adjacent space and then he's sliding back into the booth. hi. ]
[ so, maybe kinda sorta he actually looks a little impressed. this isn't far from his own choice of drink, as much as he'd like to hover among the frills and other carbonated promises.
he takes it, then twists it between his dark nailed fingers, letting the ice cubes clink together. ]
I've gathered so much. He has a mouth on him that can't be missed.
[ as in, he's loud, and he's certainly not being loud anywhere in their vicinity. ]
Edited (i'm actually probably writing the rest) 2018-12-29 02:35 (UTC)
Yeah. Well, that's one less of us. Replaced with one more from what I can tell, though I haven't technically been told as much yet.
[ he takes a steeling sip, ordering thoughts in preparation for the not altogether too extensive infodump to come. ]
As a preface, I've only met you once previous to here. He was pissy and a little upset that I left him falling in a void for a half hour. The rest is research, hearsay, and being called in to work in the wake of an alien invasion.
[ no, they're usually never told as much, but Loki doubts Morningstar knows as much as they do. it still feels like they're being used—watched—the whole lot of them. with his senses dulled and his sorcery gone it makes it difficult to find resources to search and undercut, and he has to go about it the old fashioned way. ]
Ah—please understand, that's what I want. [ the hearsay, the stories that will later turn to myth. the constants that would drag his own inter-dimensional reputation down. ] It's all important in some way or another.
[ Stephen expects nothing from Morningstar, it's Fitz he's waiting on - but his silence on the matter has been close to answer enough for Stephen to know that she's one of his. or rather, Fitz is one of hers.
Loki's answer goes noted with a nod. but there's something else to be dealt with, and he may as well get it out of the way before they get into all this. so... a sip, and then: ]
First, do you want to fill me in on amatuer operations? Was that a date night?
[ Loki tries—tries!!—not to dramatically roll his eyes back into his head. Clarke had to add the person into it, and Jason had to go and be cheeky and make a half-assed announcement on the network.
ugh. ]
Frame that question without the date and I may answer it.
[ first off because it's none of his business! second off because, well, it'd go back to Jason and Damian. ]
[ Stephen really does have only the very barest of senses of what's gone on and who's involved, hasn't bothered to do any digging himself: Clarke spilled something, enough for Loki to wade in, and he's only interested in finding out to the extent that he considers it any of his business. breakdown of which as follows:
things he could care less about: who, if anybody, Loki's cosying up with.
things he cares about and considers himself qualified to have an opinion on: stupid, unnecessary and non-professionally handled invasive procedures.
is it really his fault these two things happen to overlap? ]
Pardon me. [ ahe-hem. ] Do you want to fill me in on amateur operations? Was that a pal's night?
[ just in case you were worried he was subjected to a personality transplant out there in the time-lost wilds. absolutely not. ]
[ both of those still point to a specific person, and Loki is careful. he had been careful with Clarke, and somehow, the two boys had managed to be shady, anyway. ]
Those who had mind to do it were not going to be convinced otherwise, and I do not say that lightly—[ being Loki and all. ]—so I offered my space to ensure that the conditions were clean and that there was less possibility of infection.
The results were as assumed. There was nothing there. Is there anything else that you wished to know?
[ said the god to the surgeon about the surgery. ]
[ this doesn't answer his question, actually, save to confirm Loki's involvement, which was already all but confirmed.
there's a lecture waiting, a few truths forming themselves on his tongue as if Loki's only as old as he appears and young enough to warrant being told the difference between safe and stupid. and then it strikes him that he could know, if he wanted to. right now, without Loki being any the wiser.
but there's only really one way to build trust. and they've been doing a stellar job of not messing that up so far.
Stephen doesn't open his mouth when the next words follow, but they'll end up in Loki's head anyway, like a certain memory of something he'd said just seconds before. hell, to keep it light-hearted he even goes ahead and takes a sip of his drink as he finishes the last neural stitch and lets the thought go. look, no hands. ventriloquism at its finest. ]
If you're really desperate to keep this from me, you're either going to want to avoid being around me or practice thinking about other things. I can only handle so much self-restraint.
[ which is to say he may or may not opt to take what he needs with this secret he's shared, he's not making any promises, but at least that's now a risk Loki can choose to take.
of course, Loki's decision will inform how important Stephen thinks it is that he find out, but what's life without a catch-22? ]
Edited (SORRY FOR TWENTY EDITS) 2019-01-06 08:54 (UTC)
[ there isn't a flinch, but his green eyes do narrow.
when he had his sorcery, he had precautions set against mindreaders and those that would tamper with his brain. right now he's at a loss, no guards or rails or barriers to put up. despite that, he has some experience, and Stephen Strange is no Emma Frost. ]
You only have so long before I start thinking about my brother in the buff. Unless you want another brainful you'll exercise what little self-restraint you believe you have, Doctor.
[ and Emma would've found that more amusing than Strange would.
Loki draws his bright eyes to meet with his. ]
I believe there's a large, sociopathic, megalomanic titan that seeks to destroy your world. One that we have ample experience with on our end. Be clear and I may offer you what you want, but the terms still apply. I'm not human, remember? You can choose which memories are made up—constructed—and which are true, but you'll still have to roll the dice. No one takes from me, Stephen.
[ now it's more about the principle than the information itself. ]
[ ah good. his turn to try very hard not to dramatically roll his eyes back into his head. he manages, just barely, if only to stop the conversation from careening any further down Testy God Lane, but he can't quite keep his face from doing something dubious.
then again, if it were his own thoughts under risk of infiltration, it's unlikely he'd act too far different. he'll give Loki that much. ]
Any more toys to throw? We could always tip over the whole stroller.
[ Stephen Strange has never been afraid of Loki, no matter the face or the universe. and for as long as he means Loki no harm, he's equally unconcerned by threats. ]
If I really wanted to take anything from you without prior approval I would've done it already, said nothing and avoided the tantrum. I don't. At least now you know to line the castle walls with your army of naked Thors.
[ while Loki looks the same—his expression, his shoulders, his muscles still relaxed—he's definitely got his hackles raised. he's a kneejerk, much like his other world counterpart in some ways, but with more finesse. he's learned how to curb his reactions. ]
It doesn't matter if you did or not—the nude Thors are just a safeguard, the rest of it is still true. Just as a warning, of course.
[ he tilts his head at him. ]
And tantrum, Stephen, really? I hope you're so candid when someone's being intrusive with your own mind. I'll wish the wrath of Emma Frost upon you.
Edited (I'LL EDIT HOWEVER MANY TIMES I WANT) 2019-01-09 16:33 (UTC)
I’m sure that’s quite the threat. [ but he truly has no idea who the hell Loki’s talking about, so he’ll just have to take his tone for it.
it’s a fair point, though. and for all Stephen would love to argue it, he holds his tongue on the matter of overreactions. ]
I don’t care who you’re passing the time with, Loki. I don’t think it’s a good idea, but it’s not any of my business for as long as it’s not doing anyone any harm. [ which it has, already, but there’s no point fighting over slipped scalpels - the harm he’s worried about has more to do with gods in the wrong place and the danger of loss. the Boyfriend Question really wasn’t why he went to the effort of sharing his own secret.]
[ he gets the idea—no Emma Frost, huh? well, at least not one that Stephen knows. ]
I didn't exactly come for a lecture, you know. [ he's going to do what he wants, and neither confirm nor deny anything, thanks. as far as he sees it, it's his business and not anyone else's at this point. the more people push, the more defiant he tends to get. ]
Though I'm curious to ask what you though I left out—I was, for myself, too honest for my taste.
Names. So I could keep an eye on the individuals who have little enough care for their own wellbeing that they'd take a scalpel to themselves without professional supervision.
[ unfortunately, those names seem to belong to people Loki's eager to protect the privacy of, so they're at an impasse. ]
Your honesty gave me an explanation for your involvement and very little else, which is absolutely useless to me retrospectively, but appreciated nonetheless. I don't think I'm getting any more than that, so shall we move on with the Loki files?
[ he's almost pushed too hard once today and drifting into another period of difficult to navigate silence sounds exhausting, so. back to it? ]
No—[ a definite, surprisingly firm Loki no. ]—to betray the dubious intentioned would be one thing, but to betray a partner is downright villainous. It's a position that I'll decline myself to put myself in, you understand, as consequence of being myself. You may be able to stand on the box of your integrity, but I won't be awarded the luxury.
[ not only will he not put himself in that position, he won't open the doors to that sort of trap. ]
Which is exactly why I asked you, of course, about that other self of mine.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
three fingers of whatever this space whiskey equivalent is, on the rocks. we're drinking old man drinks now, none of your cool kid bullshit.
the glass goes dumped in front of him along with Stephen's own in the adjacent space and then he's sliding back into the booth. hi. ]
I guess you're already aware Stark's gone.
[ straight to business. ]
no subject
he takes it, then twists it between his dark nailed fingers, letting the ice cubes clink together. ]
I've gathered so much. He has a mouth on him that can't be missed.
[ as in, he's loud, and he's certainly not being loud anywhere in their vicinity. ]
no subject
Yeah. Well, that's one less of us. Replaced with one more from what I can tell, though I haven't technically been told as much yet.
[ he takes a steeling sip, ordering thoughts in preparation for the not altogether too extensive infodump to come. ]
As a preface, I've only met you once previous to here. He was pissy and a little upset that I left him falling in a void for a half hour. The rest is research, hearsay, and being called in to work in the wake of an alien invasion.
no subject
Ah—please understand, that's what I want. [ the hearsay, the stories that will later turn to myth. the constants that would drag his own inter-dimensional reputation down. ] It's all important in some way or another.
no subject
Loki's answer goes noted with a nod. but there's something else to be dealt with, and he may as well get it out of the way before they get into all this. so... a sip, and then: ]
First, do you want to fill me in on amatuer operations? Was that a date night?
[ as if he wasn't going to ask. ]
no subject
ugh. ]
Frame that question without the date and I may answer it.
[ first off because it's none of his business! second off because, well, it'd go back to Jason and Damian. ]
no subject
things he could care less about:
who, if anybody, Loki's cosying up with.
things he cares about and considers himself qualified to have an opinion on:
stupid, unnecessary and non-professionally handled invasive procedures.
is it really his fault these two things happen to overlap? ]
Pardon me. [ ahe-hem. ] Do you want to fill me in on amateur operations? Was that a pal's night?
[ just in case you were worried he was subjected to a personality transplant out there in the time-lost wilds. absolutely not. ]
no subject
Those who had mind to do it were not going to be convinced otherwise, and I do not say that lightly—[ being Loki and all. ]—so I offered my space to ensure that the conditions were clean and that there was less possibility of infection.
The results were as assumed. There was nothing there. Is there anything else that you wished to know?
[ said the god to the surgeon about the surgery. ]
no subject
there's a lecture waiting, a few truths forming themselves on his tongue as if Loki's only as old as he appears and young enough to warrant being told the difference between safe and stupid. and then it strikes him that he could know, if he wanted to. right now, without Loki being any the wiser.
but there's only really one way to build trust. and they've been doing a stellar job of not messing that up so far.
Stephen doesn't open his mouth when the next words follow, but they'll end up in Loki's head anyway, like a certain memory of something he'd said just seconds before. hell, to keep it light-hearted he even goes ahead and takes a sip of his drink as he finishes the last neural stitch and lets the thought go. look, no hands. ventriloquism at its finest. ]
If you're really desperate to keep this from me, you're either going to want to avoid being around me or practice thinking about other things. I can only handle so much self-restraint.
[ which is to say he may or may not opt to take what he needs with this secret he's shared, he's not making any promises, but at least that's now a risk Loki can choose to take.
of course, Loki's decision will inform how important Stephen thinks it is that he find out, but what's life without a catch-22? ]
no subject
when he had his sorcery, he had precautions set against mindreaders and those that would tamper with his brain. right now he's at a loss, no guards or rails or barriers to put up. despite that, he has some experience, and Stephen Strange is no Emma Frost. ]
You only have so long before I start thinking about my brother in the buff. Unless you want another brainful you'll exercise what little self-restraint you believe you have, Doctor.
[ and Emma would've found that more amusing than Strange would.
Loki draws his bright eyes to meet with his. ]
I believe there's a large, sociopathic, megalomanic titan that seeks to destroy your world. One that we have ample experience with on our end. Be clear and I may offer you what you want, but the terms still apply. I'm not human, remember? You can choose which memories are made up—constructed—and which are true, but you'll still have to roll the dice. No one takes from me, Stephen.
[ now it's more about the principle than the information itself. ]
no subject
then again, if it were his own thoughts under risk of infiltration, it's unlikely he'd act too far different. he'll give Loki that much. ]
Any more toys to throw? We could always tip over the whole stroller.
[ Stephen Strange has never been afraid of Loki, no matter the face or the universe. and for as long as he means Loki no harm, he's equally unconcerned by threats. ]
If I really wanted to take anything from you without prior approval I would've done it already, said nothing and avoided the tantrum. I don't. At least now you know to line the castle walls with your army of naked Thors.
no subject
It doesn't matter if you did or not—the nude Thors are just a safeguard, the rest of it is still true. Just as a warning, of course.
[ he tilts his head at him. ]
And tantrum, Stephen, really? I hope you're so candid when someone's being intrusive with your own mind. I'll wish the wrath of Emma Frost upon you.
no subject
it’s a fair point, though. and for all Stephen would love to argue it, he holds his tongue on the matter of overreactions. ]
I don’t care who you’re passing the time with, Loki. I don’t think it’s a good idea, but it’s not any of my business for as long as it’s not doing anyone any harm. [ which it has, already, but there’s no point fighting over slipped scalpels - the harm he’s worried about has more to do with gods in the wrong place and the danger of loss. the Boyfriend Question really wasn’t why he went to the effort of sharing his own secret.]
no subject
I didn't exactly come for a lecture, you know. [ he's going to do what he wants, and neither confirm nor deny anything, thanks. as far as he sees it, it's his business and not anyone else's at this point. the more people push, the more defiant he tends to get. ]
Though I'm curious to ask what you though I left out—I was, for myself, too honest for my taste.
no subject
[ unfortunately, those names seem to belong to people Loki's eager to protect the privacy of, so they're at an impasse. ]
Your honesty gave me an explanation for your involvement and very little else, which is absolutely useless to me retrospectively, but appreciated nonetheless. I don't think I'm getting any more than that, so shall we move on with the Loki files?
[ he's almost pushed too hard once today and drifting into another period of difficult to navigate silence sounds exhausting, so. back to it? ]
no subject
[ not only will he not put himself in that position, he won't open the doors to that sort of trap. ]
Which is exactly why I asked you, of course, about that other self of mine.