[ 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
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.