video, un: LOKIOFASGARD

[ikols]

[ He misses Stephen. One of his best friends (if he could consider himself as having them) for months, a backbone to lean on and firm supporter of the Loki Isn't A Total Shitbag club, is gone, and while the Sanctum actually is larger on the inside than the out, it feels somehow emptier. He smashed several priceless artefacts with no repercussions, no sorcerer appeared to put him in time-out or ask with strained patience what he was doing, which is how he knows Stephen really has returned through the portal. That, and Loki's private alarm went off as Stephen left the dimension; his finger pricked with blood on its own, a warning.

So he sits in Stephen's main study in a theatrically winged armchair because this house is nothing if not extra, dust motes floating through lazy afternoon golden light. He does so with arms folded, frowning, ignoring the giant green viper with its head resting over the back of the chair upon his shoulder (Freyja is sad too). He takes a breath. ]

Stephen Strange from Earth-616 has returned home, albeit leaving his actual house here. The Sanctum Sanctorum is hereby officially all mine until he returns, fight me for it, etcetera. [ The unnaturally large serpent boops his cheek with her huge nose, supporting and prompting him to continue as he scratches under her chin. ] Er, I guess Avengers are still welcome if you ever visited Stephen in the first place, whatever. Come by if you have any magical problems, I ...

[ He pauses (maybe for effect!!) and pulls the Cloak of Levitation into shot, draping it around his shoulders. What is more impressive is the cloak lets him.

(It has instructions to babysit a certain godling, not that Loki knows that.)

He sets his jaw, sitting up straight. ]

It happens in our future anyway, he said. I suppose I'm this realm's new Sorcerer Supreme, for now.

Comments

[ikols]

It's the nature of a nexus such as this moon, no one stays forever.

[ Maybe one day even Loki will be forced to walk back through the portal and undergo ego-death, become the wilder Loki that Doreen and everyone else has been describing. A new personality for a new body. He doesn't want to stop being this version of himself, yet. Doesn't see why that's fair.

A cool hand pats Owen's much warmer one on Loki's shoulder. ]

This probably all sounds like science fiction to you, doesn't it?

[alfa]

Well, some people go to the capital world, or so I’m told.

[ He hasn’t really met anyone who’s left and went there yet, but then again he hasn’t been here that long.

He smiles with a huff at that, half-shrugging. ] Not fiction so much anymore, is it?

[ikols]

I've never been. I don't know if anyone has ... but I know there are riches there far wilder than those this moon has to offer.

[ He winks. ]

A ghost told me.

[alfa]

[ He chuckles, pinching Loki’s nose playfully. ]

I wouldn’t believe everything a ghost tells you.

[ Not that it matters either way to Owen. He doesn’t want riches, and he probably would vastly prefer staying on the moon if given that choice. ]

[ikols]

[ Swatting lazily at that hand, his smile grows into a grin. ]

Ah, but this ghost showed me where all the greatest riches on this moon are too!

[ He shouldn't brag, but. ]

[alfa]

Yeah? Well, good for you then. I’m peachy the way I am right now.

[ A shrug, then he takes a sip from his beer. Treasures and riches really aren’t his thing. ]

[ikols]

[ uGH. He swats at Owen's arm. ]

Don't you want to know what they are? Where's your Indiana Jones sense of adventure!

[alfa]

[ He scrunches up his nose, shaking his head slowly for a more dramatic effect. ]

I guess... it could depend on what kinds of riches we’re talking about. If you’re gonna show me a map to a pirate treasure, then I think I’ll pass.

[ikols]

[ Gods, he works himself up and blurts out to counteract that disinterest, ]

It's ore! Powerful enough to generate electricity and other energy signatures, it's used throughout the moon. You can use it to burn a simple fire or power a starship, and it's mine. I have a mining facility set up on the other side of the moon, Tony Stark set it up for us when we were supposed to go into business together. The ore is a major component of most of the electronic devices produced on the Capitol World.

[ Damn it, man, be impressed!! ]

[alfa]

Really?

[ FINE HE’S IMPRESSED. But most of all, he’s interested. ]

If there’s ore here, how come this moon isn’t crowded with Capitol ships and crew trying to mine it and take it back?

[ Because that’s how people work, how greed works. Doesn’t change just because they’re in another universe. ]

[ikols]

I explained, a ghost told me about it! It was lost to time. Nobody else knows there's such a large deposit here.

[ He flops on the couch, legs up and an arm over the back. Takes a satisfied sip of his beer. ]

You're looking at the richest person on this moon, and no one believes it.

[alfa]

For what it’s worth, I don’t like you any more because of that.

[ Okay that came out weird but his point is that it doesn’t matter to him how rich Loki is. ]

Sounds like you need to find someone who can work this mine for you.

[ikols]

I don't care if you like me.

[ That didn't come out defensively!! Anyway. ]

Hey, I tried telling people they could use the mine and they didn't think I was legit ... which I understand, God of Mischief and Lies, yadda-yadda, but my point is I made an effort and no one cared. So, neither do I. [ He shrugs. ] I'm just telling you because ... it's pretty cool.

[ Yeah, that's why. ]

Also because you can't steal an entire mine off me, hah.

[alfa]

Fine, then. I don’t care if you like me either.

[ SHRUG. Whatever man two can play at that game. Loki sure seemed to like him the last they saw of each other, though, just saying.

He snorts at Loki’s last remark, sitting down on the couch next to him. ] I’d love to know where you got the idea that I’m the kind to ever even want to steal something. Especially a whole damn mine of all things.

[ikols]

[ Enjoy Loki's legs on your lap, Owen. ]

Doesn't everyone enjoy a bit of B&E sometimes? I mean, obviously I do, but I can't be the only thief out there.

[alfa]

[ He quirks an eyebrow up, then settles a hand over Loki’s legs. ]

Oh, I’m sure you aren’t. I’m just– not your guy, is all. [ He shrugs. ] Not for that, anyway.

[ikols]

[ What a funny way to phrase that. He cocks his head. ]

What are you my guy for?

[alfa]

[ He looks up thoughtfully before he tries to talk himself out of the corner he trapped himself into GOOD JOB OWEN GRADY. ]

Dinosaur wrangler... [ He tilts his beer slightly. ] Beer provider? Although— technically you did offer me beer plenty of times before, so it’s more like I’m repaying that.

[ikols]

[ Smooth moves by Owen, a delight to watch unfold. ]

Fair enough on the beer tab but you've never once wrangled a dinosaur on my behalf.

[alfa]

[ Whatever shut up!!! God. ]

Well... find me a dinosaur, and I will.

[ikols]

I suggest finding a different, easier profession first.

[ One that involves the heel of his foot kneading at the inside of Owen's thigh, perhaps. ]

[alfa]

I already have. [ He catches Loki’s foot by the ankle, firmly enough to stop him from wiggling it around. ] I work at the zoo, remember?

[ikols]

I'm not lodged at the zoo. [ His foot kicks free and he slides with Asgardian speed atop Owen's lap, hands on his shoulders. His beer abandoned on the floor. ] And after all, aren't we talking about what you are to me?

[alfa]

[ Owen probably shouldn’t be as surprised by that move as he is. One hand still holding the beer, the other rests lightly on Loki’s leg. He lets out a soft laugh, pursing his lips. ]

Mmm, a mooch probably? [ Since he’s pretty much settled himself at Loki’s cabin. ]

[ikols]

[ A smile curls at the answer, idle hands dancing his fingers up through short hair, twisting it lightly. ]

Most definitely. Perhaps, more substantially ... a friend?

[ Escape the inquiring stare of those green eyes if you can, Owen. ]