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]

[ Owen has this infuriating habit of making any conversation seem harmless when he is, in fact, a nosy bitch. Loki is a little annoyed at himself for not minding, being one too.

It's also just nice to feel interesting enough to be asked about what he wants. ]

He might return, Stephen has more experience with dimension-hopping than most. I can't say for sure. There's definitely a lot going on, I've been here for years. [ Affecting a careless air, he picks at the cloak. ] If he came back I wouldn't mind returning his musty old house.

[alfa]

[ He’s not even that nosy! And yeah, Loki can’t talk much, not just because he can be pretty nosy himself, but also because he’s good at evading the question. case in point. ]

But not the cloak?

[ikols]

[ Who's evading questions, no one here. Nope. How dare Owen pick up on omitted details!

Loki smirks. ]

It's the Cloak of Levitation, I'm not giving this back unless it flies away of its own accord.

[alfa]

[ He’s not all brawn, he does have some brains. Yes, shocker. ]

Well it might just, being the [ air quotes ] Cloak of Levitation and all.

[ikols]

[ Brawn never usually equals brains on Asgard, sadly. Owen is delightfully keen and insightful, despite all those atrocious muscles he totes around, poor man. ]

Hence a timely pun. [ Arching a brow!! Ahem. ] How's things at the ... zoo, isn't it?

[alfa]

[ Luckily he’s All Midgard, born and raised. ]

Zoo, yeah. It’s going alright. [ He cants his head. ] Said you were gonna break in– I kept waiting for it.

[ikols]

[ Should he be so pleased Owen remembered he said that? Oh well, he is. ]

Maybe I broke in and you just didn't notice.

[ With a wink! Because he definitely could have but also definitely hasn't. ]

[alfa]

And didn’t even come by to say hi? [ Dramatic hand to his chest move. ] Ouch. I’m starting to feel a little offended, here.

[ikols]

There are other things to see at the zoo besides you, Owen Grady! Mammals, lizards ... fish ... You may not know this but I adore a good tank of stingrays.

[ Maybe Loki could have a valid reason for being at the zoo, it's possible. ]

[alfa]

Don’t I count among the mammals? [ He is one, after all. ] Is that your favorite animal, then? Here I thought it was snakes.

[ikols]

You're gross, so no. But you're not wrong.

[ Freyja gives an approving hiss before slinking out of sight, Loki's eyes following her as she slithers out of the study. ]

... Foxes are a speciality of mine. Horses, cat, otters. [ Forcing himself to look back at Owen, he slumps down further in the cloak. ] Clever animals, you know.

[alfa]

What did I do? [ He’s laughing though. Calling him gross, how dare you. ]

Hey, I’m plenty clever. [ Probably not as clever as his raptors were but. Whatever. ]

[ikols]

[ Their flirting banter goes a long way to lifting Loki's spirits. ]

Well, you say I never broke into the zoo as promised but what about you, where's my phonecall? A text?

[alfa]

[ Shrugging casually. ] I don’t like phones.

[ He leaves it on his nightstand or forgets it at work half the times. Also he’s generally crap at keeping in touch. ]

I hit up your post, now. Doesn’t this count?

[ikols]

I mean, yeah ... Sure.

[ Trying to look offended when he is actually just as bad at keeping in touch with people even though Loki is surgically connected to his phone most of the time. He puffs bangs out of his eyes, failing at being haughty. ]

You sound jurassic, Owen. "I don't like phones". We have Bluetooth in Asgardia! Get with the times.

[alfa]

[ He huffs out a breath, not believing that offended air one bit. ]

Well, I’d say it’s pretty fitting. Me, being jurassic. [ Never mind that Velociraptors are from the Cretaceous period. Don’t correct him, he knows!! ]

I promise I’ll try to keep in touch a little better from now on. How’s that?

[ikols]

[ It's obvious how happy Owen makes him when Loki preens, combing back his hair with a smile playing on his lips. ]

I suppose I can forgive you. [ So benevolent! ] You should visit the Sanctum when you're sick of cafeteria food for lunch. I take requests!

[ He doesn't, feeling generous now because Owen has cheered him up. ]

[alfa]

In that case, I'll forgive you for not showing up at the zoo either.

[ Pursing his lips and shrugging. What you gonna do, huh. ]

I don't really eat at the cafeteria much. [ Pause, ] But sure, I can come by sometime. When I'm not getting lost in the forest.

[ikols]

Oh, you've been out there a lot? Making use of my cabin, hm?

[alfa]

I have, actually. Very nice digs. I promise I’m not leaving my underwear all over the place. [ Though Loki might find the odd shirt here and there, and what’s unmistakably Owen’s scent all over the place. Mostly the couch. ]

[ikols]

[ Well, Owen will have to deal with Loki stealing those shirts when he visits unannounced. ]

Had many wild parties while my attention was elsewhere?

[alfa]

[ A chuckle. ] No. Just me, and maybe a couple lizards. [ It’s a growing collection. ]

[ikols]

[ That gets a curious look, an arched brow. ]

Missing your dino squad?

[alfa]

They adopted me. Couldn’t shake them off. [ It doesn’t have to mean anything, okay. ]

[ikols]

[ UH HUH, doesn't mean a thing. ]

If you'd like some company, instead of collecting amphibians like a twelve year old ...