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[livingsymbol]

This is Steve Rogers. Leave a message and I'll contact you when I can.

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audio » @LOKIOFASGARD

[ikols]

Sigh.

[ Yes, he did just sigh a sigh. ]

video;

[livingsymbol]

Did you just say "sigh"?

[Loki, please.]

[ikols]

[ Looks like they've got an audio-video battle here. ]

Maybe. I have dire news.

[livingsymbol]

[ Steve doesn't mind talking to the audio, but he defaults to video himself. Maybe he doesn't even think about it, or maybe it's for others' comfort. With Steve, it's hard to tell. ]

Dire? How dire?

[ That is a serious statement. He sits up straighter, expecting trouble. ]

[ikols]

[ Jeez, Tony never reacts this much whenever Loki tells him there's an emergency. Then again, Loki tells specifically Tony that a lot, so. ]

Did you know the apartment is warded?

[livingsymbol]

[Steve always takes emergencies seriously! Look, Loki is coming to him with potential trouble, so he has to be concerned.]

No. Is that something you did?

[ikols]

Yes, me and Stephen.

[ Pausing, he glances away and huffs under his breath. ]

Some were exclusively to keep other versions of myself out of the apartment and they didn't work. The Loki of Earth-199999 broke through without trying, although he didn't detect the mirroring charms I had in place so I got to spy a little before he noticed he was standing in my spell-soaked territory and started to feel the slowburn effects while he was visiting Ivar. Those weren't pleasant.

I've since warned him directly about setting foot there, but ... I can't predict anything but his unpredictability.

[livingsymbol]

Do you think he needs to be kept off the floor?

[ It's a serious question. Steve takes the idea of any Loki as a possible danger, but so far his exchanges with the new version have left him with some doubt. A surprising amount, in fact, because he's just as wary of the newcomer as he is of any known villain. But Loki hasn't done anything obviously out of turn so far. He's asking his own version for a strong second opinion. ]

[ikols]

I think he's turning feral, but that's nothing surprising. More accurately, he'll be around if he really wants to but for the most part I don't like hanging out with myself and imagine he won't come by again soon.

[livingsymbol]

Can you make something that will keep him out if you need to?

[ Now Steve is planning. He might not be on the best terms with their Loki, but he knows his own world's god at least a bit better than he knows the new one. The possible need to have young Loki and Strange use their magic to contain the newcomer does cross his mind. If it comes down to a fight, Steve wants to know how well everyone stacks up. ]

He won't make a move he knows he'll lose. I don't think he's reckless enough for that. But how strong is his power compared to yours?

[ikols]

... I think Stephen and I could trick him, if we worked together.

[ And if Stephen was up to full power again. Hopefully. ]

This new Loki, he's young in mentality.

[livingsymbol]

You could trick him? But not stop him?

[ Is the other Loki that strong? Or is their younger looking Loki recovering from his losses and still building up his strength? Stephen certainly looks like he's seen better days. ]

They're from a different world. Maybe he's younger than you.

[ Congratulations, Lokes, you actually got a joke out of him. ]

[ikols]

[ So many questions, huff. ]

He's obviously younger, he hasn't even gotten old yet. [ That totally makes sense. ] This is a lamb not only walking to the slaughter, he's headbutting his way to the front of the queue. Do you remember how I was, Steve? Gnarled, weathered, bitter. When I spoke with him, he sounded halfway there.

[livingsymbol]

[ Questions are lately all Steve seems to have control over. Everyone else is changing and leaving and telling him he can't understand. All the blond can do is push for information, because no one is going to give him the benefit of the doubt either. It's a different kind of assumption, but one that still locks him in.

Maybe that's why he listened to the other Loki at all. He heard something of himself in him. ]

He has something to prove. Even the old Loki wanted that. And if he's younger, then maybe he doesn't have to become what you were.

[ He sighs heavily. ]

And the same goes for you.

[ikols]

I already did, that's why I came here. I ... [ Well, shit. ] I wanted to save myself before I had to go through it, because my future evil self was forcing me to.

[ Which is cowardly but he doesn't particularly care anymore, breathing air and being touched and speaking in sane tones is a rare gift. ]

It's complicated. My point is, why aren't you on my side?

[livingsymbol]

I don't know that I should be on anyone's side just yet. As far as I can tell, there are no sides as long as we are here unless we make them.

Maybe we shouldn't.

[ Which is about as close as Steve gets to admitting he has regrets about his own choices to fight. Even now, he doesn't completely think it was wrong, since everyone can only do what they feel is right, but in Riverview maybe they do have a chance to do things differently. And while Steve isn't jumping to side with Loki, he's not disagreeing with his points. ]

I'm giving him a chance. He asked me to.

[ikols]

That's really nice of you, it is, but do remember he's fond of stabbing things. Avenger-shaped things.

[ Stay safe, idiot!! ]

[livingsymbol]

It's not nice.

[ He knows it isn't a nice gesture. It's a decision to be fair, but he doesn't believe he's nice. ]

Are you worried about my safety?

[ikols]

You may be one of my oldest enemies and in this transitional stage of our acquaintance things are difficult to understand, but trust that you are at least the Steve Rogers of my universe. If any Loki is going to hoodwink you, I get first dibs.

[ Can't exactly say, yes, I'm trying to protect you. This is more believable. ]

[livingsymbol]

[ Even though Loki doesn't say it, Steve hears it. And it's strange, having Loki actually worried about what trouble he might get into. It makes Steve wonder for a moment where things have gone that their lives have turned out this way. ]

You might have to argue custody with him. But I'll be careful.

[ Don't worry, Loki. He'll spare your pride this time and not acknowledge that nice gesture of yours. Although he'll remember it later. ]

I'm pretty durable anyway.

[ikols]

Not that durable.

[ He has to be a shit somehow. ]

[livingsymbol]

Try me some time.

[That? That one was almost friendly.]

[ikols]

[ Hmmmmmm. ]

No hitting the eyes.

[livingsymbol]

I'll try to remember that. No disappearing.

[ikols]

Aww, that's no fun.