loki (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
yoursavior) wrote2019-08-09 01:49 am
yoursavior) wrote2019-08-09 01:49 am
for sorserer
[ Contrary to popular opinion–or, more specifically, popular opinion amongst those who had seen him on Midgard last, in New York–Loki is quite conscious of when and how to keep a low profile. That's been the plan ever since he'd been dragged, begrudgingly, back to the wretched planet upon which he'd last suffered such a humiliating defeat–and worse, he's now been placed loosely under the employ of the organization that had enacted said humiliating defeat upon him.
Employ, though, is a little bit of a stretch. New Asgard has taken up much of Thor and Loki's time, and Loki has never spoken once during the scant few meetings that he's bothered to show up to, after that disastrous first one in which Loki had promised to behave and explained the circumstances of his last visit, how he'd fallen under the sceptre's thrall. It's embarrassing to admit to, especially due to the fact that a good eighty percent of the room's occupants clearly hadn't been quite satisfied with that explanation, but either way, it's enough to keep the Hulk from smashing him again, and it's enough for him to be permitted to stay, although it isn't lost on him that he'll have to commit some sort of nauseating act of heroism sooner rather than later in order to be considered to be redeemed properly.
But he's kept quiet and ignored the stares, mostly. It's easier that way. He doesn't hide his disdain when someone says something particularly stupid, or when Strange speaks, which–generally speaking–is the same thing, but he's kept quiet. He'd made it four months until today, at which point all that has gone straight out the window and abruptly into a shouting match. ]
What would you possibly propose?
[ –Loki hisses, jabbing at Strange's chest. Keeping quiet had been easy when they'd been discussing HYDRA, or SHIELD, or one of their other ridiculous acronyms, but as soon as Thor had mentioned a premonition he'd had...somehow, things had gone very rapidly downhill. ]
What could you? Midgard is in certain peril if you're what constitutes as its magical defense–do you know what protected Asgard for milleniae? A single spell. Not warriors, like all of you. Ancient magic. You wouldn't know the first thing about ancient magic. How could you? I'm quite sure you learned what an incantation was a handful of weeks ago–
Employ, though, is a little bit of a stretch. New Asgard has taken up much of Thor and Loki's time, and Loki has never spoken once during the scant few meetings that he's bothered to show up to, after that disastrous first one in which Loki had promised to behave and explained the circumstances of his last visit, how he'd fallen under the sceptre's thrall. It's embarrassing to admit to, especially due to the fact that a good eighty percent of the room's occupants clearly hadn't been quite satisfied with that explanation, but either way, it's enough to keep the Hulk from smashing him again, and it's enough for him to be permitted to stay, although it isn't lost on him that he'll have to commit some sort of nauseating act of heroism sooner rather than later in order to be considered to be redeemed properly.
But he's kept quiet and ignored the stares, mostly. It's easier that way. He doesn't hide his disdain when someone says something particularly stupid, or when Strange speaks, which–generally speaking–is the same thing, but he's kept quiet. He'd made it four months until today, at which point all that has gone straight out the window and abruptly into a shouting match. ]
What would you possibly propose?
[ –Loki hisses, jabbing at Strange's chest. Keeping quiet had been easy when they'd been discussing HYDRA, or SHIELD, or one of their other ridiculous acronyms, but as soon as Thor had mentioned a premonition he'd had...somehow, things had gone very rapidly downhill. ]
What could you? Midgard is in certain peril if you're what constitutes as its magical defense–do you know what protected Asgard for milleniae? A single spell. Not warriors, like all of you. Ancient magic. You wouldn't know the first thing about ancient magic. How could you? I'm quite sure you learned what an incantation was a handful of weeks ago–
no subject
and he knows, wearily, that last part is more to do with it than the rest. he considers briefly whether he's been played like a fiddle, then shifts on his feet, pulls open a sparking portal that leads to one of the new york sanctum's many studies, and allows loki to walk through first before following suit. he doesn't look behind him to see the avengers' expressions or hear any last words, doesn't wait to shut the portal behind him.
there's already a tall stack of books on the center table, between two ornate armchairs. the cloak whisks off of stephen's shoulders and away before he can collapse into one of them, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back. he's terse, tense. at times like this it's easier to be logical, as if in execution of a plan. ]
Those would be all the books that reference ancient relational ritual, both loosely and specifically, here at this particular Sanctum. The top two have sections that specifically discuss the coupling magic of the Vanir, which I imagine at least shares common threads with what your parents undertook for the protection of Asgard. Does that sound about right?
no subject
'Does that mean they're gonna–'
–Loki hears, but that's all, blessedly, before he steps into the portal and the sound is swallowed up. They're alone now. Loki recognizes it as the Sanctum Sanctorum; he'd had plans for this, back when he'd tried to take New York, and now, perhaps, it's some sort of cosmic joke, how each time he's been here he's in some form of peril. Last time, it had been one of those portals. This time, it's marriage.
He steps forward, picks up one of the books on the table to leaf through at random. ]
It's an interpretation of what my parents did, yes.
[ And it's detailed–which is good, in part, although the specifics are less appealing within the context of their shared participation in them. ]
Let's run through all of the reasons as to why this is a tremendously terrible idea. There's a difference between the responsibilities of the two parties concerned–which are man and wife. Not very progressive, but it's old magic, like I said.
[ He sets the book down and takes a seat, finally, before continuing on, with a polite smile. ]
Before you ask: I'm not going to be the wife.
no subject
Funny. I wasn't going to ask.
[ not in the least because the matter, to stephen, is already settled. he can feel the next argument queuing up, though. he suppresses his wariness of ballooning tension and reaches over for his own cup instead, scarred fingers curving around the dark painted ceramic as he considers how, actually, this is a terrible idea; how they shouldn't have left the avengers, thor included, with any kind of false hope. ]
It would be arduous work regardless of who occupies what role. And the only guarantee of success would be doing everything perfectly. Even if it weren't a marriage the level of cooperation required would be challenging.
no subject
He can't blame Strange for that. Enough time has passed so that when Loki misses Asgard, it's in flashes–a woman with hair the same color as his mother's, tea that isn't quite bitter enough. Loki sets the cup down, refocusing. ]
Have you been betrothed? Probably not, I would imagine, but it's much of the same–courtship on a grander scale. Tokens of affection, a ring, a ceremony... [ And then, of course...well. Loki peers into his cup. ] All that comes after.
no subject
that was a long time ago, enough that it rarely comes up in conversation. and it's certainly more than the man sitting across from him needs to know.
loki's affected casualness as he looks into his cup pretty much cements the idea that consummation is probably part of the deal. stephen takes a long, measured drink of his own cup and then sets it down. ]
Your brother's vision suggests a fight is coming in short enough order that there's no point getting nervous about prom night. You heard them back there; you have an idea of what's coming. Do you feel good about their chances?
no subject
No.
[ It's a patronizing question, because obviously not, and Loki is twice as annoyed, suddenly, as though he's meant to feel as though he's petulantly sulking over what seems to be such an easy fix, on paper. Surely marriage is easier to endure than an onslaught from...whichever nefarious force sets Earth within its sights in the near future. Probably Thanos, with Loki's luck. He refrains from asking what or when prom night is. ]
I'm hardly nervous. I don't care–what's... [ He's not going to be generous here, in any estimation he might make of Strange's skill; why would he be? ] ...a few minutes of fumbling in exchange for the safety of the universe? I've endured far worse. It's the rest of it that's more concerning. The courtship rituals, the ways in which it'll bind us together–your magic's dreadful enough from an outsider's perspective. I don't want to become personally familiar with it.
no subject
If you're concerned that you're incapable ...
[ it's not intentionally a potshot and he's not trying to be petty; this is absolutely a valid concern to iron out. what does he know about loki's magic, anyway? sure, he's thousands of years old, a capable illusionist at a minimum, stab-happy. but that infinity stone had pushed him harder than he'd pushed it in turn. it's important to ask, and if that constitutes a push, well, stephen's pushed harder for less. ]