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[ikols]

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[ikols]

how are things going?
sounds like you need the fresh air

[rehandle]

Surprisingly fine.

[ He'd take exorcising a demon and navigating the aftermath over having a difficult conversation any day. ]

An hour out of the house couldn't hurt. I'll take a recommendation for a decent spot.

[ikols]

[ Shooting him a location ping: it's for the park! ]

how do you like noodles?

[rehandle]

Noodles sound good.

[ And that sent and a quick check for the presences in the house later, he's going to just casually step his way through a portal behind a tree somewhere in the park and stroll out of cover. ]

[ikols]

[ Awaiting him on a bench, Loki gets up to loop an arm through Stephen's once he spots him. ]

Come along, I know of the best vendor in the city when it comes to firecracker noodles to warm the soul. We will get you extra flakes.

[rehandle]

[ There's a small, bemused pinch of his brow and a hesitation in his step as Loki hooks their arms together, but he ultimately allows the familiarity in spite of the tension in his arm. He came here to check in on him, shrugging him off would be counterintuitive.

He lets himself be led toward delicious food and slides the conversation in the direction of the large elephant accompanying them on this walk. ]

Parenting for Dummies could use a few new chapters.

[ikols]

Haven't fathered a giant doom-snake, a giant crazy wolf, or a half-dead girl, have you? Eight-legged horse?

[ PAT PAT on Stephen's arm. ]

You are doing just fine, trust me.

[rehandle]

[ A pointed glance in Loki's direction. He gets it, you've got a lot of weird kids. ]

I know. But a convenient manual would be nice all the same. [ There's no guidebook for the forms growing pains can take when the kid in question is a god. ] Have you spoken with him since?

[ikols]

Yes, we spoke. He is going to make fewer stupider choices for a while, perhaps become a member of the X-Men to explore who he is beyond a god. He also wants an emo girlfriend very badly.

[ Loki puffs out a breath. ]

You really are doing well. The boy respects you.

[rehandle]

Just as long as I don't have to teach him about the birds and the bees.

[ It's good to hear the air is clear enough that the two of them are speaking. The whole thing was enough of an ordeal for each of them without it dragging out further. ]

He's a good kid, frequent swerves into dangerous and ill-conceived magical territory notwithstanding.

[ It makes it easy to treat him with respect. The easiest way to earn it in turn. ]

[ikols]

I don't know about you but I would never do that.

[ He keeps a straight face save for the twinkle in his eye, ordering them their noodles at the food truck. ]

I'm impressed with how you've handled things.

[rehandle]

There's not a lot to handle when there aren't any demons in the picture. And when there are...

[ He shrugs, as if it's casual. Which is basically the point. That's the day job. ]

Though at this rate I'm going to be able to start measuring time by duration between Lokis being on fire. You may want to work on that as a collective.

[ikols]

One to go! Although the older-me seems kind of ... sad. Not even in a dramatic way. He's dead back home, he says, but I somehow doubt that.

[ Lokis always bounce back! ]

Can I try your noodles? I got the spicier ones but I may have been an overachiever with that.

[rehandle]

[ He offers out his noodle pot without a thought, only mildly offended that he got baby spice, and moves seamlessly on with the conversation after swallowing a mouthful of his own. ]

It's a wonder anyone ever dies at all in your universe, the number of people who seem to be immune.

[ Two, Loki's only said this about two people so far, but his point still stands!! ]

Well?

[ What's the noodle verdict? ]

[ikols]

I don't die because I'm special, other people don't die because they're weirdoes. I heard on the grapevine Stark died when Captain Marvel shot him but his body was re-grown and his mind stored as an AI, then they shoved both pieces back together. Now that is cheating mortality.

[ SSSSLURP! ]

Mm, good noodleage.

[rehandle]

Every time you speak about your reality I'm a little more grateful for mine.

[ What the fuck... But fine. Sure. He's the very last person who can disbelieve weirdness. If anything, he makes a mental note to bring up the science with Stark if they ever have a long enough conversation to get even close to a point where talking about the mechanics of his digitally preserved consciousness is appropriate... ]

How's the apartment? Are you still here in the city?

[ A little snoop. Just because he was literally inside the apartment not so many days ago doesn't mean he knows where it is geographically speaking. ]

[ikols]

Yours needs more multiversal events, then you can complain with me and we will be wizened old fogies together.

[ Strolling in the sunshine and complaining together, comparing realities ... they are halfway there. ]

It's around. In case ... Peter needs me. The apartment is still in Central.

[rehandle]

[ Oh. There's something to that. Stephen cast him a glance over the noodles he's in the middle of lifting to his mouth. ]

Around.

[ He doesn't make it sound like he's spending much time there. ]

[ikols]

Around.

[ A mouthful of noodles is slurped up as Loki rolls his eyes, stabbing his carton. There's no point lying about this, he cares too much about the subject matter, so he gives Stephen a significant, world-weary look. ]

Would I be eating noodles at this time of day if I could be getting laid instead?

[rehandle]

[ Ah. Trouble in paradise. His expression slants, sympathetic. ]

Going that well, huh?

[ikols]

I don't think anything is wrong, [ stupid noodles, why can't he pick them up in his chopsticks, ] I'm still the sorcerer of incredible talent that he fell for, he delights in my spells as well as ... who I am.

... Magic isn't boring. It isn't, is it? To other people, obviously. We know it's great.

[rehandle]

No. Magic is not boring. [ He still remembers his first time, so that's at least a slightly informed opinion. ] I'm not sure how relevant that is to maintaining a relationship.

[ Politely sticks some noodles in his mouth so Loki can ignore that comment if he'd prefer. ]

[ikols]

Because Peter loves it, he used to delight in me being a magical wizard-like deity who could show him the world Aladdin-style. This whole world is very distracting though, it has only swelled with more colourful folk since my arrival.

[ He feels like he's becoming beige. His magic is eggshell white. ]

... Perhaps with there being three of me, I've become commonplace.

[rehandle]

[ The look on his face is exceptionally sceptical. ]

You're upset that you're not special.

[ikols]

I am special, that's the problem! I don't think he knows that anymore!