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[voicelog]

CONTACTING...
deanna troi (public)
T (private/personal)
@tony.stark (neural implant)

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[ikols]

Kid?

[ He unfurls, sitting upright. Swings his legs free and hops down, taking slow, measured steps toward Tony's desk, no one to be well-behaved for anymore (so long, Peter) making him more reckless with how much he can get away with, especially with Tony. Seeing how far he can push Stark has only been curtailed by the soft heart that told him Don't piss him off for no reason, come help me make dinner. And he is gone. ]

I'm so bored, you have no idea. Flies on the brain, they're never still, I don't even know .... what I'm going to do.

[ Coming to a halt, he shrugs to mirror the way Tony did it to him. His eyes stay unblinking. ]

[voicelog]

[ he watches him slink over with a slight arch to his brow. right. loki doesn't like being called a kid. ]

If you have so much free time on your hands, [ he regards him with an unperturbed smile. ] I have some volunteer work you can help me out with. Should help with some of those flies. [ he gives his temple an indicative tap. ]

[ikols]

Volunteer?

[ It's a dirty word. ]

[voicelog]

Yep. Volunteer work. You know, that thing you do when you freely offer up your skills to perform services for the community out of the kindness and generosity of your heart. I'm sure it's right up your alley.

[ he's a real comic, this one. ]

[ikols]

[ What a patronising asshole. Loki gives it some thought, deciding, ]

If Squirrel Girl does it, I could be convinced.

[voicelog]

Sure. I'll shoot her a text.

[ so that at least one more person on this earth will know that he isn't actually dead in an alley somewhere. ]

[ikols]

Why do you have her number? You're like two dozen years older than her.

[ Snerk. ]

[voicelog]

She messaged me first.

[ also he's only 36. it's not that old! ]

[ikols]

Are you showing her proper respect?

[voicelog]

Don't ask stupid questions, Loki.

[ikols]

This is no jest, she is my friend. Unlike you.

[voicelog]

[ cue an eyeroll. ]

I treat everyone who deserves respect with respect, so yes, I am.

[ikols]

I will know if not.

[ Narrowing his eyes, he slouches away to touch whatever is on the nearest desk. ]

Your definition of who deserves respect could use a little work, if we're not lying.

[voicelog]

Oh, is that right? [ he straightens back up as he leans his hip against the edge of the worktable, his gaze following after loki and his wandering hands. ] Let me guess, you're gonna tell me it could use work where you're concerned.

[ikols]

As a matter of fact, I was. How astonishingly perceptive of you. [ Such shock must be real! ] But I don't mean me-me, I mean the boy.

[voicelog]

I haven't spoken to him in months.

[ikols]

You are the worst role-model a child could have, a melted spoon would have more gravitas.

[ Sighing, he very impressively holds back some meaner things he could say and generously gets to the point. ]

You have to check in on him.

[voicelog]

He doesn't like me very much if you weren't aware.

[ frankly, he's probably doing the kid a favor by not interfering in his life here. ]

[ikols]

He is thirteen, he likes whoever showers him in attention. His brain is a hormonal chickpea sizzling in the acid of a dozen hyperfixations. He grows bored easily and I am asking for your help.

[voicelog]

Stephen has been looking after him just fine. I don't see why I'm suddenly needed now.

[ikols]

He has come close to wanting to murder me more than once, he can shapeshift his guise to take my face. The boy's mischief edges on malevolence when he is upset or pushed into a corner, talking to another Loki is as useful in calming him as tossing snow on a hearth.

I know you are not Iron Man right now, but although I did not grow up with you as a permanently adult figurehead in Thor's stories, the boy did. If you stuck out his bitching, he would listen to you. I do know you can create armour that can fly and think, so it makes perfect sense to ask you to unravel a bit of stubborn, suspicious pride. And just ... I don't know, have a boring conversation with him. Say anything, he will never forget it.

It does not have to be kind, just let him know you know he exists and matters a little.

[voicelog]

Don't you think the last thing he'll want is for me to suddenly show up and sit him down for a talk when I haven't even been present in his life since we got here? He already thinks I have ulterior motives whenever I approach him. You're really barking up the wrong tree here, buddy. If there's something going on between you two, Stephen is the adult role model you want.

[ it won't end well. he'll screw it up, one way or another. ]

[ikols]

Stephen is a magical anime girl, the boy is halfway to bored on everything he says. He respects him as a sorcerer and person because Stephen spends time with him.

[ His voice softens, coaxing. ]

Don't have a "talk". Ask him for his assistance on something, make it up. You do not have to be Iron Man to make a child feel glad.

[voicelog]

[ magical anime girl — the comparison manages to evoke a small smile from him.

still, he isn't convinced that tony stark is what kid loki needs. ]

I can't recall signing up for babysitting duty. [ he splays out his hand. ] And he's going to think something's up if I ask him for help. [ he drums his fingers on the countertop as he adds: ] My life isn't all that exciting anymore and I highly doubt he'll be interested in volunteer work.

[ikols]

[ Loki walks around the table to stand closer, not enough to be a threat but nearer with the steady old green in his gaze resting on Tony. ]

Something is broken in you, I understand. I have for some time. You are less hale and hearty than I knew you back home because you have lived in other worlds, made other realms and people your sanctuary. And they've been gone, and you're here, and you are angry within. I have tried coaxing and bothering you to be an echo of yourself to no avail, so I will not bother to beg now but allow me to say this without lies and then I will leave.

You are a fire in a rainstorm. Your crown was self-made and it elevated you to the skies with your own genius. That is not a small thing in any universe, Tony, it is the act of an ascending king, and when you draw such notice you will never lie flat upon the floor and escape it ever again. Speaking as a reluctant symbol myself: be kind to a child. Not for his praise of the king who can never hide, but for it being a kind act in and of itself.

I do not think you heartless, no matter what has lain in your breast.

[ He will back off and head out, as promised, if Tony wants to let him. ]