( closed ) that's why i tell

[ikols]

Who: loki ikols & kid loki thecoolerloki
What: sleepover night
When: post-strange's spooky house adventure
Where: loki's apartment in central city
Content Warnings: tba

[ Having asked for some time alone with the boy, Loki finds himself missing Peter as evening crawls onward and the apartment is too quiet. He busies himself with his tasks: adding blankets to the back of the couch that will serve as the boy's bed later, setting out an array of snack foods on the coffee table, and hooking up his consoles to the large TV on the wall. He calls for pizza early, two kinds in case the boy is picky, and plants his hands on his hips as he surveys his child-proofed home.

Anything of real worth or danger has been stuffed in his pocket of reality that he keeps items in when pockets don't match his outfit, so he feels confident there isn't a Norn Stone or wad of thousands of cash lying around forgotten. He figures that if the boy is planning on murdering him and exacting revenge then he will twist himself into knots in an attempt to do so and if it is truly going to be attempted the allure of doing it in Loki's flat will be too ironically delicious to resist, so they may as well get the temptation over with. That, and he doesn't like the idea of the boy snooping around trying to figure out where he lives; better he knows and stops caring.

When the knock comes on the front door, he opens to peer down. ]

You had better have brought pyjamas and a toothbrush.

Comments

[thecoolerloki]

Duh.

[he turns to show a green backpack, not having mastered the art of reality pockets yet. He’d never presume something was provided for him, even from his older self. Or especially from his older self? Considering Loki had told him in the first place to bring stuff.

Loki pushes past him to make his way inside, obviously curious. He’s looking to see what hints of Spider-Man might have been left behind, as well as the other Loki’s personal taste.]

Do you have fighting games?

[No small talk. Straight to business.]

[ikols]

[ Lavender seems to be the main accent colour in his home, from the couch to the rug to the curtains. There isn't much to hint at a partner sharing his space, not unless the boy heads into the bedroom (which Loki expects to be infiltrated at some point, but not yet). He waves him in, closing the door. ]

Certainly, and some adventure-quest types. Pizza should be arriving shortly, do you want a beer?

[thecoolerloki]

[He's about to plop down on the couch before he turns, eyes wide.]

Beer?

[BEER????]

[ikols]

It's Asgardian ale, I keep it in case Thor drops by. You have been telling people you want to age yourself up like me, haven't you? Beer should be fine, in that case, for such a mature soul.

[ Loki leans over the kitchen counter, arching a brow. ]

Would you prefer a milkshake?

[thecoolerloki]

Who told you this? ... should I do so now? Before I drink it?

[Part of him feels like if he takes a sip Thor and the All-Mother will pop out of a cabinet and scold him.]

[ikols]

I have ears in all sorts of places.

[ He pats a stool at the kitchen counter for the boy to sit, genuinely curious. ]

Can you age yourself up?

[thecoolerloki]

Your own ears or another's?

[He knows Loki's being vague on purpose, so might as well get specific and see if there are magpies watching his every move or if everyone's gossiping about him of their own accord.

As he pulls himself up to sit on the stool, his height and age feel more apparent than ever.]

... I don't know. I haven't tried.

[ikols]

[ An enigmatic waggle of his brows intends to keep him guessing.

Gauging Loki's uneasiness, he nods and takes some milk out of the fridge instead of the brown bottle behind. Funnily enough, a blender is already set up and waiting. ]

Then I suggest you don't try, at least not until you're certain it won't overtax you. Otherwise you might go unconscious and I'll have to tuck you in early without any games at all.

[thecoolerloki]

No! I can do it.

[He notes the prepared blender with a frown, realizing his older self thought he would fail from the very beginning. Or as always, that's the story his brain comes up with.

Loki closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths, trying to dispel the fear that's kept him from even the thought of growing older. He thinks of the older Leah he met, how she hadn't wanted to pass him by. So he thinks of a story where she didn't have to, where they walked to the diner hand in hand and his hand was larger than hers. They laugh and sit on the same side of the booth, sharing one milkshake with two straws. It isn't scary.

And he breathes out. The Loki that takes the place of the child is slightly different from Billy's take on him. His hair is still longer, and his helm remains the same, though minus the dorky little bodysuit head covering. If Agent of Asgard Loki was boyband Harry Styles Loki, he's even more so, though closer to the "What Makes You Beautiful" era fittingly.]

There.

[he tries to hide his surprise at the sound of his voice, probably poorly. It's also worth mentioning that he's still well below drinking age.]

[ikols]

[ He stills as he watches, noting the differences between them (long hair, ew, not unless someone is having a breakdown on brand) and moving through the motions of making him a milkshake. He turns the blender on once the boy, the teenager, has settled his form, blitzing noise into the apartment for five seconds. ]

You somehow look more like any middle-aged mortal in the room ought to beware of a sudden visit from Chris Hansen.

[ The milkshake he sets down in front of him is strawberry. He folds his arms, assessing him. ]

Feeling okay?

[thecoolerloki]

I don't know who that is.

[said with a roll of his eyes, completely teenager-like.]

I... I think so. Don't I receive a beer for my efforts, though?

[ikols]

No, not if you're going to change back soon. A drunken child I can handle, a drunken teen I refuse.

[ Reaching over to tug on that floppy hair. Like his own, but longer. Fussing hides the majority of how weirded out he is to see the aging of the boy who never got to grow up because of him. ]

Why do you want to be older? This will only serve to unnerve Thor, should he see you.

[thecoolerloki]

I'm an Odinson, I won't get drunk off a single beer.

[So he presumes, given everyone else's talent for drinking.]

Seeing me in any form will unnerve him. ... change is good. Everyone else has changed without me. And I am Loki, no matter my form. Do you remember what you told me when we first met? Why either of us exist in the first place?

[ikols]

You are a Laufeyson, and I think you are doing this to unnerve me, on second-thought.

[ That is, bar some cheekbone adjustment, his face. The last time he met himself (or an identical equivalent) it set him on fire after parading around as the Old Man. It feels an awful lot like he needs to watch his back again, that crawling paranoia he hasn't experienced since his ego-death. ]

I am sure you will remind me.

[thecoolerloki]

[He grins, clearly amused by the other Loki's discomfort.]

"Change or die. I would rather die than not change." It's funny then, that dying ensured I would never change.

[ikols]

That's what you want to do, then? Change? If your plan is to take my place, you will have a sorry time about it.

[ He does feel for the boy, but when it comes to being murdered Loki has had just about enough attempts from too many people. ]

[thecoolerloki]

Why would I want to take your place? I have no interest in dating Spider-Man or ruling Jotunheim.

[He laughs and leans back, creepy Loki vibes gone.]

I merely want the beer I was promised.

[ikols]

You know that's not what I'm talking about.

[ Head cocking, he hums as if needing to consider what he says next. ]

No, I think what you really want is for Leah to like you back. That's the main reason for all this, isn't it? Skipping years. You want to match her.

[thecoolerloki]

Leah isn’t here.

[This is just practice for when she comes back.]

I want to try that Asgardian ale, truly. And it is fun bothering you.

[ikols]

Leah may come here and she will likely be the woman instead of the child. You are nowhere near as subtle with your shapeshifting as you believe, Serrure.

[ Milkshake and doughnuts, he's getting the latter now. No ale! ]

Bothering people is one thing, making them uncomfortable is quite another.

[thecoolerloki]

If I turn back, can I have it? I was going to turn back after anyways.

[... he doesn’t actually like being like this. He only wanted to prove that he could.]

[ikols]

I don't trust you not to turn back and forth all night, and frankly if you don't drink that milkshake I'll confiscate it for myself. I bought a blender just for you.

[ Ding dong! ]

Ah, pizza.

[ A breath of fresh air on the doorstep may be what he needs. ]

[thecoolerloki]

[he sticks his tongue out, but says nothing more.

When Loki returns from getting the door, there’s a child drinking a strawberry milkshake waiting for him. However! He is slightly taller than normal. Closer to 5 feet now than 4’4.]

[ikols]

[ Sliiiding the pizzas onto the counter, he flicks open a box and starts munching on a meat feast slice, eyeing him with the kind of silence that speaks of all the thoughts he isn't saying. ]

If you're using an illusion to look like your younger self for my benefit, you may as well just stay as you are.

[thecoolerloki]

I don’t actually want to be older. My “younger” self is myself.

[The extra inches are because he’s sick of people thinking he’s 10 and because learning about his impending death has aged him mentally.]

I wouldn’t do something for your benefit anyways.