[video]

[bacondivination]

[ Loki is leaning a bit too close to the terminal screen when he starts to record his little post. He seems a little too bright-eyed given the circumstances, and there’s an odd rapidity to his speech when he starts talking. ]

I have to admit, I am disappointed. [ He holds up a touchscreen phone so his audience can get a look at it. ] These Starkphones are simply not designed for the rigor of interdimensional travel, and the lack of service is a failure I cannot abide. How will I chronicle my doings without the aid of Instagram and Facebook? Nor can I go on to spread knowledge of this failing with a review!

At least the natives of this realm are accommodating, though I don’t think this makes for an adequate replacement of my phone.

[ He pauses only briefly before switching gears. ] Now, moving onto more important matters… I have a few questions about the quality of native cuisine and where the best breakfast can be found.

Comments

[definingfuture]

Approval has nothing to do with it. If you hurt anyone, I'm going to be there personally.

[Tony's putting on his best Iron Man attitude for this. He knows that if he doesn't act confident, he'll be giving Loki more of an advantage. Not that he can guarantee that anything would keep Loki out of trouble anyway, but he can try to put up some intimidation.

But he can't just fly over and confront him, either. What kind of good guy would he be then?]

Don't try me.

[bacondivination]

Why are you waiting- no, hoping for an excuse? Could it be that you are not entirely certain I'm the evil you want me to be? Hm?

[ This is the worst strategy ever, but Stark seemed confident. If he was confident, he wouldn't be so easily goaded into making a mistake that both of them would regret in different ways. ]

But, oh no, that couldn't possibly be the case. If you have any unreasonable quarrel with me, Iron Man, I'd just as soon have it over so I can put my focus to the problem at hand.

[definingfuture]

[Loki's placing some heavy bets, assuming Tony won't follow through to prove that he can. He's done a lot to prove just that, and not always for the better causes.]

You're really asking that? I don't care what world you're from or what form you take. Some things just don't change.

[He releases the suit, but that's where he stops. Even if Loki were older, he wasn't stupid. Tony can't deny that the god might actually be more useful if he's trying to compromise.

That doesn't mean he has to like it.]

I'm not sure you know what the problem is.

[Mostly because he can't fathom Loki actually caring where he is as long as he can cause trouble. But then, maybe getting back is important enough to him to focus on.]

[bacondivination]

[ Loki's always had a devil's own luck and leveraging heavy bets always paid off when he knew he could use both outcomes in different ways.

But he wasn't going to lie to himself when he feels some relief that Iron Man did not, in fact, declare it some form of 'go time' or other colloquialism for battle. ]

I've a wide variety of problems currently, and most of them are bigger than you or me or even this single dimension. So which one do you think I ought to pay attention to?

[ He leans over the console more heavily, pursing his lips. ]

[definingfuture]

[It's escalating, and Tony isn't sure yet if that's good or bad to him. Part of him thinks it would be better to avoid conflict if he can. There's not much to be gained out of fighting Loki when they aren't at home, and it'll get complicated here where no one really knows them.

On the other hand? Facing down a familiar enemy would do a lot for his frustration. What is maturity worth anyway?]

I'm sure you've got plenty of time for all of them. Don't play innocent when we both know that isn't true. And don't think for a second I'm not willing to come over there and make sure you're not behind some of this.

[He's considering it. He's still undecided, though. Technically Loki hasn't done anything yet, as far as he can tell. But he's said enough that now Tony wants answers.]

[bacondivination]

Alright, fine. You insist on getting to the head of the line of 'Things Driving Loki Crazy,' and have done a good job at that. A winner is you.

[ He's irritated enough to want to point out that this good old Mally fellow was not actually his style anymore even if it had been in the past, but he refrains. He wasn't going to let on any little bit of what he'd seen in that meeting at the Metal sector. The little magpie that had been there had escaped clean, and his current role was as a very new newcomer.

There's a pause, just long enough for someone to say something despite the silence, and what comes next is frustrated and vaguely directed. ]

I'm not the bad guy here.

[ It just wasn't fair when an enemy unwittingly teamed up with the mocking figure he couldn't help but hallucinate from time to time. ]

[definingfuture]

Aren't you?

[Sorry, Loki. Tony's going to have a hard time believing Loki isn't trying to turn this into his own personal April Fool's joke. The kind of joke that tends to leave people in pieces. He's already frustrated enough with the way things have turned out without seeing him here, but now that Loki has made his presence known, that has Tony even more on edge.

Then again, it's hard for him to get a feel for him in the best circumstances.]

Just makes sure you watch what you're doing. Because I will come find you. And if you start pushing, then I don't mind pushing back.

[bacondivination]

Such a shame. We could have coexisted easily had you wished it.

[ He never really expected to be believed, and Stark was very right in being suspicious of him. Still, not being able to get any wiggle room there was frustrating. ]

The course I take will not be changed by you. Goodbye, Iron Man. We'll be chatting again soon enough.

[definingfuture]

Count on it.

[Brat. He's not about to let Loki get free reign. That's all he says before the connection cuts.]