whose_son_am_i | Meme-shenanigans and Continuations.

"I am sorry, Christine. SHIELD has protocol that must be followed. Thor has been made aware, and SHIELD knows of our displeasure in all of this." Sif reached up and rubbed at her brow. "I do not like this, Agent Coulson. She is my friend."

"Yes, and that's why we want to make sure she's safe." Coulson agreed. Eventually, while Christine was deemed interesting, she wasn't being held on anything so they couldn't really arrest her or do much other than start a file on her. The same was true for Dr. Stephen Strange.

Loki was back to being silent however, so it was time to play a new game. Coulson had them brought back to that room that had surveillance of Loki's cell. This time, he went himself to question the other.

Loki looked up when Coulson entered the room, and had a soft smile with a hint of menace behind it. "Phil, son of Coul--it would appear reports of your death are as over-exaggerated as claims of my own." Coulson had his own softly menacing smile. "Yes, we did hear something about that--and yet here we are."

No response, so Coulson went on. "I would apologize for our treatment, but honestly? This is lenient considering you're a wanted war criminal. You have allies who are willing to vouch for you, and you implied you'd cooperate."

"Have I not cooperated so far, Agent?"

"You have, but we still have a few questions." Coulson paced a bit. "I admit, not all of them relevant to the larger matter--personally, I'm curious. Why Dr. Palmer?"

"She did me a kindness before."

"I see, and so now you're...what, involved with her because she was nice to you?"

Loki laughed, looking entirely unconcerned. "You'll forgive me if I find it absurd that you worry over a personal relationship." Again that soft but menacing smile. "She amuses me, and I enjoy banter with her. I was not expecting to find a midgardian I could actually enjoy conversation with--it's a rarity."

"Right...sure. So she's just a convenience to you? Is that it?" Coulson asked, head tilting and with an affable smile. "You didn't seem the type to respond to someone being 'nice' to you."

"It's not as if any of you actually tried before, now is it?" Blue-green eyes were cold. "But if you must be reassured, then yes. She's a convenience. She is far too kind for her own good, and I am taking advantage of that." Loki didn't reach out to Christine mentally--just played the 'part' they were obviously expecting.

She can tell it's a game, that Loki is trying to not give away too much. But all she can do is stand and watch.

It still feels horrible and while she appears fine on the inside, the welling of emotion in her threatens to overflow. Given what she's discovered she's able to do, that could prove disastrous.

She briefly wonders if Stephen can sense the danger.

Stephen reaches out to her shoulder. He can't tell exactly, but as her friend, he knows this can't be easy to here. Even if Loki is playing the part, perfectly.

Sif looks ready to hit something--preferably Loki.

"You surprise me, Son of Coul." Loki's tone was sharp, grabbing the agent's attention. "I didn't imagine you being cruel." The other tilted his head in silent question. "All you are doing right now, is hurting one of the people you're seeking to protect from me. By making her listen to all of this, where I tell you just how little I care. I'm impressed by the deviousness there." But Loki's eyes were cold, even if his smile was mocking.

Sif cursed softly, and reached out for Christine's arm. "Oh I will make him pay for that, but damn if he's not right. Christine I didn't know Phil would do this...come on." Ready to make them both leave.

Stephen squeezed Chrstine's shoulder, but looked thoughtful.

Easy Sweetling, I can feel you projecting. Logical and calm, projecting calm across the link. The same ease he'd felt at the dinner conversation. I'm playing the part they expect.

The touch is grounding and helps her get herself in check.

It's difficult to hear, but more difficult to have Sif and Stephen trying to comfort her.

"It's ok. I can handle it." She's not about to risk leaving them unattended.

Christine has an expert poker face from years of holding back emotions when talking to families at the hospital, she can keep herself together.

Can I nudge someone to punch themselves in the face? now if she means Coulson or Loki is up for debate.

Maybe on our way out. No hint at all that Loki's attention wasn't wholly on Agent Coulson.

Who sighed, before conceding. "Much as I hate to admit it, you have a point. But I'll apologize to Dr. Palmer later. So here're the more relevant questions. Who controlled the Chitauri, and promised you that you could rule Earth? Why do you think they'll bother coming to us?"

"I don't think, Agent. I know. Because I was promised heretofore unheard of suffering, if I failed to deliver the tesseract. Which he'll be looking for. Even if that isn't found, you all have no doubt taken apart the scepter and discovered its secrets--I can't see him letting that remain in your hands either."

"Alright, and what do you want in exchange for your help? Cards on the table, and no long game, Loki." Coulson was apparently ready to deal more fairly.

What followed was still like a verbal chess match of questioning--but Loki's demand was fairly simple at the end of the day. He wanted to be left alone and left to his own people to handle. Especially in lieu of the larger threat of this Mad Titan and his armies and search for relics known as Infinity Stones. Eventually, while still cuffed, Loki conjured the flash drive he'd made. Tossing it to Agent Coulson with a "Be sure a copy of that gets to Dr. Strange." and a far too smug smile.

That had most definitely NOT been what the agent was expecting.

There's a certain sense of pride at the way he plays his cards, Loki can be absolutely brilliant and she does have quite a lot of respect for it.

She doesn't know of much of what he's talking about but she doesn't get any indication that he's lying.

"You're going to have more work on your hands, Stephen." Since this was what they had likely been coming to talk to him for.

"I expected as much." Then Dr. Strange had to laugh, as Coulson's next question was "How do we know you're not lying about all of this?"

Loki just looked at the man like he was an idiot. "You don't. But I'm not. Everything on that drive has also been verified as much as possible, not tampered with, and has sources where I could provide them. And if you don't ask me where it all comes from, I won't have to lie to you about the answer, now will I?"

"Right..." Coulson sounded skeptical, but headed for the exit. Coming into the room, he passed the drive over to an agent. "I want full scan and analysis on that, with copies made of the copies." Then he turned to the group. "Dr. Palmer....I'm so sorry." Like he expected her to be hurt and upset.

Christine arches a brow at him.

"It's fine It's not like I've punched myself in the face." There's where all her frustration flows along with that little demand hidden in her sentence. God, it would be so satisfying if it actually works this time.

Coulson blinks, and his arm actually twitches like he's about to... Before it does move to his face, but not in a punch. In a face-palm, albeit a rather hard one. "I suppose it did seem like that to you. Again, my apologies Dr. Palmer."

So it had been twisted a little bit, but sort of worked. Stephen gave her a look, suspecting something. "For what it's worth, Agent Coulson--I believe him on this. The Infinity stones are well known powerful and dangerous relics. It's not unlikely someone could be hunting them and if they are, then that being is very powerful and likely mad."

"Right, and we just have your word to back that up?"

"And mine, Phil." Sif said quietly, but firmly. "We do not know them as stones, but such powerful items are known to my people too. Loki is many things, but he does have a stake in this too if only to save his own hide. I would look in to what he's saying."

She's a bit mad it didn't work, only because it would have been so satisfying for her.

"I'll be sure to remember your cruelty if you ever need my help." Because he could have left her in the other room but actively decided to hurt her for no reason.

She offers Stephen a little shrug as if she has no idea about the face palming.

"And no one cares if they have my word. Can I take the war criminal and go then?"

"You...what?" Coulson blinked, wonderingly? She'd just found out how little she meant to Loki, and she still wanted him around? He looked like he'd been punched. "Phil, we're friends, are we not?" Sif asked calmly, and the agent looked to her. "Of course!" Crossing her arms, the lady stared at him.

"Then properly apologize to Christine, whom you have wounded. You have also heard the verification that we are aware of Loki's actions--had indeed hoped to arrange a meeting ourselves with you. So after you apologize, let them go."

"I'm sorry, you give orders now? would you like to be the director?" Coulson asked, raising an eyebrow. But he did turn more fully to Christine. "I truly am sorry to have hurt you, Dr. Palmer. I had hoped you were being misled or fooled--but..." And he shrugged. "Loki has manipulated people that way before." Looking at all of them. "Give me 10 minutes, and I'll see what I can do, alright?"

Heading for the door, Sif watched him go, before turning to her friend and the sorcerer. "I know not why you have seen fit to trust or throw your lot in with him, Christine. I only hope that when you're hurt, I'll be there to help you. But I do not believe you bespelled."

Stephen put his hand on her shoulder again, offering comfort. "I know you're not charmed or being manipulated too." Much quieter, but genuine.

"I've been put in charge of him for his New York trip."

Oh, that reaction was so good. Really a beautiful look of absolute surprise.

"Sif is a thousand year old god, she's over qualified to be the director."

That appology seems to be missing the point, but she appreciates the effort.

"Thank you." And when Coulson leaves she breathes a little sigh of relief.

"I'm not bewitched, and I appreciate having you two." She turns to Stephen a bit more fully "If everything is actually true, I'm going to need to project to study more and faster, like you did."

"That's...going to be taxing on you physically." Stephen said, but didn't say no outright. "You might have to take a leave from your job, unless we narrow down your studies. Even then, it's going to be physically taxing."

Sif simply gave her a little bow.

In the cell, Loki paced over to where he could get as close as the room with the others. Reaching a hand out for a moment, before moving to stand where he guessed the camera was. And waved.

"I know." She nods, "but I need to be as prepared as possible."

She sees Loki waving in the corner of her vision.

"He can be annoying." She turns to look at the screen.

Did you need something?

Besides out of these cuffs? No. Just being annoying. This is backed up by the cheeky smile he gives to the camera. Before laughing to himself and going back to sitting in the lone chair.

"Let's talk about this back when we're not in an unremarkable government facility, okay?" Stephen asked.

"Doesn't this place just set the mood though?" She finally makes a bit of a joke.

"He's not tried to get out of those cuffs." Which is surprising, given Loki has been left alone for ten whole seconds.

"Can you communicate telepathically, Stephen?" Just normal, casual questions among friends.

"That is a little surprising, yes." Sif agreed. "Although it's not unreasonable that SHIELD might've found ways to make them better just for such an event as dealing with what they considered super-powered beings."

Stephen blinked and raised an eyebrow. "I could probably do so if I wanted, but I haven't really felt a need to before. Why?"

"I think he's just playing along to entertain himself."

Given the way he was just sitting at the table, it didn't seem entirely off base.

"Just wondering if it was like an easy thing to do."

"A person has to have very strong personal shields and a strong sense of self, to be able to speak telepathically." But Stephen was shooting her a look that definitely meant they'd talk later.

They were saved from further conversation or questions by the return of Agent Coulson. "Well, people aren't happy about him being here--but that seems to be why most people don't know he's here. SHIELD intends to keep it that way." Which sounded like good news. Sif gave the agent a look. "Yes Sif, we're trying. WE know it won't stay secret forever just as well as you do."

"Does that mean we're free to go, Agent Coulson?" Stephen interjected, with a warning smile. "ALL 3 of us?"

"Sif, Loki's presence is being monitored by you, and he's under the care of Dr. Palmer as contact?" Coulson confirmed, with Sif nodding. "Alright, I'll tell higher ups to take it up with the crown if they need to. But we'll be in touch with you, Dr. Strange." Coulson gave a little hand signal to one of the agents, who went into the room where Loki was. Escorting him back out, and releasing the cuffs.

"I can have a car take you back to the city." Coulson said.

"That won't be necessary, but thank you Agent Coulson." Stephen replied, making a familiar portal right outside Christine's door. "Christine? Mr. Nordson?" Said with a wry smile, as Loki chuckled and let the disguise wash over him again. There was no harm in letting SHIELD know this identity--it was part of why it was his 'official' unofficial disguise.

She was familar with that look that she got. There was a lecture in her future.

She's glad to hear that things have been somewhat sorted and they get to leave.

"I love the portals." She says with a little wave as she steps through it and back into the hallway of her apartment building.

"Yes they are rather convenient." Loki murmured as he followed, with Dr. Strange bringing up the rear.

"Behave yourself, Trickster!" Sif called, but any response wouldn't come as Stephen closed the portal. "Well, that was certainly exciting..." He didn't sound happy.

"They also didn't give you a copy of the flash-drive." Loki said. "Fortunately, I have another I can make easily enough."

"Stephen, I'm so sorry you got dragged into all that." She genuinely feels bad, knowing how busy he is.

She finally extends a mental reach to Loki to brush against his mind.

She is welcomed, and her touch is cradled and held warmly. You are alright? I assure you I can make them suffer in ways they won't connect with you or me.

"If you don't mind, just 5 more minutes Sorcerer, and I'll have that drive for you." Loki said, opening the door. Stephen just frowned but didn't seem surprised by it. "It's alright, Christine. This is important, and I'd rather have been there than been worrying." Following them into the apartment, he also didn't blink at Loki's workstation set up. 'Eric' sat down at the computer, and pulled out another flash-drive. It took less than 2 minutes to transfer the files, before he was passing it to Dr. Strange and leaning hipshot against the table.

"Can any lectures wait some other time? They're probably as boring as the interrogation was." Crossing his arms with only a hint of impatience.

"I think they can wait for another time." Stephen pocketed the flash drive. "Try not to cause too much trouble that requires clean-up, okay?"

"I make you no promises." Loki replied dryly.

"Christine, take care. Think about an area or two to concentrate your studies in, and I'll see about helping you make the most of your time."

I'm okay. A bit hurt despite knowing you were lying.

She steps into the apartment and laughs.

"Did you actually rearrange furniture while I was working?" After the turn of the evening, the moved furniture is ridiculously funny.

"Thank you, for all your help." She sees Stephen out and closes the door behind him.

As soon as they're alone, the disguise is once more dropped. Moving over to Christine, he reaches out for her hands. Bringing them up to kiss her knuckles. "Half-truths, as that's more effective. But they don't get to know the whole story. Only you do." ...Sweetling, If no one has told you yet--emotions do not lie. One can lie about what they're feeling, but that doesn't mean they aren't feeling it.

It was giving her an advantage over him. "I'm also annoyed that they took your lovely flowers. I chose those for a reason."

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