whose_son_am_i | Meme-shenanigans and Continuations.

"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."

She takes his hands, it was still difficult to hear and it had hurt her. But she is strong.

"And what meanings were those? Aside from being different from the normal flowers people pick." It had been a very unique bouquet.

Leaning his forehead against hers, one hand came up to brush her cheek. It bothered him that she was hurt, and he was responsible. It was a new feeling for Loki...

"You'll have to figure that out, won't you?" He said softly. Before sending her targeted emotions. Affection and fondness, still preferring her company--whether intimate or not. Admiration and pride in her, a jealous possessive-protectiveness. Loneliness that she soothed. You already know the passion is real.

His emotions aren't lies, especially not when she can feel them this strongly. She finally gives in and wraps her arms around him fully.

"He didn't even punch himself" she whines. They were going to have a nice evening and it all went wrong.

He blinked, and wrapped his arms around her. Keeping that tight hold before picking her up just enough to move them to the couch. Settling on it with her still wrapped in a hug. "Now who didn't punch who and how did I miss it?"

"I tried to make Coulson punch himself. He just sort of smacked himself."

And while it doesn't make sense for that to be what is triggering her sadness, it has.

"Oh Sweetling..." Murmured somewhere between laughter at the idea, and comfort for her. Loki clearly did not like that she was upset, folding her closer. Murmuring soothing sounds against her hair. "Was that the first time you've tried to manipulate someone other than me that way?"

"Yes." She is absolutely wrapped around him. The poor woman needs a few minutes to be a mess before she's back to normal.

"That you got him to smack himself, on your first try, is still impressive." Stroking her hair, moving her so she could hear his heart or bury herself in his shoulder. "You really are learning at an incredible rate; more than I thought most humans could." Maybe it was his influence, or her Sorcerer, or some combination of their influence. It was still impressive and special to her.

"As much as I can understand their reasoning, they still were absolutely rude. I doubt Sif was aware of their plans either, as she's more direct."

"Sif didn't know. She was absolutely appalled that I was brought in just to watch that."

The sound of his heart is comforting and familiar.

"You said it was half-truths, which parts were true?"

"Everything but you being a convenience." With a little kiss by her ear. "But you did do me a kindness. You are amusing and I enjoy our banter and conversation. You are far too kind, and you let me take advantage of it."

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