[ ic inbox ]

[autolatrical]

You've reached Loki.

One presumes you know how to continue from this point.

Comments

[autolatrical]

No, there's nothing I want to add.

I did run into Stark, however.

[abide]

Did he give you any trouble?

[ Considering the year Tony's from, Steve can imagine what must have happened. ]

[autolatrical]

He thought that I had done this. Created this place.

[abide]

Is that all?

[ He'd never even considered that, but given what Steve has been through already, he probably wouldn't have. ]

[autolatrical]

I'll let you know if anything else comes up.

[abide]

Alright.

[ And maybe just a few minutes later: ]

Would you want company right now?

[autolatrical]

[ At halfway into the minute mark Loki opens the door, startled to find McCoy on the other side of it. He'd expected the other man to wait outside the building, maybe, but clearly he'd have had to state that preference if he'd expected it to be honored.

Well. It's fine. He recovers from his surprise quickly and shuts the door behind him. The room, or what can be seen of it, is spartan and not decorated at all, save a green blanket on the far bed. ]

Here we are.

[autolatrical]

[ Someone is feeling like being difficult.

Only a little, however: ]

Would you?

[abide]

That's what I meant by asking you to stay.
You could still be here.

[ Steve has the patience of a saint, it's fine. ]

[autolatrical]

[ It's really annoying that that is true.

Also really annoying that Loki doesn't have the energy to keep up the fight. ]

Alright.

I probably won't be able to go back to Les Beans alone.

[ That second message is semi-related. To the earlier topic of Tony Stark. ]

[abide]

[ Steve can put that together and wants to ask, but he figures, maybe, they should talk about it in person. ]

Do you want to meet there or somewhere else?

[autolatrical]

We can meet there.

[abide]

Okay. I'll be there soon.

[ Which he is, careful not to make too much noise as he leaves and then hitting the streets at a steady pace. Since he's already in the Up, finding the coffee shop doesn't take long, and all he does is peer in through the window to make sure Loki isn't inside – even if he'd said he might not be able to go back in alone – before waiting outside for him. ]

text; un: formerkingquentin; 8/9

[proofofconcept]

So I got this invitation to like a hardcore, leave-consent-at-the-door kink party and I want to go but I don't know if I'm ready? So would you be open to trying again, with the thing we tried when I was still all bruised up but I had to stop?

Also I've been truth serumed and I just realized it's finder day, so you can't hold it against me if I die before we can do it

[autolatrical]

[ Loki is not inside; he arrives about twenty minutes after Steve's last message, hands in his pockets and a bit of a scowl on his face. ]

This is going to cause problems for you when Stark finds out.

[ Not that he doesn't think Steve has considered that but. He might want to hear the other man's reasoning. Or even just the misplaced conviction that it'll all be fine. ]

[autolatrical]

I would be open, yes. Tell me more about the party?

Also what is finder day? Why did you get truth serumed?

[abide]

[ Steve takes in his body language and the look on his face in stride, doubtful this is going to be a semi-pleasant conversation if they're talking about Tony. There's so much going on there that Steve hasn't even had time to parse most of it himself. Still, he keeps himself relaxed, stepping forward to greet him without reaching out to touch him. ]

It's not the first time we've had problems. [ He thinks of Bucky and sighs inwardly. ] I'll deal with it if and when it happens. [ He's pragmatic like that. ]

Are you okay?

[proofofconcept]

It's in a week. It lasts three days, I think? I'm not gonna go the whole three days. But you sign a waiver that you understand that by entering you're consenting to anything that anyone wants to do to you potentially including murder. There's a way to mark whether you want to be mostly a sadist or mostly a masochist or both

Oh god you haven't even heard about the finder. Later today the city is gonna post essentially ads for everyone in the program so you can find partners. I won't have one this month hopefully but most people do most months

I got a citation and the truth serum is part of my realignment

Do you want to meet up for the second try tomorrow? Same place maybe?

[autolatrical]

It is definitely a when. It won't take long for him to decide that if I am here I'm liable to be a problem for him.

[ Is that true? Not exactly. Loki has been avoidant thus far, if anything. ]

I suppose I am. [ A shrug. ] Not physically harmed, merely annoyed at the reminder that things are not going to be as different as I had hoped?

[autolatrical]

Interesting. I wonder how one gets an invite?

I've heard about it, vaguely, but not in much detail. Are the advertisements only for those who aren't contracted or are they for everyone?

What was your citation for?

Yes, that would be perfect. Though I am curious to know how violent you wish me to be, in that case, or should we start roughly where we left off last time?

[proofofconcept]

Idk honestly. It just showed up yesterday. My +1 is taken but I bet people you know got an invite, you could ask

Everyone. They highlight people who don't have a contract though

I slept over too many times with Steven Grant. I might be in love with him [listen. you know he's on truth serum, you asked for this]

Where we left off would be good, I think. The level of force we were at would be a good test of whether I'm ready

[autolatrical]

[ He wonders who Quentin has in mind when he says 'people' but also decides that asking right now wouldn't be... in good faith. He can figure it out. Or he won't, and he'll miss this party in particular. Either way it'll be fine. ]

Interesting.

Have you told Steven Grant about this?

[ Too many Steves, Stephens, Stevens in this place. ]

Alright. Same safewords are good?

[proofofconcept]

No and I'm avoiding the fuck out of him until the truth serum wears off, thanks

Same safewords yep

You can abuse the truth serum to ask me stuff if you want I did basically present myself

[autolatrical]

Fair enough; I can't say I blame you for that.

I know I can; but do you want me to?

[proofofconcept]

When my contract with Hope runs out I'm gonna ask if he wants to contract and it'll probably come up then. When I can filter what I say. We'll see how that goes

Kinda. Like not enough that you should if you don't care. But I feel like you could ask things I want to answer

Truth serum is 95% shitty and 5% forces me to say what I mean without all the bullshit I normally have to pad it with and that has advantages