thecoolerloki

[ Yet another day to know he isn't cut out for parenting. But fine. He's said too much to protect him from the truth, and the truth now seems to be the only thing that's going to keep him from getting himself into the trouble Stephen's brought into this house.

The forced serenity melts away. Beneath it is tension, clear in the set of his brow. ]

The death we're investigating is the past ritualistic murder of a magic user by a cult that was once operating in the area. The man downstairs is where the vestiges of the magic leftover from that killing led us, a current member of that still-active cult, and when he wouldn't talk my choices were to bring him here or leave him to the mercy of other forces.

So he's here. And he'll stay here until we've traced their group beyond him and found a way to protect him from the consequences of being here. I told you because I've put you at risk, you were going to find that out one way or another, and I'd rather you had some prior sense of why there might be future urgency to get you out.

[ And because he's stressed: being reckless in pursuit of the greater good is a lot easier when you're only responsible for yourself. When you've got a kid two floors up from the danger he may or may not be a perfect target for, danger starts to actually feel dangerous. ]

So please. Keep out of the basement.

[ I don't want you any closer to this than you already are. ]

Edited (ah yes, hours-later tweaks) 2022-08-30 11:59 (UTC)

[His glare is replaced by a frown, more sincere than all his boasts.]

I want to help.

[He’s more hurt that Stephen wouldn’t consider that option, which to him is so obvious.]

I know.

[ That's part of the problem - Loki isn't any better set up to be able to walk away from this than Stephen had been when Nox brought it to him. And at present time, it's not a risk he's willing to take. ]

But I don't know what we're up against. When I do, and if there's a way you can help without putting you in a line of fire you're not ready for, you'll be the first to know. Okay?

How am I any less ready than you are? I’ve outsmarted the Fear Gods themselves and yet suddenly a mere cult member is beyond me?

The man in the basement isn't the problem. I don't know the scale of this, I don't know what they're trying to achieve, I only know one instance of what they're capable of.

I'm responsible for you. That is the agreement you stepped into when deciding to live under this roof, and when choosing to stay. I give you all the space that I can but fundamentally your wellbeing is mine to look out for. So until I'm able to properly assess the risk I will not get you involved, not through underestimation of you but lack of estimation of them.

I'm asking you to respect that.

So if I chose not to live here anymore, you would permit me to help?

[ Too smart for anyone's good. ]

No. Legal fact of my guardianship of you aside, I'll care about your well-being wherever you are.

[ 🙃😬 Moving on. ]

I'll let you help when I deem it appropriate. Might be sooner rather than later, but you're going to have to be patient either way.

... You claimed it was because I am your responsibility.

[There's a huge difference between that and caring about his well-being.]

You also have failed to consider that if I help now, we could be rid of this issue much, much sooner than if you continue to wait.

Mm. Lies of omission.

Believe me when I tell you I haven't failed to consider anything in this particular area, Loki. And you would be helping me immensely if you could give me a guarantee that I don't have to worry about you involving yourself in this until I give you the word.

... I will consider it. If you are able to offer me an incentive.

[He is a child who needs rewards for eating his veggies!]

How about I don't take away one of your consoles every time you don't break my confidence.

[ Light, playing. He never punished him for conjuring a malevolent dimension in the basement or bringing a demon into the house, he's (probably) not going to start doling out mundane parenting techniques at this stage in the game. ]

What did you have in mind?

I would just purchase another one. You know this.

[Legal guardian or not, Stephen has no control over Loki's finances, padded from selling gacha game accounts on various forums.]

I'd like to hear your initial offers first. What this is worth to you.

I won't be making any initial offers because my hope would be that you'd do this for me out of the kindness of your heart. But if you make a reasonable request I might indulge it.

Then give me an example of a reasonable request. Seeing as there's no kindness left in my heart for today!

[ A very pointed thinking face... ]

A daily milkshake of choice delivered by yours truly for the duration of our guest's stay might be a reasonable request.