Fascinating. This Loki can even make jokes at the expense of his past self. He really has changed, and Stephen's becoming more and more intrigued as to what happened. But it's not the topic at hand here.
Loki speaks of a companion book, and Stephen absorbs this with a thoughtful (if mildly disgruntled) hmmm. It doesn't even remotely surprise him that there's a third book in the equation here; sorcerers of old tended to be pedantic and excessive. On the other hand, it's actually good news that there's a companion book that would make the Treatise easier to find.
"Alright. So my options are, one: I get to Asgard before it falls and hope I can break the protective ward of your former self." He takes a sip of tea. "Not a likely option. If it was just a matter of raw power I could almost certainly do it, but breaking personal wards does tend to have nasty side effects, and I'm sure yours were nastier than most."
Yeah, not an option he'd be thrilled about.
"Option two, I say fuck the books and attempt to scry out their position, which would probably take me decades."
Again, not great.
"Option three, we go back to Asgard, you remove your wards, and you can read this obscenely tiny print to tell me how to find this companion book." And actually, that may be the easiest option, because he assumes this version of Loki can walk timelines as he likes. The power radiating off him-- feels different than the Loki of old, and so much more. "And after that, I deliver you back to your throne, and you can go back to... however you occupy your time here."
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Loki speaks of a companion book, and Stephen absorbs this with a thoughtful (if mildly disgruntled) hmmm. It doesn't even remotely surprise him that there's a third book in the equation here; sorcerers of old tended to be pedantic and excessive. On the other hand, it's actually good news that there's a companion book that would make the Treatise easier to find.
"Alright. So my options are, one: I get to Asgard before it falls and hope I can break the protective ward of your former self." He takes a sip of tea. "Not a likely option. If it was just a matter of raw power I could almost certainly do it, but breaking personal wards does tend to have nasty side effects, and I'm sure yours were nastier than most."
Yeah, not an option he'd be thrilled about.
"Option two, I say fuck the books and attempt to scry out their position, which would probably take me decades."
Again, not great.
"Option three, we go back to Asgard, you remove your wards, and you can read this obscenely tiny print to tell me how to find this companion book." And actually, that may be the easiest option, because he assumes this version of Loki can walk timelines as he likes. The power radiating off him-- feels different than the Loki of old, and so much more. "And after that, I deliver you back to your throne, and you can go back to... however you occupy your time here."