5729/Astral Flux: So Demanding

Astral Flux: So Demanding
Date of Scene:	06 November 2018
Location:	Ritz-Carlton, Manhattan, New York City
Synopsis:	Loki is perfectly wonderful and everyone else is nasty about it for no reason.
Cast of Characters:	Thor, Captain Marvel (Danvers), She-Hulk, Loki, Ant-Man (Lang)
Tinyplot:	Astral Flux

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Thor has posed:
    The quartet of penthouses in of the Ritz-Carlton in Manhattan have all been rented out, reserved for the use of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and in their time there it has been... exciting for the hotel staff. There have been curious beings coming and going, some of them rarely using the elevators or even the doors on the ground floor. There have been mystical beings offering advice and seeking answers. There have even been deities who share the grim tidings that have come from these later days. And through it all, only once has the place suffered a decent amount of damage.
    For outside in the main hall that the elevator lets out upon, is a properly Mjolnir sized hole that must have caused a rather severe mess considering the amount of people that are working on repairing the two walls that it went through as well as redoing the sections of carpet that were burned when some of the wiring twisted free. The hotel manager is even there, speaking to the tall blonde man there who has the wherewithal to look remorseful as he is told, "Really, Mr. Odinson, if this is all that happens in the Avengers' stay with us here at the exquisite Ritz-Carlton, we'll count ourselves fortunate."
    "Aye, I shall make every effort naught similar befalls you or your people. It was simply..." His voice shifts a touch sheepish, "I thought I was in one of the other penthouses. You really should take steps to make them look... different from each other."
    To which the manager nods with a thin smile, "Of course, sir. We'll put that on our list of things to do. Post-repairs. Will that be all?"
    Thor looks to the side, then back. "Aye. Good journeys to you, Head Manager."
    "Thank you, sir." And with that he starts back towards the elevator.

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
It is the noise and turmoil that draws Carol's attention, Thor has a habit of making an entrance, even when it's not required. "Mighty Thor," Carol greets in a slight teasing tone, "I think the hotel staff would be much obliged if we leave the hotel standing in our wake...how were your travels?"

She-Hulk has posed:
    Thankfully, Jennifer Walters has other places to go. An office. Even an apartment of her own. Neither are as swank as the mansion (let's face it, neither are as swank as the Ritz), but it still gives her a place to go. And she's been making the rounds lately, of trying to get back in touch with people. So the jade giantess makes her way up.

    The Avengers are rarely hard to find. And that works to her advantage here too, as she steps out of the elevator, looking around, and smiles when she sees her teammates. "Hey, people. Is this where the party's happening?"

Loki has posed:
A few of the repair staff are standing near the hole, and they pause in working on it. When the manager has gotten distracted, they have started to take selfies with the hole.

#ThorHoles.

The repairmen behave themselves more as the manager heads back towards them. A few other men and women have come up the elevator, one with a broom to try to do something about the mess of rubble on the floor, and another with an unsurprised and patient look over the damage. No doubt he has seen far worse from various odd clients.

Thor has posed:
    Thor turns away from the hallway and towards the open door leading into the first of the penthouses, stepping towards Carol as he spreads his arms, "Ah, Carol. I had no intention to cause such harm. It is simply there is so much on my mind of late that I..." He looks back towards the hole in the wall, one hand lifting and then he shrugs as if that were enough of an explanation. He seems about to continue on into the apartment, but is drawn up short by the arrival of the Sensational She-Hulk. "Jennifer." He seems about to say something but then settles on, "Mind the mess?" But he turns and moves into the apartment, holding the door open for the others to precede him should they so wish. But once done he steps on inside and moves across the richly decorated room.
    Poor Mjolnir hangs upon a coat rack hook and makes a faint low /whom/ as the heroic pass. Inside there are several bottles that are partially open and a few tankards that have been used by someone or another. Also there is a tray of room service that is empty with only the few hints of salad fixings left over.

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
Carol follows Thor into the apartment, grinning as he mentions having much on his mind, "I take it you're up to date on the real dangers afoot, such as someone handling an infinity stone? I heard about that one from Doctor Strange, and I'm super not happy about it..."

She does take a moment to casually salute in Jennifer's direction, "how are things in the legal world? Any messier than here in the world of disappearing mansions?"

She-Hulk has posed:
Jen shakes her head. "No major cases right now; just the regular day to day. Handing out extra Halloween candy's been my biggest activity in the last couple days. Definitely did NOT hear anything about Infinity Stones...what's going on with you guys? Clearly sounds like you've got the more interesting stuff."

Thor has posed:
    "Aye, the Shadow King." That causes a furrow in the King of New Asgard's brow. He takes up a large caramel coloured bottle with a dusty label and hefts it in hand, only finding it empty. He sets it aside and down upon the coffee table and rests his hands upon his hips. "I have reached out to those who could aid us and let them know that their assistance may be needed." As for who, however, he does not state yet.
    "But I have spoken with others about this villain's efforts and there are powers aligned against him. We await now for information, where to strike and when." Having said that he folds his arms over his broad chest, gaze shifting back towards Carol and then meeting Jennifer's green eyes as well. His one good eye narrows slightly and then he shakes his head.
    "As ever, the worst part is the waiting."

Ant-Man (Lang) has posed:
    "Infinity Stone? That sounds important."
    Scott stands in the corner of the room, having decided that talking his way past security and hotel personnel downstairs was more of a headache that taking the flying ant express in through the window. Now back to normal size, he looks around the fancy digs and the fancy god-hole in the wall. He lifts a hand to wave at the same time he pulls the helmet off, so he looks less like a techno-terrorist come to assault the Avengers with his army of evil ants.
    "Hi, by the way."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"I'm happy to say I missed out on all the Halloween candy redistribution ritual," Carol chuckles, tapping Jen on the shoulder in a show of solidarity. She does lose some of her joviality when focusing back on the infinity stone in the wrong hands.

"I could try and get some Kree involved, but I'm afraid it would be just more possible weapons for the Shadow King, I'd love to keep it between us. Are your potential aid Asgardian in nature, Thor?" She tilts her head with interest at the suggestion there's a coalition set against the Shadow King, "is that so? That's heart warming...I'm with you on the waiting, I hate dealing with foes that are elusive to me. I have zero access to this Astral Plane everyone keep blabbering about."

"That it is, hello to you too," Carol greets Scott, while giving him a suspicious once over, "is he with any of you?" If there were updates about him, she hadn't gotten to them yet.

She-Hulk has posed:
    "Well, I'm sure the stores are having some post-holiday sales, so I'll take the hit and bring us up a few bags of Fun Size." Jen offers, and looks back at the others. "And I know what you mean, Carol. Things I can't punch make for a bad time. Evil Astral Stuff isn't exactly my thing."

    That gets a look back to Scott, once Carol makes her greetings, and she looks back to Carol. "What my teammate /means/ is "Hello, and welcome, it's very nice to meet you in this /entirely public building/." Sometimes the World's Mightiest need a reminder about being part of the rest of the world.

Thor has posed:
    "Somewhat." Thor answers Carol about the nature of his added forces. The tall blonde Asgardian drops down onto the couch causing it to complain with a loud /creak/. He leans forwards, forearms on his knees and his brow heavy with thought. But then a third voice intrudes upon his reverie and he looks across the way... to the man who has appeared out of nowhere. "Greetings." He answers, though there is no recognition in his gaze.
    To Carol, "I know him not." He says even as he leans forwards and then does a brief double-take at that old caramel coloured bottle he had pondered just moments ago. He hefts it, only now it sloshes faintly. Eyebrows lifting he looks around the room and frowns to himself, but ever practical he starts to fill a glass by turning that bottle on its side.
    "Another eavesdropper." He murmurs and then lifts his voice, "Whoever you are, show yourself or face the wrath of Thor!"

Loki has posed:
    With a flattering swirl of magic and light, another god makes his presence known in the room. He appears to be seated on the mini bar, near the crowd of tankards and alcohol. Loki lacks his helmet, he is in a sleek version of his black and emerald leathers. He's relaxed, one hand back in a partial recline, with a smile that some would find charming, others obnoxious: eye of the beholder, really. Loki's godlike radiance is different from Thor's; different 'magic.'

"So demanding, when I've been so nice to have filled your cup for you," Loki sighs painfully at Thor, as if this were entirely normal.

    "Infinity stones and Astral Planes, I suppose that must sound like so much blabber indeed," comments Loki with a sigh, as if he were talking about astrophysics to a class of second graders. It's just over their heads in so many ways. "Incidentally, I do have some targets now perfectly appropriate for flung hammers, fists, or whatever else." He watches one of the hotel workers gather up the remains of the room service with a sort of bored stare.

Ant-Man (Lang) has posed:
    "Yes," Scott says, looking momentarily taken aback by Carol, glancing at She-Hulk gratefully and then adding, "I'm Ant-Man. I'm one of you. Wanda has my number." He can't help but jump slightly as Loki makes his appearance, looking at him sidelong and taking a calculated step in the opposite direction.
    "We didn't come together."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
Carol crosses her arms when Jennifer corrects her wording for her, "fair point, I sometimes forget we're in a public location while someone magicked our mansion away..." she flashes a friendly smile at Scott, as a show of amending her more suspicious earlier greeting. "You are? Well then, welcome aboard, and shame on me for not getting the latest updates. Sorry about the tone."

When Thor alerts to an eavesdropper unaccounted for, Carol whirls around, just in time to witness Loki appearing out of thin air. "Oh, this is just perfect," she mutters, as someone who has been Thor's teammate for a while as a fellow Avenger, she's heard of Loki, met him, and been tricked by him in the past. She's not happy to see him, but also knows that with Thor there, it should be safe for the most part. "Oh, I know about Infinity Stones, alright, that's why I'm worried I can't lend a hand in the Astral Plane. On that last one, feel free to mock away, I really don't understand it. Well, beyond the idea it's where telepaths go to do Jedi Mind Battles." So yeah, someone kinda explained it to her, and she has some sort of idea about it. Even if incomplete.

She-Hulk has posed:
Jen reaches up to attempt and rest a hand on Thor's bicep. "Whoa, whoa! Not an eavesdropper. We do not smash the public." Pause. "Why do I feel like I'm talking to Bruce?" And then there's Loki. The simple restraining touch will attempt to turn into a re-aiming nudge to turn Thor in the direction of Loki.

"There. Better target. And I'm assuming you're not volunteering YOURSELF as the target for fists, Loki. So what do you have to say? Or do we have to go through the gloating superiority dance first?"

Another pause. She looks back to Scott. "Nice to meet you. Sorry. It's not usually like this. ...Okay. It IS usually like this."

Thor has posed:
    At Loki's appearance Thor exhales a breath of such weariness that it can almost be seen in the shift of his massive frame under Jennifer's fingertips. "Brother. You are welcome here, your information is valuable. As are you, Man of Ants, if the Scarlet Witch vouches for you then that is enough for me." Thor takes a deep breath in and then says, "You come to us in an ill time for we face a matter most dire."
    It's at that point that he does take up the tankard and takes a drink, then casually hands the now mostly full bottle towards Jennifer if she wishes to partake. His attention turns to more fully focus on Loki and this Scott Lang. His good eye narrows. "You know where this Shadow King hides? Then do not hesitate tell us so we may begin to plan his downfall."
    He leans over then as he reaches across the couch and takes up one of the end cushions. "This creature owes us a debt that can only be repaid in blood." And at that last word he throws that pillow across the room straight at Loki's head.

Loki has posed:
    "Ant-Man? I like it; clear and concise, that helps," Loki says, in a way that isn't entirely a compliment, but saying it exactly isn't a compliment would also be a stretch. He had aristocratically adjusted his position to aloofly smile back at Carol, regal in his manner, until Thor ruins everything.

    The pillow passes through the illusionary image, tearing a flitting purple rip down his image's face and shoulder, and causes a long-suffering scowl to be aimed at his brother as the illusion recovers. "Was that really necessary?" Loki asks, teeth sliding along his lower lip in an expression of strained patience.

    "I do know where. And yes, well, if you get close you'll probably get mind controlled, so that's something you'll need to work out. With your 'tech' or whatever you want to scrape up. As much fun as it might be to watch you fight each other."

Ant-Man (Lang) has posed:
    "Hey, no problem," Scott says with an easy-going grin, mildly grateful to not be accidentally affiliated with the alien god who enslaved New York. The alien god that Thor is throwing a pillow at. Sure. Okay. He turns his attention more to She-Hulk, who seems to be the sanest of the group. In his head he makes a mental note: 'Look to the green people for sanity and rationality.' That's /sure/ to serve him well in the future.
    He leans over and, realising he isn't on ear-level with Shulkie, gets on his tip-toes a bit to whisper: "Shadow King is the guy that stole the mansion and is causing all the ... global heebie-jeebies?"

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"Oh, I'm not letting any psychic assholes anywhere near my head, not happening, never..." Carol neglects to mention 'again', but then nobody needs to know. You hang out with the Avengers long enough, you fight all sorts, some more dangerous and nefarious than others. She's got her share of scars. But even as she considers the taunt, she snaps at Loki, "you're being such a teasing smug ass because you know something, don't you? You have a way to face this Shadow King?" She's not sure, but she's going fishing anyway.

She-Hulk has posed:
"He's probably being a teasing smug ass because he's a teasing smug ass." Jen comments back to Carol. When Scott makes his whisper, she leans over "Not sure if he's the one who stole the mansion. But definitely seems to be the one who does both the heebie, and the jeebie." She looks at Scott's uniform, and says "You look more on the tech end of things. Don't guess some kind of psychic shielding is in your wheelhouse?"

Thor has posed:
    When the pillow slices through the hologram, Thor lets go with a low /hah/ as the image flickers and distorts. He meets his brother's gaze with a smirk even as he's harangued. But then the Thunderer's face scrunches up a bit around a small smug smile as he tells Loki in a tone of voice that's often heard between siblings. "It makes me feel better." As if that was explanation enough.
    But then Loki moves on to offer the explanation of what he knows in part and Thor replies, "We'll handle that, just tell us where this creature hides his face and we shall end whatever threat he offers." For really, what harm could a fellow with an infinity stone do to them?
    "I have confidence in Stark and the others to come up with what is needed."

Loki has posed:
    "Does insulting the person with the answers usually work for you? Human logic. Go figure," Loki replies tolerantly. "Think you can rein your team in until I can at least be generous with my information?" asks the teasingly smug god/ass towards Thor. "Makes you feel better? So long as /you/ feel better, that's all that matters, as alllllways," Loki shoots back to Thor in a whipcrack response to his sibling.

    "Yes, quite: Stark and others. I'm bursting with confidence here. But fine." Loki lifts both hands in a grand motion of 'giving in'. "Remember the thing you fought in space, Thor? Another one of those, but with infinite power over anything it notices closing in on it. A minor task for the Avengers, right? And yes, I can get around that."

Ant-Man (Lang) has posed:
    "I can do that elephants in Denmark thing," Scott begins when questioned about his psychic potential, "So, you think of an animal beginning with 'E' ... wait, nevermind, gave it away at the start there." He shakes his head, moving on, "No psychic stuff here, no. I get small. I get big. I have ants."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"I'm sorry," Carol snaps at Loki, "I just have a habit of calling it like it is, Air Force habits, but I'll leave you to it. I don't need lecturing right now, besides, I have a very important meeting to attend to..." and she does turn to go directly to that important meeting, heading towards the bathroom.

She-Hulk has posed:
    Jen sighs, as Carol heads off, and then looks back. "Like we need supervillains...we do a good enough job ourselves." She turns to walk over a few steps towards Loki. "Look. I actually like your style. Sometimes. You've got the Snark Knight thing down, and that's cool. But you've got a problem with knowing when to rein it in. So, tell you what. You make with all the info, so we can stop the Evil Overlord, and I don't repeat the treatment my cousin gave you. Cool?"

Thor has posed:
    Holding up one hand towards Jennifer, Thor lifts his voice. "Stay your hand, Jennifer Walters. My brother's efforts are not to the liking of all even those in Asgard. But he is trying to help if only in his... own way."
    Another deep breath then fingertips drum upon the side of his tankard. "I did not care for those creatures, however." For various reasons, one because they were rather resistant to smiting, and another because they fed upon energy in so many forms. Unpleasant. But then he looks up and meets Loki's gaze, his own grim as he ponders what this portends. "Do not risk yourself so, even you would not be able to withstand the might of the Mind stone, brother. We were able to damage them with sound, if I recall. And the spells of the sorcerer supreme took their toll as well." He then looks towards Scott as the man speaks and seems to espy him anew.
    "Hm... perhaps you can be of use in this matter, Ant-Man." He looks over towards Jen and Carol, then shifts his attention back towards Loki, "Perhaps a combination of your talents at avoiding notice together with the efforts of our newest member."

Loki has posed:
    "If tiny enough, Ant-Man might slip by notice," Loki answers Thor, granting his idea some merit. He's surprised too, it's showing on raised eyebrows. And then Jennifer has to poke at his ego.

     "We've gone from insulting to direct threat of bodily harm. I was going to tell you, but you've gone and made it all /messy/ now for some reason," Loki observes of Jennifer's statement that she'll go ahead and try to pummel him. "So, I like door number three. /Bye/."

    Loki's illusion promptly begins to fade out, as his illusion turns away, apparently insulted. Whether he is actually gone or simply wants to be begged to come back is another matter entirely, though.

She-Hulk has posed:
    Jen looks over at Thor. "Your brother needs a spanking." She shakes her head irritatedly. "Maybe I can borrow the Universal Nullifier from Reed or something..." Her voice trails into muttering, as she starts to head for the elevator.

Ant-Man (Lang) has posed:
    "Oh, I can get really small," Scott answers, suddenly being focused upon and rolling with it like a champ, "I mean, I got in here without you noticing, didn't I? And you're gods and super-humans and ... " He looks to Jen, "Very strong. With very strong ears that can hear very well, I'd guess." When Loki vanishes, however, he immediately stops talking.
    "Is this one of those things where we have to clap really loud to bring him back?" He immediately begins to applaud, cheering loudly enough to be heard in the hall, "Woo! Loki! Encore! Encore!"

Thor has posed:
    Finding he makes this face rather often when Loki is around, Thor looks in Jen's direction and flares his hands almost apologetically. But he turns to where his brother 'was' and lifts his voice. "Loki, you wish this being dead as much as I do for the Asgardian lives it has taken. We owe this creature a great death and we need your help to give it that."
    Rising from the sofa he sets the tankard down and looks around the room, scowling the while as if he might see the trickster hiding in one corner or another, giggling behind his hand. He smirks as Scott starts to applaud but to be fair he's not far off. "Jennifer is a woman of wry wit and brilliant manner. She was but making merry." He tries that as an excuse even as he looks after She-Hulk who is departing.

Loki has posed:
    Of course Loki hadn't left. He did allow Jennifer to head out; she was being a downer. He was sticking around for, well, his encore, too. Loki reappears from the vicinity of where the man was that had been ignored while cleaning up the room service trays. The man had vanished at some point around when Loki's illusion came around. He crosses from that area, and sits instead on the couch where Thor had been warming it up for him.

    "I've SEEN the merry from them. And felt it. I'll pass," Loki says, putting his sleek boots on the table, crossed at the ankle. "At any rate, I don't think we should wait too long. I think he's going to move. And I don't like missing a good opportunity." That's very true: Loki really doesn't.

Ant-Man (Lang) has posed:
    As Scott finds himself alone with the two gods, he clears his throat. The whole clapping and cheering thing seems a bit ridiculous in retrospect, but it worked so, hey, maybe he did the right thing. Either way, he takes a couple of measured steps back towards the window and issues a silent mental command for Ant-Thony the flying carpenter ant to come and settle alongside him. Just in case there's some sort of Wrath of the Titans scenario.

Thor has posed:
    "Very well," The King of Asgard says as he peers at Loki, then gives a nod towards Scott, who somehow has become abruptly integral to the coming plans to deal with the Shadow King. "Then let us make what plans we can and make sure this creature pays for his crimes." And with that he grabs two other glasses and pulls them along the coffee table, taking a moment to tilt the bottle on its side and fill them. "To victory." He offers even as he passes the drinks around.

Loki has posed:
    "Do not throw that at me," Loki says, lifting one finger, anticipating boistrous behavior out of his brother. He leans forward to accept the cup, though. It isn't really proof that he's not an illusion, but the request to not get splashed probably IS the better proof. He smiles evenly, a sleek, liquid smile, over Thor and the new stranger that is (can become?) tiny and insignificant, and lifts the cup a bit.

Ant-Man (Lang) has posed:
    "Right, plans!"
    Scott moves away from the window, settling down on one of the sofas near the pair and taking a drink when it's offered. He sniffs it for a moment and whistles appreciatively. What are the laws about piloting a flying ant while drunk? Oh, well. Here goes nothing. Down the hatch!
    " ... wait, does this have gluten in it?"