6116/Pied Piper/Falling Frost: No Rest for the Weary

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Pied Piper/Falling Frost: No Rest for the Weary
Date of Scene: 05 January 2019
Location: New York City
Synopsis: Upon realizing just who is behind the mask of Matthias Vega, Steve asks for assistance from Loki. Come what may, favors will be owed, for the better or worse.
Cast of Characters: Loki, Captain America
Tinyplot: Pied Piper
Tinyplot2: Falling Frost


Loki has posed:
    The necromancer-on-fire fled out of the WAND offices entirely, in the swamp of water that was now making its way into something akin to a flood in that floor of the Triskelion. The mage dodged smoothly around various agents running about and trying to save their projects and paperwork, and slid into a break room. With a gesture, the water stops pouring inside the break room, and all of the fire effects disappear.

    'Mattias Vega' pauses, looking with idle interest at some donuts left behind on a counter: they aren't wet, since there was a cabinet shielding them, but then looks down over his wet torso and jacket, grumpy at the state of it, but ....smiling.

Captain America has posed:
It doesn't take long for one agent in particular to seek out the necromancer formally known as crispy-fried. To Steve, it was fairly realistic, and so it's with brows knitted in concern that he enters the breakroom after spotting the familiar 'fashionable' clothing through the door's window.

The door opens and shuts as he steps in. A hand sleeking down his face and then up across his hair to smooth it away from his face is followed by a shake of his head.

"Couldn't help yourself, could you," he asks, looking the part of a large and disgruntled wet cat. His clothing clings at his shoulders and down through his dress pants.

Loki has posed:
    With a burst of warm air and palms extended outwards, Vega dries himself entirely, water flung upwards to the ceiling in the form of steam. He stretches his back a little and gives Steve a warm, dry, cozy smile.

    "It's important to stay in character," Vega says, in the same smooth tone as before, very consistent. Still 'in character'. "It is more fun if /someone/ in the room is in on the joke, though."

Captain America has posed:
"One hell of a joke." As if remembering the shoulder squeeze in particular, Steve reaches up to adjust the sopping-wet line of his shirt. He isn't unaware of the drying spell and, secretly, more than a little envious of it. However, the Captain isn't going to dignify it with a comment.

Instead, he meanders over to that box of dry donuts and snags one. "You telling the truth about all that?" By the displeased set of his jaw, it appears that he hates to even need to ask the question.

Loki has posed:
    "Sadly, I'm going to need you to be more specific. I was not actually on fire, if that's what you're worried about. I do appreciate your concern, though," 'Vega' answers, drawing the book he'd had from earlier out, checking it. It repelled the water: perfectly safe. He puts it away into the side of his coat, and passes his hands back through his hair, smoothing the newly dried mane back into a sleek rope down his back.

Captain America has posed:
Steve pull his mouth to one side, unamused. "About being able to wake up someone suffering the Black Sleep. I can extrapolate. You can do it," he states, his tone challenging. The donut remains held in his hand before his chest, almost as if forgotten. The Captain appears to almost vibrate with the intensity of some emotion held in check. It brings a glint to his pointed regard.

Loki has posed:
    The show Steve is putting on is interesting. Vega watches Steve's emotions with a rapt, pleased quality. Look at that reaction. "Of course I can," Vega answers, with a slight shrug. "I'm quite a magical god, you recall," he reminds the other man. He then angles his head forwards, perceptive. "Someone important to you?" he asks, with a tilt of head. The pale eyes add an additional eerie quality that the mage really doesn't need.

Captain America has posed:
The minute jerk-back of his head is proof that the confirmation has struck home. Steve swallows, but doesn't look away from that spook-tacularly light-eyed attention.

"Yes. Someone important to me," he replies in nearly a perfect echo. His jaw minutely works back and forth. "You said the demon wanted control of their consciousness. What if that consciousness is already under another kind of control? Do they cancel out?"

Loki has posed:
    "You're asking if someone who was already mind-controlled would be freed?" Vega asks, skeptical. He rolls his eyes towards the ceiling, considering it. "Depends on the type of mind control, the source," he answers. "For example, if they were wearing an amulet that maintained a spell, then probably no. If it was something that unconsciousness or deep REM sleep could fix... such as a compulsion, then I'd say yes."

    Eyes flick down to Steve. "No way to tell until they were awake, though. Their consciousness isn't in reach until they're brought back to their body."

Captain America has posed:
Slowly, Steve nods. As if Vega's own check of the ceiling had released his gaze, it slides away and across the breakroom. Small puddles reflect the overhead lighting where the rest of the sprinkler-water isn't draining down through the small slatted circle in the center of it.

His voice rises quietly. "No guarantee, huh." He looks to the other side now, towards the counter with its box of donuts, still avoiding eye contact. "But they'd be awake." It's almost a reminder to himself as he frowns at a speck on the wetted countertop.

Loki has posed:
    While his head is still angled up, Vega's gaze moves to Steve and his voice change. "Since I can break mental enchantments and control consciousness, it isn't really something I'd thought about as a problem," answers the mage indifferently, smooth a silk, as always. "And I don't think it would break a spell that /I/ cast."

Vega looks at the donuts, and then at Steve's dripping attire. "But yes, awake, not slowly dying in dreamless unconsciousness."

Captain America has posed:
Steve's hard gaze precedes his own lift of chin. There's that bulldog set of his jaw. Prickled something good, he doesn't pay attention to the state of the donut in his hand. Squish.

"Since you're full of answers, tell me this one: if this is some big joke to you, why help me?" A beat. "Us," the Captain amends to include all of humanity, keeping himself from flinching at his slip of tongue.

Loki has posed:
    "Come now, use that head. I don't want the world to just die under the control of some demon, of course," Vega replies, surprised. "Besides, he's coming after more than humans. This is a good new home for us." The mage's tone became a little stiff. He's annoyed at the demon: very annoyed. But the annoyance disappears under a new wave of bullshit.

    "No point ruling it if there's nobody left to rule," he smirks, but then lifts a hand. "Before you throw something at me, that /was/ a joke. Now." Vega gestures in a 'come' scoop of hand. "Ask me what you really want to ask? Be brave."

Captain America has posed:
A bittersweet thing to hear, the reasoning why the gods might meddle. Steve still nods at hearing it, albeit no more comfortably than Vega's tone. The donut suffers more for the shift into unctuous wheedling. Crumblets fall to the floor and then more to bits as they soak up sprinkler-water.

"You have poor taste in humor," the Captain informs the necromancer as evenly as he can manage. Another horizontal grit-grit of his jaw behind thinned lips. "...and I need your help." It looks like it hurt to say it. "I need you to wake someone up."

Loki has posed:
    "Do I? Hm. Perhaps more just a /rare/ sense of humor, that takes in a bigger picture overall," suggests the 'necromancer. He stops and smiles into the request for help. "Yes.... I know. It's just nice to hear /aloud/ that you're needed, sometimes," answers Vega, approaching with a strolling step to Steve's left, hands dropping back behind his back, all pretense of 'character' as Vega gone as he slips effortlessly into his own manner of posture and movement.

"And it is someone special to you. Hmmm." Tongue clicks against the back of his teeth, a tut-tut that might well drop Steve's hopes for getting what he wants down to zero. "Where is this lovely lady, then?"

Captain America has posed:
The necromancer's path of travel is watched by Steve's eyes until the approach is within his comfort zone. The man might appear to gain an inch in height for how he straightens his spine. His throat bobbles again and he slowly shakes his head.

"A brother," comes the clarification. "He fell under not long ago. You can wake him up." While the wording isn't precisely accurate, it's entirely deliberate as he holds that pale regard.

Loki has posed:
    There's no visible reaction on if the 'brother' thing hit a mark or not. Vega's a cool customer to deal with. He does slow and stop, and look Steve's wet visage over. It isn't in Steve's personal space bubble, but just RIGHT before hitting it. And the mage then smiles, in a sly way. "Fine. Where is his /body/, then?" asks the mage promptingly. "Make this easy on me, won't you?"

Captain America has posed:
"Nearby enough," the other man answers, deliberate in his vagueness. He narrows his eyes and does not retreat an inch, even if having the magician this close to his person makes his skin crawl on premise of suspicion alone.

"I'm going to ask you one more time. Why are you helping me? You don't have a good track record of thinking of anyone but yourself." A slow cycling of breathing and Steve seems to lose a touch of that strung tightness through his frame by dint of willpower alone.

Loki has posed:
"I think I can count on you to return me a favor down the line," answers the mage, without pause. "And I can use some social currency. It seems I'm a little distrusted lately." He notices the distance is causing discomfort from Steve, and decides to reduce the pressure for now; he aloofly steps back, and heads to the refrigerator, giving a reprieve for the moment. He frowns at the contents, but picks out a bottled water for himself.

    "Perhaps if I save your planet a second time, I'll get some credit. Do you think?" A tip of the water, and the mage shrugs a little. "/Do/ give me your advice."

Captain America has posed:
"Favors..." It's a low mutter almost entirely unheard once the space is granted. By the sound, the word is almost sour to the taste. Steve is glad no one's lunch is rumaged through in some small corner of his heart. No one likes the innane reminders about good behavior and tuna fish sandwiches being swapped for wet cat food sandwiches.

"You'd get credit." Even if the blond clearly dislikes agreeing with the point, its veracity doesn't change. "Fine. A favor for a favor -- and you remember when you cash it in that I asked you to save a life."

Loki has posed:
    "Saving a life, yes. Someone important. A nice big favor," agrees the mage, bringing his water over with him, his body language exhibiting comfort and relaxation: things Steve hardly is showing. It's probably intentional.

    "As a note, in all /fairness/," Vega says, lifting the cap of the water, tone kindly, "refusing a favor owed to a god doesn't end well for the human." Then the mage suddenly grins, wide: with teeth. It's charming. Maybe too much.

    "But enough of that, you're an honorable person. So. Please don't make me ask again where you've hid the body."

Captain America has posed:
Stung a little at the perceived morality of his stance being rebuffed, all of the smiling and sweetness is parried by a small but deadly scowl on Steve's part. This idea was already risky and now it feels like he's forgetten to clarify something important. It's like driving halfway to work and wondering if you left the stove on -- mild existential dread.

"I know a few men who thought they were gods too," says the Captain silkily, " - and look where that got'em. He's nearby," the man continues with a tilt of his head in the direction of the hallway. "The sooner the better, I agree, but there's no guarantee that I won't need to deflect questions about the meeting first. Give me a day or two to let things settle." A circling of a droll finger towards the ceiling no doubt insinuates the results of burning hair.

Loki has posed:
    "Yes, but those men were /men/," answers the god. "Let me clarify something, here. I'll help right /now/. We don't have days, and I'll be busy with the mages. I'm feeling generous, make the most of it." He turns once, looks around, and flares his hands to shield what he's about to do in a cloak of invisibility around them both. "Take me to him."

With that, the form of Vega twists and folds into space, as the mage shapeshifts into a small black bird. With a flap of wings, he glides directly at Steve, and turns invisible. Only a little tension on the shoulder will remain as a hint that he is still there.

Captain America has posed:
The Captain does visibly flinch at the feeling of the slight weight of the black bird alighting upon his shoulder. He rolls the joint without thinking, but not enough to dislodge the wee avian.

"Just when I think I've seen it all..." he mutters before glancing down at the donut. He seems to have only just now remembered it was there. A moue of disappointment at having smushed the life out of it and he takes a moment to wash his hand off after tossing the destroyed pastry. Then it's an impromptu tour through the Triskelion.

This eats Steve alive inwardly. He can't exactly go about shielding things from his feathered passenger, but then again, what's really keeping the magician out? "This one's a full-body scan." The warning is quiet even as he pauses before a very, VERY sturdy door on one of the lower levels. A sweep of red light down and up his body before the indicator light shifts from red to green. It seems no one's locked Steve out yet -- and how beneficial that no one seemed to notice him in his travels. Maybe he's just a familiar face. Through the door and they're into the sterile white-walled silence of Security.

Loki has posed:
    Evading the scan was not hard, at least when it was apparent it was happening. The weight does leave Steve's shoulder during the scan, and returns after it finished. The mage is using Steve to pass through far more easily than otherwise. But there's a magical blast of air, from some weird AC unit, that finally dries Steve.

It's not because the mage is nice. It just sucks to hang onto wet, cold clothing. There's no reply from the mage-bird, just the slight weight and nothing more.

Captain America has posed:
The Captain's steps into Security pause after realizing that his clothing is no longer clinging to his body cool and wet. He glances down at himself and plucks at the shirt, pulling it away from his skin to verify that his senses are telling him.

"That's much more comfortable." No thanks aloud -- implied thanks. It's not far to travel until both reach the actual doors to the cells. On approach, there appears to be a double set of security guards, one on each side of the vault door. Steve lifts his chin and wills down the upsurge of his heart. It'll be a simple matter of a visit, that's all...if they can see him. Otherwise, it'll be one hell of a disruption.

Loki has posed:
The bird offers exactly zero assistance beyond what he has already done, it appears. Maintaining the invisibility is not difficult. Why bother to do more than that, if he doesn't have to? He just relaxes, and waits to see what his personal escort decides to do. Still, the location is at least clear, even if the guards somehow pierce the magic and send Steve away, he's made it apparent to the mage where the goal is, most certainly, now.....