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[He wonders if this is a trap at all, something to lure him in, but even if it was, he should just face it head on. Besides, there's something in Loki's message that seems genuine.

There's still some nervousness, but there's also that reckless energy in him that's been ever present, more on the surface than ever before, since living in this casino. He's not sure if it's the environment, the fact he's the only X-Men here, or something else, but.]

If you're offering to pay.

I want a sandwich to go along with it.

I could certainly arrange for that. When are you free?

[Loki doesn’t really pay for much around here, but he’ll make sure Scott doesn’t pay anything either. All he cares about is the chance to reunite with a friend, even if he knows it’s not the same Scott. The young man’s variant had been very good to Loki early on in his time at the hotel, and he would be remiss if he didn’t try to make things better with this version.]

I'm hungry right now, so if you're free this afternoon, we can meet then. You can buy me food and feel like you've repaid your debt.

[Is that sass? Yep. Some typical teenage reactions now...]

I am indeed free. Shall we meet at the Red Cardinal? Around 1?

[Unsurprisingly, Loki appreciates the sass.]

Yeah, sure. I'll try not to stand you up.

[Of course, Scott will do no such thing, and will actually arrive right on the dot like a responsible teen, if that's not an oxymoron or anything. He's not really dressed well, partly because he's pretty much broke and can only buy jeans and shirts, along with the basic things to live. So, that's what he's in as he walks over to the entrance at Red Cardinal, fully expecting Loki to be there.

If nothing else, maybe he can ask Loki about his 'future' self, since he knows now that wasn't just bullshit. Although, it's not really a topic he fully likes getting into.]

[This might be a different Scott from the one he knew before, but Loki suspects he’s not that much different. Just like he has things in common with all of his variants, both good and bad. Because of this, he does not believe Scott’s threat.

Promptly at 1, Loki teleports himself to the entrance of the Red Cardinal and sees Scott immediately. He smiles to himself before pulling it into a smirk. He doesn’t want to put him off, but it’s a bit of a self-defense mechanism.]

Mr. Summers. It is nice to see you again. Shall we get a table?

[Luckily, perhaps, since he already knows that Loki has the ability to teleport, he's not all that surprised to see the man suddenly appearing in front of the entrance. Hell, one of his best friends can teleport around like that, but Scott doesn't quite have as positive of a connection with the god's ability as Kurt's. Maybe that will change in the future, but for now, Scott does his best to remain neutral. Calm.

He doesn't want let Loki to know he's feeling just a little nervous, despite all that bravado earlier. At least putting up that bratty teen front helps a bit, the reckless sort of energy pushing away those dumb feelings. He's glad to feel that way for once.]

Just call me Scott, you make me sound old. [He doesn't exactly return the warm welcome, but he at least nods to Loki's suggestion.] But yeah, table's fine, unless you have second thoughts. I said earlier that I am going to make you spend a bunch of money.

[It may appear as though Loki is being casual himself, but he’s also a little nervous. When the older Scott had been here before, Loki had considered him a good friend. He’s mostly kept it to himself, but he knows what happens to those who leave. He also found Scott’s visor not long after he disappeared so to see him here now, younger or not, is a jolt to Loki. It only makes matters worse that Loki was not himself when they ran into each other this time.

It brings up all sorts of questions, mostly how different is the timeline for this Scott? Loki knows from personal experience that a different timeline can make for a different person, if his own variants are anything to go by. So how different is this Scott? Do they even have the chance of being friends? Loki honestly doesn’t know, but he plans to find out.]

Is being older such a bad thing? [He smirks, giving Scott a bit of a sideways glance. He really just wants things to be normal, but he’s not really sure how to do that, especially not with how badly Scott must think of him after their first meeting. Loki’s just not very good at normal.] But no, no second thoughts, Scott. You may order anything you wish.

[Loki doesn’t mind paying. Mostly he doesn’t need cash for much and he just got a decent amount of chips after his birthday fiasco. Though really, he’s not sure he really deserves punishment for things out of his control back on Halloween, he’s still willing to try with Scott.]

Only when you make me sound like my dad. Or a teacher.

[Scott snorts, still giving Loki some of that teenage attitude, but his posture eases from its tense posture just a little. His shoulders unknowingly loosen in their tension, because at least snarking with Loki like this is... sort of comfortable? It's okay, definitely better than before. But he can't fully ease up, not yet, maybe he'll get there at some point when he's stuffing his face with food. He doesn't even really feel bad at the thought of taking advantage of Loki at this point.

He slides his hands into the pockets of his plain jacket, still trying to put up that confident front. Maybe someone that looks unaffected by the awkward encounter they had a couple of months ago.]

Get your wallet ready, Loki. [Unfortunately, with Scott trying so hard to control his feelings about all this, he's a little unobservant to how Loki may be dealing with all this. He just assumes that the god is fine and mostly just trying to assuage his own guilt.

But without waiting for a response, Scott makes his way into the restaurant.]

Well, I cannot see a problem with being a teacher, but duly noted about fatherhood.

[Loki is well aware of the many myths about him and the one that has always struck him as the strangest is that some believe him to be a parent. Or, more likely, one or more of his variants are parents. He can’t imagine it himself.

Scott might not be totally at ease, but Loki does notice that he’s not quite as stiff anymore either. And really, he’ll take what he can get. Hopefully it’s a sign that all is not lost because truly, Loki has missed his friend. He may not be the Scott he knew, but there at least seems a chance that he is not so different either.

He doesn’t expect Scott to notice his discomfort. The young man doesn’t actually know him, after all and he actually feels something like relief that Scott hasn’t noticed these things. It’s a bit of a sign that Loki isn’t wearing all his emotions on his face. As much as he’s gotten better with dealing with his own issues, this moment is one he recognizes as not the time to lay such things out. He’s here to try and salvage a possible friendship and nothing more.

Or at least to try and start over again. Scott is a good person and Loki thinks it might be a good idea to have him on side.

Loki smiles and shakes his head as Scott walks off into the restaurant before following him to a table.]

I will watch my wallet and hope you do not eat so much that you make yourself sick.

[He wouldn’t want Scott to make himself sick out of spite.]

Edited (Forgot to add something.) 2025-01-20 22:58 (UTC)

[The Red Cardinal is one of the few places in the entire casino where he's not judged for being such a low rank, so he's almost familiar with the staff here, giving a small wave before he settles on a corner table. Of course, he never ordered anything too expensive here, because he's been keeping a tight budget, but it's honestly kind of exciting to grab the menu before him and look at the more expensive side of things.

Which, admittedly, they only really offer a few 'pricey' meals and they still probably pale in comparison to some of the offerings in the more ritzy restaurants. Red Cardinal truly tends to focus on more simple dishes.

Still, Scott seems to be in a better mood as he looks over the menu.]

So, after all this, you're going to stop feeling guilty, right? [And then let Scott just carry on with his 'life' in this casino. Unless...] Or did you have something else in mind for bringing me here? I... you already know that I'm not the Scott you knew, or at least, not yet. Which. Okay, I believe you about that.

[Loki is also not of a high rank himself. He knows some have managed to move up, but mostly he’s found himself coasting a long at a 5 without much issue. Though he does miss the brief time he had a bathtub available to him in his suite. It makes him think perhaps he should try just a little harder, if only to be able to have a nice soak alone on occasion. Well that, and he thinks he might be able to get more information if he’s not looked down on by almost everyone. Really, though, he’s kind of glad he got used to the accommodations at the TVA. They really aren’t that much different.

The eagerness with which Scott takes the menu makes Loki laugh slightly. It actually makes him happy to see Scott excited about something, even if it’s just food. The man he’d known before had often felt sad and somewhat down about some things in his past. This younger version is missing some of that. It’s interesting to see.]

I am hoping to stop feeling guilty about this at least. I’m sure I have many other things to feel guilty about though. I am not alone in that, I am sure. [Quick and to the point. Loki has to appreciate that. Loki takes a breath and considers his answer before continuing.]

I suppose I did have two purposes. I did honestly wish to make things up to you. I promise who you met at Halloween is not who I usually am and I did want to show that to you. And yes, I know you are not who I knew before, but I did consider him to be a very good friend of mine. I suppose I was hoping for a second chance.

[He's got a couple of appetizers and an entree already in mind, maybe a couple of drinks as well. Should he feel bad about taking advantage of this opportunity? Maybe, but also, Loki offered and he's feeling a bit famished right now. It's not too often that he gets to spoil himself and that bratty side of him isn't gone. Besides, he totally deserves this for putting up with Loki!!

Okay, that was probably mean.

Now that the god is in his right mind... he really is different. Maybe it's okay to actually trust him, although isn't he supposed to be a trickster deity? He knows that much about mythology. But losing control of yourself is such a shitty feeling and the casino is well-known for that sort of thing. It's happened to him a couple of times already and. It sucks.

It's that understanding that helps Scott.]

You'll stop feeling guilty after you look at the bill later on. [Scott lightly snarks, but he quiets and waits for him to continue.]

It's hard when you lose control. [He acknowledges, briefly, but it's clear that he doesn't want to fully get into it. Instead, Scott tilts his head at him, face unreadable.] ...Wait, you want to be friends with me? I'm probably not like him that much.

[Which feels weird saying. He won't be like his future self at all??]

[As he watches Scott flip through the menu, he can’t help but wonder just how different he might be from his friend. If anyone knows how much someone can change in their lives, it certainly must be Loki. From trickster to villain to possible saviour of the multiverse. Loki has worn many hats and he knows he’s not alone in that.

Still, he thinks he can see the man Scott will become, the man he almost is. There couldn’t be that much of an age difference, could there be? Humans have such a short lifespan, the difference couldn’t be more than a few years at most, right? But even if that turns out not to be true, Loki wants to know, wants to find out what this Scott is really like.]

Likely, though depending on how high the bill is, I might have to feel guilty about leaving without paying. [He smirks, wondering how the young man would react to a good old dine and dash.]

It is not my favourite thing, no. [It’s also not something Loki particularly enjoys talking about, but he will if Scott presses.] Well, that remains to be seen. I understand that you might turn out to be very different from your variant, but I wouldn’t want how I was when you first met me to determine whether or not we might become friends ourselves.

What-- come on man. [BIG FROWN.] We're not doing that to the owner of this place. She's cool.

[Scott folds his arms across his chest, sending Loki a mild disapproving glare towards his way. Look, if it would be one thing if they were stealing or dining and dashing from a place that's run by an asshole, but the staff at the Red Cardinal is one of the few areas in this whole casino that doesn't look down at him for low rank. So, he has to defend against stealing, especially in this instance.

Guess he shouldn't have expected anything else from a trickster god though.]

My 'variant?' [That's an interesting way to describe his other self. Future self? He doesn't know, so maybe Loki is onto something by referring to the other Scott like that. But more than that... Scott watches Loki for a moment, eyes almost assessing behind his glasses, like he's putting things together, and--]

You really miss him, huh? [Guess it should've been obvious, but.]

[Loki chuckles softly behind his hand. That is precisely the reaction he expected.] I also do not wish to do such a thing. The Red Cardinal has fast become my favourite establishment in the whole resort and while I do have enough money to ensure you have a good meal, I am still only a level 5. If you go overboard, it is still possible that I will not have enough to cover.

[It’s unlikely, but then Loki remembers how much he could eat when he was a bit younger which causes him some concern. He’ll work it out with Jin Mingming if it comes down to it, but he’d rather not have to.

Besides, it was fun to see Scott’s reaction.]

Yes, variant. Though I suppose it is possible you are the same version but only from a different point on the same timeline. That is rather hard to determine for sure though.

[Loki startles at the assessment. It wasn’t as if he had really been trying to hide that he missed his friend, but he also hadn’t expected this Scott to come right out with it.]

I do, yes. He was one of the first friends I met here and I was not happy when he disappeared. [Things were only made worse when he found Scott’s visor, not to mention when he discovered what happens to those who disappeared without finishing Game 52.]

Maybe you should've mentioned that sooner!

[What?! He didn't know that Loki was also a broke ass bitch. He just sort of figured that a Norse god would be a higher rank! Or he'd have a ton of money, just because. Well, guess it's a good thing he didn't fully plan on emptying Loki's wallet, and he's definitely keeping this in mind for the future because now he almost feels like an asshole for doing this. Almost.] Look, just so that we both don't get banned from this place, I'll just order a couple of things. Geez.

[Huff!! What a pain! Trying to be responsible now after everything that just happened...]

Guess you could ask me a ton of questions and see if what's happened to me aligns with what he told you. [Scott suggests, almost flatly. Is he willing to answer those questions? Maybe. Hearing Loki's admittance, his demeanor becomes less prickly, returning to that more calm and maybe even understanding stance.]

Especially if he was important to you.

Did I not? I thought I mentioned something about not being of a high rank. My deepest apologies. Do not overly concern yourself with it though. It was a simple warning. As I believe I mentioned, I earned some extra money recently. I only wanted to be upfront about how much extra is extra.

[Loki really isn’t sure if he mentioned his rank, at least not specifically. He might just not be used to paying for others and it didn’t particularly occur to him. Money has never been something he really thought much about.]

I would appreciate that, though please do feel free to order a proper meal. I can always eat later.

[Relaxing back in his seat, Loki ponders that. He does want to know some of these things. Wants to know the differences, if there are any, but the only real major life event Scott spoke to him about was the death of the love of his life.

How does one casually bring that up?]

I, um, hmm. I am rather curious, but it is not usually a good idea to speak to people about their possible futures. It could cause irreparable damage to your timeline.

[...He's definitely not going to be ordering a bunch of things. Scott's sure about that now. Even if Loki earned a little bit of some extra money, it feels like he's taking advantage of him in some way. Yeah, making up for what happened, but he doesn't hold it against him. Well, not anymore-- he'll just save his anger for the people in charge of this casino.]

No, you're eating too, especially if you're hungry. I'm not just gonna eat in front of you like an asshole.

[Or guess he can just share with Loki if it comes down to it. Scott's fine with that too. He's hungry, yeah, but he can also deal.]

Okay, how about I mention something big and important and we can see if he's been through that?

[It's honestly kind of stressful confirming if the 'future him' in this place actually is him from the future and not a variant. He hasn't learned much about his future self, just small characteristics, but it'd still be a lot having that confirmation. Maybe it could still be a variant, but...

Maybe he just needs to confront this in his own way and this is the best way to do it.]

[Scott’s reaction actually surprises him a bit. After all, he is the one who invited him out. By no means does he expect to not have a decent meal, he just wanted to be realistic about the situation. Now Loki wonders if he’s done something wrong or inadvertently made Scott feel badly? Neither had been his intention, the exact opposite in fact, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the case.

What Loki does gather from Scott’s answer is that he is still a lot like the Scott he knew before. Perhaps a bit more of a mouth on him, but Loki can still see it.]

I would not think you an asshole for such a thing. I did offer to buy you dinner after all and dinner you shall have. I will hardly starve. [Though he will still likely get something to eat.

Loki considers Scott’s suggestion and then nods.] Yes, that is a good idea. Though I admit just sitting here and talking to you has told me a lot already.

[If it worries him that much, Loki can confirm that even if they have everything in common, it is still possible they are variants and not one and the same. A branch could have happened after this Scott was taken from his world or they could just be from closely aligned branches. None of that would really matter though. Loki just wants to get to know him better. Again.]

[Scott doesn't argue further, mostly because if he sees that Loki isn't eating anything, he'll just share his food with him and be really annoying about it. He figures that will just be easier. And if Loki does end up getting food for himself, then all is good and they can continue having a regular ass conversation.

Whatever that is when you're talking about your variant and your future self.

For a moment, he obnoxiously drinks from his straw, like he's purposefully making it louder than normal just to be a little bit of an ass. Mostly, he's giving himself some time to think and to hide some anxiety what Loki may already think of him. Guess he actually sort of cares about that thing, despite their rough start.]

...I recently became a X-Man after my friends and I stopped a mutant known as Apocalypse from taking over the world. [That's a pretty big event, right?]

[Though he can see a lot of similarities between the older Scott and this one, there is one apparent difference and much of that Loki attributes to age. It’s pretty clear that this Scott is mature enough to be a hero, to fight for what’s right or whatever it is that heroes do (despite his own changes to that of a more heroic person, Loki still doesn’t not really see himself that way), but the loud slurping noises are also evidence that Scott is still quite young.

Not that Loki minds, really. He did similar things himself just to be obnoxious when he was younger. So although he gives Scott a bit of a nonplussed look, secretly he’s a bit amused. It’s not like Loki is actually all that old himself, really. He’s just been through a lot in the last few years that has changed him rather dramatically.]

Yes, I believe I remember your counterpart mentioning something about a large battle to save the world when he was younger. I wonder if that is one of your fixed points.

[ooc: For the life of me I can’t remember what all Scott told Loki before except for losing Jean. I’m just going with that one was at least casually mentioned. Let me know if I need to change that please!]

[More loud slurping from his drink.

So, guess that means the older version of himself that was here is most likely him from the future. But guess other variations are still possible, because maybe that's just a thing that happens for teenagers to become X-Men. He's not the one that's an expert at multiple universe stuff, that seems like it's all Loki's expertise. There's another loud noise that comes from his soda, before Scott finally stops and looks at Loki with that more serious demeanor.]

I mean, as a X-Man, we're supposed to save the world from dangerous threats. Human or mutant. [And surely other versions of him would feel the same way, right?] What do you mean by a 'fixed point?' Like something that can't ever be changed?

[ooc: You're good! Scott would probably mention that he at least fought a guy named Apocalypse in Egypt and became a X-Man right after. He probably didn't go into too many details about Jean's death, other than that it involved asshole aliens.]

[Perhaps not all his expertise. Loki has met a few others around the resort that have some knowledge of the multiverse. And considering most everyone here is from a different universe or timeline, it must be pretty evident to the residents of the Hotel that the multiverse is a real and true thing. Even if Loki understands that it’s not an easy idea to grasp. But if Scott asks, he will do his best to explain.]

Yes, that is precisely what it is. When time travelling, there are certain pivotal events that cannot be changed in that line. Of course, other branches may appear and result in a whole new timeline, but in that original line, those events remain.

[It all gets a bit message beyond that because there are so many options, so many things that can change before a fixed point is reached that it never stops a new branch from growing, and he wonders how much of that is different now that the TVA is not pruning new branches, but that is something he’ll have to investigate more once he returns home.]

[ooc: Excellent! I think all Loki really knows is that Jean is dead and it wasn’t from natural causes. But yeah I imagine he would’ve heard of Apocalypse just because they did seem to commiserate quite a bit. Thanks!]

So, you're saying that even though I shared a big event with my 'future self,' it may still be a different timeline just because other things may be different. Smaller, less important things.

[Guess he could relay his entire life story to Loki if he really wants to be sure, but that's assuming his future self told him all that to begin with. So, probably not worth it, not to mention that getting into all those details sounds so unappealing. Hell, he's pretty sure that Loki's patience with all that would tire too. He'd be fucking tired if someone just explained their entire life to him.

So, guess he'll just put a note in this. His future self here at least shared one thing with him and he'll leave it at that.]

Hey. [Instead, Scott focuses on something else. The teen's stopped obnoxiously drinking from his soda, leaning back slightly as he tilts his head at Loki.] Your encounter with time travel and timelines didn't start with the casino, huh? You're familiar with it back home.

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