InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I GOT YOU BABE!"

eddie likes to (riddlethem) wrote in goagainthread,
@ 2020-08-03 12:38:00

Entry tags:

dc: edward nigma, mcu: loki laufeyson

eddie and loki in vegas
Who: Eddie, Loki
Where: The Bellagio, Las Vegas
When: Recently
What: Eddie has a stalker!
Warnings: TBA

Eddie didn't give an address, not really. It was just a text that said "Bellagio, Lily Bar." He figured even a private eye who might had never been to the strip could figure that out. See, there was no going back to his place in the desert, not until the girl who could throw fireballs wanted to meet him there. Until then? Everything needed to be out in the open. Eddie felt at ease out here. He felt like a maestro who knew all the players in the orchestra and which ones were falling a little flat. It was a deep kind of feeling that ran through this life and whatever one happened to him before.

So, The Bellagio. Everyone thinks of the fountains in the front, but the inside had a lush elegance that attracted fat wallets like moths to the flame. The carpet patterns were so twisty you could get lost in them. The ceilings were draped with gold, the walls had a way of being a little closer than you remembered them the day before. It felt haunted, it felt decadent, it felt like whoever got hurt there probably deserved it. Eddie's first show was in the building and now he was someone that did close up magic for the very rich and famous or some kind of spectacular if there was a gala to be had. The point was, Eddie had been here a long time and he knew all the faces. If anyone here was going to hurt him, he liked to think that he could sniff them out.

But, maybe he needed another nose. The magician from Alphabet City was willing to admit that he could be wrong (begone, small voice in his head that said he never, ever, could). Maybe he was just feeling something and it made him imagine a stalker. Maybe these weird memories were infecting his mind, his logic. Eddie didn't know for sure, so he wanted help. He sat on one of the couches at the Lily Bar in a red velvety number. His hair had a little bounce from the typical slicked back normalcy, but that was the extent of unkempt he let himself be.

He was reading the paper, or more accurately, doing the crosswords with a little pencil he stole from the sports betting boards down the way. He took up the entire low table doing so with his whiskey sitting neatly nearby. Nobody seemed annoyed with this and in fact, it was almost like that part of the bar belonged to him.

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lokilaufeyson
2020-08-03 09:00 pm UTC (link)

Loki had never been to Vegas before. Odd, since the excitement and flashing lights were completely up his alley. What fascinated him even more than the glitz and glamour was the mentality of the city. In another life, he would have realized it was reminiscent of Sakaar: lawless, extravagant, and maybe just a bit emotionally cold. And Loki liked it. He'd fit right in with those lavish surroundings, dressed in one of his favorite suits, as promised.

Tall and lanky as he was, Loki never made a sound when he walked. He moved like a ghost across the floor, hyper aware of his surroundings as he approached the Lily Bar. If Eddie was right, if he wasn't imagining things, then his stalker was likely to be close. He knew he wouldn't spot anything obvious. Real stalkers were never quite as easy to catch as the ones in movies. However, Loki had an unfair advantage. One that he would absolutely use in this particular circumstance. See, Loki was in possession of a little magic himself. And since Eddie's case was completely off the record, he'd be sure to use those abilities to sniff out any suspicious activity. The hunt was on.

Upon spotting Eddie, he wouldn't immediately approach him. He'd do another sweep of the room, taking note of each patron; where they were sitting, which way they were facing, particularly in relation to his client. Nothing immediately jumped out to him as strange. But then again, he presumed Eddie's 'friend' was sly. They must have been. Otherwise, Eddie himself would have caught them by now. After a moment of surveillance, he'd finally budge, heading in Eddie's direction. He had never spoken with the other man in person before; only in passing online. It was unfortunate that their first real conversation had to be over a serious matter. Perhaps the silver lining was that Loki had less opportunity to make things weird, as he was prone to do.

"Hey," he began, parking himself across from Eddie. Normally, this was where Loki would awkwardly start spouting off flirting and pleasantries. But he was here on business, right? He'd do his best to keep his tone professional. For now, at least. "Fancy office you've got here, Mister Nigma. Color me envious." Green eyes would flash over to the other man, a gentle smile forming on his features. "Listen, I know there's not a lot you can say about our, ah, problem lurking in the shadows. But anything you can tell me would be helpful. Do you only sense them here? Do they follow you home?"

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riddlethem
2020-08-04 01:22 am UTC (link)

Loki may not have approached Eddie right away, but the magician absolutely caught the tall drink of water from the corner of his eye. The way he looked at the Lily patrons reminded Eddie of someone he was fond of, though he couldn't put his finger on who. Eddie glanced back down at his paper, pretending to be very concerned about what 5 letters could be related to "nurse" (a simple riddle: sip on) until Loki came over and spoke.

Eddie looked back up, eyebrows raised and dark eyes with feigned surprise. "Well, hello to you too, handsome." If there was a stalker, Eddie was good at pretending everything was just peachy. "Nice suit. Look at us. The best dressed in Vegas, some might say." He drew a little question mark on the edges of his newspaper and then set the pencil down. He sat back, folding his fingers together.

"I've been deliberately staying here for the past two days, since it's the safest place I could be. However, it isn't getting me any closer to my stalker." Eddie reached for his drink. "The first time I knew I was being followed was at my home. I saw their shadow out by my pool, pacing. I turned the flood lights on and he was gone."

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lokilaufeyson
2020-08-04 04:15 am UTC (link)

There was definitely a grin on his features at being called 'handsome'. Loki may have been here for work-related reasons, but he wasn't immune to flattery. That was the key to his heart if there ever was one, and Loki would be hard-pressed to prove otherwise.

"You've been staying here? At work?" Loki echoed, the frown deepening on his face. This must have been serious, if Eddie didn't feel comfortable returning home. Did Eddie feel threatened? As if this wasn't just someone fallowing him, but someone who meant to hurt him? Why? That seemed to be the question on everyone's lips. Why would someone do this to Eddie if there was no incentive? Loki's attention would return to the surrounding patrons, that promised glare prominent on his face. "So.. you know it's a he, then?"

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riddlethem
2020-08-04 03:32 pm UTC (link)

"More or less." Eddie gave a smirk and took a sip of his drink. "The figure was definitely that of a man, though it's possible my new friend has a way of disguising themselves." He leaned back, one leg crossed over the other as he considered the possibilities. "I'm a celebrity, a small one compared to the Hollywood types, but one nevertheless. Having people follow me around isn't a new craze. This feels different. Deliberate."

He looked down at his whiskey thoughtfully and instead of finishing it off, he set it down and then reached to neatly fold up his newspaper. "Shall we take a stroll? See if we can kick up some dust on this ghost following me around?"

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lokilaufeyson
2020-08-04 05:16 pm UTC (link)

Loki had worked stalker cases before. Eddie mentioned that this particular situation felt different and though Loki had only just arrived, he couldn't help but agree. Even the craftiest stalkers were human. After a few days, they were bound to slip up somewhere, either from being too eager or too comfortable with the person they were following. But not this one. Thus far, they seemed to be consistent, making them predictable. But now that Loki was here, they might just change their tune. Especially if the two of them looked friendly.

At the proposal of going for a walk, Loki would stand, letting Eddie be the first to move from the table. This may have been Loki's investigation, but as far as he was concerned, he was a guest in Eddie's house. It was only natural that Eddie take the lead. "Going forward, do you think your shadow would be antagonized if I were physical with you? You know, taking your arm, holding your hand? Sometimes, it helps to get a reaction out of them." He had offered to pretend to be his overprotective lover. And in some scenarios, the charade worked. "Only if you think it would make a difference, of course."

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riddlethem
2020-08-10 02:23 am UTC (link)

Eddie offered a smile and stood up. He was significantly shorter than Loki, standing at meager 5'9, but Eddie didn't seem uncomfortable with that at all. How could he be? A man of the stage had to quickly learn to be comfortable in his own skin. At Loki's suggestion, Eddie slipped his arm through the crook of the taller man's elbow and looked up at him with a wink.

"Who knows why this person is after me." Eddie shook his head, leading Loki out to stroll along the rows and rows of slot machines. "I don't think I've ever left a lover on bad terms. No one expects much from a Vegas performer, after all."

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lokilaufeyson
2020-08-10 04:38 am UTC (link)

"Mm, well. Anyone who underestimates you will sorely regret it. You're handling this incredibly well, Eddie. If you're scared, it doesn't show at all. Anyone else in this situation wouldn't be quite this collected."

No suspect, no motive. It definitely made things difficult. But Loki wasn't the sort of person to become discouraged so easily. He'd let Eddie lead him past the bright, blinking lights of the slot machines, his attention constantly on those 'innocent tourists'. He believed Eddie. Even if this stalker wasn't real, his uneasiness certainly was. And something must have sparked it.

Loki would give it some time. He'd keep his arm locked with Eddie's, letting the other man take him through the labyrinth of games and flashy advertisements. Only then would he tilt his head, whispering into Eddie's ear, "Follow my lead." Loki would take Eddie by the elbow, abruptly turning them down another corridor, pulling his friend between a sizable gap between slot machines. To Eddie, it might have seemed like Loki was simply leading them to an alcove, waiting for the stalker to catch up. And this much was true. However, Loki would be using his abilities to shield them. To the outside world, the two would be invisible, seeming to have vanished into thin air. Loki would bring his index finger to his lips, indicating he wanted Eddie to keep quiet. If they were indeed being followed, it was likely the stalker might become frustrated and wander out into the open. After all, their target had just gotten away.

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