12547/For Those About to Rock, We Salute You

For Those About to Rock, We Salute You
Date of Scene:	22 August 2022
Location:	5A - Illyana's Greenwich Loft
Synopsis:	Things are spoken of and things are done.
Cast of Characters:	Illyana Rasputina, Stephen Strange

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Illyana Rasputina has posed:
Really, this close to New York's Central Park, Illyana should not be examining a rock. Not that rock.

The hazards of examining said rock are significant, not the least of which because she could conceivably fulfill her evil mandate in the very worst way. Who wants to see Illyana Rasputina become the Darkchilde?

The staff formed from a thread of her dreams, a bit of her soul, and a chunk of will rests across her lap, the Reality Stone shining at one end.

"You know," she tells it in Russian, "that cat danced off into the night. Snow fell and the boyar would wake up to find his boots on his head, his coat inside out, his wife missing, his horse missing, and all the world set on its head. Good story, da? That is why you do not mess with demon cats."

Stephen Strange has posed:
"You know, it is cute that you talk to it." That voice, tinged with amusement, is most assuredly in English. "Though, yes, sound advice. One certainly does not want to mess with demon cats."

Oh...multi-lingual, too.

It is not hard to know to whom that voice belongs to. The tone alone gives it away. But, there are other ways that the male personage can be identified. The slight tug of soul fragments, shared between the two, is as unique as any fingerprint. Only one person it could possibly be.

And...as a hand reaches down to rest upon the blonde's shoulder, Stephen speaks again. "A unique opportunity, I know. Though really, we should be extremely careful. I have no intention on being trapped in an alternate reality of my memories again, if I can help it."

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
"It lives. Maybe this way, it decides Ljott knows nothing and we do better things." Illyana could jump up or hiss at someone pointing out her strange behaviour. 'Cute' is not a term that goes with her well. Russian teeth are bared, and her eyes glitter with promise. But Strange is not the same as other people, even demonic cats from Russian folklore.

Her place doesn't see as much use as it should. Some effort to clean certainly shows, picking up mail and all the other things they do. Her glance flickers past him, at his aura, checking. Just in case.

"You look good." This admission comes as a sharp little statement of fact. "I think, 'maybe this stick accessorizes with my partner.'" Or his cloak. They do, really.

"But not inviting new realities. It has already done that. Study it and understand it, somehow, that seems fair. Not much in the books that /he/," hated Belasco, "had told me much about this."

Stephen Strange has posed:
Stephen knows perfectly well that to call anything of Illyana as 'cute' is asking for trouble. Yet, it is that very danger that prompts the comment. Is it a test to see how far he can push things or is it merely entertainment? And when will Illyana decide to correct such behavior? So far, the sorcerer has been lucky.

And...with the expression she shoots him, Strange has evidentially decided to not push his luck today. He straightens his stance just a bit, even as the compliment is heard. "Thank you." A beat, then continuation. "It is not often that I go well with an accessory. Or perhaps it is I who is the accessory? Nevertheless, thank you. You are stunning, as always." Truly she is. Strange just doesn't say it enough.

Back, now, to the topic of study. "Well, I am not surprised. There are not much in any books at all about this particular item. I suspect that is intentional. Study and comprehension are noble pursuits. Just as much as security is. I shudder to think what would happen if any one with a inkling of knowledge into this would be able to actually make use of the stone."

Considering how Strange himself has used a similar stone before, he has somewhat unique insight into what exactly could happen.

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
The chance of being bitten isn't slim, but neither is the chance of a reward. Like being clocked with that gem, mounted freely without a gauntlet.

No purple wrinkled-chin nightmares here. "This is rarest of all accessories. You have flashy Eyes, cloaks, wands? I give you something more valuable, da?" She unfolds her legs and springs up in a ripple of motion that's attesting well to her physical fitness, blonde hair flying around her shoulders. The staff's blunt edge stands down, hitting the ground, a far cry from her Soulsword. Soulstaff, in this case. "You are very good at compliments. My brother, he would take a shine to you."

Or a fist, but that's not likely. Colossus ain't the Hulk. "This matter must go back where it is safe, but there is little safe. Now and then I take it out to make sure that it remains with us. Not with others... Infinity Watch lives up to its name, but in the wrong way."

Stephen Strange has posed:
"Ah yes. A shine. Good to hear."

Is Strange not going to comment on the pun, inadvertent or not, that Illyana just dropped, in regards to her brother? No, that would not be advisable. She gave her statement in that straightforward way of hers. Let's not mess with the Demon Queen holding onto a shard of creation. It is better that way.

Soulstaff aside, Stephen takes a quick step back as Illyana springs to her feet. Just far enough back to avoid the chaos. "Yes, well...you already gave me something more valuable. Freely." A reference to the sliver of soulstuff, no doubt. Still, those grey eyes do take the moment to gaze upon Illyana's handiwork with the staff. "I do admit, it does have a certain panache to it. Though, I do rather prefer your sword. Still, it has that classic Tolkien-esque wizard vibe to it, without being considerably out of date. A more contemporary take of the classic magical staff totem."

But yes...taking it out to make sure it did not disappear. "I do understand. The periodic checks. And, despite what others may think, I do think such a token is in better safe-keeping with you. We certainly do not want to make one target more enticing than another...and the possibility of two cosmic curiosities in one place would be too much temptation for certain individuals."