GODS!!! In Training!

Before Paris, Part One: Stephen

Stephen woke up to a most inglorious smack in the face from the suns rays, as if the sound of the cars passing by wouldn't have woken him up to begin with. Sitting in bed, Stephen ran his hands over the stubble on his face, realizing he hadn't shaved in about a week, but who has time for that? Not him, obviously. His cloak (that pesky, wonderful cloak) flapped around him in what seemed to be excitement, either wanting something from him or wanting to annoy him. Waving his hand, the cloak gently rested itself on Stephens shoulders, rustling in some sort of anticipation. Getting up, Stephen set out to check up on the Sanctorum, considering that he had some other-worldly guests about his home the other night. As he walked past the other rooms, the sound of Madonna met his ears, allowing him to catch the tune of Vogue in the other room. Back tracking a few steps, he peeked his head through the door way. A student was cleaning and dancing as they did so. Walking onward, Stephen shook his head. He never found Madonna to be anywhere in his favorites, but as he passed another doorway, Another One Bites the Dust was creeping out of the slits under and above the door, setting Stephen's cloak in an upbeat motion, vibrating and rustling to the bass. Stephen fingers tapped his side as he walked down the hallway, the song following him as he walked down the stairs. His eyes landed on the absolute mess in the center of the room. Massaging his temples, he got to work, giving life to the furniture so it could replace and move itself to its rightful position. Stephen started a little dance at first, only beginning with his feet, and eventually in about 10 minutes, he was dancing, the tune of Another One Bites the Dust now coursing through his fingers as he replaced furniture, his cloak had flown off his shoulders floating and bobbing to the beat. If it weren't a piece of fabric he would've considered dancing with it. Sliding backwards on the rug, his heel hit a lump underneath which sent him careening backwards, suddenly causing the sound to stop as he hit his head on the ground. His cloak fluttered around him viciously, or maybe you could say in concern. Either way, his cloak was flutter in what could really be called panic. Getting up slowly, Stephen rubbed his head as he eyed the lump under the carpet. Walking over to it, he pulled it from underneath the carpet. Flipping it over, it was Loki's staff. Loki had been there the night before, popping off fireworks inside the main hall, sending books and other valuable trinkets tumbling to the floor. Obviously, he was the first to leave that night. Loki did not exactly have a home at the moment, but he was somewhere in the universe with Thor. Maybe even at Stark Tower, casually arguing with Banner his scepter. Stephen contemplated whether or not he should return it, or if he should hold it for ransom money to replace and repair the main hall from Loki's shenanigans. Clutching the scepter, Stephen walked around, contemplating his choices. Loki being the trickster, what were the chance of him getting paid back? Slim to none, since Loki would very well come up with a reason not to pay him back. His pace slowed, as he over considered his options even more. First, he'd have to call Tony to find out if Thor and Loki were anywhere to be found, then if he got no a response, go to Stark Tower to check for himself. His footsteps echoed off the walls as he paced back and forth, because for some reason, he was...concerned? Could he call it concerned? Or worried? He stopped to reevaluate this scepter in his hands. It was fairly heavy, and his cloak fluttered around it like a homing device. "Shoo shoo. I know what it is alright?" Stephen said, waving his hand at his cloak. Clearly slighted, the cloak drifted off to a different area of the room, where it draped itself over a statue and proceeded to ruffle angrily. "Shush. I mean it" Stephen said, pointing in the direction of the cloak. The ruffling merely quieted, causing a glare in the cloaks direction for it to completely stop. Looking back at the scepter, Stephen began to pace back and forth, considering his options on how to return the scepter. Loki and Thor could only be in a few places: space, Stark Tower or in Norway. If they were in space, they could be in many different and equally bad planets within space. If they were at Stark Tower, then the whole returning situation would be avoided. However, on the note of Loki leaving his scepter here, he had a creeping suspicion that Loki left it here on purpose. Loki was not one to leave valuables behind unless it had some deeper purpose and/or meaning to it, as well as him being the trickster of the group, that would reinforce the suspicion of it being here on purpose. Continuing his pacing back and forth, he scratched his head considering his options and his once again lurking suspicion of Loki being up to his tricks. Sitting down, Mila, a pianist hired for keeping a calm and soothing atmosphere inside the Sanctorum, began to play Aria da Capo, a personal favorite on the opposite side of the spectrum of 80's tunes. His cloak floated over to him and rested itself on Stephens shoulder, brushing against his stubble, causing the hairs to stand up ever so slightly, along with its ability to call goosebumps to rise to the top of his skin from the brushing sound. Shifting his position, he set the scepter down on his lap and closed his eyes. He heard the people quietly chatter underneath the sounds of the piano from all areas of the Sanctorum, and he felt oddly at peace. However, none of the voices sounded familiar. None sounded warm or what one would call heart warming, in fact, they felt a little empty, like they were the talk of secret things he wasn't allowed to tap into, as much as his abilities allowed him to do so. Opening his eyes, he saw the rows of bookcases upon bookcases, filled with books and other interesting trinkets he hadn't noticed before, despite him probably have read each of them from cover to cover, and having him studied each of the little trinkets keeping the books in order. As he got up, he began to walk about the bookcases slowly, his footsteps mingled with the sound of all the others in the Sanctorum, falling into an odd but rhythmic pace with the whispers and Mila's skillful playing, making the Sanctorum feel a little bit warmer. At once, all noises stopped at the front door opened and shut, causing people to crawl out of the wood works and from behind bookcases and walls and doors and all sorts of nooks and crannies to see who had passed through the door. Stephen, changing his direction from towards the stairs now towards the door, walked slowly and carefully, taking care to notice the whispers that had sprung up as he approached the creature that had entered the Sanctorum unannounced but at the same time, announced. Turning around to face the people hidden within the walls, he gave a glare that hit everyone, which caused the whispers to die down. Getting closer to the door, the uniform and the confused state of the person suggested they were, as one could say, mundane. Seeing the packages tucked away under their arm would also suggest that this was a postal worker who somehow managed to get inside the Sanctorum by himself. The postal worker fixed their appearance upon seeing Stephen, turning to be more professional but eye contact seemed to be the hardest thing for the person to do. Whipping out a envelope, he bent his head downward and stuck the envelope out as far as he could, his hand shaking the entire time. As Stephen took the envelope, the postal worker also handed him a key, which almost fell out of his hand due to the shaking. Upon taking the key, the postal worker was out of the door in a matter of seconds. Obviously the key was used to get inside the building, as to how he got it was another matter. Putting in his pocket, he opened the envelope, pulled out the letter and read it as he walked over to the couch.

Stephen,

As you seem to already know, you have my scepter! I left it there for many a reason, one being your mail security is superb, and the invitation to Tony's party would never have gotten to you, hence why I gave your special mailman a key and this letter! Secondly, Stephen you are 34 years old. You have no kids, no wife. Not even a girlfriend. You don't even have a friend with benefits. You basically just have your students, and the giant house of yours. So, Tony's party is December 15th, bring my scepter and bring whatever a-game you have for maybe finding a soul mate. Ciao.

Sincerely,

Loki and Thor and Tony and Banner

Stephen never made it to the couch, he had actually walked into it since his face was buried in the letter that he had gotten from Loki. So his suspicions were true, Loki had left the scepter there, and for the worst possible reasons. He had been single for a while, ever since his encounter with The Ancient One and everything else after his accident. Running his fingers through his hair, he considered the fact that he was never actually busy when he wasn't running around the Sanctorum or teaching in said Sanctorm. Scratching his head, he realized he had a lot to consider. What would he wear to this party? He only had about 3 different things to wear. He only really spoke to people about his life past the Sanctorum, which was really nonexistent. Maybe Loki and the others were right; a date could benefit him in keeping him less lonely. Folding the letter, he set himself to go upstairs to set his calendar and to find himself something to wear for this party. As he walked up the stairs, through the window he could see that the sky, in it's twilight glory gave a flash of violent purple, and the magic in his hands tingled. He could feel the power, the magic in the flash of twilight, and the Sanctorum fell even more silent.