( closed ) let's dance

[rightly]

who: Steve Trevor & Loki
what: enjoying Tavernfest by having drinks and dancing
when: now
where: starting at some bar
warnings: none; will update if need be

[ Following Loki's directions isn't difficult, particularly considering how long he's spent studying the streets and getting lost all around the Quarantine over the course of his first few weeks here. Having the name of the place helps too, so if he happens to get the streets mixed up, he simply asks some passer-by for help.

Eventually he gets to the bar Loki picked, stepping inside and taking a look around. It's not too modern or overly sophisticated, but it doesn't look cheap either. He especially likes some of the decorative elements, the swords and shields hanging on the walls. Shrugging off his jacket so he's down to his trousers, shirt and vest, he starts looking at the people in there, spotting a striking figure by the counter with her back turned to him— and he makes his way over, keeping a good distance until he's sure he didn't get it wrong. ]

Loki?

Comments

[rightly]

[ What is it with Asgardians? Why are they all so tall? Do they eat roots from the Tree of Life or something? Not that Steve is complaining, of course. Not by a long shot. ]

Of course not. And I'm sure we can get those fries for you somehow. [ He glances around the room, spotting an empty booth by the wall and leading them towards it. ] You're not going to eat just fries, are you?

[ikols]

[ She does the obliging thing and trots over to the booth he points out, well-behaved for once. Mostly. ]

I didn't want to eat meat again, that's all I've been consuming with my family. It's fun to have a throwback Multiversal reunion like that sometimes but I fear I may contract scurvy before Tavernfest is done. I'll have a dessert with my fries, how's that? Something with dairy. Chocolate cake?

[ Chinning a hand on the table, she plants her full attention on him. ]

[rightly]

[ Somehow it's not surprising to him that Asgardians would consume meat more so than anything else. Steve laughs a little, both at the scurvy comment and her imaginative suggestion for something to go with the fries. ]

Sure, sounds like a winner combination. I don't see why not.

[ She can have whatever she feels like, after all, and Steve's not about to tell her otherwise. ]

You won't mind if I have some meat, though, do you? I'm not as tired of it as you are. [ He gestures to one of the waiters, since she's made her choice and he already knows what he wants. His burger should come with a side of fries, so she can have that if she likes. ]

[ikols]

[ Shaking her head. ]

Eat what you want, please. What an unpleasant date this would be if you didn't!

[ Reeling off an order for the waiter who leaves them with glasses of water to tide them over, she looks back to Steve. ]

So! What have you been getting up to as of late? I worried about you.

[rightly]

Doesn't hurt to ask.

[ He purses his lips and shrugs, although her choice of words gives him slight pause. He dismisses it easily enough, figuring she doesn't mean a date date. ]

Well— I found a job, actually. I'm working at the community center now. Other than that, life's been pretty much the same. [ He takes a sip from his glass, humming. ] What about you? Aside from exciting family outings, that is.

[ikols]

I've been liberating items from the Abandoned City. [ Sipping her water, Loki tilts her head curiously and smoothly goes on, ] Which community centre?

[rightly]

Central. They were looking for coordinators. [ He narrows his eyes at her, his smile amused. ] And by liberating, I'm guessing you mean taking them and... hoarding them? Making a profit?

[ No judgment one way or the other, of course. Not that he can talk, after all. He's mostly just curious. ]

[ikols]

Examining them. Some have magical properties, it's all a matter of figuring out how and why.

[ Narrowing her eyes, she teases him with a scold. ]

Are you calling me a tomb raider?

[rightly]

[ That does sound more interesting, although Steve's more interested in teasing her back. Not that he even begins to know her words for the reference they are. ]

That depends on whether or not there are any tombs out there.

[ikols]

... A fair number.

[ Okay, so maybe the odd tomb has been liberated. Sue her!! Admitting that in a roundabout way, a smile quirks her lips at Steve. ]

Come with me sometime? I promise not to let any nasties eat you ... only nibble.

[rightly]

[ He raises both eyebrows, nodding slowly with a knowing hum. ]

Ah. There we go.

[ Well it's not like anyone's complaining about her tomb raiding. There's probably a number of people poking around and bringing back anything they can find out there, so. ]

What, like your snake? [ Or you? ] You know, I've only been out there once, to see the portal.

[ikols]

Freyja wouldn't bite you to poison you, she has standards. She's a lady.

[ SNERK. ]

What did you think of it? The portal.

[rightly]

Oh, I don't know. I remember her saying she'd like to bite my ears.

[ But he does appreciate the promise that he'd be safe out there. ]

Intriguing, mostly. [ A thought comes to mind, and he asks. ] Is it magical?

[ikols]

That was just a hello.

[ As the food starts to arrive, Loki shrugs. ]

It's not-not magical, I've spoken to it once or twice. It gave me an apple.

[rightly]

Funny way of saying hello.

[ Not that he's complaining, just teasing. ]

So— sort of magical. [ Steve can't figure it out one way or the other, but then he has little reason to want to. He doesn't want to go anywhere else. He pulls his plate towards himself, leaving the plate of fries for her to take. ] You mean it can understand us?

[ikols]

It's a self-sustaining anomaly, as the science-folk would say, but on Asgard it would be regarded as more of an entity. It has a purpose, after all, and it seems to screw up often enough that it has the ability to commit flawed responses under whatever influence it bends.

[ Dunking most of her fries in ketchup, yes. Good. ]

I think it doesn't know how to be anything except what it is but on a deeper level it wants to, so it responds as best it can.

[rightly]

[ Steve listens, thankful she keeps it to simple enough terms that none of it flies over his head. Not that he's dumb by any stretch, but he is a little behind in terms of knowledge, not to mention he's never really been a scientist. ]

I know not everyone who is here wants to stay, which seems to be contrary to the idea of the portal and how it's supposed to work. Figured it was some sort of malfunction, but... honestly, I never thought of it that way.

[ He muses before taking a bite of his burger. ] I wonder what else something like that would want to be.

[ikols]

It keeps collecting alien species from all over the omniverse, this moon is now a makeshift nexus. Perhaps it wants to be like us.

[ Or someone cooler than Loki and Steve, anyway. Ozzy Osborn, maybe. ]

[rightly]

[ Steve looks somewhat amused, though also intrigued. ]

It's strange to think any entity out there would want to emulate us. Well, 'us' humans, anyway. Maybe gods are a different story.

[ He wipes a bit of sauce off his thumb, then goes back to eating his burger. ]

[ikols]

Different doesn't necessarily mean better, especially where pig-headed gods are concerned.

[ A single fry is placed on Steve's plate, because she's generous like that. ]

[rightly]

[ Indeed, how generous. More than enough to satisfy a starving man. Luckily that's not Steve's case, but he still picks it up, popping it in his mouth with a brief amused grin. ]

You don't strike me as the type. Are you?

[ikols]

I hope not. That's more my father and brother's yen.

[ Humming, Loki pokes his ankle with her shoe under the table. ]

How do I strike you, Steve?

[rightly]

[ His leg folds inwards out of surprise, and he chuckles softly, shoulder lifting in a halfhearted shrug. ]

I... don't know. Fun, exciting. Someone who does what she wants. Or— he wants, of course. [ Can't forget that detail about Loki. ] I think you enjoy being with people. That's nice. I've never been a very sociable person myself, mostly I've spent time with people I've worked with.

[ikols]

It shows in how awkwardly introverted you are, your manners are a balm on excitement.

[ Hesitating, she waves a fry to try and amend the way that sounds. ]

In a positive light.

[rightly]

[ Steve laughs, even if her words might've been taken as... well, not an insult, but not exactly flattering either. ]

I'm awkward, right. Thanks. [ He's in no place to protest, really, considering the number of ways in which Loki has already managed to fluster him. ]

And you enjoy teasing me a little too much. Despite that, I do feel comfortable around you. Even with all the... awkwardness.