( 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

[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.

[ikols]

You're not afraid, that's what I like about you. Of me, or much else you wouldn't tell directly to its face.

[rightly]

Is there a reason for me to be afraid of you?

[ Loki's never struck him as dangerous, whether intentionally or not. Whatever her backstory, he doesn't see in her someone to fear, and it hardly looks like she's plotting something terrible and evil.

Then again appearances can be deceiving. He just doesn't think that's the case, here. ]

You know, I've spent most of my life thinking God wasn't real. Going to war, I thought... there's no way there's any sort or benign entity that, being omnipotent, would force its creation to suffer this much, as if we had a crime to pay for.

[ His thoughts are running from him a little. He pushes himself back on track, clearing his throat. ]

Point is— I realize now gods are... a little different. I think I prefer them this way. Like you, I mean. [ Wait that sounds... never mind. ] And— like others, of course. The nicer ones.

[ikols]

I feel like you should meet Odin.

[ Stuffing fries in her mouth she pulls a face and shakes her head, chewing with the kind of purpose only the exasperating All-Father could inspire. ]

Mmrph. Except, you might hate us all if you met one of the big-Gs. Gods, Steve Trevor, are cruel and capricious even when they champion flowers and poetry, it's in their nature to be self-serving and disingenuous. That's how men pictured them, and so it's how they are.

Heroes are never focused on anything but their own quest, after all.

[rightly]

Maybe so. But I like the thought that even gods can be flawed. Maybe that's not so bad a thing, is it? In some cases, anyway. Nothing that really exists can be absolutely perfect.

[ As much as he would love to believe that, he's not a child. Not anymore anyway.

Her description of heroes does remind him almost immediately of Diana, and he smiles warmly— achingly. ] Guess you're right, yes.

[ikols]

You've grown up with a monotheistic religion, the sort where the big-G is perfect and so is his son. I've never met hide or hair of either, but my sister lived with angels and I know a great many satans.

[ Loki nibbles on her food, watching him curiously under her lashes. ]

All the gods I know are simply people. A bit stronger and with fancy talents, but we're not flawless, no. [ A smile quirks and she flicks the end of her chip over. ] Sometimes we're just taller.