( 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]

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.

[rightly]

I did. But I can't say I've truly believed it.

[ And the more he saw in his life, the harder it was to believe. He's never been a man of faith, though, not really. ]

Only sometimes. [ Just saying, because Loki isn't especially tall. Speaking of— ] Oh, I've met your sister.

[ikols]

[ Don't make her elongate those heels and loom all night, because she will. ]

Isn't she terrifying?

[ So proud. ]

[rightly]

Oh, definitely. Especially when she unsheathed her sword. [ His smile and the mirth in his voice both suggest that the meeting didn't end all that badly, though. ]

She was exactly as you described, much to my surprise. But it made it very easy to recognize her.

[ikols]

[ Warmth bleeds into Loki's expression when talking about Angela. ]

She's great. Her lover Sera is the sweetest creature, also daunting but much more personable. They must be the only two people in our family to actually sustain a healthy relationship! I wish Sera would come here, it would make my sister so happy.

[rightly]

That would be nice, wouldn't it? For everyone who has someone special, actually. Maybe Sera would be a soothing balm to match your sister. She didn't seem particularly happy when I met her.

[ But then they were stuck in a magical cage at the time, so that might've soured her mood some, understandably so. ]

[ikols]

She's not fond of men, as a rule, so you've already got one strike for that. If it's any consolation, I think she even prefers me when I have breasts, so it's nothing personal.

[ There, there, Steve-o. ]

Have you met Thor or the other Loki?

[rightly]

Ah. That does explain a lot. [ Her anger and masked discomfort, for one. Not that Steve had felt particularly happy about their situation, himself. Especially when she actually worried him for a moment that he might get stabbed. ]

I spoke with the other Loki. Well, we... texted? [ Is that how people say it? ] No more than that.

[ikols]

[ As long as Steve knows he can better acquaint himself with Angela next time, hopefully gaining her good humour. ]

What did he say?

[rightly]

Nothing much. [ He shrugs. ] We talked about second opportunities, and optimism. I guessed his identity so now he owes me a pair of boots.

[ikols]

He's at an awkward age.

[ Said almost apologetically. ]

[rightly]

[ He smiles faintly, shaking his head. ]

I didn't find him terribly disagreeable. But then our interaction was short. [ That remark piques his interest, though. ] Is he that bad?

[ikols]

He's better than a great multitude. Usually, we're evil.

[ She hitches up a wan smile at that, choosing to pick at her food with interest rather than look at Steve. ]

Be honest with him and he'll value that above everything else.

[rightly]

I do always try to be honest. [ But he admits, after a pause. ] Here, anyway.

[ Here he has no reason to lie, to keep up pretenses or act as though he were someone else. One of the many blessings of this place. ]

You don't seem evil to me. [ He tips his head a little, watching her and her averted gaze. ] Seems too literal a word, anyway. We all have a bit of dark and a bit of light, I think.

[ikols]

Um, no. I was the literal God of Evil for a while, he was ... a couple of lifetimes ago.

[ She hitches up a smile, squaring her shoulders. ]

I'm better now, obviously. Mischief is a more accurate take on chaos, evil is predictable. Perhaps that's why I'm not mad, I don't want to veer too far out of the grey area.

[rightly]

So is he still in that whole Evil phase?

[ Is that how it works with gods? Stages of evilness, phases of madness? Sounds a little... well, Steve doesn't know what to call it. Gods are strange. ]

Gray area isn't so bad. And if it works for you... [ He shrugs, wiping his hands after finishing his burger. ] Anyway, are you having that chocolate cake?

[ikols]

The other Loki here isn't a bad person, he's just ... frustrated.

[ Sticking a fry in the middle of her cake, she pushes it between them. Picks at the chocolate with her fork. ]

What do you think?

[rightly]

I could sense a little of that.

[ Even over text, it was hard to miss. but he hadn't been overtly hostile, so.

He glances down at the cake, taking that as an invitation for him to help himself. After a moment of pondering, he picks up the fry, dragging a bit of the sticky chocolate frosting with it. ]

No day like today to try new things. [ He shrugs and mouths the fry, letting the sweet and salty flavors mix together. ]

[ikols]

You're gross.

[ But she grins as she says it, notching some of the cake on her fork to reach over and, deliberately resting her chest on the table in full-view, of course, offer him a bite. ]

Try the core, it's thicker.