"Considering it's to help you learn defense, I doubt the Sorcerer will mind." It was a good idea, and Loki was pleased she would practice. "Now do it again." They still had a few hours, and only when she seemed like she was having problems from fatigue, did he plan to stop.
Her last few throws had been wobbly too, so he was planning to call a stop. Letting her do one more throw that just barely hit the target, before they called it quits. "I think that's enough for now. You are, once again, a quick study." Loki moved to retrieve the practice knives, and places them and the target away. "So now, you walk it off and we get some food."
She sends her dagger back to it's home in New York. The knives and target are put away and she can't resist taking his hand for a quick moment before they leave.
"Food we shall have." With a grin, and squeezing her hand when she took it.
Out of consideration for her aching shoulder, Loki once more had food sent to his rooms. He asked Christine to be honest about what and where she was sore. If needed, she was ordered for a quick soak, and if further wanted, he massaged her shoulder. Simply enjoying being around her, and touching her, and having her there. It was subtle, but in his mind he'd shown weakness to Sif, and it bothered him. Not enough to do much about other than chew on it a bit, but it still occupied his thoughts. It bothered him, and it also bothered him that he wasn't more bothered by it.
But Christine was important to him, and he went over what he'd observed that she did well, and what she needed to work on. Filled her in more on what his 'plan' was, and who he would be sending she and Sif after. Like he'd stated, their goal was to talk to those among the Asgardians who might wish to strike back--and make it clear that any such action was not going to be tolerated or entertained.
She has both a brief soak and a massage and they serve her shoulder well. The muscle tension is gone, and she gets the plus of being touched.
"That isn't the obvious solution you know? Humans greatly outnumber you." And don't take well to attempts at takeover. "That always stuck me as a problem with royalty. You're born into it and get no choice in the matter."
"Them outnumbering us is why it's a bad idea, besides which that we're a force of mostly civilians and families." But he's curious. "What other solution strikes you as most obvious?" He was preparing the list for Sif as they talked.
"That's what we have currently, Sweetling. That's the route we've taken." Making sure he had names, and photos too, before putting it all in a neat envelope for Sif. Then coming back and sitting by her on the bed. Close enough that he could stroke her hair, trail fingers down her back.
Moving to stoke her face and cheek, Loki smiled too. "I have. Whenever you're finished please feel free to come back here and relax. I can't say how long my own errand will take."
"I will, although I'm hoping to avoid calming them, per se." Brushing his thumb against her cheek. "And I have no doubt you can do that too, if you need to."
Soon Sif is knocking at the door and she and Christine are off on their mission. Christine enjoys being able to work on her 'nudges' and to do so for a good cause.
When they've finished, Sif walks her back to Loki's rooms.
Christine is comfortable, she plays on her phone and lounges around a while. But it starts to get late and there is no sign of Loki.
The same maid who'm she'd surprised is the one who attends to anything she needs, such as dinner. It kept getting late, and where was no sign of Loki. Except for a text message around 10ish, with "I'm okay, just being thorough."
It wouldn't be until around 1ish or 2ish, when he finally made it back to his rooms. Dressed casually--in the only pair of jeans he owned, and tee shirt, and a hoodie and None of it in his own colors. Still illusioned, in fact--with short blond hair and lighter-eyes than his own. He looked bruised and battered though.
"I look worse on purpose." Loki gave her a small smile, and let the illusion fall. He looked fine, if a bit different in the clothes. "I'm tired, but also thankful I'm not human right now. With no offense intended, Sweetling."
His hand comes up over hers, taking comfort in her touch and presence. "We'll know within the week if I was truly successful, but I believe I've neutralized the worst." Then more softly, just for her. "I can't guarantee from this point that there will be no casualties, but I didn't kill anyone."
It would also have been too likely to be suspicious if anyone had died so obviously so quickly. But he had still held back, for her. "You are alright? Aside from my being late?"
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"I am starving. Food is very appreciated."
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Out of consideration for her aching shoulder, Loki once more had food sent to his rooms. He asked Christine to be honest about what and where she was sore. If needed, she was ordered for a quick soak, and if further wanted, he massaged her shoulder. Simply enjoying being around her, and touching her, and having her there. It was subtle, but in his mind he'd shown weakness to Sif, and it bothered him. Not enough to do much about other than chew on it a bit, but it still occupied his thoughts. It bothered him, and it also bothered him that he wasn't more bothered by it.
But Christine was important to him, and he went over what he'd observed that she did well, and what she needed to work on. Filled her in more on what his 'plan' was, and who he would be sending she and Sif after. Like he'd stated, their goal was to talk to those among the Asgardians who might wish to strike back--and make it clear that any such action was not going to be tolerated or entertained.
"Honestly if we want to fight among ourselves, that's preferable. What we don't want is to give our enemies any fuel they can use to point to us as potential invaders or a problematic force or anything that will make our position less secure. The people you'll be speaking with are young, and Asgardians when younger are a bit bloodthirsty. But if things go right with what I'm doing the more inflammatory of our enemies will collapse from in-fighting. We've already had other efforts in motion to prove we are intent on helping, not taking over." A shrug, and Loki was surprisingly blasé about the topic. "Honestly we don't have the forces to take over--not in any sense where we could keep our hold over Earth. Even if that would be the more obvious solution. Besides, Thor doesn't want to rule Midgard--I'm not sure he entirely wants to rule New Asgard. I think he's unsure what he really wants, but is doing what he feels he needs to."
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"That isn't the obvious solution you know? Humans greatly outnumber you." And don't take well to attempts at takeover. "That always stuck me as a problem with royalty. You're born into it and get no choice in the matter."
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She's flopped over on his bed after eating and having a massage.
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She turns her face to smile at him.
"Compiled all of our sneaky info?"
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She sets her hand on top of his hand and turns her face to kiss his palm.
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"Just be careful."
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When they've finished, Sif walks her back to Loki's rooms.
Christine is comfortable, she plays on her phone and lounges around a while. But it starts to get late and there is no sign of Loki.
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It wouldn't be until around 1ish or 2ish, when he finally made it back to his rooms. Dressed casually--in the only pair of jeans he owned, and tee shirt, and a hoodie and None of it in his own colors. Still illusioned, in fact--with short blond hair and lighter-eyes than his own. He looked bruised and battered though.
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If she didn't know the feel of his magic, she probably wouldn't have recognized him, especially in jeans.
"Are you okay?" She's quickly moving to him to check.
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"No offense taken, we are rather squishy as a species."
She sees how true that is every time a bad car accident comes in.
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"I'm proud of you." She knows he can be a bit bloodthirsty himself.
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