whose_son_am_i | Meme-shenanigans and Continuations.

The surprise he feels at the question actually has him draw back slightly. Naked in his expression. Loki recovers quickly, and given what he'd learned of her so far, he probably should've expected the question. "We are managing, and it was the better option. It has helped that Asgard has no quarrel with Earth. Nor are we afraid of hard work."

Well, he wasn't so fond of hard work when it wasn't his choice... But Loki also was not afraid to work hard for what he wanted.

His expression makes it very clear that no one has bothered to ask him if he's okay. She understands why humans wouldn't treat him with much kindness, but his own people?

"Is it a nice place? The bit of Norway you're in."

It wasn't that the other Asgardians treated him badly per se. Loki had avoided most interactions, but his people had seen him fighting for them just as much as Thor and the Valkyrie, and the Hulk had. But he also knew that many had not quite forgiven him for deceiving them for years, pretending to be Odin.

"It is. I'm unsure of our current visitation policy, but I suspect a doctor's presence would not go amiss." Loki finally said, softly voiced. And saved from further comment by her phone buzzing.

That feels a bit like an invitation and it brings a bit of color to her cheeks.

Her phone buzzes and she grabs it to answer.

"Be right down, thanks." She is off it just as quickly.

"Food is here, I'll be right back."

She gives him a little smile before heading out of the apartment to go get their food. She doesn't even question leaving him alone in her home.

She had mentioned being curious about Thor, much as Loki disliked that tack of conversation. And it was the honest truth that after all his people had been through, an Earth Doctor's presence wouldn't be unwelcome. Even with Asgard proper gone, there was much the two cultures could exchange in knowledge.

Not that they didn't already have doctors from Earth helping, but their presence had been kept fairly circumspect except for those who needed to know. It was all complicated, and Loki had been glad for a chance to slip away from it. Give his brother a taste of what 'ruling' was actually like and how complicated the mundane things could be. It was fine--Heimdall was there. And the Valkyrie. And Banner if needed, although that was a mixed blessing.

IN any case, he was saved from having to reply by her quick response to the phone, and prompt exit. An eyebrow raises as she clearly gives him no warning to not snoop, or look around, or do anything. Really a 'stay put' would've been warranted--but they both knew he was no threat to her. Not unless or until she gave him a reason to be.

The rest and water were helping though, and Loki was uncomfortably aware that he was still bruised and scuffed, with dried blood on his shirt and against his side.

She hadn't warned him, so time to explore a bit. To at least find a towel and a bathing room and clean himself up some. Take the moment of privacy to assess his state and how bad it was.

She was naturally curious about Thor, the man summoned lightning, that was worth a level of curiosity.

Christine didn't see a point in warning him to not dig through her things, if he really wanted to she doubts a warning would have persuaded him otherwise. And it's not as if she keeps many secrets.

It's only a brief time to get the food and tip the delivery person before making it back upstairs and into the apartment.

"I'm back." She calls out when she notices the empty sofa.

There is the sound of a running water from a tap being turned off. A second later, Loki reappears, dabbing a towel against his skin to finish cleaning the blood off. His green shirt also shows evidence of being washed, or at least an attempt at it.

"Welcome back." Said dryly. Like he's unsure about her reaction to his snooping.

"Sorry, I didn't tell you where the bathroom was." She doesn't seem upset at all.

Though the sight of him is a little hint distracting, she didn't get a good look while she was sewing him up. She catches herself staring pretty quickly and turns her attention back to getting silverware and plates.

He was most definitely not like his brother. Lithe, and more like a dancer's build. Thor was tall, blond, and musclebound. Loki was also tall, but dark and lanky; his fighting style was also quite different than his brother's or most other Asgardian's. By necessity.

Once assured he was clean, the wet shirt was slipped on and the towel was folded carefully. "It's not a large apartment, even if it is huge by New York standards." Loki replied softly. "Where would you like this?" Holding up the towel.

He's built exactly how she likes her men, and that is not a thought she wants to have. He tried to take over her planet, mistake or not; she shouldn't be attracted to him.

"There's a laundry basket right inside the second door there."

Right inside her bedroom.

He had also made it clear that he was not interested in anything 'sentimental'. Which means casual would be the most she would get. If Loki was even thinking in that direction--which was not where his thoughts had wandered.

Instead, he moves to deposit the towel before stalking over towards the food. Definitely feeling that energy drain once more now that he's moving again, so more food and rest would be his plan. "...I still can't repay you properly." He murmured, still guarded once more.

Sentimental, casual, it doesn't matter because it's all a terrible idea. She just thinks he's handsome, she's seen a lot of handsome men.

"You don't need to." She offers him a plate and a fork. "If you really want to do something for me, maybe you could teach me a spell."

"You might find that trickier than you think." But it wasn't an automatic no, as he took the plate and utensil. "What might you like to learn." Although considering how suggestible she'd been earlier, and her apparently being a kind person... Loki would prefer to teach her to have better shields and defenses mentally.

"Quite possibly." She thinks about what she would want to learn. "Something defensive maybe? I am a woman alone in a city."

She's been mugged before, the city can be dangerous at times.

"You wouldn't necessarily need a spell for that." Loki pointed out, in a dry tone. But, placing his plate down, he decided on a bit of kindness himself. Moving to pull her chair out for her. "Given your line of work, how are your mental defenses? You seem stable enough from a sanity perspective, and I quite like your sense of humor, but it has to be draining on you all the same."

"True, I'd be very dangerous with a scalpel."

She's flattered when he pulls out her chair, though surely he learned all sorts of fancy etiquette growing up a prince.

"Thank you. My mental defenses? I have a good therapist to help with the bad days, but I don't know, honestly." It's not as if anyone has tried to invade her brain before.

"If you can use a scalpel, you can use a knife." Which he could teach her, considering his preferred weapons. "Were it my choice, I would teach you better shielding and how to guard your mind." Once she's settled, Loki moved to take his own seat. "It...was not difficult to suggest to you that I not be taken to a hospital earlier." Before he'd fully recognized her, and realized the Norns had smiled on him.

It was only a very tiny, almost microscopic bit, that he regret doing that now. At least once he'd realized it was her. It didn't outweigh the practical fact that if he had to 'suggest' or 'nudge' her again, he would.

"Guarding my mind." She nods. Then she realizes what he means.

"That was you? I could feel it, like a thought got put in my mind and I knew it wasn't my own but I needed to trust it." She's not upset about it, it's what he needed to do to keep himself out of a hospital.

"Can you read my mind normally? Or does it take effort?"

"You're not upset?" With a brow arched once more. "You should be, or perhaps you're entirely too kind for your own good." IF she was then it would be all to easy to take advantage of her. Even a year ago, Loki himself would've done that.

"I'm not thrilled you were in my head but I understand why you did it."

She is reasonable above all.

"And yet you still seem to regard me favorably." Blue-green eyes narrowed slightly, puzzled and studying her. Trying to figure her out. Just because someone 'understood' did not mean they weren't often upset as well, in his experience.

"Yeah, I have a bad habit of giving people the benefit of the doubt. You're not that bad."

And she means it, he's not currently as cruel as Stephen could be. She's not got the best taste in men, really.

"Clearly you do, and I can be. I just have no reason to be at the moment." He's not lying about that either.

"But yes, that was me. And if I can nudge your thoughts, then so could others." A pause, and he turned his attention to his food. "I don't quite read minds. Nor can I see the future. But I can manipulate and plant suggestions, as well as project illusions based on your memories."

"Would you hurt me? I mean, obviously if I attacked you."

There's an almost sigh of relief at him not being able to read her mind.

"So you could make my old memories into your illusions?" He'd no doubt be thrilled to see Stephen again.

"If it were necessary, yes." Loki saw no point in hiding the fact. She had been kind, and it would be kinder in turn to remind her who he was. "I could, though I doubt you want me to."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject