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[whose_son_am_i]

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UN:SilverTongue

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[blue_ice]

"I'll leave it open, not worried about it. And I won't be long," Seto agreed, eager to warm up as soon as possible. He wouldn't be rude and take too much time---he wasn't aware of the hot water having any sort of limit around here, but Loki had been running about too and might like to relax.

Once that was settled, he rushed to get out of his wet clothes, hang them over a towel so they wouldn't drip everywhere, and jumped in for a quick shower. He'd gladly bundle up in a towel after that, leaving a towel over his shoulders once his hair was ruffled into a drier mess.

"So what was this about the Frost Giants?"

[whose_son_am_i]

Loki left him to it and took the time to get his own change of clothes ready. Out of the armor, which went in a sort of neat pile against the wall. Into comfier clothes himself that were dry, and he had a spare set folded and ready for Kaiba. Trousers, shirt, tunic. If the other was cold still, he could add to it if needed.

"Well, I thought you might like to know about them, so you're less worried about me. Some of the not so obvious stuff, besides that I'm resistant to the cold." His room was not far from the bathroom, and he'd left his door open so Kaiba could join him.

[blue_ice]

Seto didn't mind that the clothes were slightly too big...he was close to the right height, but lacked bulk. But that was okay. He shuffled over to Loki's room and sat, looking much more comfortable.

"All right, I'm listening. What else should I know?"

[whose_son_am_i]

Loki wasn't all that bulky, but Kaiba was still more of a stick than the other. But the clothing was clean, dry, soft, and warm. Loki liked his creature comforts when he could have them. "Well, we're one of the sturdier races in the galaxy. I did not know I was NOT an asgardian until relatively recently after all. Asgardians are one of the sturdier races across the universe too. They're baseline superhuman in strength, speed, reflexes, agility, and very hard to hurt. I've been smashed into the floor of a corporate tower quite a few times, after being blown off what was an air-chariot and through a wall. I was down for about an hour, although it did hurt. We are fast healers, both Asgardians and Frost Giants alike. A single Asgardian is easily able to overpower one or two Frost Giants easily. But in groups versus one, it gets harder."

Loki smirked in amusement. "Which means basically I'm very hard to hurt and I heal very very quickly. I'm also the adopted brother to a Thunder God, so I've most certainly been zapped a few times like earlier."

[blue_ice]

Seto listened patiently, exhaling. It really was impressive, imagining what Loki could handle.

"So...basically, if something can give you more than a scratch, I'm already dead," he joked. "But that doesn't mean I want you to have to test all that. This place works to wear a person down."

[whose_son_am_i]

A chuckle, and the smirk became a smile. "Just thought you'd like to know for certain and have the reassurance. If allowed a natural lifespan, both races can live somewhere into the 4 or 5000s." A pause. "Now, because I'm a frost giant instead of an Asgardian I am also immune to the cold basically. I can do fine in basic heat, but prolonged exposure will affect me the way it would anyone in extreme heat. It's...not something I care to test that thoroughly."

[blue_ice]

Seto nodded, filing that information away. It was good to know that he could focus on what needed to be done the next time they were in danger. He shuffled a little closer, looking up at Loki with a thoughtful expression.

"Even if it's not easy to wear you out physically, there's still mental strain. Not that I put up a great showing in the land of illogic either, but---" Embarrassed laugh. "I want to be strong enough so that you don't have to shoulder the burden yourself."

[whose_son_am_i]

"Think of it less as illogical and more madness." Loki replied, but the smile remained. "I've had some practice. Alice and I regularly engage in riddle games, in addition to other activities. I suspect my exposure to her, and my own familiarity with wordplay and manipulation, have given me a small advantage. One that I don't think I'll be able to keep for long."

Loki reached out though, with that hand on Kaiba's shoulder once more. "BUT, I do believe you can be creative enough to survive it. You're certainly intelligent enough. Hopefully with your Pharaoh and your little brother here, that creative side will grow and show how clever you can be."

[blue_ice]

And above all, Loki was...welcoming? Kind? Seto smiled at him, spurred by his relief at how warm he felt to lean on Loki's arm, briefly brushing against him affectionately.

"I'll take you up on that challenge sometime. I'm usually reading at the library between shifts...and I still owe you a game of wits, right?"

[whose_son_am_i]

"That's what Riddle games can be." Loki agreed, squeezing Kaiba's shoulder gently in acknowledgement and affection. "How are the Library shifts going? Also, please feel free to have a seat." Removing his hand to gesture to the made-up bed (with lots of blankets and pillows) or the comfy reading chair."

"The idea of riddle contests and similar go back very far."

[blue_ice]

Seto sat on the bed, feeling more comfortable here than before. He folded his hands in front of him as he thought on his library work.

"It's not as bad as I expected. Most people are quiet, and Puck isn't bad company. And speaking of riddles, over the past while I've been thinking that the library could use some expansion. If we had a game room, it could be a community gathering place that's calmer than some of the ones we have already"

He tapped his knee as he thought. "I'm saving my shards to wish for a few different games. Boards, cards, puzzles."

[whose_son_am_i]

"Thinking back to you and your brother's dream, hmm?" Loki sounded approving though. Which he was. "Let me know if you want some help with shards. I'm willing to donate to the cause."

[blue_ice]

Seto nods, reaching up to squeeze his locket. "It's a lot smaller scale than the theme park. But...night clubs aren't my scene. I wanted to build a quieter place for people to socialize."

[whose_son_am_i]

"I've never actually been to a night club, although Klaus intends to take me sometime." Loki commented with some amusement. "In this type of town and era, most people socialize at the tavern or market. So you'll have to work to bring something 'new' in."

[blue_ice]

Kaiba laughed softly as he pictured Loki in a night club. Honestly, the god of mischief would probably be a better fit than most people.

"No, I'll start small. Take over a corner of a room at the library first. If I can gather enough interest, then I'll work on building my own space. I just thought Mokuba and the other kids around his age could use a space.

[whose_son_am_i]

"I think it's a good idea, and if I can help, I will." With a grin. "And not just by helping come up with good tricky games."

[blue_ice]

"That'll be one of my next shopping trips, looking for games from home," Seto nods to himself. If he could gather games from other worlds, it could truly be a library.

"But there are more important things to spend shards on. Maybe I should wear armor if things are going to hunt me."

[whose_son_am_i]

"Only because things are going to hunt you?" Loki asked with a raised eyebrow. He'd actually already been thinking about it for the younger man he'd taken on as protege. Even if neither he nor Kaiba expected him to be in prolonged battles, they were in a medieval world and it was likely trouble would find Kaiba. Better he have at least some basic armor, much as Loki also believed it better the other know how to fight. Even if he viewed that latter skill as the more important.

[blue_ice]

"When I'm strong enough, I'll be more proactive in fights. But yes," he nodded. "I would've been shredded like tissue paper if those teeth had caught me."

It was too close. "I know it'll be harder to move and I'll have to build more muscle to compensate."

[whose_son_am_i]

"It shouldn't be harder to move in per se. That's often a sign of ill-fit and ill-maintenance." Loki pointed out as he regarded the other. "Do you know what kind of armor would suit you, even?"

[blue_ice]

Seto had to think about it.

"I don't really know. If I'm using a throwing knife and always trying to create space...lightweight and smaller is better, right? To hide more easily."

He'd known some guys who really like leather, and he had his metal arm bands, but that was about the extent of his experience.

[whose_son_am_i]

Loki was quiet while Seto thought, and could see his reasoning. But this had also likely never come up for the other before. He'd lead a dangerous life but it was in a different way than Loki had. "And if you can't hide but have to fight? What kind of style will you be wanting to use in fighting? I know your hand to hand is solid enough for your age and level of training."

[blue_ice]

Seto imagined the battle from earlier. What would he have done if one of the creatures had caught him earlier?

"Use the knife to disable it. Hit the eyes, maybe. Claw my way out any way I can if I have to...hand strike, knee. Depends how I'm caught."

[whose_son_am_i]

"Do not be 'honorable'. If you can not overpower it, strike however you can, aim to do damage and do what you must to stay alive." Which is not necessarily how a normal Asgardian might advise Kaiba. But Loki wasn't exactly a 'normal' Asgardian in so many ways.

"Would you like my advice and input?"

[blue_ice]

"I will. I've had to escape desperate spots before," Seto promised, and he knew he'd have to fight dirty again in the future. There were people he didn't want to leave.

"...yes. I know you know far more than me about this stuff."