A/N: This is a joint creation made by two authors, working together in what was, and still is, an RP, so therefore this is split by the point of view. The pen name used to play Loki is the pen name this was posted under, and the OC, Luna was created by the pen name DerSuldam. We have been working vigorously on this "project" of sorts since late November of 2012. The "Chapters" are more like parts to it... they aren't officially divided.
Please read and let us know your thoughts/constructive criticism
-The Phantom's Flutist & DerSuldam
1
Luna: Carrying an armful of groceries piled up in a simple paper bag, Luna maneuvered her other hand to a screen embedded in the wall next to the front door. It took several seconds, recognizing her fingerprints before revealing a slot on the door upon which keys were to be inserted – the keys to the two-story house that had become her temporary residence but a week ago. It was larger than her previous one; it was a rather plain, white house with dark grey shingles lining the roof. Entering the house, she was immediately in the living room; her eyes silently glided over the largest room in the place, coming to rest on the couch. She could see no more than the dark head that peeked above it, immobile, as silent as it had been since it arrived. She walked by, just as silently, wondering if there was any purpose at all to greeting him, for she knew that she would receive nothing in return.
Two weeks ago, she had been called to meet with Nick Fury, concerning 'a matter of importance' – The Avengers War, as the public tended to call it, ended with their victory, and after some time, the man who had caused all the havoc and the riot had been returned to the Earth and put under S.H.I.E.L.D's custody. /Luna's/ custody, first and foremost, as she had discovered after speaking with director Fury, and ultimately, after a lengthy conversation, agreeing. Several days after their meeting, she was shown to the house which she now shared with Loki; Loki, on the other hand, spoke not a word to her since the very moment they laid eyes upon each other. Towering over her, staring down his straight nose at her as if she were but filth beneath his feet, he refused to acknowledge her presence, let alone say something to her. She attempted, now and then, to greet him, but after earning nothing but rejection time and time again, she gave up for the time being.
Loki: Loki never exactly saw this coming. After all of the scenarios had been mapped in his head upon his forced return to Asgard, he had a few practical punishments set in his head: imprisonment, torture, death, exile... It all amounted to an inevitable descent of his power. He had prepared himself for the worst as, gagged and bound, he looked into the cold, blue eye of Odin, awaiting to hear his punishment. Loki could see him now even when he closed his eyes – the Allfather rising from his golden throne, stepping down with Gungnir in hand, after weeks of Loki's waiting within another cage, the mighty Thor and the innocent Frigga off to each side of him, standing with a distant gleam in their eyes. Gungnir was lowered and Loki could simply feel the draining in his bones, his muscles reacting as he collapsed-
He snapped out of it, finding the very pathetic woman who was to be his "jailer" for the time being coming into the house with a loud crunching sound, indicating that she had some sort of sack in her arms. He looked up slightly from the book he had in his lap but truly had not been reading. He looked to what seemed to be an unkempt Midgardian furnace, his eyes distant, and his body unmoving. He was tired, if anything, as that seemed to be the only thing he could feel, besides perhaps hatred and loathing of those who were well on their way to destroy him, as he had tried to destroy them.
He was stuck on this filthy rock called a realm until further notice. The realm that he had tried to subjugate was now trying to subjugate him. It was almost laughable, really… He would laugh if he was not being watched, truly. It was also quite comical that the group of idiotic humans who believed they could cage him thought that a puny mortal woman would be an effective jailer. She tried speaking to him now and again, but he would have none of her silly attempts. He wasn't amused.
Luna: She could not help but look periodically over her shoulder as she arranged the groceries up in the cupboards or in the refrigerator. Despite being informed that Loki has neither the power nor the energy to try and harm her – there would be massively heavy consequences even for an attempt at her life – she did not feel safe enough to keep her back turned to him for any longer than needed. Regardless of his magical powers – which Luna still had much trouble believing in, though she had seen it with her own eyes – lacking, he still had the upper hand concerning sheer physical superiority to her. So, she was having second thoughts with her agreement. Granted, he had not done anything to her since his arrival, he acted as if she was not even existent, but that did not stop her from occasionally checking to see where he was and what he was doing. She knew that she was relatively safe, but after having seen the extent to which this man could go, the things he was able and willing to do... It made her wary.
Loki:Loki could all but feel the mortal's eyes on him, the way she paused every time he heard her place something onto a shelf in what the Midgardians called a "kitchen" (though he found it a poor excuse of one). She had been watching him every time he was in her line of vision – and even when he was not. He could almost smell the fear on the girl, and that, too, was laughable. If he attacked and killed the girl, where would he even go? He had not figured out the means by which he had been "caged" into this mortal abode, he could run and fend off any who got in his path, but where would he go, anyway? There was nowhere to run or hide without his magic to place him elsewhere, anywhere, but where he was. It was maddening.
Luna: She wondered every so often why Fury had elected her, of all the more physically apt and capable people on disposal. As she could not pinpoint the reason, for she did not know Loki beyond that which she has seen of him, she decided that Fury must have had one good enough, otherwise he would not have done it in the first place. As she finished storing away the groceries, she pondered about the fact that the brooding man had refused food ever since he came. She was unsure whether he did it out of some sort of spite or stubbornness, or if he simply did not like that which she prepared… All she knew was that his share of the food always remained intact, and it made her wonder just how long he could go without it. She did not know very much of his kind, for she was unaware of its existence up until he laid siege to Puente Antiguo and thus revealed a whole myriad of things to her world; therefore, she did not know how long he could survive without proper nourishment, or if he even needed it to begin with. She knew that Fury did not cage her together with him so that they could sit in the same house and be silent, which meant that she would have to find a way to get him to speak to her, one step at a time. She took two cold bottles of water from the refrigerator and made her soft-stepped way to the living room. It was a decent house, she thought, plenty of room for the both of them, with the living room a great space, with a lovely fireplace that she would enjoy spending time in front of a little more if he didn't feel the same way and occupied the area more often. She approached the couch he was sitting on, placing one of the bottles next to him without a word.
Loki: He frowned when he could hear her stepping closer to him, placing what looked to be a Midgardian container of water next to where he sat. He looked down, his eyes narrowed and distant as he looked down upon the book on his lap when she stepped closer. He watched the container roll in his direction, landing against his thigh. He only picked it up and then placed it onto the coffee table which lay in front of him, picking up his book and resuming to "read" it, though it hardly held any interest for him. It was about some poor child living in a city who had no parents and was taken in by a thief... Midgardian literature, he scoffed inwardly.
Luna: Her lips tightened ever so slightly at his refusal to drink, as well, but she decided to not pay it any heed. She glanced at the book that he was holding, and thought that it was as good an excuse to try and begin a conversation as any. She sat herself upon one of the armchairs, folding her legs beneath her as she played with the bottle cap, her eyes on him. "The books they placed in this house… It would have been better if they just left the shelves empty." she said with slight disappointment, her voice quiet, though very clearly heard in the now-broken silence of the room.
Loki: He made a noise – a cross between a grunt and "hmm" – and continued looking only at his book. The mortal had been trying to strike up conversation with him for the past week and none of her attempts were fruitful. Especially not now. He turned the page, though he had been staring at the same one for the past hour or so. He was nearing the end of the book, anyway. The purpose it held to him was only to cease having his mind so very idle all the time, and it somewhat held to that purpose to an extent. She sounded disappointed, as well, but he could not care less. Perhaps she would get so very bored that she simply would give up and send him to a true prison. He could only hope...
Luna: Even a grunt was progress, she thought to herself, as it was more than he'd given her in days. She saw that there would be no speaking of books, not today. "Pardon me for asking, but do you eat? At all?" she inquired gently, though she could tell by the stubborn set to his brow that she might not get a response to this, either. An answer would be useful, however, for if he was starving himself, it would be something to report. Then again, what they called him, what she has read about him, the Liesmith was in no way obliged to be frank with her in any way. Still, she decided that any response would be good.
Loki: He was nearly past due to eat, he realized when she mentioned it... He should, indeed, eat something, as he did not want to be entirely useless and tired. His muscles ached and he could feel sleep wishing to pull him under, but he downright refused to give in. He was vulnerable enough. It was no matter to her, anyway. He simply pressed his lips together and turned the page... Too soon, he thought, scolding himself. It was now more obvious that he was not reading the book at all.
Luna: She resisted the urge to sigh, as his behavior was getting quite exasperating. It was like trying to coax an overly stubborn child, although in this case, the situation bore far more danger, and she had to be careful with her treating. She shifted her weight slightly; she knew that he must eat, as she knew that Thor did, as well, so why wouldn't he? "Strange of you to not use the one power you have." she said, lowering her voice.
Loki: He glared, rolling his eyes as he shut his book rather abruptly, figuring it would be pointless to even try to read with her continuing to insist upon bothering him. He rose from his seat on the couch to walk back to the bookshelves and place it onto the one he had grabbed it from. He assumed all the other books would be of no use, either. Agitated, he walked back to the couch, sitting the furthest away from her as possible. The ridiculous mortal girl needed to calm her tongue, otherwise the response she had been pressing for would not be one she wanted.
Luna: "You giving me a simple answer to my simple question will make no difference to the state of matters. Humor me, please? Be it a nod or whichever..." she persevered, noting in the back of her mind how far away he sat from her. At least that was comforting, that he did not wish to be near her as much as she did not wish to be near him. It was enough for her to feel just a little bit less threatened.
Loki: His green eyes narrowed to thin slits as he looked back at her, his hands clenching into fists. Perhaps if he responded to her pressing questions she would finally walk away and leave him alone. "Yes, I eat." he replied bitterly, knowing that she would ultimately cease speaking to him, "And I prefer silence." he said in a low voice before looking back to the emptied furnace before him. That was not true, he did enjoy speaking. But not with one who hardly deserved to be humored. He won't make company with a human girl.
Luna: She nodded, finally hearing his voice, for which she was glad, even though it bore within it such hatred; she never knew one could push so much resentment in so few words. He ate, which naturally meant that he would get hungry, at some point, which in turn made her decide to keep preparing the food and leaving it for him, just in case. She would not force him to eat, as it was his own health in question, though she was unsure whether he would purposefully debilitate himself until he died or something similar... She would not put it past him. However, she would not make him eat with her, either, if that was one of the reasons for his constant refusals. "Thank you." she said, resigning.
Loki: He was glad she sounded as though she was letting it be, not going to press him for any further conversation. If such blunt responses would silence her, he supposed he would employ such a tactic. He would need to eat, yes, but she had always been around the kitchen whenever he smelled the strange scent of Midgardian food being cooked, and that would only annoy him. He did not need to eat as often as she did – three times a day – and he never felt the need to. He gave another quiet grunt and then nestled himself deeper into the couch, his head staring upwards to the ceiling.
Luna: After several moments of continuing silence, she rose, making her way over to the just as silent fireplace, empty and waiting for a fire to be awoken. She crouched by it, turning her back to Loki and instantly feeling as if he could pounce at any time that she was not looking. She focused, however, on starting the fire, more so to give her something to do than because it was cold. The night had fallen while she was still in the supermarket, and nights got quite chilly, and though she did not mind it enough to seek warmth from fire, she enjoyed the sounds the wood made as it snapped and crackled, and the way shadows would move in rhythm with the flames... Once she started it, she did not move back to the chair – instead, she sat on the ground, though turning so she was facing him sideways, tucking several strands of her hair behind an ear. She had very little to do around the house – it was meticulously clean, and she was yet to bring some of her own books here to keep her entertained. It might be a little more bearable to live here, if he spoke with her. Then again, that was not a guarantee, either, for she knew that what he had to say might be even less pleasant than the silence.
Loki: He watched as she attempted to start a fire, his head ridden with quiet contemplation. Silence was unbearable, he decided. It made it seem as though he were truly alone in a prison rather than it being shared with this little mortal woman who did everything in her power in order to do what she was asked to do, despite the looks he gave her, despite how many times he grit his teeth in her presence. She could just ignore his existence like he ignored hers. It would make matters more bearable for them both. But the shifty looks she gave him so frequently, he could tell that was never going to happen.
Luna: She attempted to take the silence as it was something natural, something normal and easy, but she could not. It was not one of the silences where the two did not have to speak, where they could merely think and be with their own minds, pleasant, light... No, this was, at least in her case, filled with discomfort and unease, to the point where she almost felt pressured to make any sort of talk, any at all, simply so that there would not be the tenseness in the silence. However, she retained her quietness, keeping her mouth shut and trying, instead, to focus her gaze upon the fire, and not on him.
Loki: He could almost feel the discomfort radiating off of the girl, the way she shifted, her hands unable to find a place to rest, the way she poked at the fire whenever she shifted uncomfortably, her lips set into a straight line. He paid no mind to it. He was uncomfortable, not desperate. He doubted he would find a decent conversation with her, anyway, but he decided to watch her just as she watched him, studying her, tracking her... Reading her.
Luna: The gaze that she held upon the fire got harder as she felt his eyes upon her. She hoped that she was imagining it, but after several seconds, she was one hundred percent certain that she was not. It was as if his gaze came from all sides, leaving her no place from which she could seek shelter. She felt very much so out in the open, like a sitting duck... She closed her eyes and drew in a sigh. "Admirable.." she murmured.
Loki: He furrowed his brow, thinking of all the possible meanings as to why she would say that. He dismissed it easily, his eyes narrowing as he continued to watch her rather than the fire that glowed throughout the room, casting shadows along the walls. She would feel whatever he felt while she was watching him. It only made sense, he thought.
Luna: At least he was entertained, she thought bitterly, shifting to lay down flat on her back on the ground, cradling her head on her folded arms as she looked at the fire. Her eyes would hurt from this, she knew, and she would most likely have spots dancing in front of her eyes after it... After several more moments, she took her gaze away and placed it, instead, on him. She knew she would meet his eyes, and so she did, maintaining her stare, her face blank. It made her just the slightest bit uncomfortable, and she couldn't decide whether it was more or less so than when she couldn't see him staring at her. She dismissed the feeling of competitiveness at once, knowing that she would be bested. She stared simply to stare, taking in his features closely.
Loki:His eyes narrowed considerably when she began to stare back. It was as if everything was a challenge to her – to see if he would crack. He pressed his lips tightly into a deep frown as he settled his eyes elsewhere for a moment, not enjoying staring at her eyes, as she seemed to stare directly into him. The silly mortal was trying to make him do something he did not wish to do, he could sense it. She would lose, he knew, but it did not irk him any less that she would even bother. Perhaps she was required to bother, he thought... Perhaps this was more of the Allfather's ploy to have him repent. This only bothered him more so and he continued staring back, waiting for her to look away... If she would look away. He most certainly would not.
Luna:She did not look only at his eyes; they unnerved her, and so she found temporary relief in looking at his other facial features long enough until she could return it to his eyes, recomposed. She took in his brows, of as dark a hue as his hair, his straight nose down which he enjoyed staring at her, his thin lips, now pressed into a line that ever so slowly drew lower, clear signs of his not appreciating her staring - it almost made her cease, concerned about a line she may or may not cross, and the consequences - his sunken cheeks and prominent cheekbones, a narrow jawline and the greenest pair of eyes, bearing so many things that she could not discern, making it all the same even if he held nothing in them.
Loki: He could feel her studying him, her eyes not always meeting with his, and they wandered elsewhere. He shifted once more, his arms crossing over his chest as he breathed in a sigh. The puny mortal would not seem to cease, either, no matter how coldly he glared at her, no matter how much he frowned, her eyes would not cease wandering over his features. He made another noise, shifting in his seat. "Is staring not considered rude here?" he muttered, reluctantly giving in to the fact that the silence was overbearing.
Luna:She restrained herself from smiling when she heard him speak. "You're assuming that I'm not rude." she said, just as quietly, not shifting a muscle. There were dark circles around his eyes, she noticed then, telltale signs of fatigue and weariness.
Loki: He blinked a few times, his frown remaining drawn upon his face. "Very well." he spat, rolling his eyes. How dare the girl speak to him as such? "I do not believe I came here to be gazed upon, as you so very often do. It would suit you well to learn manners."
Luna: "We come from different places, our views of manners might not match." she said, doing her best to ignore all of his jabs. It would not do them well if the first time they spoke, they had a dispute. "If I am to learn some of your manners, then you are to learn some of mine, I suppose. I'd rather meet you halfway." she said. "Besides, you stared back, crushing manners as easily as I did."
Loki: He glared. "You have been staring since I have arrived." he replied evenly, firm in ignoring her accusations of his lack of "manners", though he knew the girl would hardly know what manners were. Mortals had a lack of respect for any sort of higher being, he figured, as they were stubborn enough to be not considered as lowly and useless. "I'd say I hardly surpass your rudeness." he added.
Luna: But he responded to nothing but it, she thought to herself, choosing to keep that observation to herself, as he would use it and recoil even further. Perhaps that was how she needed to behave, in order to get him to speak to her more often, thus opening a chance for her to continue speaking to him in a manner more civilized. He spoke of her rudeness and yet he set New York City aflame... That thought reminded her to still keep cautious, and remember to whom she was speaking. "My apologies, in that case." she said, earnest in her voice. "I'm not of Asgard," the word sounded so odd on her tongue, using it as a factual place, not a mere myth or a tale. "and I do not know your manners. If you taught me them, then I could act accordingly."
Loki: His lips twisted into a rueful smirk, thinking of all of the things he could say to respond to her statement... How he had tried to teach Midgardians such things as "manners", but they were so rude as to ignore him, how she could not have possibly deserved to know such things. No, he would not grace her with yet another response, so he tapped his fingers against his arm, his eyes leaving her and going back to the glowing flames of the fire. He quite enjoyed watching fire sometimes... The way the tendrils of heat would rise up and lap at the air surrounding it, the way it would engulf the wood entirely, the way it would burn in to such different colors. It was quite an alluring sight.
Luna: She, too, fell silent, hoping that this conversation, however brief, managed to take away some of the weight of the silence. She wished to provoke him back into speaking, while it was still relatively possible, but she thought it wiser to take it slowly, so as to not anger him or risk anything, including her own safety. There was a contrast in her head as she tried to connect the man who had damaged so many people, so many buildings, such a vast city, the man who had killed and hurt and attempted to take over... To the weary looking man sitting right in front of her, looking almost broken down, lacking the desire for just about anything, choosing to retain his silence when he knew very well he could most likely use his words skillfully against her...
Loki: He was glad she continued to keep her silence, knowing she would only continue to remain so for so long. But he would bask in it for as long as he could. Why was she here, anyway? Did she lose some sort of privilege that she had to be punished as well? So therefore she remained here, with him, waiting until he would elicit some sort of response they were looking for, so they could just proceed and lock him up further... He wondered which one he would prefer – the cylindrical cell he had escaped or this odd abode that Midgardians called a home? He could not honestly give an answer, but it did not matter… He was powerless where he was now, not as much in his previous containment. He could have escaped easily then.
Luna: Her eyes traveled over to him once more for a brief moment before she looked away again. She wondered what was on his mind, what thoughts whirred that made it easier for him to bear the silence and prolong it as much as he did. Then again, taking into consideration who he was, perhaps it was better if she did not know the contents of his mind, however curious she was. One of her hands slowly extended towards the fire, lingering just shy of pain. "A delightful thing, fire.." she said in a low voice, not expecting him to say anything, not even wishing him to; she knew he would inevitably hear and that was enough for the time being. "It has a potential for both good and bad, depending on how it is viewed. But its form does not change, regardless - it is fire and only that." she murmured, gently moving her fingers above the flames. "There are always those eager to blame the fire for their own imbecility. They will claim they were hurt, unjustly, but was it not them reaching too close? Breaking that boundary where the gentle warmth turns into the searing pain?" she said, her words carrying her attention away enough that she nearly burned herself. She blinked, as if coming out of a reverie and scooting further away from the fire. It was much too hot.
Loki: He blinked a few times, listening to her words, although it looked as though he did not give a fleeting thought to what she had said. She was speaking without any sort of restraint, not expecting any sort of response from him, but using her voice to fill in the blank spaces he would continue to leave for her. Yet he did not expect he would be locked away with such a poet, a different sort of weaver of words. What she said would spark a thought or two from him – the opposing properties to fire was truly a deep thought to behold, especially in a time like this. He did not expect that from her, but he truly did not know the girl besides her reactions to him. He did not truly know of her amount of intelligence, only from what he could gather by his observations. "Thoughtful." he muttered, his voice not betraying any other emotion or tone, simply a statement of his response to her words.
Luna: She stretched over to her armchair to fetch the bottle of water she'd left there; being in such close proximity to fire for any longer period of time left her throat parched, and her skin crawling with unnecessary heat. She was warm enough as it was, and the coldness of the bottle felt so soothing against the palm of her hand, and even better once the chilled water refreshed her dry mouth. She sat even further away from it, holding the bottle in her hands. "It happens..." she murmured gently.
Loki: He watched her, even moving in the slightest way so she was not sitting so very close to the fire. He was growing uncomfortable himself, never being one for such strong warmth, but there were times that he did not mind it as much – this rarity of a time being one of them. He continued watching the leaping flames, his strong, emerald eyes almost watering from the brightness, in contrast to the darkening room, but he paid no attention. He sat comfortably back into the couch.
Luna: She leaned her back against the armchair, taking a small cushion from it and hugging it to her, placing her chin atop it and looking interchangeably from the fire to him and back. Would she be bold enough to continue speaking to him? Her luck seemed to be striking tonight, and perhaps one more attempt would not do harm... "The fire... It claimed much of New York City." she murmured tentatively. "You gave it a chance to realize part of its potential.."
Loki: He blinked a few times, as he should have realized where this was going when she spoke of fire. She was trying to elicit a response from him, he knew, some sort of pity from him, some way to appeal to his humanity. She was not successful, and he would make sure she would continue to not be. "So I did." he replied indifferently, "But as you said, it has a potential for both good and bad." He replied quietly, "Can you blame the fire, really? Perhaps it was your own imbecility."
Luna: She did not intend for the conversation to go in this direction, for it was quite a delicate one that would be best left alone. "I cannot blame the fire, no, it is not its fault for being created. It only did what it is natural for it – it knows no other way." she said, leaving it at that. She did not blame the fire, she blamed the person who started it in the first place. Our own imbecility? she thought to herself, slightly puzzled. Perhaps he alluded to their unwillingness to break their backs for him and submit, thus being the ones to blame for the destruction brought upon them? An odd way of thinking...
Loki: "Perhaps there was no other way." he pressed, his brows knitting together as he challenged her, "It had to be created. And upon its creation, it could bring about good and bad." He explained, further emphasizing his point from before that she did not entirely catch on to. "With the intentions of both, can you truly blame its creation?" He asked, his lips curling into a frown.
Luna: She shook her head slightly, thoughts and retorts forming already in her mind, ready for her to expel them. However, she did not think it wise to continue down this path, for it could very well lead to disagreements, and then even further on into things she would prefer to avoid, at all costs. She was in mild disbelief, though, for he spoke so freely now - she should have expected that the only thing he would choose to willingly talk about was his plan and its righteousness, his perspective and how utterly proper it was, how they would all see if they tried... She kept silent, looking at him slightly. "No." was the sole word that escaped her.
Loki: He smirked, "Are my arguments too much for you?" He pressed, his tone almost amused at her utmost rejection of anything he was, wishing to bother her as much as he can now. Yes, it may have him in more trouble than he'd like to say, but at least it would ultimately entertain him. "You admire fire so very much, but you do not seem to realize that fire is equivalent to more than you may realize." he added, his smirk wavering, as he met her gaze, "You are merely blinded."
Luna: She met his eyes, hers soft and truly unwilling to argue with him; even if, on the slim chance that they would not argue, it was still a topic that would take plenty out of her. She did not know the man well enough, but if this was something he would do often - refuse to speak and when finally coaxed into it, speak of one of the most difficult, complicated matters he could find... Granted, there was nothing complicated in it for him, as he had the idea deeply etched into his mind, knowing exactly what he wanted, but the topic was heavy on its own, and Luna would not discuss it. "Perhaps if you were gentler in removing the blindfold.." she murmured reluctantly.
Loki: He scoffed, looking away from her eyes as she met them. The ridiculous mortal did not know what she was talking about. He glanced back into the flames, his tired, heavy-lidded eyes reflecting the firelight. "That is not so easy." He replied, his voice heavy. He gave an audible sigh as he leaned farther back into the couch, stretching his limbs like a fatigued cat.
Luna: She wished to continue letting him speak, but the topic was a minefield that she did not yet feel adequate enough to try and cross. "If you say so..." she said resignedly, burrowing her face into the soft cushion for several moments as she pondered about a topic that might have him speak, but that would not be as difficult. She rose her head again, settling her eyes upon him. "There are tales of you from the 13th century." she began in a lighter tone. "Have you read them?"
Loki: He arched a brow, the ghost of a smirk on his lips at her mentioning the tales of Midgard about him. Of course he had read them... He was curious. They were not completely accurate, especially considering he had never been impregnated – that was a twisted rumor spread by the Warriors Three upon his fascination with a horse that had been gifted to him for his coming of age. He took a liking easily to the creature, and he ended up being the bottom of a cruel joke. He never found out how such a thing came to Midgard, anyway... He grimaced at the memory. "I have." he replied simply.
Luna: "Not to your liking, then?" she pressed gently, brushing her fingers along the cushion as she attempted to egg him on to saying more. "The translations we have today, they're not entirely accurate. There are many words yet that people have not deciphered; not to mention the fact that the copies of the texts changed time and time again... Who knows what they've been like in their original forms. Not all is true, then, I assume?" the tone of her voice was questioning.
Loki: He nodded, "You assumed correctly." he muttered. He had read several versions of what had been written, and he knew they had very few distinct and concrete details that made him who he was that were in the slightest bit correct. "Very little is true." he added dryly. She was trying to get him to speak, and speak he did. But he would not expose himself to her, as that was what her idiotic human organization was pining after. He would not be an easy subject, nor would he be an item of study.
Luna: "Well, most do take it for simple works of fiction, after all..." she said, not minding providing the majority of the conversation, even if he continued with such short replies - it was better than nothing - piece by piece she would collect. "I have read the majority of it as part of my studies." she admitted, giving him a tiny piece, as well. "Though, having only been written down in the 13th century and having been thought of much earlier before that, you are nowhere near new." she leaned in slightly towards him, now genuinely interested, for her own sake, rather than anything else. "How old are you, if I may be so rude to ask?"
Loki: He crossed his arms across his chest as he listened to her go on and on about the fact that she had researched him by the literature that the Midgardians had written. Only a mortal would believe it rude to ask of age, he thought with a smirk. They had such short lifespans that old age would come upon them so very quickly. He had to consider the question, converting the time he knew he has spent alive and putting it into Midgardian years – it took slight effort to consider. "Approximately 1,100 Midgardian years." he replied shortly after a moment of silence as he gathered what little information he could have regarding his lifespan.
Luna: She blinked, her eyebrows drawing together. 1,100 years old? She was dumbfounded... Her mortal mind could not even begin to grasp the possibility that one's lifespan extended for such a length of time; she could comprehend such an amount of time, but to come to terms with the fact that someone had been alive for that long? Someone's existence, so permanent, as opposed to many, many things that have come and gone, only temporary, only momentarily... And he, he had been there through it all. Not necessarily on Earth, granted, but he had been existent. "Huh," she said dumbly. "I'm only twenty-five..."
Loki: He furrowed his brow, glancing at her by the corners of his eyes. She was so very young, so very small. When he was such an age, he was an infant... Quite possibly an infant being taken by the Allfather after the Ice War, but it was still something he had never understood. Such short lives, he mused. "I suppose I am approximately that age if I were mortal. Give or take a few physical years."
Luna: "You do look it, I suppose." she said slowly, her eyes gliding over him; indeed, give or take. His words still echoed in her head as she tried to wrestle with the disbelief and come to terms with the fact that the man sitting in front of her was not in his twenties, or thirties, but that he was well on his way to three thousand years old. She gazed at him in curiosity now; with such an age came endless, innumerable experiences and knowledge... Any normal human being, by the time they grew older, accumulated quite a bit of experience and had learned much through out the years... To think of all the things that hemust have seen and lived. She scooted closer by just an inch, dragged by many questions that she now had roaming through her head. "How much you must know.." she said, admittedly respectfully.
Loki: He noticed her impending proximity, seeing that every time she spoke she would scoot closer to him. He grimaced and then shifted so that he was closer to the edge of the couch, rather than anywhere near her. It was an odd thing, what she was trying to accomplish here. She was not pressing questions about what he had done, or why he did it. If she was trying to interrogate him, it was quite subtle, but he could sense (as his senses were almost always correct) that she pressed these questions simply out of curiosity. He was, indeed, young for his own time. There were many others who lived far, far longer than he has. It was odd that she was marveling over how wise he must be based upon his lifespan, but at the same time her race rejected knowledge that far surpasses their own. He made another odd noise, sitting almost so that his back was to her.
Luna: His small, but very much so deliberate movements made her recoil, as well. She was hardly aware of her own motions, but now that he has reacted to it, she realized. An amusing thought came to her mind - with each inch of distance that she took away, he would replace it - he was in no way willing to come anywhere near her. However, that made her feel just a hair safer, no more. She would be a fool if she thought that he couldn't, at any point, overcome his unwillingness to be in close proximity to her, just so he could rid himself of the pest she knew he thought her to be. "I'm sorry, I am simply.. Curious." she said. She had to admit to herself that she would, in fact, enjoy it greatly if he simply told her tales and stories of all that he has seen...
Loki: "Understandable." he muttered, making himself comfortable in his new position, his head leaning back onto the cushion. He could have very well walked away now, as he should have, to ignore conversation, go into his pathetic excuse of a bedchamber and see to it that he does not have to respond to her at all. However, he would be locked away soon enough into a prison cell for what may be the rest of his life until he withers away. He might as well embrace the bits of freedom he was given while it lasted. So he stayed put for as long as the mortal remained where she was.
Luna: She reclined, sprawling her legs in front of herself in the thick, soft rug that occupied quite a bit of the living room. It was all so very strange... A month ago, she had been in her own apartment, doing bits and pieces of work that S.H.I.E.L.D. had her take care of, mostly concerning various dry documents that she had to translate from one language to the other and hand in to be sent to the many countries S.H.I.E.L.D. kept in touch with. Much of the world had heard of the events in New York City, and to some, an explanation was given, and assurance that the destruction and devastation would be reined in and suppressed. There were those who did not wish to meddle with the threat and the danger, thus leaving everything in S.H.I.E.L.D's hands - which, in the end, was the most convenient for them. Certainly, back up would have been called in from other countries who were willing, but fortunately, there was no need for that.
And here she sat, now, with the convict, in front of a fireplace, as if mere roommates.
Loki: There was finally silence. Perhaps the girl had figured there truly was not much for them to discuss... There was not much he had in common with her... Or any mortal, for that instance. The only conversation that may spark between them would be based upon him, and how odd and outlandish he was. That was not something he truly wished to discuss... However, he did not wish to simply remain here for Allfather knows how long... He could manipulate the girl if he wanted to into doing his bidding. But manipulation would not come from being so very distant from her... He had to put his silver-tongued self to use. He glanced over to her when he was certain she would not notice and shifted in his seat. "So," he began almost entirely random, "What sort of wretched thing did you accomplish that landed you here? You cannot tell me it was by utmost choice..."
Luna: She listened to his words and at first responded with a soft laugh. He may just have a point, she thought to herself, as being put in the same house for an undetermined period of time with a criminal of his caliber was not a wish of anyone with sufficient sanity. "Fury invited me to his office one day, vaguely explained the situation to me, saying I was 'appropriate', and asked me if I was up for it." she explained. "And I agreed." It was her choice, to a large extent - she could have refused, but she was unsure of the consequences for that. Perhaps Fury would have simply let her be, as he said he would, and find someone else, but she would not have put anything past him.
Loki: He smirked letting out a dry laugh, "Ah," he replied, an amused glint in his eye as he looked over to her, "to share your life with a – ah, what is it they call me? – war criminal." he replied with another dry laugh and shook his head. "Why?" He pressed, furrowing his brow as he faced her straight-on, "If they did not hold something over your head... I see no reason as to why you would not have declined."
Luna: His laughter sounded much like something forgotten, unused and now trying to develop back into something that it used to be. As if he were attempting to recall just how to perform such an action. However, even if his intention was genuine, somewhere along the way, the breath that would form his laugh got terribly twisted and distorted, coming out finally - dry, heavy, unnatural, almost forced. "I do not know whether or not they held something over my head..." she said more quietly, straightening her back slightly and meeting his slightly perplexed gaze. If she was deemed 'appropriate' - in whichever way Fury used that word - and if she could be of help, why wouldn't she accept? It spared someone else the trouble, someone 'less appropriate', and though it came with only relative safety, the pay was hefty, and she might just get something out of this for herself.
Loki: He arched a brow, his arms hanging to his sides as he unconsciously toyed with the fabric of the Midgardian shirt he had been given in exchange for the tunic he was thrown into the prisons with. It was such a flimsy piece of fabric, useless, and he exposed and bare. There was no such way to shield him from anything, be it warmth or the cold. No wonder why mortals lived such short lives... "Ah, so a reward, then..." He replied with a curt nod. "You wish to find out and see for yourself if that is what they offer after they haul me away... A gift for your efforts of charity."
Luna: "Recompense would not go amiss, I suppose." she said with a shrug. As far as she was concerned, what they were paying her for this would be sufficient for her, even without a 'reward', as he called it. It was enough to secure her for quite some time. She didn't know if she would simply go on to performing her duties about the organization after Loki was taken away or not, though she could see no reason as to why she shouldn't.
Loki: He nodded, figuring that was only to be expected. "I am sure it shall be well worth it." he replied, scoffing. Why else would she give herself to looking over someone who could very well kill her if he so wished it? There will be a large reward for her, he was sure of it. Unless she was ultimately naive or idiotic.
Luna: "Oh, yes, worth all the noise and ruckus and trouble you're giving me." she said with a small, ironic smirk. It was too early to tell whether or not he would be increasingly difficult, but so far, it's been as if he wasn't even here. He refused to speak with her, he ignored her and pretended that he, himself, was not where he was. There has been the pressure, every so often, pressure of wariness and caution, (which she should always keep, she thought to herself), and sometimes, simply the fact that he exuded unease and discomfort.
Loki: "You would not like it very much if I were to fulfill your expectations." he said, giving a small, rueful smirk. If he saw more purpose for it, he would have taken his entertainment easily. He could toy with her until she was mad and then they would send her away, and take him elsewhere. But something deep down knew that he did not truly wish to be within yet another confines of a prison cell.
Luna: She nodded in agreement. "You're very right about that, indeed." she did not know half of what he was capable of, but based on what she saw of him so far, she was certain that she would not enjoy it. No, it was certainly better if he were calm, much like this. However, the more she thought, the more she came to the one and the same conclusion - he was unpredictable at best, and she could not trust any of his behaviors; not one of his moods has to be what it appears to be. His present tranquility could be nothing but one of the masks he places on so very naturally, covering whatever he may be contemplating at the moment, which could, she reminded herself, be the demise of his entire imprisonment.
Loki: He nodded once more, his lips pressing together as he contemplated what should be his next strategy of earning some sort of amiability with her, even in the slightest bit, so that he could use it to some sort of advantage. He shifted in his seat, looking at her through somewhat lightened eyes. "Tell me of yourself," he requested quietly, "for fair trade."
Luna: She looked up at him with an entertained smirk. He told her nothing, and nothing he will receive in return. Fair trade. "What would you like to know, apart from my age?" she inquired in return. She had to attempt and see if she could get some sort of concrete questions, in order for her to lessen the possibility of saying more than necessary. She would not divulge far too much, and that which she did would have to be very scarce, as well - she was certain that he could find a way to use absolutely anything against her, in one way or another.
Loki: "You are most obviously not a typical worker for your agency," he replied, "so what is it you do?" He pressed, though this was out of mere curiosity. The silly human organization would not use a worthwhile agent to watch over him. No, they would choose someone slightly more disposable than a useful, strong agent. That simply was the way the universe worked.
Luna: She contemplated the question for a short while. "I deal with odds and ends concerning foreign affiliates of S.H.I.E.L.D's. A mediator of sorts." she answered, crossing her legs and taking another sip of the water. Often, she was in charge of handling the foreign organizations that from time to time associated with S.H.I.E.L.D, providing the lingual parts, first and foremost, and reaching an agreement or otherwise a compromise that would work in the best interest for both parties.
Loki: He nodded in response, as he could have guessed something along the line of that – the 'odds and ends' being something not very specific – but he figured it did not matter. The very basis of the matter was that she hardly mattered. He wondered how deep that tie was to her organization... Surely something that could easily be forgotten later on, the fact she would easily betray something she hardly had any sort of part in. "I see." he replied thoughtfully. "As I said, this is fair trade. You do know much of myself."
Luna: She suppressed a scoffing laugh, keeping all entertainment out of her voice, as well as her features. "I know that which I see and hear, no more." she said in feigned innocence. She knew only that which he chose to tell her, though that was questionable, at best. The only thing she could, at least in part, trust was what she had seen of him beforehand, what she attempted to infer on her own.
Loki: His eyes narrowed seeing the hidden entertainment. So she found his conversation enjoyable... He stopped himself from rolling his eyes. "And what do you see and hear?" he pressed, his lips pressing into a firm line. "What do you know of me?" he continued, "Surely S.H.I.E.L.D. has enlightened you of a few details as concerning my very being... Besides your, what I believe is called, mythology."
Luna: "They've told me the majority of what they know." she said vaguely. "They say they have told me all but I am unsure of that." Her words were true - she did not know and could not know if there was something about Loki that they've not given away to her, even though it might increase her safety, the more knowledge of him she had. However, she knew enough to understand that even with all the knowledge of him, he was one who would simply disregard that and go against anything and everything, if that got him what he wished for.
Loki: He frowned, "So go on then." he pressed, seeing that she was being quite vague with him, most likely on purpose. "Perhaps I can clarify." he added simply, his voice light as he turned his body more so that he was more open to her. He would not accomplish anything if his back was turned. "If you so wish it."
Luna: She gestured with her hand invitingly. "Do clarify, then, please." she said, her voice just as light and polite, as if they were speaking of something so very ordinary - and they were, though this was anything but regular. It had such a gaming undertone; both of them knew there was more to their intentions and words than was shown. It was as if attempting to dance on a minefield, where either of them could step wrongly and end themselves, giving the other one advantage. Except he was skilled, so very skilled, so very graceful and so very unlikely to make a wrong step.
Loki: He raised his brows slightly at her light tone so he managed to almost mimic it, taking on a more polite, conversational one that was a great contrast from his dry words. He could play that game better than any other, if that was what she was wishing for. "I have lived for two and a half millenia, if I were to tell you my history and reasoning we would be here for a very long time. Perhaps I was not precise. What is it you wish to know?" he pressed, blinking a few times as he looked directly to her eyes.
Luna: "If we have something, then it is time." she said with a small smile, meeting his eyes, feeling as if they were attempting to bore through her mind and see each and every crack and crevice within it, see all that there was, is or will be. Alarmingly so, it felt as if he would succeed. "Have you been to... Midgard... Previously?" she asked, knowing that the question had very little to do with anything useful; this was purely for her own sake. Besides, he would certainly not answer just any of her questions, and even those which he would… Well, they may not be veritable one bit.
Loki: His lips twisted into a smirk, as he most definitely would not tell her everything there is to know of him, nor his reasoning. Her question, however, was merely harmless. She knew his age and she knew of his history. "We all have," he replied, knowing very well she could assume what he meant by 'we'. "How else might such stories and 'myths' come about? Simple guesses, theories from your ancient people? Of course not." he shook his head, his lips distorted now in an odd, amused smile.
Luna: "When did you visit?" she specified, trying to understand that he, and they, had been here at various points in what she knew as history. She shifted her weight, sitting down upon her knees now, finishing her water, though not averting her gaze from his.
Loki: He considered her question for a moment, his gaze never leaving hers as he thought for a moment. He was very young and very childish. He could give her a vague answer just as easily as she did him. He smirked in amusement at that thought and decided for it. "A very, very long time ago." he replied, "In my youth."
Luna: She nodded, the corners of her lips turning into a small, wry smile. "A very, very long time ago, indeed." she agreed, wondering about his thoughts of the humans then and the humans now, for if it was as long ago as he claims, there would have been massive differences. However, she doubted that his opinion changed in all those years, if it didn't simply keep deteriorating. She fell silent, wondering if he shall attempt to continue the conversation, as he had the previous several minutes, curiously so.
Loki: He lost his smirk and then turned his head when he saw that she fell silent. Odd, he thought – she seemed so very willing to carry on such a conversation just moments ago and now she seemed to not be as interested as she was then. Perhaps his answer was too vague, but then again, she was only asking for such a response... If he were to go by an "eye for an eye" logic, at least. He pressed his lips together, simply waiting for her to say something more, to press on a conversation he was not about to be the only one holding up.
Luna: "Your turn for a question." she said after a silent while, carrying this on much like a game of sorts - and it was his turn. Once he glanced at her, she gave him a small, appealing smile.
Loki: He considered what he should ask, what question he should put into this "game" of sorts next – what would be useful to him and what would not distanced themselves in his head. The girl gave him an odd, endearing smile when he looked over to her, and it made him look away again. "I don't believe I know your name." he replied simply, though it was silly... But he did not. In his mind, he simply called her "the girl" or "mortal" or "human," and she knew exactly what his name was. It was only fair.
Luna: A small frown settled between her eyebrows, as she was confused for a moment before realizing that he was correct. Very slowly, though surely and without hesitation, she scooted and closed some of the distance between them, extending her hand to him in the typical, most normal human greeting. "I am Luna." she said simply, keeping the smile on her face.
Loki: He nearly leaped off of the couch when she went scooting closer to him, but he stayed put, awkwardly leaning away. He looked down to her much smaller hand reaching out to him in a sort of Midgardian greeting, he supposed. He had seen others doing so when he was in Stuttgart, greeting each other by the shake of their hand. It was odd, not something he was used to, as the Asgardians often greeted each other by grabbing each others forearm in a sign of friendship or appreciation. He continued staring at her hand for a long while as he contemplated it all. "Loki." he replied dryly, rather suddenly grabbing her hand to give a swift and subtle shake, and then replaced his hand onto his lap.
Luna: She waited for some time, while he contemplated her small offer, though she very nearly jumped due to his sudden grab of her hand, her heart skipping a beat. However, once he had given it quite a rigid shake, she retreated back to her spot, her smile tinging with satisfaction. For the longest time she was unsure of whether he would simply rise and walk away, ignoring her entirely, and she was pleased that he did not. It made her feel slightly uncomfortable, however, as he backed away from her as if she was the plague, itself; did he truly despise mortals so much that he would not lower himself enough to even be in near proximity of one? Oh, yes, she was pleased that he shook her hand, no matter how briefly. She kept silent, knowing that any other thing she might say that was almost like a custom for her kind - such as 'Pleased to meet you' - would go scoffed at. So, she but sat there, looking at him.
Loki: She sat there with a stupid smile, looking as though she was glad that he had shook her hand, so he looked away again, scooting an inch further away from her, as she continued to sit too close to him for comfort. When he was comfortable once more, he glanced at her through the corners of his eyes as she continued to sit. "That is an odd name, Luna." He muttered, weighing the syllables of the name on his tongue, "As in 'moon'... Midgardian names I shan't ever understand." He mused.
Luna: A light chuckle escaped her. "Do you think so?" she asked. "I do not know many people with the same name, I do not suppose it's very common." she shrugged, propping her chin up into her hand. "One would have to ask my parents.." she mused. Her father suggested a variation of names with the similar letters, but her mother ultimately chose it. Luna never had any sort of opinion of her name; it was simply there, and it was hers and she never truly questioned it.
Loki: He nodded in response, listening to her in silence. He never questioned names, truly. Never his own name, as he supposed it was Odin to have granted him one, as "Loki" was an Aesir name, not Jotun. It had royal roots, he was told, but he never cared enough to look further into the archives of Aesir history in order to root out that lie. He did not like thinking of it any longer. He made a grunt in response to her comments and then folded his hands stiffly upon his lap. "It is your turn, I believe." he added.
Luna: She had several questions, indeed, but none of which were safe to ask, not in his present state. Since he divulged the presence of otherworldly entities, and ever since she saw with her own eyes the inexplicable magic involved, and since he came here, she had been wishing to step over all boundaries and relentlessly question him about it. However, taking into consideration that he was without magic presently, she did not think it wise to ask him anything related to it, though it did not lessen her desire to. "Hmm.." she muttered indistinctly. "If you told me what you liked eating, and I tried to find something as close to it as I can, would you eat finally?" she asked. She did not want him to starve himself, as it would not bode well for either of them. She ought to keep him alive, as she did not receive instructions to do otherwise. It was not a question that she wished to ask, truly, but her options were fewer and fewer.
Loki: Ah yes, her fixation on having him eat so very much. It was comical, really, as he did not require food as much as the Midgardians did. They apparently failed to mention that when he was handed over to her. He gave a small, amused smirk. "I sincerely doubt you have any such food that I should like." he replied simply, his eyes gleaming with a sort of satisfaction at befuddling the mortal – Luna, he corrected himself. Her name was Luna, he confirmed within his head.
Luna: She frowned, her lips pressing slightly together as she looked at him intently. "Well, if you'll not tell me, then you'll have to eat that which you dislike, eventually." she said, knowing that he had to eat at somepoint, thinking of just how different food can be on Earth and on Asgard, and that he is most likely being simply difficult, for the sake of troubling her. There had to be something he would even remotely like.
Loki: He shook his head, "If I told you what I liked, you would be unable to provide it, Luna." he replied simply, "I do not believe it should matter either way, as I shall have to eat your... Poor excuse of food when I require it." He explained, rolling his eyes. Why would she not understand that? What must she be thinking of him? Surely her organization based their predictions of his eating habits off of Thor, who could eat the entirety of a feast table if he so wished it.
Luna: She resigned with a small sigh, "Such a child you can be, you." She felt precisely like that at the moment - as if she were dealing with a spoiled child who refused this and refused that and wanted it his way or no way at all. Such spite. With the exception, of course, that this particular child might simply rise and snap her neck where she sat. She closed her lips tightly shut, considering only now that what she said might not have been clever at all.
Loki: He narrowed his eyes, slightly caught in disbelief that she would dare say such a thing to him. Him of all people. He had spoken lightly with her before and that was merely out of his own intentions but now she simply took it too far, making herself too comfortable with him. He did not say much else, as he knew any sort of violent move or word towards her might land him in a rather unfavorable place, but he would not be mocked by this... This idiotic Midgardian woman. He rose from his seat, brushing off his pants and shirt and then began to walk away.
Luna: The moment he began walking away, she relaxed slightly out of the tension that quite suddenly and quite firmly grasped her. She was glad, in a way, that he was walking away from her and not towards her - they both knew that he should not in any way be abusive towards her, for there would be quite some consequences, but she tended to not put her trust into it so much. It was better that way, even with all the nerves worn thin with his movements. She could not help but think to herself that he very much so confirmed her words, stomping off now, much like a child. She pondered apologizing, yet she made no attempts at trying to stop him from walking away.
Loki: He paused in his step, seeing as how she was making no attempt to stop him, as she clearly did not want to continue any such conversation. He had some sort of expectation that she was going to stop him, that she didn't want to be in further silence, but there was no such thing. His eyes only narrowed further, "Do not mock what you do not know." he muttered before finally, swiftly walking up the stairs. Seeing as how she should not offer any other sort of words (which he was glad for), he continued to walk towards his "bedchambers."
Luna: She caught herself thinking that the only reason she did not know was because he was so very reluctant to change that in any way. She rose from her own seat after several silent minutes, after hearing the door to his bedroom close, and she then took up the space that he previously occupied on the larger couch - it was big enough for the both, but neither one of them ever joined the other who was already sitting there. It was as if an unspoken rule. But now that he was no longer there, she sprawled across it, fluffing a cushion underneath her head and resuming her gazing at the still blazing fire. The place where he sat felt oddly cold, much like his hand, she noticed in a wonder, before shaking it off. It could have gone much worse, she thought, and she knew somewhere in the back of her mind that their conversation would most likely end this way, with one or both of them even mildly upset. Perhaps tomorrow she might try and apologize to him, though she knew already that it would be but a simple waste of time. Nevertheless, she had accomplished a bit tonight, and she hoped that it was now a basis, a foundation atop which she could continue building another day, another time. He certainly wasn't going anywhere.
Loki: He sat onto what the Midgardians thought was a bed, reaching onto the small table for the book he had been reading earlier that day and found his place where he left off and continued reading it. He was fatigued from his lack of energy and the fact he had rarely slept the past several days. He laid back, his head resting on his pillow and looked out to the sky... A sky that held no candle to what he studied night after night in Asgard. That thought alone made him slightly wary. Yes, he did not wish to go back to Asgard, but it was the only realm that was his home in the slightest. He sighed heavily, and threw the book to the floor, finding little patience with what Midgard had to offer in regards of literature, and crossed his arms across his chest as he attempted to shut his eyes and eventually sleep. It took him a very long while, he deemed, as he was not used to sleeping in such conditions – especially without magic. He felt as though his muscles gave in too quickly, and eventually unconsciousness caught up with him and he drifted off into sleep.
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