Buddy's Diner
Loki, Selvig, Rei, and Kurisuta sit at a table at a local diner. Selvig and Rei watched as Loki ate mannerly from a plate of steak and eggs.
Kurisuta was eager, her notebook at the ready. "Now tell us exactly what happened to you last night."
Loki looks her in the eyes, staring, intrigued. Kurisuta got flustered, looks away.
Maybe start with how you got inside that cloud."
"And how you could eat an entire box of Pop-Tarts and still be this hungry." Rei said. "And, oh, why did you cut and eat Pop-Tarts like they were the same as steak?"
Kurisuta shot her a withering look. Loki sipped a cup of coffee.
"This is excellent," Loki said.
"Yeah, it's great, isn't it?" Rei said. "Isabela makes the best coffee in town."
Loki looked at the now empty mug, considering it. "May I have some more?"
Isabela Alvarez, the diner's proprietor, glanced at Loki from behind the counter. "A él le gusta mi café!"
Loki smiled charmingly. "Tu café, mi buena mujer, es resplandeciente, y eres amable y hermosa."
She quickly brought some more coffee, warming to his charm.
"What was that?" Kurisuta said.
He didn't understand for a moment, then realized that most humans did not possess the Allspeak. The other patrons stared at him.
"It was delicious. I wanted to compliment her in her native tongue." Loki said. "I do not remember much, but somehow I understand and speak the lovely language of Spanish."
Selvig narrowed his eyes at Loki suspiciously.
"Loki, most people do not just randomly speak other languages," Kurisuta said. "Unless their families speak it or they are a professor at a college."
"But Kurisuta," Loki said. "People prefer to be spoken to in their language. It is common courtesy."
Kurisuta considered. "Alright. It is alright to thank someone in their native tongue, but promise me you won't intrude on people's private lives."
Loki smirked, then lied easily. "You have my word."
A few townies, looking bedraggled, entered and took a seat at the counter. These people came from Lone Star Lake.
"Morning, Pete. Jake." Isabela said.
"The usual, please, Izzy." Pete said.
Isabela poured them a couple cups of coffee.
"You missed all the excitement out at the lake." Jake said, revealing a wrapped up arm. "We had to go to the ER after."
"What happened at the lake?" Isabella asked.
Kurisuta and Selvig overhear this, exchanged a look, turned to the Townies with interest.
"They're saying some kind of satellite crashed in the lake," Pete said. "Froze it. Gave all of us a touch of frostbite."
Loki's head snapped up.
"We were having a good time with it till the Feds showed up, chased us out." Jake said.
"Excuse me, did you say there was a satellite crash?" Kurisuta asked.
"Yep. They said it was radioactive. And I had my hands all over it." Jake said. "I'm probably sterile now."
Loki finished the steak and eggs, wiped his mouth, and prepared politely to dig into the giant pile of pancakes. Rei was amazed by the sight.
"Oh my God, look at those manners," Rei said. "This is going on Facebook."
Rei whipped out her cellphone and started to take a video.
"What did the satellite look like?" Selvig asked.
"Like one of those old-timey swords," Jake said. "From Camelot, what's the name?"
"Excalibur," Loki breathed unintentionally.
Loki stood, placing his napkin gently on the table, and strode over to Jake. "Could you kindly tell me where this lake is?"
His voice was gentle, charming the townie, but his eyes were hard, focused.
Selvig noticed, suspicious even more.
"About twelve miles east of here." Jake said. "Lone Star Lake."
Loki was jubilant, but did not allow it to show on his face, as he quickly strode out of the diner.
"I wouldn't bother! Looked like the whole Army was coming in when we left!" Pete warned.
Outside
Loki studied the position of the sun, gauging his bearings.
Kurisuta, Rei, and Selvig caught up to him.
"Where are you going?" Kurisuta asked.
"Twelve miles east of here." Loki said.
He started to stride determinedly down the street. Kurisuta walked with him.
"Why?" Kurisuta asked.
"To get my p—memories back," Loki said. "I believe that satellite is the key to my entire life, Kurisuta."
"So now you own a satellite?" Kurisuta asked.
"It's not what they say it is." Loki said.
"Whatever it is, the government seems to think it's theirs. You intend to just walk in there and take it?" Kurisuta asked.
"Yes." Loki said.
He stopped walking.
"If you take me there now, I'll tell you everything you wish to know." Loki said solemnly. This time he meant it. If he got his powers back, he intended to pick up where he left off with this woman who was once his Chaos.
"Everything?" Kurisuta asked.
"All the answers you seek will be yours, once I reclaim Excalibur." Loki said.
Rei looked to the others.
"Eikus Cali Werr?" What's "Eikus Cali Werr?" Rei said, a smirk on her lips.
Loki's head snapped in her direction, eyes narrowing. How did she know the Celtic name for the Sword of Winters?
Kurisuta studied Loki. He looked sincere. She was nearly swayed,
"Kurisuta." Selvig said.
He pulled her aside. Loki could tell that Selvig didn't much care for him.
And then Selvig began speaking lowly to Kurisuta in another language. A language Loki did not understand. It was impossible, frustrating, how was it happening?
"Please don't do this." Selvig said.
"You know what we saw last night. This can't be a coincidence. I want to know what's in that lake." Kurisuta replied.
"I'm not talking about the crater. I'm talking about him." Selvig said.
"He's promised us answers." Kurisuta said.
"He's a deity!" Selvig said. "We don't know why he's here. He could be planning a divine judgement of some kind!"
"I'd just be driving him out there, that's all." Kurisuta said.
"It's dangerous. He's dangerous." Selvig said.
After a moment, she nodded. They headed back over to Loki and Rei.
"I'm sorry. I can't take you." Kurisuta said in English.
"I understand. Then this is where we say goodbye." Loki said, fully intending to return to her.
He took her hand and kissed it.
"That's... thank you." Kurisuta said.
Loki bowed slightly to each of them.
"Kurisuta... Selvig...Rei. Farewell." Loki said.
He headed off down the street. Selvig looks relieved.
"Now... let's get back to the lab. We have work to do." Selvig said.
Selvig and Rei turned and start to go. Kurisuta looked after Loki as he walked away down the street.