Chapter Nine:

Playing 20 Questions

With the God of Mischief

Loki's laughter sends shivers down her spine almost making her forget something he mentioned earlier. "Are you saying we do not understand one another? I thought we were at least developing a sense of mutual respect." Loki uses his height to loom over Alayna. "What I am suggesting is that we get to know each other better." She takes a step back and crosses her arms. "And how do you suggest we do that?"

He gives her his full attention and taps his finger in the middle of her forehead. "First you must get rid of this." She realizes he is referring to her mask. Defensively, she touches it trying to decide what to do. Seeing her hesitate he merely states his reasoning. "I want to know to whom I am speaking." Making her decision, she reaches up to undo it and then she puts it in her pocket. She feels vaguely naked without it. The feeling of vulnerability gets worse when he removes her hood from her head and undoes her braid, arranging her natural curls around her neck and shoulders. "That is better. Now tell me your name." His statement is more of a command than a request. She closes her eyes and draws in a breath fighting the desire to not surrender the information. Inevitably, she does. "My name is Alayna." She does not need to open her eyes to sense the satisfaction her confession gives him. "Now was that so hard?"

At his tone she does open her eyes just to glare at him. "Yes it actually is. I keep my identities separate for a reason." He loves the idea that his question made her uncomfortable and is curious why she is compartmentalizing. He smiles a not so subtle smile. "And why is that?" Her eyes just narrow even more. "Because who I am and what I do are no one's business." He cannot help but push her buttons. "But we are trying to get to know one another remember."

She remembers alright. "It's my turn. Who are you?" What are you? Are you truly a god?" Loki likes her enthusiasm even if it is only for the sake of revenge. "Before I answer your questions, give me your jacket." Alayna looks at him incredulously. "Now why in the hell would I do that?" He just holds his hand out waiting for her to comply. "Technically that is another question." Seeing that he is not going to let it go, she removes her jacket and hands it to him wondering what he is going to ask for next. He takes the garment, folds it and makes it disappear into nothingness. Peeved she glares at him again. "Hey! That's my favorite jacket! I am going to need that back eventually." Loki just nods. "And I will return it to you but now you look less conspicuous."

He takes her arm and leads her to a nearby coffee shop. "If we are going to play twenty questions we should at least enjoy ourselves." They order and wait to receive there drinks before continuing their game. Loki takes a moment to think about what to revel to her before answering. "I am Prince Loki of Asgard, second son of Odin and Frigga. That covers your first two questions and no I am not a god."

Alayna leans forward listening in rapt attention. "Then what are you if not a god." Loki shakes his head. "No, it is my turn again. That is how the game works. Now tell me what do you do when you are not being a vigilante?" She takes a moment to contemplate her answer as well, trying to ignore his not so subtle arrogance and sense of entitlement to her answers. "Nothing currently but I have held a few different professions." She refuses to elaborate. "My turn" Normally she could think of a myriad of questions but for some reason she finds herself distracted. It takes her a moment. "After your trial, why did you decide to stay here on this planet, in this particular city? You must have known you would have been treated as an outcast." Loki winces so she knows she has struck a nerve. She sits back and gives him time to answer.

At first he looks embarrassed and licks his lips but eventually he responds. "You can say I have sentenced myself to voluntary exile. I thought I was being repentant but I think I have been deluding myself." After recovering his composure, he leans forward, steeples his hands before posting his next question. "Now tell me at least one of those professions you seem reluctant to mention."

At his question it becomes Alayna's turn to be uncomfortable. She picks the least emotional. "I took a year off to write books." She can almost see his ears perk up. "And what kind of books?" She waves a finger at him. "Not your turn Loki. It is mine." She wracks her brain but chooses a variation of his own. "And what do you do when you are not..deluding yourself?" She gives him a satisfied smirk while waiting for an answer. He, in turn, just looks at her with slight annoyance. "Your unoriginality will cost you two answers. I read, study and enjoy the finer things this city has to offer." Seeing her start to open her mouth, he holds up his fingers indicating the number two. She refrains from asking any more questions until he has had a chance to ask his. Loki thinks a moment. "First, why did you take time away and second, what type of books?"

The second question is easy to answer but the first? Alayna must find a way to answer that one with some degree of delicacy. "I took the time off after...the reconstruction of the city. The books are fiction based on a friend of mine. He is a modern day pirate therefore I felt obliged to include the word 'pirate' in the titles." He understands the attempt she has just made in discretion and returns the favor. He finds her statement about the book titles amusing. "And where would one find your books?" Loki throws a little flattery into the question hoping she will not notice that he took the liberty to ask another.

She is not fooled for a moment and indicates that he now owes her two answers. He gestures for her to ask. "First to answer you. Any library or book store will have them. You can also order them on line.

For your first question, what finer things about this city hold your attention? Second, what do you study?" Loki takes a drink of coffee before answering. "Plays, symphonies, operas, any form of culture

and I study magic." It takes a minute to observe her before coming up with another question trying to determine if he should ask her something serious or something to annoy her again. He chooses annoyance. He leans forward again, catches her eye and lowers his voice. "So tell me Alayna, have you truly grown fond of our conversations?"

As her heart skips a beat Alayna blushes at the fact that he remembered her words. Recovering herself, she mirrors his posture before responding. "Loki, you are truly an ass." With that parting shot she rises from the table and walks away with the sound of his laughter following her.