Written to: Summer - Joe Hisaishi, crosspost from AO3
Culaccino: The ring left on a table by a cold glass.
Loki looks at the guests, twirling around in happy pairs, skirts of all colours and lengths perfect circles of motion. He sits down heavily in his chair at the head of the festivities, glad to rest his aching feet for just a few moments, smiling as Thor hoists a small, blonde Asgardian child for a dance.
The ale and wine flow freely from pitcher to glass, and everyone's eyes are sparkling and bright with merriment. In the corner, Laufey had managed to snatch away an entire sheet cake just for himself, and was regaling a rather drunk Odin with tales of war and conquest in between huge bites that left crumbs all around his mouth. Frigga was laughing and talking to Farbauti about something or other as the frost queen petted Jory's head and let the little snake nibble at her fingers. Jory had given her the puppy dog look (or as best he could, anyway, he was a snake after all, and his eyes were quite beady) and had coerced her into taking the itchy sweater off, and so he was more than happy to let her pet him and rub his head while he stole tiny nibbles of ham off her plate when he thought she wasn't looking.
Helblindi is talking animatedly to Darcy about something, gesturing wildly in the air, and Loki catches a glimpse of something brilliant scarlet in between his fingers. He wonders if it is a phoenix feather, wonders what on earth Helblindi could possibly have in common with Darcy Lewis. He watches with amused curiosity as Helblindi shyly holds out the feather to her, smiles as she takes it eagerly and says something to Helblindi that has his blue cheeks flushing a rather deep shade of violet.
At the nursery table, Modi is surrounded by a gaggle of other tiny toddlers and children, cooing and laughing with the rest of them under the careful eye of a nurse. Even from here, Loki can make out the burble that is Modi's giggle.
He looks out over the bustling crowd again, tracing the rim of his water glass with an idle finger and listening to the high, sweet tones it produces absentmindedly. The lights dance softly across his vision, and he takes a slow, deep breath, trying to imprint every single moment, every single detail of tonight, in his mind. He picks up the glass, taking a swallow of the cool, clear water.
He is interrupted by a small tug at his cloak. He looks down with an arched brow, finding a small Asgardian toddler, all chubby cheeks and blue eyes and fair blonde hair, pulling at his knee.
"Pwince T'or said I had to ask you to dance wiv me," the little boy says, holding up his tiny hands, and Loki cannot help but wonder if this is what Modi will look like in a few years. He looks out across the room, catches Thor smiling at him, holding out a broad hand.
"Did the prince Thor really say such a thing?" Loki asks, turning his gaze back to the boy, with wide eyes. The little boy nods vigorously, causing a slew of blonde curls to spill over his eyes. Loki smiles as he gently pushes them back, tucking them behind the boy's ears.
"Well, I suppose if he said so, I'll have to do it," Loki says, setting the glass down on the table. The condensation makes another ring in the white silk tablecloth, and he smiles fondly as he gently traces it with his index finger, watches the water stain fade into cool nothingness.
He leans down, scoops the boy up into his arms, and walks out to join Thor.