Loki has much to learn about the holiday season in America. Magda and Wanda share some traditions, but they also speak of others and there are so many traditions that he encounters when he is able to drop into the refugee centre. He asks Ralph for books and learns quickly that most people at both the Safe Haven and the centre are eager to talk about their favourite holidays. The stories thrill him, celebrating the short days, the returning of the light, the deep winter darkness, and mythic figures he has only started learning about. Midgardian religious beliefs are an entirely new area of fascination for him.
Alexi is a little less enthralled by Loki's newfound love of religious stories, "Oh my god, give it a break, Loki! You told me about Diwali already. Hanukkah. Some Japanese lights festival. I can't even keep them straight anymore!"
"But they are all so different, and yet all so alike at the same time! I have never seen such variety in beliefs in one realm. You are so diverse and it is thrilling!"
"Yeah, but people kill each other over this stuff. And, frankly, I think the idea of a god is kind of ridiculous."
"Perhaps. Though I have seen some very strange things in my life. There is a creature out there who is so obsessed with death that he seeks to end the entire universe as an experiment- would he not be a god to many? People in this realm once worshipped those of Asgard. Perhaps there are other realms whose people have been mistaken for gods. Places I have never seen or heard of! How is that not exciting? That there may be races out there that even Asgard does not know about?"
"Um, from the perspective of someone who only recently found out that Asgard wasn't just a myth, kind of terrifying. I'd like to believe that there's only eight new places out there, and that somebody in them knows what's going on, at least for a little while."
"Odin does not know all. He may think that he does, but he has not seen what is between worlds, or Thanos. Most who have seen Thanos are dead, though, so that is not unusual."
"You're not comforting me."
"I am sorry if I offend. It is just so rare that I come across an idea completely new, even to Asgard."
"You're enthusiasm is cute. But I really can't talk only about religion for days on end. I like to live a little closer to the real world once in a while. It's OK to share, but can we talk about cooking or cat videos once in a while, too?"
Loki sighs, clearly trying to curb his enthusiasm without feeling hurt, "Yes. We can."
"You're like this with any new thing, aren't you? You just latch on and dive into it headfirst."
"I haven't had the opportunity to research something truly new in quite some time, but yes. I read the entire body of work by your William Shakespeare in a matter of days."
"That's ambitious."
"Indeed. Ralph then told me that I am never to say the title of Macbeth in a place of theatrical performance, for actors are superstitious about what it will do."
"Actors are a strange lot."
"Perhaps. Or perhaps they simply know how to carry a tradition for the fun of it."
"Could be. You're going to be late for dinner at Magda's, though, if you don't put your books away."
"Indeed." He tucks away his books and the notepad he has been scribbling in and they head to supper.
After dinner, Magda and Wanda fidget a little, exchanging looks and whispering to one another. Loki's curiosity is intense. He can hardly keep from prying, trying to hear what they are saying.
And so he finally leans forward, rests his elbows on his knees, and grins, "I give up. What secret do you so furtively share? Shall I tease it from you? Needle it out with questions? Perhaps I ought to whittle the possibilities down with leading statements? Trick you into telling? Or will you save me the trouble?"
Wanda weaves her fingers in Magda's, "Well, we have come to a decision. It is not one we had considered before. But things have changed. My abduction...well, it made a few things clear. And one of those was that should anything happen to me, Magda cannot be certain she will be able to make decisions about my fate. Or my belongings. Or my Trabant. Or about Pietro's situation, should he come under my guardianship while he is recovering. And there is one way to assure this."
Magda beams, "We're going to get married!"
"It will be a small affair, nothing fancy, but our legal status needs to be secure, should anything happen to me."
"She is as excited as I am, I assure you. She was laughing last night when we were talking. But she is far too practical to show it." Magda pokes Wanda's side and Wanda grins. She does it again, tickling her, and Wanda laughs, shoving her playfully.
"Damn it, Magda! And here I was trying to be so businesslike. You are ruining my reputation as the rational one."
"What reputation? My love, we are hardly rational- we are creatures of Sokovia, of light and celebration in the darkest parts of the year and of the fire and spark of summer!"
Loki can't help but laugh with them, with Alexi; there is so much joy here and it is contagious, "Congratulations to you both! When do you plan to wed?"
"On Yule. It is a good day for a wedding. And it is not far away. Just a few weeks. And we shall all dress beautifully and go dancing after- it is the holiday party for the Safe Haven. We will continue celebrating with friends!"
Wanda ticks off a list on her fingers, "We have to very quickly secure a place to have the wedding, someone to officiate it, and our garments. And, of course, anything we wish to have to decorate. Perhaps a cake, too, for after."
"This is just awesome. Do you guys want music or anything? I play the violin. I can play something from the home country for your ceremony," Alexi offers.
"That would be delightful!" Magda claps, "Oh, Wanda, this is going to be beautiful, even in it's simplicity! And we need no cake. I will make hammentaschen together the night before and it will be a delightful way to start our celebration after." She turns to Alexi and Loki, "Will you bake with us?"
"Of course," Loki answers.
"Sure, if I can get off work."
Wanda gently chides Magda, "Do not make things complicated in your effort for simplicity. Hammentaschen take quite a lot of work. There is a reason they are usually only made for Purim."
"I have made them enough that they seem easy. We will have lovely fun!"
"I have no idea what a hammentaschen is, but I assure you that I will do my best to learn and help you bake them with as little stress as possible."
"You see? Loki wants to learn to bake. We will be fine," Magda reassures. Wanda can't help but chuckle and shake her head. Celebration has always been Magda's gift and she expresses her love of life this way at every opportunity. She expects no less of her Magda for her own wedding.
Alexi leaves early because of an early shift at work and Loki lingers in the square after. The evening is biting cold and he huddles in the peacoat gifted to him by his brother on his last visit. He has lost his tolerance for cold. He is ready to go back to the warmth of his house when he sees the first delicate snowflakes of the season drift down, light flurries in the sky. He stares. Snow in Asgard was furious for only a few months, never this early. Snow in Jotunheim is harsh and unrelenting. But this is different. They glitter from the streetlamps, the air sparkling as their cold kisses land against his cheeks. For a moment, he stands with his face lifted to the sky, the ice gentle on his skin. After a few moments, retreats home, his hands numb. He decides that he must find good leather gloves and thicker socks so he can stand and watch the snow.