[ video | sabellad ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ The feed opens up to a man dressed in green and black leathers, clearing his throat and slicking his hair back with his fingers. ]

This is to inform you that the library is currently under my management. Any books returned with creases or stains will suffer a fine. I haven't decided what it will be, but rest assured, if you plan on borrowing books, there will be a contract for you to sign. Please check the fine print.

Your recommend reading for the month is this. Enjoy.

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

[ Happiness is fake! ]

You would enjoy The Importance of Being Earnest, then.

[mordacita]

[ He will get that smile from you one day. ]

Oscar Wilde. I believe you might be right, my friend.

Have you read it?

[dothelokimotion]

Some. I am still mostly out of touch with the literature of Midgard. I have read that one since it offers more in terms of wordplay and dialogue.

Asgard would have enjoyed it.

[mordacita]

Yes, I can see why you would like that. It took me some time to appreciate mortal works like this. There was a time I thought myself too much their better for all of that.

But read a little, and it draws you in. At least, that is what I found.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki nods slowly. ]

Reading is — was a great hobby of mine. Though not one Asgard cared much for.

[mordacita]

No?

[ Perhaps that's not very surprising. These were the gods of the Vikings, after all. ]

Let me guess: they favoured battle, glory, and perhaps sport. The arena of warriors and not academics.

[dothelokimotion]

How did you guess?

[ His tone is wry. ]

Some do battle, others do tricks. One was more celebrated than the other. And I was never as strong.

[mordacita]

[ How much resentment had that caused? Perhaps this is why Loki seems to have such a low opinion of himself. Rafa nods, before lifting his shoulder. ]

Nor was I. Strength is not every time the way to win. Would you have preferred not to fight, or to fight in your way?

Tricks are as much a weapon as anything else.

[dothelokimotion]

[ A well of resentment. One Loki never stopped digging until recently. But he does not seem particularly perturbed about it now. ]

Now I am far wiser. But I was young once too. It left its mark.

[mordacita]

Being young?

[ Rafa lifts his eyebrow. Everyone makes mistakes in their youth. Some make more costly mistakes than others. ]

The benefit of a long life is that you have time to live it as you want. It is not too late for that.

[dothelokimotion]

Well. Young for myself.

[ Loki has barely climbed past the yardsticks that most Asgardians measure their life by. And who knows how old Heimdal and Valkyrie are? ]

I have all the time I need now.

[mordacita]

You do. Time and freedom.

[ Relatively speaking. They are somewhat stuck here, at least for the time being. ]

What else do you plan to do with it?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki hesitates. ]

I don't know. I've never given it much thought. My father had his own plans and none of them involved my say-so.

[mordacita]

I know what that is like.

[ Rafa's father has been gone for a long time. He'd spent just as long under his thumb, though. He sympathises. ]

Perhaps you and I could...if you approved that is. Perhaps we could explore more of this place together.

If you had a free evening, that is.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki is still constantly baffled why Rafa shows interest. It's not as though there is a lack of available people in Riverview and Loki is always so caustic, so sharp. Why bother? Why put in that effort? It's one thing if it's Thor (and Loki has exhausted Thor's kindness, his love, as he has done with them all) but another when it's a stranger. ]

I . . . Yes, of course. I would like that.

[mordacita]

[ He still seems surprised. How lowly he must think of himself. Rafa smiles, genuinely pleased and trying not to show too much of it. He doesn't want to put Loki off again. ]

Good! Very good, I should like it too. Would this week suit you?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki nods quietly. ]

Certainly.

handwave or action?

[mordacita]

[ Rafa's smiling now. There's more about it in his eyes than on his lips, but it's bleeding into both. ]

All right. I shall come to call on you, then. I look forward to it.

I'd be up for action!

[dothelokimotion]

Please do so.