planning stages!

[st_ratagem]

Loki had decided to solve a problem. It wasn't an active problem yet, but with Thor and Valkyrie both in residence, it was entirely possible that at some point alcohol would end up in short supply. Thor alone had managed to drink most of the alcohol in the Inn, and Loki thought that Valkyrie's tolerance was probably somewhat higher. That being the case, it seemed like a good long-term idea to start making booze. Specifically, Asgardian spirits strong enough to ensure that the king and his lieutenant had more efficient options than 'drink two whole bars'.

The only problem was that Loki didn't exactly know how the brewing and distillation process had worked. He'd never paid much attention to distilleries back home. Stills themselves were simple enough, according to a few books he'd collected from the library, but how the versions on Asgard differed... was it a matter of material? Ingredients? Something else?

It was almost certainly an area where Thor knew more than he did, so Loki sent a message inviting his brother to come up and help with a project. He made no particular effort to sound like he wasn't up to something, because it would be fun to see what conclusions Thor jumped to regarding the invitation.

Comments

[st_ratagem]

"Nothing whatsoever. You're just pouting that I'm right about your need to be in charge."

[st_ormbreaker]

"Nothing stopping you from saying no."

[st_ratagem]

"I did say no. But if you give in now you're just being petty."

[st_ormbreaker]

"You did not say no," Thor insists. Did he? Thor can't remember.

[st_ratagem]

"I assure you I did. To each item. But as I said: this doesn't matter. I brought it up only to disprove your ridiculous 'I don't have to be in charge of everything!' statement."

[st_ormbreaker]

"You tell me no to something and I'll agree with you." Thor is absolutely determined to show that he absolutely does not have to be in charge of everything.

[st_ratagem]

Loki rolled his eyes. "Of course you will."

[st_ormbreaker]

"All right, test me now."

[st_ratagem]

Loki just smiled and said nothing. Telling Thor he had no intention of coming up with a 'no' just so Thor could pretend he disproved the premise was, in fact, telling Thor 'no' to something.

[st_ormbreaker]

"Loki."

[st_ratagem]

“Yes?” Also, messing with Thor was always entertaining.

[st_ormbreaker]

"I know exactly what you're doing --"

Thor did not, but that wasn't the point.

"-- and it's not going to work on me."

[st_ratagem]

“Really?” Loki filled his tone with innocent, honest curiosity, which was usually (As now) one hundred percent bullshit. “Do tell!”

[st_ormbreaker]

"I'm not telling."

[st_ratagem]

“I see.” It’s already working said the tone.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor says nothing.

[st_ratagem]

Loki smiled sweetly. “Tell me, brother, do you see this ending in a win for you?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"That depends -- are you going to let me win?"

Unless it's a contest of athletics or power, Thor generally doesn't win against his brother. Loki might disagree, but it definitely feels that way.

[st_ratagem]

"What would 'winning' even look like for you?" Loki tilted his head. "Telling you 'no' specifically because you demanded it so that you can you feel better about yourself by accepting a fake refusal is still proof that you insist on being in charge. It seems to me that my point is made either way."

[st_ormbreaker]

"I think this is a no-win game, brother," Thor says, looking at Loki. "Maybe some other time. Next time you conjure up a project and I will be your agreeable, obedient servant."

He picks up another one of the books and pages through it idly. "What do you need me to do? Need any more trees cut down?"

[st_ratagem]

Loki chuckled and shook his head. Thor was Thor. He’d start giving orders on reflex and get huffy if called on it, but there was no sense in doing either it both when it was often just as easy (or equally difficult) to manage alone. “It’s not likely. I still have most of the first tree, and I should be able to turn it into copper easily enough as needed.” It seemed like shaping wood and converting with a little alchemy would be easier than ‘step one: learn smithing, welding, and fabrication’. “Once the pieces are made, it’s just a matter of assembling them at whatever site.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"So what do I need to do then?" Thor's antsy for a project and so far it sounds like "altering plans" was going to be his biggest contribution.

That and maybe carrying heavy things, which Thor also enjoyed.

[st_ratagem]

"I don't know." Loki shrugged. "Assembly once the pieces are made? I mostly just thought your experience would help with planning. And likely with the actual brewing and distillation as well, later."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor hums at that.

"I'm jealous, you know," he says. "You'll be able to see Asgard one last time before it is destroyed."

Not that either one of them really had much time to enjoy it. At least Loki would be able to take one final sight of it in and commit what he could to memory.

[st_ratagem]

"Don't be too jealous, brother. If I've put together the timeline right, when I go back I'll have about a month to live. And there's virtually no chance of it being a good month." Loki erased one part of his design and redrew it. The re-draw looked almost exactly the same. "Of course, that also means I may well be relieved when the time comes, which is some comfort."