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]

"That's another reason for a little privacy." The bars were heavily used enough that the alcohol probably wouldn't be objected to on principle, but there was no sense giving anyone an excuse to clutch pearls over the fact that it was being made.

[st_ormbreaker]

That out of the way, it was time for more important discussion. Thor straightens, prepared for far more serious conversation.

"What are we calling it?"

[st_ratagem]

"What do you mean?" Just like Thor to want to name everything! Loki chuckled. "It's just a still, brother."

[st_ormbreaker]

"It's like one of those secret bases we had when we were younger," he says. "You can't have a hidden location and then no name for it."

[st_ratagem]

"I absolutely can." Ah, the secret bases. They hadn't been secret at all, not with Heimdall around, but as children that hadn't mattered. Thor enjoyed naming them... and putting up signs, as if that wasn't giving everything away. "That makes it hidden with words as well as hidden in the world."

[st_ormbreaker]

"No, you can not," Thor argues. "How are we supposed to discuss it in secret if we can not call it by a name?"

[st_ratagem]

"You're obsessed with naming things." Loki rolled his eyes. He didn't mind if the still had a name, of course. It was just entertaining to argue with Thor. "You always have been. Not everything needs a grand title that will ring down through the ages. We can just call it 'the still'."

[st_ormbreaker]

"But then everyone will know what it is," Thor argues, content to press the matter with his brother further. "We can hardly call it a secret then."

[st_ratagem]

"I said we're not particularly keeping it a secret, so that's not a concern." Loki waved one hand dismissively, mostly because he knew that tended to annoy Thor. "You're the one who decided it was a secret."

[st_ormbreaker]

"It's a surprise," Thor clarifies. "For Valkyrie and Tony." Thor has decided this. "I'll even let you come up with the name."

[st_ratagem]

"You are not letting Stark drink any of what comes out of this still!" It was automatic, but Loki didn't bother to stop himself from continuing. It was medical, not about Stark. "He'd go from zero to alcohol poisoning in two shots."

[st_ormbreaker]

"I want to show it off," Thor says, offended. "The only Avenger who's sampled Asgardian spirit has been Steve Rogers because he's the only one with the metabolism to handle it."

Thor did give some to a human. Once. He's almost certain that Tony will insist he have a taste, in which case Thor will be content to give him just a few meager drops.

[st_ratagem]

"I'm sorry, do you honestly expect me to believe you'd actually stick to any refusal to give your human something he wants?" It was of course possible that Stark would understand reality and police himself, but Loki was fairly sure Stark had a self-destructive streak akin to his own. "That he couldn't just look cute at you and get his way?"

[st_ormbreaker]

"Do you seriously doubt my strength of will?" Thor counters. "I seem to recall you calling me stubborn oaf quite often growing up."

[st_ratagem]

"Oh, where I'm concerned you absolutely are. Where most things are concerned, in fact." Stubborn oaf was still a good descriptor. "Your personal life is not one of those things. You're basically just putty in your lover's hands."

[st_ormbreaker]

"And I'm not in your hands?"

[st_ratagem]

Loki laughed, a real laugh rather than his usual brief chuckle. Why not? That might have been the funniest thing he’d ever heard. When he stopped for breath, he just grinned at Thor. “Very good, brother.”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor is feeling rather vexed by Loki's amusement.

"What?"

[st_ratagem]

“You were actually funny!” Not that Thor looked like a plan pleased by the successful execution of a joke. Which meant... Loki started laughing again. “Oh, no, you were serious?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"You didn't think I was?"

[st_ratagem]

“Obviously not! You said a ridiculous thing, why wouldn’t I laugh?”

[st_ormbreaker]

"It's not ridiculous," Thor grumbles. "I trust you, you betray me. Round and round in circles we go and yet you think that I'm not putty in your hands."

[st_ratagem]

“You’re not. That’s simple stubbornness. You don’t know when to quit and refuse to do it even when you do know.” Loki didn’t bother to deny the assertion, because it was true enough and they both knew it, even if it hadn’t really happened at the Inn.

[st_ormbreaker]

"Maybe," Thor is willing to concede. "I'd still do almost anything for you. Even before the whole Thanos thing."

Easier to call it the Thanos thing than call it what it is.

[st_ratagem]

“Yes, brother, I know you believe that.” To a certain extent it was even true, but past that was more complicated.