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]

Loki waved a hand. “You asked if I thought you didn’t love me, the answer is both yes and no. I believed you thought you loved me, at the very least. I also knew you were only interested in things that were about you or when you were in charge. I loved you enough to be a bit player in your life, but in my life I was on my own. The mighty Thor was no one’s supporting cast, so to speak.”

[st_ormbreaker]

"Do you still feel like that now?" Thor asks quietly.

[st_ratagem]

“Yes and no. I grant your sincerity of feeling, but I also find that the mighty Thor isn’t one for supporting cast.” Loki smiled slightly. “It’s no trouble here, this need of yours to be in charge of everything. Virtually nothing here is important enough that I mind letting go, and when I do mind I dig in and you eventually get angry enough to drop it. You don’t outnumber me as substantially as you used to.” No Lady Sif, no Warriors Three, Stark and Rogers tended to stay out of the brothers’ spats, and Valkyrie... depending on the situation she might take Loki’s side. She was no blind supporter.

[st_ormbreaker]

"I don't need to be in charge of everything," Thor argues. Not that he doesn't want to be, though. Lately it feels like he doesn't nearly have enough control over anything.

[st_ratagem]

“No? Here’s an extremely recent example. I ask you to come help with a project. Five minutes or so later you’ve decided it’s a secret surprise for Stark, I assume from you, which you look forward to showing off once you’ve decided on a name.” Loki was genuinely amused, without a trace of bitterness. It was funny! “It’s nothing to me whether this is something I’m doing that you’re helping with or something you’re doing that I am. I have no particular attachment and it’s just as done either way, but surely you see how we’ve moved from one to the other?”

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor directs a finger at Loki. "I asked you for a name. And it's not just a surprise for Tony -- it's also a surprise for Val."

[st_ratagem]

"Also your unilateral decision. I had no intention of secrecy. And when I said 'there's no name' you insisted it needed one." Just for fun, Loki put on his most innocent expression. "Anything else?"

[st_ormbreaker]

"Yeah -- what do you have against having fun?"

[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?”