[Loki and Val] beach time!

[st_ratagem]

The increasing frequency of sunshine and warmth meant Loki spent slightly more time at the beach than he had before. It was true that he could make (or repair) nets anywhere, and the only one other than himself who was inclined to use them was the girl Moana, but it seemed... appropriate, at times, to work on nets near where they would be used.

Besides, he'd always found the ocean peaceful. Somehow solitude never seemed to turn into loneliness by the sea... or perhaps it did, but the loneliness didn't cut.

Regardless, it was far from unheard of for Loki to disappear from the immediate Inn grounds to go sit on the sandy beach with his projects. Despite the sunny near-summer weather and the increasing heat on the beach, he dressed more or less as he normally did; a long-sleeved buttoned shirt and slacks. His sole concession to the sunny beach was bare feet rather than shoes.

Comments

[st_allionofdoom]

"Could I get you to agree to a warm bath?" Valkyrie scooted closer, bumping thighs.

[st_ratagem]

“That’s very possible.” Loki leaned the now-shorter distance to murmur into her ear, “You could probably persuade me into nearly anything.” It was true enough, but only because Loki was confident that Valkyrie would never ask him for something he couldn’t do or live with.

[st_allionofdoom]

Valkyrie honed her focus so as not to forget the twine and the way she knit it together, though the sound of his smooth voice made that an active effort. “I’ll use that power for good.” She turned her head and pressed a kiss to the bridge of his nose.

[st_ratagem]

“Or for fun, I trust.” His own hands were busy knotting strands together, so touching her would have to wait, but he tilted his head to press a quick return kiss to her lips.

[st_allionofdoom]

Satisfied with the lack of distance, Valkyrie simply followed after him in silence for a time, knot after knot. After finishing off an end, she set the burgeoning net down and stretched her arms high, her light coat catching the breeze.

“Water break, Your Highness.” Adopting her faux-formal affect, she took up the wide-set bottle and offered the open mouth to Loki.

[st_ratagem]

Ordinarily, from anyone else, Loki might have rolled his eyes slightly at the formality, prickled over an implication that he couldn't look after himself, or both. From Valkyrie, he did neither - from her, both were only readable as expressions of care and affection. That being the case, he took the water bottle, drank from it, then handed it back. "Worried I'll dry up?"

[st_allionofdoom]

“I can’t return to the masses with news one of their gods died such a pitiful death.” Clearly making reference to all the fish, Valkyrie took a swig of her own.

[st_ratagem]

Loki laughed. "If the sun does somehow kill me, please feel free to make up a more impressive story. I hate the possible future mythology involved with, as you put it, such a pitiful death. They're forming cults, they deserve a better story for their fanatical belief."

[st_allionofdoom]

“You were bested by a lion on a chariot of fire.” Reaching into her large blue companion bag, Valkyrie plucked out a papaya spear and aimed it at Loki’s lips. “You will be reborn in six generations to a fish with golden eyes.”

[st_ratagem]

"Much better!" And, it didn't have to be said, fairly good incentive not to die by sunlight. Loki had very little interest in being reincarnated as a goldfish, after all. "But make it eight generations, that's a better number."

He accepted being fed the fruit without a fight; Valkyrie had odd turns where she seemed to enjoy feeding him despite knowing that he honestly didn't care what he ate. Possibly it was an expression of worry that he wasn't eating enough, possibly it was an effort to annoy him. Possibly it was just entertainment for her. Regardless, it was a more than good enough excuse to keep practically no distance between them, and that was always worthwhile.

[st_allionofdoom]

“It will be a truly proud day when I can match the insanity of the tales you’ve fed humans.” She balanced a banana chip on the bridge of his sharp nose, bearing absolutely no shame about playing with her food in such a way.

“I’ve been asked if I’m related to the creature that carries her own head as she rides.” A type of fairy?

[st_ratagem]

Loki removed the chip immediately and ate it, just to make sure it didn't get placed anywhere else. (Likely part of the point of balancing it.)

"The Dullahan, maybe?" He looked her over, as if speculating instead of appreciating. "While I could see you using a human spine as a whip, I don't think throwing gold at you would necessarily make you go away."

[st_allionofdoom]

“You’re familiar?” The more Loki spoke, the more Valkyrie couldn’t help but feel out of step with the trends, though she grinned at the descriptor. “Beheadings weren’t uncommon on Sakaar. Spine whips are new.” She tapped his lips with another chip and placed it between her own.

[st_ratagem]

"I've heard of them. Midgardian raiders brought back stories, and sometimes I preferred to listen rather than speak." He did take the banana chip from her mouth with his own, but that was purely incidental to kissing her. Likely as intended, and he was more than happy to fall in line with it. "The stories were that whenever they paused, someone died. They would seek out their target, rein in right in front of them, and pull out their soul." It actually did sound like a twisted story of Valkyries, now that he came to tell it to someone.

[st_allionofdoom]

“Huh. Rude.” Valkyrie made a face as she slowly chewed on a chip of her own, the crunch giving way to a creamy finish. “They should at least get the chance to form a pact of some kind first.” Again, like Sakaar, now that she thought of it.

[st_ratagem]

"I believe that's where the gold comes in. Toss gold at a dullahan, and it will dissipate." That seemed like a rational way to conduct the thing: pay it to go away. "Should you ever find yourself with your head in one hand and a spine whip in the other, i have no doubt you'll be able to make any pacts you like."

[st_allionofdoom]

A single haughty huff of laughter and Valkyrie was on her feet and shedding her jacket to the sands. “Swim much?”

[st_ratagem]

"No, not much." He could, obviously, either in his own shape or another. You didn't live on Asgard or spend any time fishing without learning how to swim. And when he'd been very young, it had been a favorite way to stay cool in the heat. But later.... "Blame my youth. My brother and his friends were... let's just say that when one's near-constant companions are three who hate you and the last thoroughly oblivious, one learns to avoid the water unless a boat is involved."

[st_allionofdoom]

“I could haul one out.” She winked, wholly sincere about the offer. The water looked more and more tempting by the second, and a quick excursion sounded right before they returned to their handiwork.

[st_ratagem]

“After you attempt to drown me?” Both words and tone were light, because Loki was fairly sure that she wasn’t going to genuinely try to drown him. If she made any effort, it would be playful. He surprised himself, though, by actually considering it. “I think I have to pass. I’m not dressed for it, and nudity seems not the thing in public.”

[st_allionofdoom]

"I'll fish you out after." She edged towards the direction of the inn, her dark and airy hair bobbing with each playful step.

[st_ratagem]

Loki stood up, stretching slightly on the way, then moved to her and tipped her chin up slightly so their eye met. “How important is this to you?”

[st_allionofdoom]

Giving it a bit of thought, Valkyrie let her chin settle into Loki's hand. Satisfaction bloomed in her chest and little else mattered more than the fact that the glib man had bothered to ask earnestly at all.

"You could join me in the water or watch me from the shore. Distance doesn't matter much." She replied in kind.

[st_ratagem]

He leaned down to kiss her briefly. "Then I'll watch from shore this time, and join you another time." With time to adjust... yes. And no doubt the sun would get worse. This was still late spring. Deeper in summer he'd appreciate the option of being in the water once in a while.

[st_allionofdoom]

She returned the kiss with another one of her own, brushing a hand over his shoulder as she sauntered towards the water. “Perhaps I’ll catch another member for the Fish Order.” She called over her shoulder.