5953/What Infinity Stone

What Infinity Stone
Date of Scene:	09 December 2018
Location:	New Asgard
Synopsis:	In which Steve digs for answers about a missing Infinity Stones in New Asgard. Speaking with both Thor and Loki garners him as many as can be managed.
Cast of Characters:	Thor, Captain America, Loki

---

Thor has posed:
    The Winter Sun has set, night casting its long shadow across the cliffs of Kvalvika. Though the sea is often choppy this time of year, it is curiously somber with the waves lapping gently at the shores and causing some of the relief ships at anchor to jostle faintly with the caress of each wave. Yet the peaceful atmosphere is aided by the darkness in the converted wildlife refuge, with the settlement being small enough that the lanterns are barely enough to serve the purposes of the Asgardians, let alone obscure any of the beautiful stars high above.
    High upon the tallest hill stands the castle that will eventually serve as the focal point for the royals who call this land their home. Though, for now, it serves mainly as a testament to the efforts of the people and their urge to rebuild. The settlement itself seems warm despite the hint of snow on the air. There are soldiers and citizens milling around the communal area in the center market place just out front of the alehouse, the Broken Antler.
    All is quiet, that is until the whine of the quinjet's engine draws the notice of the sentries standing tall from their vantage points. A call goes out to let those who need to make ready and to announce the arrival of the visitors even as a magical purple series of lights flicker to life to signify the clearing down the slope that is where other aerial visitors have used as a landing pad. It is there that the jet will set down, even as word is still rushing from one point to another.

Captain America has posed:
A quick discussion with the SHIELD pilot as to what should signify a reason to depart from the quinjet and the conclusion is reached that the pilot is comfortable staying within the jet unless otherwise contacted. Steve checks that he has his earpiece comfortably set and that the channel is secure before he departs from the jet.

As he steps out onto the slope, his boots make little sound. He's dressed presentably otherwise, perhaps in mild contrast: charcoal-grey slacks and a blue dress-shirt beneath a black leather coat, shearling collar and all. This late in winter, the fallen sun means cooler temperatures and he sniffs at the feeling of the air shivering into his lungs. His sigh ghosts out as he makes his way down the area designated as the landing zone and out into clear view of the sentries, his carriage calm and composed. Just Captain America here to speak about an Infinity Stone. Nothing crazy, right?

Thor has posed:
    The Avenger is met at the bottom of the quinjet's ramp by the smiling visage of an Asgardian youth in the plate armor of their guardsmen. He snaps to attention and offers a salute with his spear held out to the side as if granting him access to the realm itself when he says loudly, "Hail and well met, Captain Rogers!" He turns, touching the haft of his spear to the center plate of his chest armor and gives a firm nod, bright blue eyes meeting the gaze of the American hero. "You are e'er welcome in the realm of New Asgard. Word has been sent to his majesty, Thor Odinson."
    There's a quick bow, his eyes lowering then returning to level. "I am called Harald, and for your stay I shall serve as I may. If you will walk with me I shall bring you to the Odinson lest there is another to which you would speak?" His voice is firm, and the rhythm of his words are steady, but a man of Steve's background can likely see that subtle touch of youth an inexperience in his eyes as he may have seen in those fresh troops upon the front in Europe.
    Beyond them both, atop the mount, a signal light illuminates in a bluish hue that seems to flicker for a moment and then fades.

Captain America has posed:
Steve's eyes fall from the brief flitter of light on high and to Harald again, his smile mild and polite. "Thank you, Harald, well met. I'm here to speak with Thor Odinson, yes." A gesture of his hand from inside his coat pocket towards the settlement and he adds, "Lead the way. I think I'm expected." The faintest note of uncertainy flavors that statement, but otherwise, he seems comfortable as he falls into step alongside the young guardsman.

His attention wanders as they travel, marking the positions of the sentries and then any others who wander nearby. Eventually, he glances over at young Harald. "So how are things coming on here in New Asgard?" It seems an innocuous-enough question to ask and not one terribly nosy.

Thor has posed:
    As they set foot upon the wending trail that wends down from that raised area of the landing strip, Harald chats amiably over his shoulder. "Matters progress, milord." Harald lifts the spear, its edge glinting with a subtle eldritch sheen that is abrely noticeable to most but he might pick up at the glance. "We grow more self-sustaining the more time passes and we have finished many of our public works. A road has connected us to the people of Norway and they were kind enough to send us a basket of welcoming food stuffs that most of our people had not tasted afore."
    It's not far until they'll espy the settlement itself. Gone are the makeshift containers and emergency housing. Replaced they are with stone shaped as if by the hand of great masters, creating homes of a utilitarian design for now but with an element of grace in their execution that other cultures might well envy. The path leads forwards past a gate at which Harald nods his acknowledgement of the two guards there who both snap out salutes to Captain Rogers in passing.
    "We work now upon the fortress you see upon yonder mount." Harald gestures with his spear as they make their way now into the crowd of people that are gathered out front of the Broken Antler. It's a raucous crowd. Laughing, drinking, cheering. The people of New Asgard at the least have high morale and for the most part are taken with their entertainment. Though some soldiers offer their nods of greeting.
    It's there, however, that they'll find Thor. Garbed in tunic, belt, and work pants with a pair of black leather boots to match, he does not stand out as monarch. Yet he is ever the center of attention, ever the center of cheers and laughter as he gestures for a toast, leaning upon the shoulder of one man.
    "And that is the moment when Bjarke asked me if there was anything /else/ I would be happy to help with. Something preferably on the other side of the bay."
    Laughter roars and the man Thor leans on seems to blush a crimson, an older man but laughing all the while.
    "Milord, Thor." Harald lifts his voice.
    But as soon as he sees him, Thor turns and /there/ is Steve Rogers. There is his comrade and warrior brother born. "Steven!"
    No hesitation, no fear of needing to keep the royal self at ease. He crosses the distance, large arms reaching for the other man's shoulder and greeting him. "Captain Rogers, it is good to see you!" And unless the man resists in some manner... then he takes Cap in his embrace.

Captain America has posed:
Steve's the attentive ear as they walk, his gaze flicking from item to item of conversational interest. He takes in the sight of the progress made with a smile of mixed emotion; a flash-back to Paris in World War II and how recovery always started at the bare ground to be worked up, little by little, worth every drop of sweat and effort once familiarity and peace is once again found. The buildings are a thing of quiet awe to him, unfamiliar as he is with the style of architecture. A fuller smile comes of hearing that the locals reached out of their own accord -- well and good indeed, and a beneficent point to the folks of Midgard. Man's proud of his people in World Tree terms.

To see Thor carousing is no surprise to him, but that garners the biggest smile yet out of the Captain. Too late to hear the beginning of the tale, he simply grins through the cocophany of amusement.

"Your highness!" Steve calls back upon hearing his name and meets Thor in the middle. Hugging. There will be hugging and the Captain does his best to thump the Asgardian between the shoulderblades in a friendly manner. "Good to see you too, Thor. I came to talk, but is now a good time? I don't want to interrupt," explains he, pulling back to solemnly admire the party going on before the Broken Antler.

Thor has posed:
    "Bah!" It's a bark of a sound, dismissive and abrupt as Thor rounds away from Cap with his arm still on the man's shoulders. "We celebrate a fine day, a capstone placed, and now." He turns back to look at Steve, his lips twisting amused. "We welcome one of our brothers long lost and now having come home." A light, for Thor, level of thump is given between the shoulder-blades as he then steps away to tell the crowd.
    "You hear me? Tonight we drink to Captain Rogers' return! Who joins with me?"
    To which, of course, the response is resounding. Flagons are lifted, meat is eaten, and a song picks up with rough voices attempting the singing.
    Yet Thor does not ignore the request. He nods to Steve and gestures, "Come, we shall talk in there." He gestures with a nod towards the Broken Antler itself. A heavy hand pushes the door open into the rustic tavern and he holds it for his comrade. "We can speak here." Then he lifts his voice, "You hear me, men of Asgard! Off with you! You are to drink outside. Off with you!"
    To be fair there's a little grumble at first until they see who it is that makes such demands. Then there's a line filing towards the door. Thor drops onto a bench seat even as Hilda, who pauses long enough to smile rather warmly towards Steve, places two flagons before them before she makes herself scarce.
    "Aye then, what is it you wish, Captain?"

Captain America has posed:
His time as the Spangly Man with Plan on the stage of the war gives him armor against bashfulness, the Captain, and he lifts a hand towards the cheering men much like he used to hail the audiences in his bond-drumming appearances. Thank you, thank you, will be here until he's done talking with the boss. Steve makes his way inside the tavern and then off to one side, his hands still nonchalantly in his coat pockets, and gives the departing drinkers polite nods here and there, correctly distant and uninviting of further interaction.

Across the bench from Thor, he sets up camp, and shrugs out of his jacket in the warm and captured air of the meadhall. "Thanks," he murmurs to Hilda and returns her smile in a far more mild light. When they have their privacy, he looks at Thor and answers his question. "I'll be frank. I'm here to talk about a lost Infinity Stone."

Loki has posed:
    Not /everyone/ immediately obeys Thor, in truth.

    Or obeys him at all.

    It would appear to be clear, the tavern, even with close scrutiny, after Thor requests it to be so.

    Speaking of an infinity stone is apt to draw a particular sort of ear, after all.

Thor has posed:
    "Ah," Thor's brought up short briefly, his expression shifting a touch dour and he becomes all the more serious as he nods to Captain Rogers. "As to that," Thor begins and he looks down. For a moment in that brief reflection he might seem almost entirely not himself. More reflective and thoughtful. He lifts his gaze up, good eye meeting Steve's and nodding once.
    "It was wrested from the grasp of the Shadow King in a moment of weakness." His smile is there, just a touch wan. "My brother, having been struck down by me lost the attention of the Shadow King. It allowed him to sneak closer and to capture it. Thus was our enemy felled."
    He takes a drink from his flagon and pauses a moment, then adds. "Once it was secured he turned it over to me and I set out to place it in the hands of a being who will safeguard it from misuse."

Captain America has posed:
There's a small shrug on Steve's part and an empathetic light to his eyes at seeing his comrade's party-hearty air dispelled like a deflated balloon. Yes, no fun, this guy right here. He takes a sip of his drink and glances briefly down at it with a lift of eyebrows. Oh, that's not bad at all. His gaze returns to Thor as he rests an arm on the table and listens, his lids mildly squinted to indicate close attention.

"I read the reports about the battle," he shares. "That's what I wanted to know, more than anything else: where it is and who has it." He hedges for a second and straightens in his seat a touch. "...you sure it's with that being? And not with your brother?"

Thor has posed:
    A nod is given as Thor smiles a bit, "It is in the hands of one of the Elders of the Universe." The way he says this as if anyone would know who those people were. But then he figures he might need to expand on that concept and takes another swig of mead from the flagon.
    Good eye distanced he hrms to himself, then says. "They are... beings that even when my father was young they were ancient. They are individuals who have existed as long as existence has."
    One hand lifts and uncurls as he gestures, "My brother's powers are great. And even augmented with the power of the mind stone it is doubtful he would be able to fool them. Yet whatever passes, I am willing to shoulder the weight of this responsibility for this decision." He gives a firm nod to accentuate the point.

Captain America has posed:
The small furrow doesn't leave Steve's brows, even after hearing the explanation proferred by the eldest Odinson. He considers the contents of his flagon and his reflection within it before drinking of it again. The stein makes a quiet sound as he sets it on the table and sighs.

"I'm glad to hear that you accept the possibility of deceit. I'm not here to kick dirt all over his name, but..." And the Captain purses his lips. "The Battle of New York is something I can't forget. Neither can some of the others." His attention gets a faintly steely glint. "Fool me once, shame on you -- fool me again, shame on me." He then gives Thor a circumspect look wherein the defensive light fades from his regard. "Any way you can //prove// he doesn't have it? That these Elders do?"

Thor has posed:
    "Steven," Thor says, his best elder brother voice that can be gathered, "I have known my brother for a long time. He does have his desires and his wishes. But through all of those years, there is one thing that has e'er been true with him."
    A glance is given over his shoulder for a moment, as if he would suddenly espy his brother sauntering about. But then Thor looks back towards Steve and leans forwards to speak a little quieter than normal. "Loki is not one that has ever, ever, repeated himself in his efforts. A joke, a trick, a ploy... never once has he played the same jape nor gambled upon a repetition of his wit. To him..." He looks aside and away, then back. "It would be dull. I think he may in part have wished to keep it if only to be troublesome to those that annoy him. But now? Yes it is in the hands of the being."

Loki has posed:
    To Thor's left, there is a beautiful, almost liquid pulse of movement in the air, and it flows into a dark patch. A swirl of color and bending of light becomes a form, in just over a few seconds: forming into that of a dark haired, slender god of mischief, seated at the table with them. Loki is dressed similarly in only one way to Thor: it is a version of casual. Loki's sleek in his blacks and greens, the embroidery of glinting gold is subtle on the tips of shoulders of tunic. His expression is languid, relaxed, but there is not much actual friendliness in the smile. Still, Loki seems somewhat reserved: he tends to be different in Thor's presence than otherwise.

    "Wouldn't want to be dull," Loki says ponderously.

Captain America has posed:
Steve's frown deepens as he leans in as well, eyes narrowing again. He pulls his mouth to one side, clearly only moderately mollified when given this explanation. The blond Soldier begins to point out quietly, "You don't have to change much in a prank for it to be considered -- "

A jolt in place from the Captain and a splash of his flagon's contents hits the table at the sudden revelation of the younger Odinson. He doesn't do anything outright threatening, but he does sit up tall in his seat and level a warning look at Loki. "Anything but that. Your highness," he adds curtly, his regard flicking to Thor to see precisely how he's going to respond to the outright disobedience. Not an empty tavern after all!

Thor has posed:
    "Loki," Thor says as he glances sidelong towards the Trickster, "You have met Captain Rogers." He uncurls a hand in Cap's direction then says in that authoritative tone he often uses in public. "We are celebrating his return, and he has asked that we speak of matters, private." Of course there's no real imagining that Loki hasn't overheard everything, but Thor goes through the needed movements.
    Back towards Cap, Thor continues to lay down the outline as matters are and must be, "I know that the people of Midgard hold ill will for my brother. And, in truth, it grieves me what passed. But also know that without my brother then all of this..." He gestures slowly, open-handed indicating the entirety of the settlement most likely and not just the tavern. "Would not exist. He saved the people of Asgard in their time of need. And for that he stands with us."
    Perhaps it is a bit much to say that in this moment, but it might also be rather appropriate. Especially considering none of Midgard have asked after Loki's legal status.

Loki has posed:
    Loki sits back a little on the bench, with a mild arrogance when he is 'titled' properly, but it isn't as bad as it has been in the past. "Captain Rogers," Loki greets smoothly, without even a trace of snark. "Far be it for me to intrude on something of an important, private matter. However, I am able to provide information you may be after about the artifact. Should you have interest in my part in things," Loki says, slippery as always. He doesn't have to help them, he's being such a nice guy here, volunteering.

    "I do not seek to dodge questions," Loki adds, comfortably, skimming fingers along the table as if taking in it's warm wood grain as grounding.

Captain America has posed:
The Soldier doesn't cave at all in his upright posture, even bringing his chin up a touch. His eyes shift between the two brothers sitting across from him and one can almost see him mulling over options.

"I can't speak for all of Midgard," says Steve finally, lifting up a hand outwards and towards the brothers briefly before setting it on the table's surface. "And like I said: not here to kick dirt on anyone's name. I'm interested in hearing more about this Infinity Stone from the ones who last saw it. Just..." He upturns his hand in a gesture that would be apologetic but for the mild set of his jaw. "I've got to take it with a grain of salt. What can you tell me, your highness?" He's looking specifically at Loki as he asks this. "Anything. Shape, color, ambience," he lists as example topics.

Thor has posed:
    To the side, Thor addresses Loki with that steady tone of his that might well offer some nostalgia for their father within it. "Any questions of Captain Rogers you can answer, brother, I would appreciate you doing so." He turns back to give Captain American a nod as he then adds, "Though, in all fairness, I was the last to hold the Mind Stone and to feel its power." He shifts in his seat a touch to allow the other two an easier way to discuss. Though, to be fair, he doesn't forget his flagon and takes another drink.

Loki has posed:
    "Glad to be of service," Loki says, a little bit sarcastically, but he doesn't dwell in the tone. Thor isn't directly negating him, and is supporting him here, so there's no need to cut off his own foot in this. Even if it's just in talking to this human.

    "/Respectfully/, brother, it responded to you about as much as Mjolnir appreciates my hand," Loki teases. It's potentially oddly good-natured, that little aside to Thor. A piece of something that suggests Loki's not exclusively an asshole to everyone. He has a brotherly rapport with Thor.

    "Do you need a refill? I have a bit to say, then," Loki says tolerantly to Steve, who seeks many answers. "You can decide what of it seems true to you, then." Loki slides his hand back to a relaxed fist on the table. "I infiltrated the psychics of the Shadow King, and gathered information," Loki says serenely. "He needed a host body, to hold his prize, the infinity stone. It melts humans, you see. It is unpleasant." Loki shrugs some. "Where exactly the mushroom 'host' came in, hard to say. But it allowed him to hold and use it. Obviously, him keeping it and turning this world into a nightmare was not to be allowed. Steps were taken. When opportunity came, I removed it, and took it out of the equation for you. He would not have been defeated while he held it." Loki does have arrogance in his voice, but a pleased proud quality over it. He's very, very pleased with himself, which may sing of 'truth' more than a lot of other things might have.

    "It's better off-planet, out of his reach, I think. Wouldn't you agree?" Loki suggests calmly. "That it has made him /extremely upset/ is a side-benefit."

Captain America has posed:
The identification of //which// stone it is garners a small nod from Steve. Good. That's something to report back at the Avengers mansion. A wry little ghost of a smile at the ribbing fades as quickly as dew under the rising sun.

"I'm still good," he replies in regards to the volume of his stein, only a quarter-touched; someone wants to be fully present and not floating off on the effervescence of an Asgardian mead buzz. He considers Loki again and listens, his head tilted in indication of sincere interest in the answers doled out to him.

"I don't disagree, that's for sure. Taking a heavy weapon out of reach of those would abuse it is sound logic -- especially the Mind Stone." He allows himself a small shift on the bench. "Doesn't matter if he throws a hissy fit now, I guess. It's amazing how much damage a small, ovaloid orange stone that augments mental powers can do, isn't it?" It's a dry, rhetorical musing from the Captain.

Thor has posed:
    Planting his hands upon the tabletop, Thor pushes himself to his feet and eyeballs Steve's flagon that has mostly been untouched. "Will you drink with us, brother?" He asks as he rises to his full height and takes up his own drink that's now mostly empty. He carries it with him across the small distance to the bar and the keg that rests upon its end. He twists the spigot and pours himself some more, then acquires another flagon for Loki and proceeds to fill that one as well.
    Once that's settled he brings the drinks around and takes up a spot at the end of the table, pointedly not on either side as if he were adjudicating the discussion. But, for now, he holds his peace.

Loki has posed:
    Loki shrugs and gestures acceptance of the drink. However, when it is passed down, Loki's shape actually physically flickers and disappears entirely, as he negates the illusion he had been using. He is actually on the opposite side of the table, which puts him nearer to Steve. He reaches out from there to pick up the mug, with a sly little roll of his eyes of a 'yes, I was bad' message, and takes a drink.

    "Amazing? Mmm. When added to powers that are already substantial, it's more than that. Godly to a human." Loki tolerantly gestures, and the surface of the table transforms into beautiful, intricate illusion. Is Loki showing off? Probably. Though it may be mostly for Thor's benefit.

    "I've seen three of them personally." The illusion flows to depict Space, Mind, and Time. "There's the others, of course, but I'd just be making those up off of what I know. And we're sticking with truth. As far as it gets us, anyway," Loki smirks.

Captain America has posed:
Given that Thor's taken up silent adjudicator, Steve turns his attention entirely to Loki. He does take a mouthful of his drink, if only to appease the eldest Odison, and carefully swallows it even as he watches Loki appear once again be precisely somewhere where he was -- was not? -- was -- now is. Ugh, magic.

He then lifts the flagon from the wood reflecting the esoteric designs of Asgardian illuse and looks from it to Loki with a touch more warning than before. Still, he holds his peace, listening to the Trickster. He won't admit aloud that the resonating mirages of the Stones are beautiful to see, but he does speak up again elsewise. "Honesty and wisdom and all that," he murmurs. "What else can you tell me?" he asks, eyes resting on Loki again.

Loki has posed:
    Does the illusion make Steve scowl? All the more reason to continue it. And get more elaborate. The stones spin and rotate, as the master of illusion seems to almost take a bored half-nap. So easy, simple little cantrips of illusion are. Which perhaps only reveals how severe the Mind Stone in his hands might have been.

    Or is, depending on what one believes.

    "Usually they're in some type of housing, to be handled," Loki says, and the illusion, in a shower of flecks of gold, fills in the sceptre around the mind stone. Loki's scepter, which is probably uncomfortably familiar. There's a box-like structure around the Space stone. The other faded out. Presumably Loki doesn't know. "With that on it, even a human can hold it. To some ability, anyway. Use it? I doubt it. But we don't want them all in one place anyway. You could remake the universe with all of them. Even two together is a little...." Loki seems to reflect. "Unnecessary," he decides. "And draws in far too much attention." He skims his eyes over to Thor, and his words are mostly to his brother.

    "Without Asgard, this is our home, now. Drawing in disgusting levels of power from cesspools in the galaxy it doesn't benefit me, or any of us."

Captain America has posed:
It never benefited the Captain to reach out and touch Tony's lifted holographic displays of information, so even if a part of him wants to see if that illusioned scepter can be snapped in half between his fingers, he does not indulge himself. Uncomfortable indeed. Still, he projects stoicism save for the lines about the corners of his eyes as he keeps eidetic memories at bay.

"I assume that the Elders don't need the structures around the Stones in order to handle them, if they're all-powerful." One can almost hear the air-quotes about the insinuation of might. "And I agree." He nods at Thor in passing. "We don't need any more attention to this place - this world - not right now and not anytime soon. We're well-known as is these days."

Loki has posed:
    Loki laughs. "Well. Neither do we," Loki says, with a motion of hand to indicate himself and Thor. Gods. Loki watches Steve closely; the master of manipulation catches a great deal of little tells or information when he's being attentive. And he's sharp, even if he looks like he's getting bored of the whole routine.

    "I am very aware of my reputation problems. I could just wait a few centuries, but... with Dr. Strange being missing somewhere, it think it benefits us all if I demonstrate my willingness to amend my ways," Loki says, actually with some pleasantness to his voice. "Nobody has any fun at all if it's burned to the ground." Loki plays with the illusions, leaving now six stones spinning, different colors, no casings. "You don't have to believe any of it if you don't feel like it." There's a small pause. "But in this case, you'll just waste your time. Which I'm all right with, so, do as you want." Loki snorts and the illusions end.

Captain America has posed:
"You seem to have been...honest with me - and I appreciate it, your highness. You've answered more questions than I asked in the first place and you sure as hell didn't have to." Steve lifts his flagon in a small toast to the Asgardian sitting across the table from him and drinks to this before setting down the stein again. The table, now bereft of the dazzling illusionary display, is considered as those wheat-gold brows dip together again.

"If the Stone is in the hands of those Elders, great. It's out of the hands of everyone else. With the Doctor missing..." He sighs as he glances up again. "I'm not going to say no to more //honest// assistance given in good word." The Captain then clears his throat. "Like I said: I can't speak for everyone." He's got more patience and tact than one brusque genius-inventor.

Loki has posed:
    "The best stories are the ones that have truth in them," Loki replies, promptly slippery again, as if it amused him to be so, even if he partially casts doubt into the rest of what he had said. Mischief.

    "Thor gave them the stone. Either you trust his word, or you don't," Loki says, manipulatively. Which may make it quite clear why Thor had the stone in the first place at all: it spins the narrative very well for Loki. "I do expect credit for my role in obtaining it, with no small threat to myself. The Shadow King is an interesting ....thing. But limited, in a way magic isn't. With just one dull trick, others do get the best of you," Loki smiles smoothly. "As I said, wouldn't want to be dull." Loki begins to get to his feet.

    "Nothing else, I assume?" he asks, towards Thor, but the question isn't exclusively at Thor.

Captain America has posed:
"Anything but dull," repeats the Captain drolly before he takes the largest mouthful of mead yet. Now his stein's down to a quarter and the teetotalism is pushed aside slowly but surely. "I can't think of anything else right now, but I know where you find you if I have further questions." In theory, at least, where to find the Trickster.

"Thank you again, your highness," he's sure to add smoothly. Steve doesn't make to incline his head in any courtly manner, but he does offer up a small and polite smile towards Loki. "You'll get your credit where it's due."

Loki has posed:
    There's a narrowing of eyes from Loki at the comment about 'where it's due.' Loki is paying attention, and gets between the lines there. He inclines his head with a spread of hands out to both of his sides in a bow that isn't really at all a bow. It's more as if he were accepting praise after he'd done a stellar performance. Because he did.

    "And I'll grant you your ....'privacy,'" Loki replies with equal politeness and a regal quality of generosity, turning neatly on a heel and slipping out of the tavern soundlessly, barely brushing the exit flap.